Terminator Mustang With Predator Swap Rips up the Drag Strip for the First Time
Even though this GT500-swapped Terminator Mustang isn’t running perfectly, it’s still rather quick.
The Terminator Mustang – a moniker attached to the beloved SVT Cobra of the 2003-2004 model years – was also fitted from the factory with a pretty lovely powerplant in the form of the supercharged 4.6-liter V8 that churned out an impressive for the time 390 horsepower. However, that V8 also responds quite well to modifications, as we’ve seen time and time again. Regardless, that didn’t stop Andrew Sheridan of the YouTube channel Mustang Lifestyle from giving his Terminator Mustang a more modern mill – the supercharged 5.2-liter Predator V8 from the 2020+ Shelby GT500.
In stock form, this powerplant churns out 760 horsepower and 625 pound-feet of torque, which is impressive as-is. However, this swapped Cobra has received some modifications including nitrous, though it hadn’t yet been sorted out when Sheridan took the car down to Orlando Speed World to test it out on the track for the very first time. On the first pass, that’s clearly evident as the car has a hard time launching or even running properly.
Sheridan battles all sorts of issues during his journey here, from the tune to fuel and a dead alternator. After a bit of electrical work, those problems get sorted out and we can finally see what this GT500-powered Terminator Cobra is truly capable of. On the first pass, Sheridan runs a new personal best of 10.72 seconds at 135 mph, which is solid. Regardless, he notes that he’s still battling some hardware issues, not to mention the brutal central Florida heat.
This Mustang needs a larger heat exchanger to help keep things cool, Sheridan notes, though he admittedly cheaped out there after spending so much money on everything else. He also wants to add an upgraded pulley to the mix, though he’s pleased that the car is running right with a stock GT500 already. Regardless, he proceeds to back up his impressive run with an even better one – a 10.58 at 134 mph before rain moves in and prematurely ends the day. Low 10s seem like inevitable at this point, however, as this car clearly has much more in the tank.
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