5.0 Cobra or 4.6 Cobra...

utvolman99 · Oct 12, 2007

All, I am not wanting to get into a full blown 5.0 vs. 4.6 debate (I have never visited this site but am sure it happens a lot) but I am in the market for a 94 - 98 Cobra and am torn between getting a newer car with less miles and getting a 5.0. I am very familiar with the windsor motor and know that it is rock solid. I just don't know that much about the 4.6 except that with the DOHCs on the Cobra they have more power stock.

What are the advantages of the 94 - 95 Cobra as compared to the 96 - 98 Cobra? I am going tomorrow to look at a 98 with 55K miles for $11,500. If I like it I may pick it up but I wanted to see what you guys thought first.

One advantage I can think of is that I would have NO problem overhauling the 5.0 but I am not sure about the 4.6.

I am also posting this same question on the 4.6L board.
Thanks for your help

HankyGT · Oct 12, 2007

What are your goals?

I think a blown 4v car would be alot of fun...pita to work on and more $ obviously.

5.0 cobra is like a reaaaally nice starting point to build compared to a standard GT (where I started). Plus its real and not a clone

Strype · Oct 12, 2007

The 96-98 Cobras will wax a 5.0 cobra. Utterly waste one. Destroy.

Strype · Oct 12, 2007

http://home.pon.net/hunnicutt/history_94_04.htm

Aliate X · Oct 12, 2007

Strype said:
The 96-98 Cobras will wax a 5.0 cobra. Utterly waste one. Destroy.

he speaks the truth, they are no competition as far as speed. But Id still rather have a 95 cobra.

utvolman99 · Oct 12, 2007

My goals...

My goal is to have a nice car to tinker with and keep for a long long time. I would like to do some modifications but this will be a daily driver. My biggest worry is longevity of the engine. I feel like the 5.0L will go forever but I have no idea how many miles I can get out of a 4.6L?

JH96GT · Oct 12, 2007

utvolman99 said:
My goal is to have a nice car to tinker with and keep for a long long time. I would like to do some modifications but this will be a daily driver. My biggest worry is longevity of the engine. I feel like the 5.0L will go forever but I have no idea how many miles I can get out of a 4.6L?

Depends on how it is treated. Both should last about the same. My 96 has 120k on the ticker and still runs strong. I had to mod it some of course....

Daggar · Oct 12, 2007

4V 4.6 hands down.

Aren't all the 4V Cobras equipped with forged internals?

JH96GT · Oct 12, 2007

Daggar said:
4V 4.6 hands down.

Aren't all the 4V Cobras equipped with forged internals?

I think so, but wouldn't bet my life on it.

I'd go w/ the 96-98. Got a bud w/ one and KB under the hood. It's quick.

LaserSVT · Oct 12, 2007

Daggar said:
4V 4.6 hands down.

Aren't all the 4V Cobras equipped with forged internals?

I dont think so I thought the terminators were the first. I know the rods and pistons are a weak point for the 96-98 if you try to put too much boost.

Darkwriter77 · Oct 12, 2007

If you're concerned with longevity, consider this: Even if they both last a long, long time (which both the 5.0 and 4.6 can, when properly cared for), the 4.6 DOHC is going to cost a LOT more to rebuild than any 5.0 or 5.8 ever will. If you own a DOHC 4.6 and you start hearing a bottom-end knock, start crying, because it's about to really, really hurt your wallet.

And while the 4.6 isn't totally impossible to work on, there's not QUITE as many upgrades available for it (even though it starts with more HP, you've got less creative freedom for build-ups); the 5.0 has an INSANELY HUGE aftermarket of goodies available, parts are WAY cheap (priced a set of 4.6 aftermarket performance cylinder heads? Ouch.) and everything on the 5.0 (except the stupid PCV valve) is easily accessible with minimum effort and/or contortionist skills.

I'd go for the 5.0 Cobra for the long-term, especially if it's a DD; if you just want a really nice weekend toy requiring minimum build-up to get some big HP numbers, then go with the DOHC 4.6 Cobra.

Mustang5L5 · Oct 12, 2007

If you plan on building a nice engine, go 5.0 cobra

If you don't plan on modding too much, go 4.6L Cobra. Even a supersharger on a stock 4V will prove to be one nasty combo

wythors · Oct 12, 2007

This has been discussed many times here, though usually in the SVT forums, but I'll give my .02 again.

Downstairs in my garage are a 1993 LX convertible with all the bolt-ons and a 1996 Cobra with a Kenne Bell 2.1. If I could only keep one, it would be the 5.0. Why? Well, I'll tell you.

1. A 5.0 is MUCH easier to work on. It has lots of room under the hood and parts are plentiful and cheap. The 4.6 DOHC is a completely different animal. Nothing that you have learned working on your 5.0 will apply here. There is NO room under the hood. Changing valve cover gaskets is an all day job.

2. Availability of "go fast" stuff. With a 5.0 you are only limited by how much money you have. With a dohc you can tune it, change the gears, add a blower and then....... Well, that's it. This is assuming that we're not talking about a Termie here. Plus, the superchargers for the 96-98 cars seem to cost the most of any of them.

3. Fun to drive. To me, the Fox car is just more fun. More of a visceral driving experience. Don't get me wrong, the 96 is a blast. But it's just not the same as the 5.0. Of course, this wouldn't apply to your decision.

4. Long term durability. The 4.6 just seems more delicate than the 5.0. As previously stated, the rebuild costs of a dohc will be much higher than a pushrod engine and probably not something that you'd want to consider doing yourself, unless you enjoy dealing with four cams and 32 valves. Also, the 96-2001 Cobras do not have forged internals. What they do have is Teksid blocks, which will take all the abuse you want to throw at them. So, if you want to build it, it will handle all you can give. You just have to spend the cash.

Just my opinion. Take it for what it is.

Mustang5L5 · Oct 12, 2007

Plus if you blow a 5.0 engine up, you can get another easily and cheap

Blow a 4V up and you could buy another car for what you are gonna spend on an engine

rj95svt · Oct 13, 2007

One thing to think about is torque! The power of the 4v 4.6 is not going to come on until 3,500 rpms. The 5.0 is very torquey and fun but will not run with the 4.6 in the upper rpm's.

I have a 95 cobra and although in stock form they aren't all that fast it's not hard to get decent power out of the 5.0. My advice is to drive both before you buy because they are vastly different even though they look the same for the most part.

5spd GT · Oct 13, 2007

LaserSVT said:
I dont think so I thought the terminators were the first. I know the rods and pistons are a weak point for the 96-98 if you try to put too much boost.

Yep, they come with forged crankshafts, but the rods/piston are the weakpoint, and you will be advised not to go much above 430-450rwhp or you are on borrowed time. Much like the 5.0L.

The 03/04 Cobra's came with full forged internals, (Manley Rods) ARP hardware, 17cc dish piston, compared to the '96-'98 Cobra 3cc dish.

The stock 96-98 Cobra runs high 13's at 101 mph.

A stock 5.0L Cobra runs maybe low-mid 14's at 96-98 mph.

Not a huge difference.

However, I like the 4V platform, but to push power out of it, you will need to upgrade a few internal parts.

www.modularmustangracing.com

www.vtengines.com

www.foxlakeracing.com

Mustang5L5 · Oct 13, 2007

rj95svt said:
One thing to think about is torque! The power of the 4v 4.6 is not going to come on until 3,500 rpms. The 5.0 is very torquey and fun but will not run with the 4.6 in the upper rpm's.

It's all about what you love too. A 5.0 is great for stoplight confrontations because you have gobs of low end torque. A 4.6L needs gears to be able to accelerate from a stop because there is no torque under 3K

However, on the highway the 4.6L screams. I love merging onto an empty highway in 2nd gear in my 4.6L and banging gears til 4th gear and triple digit speeds. The car really scoots on the highway in the upper RPM's. I've used this to my advantage a few times

5.0 Cobra or 4.6 Cobra...

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