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When it comes to Mustang modifications, the stock shifter is often the first part replaced. Though it has improved with time, the factory remote shifter atop the MT-82 six-speed manual transmission tends to move under load, which can make drag racing a challenge. Apparently, the shifter works just fine for Paul Ferdinando, who recently ran a blistering mid-9-second pass in his 2015 Mustang, which still has a stock long-block, a stock transmission and a stock shifter.
“It’s a 2015 Roush-supercharged Mustang GT with a stock MT-82, and it’s actually an unopened motor—no oil pump gears, no nothin’,” Paul set after his run. “We have a nice nitrous setup on from Nitrous Express with a Maximizer 4 progressive controller. We ran a 125 shot today. The shot comes in real soft and it’s been great for the motor. We haven’t had any issues with it. It’s obviously moving out.”
At Cecil County Dragway in Rising Sun, Maryland, Paul Ferdinando ripped off a 9.47 at 149 mph in his Roush-supercharger 2015 Mustang, which features a stock long-block, a stock MT-82 transmission and a stock shifter.
As you can see in the video above, it is definitely moving out. Setting a record with his car wasn’t necessarily his goal. Paul just wants to keep besting his own performance stats.
“It just ends up happening, with progression comes hunger for more. My hunger was never satisfied, so every time I achieved a new personal best, I set out to better it,” Paul said. “And it brought me here. A 9.47 at 149 mph! Wow, pretty healthy pass considering in the spring of this season it was going 11.1s.”
It’s amazing to have achieved such a deep-9-second time on a stock motor and stock trans!
“It’s amazing to have achieved such a deep-9-second time on a stock motor and stock trans! But what’s even more impressive is that the car has been down the track several hundred times in the path to these low-9-second passes and it’s held together!” Paul enthused. “All the boost, high redline, two-step slamming the limiter, now nitrous on top of it all and it still runs healthy!”
To make the combo work, he turned to Matt Alderman at ID Motorsports to work his calibration magic with SCT Performance software and an X4 handheld tuner.
The Roush Phase2 supercharger under Paul’s hood is augmented by a 69mm upper pulley, a VMP Performance throttle body and DeatschWerks 88 lb/hr fuel injectors. (Photo Credit: Photos by F-Bomb)
2015 Mustang GT Mods
• Baer brake conversion for 15-inch wheels
• DeatschWerks 88 lb/hr Injectors
• D.S.S. aluminum driveshaft
• McLeod RST clutch
• Moroso Coolant tank
• Nitrous Express with Maximizer 4 progressive controller
• Roush long-tube headers
• SCT X4 Tuned exclusively by ID-Motorsports
• SLP cat-back exhaust
• Snow Performance methanol injection system
• UPR Products suspension
• VMP Performance TwinJet 67mm throttle body
For Matt, it is more than the raw performance that he dials in with the SCT Performance software. He looks to deliver street-car driveability to cars with incredible performance.
“Some of the challenges we face when tuning the 2015+ Mustang with a supercharger are balancing power and drivability. Everyone has a different preference and it is even more difficult when doing it remotely,” Matt said. “Using SCT we can get good data from the ECU so we can see exactly what is going on,” Matt elaborated. “Because when tuning these controllers you are flying blind without data.”
I honestly think I could get a low 9.09-9.19 out of the same size shot we achieved the 9.47 with
“I honestly think I could get a low 9.09-9.19 out of the same size shot we achieved the 9.47 with…” Paul added. “I’ve had very little time to dial in this progressive controller from Nitrous Express. The car only has five passes on it since the Maximizer 4 was installed, and the things you can do with these modern progressive controllers is spectacular. So, I think she has a lot left in her with more track time and adjustments to the progressive nitrous system and tuning!”
Topped off with both a 125 shot of nitrous and some detonation suppression from a Snow Performance menthanol-injection system, this combo works together thanks to custom SCT Performance tuning by Matt Alderman of ID Motorsports. On just a 75 shot of nitrous it made over 800 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. Undoubtedly it makes more on the 125 shot. (Photo Credit: Photos by F-Bomb)
We are continually amazed at just how much performance these modern Mustangs are capable of producing and neither Paul nor Matt seems interested in easing up.
“We are thrilled with the results. Paul’s goal was to reach 150 mph in the quarter and we got him to 152 mph. It was a great way to end the season,” Matt added. “Now its time to ramp things up for next year because we don’t ever just leave things the way they are.”
Here’s what a well-sorted, bolt-on blower combination can do at the drag strip with a skilled driver rowing the gears. With more tweaking, Paul believes he can dip into the low-9-second range.
Paul plans to keep pushing this combo in the New Year. Could it be that we see a car with a stock MT-82 trans in the 8-second zone?
“In 2015 the goal was 10s and in 2016 it was nines, so in 2017 I guess it’s eights!” he predicted.
You can see if Paul reaches his goals by following the car over on Instagram (@roush_s550).
