Build a 99, or build an 03

[SnakeyVert]

The age old SC the 99, or buy an 03-04...i know this has been beat to death, but heres the thing. I have the 99, and I can build it. Is it worth all the factory pieces to buy the 03, then build it? worth it just for the cast block and forged internals, beefier drivetrain, 6 speed, or can you get your kicks from a SC kit of choice installed in the old 99....Drop me a few responses, if you dont mind guys...

I will say I really liked the 04 I test drove, but im figuring, ill have to sell my car, and put about 6-8K down on the new cobra. i could just dump 5K into mine, save a few bucks, and possibly get the same effect..ANYWAYS, lets see some replies, especially from those who did one or the other, those that went SC on the old, or sold their old stang and went with an 03-04

THANKS IN ADVANCE for your responses!

 

[BrutalStang]

i read that the basic difference between the 03 cobra and the other 4V cobras was that all the go fast goodies were already on there and with a warrenty.

i say you mod your 99 like you said, if like to do that sort of thing and are good at it. im going the other way, as know from my other thread.

go with the 99, you could make that thing kill an 03/04 for 5k.

 

[oohsoobad2]

Im in a similar dilema except I have a 99 GT. An 03/04 Cobra is exactly what I want but by the time you figure in the higher payment, higher insurance plus the money you'll most likely lose on your trade in, it almost seems like a better idea to build the car you already have.
But then I hear horror stories of people who buy built short blocks only to have them lock up in no time and be out $5500.
You have a nice start over me in the fact that you already have a 4V. If I were you Id look into a blower like the Novi 2000. It offers alot of power for your stock motor now and once you get a built shortblock in you can up the boost and make crazy power. Plus your car would be somewhat a sleeper since people seem to think only the 03/04 Cobras are fast.

 

[SnakeyVert]

I have a problem with the floodgate syndrome...once you start changin parts, where is the end? to make the car a daily driver, that is...i cant afford to put it together cheaply then have the car tied up, or not reliable...

So, you find your SC, i have been looking at the procharger setup...the motor wasnt built for an SC, so youre taking a chance by installing the kit without tearing the motor down and installing forged internals. also taking a chance with stock drivetrain. if you gotta keep swapping parts, im starting to think that a factory SC car would be the ticket now...

any of you guys have aftermarket SC cars that daily drive, and have had reliable results? My father and I have had a good number of hot rods, and it seems like there is an inverse curve that comes along with high perf/aftermarket perf and reliability....i think im talking myself back into the factory SC car again...

Will minor mods to a factory SC car put you back into an unreliable position, lets say new full exh, diablosport+tune, and pulley, to stretch the hp out alittle more....

I used to be all about modifying everything, but in my older age (not really that old, but too old to be farting around with the car every day) I am sorry to say I have turned into a turn key n go performer...Id take a few weekends to get the parts hung on the car, take it to a shop to be tuned, but after that, I want to turn the key, drive it, and change the oil, not much else...

SO anyways, you aftermarket SC guys..whats your luck been....especially you NA Cobra guys...has the motor held together?

 

[SnakeyVert]

oh yah, about that floodgate thing. i have a jeep project that i bought 4 years ago. was supposed to be something fun to do with my daughter, take her out to Badlands and do some trail riding. So, I get a nice 4.5 inch rubicon express lift. Next i get the 35 inch tires. the axles needed upgrading so I do the super 35 conversion and get lockers...rear driveshaft needed upgrading had to get a tom woods setup, steering linkage needed to be customized, etc etc etcc...now, im looking to do a posible v8 swap (wrecked cobra motor) and now im looking at trans adapters, having to trash my axles and entire drivetrain for a beefier setup, the entire BS makes me just wanna ****can the entire deal and get rid of it....I dont wanna be there with my cobra(could never do that anyways) but it cant be stuck in the garage on jackstands....well, thats it, hopefully some of you guys will write back...GOOD NIGHT)

 

[oohsoobad2]

Well if thats what you are looking for then an 03/04 sounds like what you want. Throw a smaller pulley an exhaust, cold air and a tune and you will have a monster on your hands. I wouldnt worry to much about reliabilty, I know a guy who runs low 11's in his 03 with a pullied and ported stock Eaton and a small shot and still drives it everyday. If you got the coin get a 03/04 Cobra...you will not be disappointed !!

 

[kystang1889]

go 03 - 04 better heads built bottom end ext. you could have the same results as a built motor with just a blower swap as per a built engine/blower in your 99

 

[BensCobra]

do what i did, save some cash and buy a cheap beater, you dont even have to drive it if you dont want to, just have it when your cobra's engine is in peices. dont trade in your cobra either, sell it yourself. dealer's will kill you on trade in, and they may even give you less for it if it has been modified (what i was told by a ford saleman). also, i would do the build up, look at stroker kits from CHP performance or VT competition. you can get a complete 5.0 stroker for under 3k. you might also want to look at cams and porting your stock heads and intake if nothing else. a blower kit would already bump you up to 03/04 power, so if you do a good build, then a modest blower kit, you could be in the 600hp range, you wont even be thinking about 03/04 cobras

 

[chuckstang95]

It will cost you more to mod ur 99 to 04 specs in the long run
Its that simple...and I am also under the same dillema as you

 

[oohsoobad2]

It will cost you more to mod ur 99 to 04 specs in the long run
Its that simple...and I am also under the same dillema as you

While that is true you have to also factor in a higher car payment and most likely higher insurance for a newer more,powerful car.

 

[Friedchicken]

While that is true you have to also factor in a higher car payment and most likely higher insurance for a newer more,powerful car.

It costs money to go fast either way. Yes, the 04 cobra is more upfront, but you don't have your 99 dry-docked for 1-2 months and you get a new car with a warantee.

That 99 will end up costing you more in the long run to get up to 500hp/tq and still be a reliable daily driver.

Why not just look for a used 03 cobra?

 

[BensCobra]

It costs money to go fast either way. Yes, the 04 cobra is more upfront, but you don't have your 99 dry-docked for 1-2 months and you get a new car with a warantee.

That 99 will end up costing you more in the long run to get up to 500hp/tq and still be a reliable daily driver.

Why not just look for a used 03 cobra?

i disagree on the reliability part, by doing a build, he gets basically a new motor and can more carefully select parts such a blower, cams, etc... i've heard of procharger F-1M cog driven blowers making 1,000hp on 96-01 built cobras that are driven on the street every day. there is a push rod GT in FL i saw in 5.0 mustang making 959rwhp that is a street car after a build and a Hellion turbo. if you are willing to spend the cash on the motor and the power adder, 03/04 cobras with their seriously flawed Eatons and absolutely horrible wheel hopping rear ends wont be a second thought. BTW, not worrying about a warranty can be a good thing.

 

[Friedchicken]

i disagree on the reliability part, by doing a build, he gets basically a new motor and can more carefully select parts such a blower, cams, etc... i've heard of procharger F-1M cog driven blowers making 1,000hp on 96-01 built cobras that are driven on the street every day. there is a push rod GT in FL i saw in 5.0 mustang making 959rwhp that is a street car after a build and a Hellion turbo. if you are willing to spend the cash on the motor and the power adder, 03/04 cobras with their seriously flawed Eatons and absolutely horrible wheel hopping rear ends wont be a second thought. BTW, not worrying about a warranty can be a good thing.

Re-read what I wrote. I didn't say you couldn't build reliable high horsepower, I said it would cost you more than going with the 03/04 cobra. And if the OP is only looking to spend $5,000 to rebuild and SC, he will have to cut a few corners unless he can do the labour himself.

Hrm.. warantee on an 03/04 cobra.. or no warantee on a frankenstein project. Let me think... I'll take the 03 and have my ass covered for 3 years. Not saying building up your own car isn't fun and a great experience, but given the OP predicament, I doubt he can affort a money pit. $5,000 is not going to make your car 500hp/500tq and pay for broken parts/labour for 3-5 years. Even $8,000 won't do that.

And ya lost me on those "seriously flawed eatons"... they were designed to be efficient at 10 psi and are indestructable. Where is the flaw? That they came on a stock mustang? PLEASE tell me where my egg beater is flawed so I can have Ford give me something else. Oh, and I'll let all the L guys know too since they run the same SERIOUSLY FLAWED supercharger.

Corvettes and Vipers have wheel hop also... they must be crappy cars. But my Nittos would like to disagree with you.. I don't have wheel hop unless I try to make it hop. A small price to pay for fantastic handling a mile away from a can of VHT.