S550 Ford Mustang Buyer’s Guide: Is this the bes...

Let’s Begin With Engines

The long-lasting Ford 5.0 Coyote engine. Picture courtesy Vorshlag Motorsports.

Ford provided a number of trim ranges, choices and packages for the S550. Let’s begin narrowing down the alternatives by engine.

The two.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder? Constructed for financial system, not efficiency, says Terry of the 310-horsepower engine. The turbos have a tendency to construct up warmth, too.

The three.7-liter V6? Not this one, both. The burden financial savings doesn’t overcome the reduce in energy, with the V6 placing out 300 horses. Terry provides that the V6 does make for a wonderful, economical cruiser automobile, if that’s what you want.

How concerning the 5.2-liter Voodoo V8? You realize, the one within the Shelby GT350? Don’t go for it, both, advises Terry. The unconventional mixture of a flat-plane crank in a V8 creates detrimental harmonics.

“They only vibrate themselves aside,” says Terry. “Typically it’ll unscrew an oil filter. Typically it pops out a rod. They rated them for 526 horsepower. Ford overrated them and underrated the Gen 3 Coyote engine. They’re so much nearer in efficiency on a dyno.”

Then there’s the 5.2-liter Predator V8 within the Shelby GT500. Whereas definitely probably the most highly effective Mustang, it does include its drawbacks, other than worth.

“The GT500 is an actual monitor automobile,” Terry says. “They’re legit quick. A number of it comes all the way down to that Tremec DCT TR-9070. It’s a freakin’ murals. The GT500 is actually heavy. The standard V8 GT automobile is about 3600 kilos. The GT500 is 4200 kilos. However the tuning of the GT500 is so good.

“Nevertheless, I’m not a fan of boosted V8s,” Terry continues. “It’s producing extra warmth than you may get out. After a couple of laps, they begin to pull horsepower. However they’re so quick it’s onerous to really feel that you just misplaced 100 of your 760 horsepower.”

So, yeah, the GT500 is smart–should you’ve obtained the {dollars}. We’re not simply speaking the acquisition worth. With extra weight and extra energy comes extra consumables–gasoline, tires, brakes, and so forth.

An intriguing selection is the Mach 1, produced from 2021 to 2023. The 2021 makes use of the Gen 3 Coyote and places out 480 horses and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. The next 12 months, these numbers drop to 470 and 410, respectively. It will get a bunch of the great things from the Shelbys, such because the engine oil cooler, rear axle cooling system and, maybe extra importantly, the Tremec TR-3160, which the GT350 had and S650 Darkish Horse makes use of. It’s a sturdy, smooth-shifting, six-speed guide that Terry says is healthier than the Getrag MT82. Count on to pay between $35,000 to $40,000 for one, although.

The most effective bang to your buck comes with the Coyote V8, notably the Gen 3 model that got here out in 2018. That era included bigger valves and a twin injection system that makes use of direct and port injection. These revisions elevated energy by 25 horses, to 460, and 20 lb.-ft. of torque, to 420. It’s essential to notice that the 2022-and-up fashions noticed these numbers lower a tad, to 450 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. It’s loads of energy, greater than $10,000 cheaper than the Mach 1, and rather more extensively obtainable.

Different Issues to Store For

The inverted hat rotors on the bottom GT’s 14-inch four-piston brakes overheat shortly and simply don’t reduce it., based on Terry Truthful. Picture courtesy Vorshlag Motorsports.

Okay, so let’s recap, you’re searching for a GT coupe, from 2018 to 2021, to get that Gen 3 Coyote V8 with probably the most energy. Must you save a couple of {dollars} by going for that base, no-frills mannequin? No, Terry says emphatically. He’s tried it.

“My first observe, I came upon that my automobile was very compromised,” concedes Terry. “With the bottom 235mm tires, it was slower than a Gen 1 86. When you don’t have the Efficiency Pack 1, you’re lacking out on a variety of good issues. The PP1 got here with 15-inch diameter, six-piston Brembo entrance brakes, higher ABS programming, higher cooling, extra gauges, a Torsen limited-slip differential, tunneled entrance undertray, and a bumper lip splitter. This PP1 bundle is the higher entry-level mannequin GT to purchase.”

Ford additionally provided the Efficiency Pack 2. That sounds even higher, proper? Not essentially. “These appear to be a greater monitor automobile, and should you’re planning on conserving it bone inventory, they is likely to be,” Terry says. “However the tires aren’t vast sufficient, the MagneRide shocks require extra expense when switching to a efficiency damper, they usually’re saddled with a wide range of good, costly choices that make it a greater avenue automobile however don’t add something to on-track efficiency. What the PP2 mannequin does have is a entrance splitter with diffuser ducts bringing air as much as cool the brakes. However that splitter will be put in on a PP1 automobile with ease.”

Lastly, computerized versus guide? Automatics have gotten good. Actually good. Proper? Sure … however.

“The automatics are quick,” says Terry. “Quick on the drag strip. Quick on the primary lap on monitor. However they construct warmth and can’t shed it whereas on monitor. The 2018 mannequin change from the six-speed computerized to the 10-speed computerized was a dramatic enchancment in sturdiness and efficiency, however they nonetheless have warmth points on monitor.. Additionally, should you get a Efficiency Pack with the automated, you don’t get the Torsen differential.”

So what’s the S550 you need? Terry recommends a 2018-’21 GT coupe with a Efficiency Pack 1 and a guide transmission. If it has the extra supportive Recaro seats, that’s a bonus, as the usual seats really feel like one thing out of a Nineteen Seventies cruiser, says Terry.

Earlier than Your First Occasion, Do This

Whereas Terry doesn’t suggest shopping for the Efficiency Pack 2 because of prices, he does extremely tout the PP1 entrance undertray and longer splitter lip from the PP2 bundle. When you begin with a 2018-up base GT, each of those upgrades are an enchancment for downforce and brake cooling. It simply installs on base 2018-2023 GT vehicles. Picture courtesy Vorshlag Motorsports.

The Ford Mustang delivers fairly a little bit of energy and has fairly a little bit of heft. That mass and acceleration takes a toll on brakes.

“Most OEM pads and alternative avenue pads for the Mustang will fade or soften when subjected to trace use,” says Terry. “Most OEM fluid will boil. Use a efficiency pad compound and brake fluid that may maintain as much as the abuse.”

Nice pads and brake fluid are simply the beginning.

“Good pads ultimately fade after warmth soaking,” Terry says. “Stop this by directing cool air to the rotor. Use both ducted backing plates or deflectors. For the 2018-and-older vehicles, including the PP1 entrance undertray supplies diffusers that pull air as much as the brake deflectors. For the sooner vehicles, you’ll have to offer ducting or an aftermarket diffuser within the undertray just like the splitter ramps from Skilled Superior.”

What finally stops the automobile, although? That’s proper: the tires. Whereas extra brakes and tires appears logical for nearly any automobile, they’re particularly essential with the heavy, highly effective Mustang.

“We suggest a 305 or 315 tire on an 11-inch-wide wheel,” says Terry, including that the Mustang will simply take these widths. “Transferring to those bigger sizes is dear to begin with, however with bigger tires comes higher longevity. The efficiency benefit is plain, too.”

Terry suggests that you just discover the model, mannequin and width of tire you need first, after which resolve between the 18- or 19-inch wheel choices. The favored 315/30R18 works fairly effectively on an 18×11 wheel however is considerably shorter and may have an effect on gearing. A 305/30R19 tire is nearer to the inventory tire peak and suits effectively on a 19×11 wheel.

Need these dear tires to final even longer? Cue in entrance camber.

“Add all of the camber to the entrance finish,” says Terry. “Camber plates will usually pay for themselves inside two weekends within the tire life they save. Opening the strut tower circle can unlock extra camber in some camber plates.”

Don’t Do This First, Although

The Mustang comes with an enormous honkin’ American V8. Why not add extra energy? Nicely …

“It’s the very first thing individuals wish to do,” says Terry. “Folks say, ‘I need it to make extra noise, extra energy, and I’m going to go sooner due to that.’ No, it doesn’t want any extra energy. We held again from touching something on the engine on our 2018 Mustang till our second 12 months, as a result of it’s actually good.”

The chassis doesn’t want any further stiffening, both.

“The vehicles are already very stiff and weigh so much,” Terry explains. “There isn’t any want so as to add extra ballast to them. They don’t want any bracing.”

Don’t go for spherical bushings except you’re operating on the pointy finish of the spectrum of motorsport. There’s solely a minor efficiency acquire in alternate for a serious improve in noise and vibration.

Apart from possibly swapping in an adjustable rear-upper camber arm to get extra camber, don’t mess with adjustable arms, advises Terry. “The S550 rear suspension geometry works effectively,” he says. “Until you trigger some geometry concern that requires an adjustable arm to repair, it’s unlikely you want a different-length arm.”

Talking of that rear suspension, don’t over-lower the rear, warns Terry. “There’s some self-correcting geometry within the S550 rear suspension that may save a driver when the automobile is mildly overdriven,” he says. “Decreasing the automobile an excessive amount of will negate this geometry.”

Extra caster is pointless as effectively except you’re operating a top-speed occasion.

Lastly, return to that engine, don’t overrev it. It sounds cool even earlier than that time–and performs higher, too. “The Coyote engine makes a lot of torque,” Terry says. “Drive it so you should utilize that torque. Revving it to the redline causes some points with warmth and valvetrain failure. These engines are sturdy and may final tens of 1000’s of monitor miles, however not in the event that they’re wrung out.

Feeling Frisky? Then Think about These Mods

Coil-overs supply some positive factors within the dealing with division. Picture courtesy Vorshlag Motorsports.

You’ve obtained the higher brake pads, brake fluid, greater tires and extra camber, however you need extra. No drawback. There are a couple of different issues you may simply do to realize some efficiency.

Go together with coil-overs. The Mustang, based on Terry, is woefully undersprung, and you may’t get the spring charges you want with out swapping in some efficiency coil-overs. “Altering springs to stiffer charges means that you can present some steadiness to the automobile with out having the sway bars maxed out,” says Terry. “It reduces roll and turns the tires on faster. Damping that has a steeper compression curve and sufficient drive to work with the stiffer springs retains drive on the tires and makes them work constantly.”

Talking of sway bars, aka anti-roll bars, that’s not a nasty change to do, both. Adjustable ones can assist you tune the automobile with little penalty to geometry. When you’re at it, substitute the anti-roll bar bushings so the bar can rotate with zero bind. Bind ends in lifting a wheel. When the wheel is within the air, you’ve got zero grip.

As talked about earlier than, should you’re going to do something to that rear suspension, go together with one alternative arm to extend rear camber. Extra camber ups your efficiency and will increase tire life. That’s a win-win state of affairs.

Add a six-point harness to your Recaro seats. In case your Mustang didn’t include that, get a superb aftermarket one. “Not only for security,” advises Terry, “however to carry you in place so you may think about working the controls moderately than holding your self in place. This can be a system that includes seat mounts, the seat, a harness and a roll bar.”

When you’re considering security, a fire-suppression system can save your automobile–and possibly even your life. “The burden and expense looks like so much till you lose a automobile to fireside,” says Terry. “There are numerous methods a fireplace can begin on monitor that may devour a automobile. Modified vehicles are extra inclined, however even utterly inventory vehicles could cause a fireplace. Fairly priced programs can be found.”

Including hood vents can be advantageous. First, it improves engine cooling. Second, it reduces front-end carry. “Kits can be found to make this straightforward,” says Terry. “It’s not the foremost fabrication job it was once.”

Picture courtesy Vorshlag Motorsports.

Accomplished all this? Okay, lastly, let’s speak energy. Three issues can assist get you some fast energy–a cold-air consumption, long-tube headers and a tune. “All three alone do little or no,” says Terry, “however do all three and extra torque and a few upper-end horsepower reveals up–30 to 40 on the wheels. Make it possible for any tune you’ve got achieved retains a linear throttle. Having a linear throttle supplies higher throttle modulation. Work together with your tuner to offer a street course-safe tune with much less ignition timing and possibly a couple of horsepower lower than the last word kill tune that avenue racers may in any other case chase.”

Extra energy? Nice. How about much less weight, too?

“Take the again seat out,” says Terry. “It’s about 60 kilos. You may’t match anyone again there anyway except you haven’t any legs otherwise you’re 2 years previous. That’s some weight, however more often than not we’re taking the again seat out so we will put a four-point roll bar in … and that weighs about 60 kilos. The entrance seats are sort of heavy … A correct race seat with a slider and a base, you may lose 15 kilos. The entrance fenders, hood and trunk are all aluminum. When you use carbon, you may lose 15 kilos for the hood, 10 kilos for the trunk. The doorways are heavy. They’re 84 kilos apiece. Substitute that with carbon, however they’ve zero side-impact bars inside. In order that requires a cage. Guess what? That weighs 175 kilos. It’s a wash. In my S550, we’ve touched nearly each system for weight, and it nonetheless weighs 3600 kilos.”

All Revved Up for an S550?

Picture courtesy Vorshlag Motorsports

So now which S550 to purchase and what your plan of motion is. What’s yet one more perk of the S550? It’s obtained a wealth of assist and there are many vehicles on the market.

“It was the number-one-selling sports activities automobile globally for a few years,” says Terry. “We’re going to be speaking about these vehicles for the subsequent 20 years. The general public who can be a buyer for a brand-new Mustang are going to have a look at the S550. The S650 wasn’t sufficient higher, it’s solely gotten heavier and costlier. The Darkish Horses are considerably higher than the bottom 2018-2023 Mustang GTs, nevertheless it’s a $70,000 automobile. It is advisable spend like $55,000 for a brand new Mustang that’s not horrible. That’s simply onerous to swallow for some individuals. So, they’ll exit and spend $20,000 to $30,000 and get a extremely good S550 and beat the snot out of it. The engines final eternally should you don’t overrev them. The transmissions are fairly good–you simply obtained to know sooner or later you’re going to have to switch them. It’s a extremely good efficiency cut price, and you may beat a 911 on monitor with little or no effort with a Mustang.”