We've tested almost every power adder for the '11-up Mustang GT. From wet nitrous kits, to turbo kits, and nearly a dozen superchargers—we figured we'd tried them all. Depending on your budget and how much power you want to make, there's something for everyone. But we haven't tried a dry nitrous kit yet.
So when we found out that JMS Chip and Performance just released its nitrous kit designed specifically for the Coyote, we jumped at the opportunity. We headed to JMS (Lucedale, Mississippi) to follow along as technician Chris Hood installed the kit on Charlie Richardson's '11 GT.
JMS Chip and Performance will...
JMS Chip and Performance will install its dry nitrous kit on Charlie Richardson's Kona Blue '11 GT. The auto-equipped stripper model is stock with the exception of a torque converter and stock-looking AmericanMuscle.com wide rear wheels wrapped in Mickey Thompson drag radials.
To find out what makes this kit unique, we talked to JMS owner and tuner Monty Johnson. "The whole goal in designing this kit is to take a stock Mustang and make it 10-second capable safely and easily," says Johnson. With an installation time of about an hour, it's definitely easy to install. But how does JMS make it safe?
Though there are inherent dangers involved, JMS has done a few things to prevent damage to your stock Coyote's internals. The first feature is the location of the solenoid and nozzle. Placing them in the trunk near the bottle leaves high bottle pressures (up to 2,000 psi) in the trunk, and it also allows the initial hit to be less aggressive.
Another built-in safety feature is the controller. Programmed to only activate the solenoid at WOT and between a preset RPM range, it will deactivate the solenoid between shifts and when the throttle blade begins to close. And since it is progressive, it ramps up on its own once it's re-engaged.
Lastly, the kit comes with an SCT X3 handheld tuner with a custom tune made by JMS specifically for the kit installed in your combination. If you already have a handheld, the kit price is $300 less and JMS will send you just the tune.
At only $1,149 ($849 if you already have an SCT handheld), it's certainly priced at an attainable level. The kit is plug-and-play, and even those of us with nominal mechanical abilities can install it in an hour or so. Best of all, the entire kit can be routed so that it's hidden from sight, even with the hood open.
1. The kit ($1,149 with SCT...
1. The kit ($1,149 with SCT handheld; $849 without) features a base with the bottle brackets and controller attached, a 10-pound bottle, a solenoid, a pressure hose, four nozzles, a nozzle hose, and all the wiring necessary.
2. This first-generation...
2. This first-generation controller can be programmed to activate the solenoid based on WOT and engine RPM. The next-generation controller will be available by the time you read this, and will have the controls mounted externally.
3. Wiring the controller...
3. Wiring the controller is a cinch. Only three wires have to be run--one to the injector harness, one to the throttle body (seen here), and one to 12-volt power. We followed along as JMS technician Chris Hood installed the kit on Charlie Richardson's '11 GT.
4. Here Hood attaches the...
4. Here Hood attaches the green wire to the fuel injector harness.
5. Hood then removed the...
5. Hood then removed the noise tube from the stock cold-air tube.
6. Next he ran the nozzle...
6. Next he ran the nozzle tube from the trunk through the car to the noise tube. He cut a small hole in the diaphragm and ran the nozzle tube through.
7. He used silicone to re-seal...
7. He used silicone to re-seal the diaphragm. You don’t have to run the nozzle tube the same way; it can be routed externally as well.
8. Hood then routed the wires...
8. Hood then routed the wires along the sillplate and to the trunk under the rear seat.
9. Next he drilled a hole...
9. Next he drilled a hole in the removable trim in the console and ran the blue wire through it.
10. He attached the blue...
10. He attached the blue wire to the 12-volt power pigtail (included), which is then plugged into the auxiliary power outlet in the console.
11. Hood then routed the...
11. Hood then routed the blue wire under the carpet and back seat, then through to the trunk.
12. The wires and nozzle...
12. The wires and nozzle tube then all go into the included wire loom and are trimmed to fit.
13. Here is the harness and...
13. Here is the harness and plumbing complete in the trunk. The trunk carpeting can easily hide these.
14. The solenoid can be mounted...
14. The solenoid can be mounted if you prefer, but it isn't necessary. The nozzles (30, 50, 75, and 100hp) attach to the outlet side of the solenoid and can be changed easily.
15. The tank can then be...
15. The tank can then be installed and attached to the high-pressure line.
16. The weatherproof connectors...
16. The weatherproof connectors can then be plugged in, connecting the harness to the controller.
17. Here is the finished...
17. Here is the finished product.
18. The base can be simply...
18. The base can be simply laid in the trunk, mounted, or you can hide it in the bag, which is included.
19. Owner and tuner Monty...
19. Owner and tuner Monty Johnson writes all of the tunes for the kits and will design one for your car's particular mods.
20. Once complete, Richardson's...
20. Once complete, Richardson's engine bay still looks completely stock.
21. On the JMS DynoJet chassis...
21. On the JMS DynoJet chassis dyno, Johnson uploads the nitrous-safe tune before spinning the rollers.
22. Not only does Richardson's...
22. Not only does Richardson's underhood area look stock, but he added AmericanMuscle.com stock-looking wide wheels and Mickey Thompson drag radials so he could get traction on-track.
23a. On the dyno, the GT...
23a. On the dyno, the GT previously made 372 rwhp and 372 lb-ft of torque in stock trim. On the largest pull, the 100-shot, it now peaks at 502 rwhp and 568 lb-ft of troque.
23b. At the track and on...
23b. At the track and on the spray, this otherwise-stock GT ran a best of 11.14 at 122.92 mph with a 1.56 60-foot, and consistently produced timeslips in the 11.10s. Not bad for less than $1,200 and about an hour of work.