Cobra Intake Install on my 87 5.0

[87gtconv]

I picked up a Cobra intake upper and lower but what else do I need for my install? Can I use the all the old bolts or do I need Cobra intake bolts and where can I get them and how many do I need? Here is what I know I will need:
1. Upper and lower Cobra intake
2. Felpro 1250 gasket
3. EGR gasket
4. Upper to lower gasket
5. Thermostat and gasket
6l. TB and gasket (65MM from 93 Cobra)
Anything else as far as hardware? I know I will need antifreeze and RTV sealant! More? I understand that coolant lines to my stock egr plate will have no where to go, what should I do with them?? Do I need them with the Cobra intake?? This is my daily driver if that matters!

 

[5spd GT]

I picked up a Cobra intake upper and lower but what else do I need for my install? Can I use the all the old bolts or do I need Cobra intake bolts and where can I get them and how many do I need? Here is what I know I will need:
1. Upper and lower Cobra intake
2. Felpro 1250 gasket
3. EGR gasket
4. Upper to lower gasket
5. Thermostat and gasket
6l. TB and gasket (65MM from 93 Cobra)
Anything else as far as hardware? I know I will need antifreeze and RTV sealant! More? I understand that coolant lines to my stock egr plate will have no where to go, what should I do with them?? Do I need them with the Cobra intake?? This is my daily driver if that matters!

Yeah a new thermostat gasket and the EGR/TB gaskets will be good to replace while your at it...if you bought the intake new it should come with an upper/lower gasket...and also you might want to get new O-rings for your injectors and clean them out...and clean your head/intake mating surfaces real well...don't skimp on that...

Yeah you will need to partially drain the coolant...and you can reuse your intake bolts with no problem...but if any of them are rusty you need to replace them because they are cheap...I bought new intake bolts from Summit for $12 bucks I think...

Oh and I have my coolant lines to my throttle body "blocked" off...but I live in Arkansas and the TB coolant problem isn't so much a problem down here...and I drive my car every day (daily driver - only driver)...

On the install...

Here is what I did and seems to be very successful and was showed this by a buddy of mine that builds race cars...

I put a couple dabs under the 1250 gasket and position the gasket over the ports as perfect as possible and then allow those dabs under the gasket to dry...so it will not move as I lower the intake on...

I put a nice thick bead of high temp silicone on the block ends and let it sit for about 10 minutes to "film" over and then set the lower intake on...you can use long studs installed into your heads to help you lower the intake down and then remove the studs after it is seated...

I slightly torqued the intake down after the "filming" and laying it down just to get a little "squish" on the silicone and let it sit overnight...

The next day I did the final torqueing procedure with the torque numbers (somepeople go by feel) and that was that...absolutely no leaks of any kind...

On mine I had to trim a little bit of the coolant passages on the gasket because it was protruding into the passageway...

Good Luck

 

[TheUser]

5spd gave a lot of good info. I strongly suggest the "studs" to align the intake. Mine I believe are 7/16" and 5spd (I think it was him) says his are 1/2", so take one of your bolts w/ you and get the size of yours and get them a couple inches long, chop the heads off, slit the ends and use them as studs...lines up a lot better and makes things a lot easier

 

[5spd GT]

5spd gave a lot of good info. I strongly suggest the "studs" to align the intake. Mine I believe are 7/16" and 5spd (I think it was him) says his are 1/2", so take one of your bolts w/ you and get the size of yours and get them a couple inches long, chop the heads off, slit the ends and use them as studs...lines up a lot better and makes things a lot easier

Yeah my intake bolt head size is 1/2" if that is what your talking about...yeah the studs to align the intake is a really good idea and is especially nice when your doing it by yourself...

 

[87gtconv]

Thanks for all the advise. I think I may opt to put on 24# injectors while I am at it since it was pointed out I should inspect the 0 rings anyways. So I will put on new valve springs, 1.7 Cobra RR, new 180 Thermo and gasket, 65MM TB with new gasket, new vlave cover gaskets, and of course the new Cobra intake with new upper to lower and intake to head gaskets from Felpro. I would like to put on Phenolic gasket but afraid my Kenny Brown strut brace wont fit if my intake is another 1/4 taller!! Overall I dont care cause I have a Cervini Cobra R hood so I have plenty of clearance that way!!

 

[5spd GT]

Thanks for all the advise. I think I may opt to put on 24# injectors while I am at it since it was pointed out I should inspect the 0 rings anyways. So I will put on new valve springs, 1.7 Cobra RR, new 180 Thermo and gasket, 65MM TB with new gasket, new vlave cover gaskets, and of course the new Cobra intake with new upper to lower and intake to head gaskets from Felpro. I would like to put on Phenolic gasket but afraid my Kenny Brown strut brace wont fit if my intake is another 1/4 taller!! Overall I dont care cause I have a Cervini Cobra R hood so I have plenty of clearance that way!!

You really don't need the 24lb injectors...but you can do it if you want...make sure you have the matching MAF for those...

Sounds like your doing a nice little "tuneup" on it

I know with my Performer intake (no spacer) my steeda strut tower didn't fit...I bet I could get it to but I don't want to drill more holes...

I have a motorcraft 180 thermo and have no problems with it...

 

[87gtconv]

Just dont feel good about injectors with over 120,000 miles on them and why not upgrade to 24#? Mass air?? I have speed density. Going to push it as far as I can and if it fails I will either get a custon chip or convert! Maybe someday I will get a power adder and use the bigger injectors??? Can't wait to install the new 3.73 gears to wake up my ragtop!!

 

[5spd GT]

Just dont feel good about injectors with over 120,000 miles on them and why not upgrade to 24#? Mass air?? I have speed density. Going to push it as far as I can and if it fails I will either get a custon chip or convert! Maybe someday I will get a power adder and use the bigger injectors??? Can't wait to install the new 3.73 gears to wake up my ragtop!!

I rode with my 19lb injectors for 143k and I've seen several run it above 200,000...I was just saying you don't need to...but its up to you...

Convert to MAF...yes I know you have an 87...I just didn't specify it...it will help you with "poweradders" down the road...

The 373's will definatly help out

 

[87gtconv]

Thanks again for all your help and suggestions. They give me a little more confidence in doing this project!

 

[5spd GT]

Make sure you mark or label all your hoses coming off and around your intake...it will help in the long run...trust me I know

It would probably be to your best interest to go ahead and a new set of the pcv valve/grommet/screen in your new intake instead of using your old ones...

And remember where all your sensors go that you need to transfer over...and checked for cracked hoses or vaccum leaks while your doing it all and replace if necessary...you will probably be fine...

 

[jaackal]

i just recently did the upper/lower on my 88, i replaced the air tempeture sensor and th coolant tempeture sensor, as far as the coolant lines to the TB, i just took the old ones off and put a bigger hose connecting the two of them, you can probably get away with a cross through thing, i also put new FMS 19# injectors and the old ones had sludge and all other crap on it, so i would replace them too i also put a new egr valve on it, but thats up to you

 

[87gtconv]

Appreciate all the help guys. Going to put on all those new parts even though that will put the project back a few weeks so I can fund it!!

Does anyone know where I can find a list of all the bolts and washers, hoses and gaskets that use to come in the kits?? I want to buy all new parts at one time if I can!!

 

[criticman]

Bringing this one back to life...and yes, I have read thru about 20 Cobra intake threads (all that came up in a search).

Just bought a Cobra intake. I also just bought an Accufab 70mm TB and EGR spacer.

So, I just wanted to confirm that I do NOT need the EGR since the Cobra intake has built in EGR provisions, correct?

As for the coolant line not being part of those provisions...would it be better to use the A-fab EGR and just cap off all openings on the Cobra's EGR connectors? That way all EGR vacuum and coolant lines would be hooked up properly, yes? Just trying to see if I need to worry about using the EGR plate or if I should just toss it on the shelf just in case I move to a different intake down the road.

Anyway, a clear answer and any advice is always appreciated.

 

[Paul Perreca]

if you install a cobra intake and the throttle body onto a stock 302, is the difference even noticeable or is it kind of a waste of time and money?

 

[92BlackGT]

you can't put an EGR spacer on the cobra intake, the intake casting is longer for the built in EGR so the throttle body is in the same location for the throttle linkage.
The intake does add some HP to a stock engine, but as you do more mods, the intake won't be your bottle neck.....for awhile.

 

[Paul Perreca]

so its clear, if the egr spacer is a half inch, than the cobra intake (the one i have) the neck on the upper intake is a half inch longer - do the math, the throttle body is in the same spot lol If you however put the intake and spacer on (prob doesnt bolt on neway) good luck getting the CAI intake tubes on w/o clearing the strut towers lol !!
Paul Perreca

 

[criticman]

That's what I had figured. I am just going to toss it on the shelf for when the Cobra intake begins to limit my power with the turbo setup. Then I can use the EGR for whatever intake I switch over to.

Thanks for the input.

 

[speed1972]

You buy a new cobra intake? If so, be careful when putting the distributor in. There is not much room for adjusting timing with this new casting....

 

[rustang87]

can you just connect the 2 throttle body collant lines together and cover the nipples? Whats the point of running hot coolant through the Throttle body? What should the vaccume pressure be, and what should the fuel pressure be with the 24# inj? I just did the maf conversion with 24's.

 

[rustang87]

I just did the rpm upper/lower install and a Maff Conversion. I put some 24 lbs in, which the maf called for. I also put in the Fuel Pressure Regulator. What should the vaccume pressure be? What should the fuel pressure be? Can I connect the 2 TB coolant lines together?