Disappointing Dyno Numbers 93 Cobra

[mikebrewer1]

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2003/06/afrinstall/ 93 Cobra
Mods
-ARF 165 Heads
-BBK shorties
-BBK X pipe
-MAC Cat Back
-Pro 5.0
-3.73 Gears
-BBK Cold Air
-Ford Racing Springs
-Ford Racing Uppers
-Maximum Lowers
-Chipped

The Dyno Numbers
Base Pull => HP: 219 and 252 TRQ @ 4k rpm
Final Pull => HP: 243 and 287 TRQ @ 4k rpm

Just got back from tuning today and all I managed to get out of it was 243 hp and 287 torque at 4k rpm. This just seems way to low as I was expecting between 280 and 300 hp....especially with the ARF heads. The car runs and sounds fine. Any suggestions? Trying to get 300 hp without a blower........

I have almost the the same combination as shown on Ford Muscle http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2003/06/afrinstall/ 93 Cobra

They were able to get 303 hp!!!!!

 

[vikingpower]

243 at the wheels sounds pretty good considering you have the B cam and a Cobra intake.

 

[9250stang]

I don't know man. Those numbers may be more accurate than you think.

You have some of the best heads on the market on the car. But they aren't being fully utilized. The Cobra intake is good, but I believe those heads could use more air.

 

[Daggar]

My suggestion would be to port the lower manifold and get cam.... maybe some high lift springs if you don't already have them.

 

[vikingpower]

OK I read the article... maybe you are a little down on power. Something has to be wrong with your car if you are down more than 50 HP compared to that article. But they did have a ported intake too... like the other guy said, you need a more aggresive intake for those heads, to start. Then check your tune up of the entire engine and find what the problem is.

 

[9250stang]

Crane and TFS make excellent cams for use with Cobra intake/AFR's.

 

[HardmanGT]

what meter, TB, and injectors are you running?

 

[vikingpower]

what meter, TB, and injectors are you running?

I was thinking the same thing...

 

[9T2GT1981]

Man those numbers are fairly low, where did they do the dyno tuning? At the time my 92GT fairly stock, 73MM mass air, c.a.i, headers, off road pipe, 3.73's and U.D. pulleys, best pull was 229HP, and 288TQ, with stock heads, cam intake..I see you live in Virginia, i live in Manassas, and have taken my car to Excessive Motorsport, they do great work and are reasonably priced..Check it out

 

[dstanggt50]

I also think that you should have made more power. Was it a dynojet, or a mustang dyno??, People can make good power with the cobra, 280rwhp or better depending on combo. I dyno'd 245 rwhp 292rwtq w/just gt-40, shorties, off road x, flows, cai, pulleys. With the stock cam, threw on a set of ported windsor jr's and dyno'd whats in the sig. (All done on 248c dynojet, car wasn't running correctly at the time, had a bunch of driveability issues.), probably would have been less if mustang dyno. And the cobra has a slightly more aggressive cam than stock 5.0's, I would think at least around 260-275rwhp. I would check for codes, check for any leaks (header leaks, vacuum), get a full tune, check timing, ect..

 

[Jkstang78]

*To get a true understanding of the capabilities of these well touted heads, we installed the heads with the stock '93 Cobra camshaft. The cam specs are roughly 210 degrees duration and .479" lift with the factory 1.7:1 Cobra roller rockers. (**We did retard the cam four degrees to move the power band up slightly and take advantage of the high-lift flow potential in these heads.**) The other changes to the engine are a ported Cobra lower intake manifold, underdrive pullies, and a larger mass air and throttle body.*

Something is not right, There is a miss somewhere. What kind of dyno was it, DO you have a pic of the dyno sheet.

 

[mikebrewer1]

I had the lower intake ported to match FelPro 1250 before installing AFRs.

There may be restriction of air from the stock upper intake but thought the cobra intake could go as far as 300 or more HP.

The techs helping to tune told me everything looks and sounds great, injectors not maxing out, A/F ratio good, O2 sensors were fine. The timing was a off a bit (stock) and they corrected it (not sure where it is set at this point). They told me that "Some cars just don't want to perform, we've seen cars with the same setup dyno from 250 to 320 HP"....

The car only has 34k miles on it (29k) when I bought it 3 years ago. It sounds and runs great.....no engine or valve noise.....

Will a new MAF, pullies, or throttle body make any difference at this point? Worried about running hot with the pullies....and heard that MAF and throttle body won't make a difference until blown.....

From the suggestions.....sounds like I need bigger cam and/or better intake....or a 2007 Shelby

 

[HardmanGT]

Wait a minute. Your running a stock intake, stock MAF, stock cam, stock rockers and injectors?

What are your real numbers on timing, fuel pressure, AF ratio?

 

[dstanggt50]

I had the lower intake ported to match FelPro 1250 before installing AFRs.

There may be restriction of air from the stock upper intake but thought the cobra intake could go as far as 300 or more HP.

The techs helping to tune told me everything looks and sounds great, injectors not maxing out, A/F ratio good, O2 sensors were fine. The timing was a off a bit (stock) and they corrected it (not sure where it is set at this point). They told me that "Some cars just don't want to perform, we've seen cars with the same setup dyno from 250 to 320 HP"....

The car only has 34k miles on it (29k) when I bought it 3 years ago. It sounds and runs great.....no engine or valve noise.....

Will a new MAF, pullies, or throttle body make any difference at this point? Worried about running hot with the pullies....and heard that MAF and throttle body won't make a difference until blown.....

From the suggestions.....sounds like I need bigger cam and/or better intake....or a 2007 Shelby

Do you know what type of dyno it was?, or what the a/f raitio was at?? The pullies, maf, t/b would help a little, but I still think thats low for the mods, and they did a recent test in 5.0 , put the gt-40 up against major popular intakes, it was down a little on the top end, but it had the best mid range, and was pretty close up top. That motor made around 350hp or so ( flywheel). The cobra has the same lower, so I don't think thats your major issue.

 

[90mustangGT]

GroverDill (a member of this site) was making 330 something RWHP with torque to match with AFR 165's, Ported Cobra Intake, longtubes, MAF, 70 TB (may be 65) and a mild custom cam. A few other Cobra intake/AFR165 combos on here as well.

Something isn't right. How's the bottom end. I dont' care what parts you put on it, an engine with bad compression and/or a lot of leakdown/blowbye won't make any decent power.

 

[Jkstang78]

Wait a minute. Your running a stock intake, stock MAF, stock cam, stock rockers and 19# injectors?

What are your real numbers on timing, fuel pressure, AF ratio?

The cobra motor comes with upgraded intake (cobra intake), MAF@65mm, stock cam with stock lifters is the same as B-303 cam on lift. Stock lifters are 1.7,s Cobra also comes with 24lb injectors.

 

[ninety15.0]

Im wondering is something isnt set up right in the valvetrain...those numbers seem like stock 5.0's with all the bolt ons...i think you should be in the 280 region

 

[HardmanGT]

realized that a minute ago and edited the injector size. My bad there.

We need to know what the numbers are for fuel, timing and A/F are

 

[9250stang]

Did we determine if it was a Mustang Dyno or standard?

 

[HardmanGT]

nope, not yet. A dyno sheet would be helpful