Front Page Articles

Tech: 2015 Mustang ARH Exhaust Test

Photo of author

By EditorTurner

Tech: 2015 Mustang ARH Exhaust Test

Long Story Short

Revolution Automotive makes big power with American Racing Headers’ long-tubes and mid-pipe

By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of American Racing Headers and Revolution Automotive

A lot of the S550 buzz recently has focused on huge gains from power adders. However, some people enjoy the purity of an all-natural combo. One such champion of naturally aspirated performance is Adam Browne of Revolution Automotive. As we shared with you before, he’s been maximizing this combo with a JLT Performance CAI and SCT Performance custom tuning. Now it’s time to open up the exhaust.

When we last left Revolution Automotive’s 2015 Mustang GT project car it had run an 11.87 at 117.38 with just a JLT Cold Air Intake, a set of Weld Racing drag wheels, and sticky tires.
When we last left Revolution Automotive’s 2015 Mustang GT project car it had run an 11.87 at 117.38 with just a JLT Cold Air Intake, a set of Weld Racing drag wheels, and sticky tires.

If you haven’t followed the revolution of this car, it made 375 rear-wheel horsepower in stock form. The Rev Auto GT jumped up to 408 at the feet with just Adam’s tuning. He pushed it even more by adding a JLT Performance cold-air intake and more tuning. With the CAI and tune this NA GT generated an impressive 421 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque at the wheels.

To uncork the exhaust, Adam and company did not simply ditch the cats and add mufflers. Instead they went straight for American Racing Headers’ new 1 7/8-inch long-tube headers and X-pipe, while retaining the stock mufflers and tailpipes.

Revolution Automotive hasn’t been shy about modding its S550 project, but the shop has focused on maximizing the car’s naturally aspirated performance. After focusing on the induction and tuning it was time to open up the exhaust with American Racing Headers’ all-new headers and X-pipe.
Revolution Automotive hasn’t been shy about modding its S550 project, but the shop has focused on maximizing the car’s naturally aspirated performance. After focusing on the induction and tuning it was time to open up the exhaust with American Racing Headers’ all-new headers and X-pipe.

“We worked with American Racing Headers and choose their 1 7/8-inch stainless long-tubes and X-pipe. The installation was straightforward with just a few things to note. The S550 has a more intricate K-member that ties into the core support unlike the S197 cars,” Adam explained. “After seeing this we decided not to drop the K-member, but instead pull each motor mount and tilt the engine and install the headers from underneath. Also, the upstream widebands are specific to the ’15 and newer cars. Extension harnesses are necessary and provided by American Racing Headers.”

According to Adam, he is wringing everything he can out of the combo on 93-octane fuel, and he is chomping at the bit to run the car on the drag strip. If you happen to be out at the Track Toy Racing/ABM Nats charity race this Saturday at Cecil County Dragway in Maryland (hosted by our pal Bill Tumas of CJ Pony Parts!), you’ll be able to see him making some laps with the new combo.

“Let me tell you how excited we are to run the car now!” Adam enthused. For now, you can see the car run with the new exhaust on the Revolution Automotive Dynojet…

“We mated the system to our factory axle back exhaust using the factory 2 ½-inch piping,” Adam added. “All of us were impressed with the sound considering the stock mufflers.”

For this test, Revolution Automotive just installed the new ARH 1 7/8-inch long-tubes and X-pipe, but retained the stock tailpipes and mufflers. American Racing Headers will have these systems in stock and ready to ship next week.
For this test, Revolution Automotive just installed the new ARH 1 7/8-inch long-tubes and X-pipe, but retained the stock tailpipes and mufflers. American Racing Headers will have these systems in stock and ready to ship next week.
Which one do you think flows better? This is a comparison of the passenger side pipes. Obviously, the ARH long-tubes are a great way to replace the integrated catifold on the driver side.
Which one do you think flows better? This is a comparison of the passenger side pipes. Obviously, the ARH long-tubes are a great way to replace the integrated catifold on the driver side.
According to Revolution Automotive’s Adam Browne, the installation is pretty straight-forward. Due to the design of the S550 K-member, his team opted to remove the motor mounts and install the headers from the bottom. It is also necessary to extend the front wideband oxygen sensor harnesses, but ARM includes extender harnesses.
According to Revolution Automotive’s Adam Browne, the installation is pretty straight-forward. Due to the design of the S550 K-member, his team opted to remove the motor mounts and install the headers from the bottom. It is also necessary to extend the front wideband oxygen sensor harnesses, but ARH includes extender harnesses.
“After some time tweaking the fuel curve and the intake/exhaust cams we ended up with 450 rear-wheel horsepower and 412 lb-ft of rear-wheel torque,” Adam explained. The Rev Auto Mustang GT picked up peak-to-peak gains of 28.15 horsepower and 21.77 lb-ft of torque!
“After some time tweaking the fuel curve and the intake/exhaust cams we ended up with 450 rear-wheel horsepower and 412 lb-ft of rear-wheel torque,” Adam explained. The Rev Auto Mustang GT picked up peak-to-peak gains of 28.15 horsepower and 21.77 lb-ft of torque!
We love to dig deeper into the numbers when we get a chance. While the graphs contain the highest resolution of data points, looking at cross-section of the data often gives a clearer picture of how the mods affect the combo. As you can see, the ARH exhaust and Adam’s tuning delivered more than just peak gains. There were solid, double-digit gains from the jump all the way to redline.
We love to dig deeper into the numbers when we get a chance. While the graphs contain the highest resolution of data points, looking at cross-section of the data often gives a clearer picture of how the mods affect the combo. As you can see, the ARH exhaust and Adam’s tuning delivered more than just peak gains. There were solid, double-digit gains from the jump all the way to redline.

Comments

comments

Caption Contest

News: Shelby GT350

Leave a Comment