Acceleration:

During our testing we performed four acceleration runs and one power curve run. Unfortunately I was still mentally asleep and did not suggest the power curve run first, so Brian shifted at 6000rpm indicated into third gear, and 5800rpm into fourth. The results of all the acceleration runs varied from 14.3 seconds @ 100mph down to 13.9 seconds @ 103mph - a new GTech record! Since Brian was treating his car nicely the launch RPMs varied between 1000 and 2000 rpm and he used a gentle clutch engagement. The combination yielded 0-60 times between 6.0 and 6.2 seconds, where (according to magazine tests) a 2500-2800rpm launch with slightly faster clutch engagement should give a 0-60 mph time of about 5.4 seconds.

Power:

For 2004 the Mustang Mach 1 is rated at 310bhp @ 6000rpm, and 335lb-ft of torque @ 4200rpm. The output measured on the power curve run showed 217bhp @ 5050rpm, and 242lb-ft of torque @ 4300rpm. Based on a calculated 15bhp aero drag and 18% driveline loss, the adjusted output is 274bhp and 306lb-ft of torque.

Some factors that might be lowering those totals are:

• Once again, we had the windows open (it's cooler, and cooler, if you know what I mean.)
• We are using estimates of the curb weight and a single scale reading so there is some uncertainly.
• The motor seems a bit green still -- see the below discussion of the power peak.

One thing we're a bit uncertain upon is the RPM readings we were getting. You can see they are rather jagged getting higher into the RPM range. The published power peak is at 6000 but the GTech indicated a power peak 900rpm lower. However, the published torque figures agreed pretty closely with the GTech reading, so the assumption is that the RPMs are roughly correct. I plan on using Rob's OBD2 data monitor to verify the RPMs between the ECU, gauge, and GTech. Until then, the most likely explanation at this point is that the motor is still tight, and that output power and power peak will move up a bit as it further breaks in.

Technique:

When analyzing the shift points, important details are:

• The power peak appears to be at 5050rpm, but is nearly flat from 5000rpm to 6000rpm.
• The torque peak appears to be at 4300rpm, but is nearly flat from 4000rpm to 4800rpm.
• The 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd shift RPM drop is about 2000rpm, but the 3rd-4th shift drops only by 1500rpm.

So, given the current power peak the 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd shift should occur at about 6000rpm, and the 3rd-4th shift should occur at about 5800rpm. Given the torque output of this motor a few hundred RPM will not make a huge difference, but it should help.

More Info:

Now, for the moment the Websphere guys have been waiting for: a head-to-head comparison of the Monte and Mustang (all right, I slapped my G35 on too!) At the start the G35 gets the best launch (note that it is a single-person run) to 60ft, but by 330ft the snortin' Monte passed both the neck-and-neck Mustang and G35. The Mustang leads by 1/8th mile with the Monte close behind and the G35 a bit farther back, and by the 1/4 mile the Mustang is still pulling away, although the G35 has begun to overhaul the gear-limited Monte. Cool, eh?

Some things that will change things a bit:

• My G35 run was with just myself onboard, and the Mustang had both Chad and I. After removing myself from the equation, the calculations show a 13.7seconds @ 104mph quarter mile.
• A harder launch will drop a tenth or so from the ET, but not affect the trap speed.

The Monte and Mustang are close enough in the quarter mile that any direct contest will likely be decided by the drivers' skills -- and also how much improvement Chad can dial into his still-rough Monte. I look forward to the rematch(es)!