Automatic Weapon

Boost Works mates a Kenne Bell 2.8H to an automatic GT and puts down 623 to the wheels

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Boost Works

We have seen a lot of impressive performances from power-adder-equipped 2015 Mustangs. However, many of these cars have been heavily modified, manual-transmission-equipped Mustangs. Recently, the crew at Boost Works developed a Kenne Bell supercharger package on a mildly modified Mustang GT with an automatic.

For this car, which was initially upgraded with only a set of mufflers and a torque converter, Boost Works developed a kit featuring the Kenne Bell 2.8H Mammoth Twin Screw supercharger.

This is a more mainstream blower for a Mustang GT than the Kenne Bell 3.6LC that Boost Works opted to install on its own shop car.

Here’s an overview of the new package, which the shop has dubbed the 650-S:

“The 3.6-liter was quite a challenge to get under the hood. The 2.8-liter was much easier in comparison. We used a set of billet/poly drop mounts, and removed the hood blanket,” Travis Burelle of Boost Works explained. “With our machined Kenne Bell S197 lower manifold, we’re able to get the 2.8 to clear without any further modifications. So, our install kit and the install itself is much less complicated. As of now, Kenne Bell is finalizing the production parts for the S550 chassis, which we will include with our system.”

Installing the supercharger required the proper support hardware, including Ford Racing 47 lb/hr injectors, a Kenne Bell Boost-A-Pump, NGK Iridium Plugs, drop engine mounts, a larger heat exchanger, a Bosch intercooler pump, and intercooler reservoir a Gates belt, and a large oil separator. Yet the hardware is only part of it, getting this combination to work on a modern Mustang with an automatic transmission.

“The tuning aspect for this project has been a bigger challenge than was so for the manual trans equipped cars. The strategy is a bit different, and getting everything to play along nicely took some time,” Travis explained. “Again, Jason (Haynes) never fails to disappoint, and he spent a few weeks getting it dialed in. The result is a perfectly firm and predictable upshift that never fails to put a grin on your face, every single time you touch the accelerator.”

“This is the second customer-owned 2015 GT that we’ve built, and the first automatic. After driving it for a day or so, I can tell you that I’m seriously considering building one for myself,” Travis added. “The 6R80 handles the power with ease, and I might just be getting older, but not having to push a clutch in during rush-hour traffic sure sits fine with me!”

See the initial results here:

For some, over 500 horsepower at the rear wheels would be plenty, but that wasn’t quite enough for the owner of this 2015 Mustang GT.

“This particular customer decided he wanted more power than the base system, so we upgraded him to our 750-S Package. Back under the knife, the car received a set of American Racing 1 7/8-inch long-tube headers, with full 3-inch tubing to the mufflers, a slightly colder plug, a boost increase to 9.5 psi, and the tune was revised for the additional modifications,” Travis said. “Strapped down to the rollers for a second time, the car responded by belting out 623 horsepower and 545 lb-ft at 9.42 psi. While we haven’t taken one any higher, I suspect we would easily eclipse 700 rear-wheel horsepower at 11 to 12psi. However, we’ve designed these systems to work on 91 or 93 octane in extreme temperatures and still provide a large margin of safety. We couldn’t be happier with American Racing Headers and Kenne Bell. These guys are providing us with superb parts and service, and it shows in the numbers.”

It’s important to keep in mind that these numbers are being generated with a stock engine, a stock transmission, and a stock fuel system. If you want more, it is attainable should you be willing to upgrade the support systems.

“With further modifications—a built short-block, a built trans and an upgraded fuel system—850 rear-wheel horsepower should not be a problem for either one of these systems,” Travis teased. “From that point, it’s the bigger 3.6-liter, and power capability jumps into the four-digit range. You’ll see that very soon from our shop car!”

The Mod List

• Kenne Bell 2.8H Twin Screw supercharger
• Kenne Bell Mammoth inlet system
• 8.25 psi (650-S)/9.75 psi (750-S)
• 4.5-inch inlet tube with MAF flange
• 4.5-inch Big Oval air filter
• Ford Racing 47 lb/hr fuel injectors (650-S)/Ford Racing 60 lb/hr fuel injectors (750-S)
• Kenne Bell Boost-A-Pump
• NGK Iridium Plugs (1 heat range colder than stock)
• Poly/billet engine mounts
• Large-capacity heat exchanger
• Bosch intercooler pump
• Intercooler coolant reservoir
• Gates HD belt
• Catch Can
• 650-S/750-S Badging
• Custom Tune via HP Tuners
• American Racing Headers long-tube headers (750-S Package only)
• American Racing Headers 3-inch X-pipe and exhaust tubing (750-S Package only)

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