Every Mustang performance enthusiast has been there: staring at the engine bay, wondering where the next 20, 50, or 100 horsepower is coming from. You’ve probably already looked at the usual suspects – exhaust systems, cold air intakes, or maybe you’ve already made the jump to forced induction.
But there is often a bottleneck in your system that is overlooked: The Throttle Body.
While there are endless ways to modify your Mustang, the physics of horsepower remain constant: More Air + More Fuel = More Power. Upgrading your throttle body is one of the easiest ways to bolt on an additional 5 to 8 percent rear-wheel horsepower (rwhp) and sharpen throttle response.
What Does A Throttle Body Actually Do?
The throttle body is the gatekeeper of your engine. Located between the air filter and the intake manifold, it is a metal housing containing a pivoting flat valve (the butterfly).
When you mash the gas pedal, the butterfly valve pivots open. This dictates exactly how much air is allowed to rush into your engine. If you’re only interested in stock applications, the factory throttle body works fine for stock manifolds.
The problem? As you add power – especially with superchargers or turbochargers – the stock unit becomes a restriction. Your engine is breathing through a straw while running a sprint.
By increasing the size of the throttle body, you remove that restriction, allowing your engine to breathe freely and generate maximum power.
The VMP Difference: Ready-to-Run
We entered the throttle body game back in 2009 with a simple mission: delete the hassle.
Many aftermarket options require you to swap over your old electronics or struggle with calibration. VMP throttle bodies come with electronics installed and calibrated right out of the box. You unbolt the old one, bolt on the new one, and you are ready to go.
Twinjet vs. Monoblade Throttle Bodies
Not all airflow is created equal. Our throttle body lineup varies from mild to wild depending on your build goals.
VMP Twinjet Series
If you want a solid power boost over stock but you demand perfect idle quality and daily driveability, the Twinjet is your answer.
- Best For: Street cars and daily drivers.
- Power Range: Easily supports 600-800+ rwhp.
- Proven Performance: We have seen a VMP Twinjet make 1,000 rwhp when mated to a VMP Gen3R blower.
- Key Benefit: Excellent drivability with zero reliability issues.
VMP 163R Super-Monoblade
This is the big one. The 163R is designed for high-horsepower race applications where airflow is the only priority. It features a massive semi-oval opening and an elliptical blade designed to maximize volume while still being controllable by the Mustang’s throttle motor.
- Best For: Dedicated race cars and max-effort builds.
- Power Range: 1,000+ rwhp.
- Proven Performance: We saw 1,141 rwhp SAE on ‘Track Attack,’ our 2017 Mustang GT shop car.
- Important Note: This unit is huge (approx 82mm blade height). It is designed to match our Gen3R supercharger opening; other manifolds may require port matching. It also requires specific ECU tuning and calibration tweaks to handle the idle air requirements.
Not sure which one fits your build? Check out the quick reference chart below to find a throttle body that matches your horsepower goals.
Final Advice: Consult Your Tuner
At VMP we offer a solution for every goal, but airflow changes usually require ECU adjustments. Because the 163R moves significantly more air than stock, we highly recommend consulting with us or your tuner before making your final selection to be certain you pick the throttle body that matches your current mods and tuning capabilities.
Whether you call, email, or stop by, you’ll talk to real enthusiasts who know our products inside and out – and we’re ready to help you max out your build. Shop our site for high-quality:
We can give you all the guidance you need to select a throttle body. Contact us online or order today!
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