The Ford Mustang is one iconic car. So much so, in fact, that the great Wilson Pickett even sang a song in ode to it. Or was it about Sally?
Anyway, the Mustang is certainly one of America’s most popular ‘muscle’ cars; in a country with over 287 million registered cars, Ford had manufactured more than 10 million Mustangs by 2018. More remarkably, Americans choose it almost every time when looking for a good, reliable sports car. That’s excellent news for a brand that has been around since Ford introduced it to the industry 54 years ago.
That said, and as powerful as the Mustang is, the car does have a few limitations. And sometimes, a tweak to inject a little more zest and oomph is required. The good news is that this can be done without breaking the bank. With that in mind, here are 7 steps to improving your Ford Mustang’s horsepower.
REPLACE THE EXHAUST
Are you aware that something as simple as replacing the exhaust can transform your Mustang’s horsepower? You may be wondering how that helps. Well, for starters, the car comes with a stock exhaust system that’s full of restrictions. And to put it bluntly, that system is holding you back.
It needs to go. In its place, you should contemplate installing a free-flowing version instead. A bit more creativity wouldn’t do you any harm, either. Examples of further actions worth implementing include:
- Installing a quality exhaust back box or muffler
- Replacing restrictive stock manifold with a tubular header
- Complying with emissions retention requirements by replacing exhaust aft of the car’s catalytic converter
INCREASE THE INTAKE OF COLD AIR
Secondly, you ought to consider increasing the car’s intake of cold air. Here, you have a simple act to perform. Essentially, installing a cold air intake boosts the car’s performance incredibly. To do this, you’d have to visit top mechanics to carry out a comprehensive diagnosis of the car’s capabilities (shortcomings) and the most effective solutions. Once that’s done, you’ll notice the need for replacing the following with cold air intake:
- Mass air sensor
- Stock filter
- Restrictive stock air-box
How much does this small and seemingly negligible improvement add to the Mustang’s horsepower? You’ll be impressed to notice an increase of between 8-15 horsepower with this measure. More impressively, the engine will emit a better-sounding growl than what you’re accustomed to. Nevertheless, your options aren’t limited here since you only have to add a little more money to install a topnotch K&N filter, too.
REPROGRAMMING THE ECU
Did you buy your Mustang fresh from the manufacturer? In that case, it arrived with fuel and ignition curves that are tuned conservatively. You don’t have to drive the car for the rest of your (and its) life here on earth with those curves. Instead, you should consider reprogramming the ECU. This specific measure will probably be the costliest of the affordable measures outlined here. Nevertheless, it leaves you with a dramatically improved performance.
Apart from enhancing the horsepower, remapped ECU offers other benefits that include:
- A significant improvement in air/fuel mixture
- Improves fuel economy
- Improved drivability
- Boosting throttle response
- Easily customizable to your needs
REPLACING UNDERDRIVE PULLEYS
Mustangs come with several large underdrive pulleys. They need replacing as soon as possible, but only with the help of an experienced, professional, certified, and highly skilled mechanic. Replacing these pulleys with components such as power steering and fan will get you better results. Remarkably, a smaller underdrive from a trusted company will also see your Mustang’s horsepower improve significantly. Smaller pulleys also deliver more benefits that include:
- Reducing bloodsucking pull on the motor
- Enables the engine to gain up to 10 horsepower
- Improves fuel mileage
UPGRADE THE SUSPENSION
While focusing on horsepower is crucial, the handling of your Mustang is equally important to ensure that the power is effectively put to the ground. Upgrading to Mustang coilovers can be a game-changer for your vehicle’s performance. Not only do they provide a more aggressive stance, but they also offer improved handling dynamics, allowing you to fine-tune the suspension for better grip and cornering ability.
With adjustable settings, you can lower your Mustang’s center of gravity, which reduces body roll and enhances stability at high speeds. Consider this upgrade as a complement to the power enhancements you’re making, and you’ll feel a significant difference in how your Mustang tackles the roads.
INVESTING IN A FUEL SYSTEM CLEANER
Are you ready to invest roughly $50-$80 to boost the horsepower in your Ford Mustang? Well, that’s what it costs to get a highly efficient fuel system cleaner. More interestingly, you only need to give your mechanic around 2 hours, and the new cleaner will be in place. Furthermore, you’ll notice more benefits to the improved horsepower that you were looking for. These include the following:
- Dissolving and releasing all carbon residues
- Opening all the fuel lines that either perform poorly or are blocked
- Optimizing the performance of all fuel injectors
- Reducing emissions, thus improving efficiency, which translates to fewer toxic byproducts
- Increasing the efficiency of the car’s engine, which means better gas mileage while reducing wear and tear of different components of the engine
EMBRACE A GOOD TUNER
You may not be aware that your Ford Mustang comes with an internal computer, which needs proper tuning. A good tuner gives your car that much-needed kick in the backside that pushes it to incredible levels of performance. Nevertheless, you have to exercise caution here since tuners are slightly tricky. Make sure that you read and study on them as much as possible before contacting your mechanic to install a few tuners.
A good customized tuner would usually add 20 horsepower to your engine, especially if you design it to operate on high-octane gas. Here, you have to remember that your car has no problem running higher-octane gas than it’s tuned for. However, it could develop problems when forced to operate on lower octane. Some of these problems range from the simple to the most complex, and they include:
- Damaging the engine
- Voiding car’s warranty
- Reduced performance
- Terrible fuel economy
- Engine knocks
If you value having a Mustang of power and precision, then these changes shouldn’t be a huge undertaking. Moreover, all these suggested tweaks are eminently affordable. As always, do this only after consulting your professional mechanic. If you need more answers, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the experts over at Revology Cars Shop for clarification and additional details.