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96 Cobra... what to do for starters?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fusion
  • Start date Start date Mar 10, 2004
F

Fusion

New Member
Mar 10, 2004
1
0
0
Mar 10, 2004
#1
  • Mar 10, 2004
  • #1
Hey all,

I'm about ready to close the deal on a 96 Cobra Coupe. I have owned many a performance car over the years but this will be my first Ford product. (Had Buick GN's, multiple corvettes, etc) Most cars have small tweaks you can do to them to help out performance without spending a lot of cash... Does the Cobra have any of these sitting under the hood waiting to be done?

Couple of other questions while I'm at it... does the Cobra require 92-93 octane gas?

And lastly... motor oil... what does everyone recommend? This is a Florida car and will be driven... a lot.

Thanks!
 

missouri_guy197

New Member
Aug 31, 2002
1,441
1
0
St. Louis, MO
Mar 10, 2004
#2
  • Mar 10, 2004
  • #2
Exhaust(mid pipe and catback), pulleys, 4.10 gears or higher, and a shifter...that's a good start...

Cobra's don't require 92 or 93 octane, but they do require at least 91...they have 93 here as the premium so that's what I used...

As for motor oil...a lot of people like Mobil1 synthetic...5w30 for the 96-98 cars...I just use regular Castrol GTX 5w30 in mine...
 
C

chrisbudl1

New Member
Dec 21, 2003
436
0
0
springfield MO
Mar 16, 2004
#3
  • Mar 16, 2004
  • #3
I just got a 97, and even taking of the air silencer is noticiable. With most aftermarket parts, being a 4v you get more power vs. a 2v. Just spend some time reading the posts. generally gears, to get to and keep you in the power band, exhaust depending on setup is worth around 20 hp probably. Yes you do have to run premium gas, pulleys are suppossed to free up power. The list of mods is endless. Good luck
 
N

N/A Cobra

New Member
Dec 29, 2003
52
0
0
Indiana
Mar 17, 2004
#4
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #4
Go with 4.30 gears first, then free up the exhaust
 
1

1996COBRA

Founding Member
Aug 30, 2000
360
0
0
dallas
Mar 17, 2004
#5
  • Mar 17, 2004
  • #5
Start with...

-a shifter... it'll be easier on your tranny
-gears... i'd recommend 4.30s but definitely nothing less than 4.10s
-Drag radials... once you get the gears you'll know why
-exhaust... most go with the traditional o/r Hpipe and flows, it really gives it a nice rumble
-pulleys... nice HP gains

these 5 get my vote
 
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