I've been missing out!

gatzer · Feb 23, 2004

Drove my 99 GT L.E. vert to a dealer yesterday to look at the new Freestar van for the wife and drove home in a new black 10th anniv. Cobra. vert. I wasn't looking to trade or buy anything just going to check out a minivan. They were running $6,000 off sticker on all their remaining 03 Cobras and Lightings. It must have been fate cause they made me a sweet deal to trade in my GT for a Cobra. I go to pull out of the dealership and have to get on it due to traffic, then I see the boost kick in, the wife's head bounces off the back of the headrest and i'm barking the tires for half a block. The Gt could never do that. I have to stop at a light, I look over at my wife who is holding the back of her head pissed as hell and I said damn honey i've been deprived, lets do that again. So after being cussed out by her for an hour and I'm not saying a word just taking it. She asks don't you have anything to say. Well as a matter of fact yes I do. You thought that was bad just wait till I spend a couple thousand on mods, you haven't seen nothing yet. So my question is for you guys that have modified your 03's what is the overall best performance mod that can be done. Complete exhaust is a already a given. Pulley and chip maybe? I have just started tonight looking at mods for my Cobra so please any input and opinions will be highly appreciated.

Thanks

missouri_guy197 · Feb 23, 2004

Lightning pulley, chip, x-pipe, catback, CAI and you'll be right around 450rwhp

spanky442 · Feb 23, 2004

Damn you, damn you all to *ell. I have a 93 and 97 Cobra. My wife loves the 97, its bright red and all that. Well she pretty much took ownership over that after we got married. She made a deal with me, I can get rid of it to buy an 03/04 Cobra only if these conditions are met. It must be bright red again and this time had to be convertable. So, I went shopping for one but we ended up buying a VW passat wagon as a family car instead. Now she says I have to wait. I still got to keep my Cobras. Now, I plan to keep them and buy a third. Now we are waiting to see what SVT will offer up in 06/07. Hopefully by then I will have the go ahead from the chief.

Uncle Meat · Feb 23, 2004

First YOU need to answer this... How valuable is the factory warranty to YOU?

U.M.

P.S. You CAN get some good numbers out of the Cobra WITHOUT voiding the warranty... then again, you can get some GREAT numbers out of it if you're not afraid of blowing the warranty off!

gatzer · Feb 23, 2004

Uncle Meat said:
First YOU need to answer this... How valuable is the factory warranty to YOU?

U.M.

P.S. You CAN get some good numbers out of the Cobra WITHOUT voiding the warranty... then again, you can get some GREAT numbers out of it if you're not afraid of blowing the warranty off!

Well with only 51 miles on it, I think the warranty holds alot of value. But what did you have in mind? With that said there is no way I could up grade to the Kenne Bell, but other than that, what would be the breaking point for a voided warranty. Also would it be better to get the Predator and pulley instead of the chip and pulley. I'm just thinking long term for when I add gears ( 4.10's ) exhaust ( complete Bassani or SLP ) and others.

Thanks for your replys please keep them comming!

Uncle Meat · Feb 23, 2004

gatzer said:
Well with only 51 miles on it, I think the warranty holds alot of value. But what did you have in mind? With that said there is no way I could up grade to the Kenne Bell, but other than that, what would be the breaking point for a voided warranty. Also would it be better to get the Predator and pulley instead of the chip and pulley. I'm just thinking long term for when I add gears ( 4.10's ) exhaust ( complete Bassani or SLP ) and others.

Thanks for your replys please keep them comming!

Well the first thing you need to do is probe your service advisor on the subject of mods! Drive back to the dealer and ask the service manager if it's okay to install a cat-back or CAI on the car. Shoot the breeze with him for a while and find out where they stand warranty/mod wise. Not all dealers are mod friendly! Some can be VERY strict while others will actually install the mods for you! Once you know where they stand you will have a better idea of what you can, and can not do.

U.M.

MystiChrome Coupe · Feb 23, 2004

Congrats on your new ride. I just switched to a '04 myself. They are awesome cars. I haven't really got into it hard yet, & it still runs harder than my '01 did.

I would think that a pulley or chip would be a no-no, warranty wise. A lot depends on your service dept I guess.

U M, The warranty is important to me also, so I figured I should be safe with the following:

CAI (undecided on brand, but I want a straight through design, no bends)

Magnaflow catted X (already have)

FR500 catback (already have also)

Shifter (steeda or pro 5.0)

I've been dealing with one service writer at my local dealer & he was cool with the mods on my '01, but then again my '01's warranty guide didn't list exhaust & a CAI as possibly voiding a warranty like my '04 guide says.

Think these mods would send up red flags? I am trying to hold off for about 1000 miles then do a stock dyno. Then go from there. I also want to be sure I don't have a problem car before I start with those mods.

Didn't mean to hijack your thread gatzer, congrats again

AzSnake · Feb 24, 2004

If you add exhaust components all the dealer can void is the exhaust warranty, A CAI can cause them to be more picky and I think Ford adds that to protect themselves if they feel a owner has been less than fourth comming about the scenarios of a failure.

MUSTANGLANCE · Feb 25, 2004

I asked my service dept and they said a K&N cold air kit and cat back exhaust is about all they would allow.

lance

gatzer · Feb 26, 2004

MUSTANGLANCE said:
I asked my service dept and they said a K&N cold air kit and cat back exhaust is about all they would allow.

lance

Yeah that's about what I found out too. That really sucks! These have so much potential. Oh well time to start the mods. I'll void the exhaust warrenty first, it sounds like a v6. SLP available in 3 days.

Uncle Meat · Feb 26, 2004

gatzer said:
Yeah that's about what I found out too. That really sucks! These have so much potential. Oh well time to start the mods. I'll void the exhaust warrenty first, it sounds like a v6. SLP available in 3 days.

Have you even HEARD what the SLP exhaust sounds like on the new Cobra? Many owners don't like it. You might want to check out http://www.mustangexhaust.com/ before you spend all that money and end up with a car that sounds like ass... Exhaust for the Cobra is a very subjective issue. Almost all of the cat backs currently available provide approximately the same gains as far as HP & TQ. It usually comes down to price and sound quality. I highly suggest you attempt to listen to some other cat backs before you order....

U.M.

gatzer · Feb 26, 2004

Thanks for the link U.M. I've been going back and forth between American Thunder or SLP ( $150.00 price diff. ) I already have a Bassani x-pipe w/cats just can't make up my mind for catback. Probally will go w/ Bassani for headers also. I like it loud, mean and annoying. Money is not really an option just want something with those quailities but sounds diff. than the next guy ( preferably meaner ). Had the same setup on my 99GT bassani x-pipe and Flowmaster cat back with stock headers. I liked it, but I wanted ( louder and meaner ). Let me know your thoughts.

P.S. have to have cats for emissions

CobraTone · Feb 26, 2004

I am trying to remain warranty friendly for the time being as well. I went CAI, flowmaster catback, and diablo predator. I went with the predator due to future mods as well, and if I need to take it to the dealer I can flash the stock tune back in. Although I'm not sure they would care, my service rep is pretty cool.

I can say with those three mods it made a huge difference in power. Don't have dyno numbers yet, and I don't pull as hard as the pullied guys of course, but damn she pulls like a bat out of hell.

I've been missing out!

gatzer

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