The Zex nitrous kit for the...
The Zex nitrous kit for the '11 Mustang GT (PN 82390; $679.95) comes with everything shown here: bottle, bottle bracket, control box, fuel wiring, hoses, nozzle, jets, and mounting hardware.
The aftermarket has grasped the '11 Mustang GT in its first year of production quicker and more aggressively than any previous model year. With its iconic five liters of displacement, 412hp rating, and affordable price tag, aftermarket parts manufacturers are jumping on the proverbial wagon with new and affordable parts.
First were the tuners and cold-air kits, then came headers and exhaust systems. Lately, though, superchargers have dominated the '11 GT aftermarket-and the car has only been on dealer lots for less than a year.
An alternative to forced induction is nitrous oxide. Its low cost (compared to superchargers and turbochargers) and ease of installation make it a popular way to add ponies. We contacted Matt Patrick of Zex to tell us about nitrous oxide and specifically this kit for the '11 Mustang GT.
As you can see by looking...
As you can see by looking at the engine bay, Lamotta's GT remains mostly stock. The only performance upgrades are a C&L cold-air intake, an SCT tune, a 3-inch exhaust system from Stainless Works, and 3.73s.
"The biggest advantage of nitrous is its on-demand nature," said Patrick. "With superchargers and turbochargers, they are always on. With nitrous, you can use it at the track, turn it off, and then toss the keys to your mother."
Zex designed this kit to help owners of '11 Mustang GTs achieve the level of performance they want without spending an excessive amount of money on parts or installation.
"Most people can install this kit with basic handtools in their garage in a few hours," says Patrick.
Some other features that make this kit attractive are its plug-and-play fuel line adapter, plug-in arming switch, and programmable nitrous management control box.
With the battery disconnected,...
With the battery disconnected, Lamotta relieved the fuel pressure and disconnected the fuel feed line from the fuel rail.
He then attached the braided...
He then attached the braided hose included in the kit to the fuel line adapter fitting. This fitting is also available separately (PN NS6701; $59.95).
The fitting snaps to the fuel...
The fitting snaps to the fuel rail, and the feed line snaps to the fitting and locks in place.
When Zex Nitrous System first introduced this kit, we had to get our hands on one. And since we've been using Lamotta Performance's '11 GT for previous articles, we turned to Jake Lamotta to do the install.
Lamotta's GT features a C&L cold-air intake, an SCT tune, a Stainless Works exhaust system, and 3.73:1 gears. Baseline dyno pulls on Lamotta's Dynojet yielded 404 rwhp and 369 lb-ft of torque, but amazingly, on the sauce it pumped out a ridiculous amount of torque-a gain of 188 with just a 125 shot!
Follow along wiht the accompanying photos as we mount and test this new kit.
The control box is designed...
The control box is designed to mount wherever it is convenient for the owner. Lamotta fabricated this mount for it and had it powdercoated black.
He then mounted it to the...
He then mounted it to the left strut tower using the existing holes.
Lamotta then fastened the...
Lamotta then fastened the box to the custom bracket using the included hardware.
The control box is marked...
The control box is marked clearly with four fittings-two each for nitrous oxide and fuel.
The box comes with three wires:...
The box comes with three wires: red, black, and white. Red is the power wire, which is fed by the arming switch; black is ground; and white is the TPS wire.
Lamotta then drills a hole...
Lamotta then drills a hole in the underside of the intake tube and installs the bulkhead fitting and nozzle.
With the rear seat removed,...
With the rear seat removed, Lamotta then feeds the nitrous feed hose through the floorpan by removing the fuel-pump-harness boot.
He then cuts a slit in the...
He then cuts a slit in the boot and feeds the hose through.
With the boot back in place,...
With the boot back in place, he runs the feed hose into the trunk alongside the wiring harness.
UPR Products sent us a billet...
UPR Products sent us a billet nitrous bottle bracket (PN 1200-02; $169.99). Lamotta mounts the bracket to the trunk floor and secures the bottle in the bracket.
Zex also sent us a bottle...
Zex also sent us a bottle heater (PN 82006; $139.95) to help us achieve proper bottle pressure, a purge kit (PN 82010; $109.95), and a liquid-filled gauge (PN 82341; $49.95). (The purge kit and gauge are not shown.)
Lamotta routes the nitrous...
Lamotta routes the nitrous feed line under the car to the front, keeping it up close to the floorpans and securing it with the provided ties.
He then attaches all four...
He then attaches all four length-specific hoses to the control box and tightens them.
At last, Chris Johnson of...
At last, Chris Johnson of SCT tunes the GT on the Dynojet by retarding timing and monitoring fuel pressure.
Though the kit comes with...
Though the kit comes with 75, 100, 125, 150, and 175hp jets, we only tested the 75 and 125hp combinations. As you can see, the torque curve is ridiculous. It made 188 lb-ft more torque on the 125-shot and 110 lb-ft on a mild 75-shot. The graph speaks for itself-and we have yet to test the 150- or 175-shot.