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Tech: Lethal EcoBoost Mods, Part 1

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Tech: Lethal EcoBoost Mods, Part 1

Fresh Start

Lethal Performance steps up its EcoBoost project with a Power Pack

By Steve Turner

There’s been a lot of excitement about the Coyote-powered 2015 Mustangs. Several of them are making amazing power, so that’s understandable. Even Lethal Performance has its own 10-second, 800-horsepower 2015 Mustang GT to get excited about. However, let’s not forget about the other legitimate performance option in the Mustang stable—the 2015 EcoBoost Mustang. And, yeah, Team Lethal has one of those too.

Our visit was during the development of the Lethal’s Power Pack (PN LP-PWR-2015ECOX4JLTORDP; $1,056.59) for the EcoBoost Mustangs. The kit is now available and includes a JLT Performance CAI, a Lethal Performance downpipe, and a Lund Racing custom tune delivered via an SCT Performance X4 handheld tuner.
Our visit was during the development of the Lethal’s Power Pack (PN LP-PWR-2015ECOX4JLTORDP; $1,056.59) for the EcoBoost Mustangs. The kit is now available and includes a JLT Performance CAI, a Lethal Performance downpipe, and a Lund Racing custom tune delivered via an SCT Performance X4 handheld tuner.

“We were very excited when Ford announced the four-cylinder EcoBoost option for the 2015 Mustang, as new platforms are always fun to mess with. We already knew how well our Focus ST reacted to simple bolt-ons, so we believed that the larger displacement 2.3-liter would do just the same or better,” Jared Rosen, of Lethal Performance, explained. “As you can see from the results we got from just a custom tune, JLT intake, and off-road downpipe this four-cylinder Mustang is definitely living up to its expectations.”

Having a new EcoBoost Mustang in its formidable stable, the Lethal crew started working on a lineup of products for the latest Gas Turbo Direct Injection Mustangs. Drawing from parts already available from the aftermarket and creating some parts of its own, Lethal ramped up the power of the little turbo 2.3-liter engine under the hood of the latest Mustangs.

We picked up with Lethal Performance’s 2015 Mustang EcoBoost project with a cold-air intake installed and a Lund Racing custom tune loaded in the PCM.
We picked up with Lethal Performance’s 2015 Mustang EcoBoost project with a cold-air intake installed and a Lund Racing custom tune loaded in the PCM.

“Our goals for the EcoBoost Power Pack (PN LP-PWR-2015ECOX4JLTORDP; $1,056.59) were to give the every-day driver the ability to make some really good horsepower and torque but not sacrifice any driveability,” Jared said. “Not only did we achieve that but after installing the intake, tune and off-road downpipe the car sounds way better. You can hear the turbo much better now and there’s nothing like hearing the engine gulping up air through that JLT intake. The sound itself is music to my ears.”

With those parts in place, Ken Bjonnes of Lund Racing developed a custom calibration for the new package on the Dynojet at Power by the Hour, and we were there as it was developed. For such a minor group of mods, the results were quite impressive. However, like any Lethal project, don’t expect these additions to be the only mods on the car. The company has bigger plans for both the car and its EcoBoost offerings.

We were able to document the installation of Lethal Performance’s 3-inch, mandrel-bent, stainless-steel downpipe (PN LP-16230; $284.99), which is a bolt-on proposition and completely compatible with the remaining stock-exhaust components.
We were able to document the installation of Lethal Performance’s 3-inch, mandrel-bent, stainless-steel downpipe (PN LP-16230; $284.99), which is a bolt-on proposition and completely compatible with the remaining stock-exhaust components.

“Our next step in the build will be an upgraded turbo kit. We plan to stick with a BorgWarner turbo just like they do from the factory as it’s a great setup and works very well,” Jared added. “With that said we decided on the EFR 7163 model which is capable of making up to 550hp. That along with our hard pipe and intercooler upgrade kit should make for a fun ride.”

If you want to see how these future mods help the performance of the Lethal EcoBoost Mustang, just stay tuned to the SVTP Front Page.

Power by the Hour’s Jake Long gets started by loosening the factory exhaust clamp joining the factory downpipe to the cat-back exhaust.
Power by the Hour’s Jake Long gets started by loosening the factory exhaust clamp joining the factory downpipe to the cat-back exhaust.
Then he removed the bolt retaining the downpipe hanger.
Then he removed the bolt retaining the downpipe hanger.
Next, Jake moved up to the engine and removed the factory oxygen sensors, before unbolting the downpipe from the turbocharger
Next, Jake moved up to the engine and removed the factory oxygen sensors, before unbolting the downpipe from the turbocharger
With all the fasteners removed and the clamps loosened, Jake removed the stock downpipe.
With all the fasteners removed and the clamps loosened, Jake removed the stock downpipe.
The Lethal downpipe is a two-piece unit, and Jake started by loosely bolting the upper piece to the turbo, then he slipped in the center section and installed the clamp that joins the two sections.
The Lethal downpipe is a two-piece unit, and Jake started by loosely bolting the upper piece to the turbo, then he slipped in the center section and installed the clamp that joins the two sections.
The Lethal downpipe makes use of the stock fasteners and clamps, so it is a direct replacement for the stock pipe.
The Lethal downpipe makes use of the stock fasteners and clamps, so it is a direct replacement for the stock pipe.
After final-tightening the bolts and clamps, Jake installed the factory wideband oxygen sensors in the Lethal Performance downpipe.
After final-tightening the bolts and clamps, Jake installed the factory wideband oxygen sensors in the Lethal Performance downpipe.
Ken Bjonnes of Lund Racing dialed in the Lethal Performance EcoBoost Mustang before and after the new downpipe. Now this full package of CAI, downpipe, and tuning is available in Lethal’s Power Pack for the EcoBoost Mustangs.
Ken Bjonnes of Lund Racing dialed in the Lethal Performance EcoBoost Mustang before and after the new downpipe. Now this full package of CAI, downpipe, and tuning is available in Lethal’s Power Pack for the EcoBoost Mustangs.
As you can see, the Lethal EcoBoost Mustang was already making good power with the CAI and tune. Adding the Lethal downpipe and refining the calibration added a bit more power to the tally. The downpipe definitely added a more aggressive tone to the exhaust, even with the stock mufflers in place. All told, the Lethal Power Pack increased the car’s peak output over the baseline run—227 horsepower and 282 lb-ft of torque—by an impressive 70 horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque.
As you can see, the Lethal EcoBoost Mustang was already making good power with the CAI and tune. Adding the Lethal downpipe and refining the calibration added a bit more power to the tally. The downpipe definitely added a more aggressive tone to the exhaust, even with the stock mufflers in place. All told, the Lethal Power Pack increased the car’s peak output over the baseline run—227 horsepower and 282 lb-ft of torque—by an impressive 70 horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque.

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4 thoughts on “Tech: Lethal EcoBoost Mods, Part 1”

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