96 cobra with kenne bell vs. 03 cobra?

[84convertablegt]

anyone have a 96-98cobra with a kenne bell supercharger? was wondering how it stacks up to a 03 cobra eaton powered car? im sure its more powerful? anyone with a 96-98 tell me how u like the kenne bell kit / ease of installation? i had a 94 cobra with a kenne bell and it was fast, but the sueprcharger was too hot in stock form and blew my head gaskets bad.

 

[Dr. Wu 2000]

I believe the 96-98' cobra was rated at 305 crank hp, so about 260 to the wheels give or take. Not going crazy on the boost with a Kenne Bell ( say 100hp gain ) you are talking
360 or so to the wheels. That is right around low end stock 03-04' cobra power #'s. Now throw in the normal bolt-on's for each and the 03-04' snake pulls ahead, not to mention the enormous power potential still untapped. Plus take into consideration the danger of running boost (probably 9psi or more)with the KB threw the stock 96-98' bottom end. Kaboooom !!!!!!!!!!!! Which one do you want.

 

[84convertablegt]

well the issue is 03 cobra 25000 dollars, 96 cobra + kenne bell 11000 dollars. and i know you are right about a modified 03. im talking stock 03. i have a friend who has a 500+ hp cobra with a kenne bell so i know there is no comparison with mods. and i thought the 96 motors were pretty strong. kenne bell advertises 440hp flywheel also, so figure that against fords advertised 390 hp. i guess ive answered my own question in a way. but if anyone has a 96-98 kenne bell cobra please chime in

 

[marcus95]

Well if you don't want to spend the dough (25k) then so be it. Have you already made up your mind?
If today you bought both a KB 96-98 Cobra with mods and a 03 Cobra w no mods and drove the piss out of both of them you will be spending a lot more money in the long run fixing the 96-98 car. If you can afford it make the stretch and get into an 03. You will have a newer car with some warranty left. Listen to Wu and have something stock that will run ahead of that KB car. Then in a couple of years when you save up some cash you can ad a KB to the 03 and come back here and thank us.

 

[RedGTvert]

Dr. Wu, I have known several 96 & 97 KB Cobras comfortably in the 400-410 rwhp range. Taking that against a rather stockish 03-04, the 96 will take it. Less weight and solid rear.

Several of these cars are still out there and the bottom end withstood the abuse for many years. It is a good combo, although there is a limiting factor to the potential versus the potential of the 03/04.

 

[84convertablegt]

yeah, i agree, maybe ill be wrong, but the 96 i drove today was awesome. way different than my old 94 cobra. i think i will buy the 97 im looking at, the kenne bell will come at a later time but im sure it will be fine. worst case scenario, i blow an engine in which case it gets rebuilt forged to withstand whatever and im still way under $$$ of an 03 cobra

 

[SVT98Snake]

From my experience with Vorteched 4vers.....410-430 rwhp is about the max area for the "safe" hp zone on a stock bottom end.

The KB kits are usually low boost kits from the box. I have seen numbers anywhere from 5-8 psi and 330-390 rwhp.

A stock 03-04 runs from 360-375 rwhp. That is more like 420-430 bhp.

So for a 25-30K car that can handle 550-600 rwhp vs. a 11K car that might handle 450.....hmm

Those 32v blocks ain't cheap!!!!! expecially if you warp a head!

 

[Dr. Wu 2000]

Dr. Wu, I have known several 96 & 97 KB Cobras comfortably in the 400-410 rwhp range. Taking that against a rather stockish 03-04, the 96 will take it. Less weight and solid rear.

Several of these cars are still out there and the bottom end withstood the abuse for many years. It is a good combo, although there is a limiting factor to the potential versus the potential of the 03/04.

I hear ya. I also know of some pre 03-04' snakes blown that have had no problems at all and run very strong. I would just be a little weary every time I jumped on it that something was going to happen. Knowing that your motor was built to handle boost to start is nice piece of mind. Personally I would do what was needed to a N/A motor if I was going forced induction. Just think of all the power you are leaving on the table with a KB because you can't turn up the boost because the motor was not built to handle it.