The number 8 piston on our 2011 Mustang GT finally threw in the towel and called it quits. That opened the door for the perfect opportunity to revamp our Project 777 car finally. You can follow along with the whole overhaul here – SVE Pace Car.
The first step in this restoration project was to get a new engine. We turned to our good friends at Ford Performance to assist us in replacing our now dead 5.0L Coyote Engine. Looking at the rough life our 2011 GT had lived up to this point, we knew we didn’t want to go back with a factory engine. This project car took part in just about every race event we attended and even did so many burnouts we lost track.
Ford Performance suggested that their Aluminator XS crate engine would be the perfect foundation for our project revamp. With its massive list of Ford Performance parts and improved rotating assembly consisting of Manely H beam connecting rods and Mahle forged pistons, we knew the Aluminator XS was up to the challenge!
Being our 2011 Mustang GT already came with a factory 5.0L Coyote engine, the installation was straightforward. You could almost call it plug-n-play! We had to remove the old trashed 5.0L engine and replace it with the new Ford Performance Aluminator XS crate engine. Since the Aluminator XS motor has a Cobra Jet Intake Manifold and CJ Throttle Body, you will need to pick up a matching intake tube. We would suggest the JLT Cobra Jet Cold Air Intake.
While the engine was out, this was the perfect opportunity to replace the worn-out factory clutch and upgrade to a Spec Stage 2 clutch. This clutch has performed flawlessly and helped retain a factory clutch pedal effort. This will be a huge benefit for road race sessions and the occasional in traffic driving it will see.
Once we got the engine installed, we turned to Justin Starky and VMP Tuning to help us get the new Aluminator XS engine tuned. As they always do, VMP got to work on their mobile dyno and produced one amazing tune on this S197 Mustang! The drivability is perfect. The car feels like a whole new monster when heavy on the throttle. Watch the dyno video below.
While the horsepower numbers are not jaw-dropping results, it is the seat of the pants feeling that lets you know this car is for real! Our 2011 Mustang GT pulls into much higher RPM ranges as if there is no limit to it. Not to mention this engine is the perfect foundation for future performance upgrades. Check out the link below to better look at the Ford Performance Aluminator XS crate engine.
