In 2013 Ford released the new Shelby GT500 paired with a 5.8L V8 producing 662hp and 631lbs-ft of torque, making it the most powerful North American V8 engine of it's time, and a tribute to the late Carroll Shelby.
Now, we are going to take the already powerful GT500 and install a JLT cold air intake, a smaller supercharger pulley, and larger fuel injectors due to the increased air flow.
1. Cold Air Intake
The first upgrade for any GT500 should be the increasing the airflow entering the supercharger and engine. The best way to do that is to install a JLT cold air intake (tune required). Not only does the JLT have a much cleaner look over the stock's muffler like design for emission regulations, it is also designed and engineered for the least amount of air restriction allowing the supercharger to pull in much larger volume of air leading to increased boost and power.
When looking at both cold air intake below, you notice a couple of big differences from the stock (left) and JLT (right). The biggest difference is the muffler or silencer on the stock intake that not only restricts airflow, but takes away the great supercharger whine that we all love. Another big difference is the paper filter on the stock intake that cannot be properly cleaned and re-oiled like the JLT filter.
When installing the JLT intake ( This thing moves a ton of air!) tuning is required for max performance and efficiencies. Without this can cause your GT500 to run incorrectly leading to increased fuel mileage, overheating the supercharger & engine, and reduced power or little to no power gain.
2. Supercharger Pulley
The next performance upgrade for the GT500 focuses on improving the supercharger system by reducing the size of the supercharger pulley. By installing a smaller pulley, the supercharger spins faster, which increases the volume of air being forced into the engine. This increased airflow results in more oxygen being available for combustion, ultimately translating into a significant increase in engine power and overall performance. A higher-speed supercharger allows for more efficient power delivery, especially at low rpms.
It is important to remember that when changing to a smaller or larger pulley, tuning becomes a crucial step. The engine’s air-fuel ratios, timing, and other parameters need to be adjusted to accommodate the increased air intake and ensure the engine runs efficiently without risk of detonation or other issues. Proper tuning will maximize the benefits of the pulley upgrade, optimizing both performance and reliability. Without proper calibration, the vehicle may experience performance loss or even potential damage.
2. Injectors
Before you get too carried away with the excitement of your upgraded cold air intake and smaller pulley, remember that the final key modification is upgrading your injectors. With the significant increase in airflow entering your engine, it's crucial to ensure that the fuel system can keep up. As more air enters, your engine needs a corresponding boost in fuel to maintain the ideal air-to-fuel ratio for optimal performance. Without this critical adjustment, you risk running lean, which can lead to engine knock, overheating, or damage.
Tuning
Proper tuning with HPtuners ensures that the engine performs at it's peak efficiency, balancing power, fuel consumption, and emissions. By carefully adjusting the air-fuel mixture, tuning enhances the vehicle’s responsiveness and ensures that every component works making the most amount of power while still being efficient as possible. This step is necessary to maximize the benefits of previous modifications, ensuring smooth, reliable, and safe operation of the engine.
