650 HP Supercharged Boss 302 Laguna Seca by Hennessey Performance

[Hennessey Performance]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3DjWNt9iwI

Gentlemen,

I can tell you that my recent experience in driving the stock 2012 Ford Mustang with the Boss 302 Laguna Seca package was simply impressive. The car straight from the factory reminds me of something in between a BMW M3 and a Viper ACR. The car feels light, agile and very responsive. The power delivery is strong, torque curve is flat and the engine is able to rev to well over 7000 rpm. All from a car that makes around 390 rear wheel hp. It sounds great too!

Now fast forward to today as I get a chance to drive the same car with a few tweaks including a supercharger system producing 10 psi of boost on 93 octane pump gas. The added power has taken a great car and made it even better. The increase in rwhp and rw torque is still completely usable with this car. We ran on the factory Pirelli Corsa tires and were able to run 11.9 @ 125 mph in the 1/4 mile. This car might even surprise a few FGT and Corvette ZR1 owners. Sure, there are lots of fast modified Mustangs out there and they are not anything new. But the Boss 302 Mustang with the Laguna Seca package is a track ready, world-class race car that can be driven every day. Increasing the power to 650 hp make the car nearly perfect in my book. I was thinking about picking up a used ZR1 later this year but I think that this car just changed my mind and saved me a few bucks in the process. Again, the new Mustang Boss 302 is a GREAT car. Add some more power to it and it is just about perfect! Way to go SVT and Ford!

 

[Indy GT]

John, I realize you are not the first to think about supercharging the new 5.0 Ford. But I just fail to see how supercharging an engine with 10 lbs of deck pressure on an engine which has a mechanical compression ratio of 11:0 works with 91-93 octane fuel without pulling spark advance WAY back. The OE engine has two engine valley knock sensors which provide active feedback to the ECU controlling advance. Are these active on your engine or have they been disabled?

I am sure your hp values are what they are, but could you post up the torque and HP curves for the base normally asperated Boss engine and then your supercharged engine for comparison to see what the supercharging benefits look like over the rpm spectrum?

Thanks.

 

[B.M.F.]

John, I realize you are not the first to think about supercharging the new 5.0 Ford. But I just fail to see how supercharging an engine with 10 lbs of deck pressure on an engine which has a mechanical compression ratio of 11:0 works with 91-93 octane fuel without pulling spark advance WAY back. The OE engine has two engine valley knock sensors which provide active feedback to the ECU controlling advance. Are these active on your engine or have they been disabled?

I am sure your hp values are what they are, but could you post up the torque and HP curves for the base normally asperated Boss engine and then your supercharged engine for comparison to see what the supercharging benefits look like over the rpm spectrum?

Thanks.

These cars have made into the 800rwhp range with out blowing up with this much compression. Pretty much all mod motors love compression and boost. John Mahovetz runs 12 to 1 with 50lbs of boost. Most of all the motors he builds run 10.5 to 12to 1 compression. and 18-50lbs of boost.

Also you will always make more power with compression and boost with less timing. rather then less compression, more boost and more timing.

With the wideband 02 sensors and the knock sensors in these motors, they are very smart. On top of that the varible valve timing has much todo with the ability to make this type of power on a stock motor with this much compression.

 

[on d bit]

By adding weight and disrupting balance to the Boss 302 makes it a gt500 in my mind. If big power is your goal, I dont see how a blown al block dohc 5.0 beats the blown al block dohc 5.4?
Want big power buy a gt500!
Want a track dog buy a boss and keep it N/A!

 

[sandman]

By adding weight and disrupting balance to the Boss 302 makes it a gt500 in my mind. If big power is your goal, I dont see how a blown al block dohc 5.0 beats the blown al block dohc 5.4?
Want big power buy a gt500!
Want a track dog buy a boss and keep it N/A!

For each their own and I'm glad Mr. Hennessey had the time, $ and opportunity for this exercise but I agree with on d bit. I just don't see the need when the GT 500 is already available.

 

[Hennessey Performance]

GT500 is a lot heavier than the Boss 302. Boss feels like an M3. Ford 5.0 is capable of making a lot more than 563 rw hp and maintains perfect reliability. Indy, I dont do the technical analysis program as it is a waste of time. I am sure there are plenty of other 5.0 Ford V8 expects on other Ford forums who would be glad to go through the point by point discussion with you.

Bottom line is simple: The Boss 302 Mustang, especially the Laguna Seca package, is the absolute real deal in total bone stock form. It has classic American muscle car looks and BMW M3-like feel and performance but only faster. Add some more power to it and it will challenge a stock Ford GT on a road course, at the dragstrip or on the street. Those are the facts and any of you that may get a chance to drive one of these cars sometime will certainly concur.

 

[Triheart7]

For each their own and I'm glad Mr. Hennessey had the time, $ and opportunity for this exercise but I agree with on d bit. I just don't see the need when the GT 500 is already available.

Looks like a cool track car!

 

[on d bit]

GT500 is a lot heavier than the Boss 302. Boss feels like an M3. Ford 5.0 is capable of making a lot more than 563 rw hp and maintains perfect reliability. Indy, I dont do the technical analysis program as it is a waste of time....

The current gt500 is about 3750lbs(without the heavy mach 1000 stereo) or close to 150lbs heavier than the base Boss. I have not heard/seen the 4 corner weight for the LS. How much weight does the blower/intercooler and all the plumbing add to the Boss? I would wager that after the blower install the difference between the two vehicles is 50lbs give or take. I dont look at that difference as a lot.

You are right some people may just like the look of the Boss or just like saying high horsepower blown 5.0!

 

[Apollo]

Incredible John,
I love that you are working your magic on Fords again. Started seeing too many of those GM things lately... :lol
I agree with you on the LS platform, we are having a blast with how well ours works as a package. Maybe a Hennessey upgrade is in our future. :thumbsup

 

[2112]

I am impressed

 

[Silverbullitt]

I have driven a 2011 Shelby GT 350. It is much more responsive and outcorners a GT 500 according to the owner. He sold his 500 and replaced it with the 350.

The LS motor has forged internals, better heads and cams, and is lighter than the 350. The 5.0 is the future of Ford Performance. There is an aluminator 5.0 available from Ford Racing that has lower compression. It is ready for high boost.

There was an article in 5.0 magazine where they compared a boosted 5.0 GT motor to a GT 500. The 5.0 made ten percent more power at comparable boost levels. Just think what a 5.4 or 5.8 coyote could do. I can't wait.

 

[Indy GT]

GT500 is a lot heavier than the Boss 302. Boss feels like an M3. Ford 5.0 is capable of making a lot more than 563 rw hp and maintains perfect reliability. Indy, I dont do the technical analysis program as it is a waste of time. I am sure there are plenty of other 5.0 Ford V8 expects on other Ford forums who would be glad to go through the point by point discussion with you.

John, I have previously owned a GT500 and now own an LS. As posted above the weight difference is on the order of 200 lbs which is really not a "lot". The big difference is balance and how the weight is distributed on the four tires. The GT500 was very nose heavy as would be expected with the heavier (than the 5.0) supercharged 5.4.

And though I understand and accept your statement about not knowing all the "technical analysis program" stuff, there are those on this forum that can understand engine performance by simply looking at the horsepower and torque graphs whichI asked that you post. I assume if you make the claim that your supercharged 5.0 makes 650 hp (is that crank or rear wheel?) you must have some engine performance data on which to base this statement. Just asking for a posting of the before and after hp/torque curves. You do not have to offer any technical discertation.

Thanks again for sharing this advertising information with us.

 

[nota4re]

John, I agree with your observation and praise of the LS as it is out of the box. Ford did an UNBELIEVABLE job with the car out of the box. Like you, I also have daily driving experience with a CTS-V but heading out of the door in the morning, I am more often than not reaching for the LS keys. The only thing that I think the magazines have gotten wrong about the car is when some remarked about the impracticality of using as a daily driver. What the heck were they thinking?? It is very comfortable. It doesn't jar you to death. The exhaust note (sans disks) is pure music. The Recaros are VERY comfortable - and a way better seat than the Recaros in the V! It's a GREAT driver on the street.... and I can only imagine that like a fixed up 4x4 truck, the street is where they will spend the majority of their time. Perhaps unfortunate, but true. I can only imagine the ADDITIONAL fun that your SC would add for the daily messin' around. I stand in admiration and applaud your accomplishments - day in and day out to provide first of a kind availability of go-fast mods for the most recent offerings from the auto manufacturers!! Finally, your participation and support of the Forum and its members is totally cool. Now, having tracked the LS (albeit the amatuer driver that I am) I think there's a list of tweaks that can/should be made to better inable the car to perform and perform consistently. I haven't yet thought about additional HP in the equation - but it certainly sounds interesting!!

Likely a repeated reference, but you just have to have a look at this chart to realize what the Ford engineers have accomplished!! Just have a look at the company and price points of the other cars around the LS/BOSS!

http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna_seca.html

 

[nota4re]

Another review and comparison of 5.0L to 6.2L.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/muscle-car-drag-race-video-review-feature/

 

[djs]

Looked at a standard B-2today, recaros, orange paint. Really impressive. At Court Street Ford in Bourbonnais, IL, just north if Kankakee. Offered me MSRP. I'd gladly buy it, but I already have a car I can't drive in Illinois winters. Really liked the sound, and the cloth seats were a nice throwback. Anyone who springs for a Camaro over one of these needs his head examined.

 

[timcantwell]

John, thanks for sharing. Now if I can only get the SCCA to ignore the rulebook in my case, I would add your supercharger to my new Boss 302S race car that Ford is delivering to me this Fall!

 

[Hennessey Performance]

Congrats Tim!

 

[BM SoCal]

What's with some of the bitchy comments in this thread? If a guy is excited about something that's not your cup of tea can't you just think to yourself "not my thing" and move on?