10 Ways to Make a Mustang 5.0 Faster

The Ford Mustang GT fastback 5.0 flies out of dealerships because it’s a fast, fun-to-drive American muscle car. Thanks to a torquey coyote 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine with a range of up to 480 – 500 horsepower, even stock Mustangs are an impressive muscle car. Ford has 14 different Mustang models, including The Ford Mustang Shelby, the Mustang Mach 1 or Mach E, the S550 Mustang and the Mustang GT, which comes with 9 different models including the GT Premium. The turbocharged Mustang ecoboost engine, which is included in other models, helps the car run faster than competitors like the Shelby Gt500 or the Shelby GT350, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Dodge Challenger or the Dodge Charger.

The 10-speed automatic car also takes very well to mods, which makes it more suitable for drag racing than a car for a daily driver. Every area of the car can be upgraded with performance parts that make for an even better ford performance.

Here are the best performance gains you can make on your Ford Mustang.

1. Exhaust System

One of the first steps to take is installing a more free-flowing aftermarket exhaust to evacuate emissions from the motor as quickly as possible. This can be done by a local muffler shop, or you can order a ready-to-install exhaust from a Mustang parts vendor.

2. Tubular Headers

Bolt-ons will help your car run faster as well. Stock-issue intake manifolds are relatively restrictive; bolting up a set of tubular headers will result in better flow.

3. Reprogrammed ECU

Install a computer chip to control the automatic transmission or other aspects of the car. You can also install a tuner to help with shift points, which would help if you have an ECU with more aggressive maps.

4. Underdrive Pulleys

A set of underdrive pulleys to replace the larger, stock belt pulleys reduced parasitic drag on the motor and frees up more power.

5. Cold Air Intake

A cold air intake will provide cooler air to the motor, allowing it to produce more power. It will also help with a better throttle body response.

6. Springs and Shocks

Making a Mustang faster does not just mean making it more powerful. A car with more power than handling may be dangerous, and it might not be any faster than a less powerful car when it comes to real world driving. To improve the handling, install stiffer and lower springs and a set of performance shocks. The car will look better and handle a lot better.

7. Anti-roll bars

Next up, install a set of anti-roll bars, which will reduce the lean that the car experiences during aggressive cornering.

8. Stickier Tires and larger wheels

Replace the stock tires with some stickier, track oriented, high-performance racing compound tires. Or swap out the stock alloys for bigger wheels, which will allow you to install even larger tires. Make sure that your tires are correctly inflated so that you’ll have better fuel economy and more mpg.

9. Brake update

Install cross-drilled and ventilated rotors and a set of braided steel brake lines. The braided lines don't necessarily make the car faster, but they do provide a firmer pedal feel, which in turn makes it easier to precisely modulate the amount of braking during aggressive driving. Those who choose to get the Mustang performance package will see some improved breaking power as well.

10. Switch to a carbon fiber frame

While this is the most expensive update, it could certainly help shave off some of the original weight of a mustang. Carbon fiber is strong enough to race, but light enough to keep the car lighter. You can also add spoilers if you wish, but many opt to take them off.