VMP Gen3 TVS-Blown 2013 Shelby GT500 Cranks Out 1,200+ Horsepower

Recently VMP Performance unleashed its new Gen3 TVS supercharger on a 2017 Mustang GT’s stock Coyote engine. The results were impressive, as the bolt-on 5.0-liter put down over 1,000 horsepower to the rear wheels with the new blower. However, since the company got its start with blower upgrades for factory-supercharged Mustangs, it was only natural to try out the new unit on a built 2013 Shelby GT500.

In just about any conditions, with basic pump E85 fuel, this car makes quadruple-digit horsepower numbers. — Justin Starkey, VMP Performance

“When we built this car last year, we did so with the intention of putting a VMP Gen3 on it. L&M built the engine, and we ran a Gen2R until the Gen3 was available,” VMP Performance President Justin Starkey explained. “We had high expectations, and we met them. In just about any conditions, with basic pump E85 fuel, this car makes quadruple-digit horsepower numbers. L&M built the engine to handle that power.”

How would a built 5.8-liter engine respond to the addition of VMP’s new Gen3 TVS supercharger? By putting down well over 1,200 rear-wheel horsepower. (Photo Credit: VMP Performance)

This car was prepped in every way to take full advantage of what the Gen3 TVS has to offer and handle it with ease. It features a prepped 5.8-liter engine, a free-flowing exhaust, a high-flow fuel system supplying plenty of E85, a 200-horse shot of nitrous, and more. As such, it did more than dip its tires into four-digit territory; it put down well over 1,200 horsepower and 1,100 lb-ft of torque at the wheels.

The Gen3 will support more boost without having to swap to an overdrive lower pulley. — Justin Starkey, VMP Performance

Ultimately the blower performed much like it did on the Coyote engine, but it makes more torque due to the increased displacement and it doesn’t carry the power out quite as far.

The engine in this 2013 Shelby GT500 is optimized in every way to maximize the capabilities of the Gen3 TVS supercharger, including a massive JLT 148mm cold air intake.

“…Keep in mind a Coyote makes power for another 1,000 RPM and is just a very different animal,” Justin said. “The Coyote is less torquey, but makes more power and carries it to a higher RPM. Both are very good platforms for performance.”

2013 Shelby GT500 Mods

• American Racing Headers long-tube headers

• American Racing Headers X-pipe

• ATI 10-percent lower supercharger pulley

• Barton shifter

• Ben Calimer-built Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual

• Brisk Racing spark plugs

• Injector Dynamics 1700cc fuel injectors

• Fore triple-pump return fuel system w/ VMP pump control technique

• JLT Performance 148mm cold air intake

• L&M engine w/ 9.5:1 compression

• L&M Custom cams

• Mantic 9000 Series triple-disc clutch

• Nitrous Express spray bar system jetted for 200 horsepower

• Stock carbon fiber driveshaft

• Stock mufflers

• TRZ-built 8.8-inch rearend

• VMP Gen3 supercharger with 2.4-inch upper pulley

• VMP 173mm throttle body

With the Gen3 TVS performing so well, you might be wondering when is the right time to step up to such a capable unit? While you might have to run a larger pulley until the rest of the combo catches up, there’s really no reason not to step right up to the latest technology.

With the quite capable VMP Gen3 supercharger onboard, this combo produced an impressive 1,028 horsepower and 918.97 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. By simply turning on the nitrous, the combination picked up 213.31 horsepower and 260.84 lb-ft of torque resulting in a whopping 1,241 horsepower and 1,179.81 lb-ft at the tire.

“This question is going to be asked a lot, if you can afford it, jump right into the Gen3 for the GT500. With the engine being built from the factory, it’s quite a different animal than the Coyote. It’s not uncommon to run 16 to 18 psi with a Gen2R or Trinity blower on GT500s,” Justin said. “The Gen3 will support more boost without having to swap to an overdrive lower pulley, even though this particular car utilized a 10-percent-overdrive lower pulley. Next week we are planning to release details on a stock 2012 GT500 run with the M122, VMP Gen2R, and VMP Gen3 on the same day. Putting a TVS on the stock car is very common, our previous generations have done very well, and I expect the Gen3 to take things to the next level.”

If you are ready to make that next-level jump, VMP will begin taking orders on March 7, 2018 for the GT500 version of the Gen3 TVS supercharger with prices starting at $3,999.

Article Sources

About the author

Steve Turner

Steve Turner brings decades of passion and knowledge in the world of Ford performance, having covered it for over 20 years. From the swan song of the Fox Mustang to the birth of the Coyote, Steve had a front-row seat.
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