Each year, 125,000-plus people head to Las Vegas to attend the world-renowned SEMA Show. SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) is best described as car-guy heaven, and it offers a chance to see amazing parts, new technology, wildly built cars, trucks, and some odd-ball motorized performance vehicles. In addition, we get to mix it up with over 2,000 exhibitors that fill over 1-million square feet of space. Its purpose is for dealers, buyers, retailers, media personnel, and many other industry types to get a firsthand look at the latest parts and pieces in the automotive aftermarket.
The massive convention center-and nearly the entire town of Las Vegas-is taken over by hot rods, custom cars, showgirls, and everything else a gearhead would need to conduct business in the high-speed environment of today's aftermarket industry. According to our connections at SEMA, the aftermarket brought a record number of new products to the '10 show with slightly over 1,400 new products registered with SEMA officials. Not every one of those parts apply to the Mustang and Ford vehicles, but it does show the industry is getting stronger despite the continued economic hardships.
Enough with the stats-you want to know what was hot for your muscle Mustang and/or fast Ford. Thankfully, several members of the MM&FF team invaded the show to get the scoop, and for the first time ever, we even had a Mustang on display-our '11 AMSOIL/MM&FF GT.
After four days walking (we averaged 8-10 miles a day), we came away with more than just a glimpse of what is hitting the market in 2011.
MSD revealed its Power Grid...
MSD revealed its Power Grid add-on that will turn any MSD ignition or Pro Mag system into a programmable unit. Now you don't have to purchase a new setup to plot timing curves, set rev-limiters, set timing retards for nitrous, data log, or many other functions. The Power Grid is a simple-to-install solution that gives the user full control using a Windows-based program.
MSD Ignition
www.msdignition.comKNaturally, Coyote 5.0L parts were all over the joint, as companies scrambled to get all sorts of power adders, exhaust, internal engine components, and other bits and pieces designed, tested, and manufactured. A majority of the new products were application-specific for 2011-newer Mustang and one hot one included Comp Cams new 5.0L cams, plus plenty of wheels, tires, and assorted go-fast goodies.
Ford Motor Company has a big hand in SEMA and it was a part of an awesome driving experience with Ken Block and Vaughn Gitten Jr. putting on a tire-scorching exhibition. Editor Smith even slipped into the now-famous Gymkanna Fiestia with Block for a little slipping and sliding. Ford also had the new Boss 302 and an entire stage full of its latest iron.
We heard rumors of aftermarket...
We heard rumors of aftermarket camshafts, and it was confirmed as Comp Cams showed off a few different sticks for the 5.0L Ti-VCT engine. Comp has several sets in action with Ford Racing's Boss Grand Am program that utilizes the Coyote 5.0 engine. The set we saw at SEMA was slated for street-car use; Comp has kept the gains and specs under wraps as it finishes up R&D. The biggest hold up has been unlocking the PCM to gain control of the adjustable camshafts. Look for a full in-depth report on these cams as soon as we get our greasy paws on a set.
Comp Cams
www.compcams.comEach year we look forward to this week, but it always goes by so fast, and then we have 365 days to get amped up for the next one. So if you have the chance to be in Vegas for the '11 SEMA show, we highly recommend it.
Ford Racing has been running...
Ford Racing has been running the Coyote 5.0L in select races, and this racecar was wearing a Boss 302R intake manifold. Rumor is the intake will be available to the public but our Ford sources remain tight-lipped about it.
Ford Racing Performance Parts
www.fordracingparts.com
Several companies released...
Several companies released 5.0 Ti-VCT spec parts, and supercharger systems were leading the charge. Here is the Edelbrock E-Force kit. Final horsepower and torque numbers weren't available at press time, but Edelbrock is very close to obtaining a 50-state E.O. number, as with all of its E-Force kits. The kit is built around the Eaton TVS rotor system, and Edelbrock engineers incorporated 15-inch long runners and an air-to-water intercooler.
Edelbrock
www.edelbrock.com
McLeod showed off a really...
McLeod showed off a really great conversion kit for those who suffer from a heavy clutch pedal in their '79-'04 Mustang. The Hydraulic Conversion kit reduces pedal effort up to 30 percent. It is a direct bolt-in item that uses the stock clutch pedal, mounts through the firewall in the stock cable location, and is self-adjusting.
McLeod Racing
www.mcleodracing.com
Big power and a street clutch...
Big power and a street clutch are rarely used together, but that is what Centerforce does with its DYAD twin-disc clutch. It offers a light pedal feel (we know from experience) and excellent gripping power thanks to a centrifugal weight system that increases load as rpm rises. It also has ball-bearing pressure plates and floating discs, and the engineers have removed the chatter that is normally associated with this type of clutch. Centerforce reports the clutch is capable of withstanding 1,200 lb-ft of torque.
Centerforce
www.centerforce.com
An aftermarket tuner is pretty...
An aftermarket tuner is pretty much required in today's high-performance world and DiabloSport had its next-generation handheld tuner on display. Called InTune, it's more versatile than its predecessor, the Predator, as InTune features touch-screen display, one gig of memory, scan-tool capabilities, data logging (the extra memory helps in this area), two analog inputs for a sensor hook-up like a boost reference, support for custom tuning, and one part number for all applications.
DiabloSport
www.diablosport.com
Here is a single-turbo kit...
Here is a single-turbo kit by Hellion Power Systems for the '11 GT. Proprietor and head turbo-kit designer John Urist said it only had a partial kit on display due to the size of the system. According to Urist, the kit is in its final stages of production and should be ready by the time you read this. It comes standard with a Turbonetics/Hellion 76mm turbo with optional ball-bearing upgrade or Turbonetics 78mm billet wheel (over 900hp capable), Hellion air-to-air front-mounted intercooler, fuel injectors, and all the parts and pieces to install on it on your Mustang. It's available with a Hellion tune or can be ordered as a tuner-kit without it.
Hellion Power Systems
www.hellionpowersystems.com