Tech

Install | EcoBoost S550 Mustang Gets a Ford Racing Strut Tower Brace

I was looking through some old vids the other day and noticed I hadn’t posted this one yet. A few years back Ford Performance Racing Parts (FRPP at the time) sent over their S550 Mustang Strut Tower Brace kit for me to bolt on our project EcoBoost Mustang. They only had the part number listed as fitting the V8 cars, and wanted someone in the field to try adding it to a 4-Banger. I was more than happy to oblige.

Interestingly, it doesn’t appear that I took any pics of the install. All I have are a handful of screen-caps from the video footage. But after bolting it on and letting the guys at Ford know it fit, I never really followed up to see if they did anything else with it. In any event, here is the install video. It’s pretty straight forward, and...

More EGR Coolers for Ford EcoBoost Engines

A few months back we took a look under the hood of the 2019 Ford Ranger and found something that appeared to be a bit out of place. It appears that Ford Engineers found that the mid-size truck’s 2.3L EcoBoost engine required an EGR Cooler in order to meet modern emissions regulations. Turns out that EGR Coolers are finding their way onto all sorts of new Ford engines.

Recently, we were taking a look at a 2020 F-150 equipped with the 2.7L EcoBoost and tuned by 5-Star tuning. While it was an awesome little ride, we couldn’t help but notice that Ford had snuck an EGR Cooler under the hood. It appears that these direct-injected turbo engines may be a bit dirtier than their “Eco” name would lead you to believe. Considering that the dead-nuts simple 7.3L gas V8 gets by without the need for EGR at all (yes, I...

Heavy Metal | F-350 Super Duty Odyssey Battery Install

Sooner or later, the unending march of time is going to kill your factory flooded-cell batteries. Sure, you can prolong their life with proper storage and maintenance techniques; but in the end time always wins. That was the issue I found myself facing a few years back with the factory Motorcraft batteries in my 6.4L Powerstroke equipped 2009 F-350. After ~7 years of used the originals were showing the “Red Dot of Death”. All-in-all, they lived a good life. It’s hard to ask for more than service life they provided, but it was time for an upgrade.

Over years of motorsports and off-road/marine experience I’ve come to trust the Odyssey brand of AGM batteries. They can be somewhat expensive; but they deliver massive cranking amps, deep draw capabilities, can last over a decade, and...

S&B Super Duty Cab Mounts | Never Install OEM Junk Again

For over two decades the Ford Super Duty line of trucks have continued to raise the bar for heavy-duty work truck performance and comfort. And while there have been a few stumbling points along the way (6.0 cooling system and 6.4 flame thrower come to mind) the Duty has marched steadily towards higher levels of performance and quality throughout the years. Unfortunately, the issue that leads us to this review is one of those engineering quality missteps I mentioned. Thankfully, the guys at S&B have created the ultimate solution to this particular problem.

For the 2005 model year, Ford switch from using traditional rubber cab mounts to a new style made from urethane foam. The impetus from this change was the reduction of NVH, and while there may have been some nearly...

S550 Supercharger Shakeup | From Edlebrock 2650 TVS to Whipple Gen 5 3.0L

Hey everyone. It has been a minute since I have been on here so to everyone knew, good day! And to those who know me from before, hey hey. But I wanted to share my experience on something I did with my 2018. Recently made a swap from the Edlebrock E-force 2650 TVS to the Whipple Gen 5 3.0L Twin-Screw on my Mustang. And before I hear both sides of ‘why” or “good”, I want to give a real story behind this. This isn’t a bash or complaint. This was a honest change and being I have ran both systems I can offer honest feedback.

When I picked up the E-force, I went full-retard on it with options. Stage 2, larger throttle body and 8-rib upgrade with a 15% OD balancer. But the issue I ran into right away was that I only did injectors and a fuel pump swap as...

Tested | Prototype JLT Intake for the 2020 Shelby GT500 Mustang

In case you guys missed it, let me catch you up. SVTP has been working with VMP Performance to test the performance increases we can squeeze out of the recently released 2020 Shelby GT500 Mustang with some typical bolt-on parts and tuning. After seeing some impressive stock boost level gains, both at the track and on the dyno, it was time to test out a classic Mustang mod; a JLT Cold Air Intake.

The SVTP community is well aware that a CAI is a member of the holy trinity of basic bolt-on mods for any car (intake, tune, and exhaust for the uninitiated). And for close to twenty years the folks at JLT have been churning out some of the Ford Performance Nation’s favorite kits. The styling and materials of the kits may have changed some over the years, but JLT’s share...

2020 Shelby GT500 | Modding and Testing VMP's Project Snowbird

I know you guys have been waiting for this. The 2020 GT500 has already proven to be a supremely impressive addition to Ford Performance family of vehicles. But this is SVTP, you know we never leave anything stock for long. So we teamed up with the supercharger experts at VMP Performance to cover some up the preliminary build up of their project Predator. When we arrived, the car was already equipped with a ported supercharger courtesy of Jokerz Performance. Other than the blower, the car was stock.

So the first order of business was to strap the Twister Orange Mustang to rollers and set a baseline. He above setup netted us 680 RWHP, but the interesting thing we noticed was the power starting to drop off once the engine reached 7,700 RPM. VMP’s Justin Starkey...

MT-82 Manual Transmission Oil Change | Amsoil MTF

Love it or hate it, the MT-82 is the transmission that brought six gears to the masses in the Mustang market. Before it, buyers were required to step up to one of the halo performance model Pony cars in order to row through more than five speeds. The Getrag box has plenty of pluses, but it did get off to a bit of a rocky start. Thankfully, we like modding here on SVTP.

One of the biggest complaints the MT-82 received early on was sketchy gear engagement that differed based on temperature. It seemed that the factory synchros were particularly sensitive to oil viscosity, and Ford filled the MT-82 with a fairly lightweight oil from the factory. That was fine for cold weather and average daily driving. However; during hot summer months, and especially on the road track, the oil would get so...

WTF??? | Ford EcoBoost Engines Now Have EGR Coolers

Well this is a new one. We recently had a 2019 Ford Ranger FX4 in for testing. For those unfamiliar with the specs of Ford's reborn small'ish truck, it is currently only available with a 2.3L EcoBoost 4-Cylinder engine and the 10R80 10-Speed Auto. That mill has proven to be pretty stout in tuned Mustang application dating back to 2015, and there are a few guys turning them up in Rangers too.

However, as I was poking around under the hood of our test truck I noticed something odd. Ford is equipping the Ranger's 2.3L with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation ("EGR") system that also includes a tiny EGR Cooler. By now you probably know that clogged EGR Coolers have led to the early death of countless diesels over the years, and I've never seen one fitted to a Ford gas motor. Nonetheless, there it...

Justin Starkey Fills Us in About VMP's Odin 2.65L TVS Supercharger

We just got back from PRI 2019 and we have a lot of information to share with you. On top of Ford Performance releasing thier new 'Werewolf' Iron Coyote Block, this year's show was the first chance for many to lay eyes on @VMP Performance's 2.65L TVS Supercharger. We were on hand to get some pics of the blower from a few angles you may not have seen. Plus; the man behind the product, Justin Starkey, took the time to share some design details with us. If you like massive intercooler cores and serious power potential I think you'll be pleased. Check it out:

Whipple or Kenne Bell? | What Are We Looking At?

If you’ve been in the performance community for any decent period of time some things just become instantly recognizable. To a gearheads ears here’s no mistaking the sound of a blow-off valve bleeding off some boost pressure or the piercing tones of a Coyote powered Mustang with some Borla Stingers. Similarly, we all know that Kenne Bell blowers are massive blocks of billet aluminum bolted to your favorite engine, while a Whipple Supercharger features a ribbed cast aluminum case. And then there’s this:

No, your eyes are not deceiving you. What we have here is a relic of the past, from a time when Whipple and Kenne Bell were just starting in the supercharger business. A time when the two companies were more closely related than you might think. The founders of each company, Art Whipple and Jim...

SVTP Tool-Tech | Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner

Spring is upon us and Ford Performance Vehicles are once again hitting the streets after a long winter nap. However, many of them may wake to find they are now suffering from gummed up fuel systems. It you stored your car over the winter with fuel of questionable quality you may just find yourself a victim. Modern fuel formulations, due to blended ethanol, are a major culprit here.

So if you find yourself with clogged or weak injectors, what can you do? Well the cheapest and easiest thing to try is a fuel system cleaner. There are literally hundreds of different cleaners on the market, and the vast majority of them are garbage. I can’t name all the ones that do work, but I can tell you that Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner is one of them. I’ve used it with great success in my 04...

Win a Free Cooler | SVTP Tool-Tech | Tourit Voyager Backpack Cooler

We finished up our first season of SVTP Tool-Tech videos with a review of bottle openers, because a cold beer and wrenching on your favorite Ford is a match made in Heaven. However, that beer better be cold; Ice Cold. Nobody should have to suffer the indignity of tepid beer, especially not an SVTP Member. So if you’re out and about that means you’re going to need a cooler.

It just so happened that upstart outdoor merchandise manufacturer Tourit called us up and offered us the opportunity to test any of their products we were interested in. They claim unmatched quality and utility, so we were keen to check out their wares. While they have an extensive line of coolers, bags, and backpacks we quickly zeroed in on a fairly unique cooler. We requested the 30-...

Ford's 450HP 7.3L 'Godzilla' V8 | Inside Info & Spy Pics | Where's the Direct Injection?

It's safe to say that there's some excitement around the release of Ford's New 7.3L Godzilla V8 Engine. Let's face it, no one really expected to see a brand new pushrod V8 engine design from Ford Motor Company in 2019. We here at SVTP did our best to bring you the insider info we uncovered during the 7.X's development, and now that it is here we can share with you some of the "behind-the-scenes" materials we were able to dig up and some HP numbers we keep hearing batted around.

So to not bury the lead, we've heard from several sources that the internal goal for the 7.3L Godzilla engine is 450HP. It may come in a little higher or lower, but that seems to be the figure Ford engineers were initially shooting for. No word yet on...

Livernois Motorsports | Cylinder Head Porting for the Serious Power Addict

It’s safe to say that we’ve all heard that an engine is essential an air pump. That statement is as true today as it was when our hot rod forbearers were installing Offenhauser Intake Manifolds on the Flat-Head V8s in their A-Model Fords. While we might have moved on a bit from a technological standpoint, the basic principles still remain. Moving more air with less resistance allows you the opportunity to make more power, and few shops understand the intricacies of increasing airflow like Livernois Motorsports in Dearborn, MI (Detroit to you and me).

14" 4 Piston Wilwood Big Brake Kit by Full Tilt Boogie Racing

Hey guys! I'm sure some of you have seen some of my videos and posts on the new kit I have been testing for Full Tilt Boogie Racing. It's the 14inch 4 piston Wilwood kit. Here is an in depth look at the kit. Will be doing a review and hard road test video coming soon like I said in the video. The kit is up on their site. So far the kit is Insane...

VMP Performance's 2018 Coyote Engine Modification Preview

The crew over at VMP Performance have, not surprisingly, been digging deep into planning their modification strategy for the 2018 5.0 Coyote V8 Powered Mustang GT. It's no secret at this point that the 5.0 is due for some major updates, and those changes will bring with them a new set of challenges. To say that VMP is eager to get their hands dirty is an understatement...

Whipple Gen-3 Rotor Upgrade for the 2.9L Twin Screw Supercharger

Our friends over at Lethal Performance shared the following information about their New Exclusive Gen-3 Rotor Upgrade for the Whipple 2.9L Twin Screw Supercharger. This upgrade kit sounds like exactly what the twin-screw market has been looking for, and it's going to be very interesting to see how far early adopters will be able to push the performance envelope. Best of all, if you were thinking about pulling the trigger on a new Whipple kit you can get the Gen-3 upgrade for a mere $200 extra. That's a no-brainer in my book. Check out the full details below, and give Lethal Performance a call ordering details...

SVTP Previews the Magnuson 4.6 3V Supercharger System

After the success we have experienced with the 2.3L Magnuson supercharger kit on the 5.0 Coyote Powered SVTP GT we we’re really excited to get a chance to work with its little brother. Magnuson’s MP1900 TVS Supercharger Kit for 2007-2009 S197 Mustangs with the 4.6L 3V V8 is a truly impressive looking system. The 1900 TVS blower features Eaton’s latest 6th Generation supercharger rotor technology, which can also be found in 2013-14 SVT Mustang GT500 5.8L Trinity engine. Eaton’s TVS technology consists of a pair of four-lobe, high-helix rotors with 160-degrees of overall twist. This results in a supercharger that requires less power to...