Tuning a Ford Mustang GT has never been easier. What upgrades can the robust Coyote V8 handle? And are they worth it?

2023 marks the final model year of the sixth generation Ford Mustang, and with that comes a drop in power thanks to LEV III regulatory emissions requirements for the US and Canada applied in 2022. These regulations affect both the GT and the award-winning Mach 1. So our old friend, the Mustang GT, now produces 450 hp and 410 lb-ft of torque for its curtain closer, a measly drop of ten units across both metrics.

The S550 is a strong performer out of the box thanks to the 5.0-liter Coyote V8 crammed under the hood, but for those who wish to give the sixth generation Ford Mustang GT a viable send-off, there's more than a few upgrades you can apply to your pony car.

Suspension is always the first place of attack for budding tuners across the board. However, the 2022 Ford Mustang GT requires special attention as owners regularly suffer from the dreaded 'tire hop' when accelerating the wide-stance rear-wheel-drive S550 Mustang.

Stopping tire hop is easily achievable with aftermarket suspension kits; owners can work towards preventing the Mustangs bunny like behavior by operating an aftermarket suspension setup, uprating bushes, adding vertical links, and some sub-frame bracing will help reduce tire hop and keep your Ford Mustang GT planted during launches.

A good set of coilovers will help reduce body roll, pitching, and under/oversteer on this relatively heavy performance brute. Never mind the badass look of a Ford Mustang sitting 20-30 mm lower than stock.

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Adding a more extensive ait-intake system to a Ford Mustang GT is another excellent early-stage performance upgrade.

A cool aftermarket air intake will introduce more oxygen to the Coyote V8 lurking within the S550. Although initial gains are minimal, placing a wandering Mustang GT under a performance map, among other modifications, can see your air intake add 35hp and 26lb-ft of torque to the Ford Mustang GT S550.

An aftermarket throttle body is one of many great upgrades for the Ford Mustang GT. Increasing throttle response and allowing more air into the combustion chamber can be worth an extra 15-25 hp when matched to a cold air intake and engine map.

The Ford Mustang GT 80mm stock throttle body can be tossed away for an aftermarket 90mm unit, a larger throttle body will introduce more air into the Coyote V8, providing more power in the low-mid range for owners.

A Gen-3 Coyote engine found in the Ford Mustang GT can support an E85 conversion much more effortless than previous models thanks to the direct injection system introduced. In addition, the 16 injectors from the stock fuel delivery system are suitable to support E85 fuel.

However, when increasing power figures and running boost, performance fuel injectors can be a vital upgrade, and here's why: The more power you demand, the more fuel your engine will require. Stock injectors are for stock power figures; ignoring this area will leave your Coyote V8 running lean and having further issues. Partnered with a good tune and intake system, you can expect around +10hp from uprated injectors plus some added gas mileage.

Gains of 5% power are on the table when applying a set of tubes to your S550 Ford Mustang. Headers come with two options, and as always, opinions differ. Joining the short tube army will add to your low-mid range power figures, while long tubes will provide higher gains across the entire powerband.

The S550 6th gen Mustang will require an adapter mid-pipe for those opting for long tubes. Another thing you can do is apply a header upgrade to improve that dreary exhaust note from the stock Mustang GT, as it's no secret the S550 Ford Mustang GT lacks the raspy note of its predecessors.

The Ford Mustang GT arrives with a well-behaved exhaust system maxing out at 86 decibels—a rather dull reality for those who remember the roar of the Mustang's predecessors. An aftermarket exhaust system is the perfect upgrade for the modern Mustang, giving the S550 the voice it deserves as one of North America's flagship Muscle Cars.

'Eargasms' aside, gains of 10% are available to those who match a set of headers with a wide-diameter pair of X-pipes, allowing for a smoother flow of exhaust gasses from the fire-breathing Coyote V8.

The 2022 Ford Mustang GT can be tuned; professional tuners can extract 550+hp from the Coyote V8 with simple bolt-ons allowing the GT to breathe. A simple ECU flash can take figures up to 470 hp without an ECU retune.

Going that extra mile with forced induction components such as superchargers and turbos can see engine remaps take figures beyond 750 hp.

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Uprating stopping power will undoubtedly become required as your Mustang GT descends further into tuning chaos. The Mustang GT arrives with a set of 4-piston calipers matched with 14" front rotors and 13" rears, although sturdy out of the box, they may begin to struggle when the GT's 450 hp figure is a thing of the past.

Brembo and Ford offer a 6-piston caliper with an uprated 15" front rotor with a 13.8" rear. Increasing rotor size gives the Ford GT a greater thermal capacity, allowing it to perform under higher temperatures and bring the Mustang GT to a halt far more efficiently while avoiding brake fade.

For performance builds, matching a new braking system to a set of stainless steel brake lines and performance brake fluid is vital; driving in anger can force your bog-standard brake fluid to boil and melt through OEM brake lines leading to devastating results.

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For those yearning for a retro hot-wheels aesthetic, the Ford Mustang GT looks right at home with a set of 20"s on the front and 19"s at the rear; options are vast in the Ford Mustangs aftermarket scene.

On the performance side, you don't need to option Ford's $8,500 carbon wheels! However, replacing the stock 25 lb wheels on the Ford Mustang GT can greatly upgrade your experience. Opting for cast aluminum or a set of flow-forged wheels can release up to 5 lbs on all four corners adding to the Mustang GT's handling capabilities.

Wrapping a set of 19"s with some Michelin Pilot Sport 4s is the setup provided by Ford on the Performance Pack trim for the Ford Mustang GT.

A vast aftermarket scene props up the Ford Mustang GT; everything concerning cosmetic upgrades is on the table. Let's hope the 2024 Ford Mustang continues this tradition.

You could simply "murder out" your Mustang or continue the performance theme. Carbon diffusers, wings, and the Euro look, consisting of white lights at the rear, so your friends think you're exotic.

Sources: Function Factory, VR Tuned, Steeda

An automotive writer based in the UK, suffering with an unhealthy obsession for cars and Formula One. ​​​Providing commanding content that attracts attention and entertains all at the same time is key. At the weekends, you can find him Driving past Williams Racing making high pitch V10 noises with his mouth.... daring to dream...