96cobraQ's

coolguy10786 · Jun 7, 2005

I just got a 1996 cobra mustang after having to sell my 69 fastback . I've got a few question that i hope you guys can help me with. One thing i've noticed is that the engine stutters a bit when driven at lower rpms. I replaced the fuel filter and spark plugs, cleaned out the air filter(K&N), but its still there. If you have suggestions it would help. Also the dash lights decided to out on my way home one night, checked fuse and was good, Tried replacing headlight switch and no dice. So any help there would also be appreciated. Lastly i was wondering what would be good performance mods for it that don't radically effect gas miliage and good places to get the parts. It has flowmasters on it and was thinking about putting headers on it, but i've heard its a pain in the ass so was wondering if they actually give enough power to make it worth while. Read something about removing the air silencer and was wondering if it helps alot. Think thats about it. Thanks for help.

CobraG · Jun 7, 2005

coolguy10786 said:
I just got a 1996 cobra mustang after having to sell my 69 fastback . I've got a few question that i hope you guys can help me with. One thing i've noticed is that the engine stutters a bit when driven at lower rpms. I replaced the fuel filter and spark plugs, cleaned out the air filter(K&N), but its still there. If you have suggestions it would help. Also the dash lights decided to out on my way home one night, checked fuse and was good, Tried replacing headlight switch and no dice. So any help there would also be appreciated. Lastly i was wondering what would be good performance mods for it that don't radically effect gas miliage and good places to get the parts. It has flowmasters on it and was thinking about putting headers on it, but i've heard its a pain in the ass so was wondering if they actually give enough power to make it worth while. Read something about removing the air silencer and was wondering if it helps alot. Think thats about it. Thanks for help.

Welcome to the Cobra family. I to just aquired mine, well, almost 3 weeks ago, an 01. Anyway, I can't help or provide much assistance for some things but for the mods I can throw my opinion in there. Here goes:
Air silencer, kind of a waste to remove, get a JLT CAI
Are your flowmasters mufflers only or catback?
Get a midpipe, Bassani and MagnaFlow make really good x pipes
Headers can be a pain and can be expensive if you have someone do em for you.
Maybe try having the computer reflashed to help with the stutter.
Anyway, again welcome

coolguy10786 · Jun 7, 2005

Thanks. Ya its a cat-back setup. The guy i bought it from says its an after market h-pipe w/ cats but it looks stock to me. As far as having the computer reflashed, who do i do this? im guessing i need something in order to accomplish this or take it somewhere. I've got a strut tower brace on it so the cold air intake wouldn't fit from JLT. I was looking at March's ram air kits and was thinking about one of those, just was wondering if they were really worth the money.

chrisbudl1 · Jun 7, 2005

on a 96 your gonna need a chip for a reflash, I am in the same boat. where does it stutter, constantly or at 3200? and gears will do wonders, I still get usually 180 miles on 3/4 tank of gas normal city driving with 4:10's. unless you go long tubes, I think were stuck with bassani. and an aftermarket pipe should only have two converters, not 2 pre cats, where it bends from the header, and 2 more a little way back. I noticed atleast a little difference in exhaust sound pulling the snorkle out, that was before the k&n though. upr makes a power pipe, that will clear your strut tower, but I think it is expensive. pullies are suppossed to be worth it, unless you have a big system. Good luck I started stock, with mine a year and a half ago, click on the link, and let me know what you think. good luck chris
did you check all of the wires that you could see under your dash? haven't heard many problems with that though.

coolguy10786 · Jun 7, 2005

It doesn't stutter constantly does about half the time when its between 1 and about 2500 rpm. Its usually when im acclerating not, just driving. The check engine light came on and i ran a code reader through it and it said that the bank 2 sensor 2 wasn't responding, but the light has only come on twice and hasn't come back on for a few days now. At 3200 it does it, but thats the other throttle opening. It looks like the h-pipe is stock b/c it has the two pre cats, atleast im pretty sure it does. i have to jack the car up from the rear b/c i haven't gotten one that'll fit under the lowered front yet. I want to put on headers, but im just wondering if they make enough power that its worth going through the hassle of unbolting the subframe. Since the h-pipe is stock i may just stick with replace that with an off road pipe, since there's no emssions checks around here. I was also wondering if anyone knows if its beneficial to upgrade the ignition. Eithier with an msd setup or performance coils and wires from performance distributors. Either one will cost about 300 bucks so i wanna do one or the other if it makes a big enough of a difference. Thanks for your help

CobraG · Jun 8, 2005

coolguy10786 said:
Thanks. Ya its a cat-back setup. The guy i bought it from says its an after market h-pipe w/ cats but it looks stock to me. As far as having the computer reflashed, who do i do this? im guessing i need something in order to accomplish this or take it somewhere. I've got a strut tower brace on it so the cold air intake wouldn't fit from JLT. I was looking at March's ram air kits and was thinking about one of those, just was wondering if they were really worth the money.

When I had my computer reprogrammed, it was done at Ford. I'm not sure, you may be able to reflash your computer with an OBD II. Auto Zone may do it for you, or they'll at least hook up an OBD II reader and see if it's throwing any codes.
I'm not sure about the March RAI, I've read great reviews about the JLT. Have you checked out the JLT site?

coolguy10786 · Jun 8, 2005

Ya i've checked out there site and none that i saw would clear the strut tower brace. I'm trying to stay away from ford b/c they charged me a **** loaod for fixing the airbag and they didn't even do it right the first time. I'll see if autozone will do it, hopefully for free.

FangStang96SVT · Jun 19, 2005

If you look at my cold air pipe ; it clears the strut tower brace .... when I bought the Cobra (already on it) I was told it was a Thunder cold air pipe ... any one know this mark/model ?
View attachment 511726

As for the stutter , I too have it happening at low rpm while accelerating say at a low end rpm in a gear like 3rd ... but it seldomly happens enough to live with it .. but makes me wonder sometimes how much underpowered/robbed of power it is 'cause of that ... if it is ?

Was wondering if a computer chip could resolve this and what kind of power can one get ?

As for the headers , I'm banking on the Bassani Mid-Lenghts for their ease of install. and the best of both worlds in HP (to shortys and long tubes)

coolguy10786 · Jun 20, 2005

thanks for the help. Ya the whole computer flash thing i need to get figured out. i need to find what chips will do it or who will do it. So those headers don't require the engine to be lifted to be installed? or to remove the stock exhaust manifolds?

FangStang96SVT · Jun 21, 2005

Nope , the engine stays & the manifolds GO !

Get back to us for the stutter / chip thing when you can !

My pleasure , you're welcome !

hersheyman · Jun 21, 2005

This is gonna sound too simple, but try buying a bottle of Valveline's annual fuel treatment. It states to use it once a year or every 10k miles. I recently used this on my wifes Ford Windstar van and it got rid of all the pinging and irregular idle. As for quick bolt on mods start with a meter forward CAI and a Borla or Magnaflow catback. You'll feel a 20hp seat of the pants gain from those two alone. The 32valve engine responds to breathing better. The headers won't do much until you replace the H-pipe and catback with 2 1/2" pipes.

coolguy10786 · Jul 17, 2005

Thanks for the help. I've been beasy with work so haven't had time to get on. I ordered a upr powerpipe because only one i could find that would clear the strut tower brace. I fixed the stutter, all i did was i used the fuel treatment which helped, cleand the MAF sensor, and used seafoam in the engine to help clean out the IMRC's. Im begining to wonder if they don't work or have been takin off because i don't feel the kick at 3200 and it doesn't seem to be power robbed, but i don't know how i can tell with out tearing off the manifold. Also with underdrive pullies will i have to get a shorter belt or will the stock on work? I've decided to hold off on headers because they are expensive and a pain in the ass from what i have read unless you go bassani but there like 600 bucks, plus midpipe 5ish and thats alot for 20 or so hp. Looking at X-H pipes and want to get one that will work if i decide to get headers if one exists. Think thats bout it for now thanks for the help

coolguy10786 · Jul 21, 2005

Any suggestions?

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