The OP ran into some detonation issues with the ProCal tune due to hot weather and crummy California 91-octane fuel, so he had to engage the “Octane Adjust” feature of the tuner. That pulled some power and as a result, the track times suffered. With everything being the same as the previous time of 12.59 shy of the adjusted tune, the Mustang GT ran a balmy 12.85 at 112 miles per hour.
New Tune
Finally, after running into detonation and drivability issues with the ProCal tune, the OP swapped to a canned tune from Steeda that was designed for the 91-octane Cali fuel. When coupled with the Steeda cold air intake, this new tune allowed the 2014 Mustang GT to get down to a 12.64 at 112.7 miles per hour in the heat. This run was made with Continental DW 285/35/19 tires.
On all of these runs, the 60-foot time was in the 2.03-2.09 range, so with a set of drag radial tires, there is no question that the quarter mile times would improve. In the meantime, this breakdown shows us how the most common upgrades improve track times, even with the heat of summer and crappy California fuel.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
