2015 Mustang GT vs. 2016 Shelby GT350 Dyno

[EditorTurner]

Coyote vs. Voodoo
Comparing the power of a 2015 Mustang GT and a 2016 Shelby GT350
By Steve Turner

In recent weeks we visited VMP Performance to document the dyno testing and tuning of two brand new Mustangs. The company recently acquired a 2015 Mustang GT slated for all-out race car duty in the NMRA’s Coyote Modified class. The other new project is a 2016 Shelby GT350, which is destined to live the life of a jack-of-all-trades while maintaining its streetability. Since we were there to see the baseline testing of both cars, we thought it might be fun to compare the output of the two in stock form to see just how much difference there is between the everyman’s GT and the top dog GT350.
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[SID297]

Excellent comparison Steve. Looks like the GT350 doesn't really start to stretch it's legs (compared to the 5.0) until 4700 RPM.

 

[saf1]

That 350 just keeps pulling power well into the 8,000 RPM range. Did Ford govern or limit that because it looks like it could keep going.

Also with that power band what is their track target? Seems like the car would prefer stretches of longer roads than shorter.

 

[tt335ci03cobra]

That 350 just keeps pulling power well into the 8,000 RPM range. Did Ford govern or limit that because it looks like it could keep going.

Also with that power band what is their track target? Seems like the car would prefer stretches of longer roads than shorter.

It has a great gearing/power spread from 30mph to 130mph or so. You can be a gear too high or a gear too low in that range and it will still pull very strongly/remain deep in its broad power range. It basically has great acceleration from 4-8,000 rpm.

1st is a tall gear for the powerband, and hits about 55mph at redline. 5th is tall but usable, 6th is too tall to really accelerate at much over 160 I'd imagine. I believe it about a .70 to .60, ratio while 5th is a 1.0

 

[tvspower]

Then all is needed is a rear gear change??? Say to a 390.

 

[DSG2003SVT]

Ford just released 4.09 gears for the Super 8.8 in the S550 IRS. That's the only option that's steeper than a 3.73 right now. I think 4.09s would be great in the GT350, but you'd lose a little of the flexibility of the 3.73s on the road course. It depends on what you want from the car really.

 

[Red dragon]

Let me ask you something. I have a 2016 gt, and I find 6th gear to be absolutely useless. I could be doing 110-120 in 5th, at around 5500-6000 rpm, and when I put it in 6th it just bogs down to 2500-3000.. and it just takes forever to get going again. Now with the 4:09 gears coming wouldn't that bring 6th gear to life? And especially through the other gears? Wouldn't the new gears just light the tires on fire? Thanks in advance.

 

[tomshep]

6th isn't a "performance" gear. Is is in the .6? overdrive range. It is for mileage and highway driving.

Tom

 

[Red dragon]

So wouldn't 6th become more of a performance gear(useful gear) if I swapped out the 3.73 for a 4.09? Or would it remain the same as it is now? And just so you know, I'm only asking because I honestly don't know the answer. I'm not trying to say you're wrong, I'm honestly asking because I don't know. Thank you for the response.

 

[THE_EVIL_TW1N]

So wouldn't 6th become more of a performance gear(useful gear) if I swapped out the 3.73 for a 4.09? Or would it remain the same as it is now? And just so you know, I'm only asking because I honestly don't know the answer. I'm not trying to say you're wrong, I'm honestly asking because I don't know. Thank you for the response.

I would have to say no. It's a little more useful,but still a fuel saving gear.

 

[Red dragon]

Thanks alot guys. So just so I understand the difference between the 2 gears. Om currently running the 3.73, if I change to the 4:09, what difference will I see? I thought it would rev higher in the gears, having to go through the gears faster then I am right now. Under that assumption, I thought that trend would continue to 6th meaning it would rev higher in 6th also. Thanks for hanging in there with me guys.

 

[GT Premi]

Thanks alot guys. So just so I understand the difference between the 2 gears. Om currently running the 3.73, if I change to the 4:09, what difference will I see? I thought it would rev higher in the gears, having to go through the gears faster then I am right now. Under that assumption, I thought that trend would continue to 6th meaning it would rev higher in 6th also. Thanks for hanging in there with me guys.

You are correct, but 6th gear is still too tall to be a "performance" gear. It'll pull more, but it's still not going to be great. It would come alive with, say, a 4.56 ring gear, but driving around town would be brutal.

 

[Red dragon]

I got it now. Thank you for your explanations... Once these gears are available I'm getting them. I'm doing the power pack 3 and the 4:09 gears. At the very least it will wake the car up... You guys have a great weekend.

 

[Rael]

But realize that your lower gears will become a bit less useful--and those're the ones you (normally) use more.

 

[Red dragon]

Meaning I will have to shift through them quicker because I will go through them faster?

 

[Rael]

Well, yeah, sort of. You could end up with a gear (or gears) just not being very useful anymore. There are 5 gears spread out in the range to 1:1. If you put in bigger gears, you're shifting the whole range.

I think one of the points above is that yes, you can increase power in 6th, but since that gear is meant for cruising, you'll lose some of its purpose while also taking away some of the lower gear range.

(But I've never run larger than 3.73s.)

 

[Red dragon]

Thanks for explaining it. I wish it wasn't so expensive to do. It's like I gotta get it right the first time. It's about a 12 hour job. If it wasn't so labor extensive, I could do it, if I didn't like it, go back to the 3:73. But if I do it, I'm gonna have to like it Atleast for a good while... maybe I'll do the power pack first, maybe the new power will make 6th alittle better to my liking.. then I'll decide.. and lastly, will the track pack help with that nasty wheel hop? That's embarrassing..

 

[GT Premi]

A gear change is not a 12 hour job. Whomever quoted you that time is trying to rip you off. I believe book time for a gear change is 2 or 3 hours.

Sent from my BlackBerry. The blacker the 'Berry, the sweeter the use!

 

[Red dragon]

I know in the previous models it was alot easier. I didn't think nothing of it, I actually assumed it was gonna take longer to do because of the irs. I'll have to ask them why it will take so long.

 

[Voltwings]

Just because you go through the gears faster, does not mean you are accelerating faster. The more power you have, the less gear you need, why do you think vettes have long ass gears? I would never put a 4.09 on an engine this powerful.

I had a 3.31 geared coyote, my wife has a 3.55, and my mother has a 3.73 (we're a mustang family). Personally, the 3.31 was my favorite, but i could see it being a bit much on this engine. The 3.55 is nice, but is about as much as i would go, i already feel like the 3.73 is WAY too much shifting... a 4.09 ... i would shoot myself. I really dont see it being beneficial in anything other than 1/4 mile driving.