PROS and CONs to running Solid GT rear in 03 CObra?

Miklowcic · Aug 1, 2004

I am about 95% sure I want to switch over to a solid GT rear in my Cobra. All I do is drive it to the drag strip and race it. Occasionally take it for a spin around town.

I am sick of wheel hop and worrying about breaking something. The rear diff actually started coming apart from all the TQ and almost completely drained my gear oil.

Are there any cons to putting in a solid rear?

It will drive like a GT right? To be honest, I didnt notice a huge difference in the handling between my GT and the CObra, but I dont do alot of high speed cornering. Is there anything else bad about doing the swap?

54life · Aug 1, 2004

loss of handling......

COBRA90GT · Aug 1, 2004

Miklowcic said:
...All I do is drive it to the drag strip and race it. Occasionally take it for a spin around town...

IMHO, go for it.

Miklowcic · Aug 2, 2004

uhhh

Loss of handling? To what extent? Will it drive just like a GT?

If so then its a go! I love drag racing the car and IM sure I can get more out of it if it wasnt for the lovely IRS....

The IRS is great around corners, but any time you floor the car you can get wheel hop especially once your TQ gets up there... since this last tune it hops like crazy...especially at the track...even with DRs

54life · Aug 2, 2004

I mean in the corners...the gt in no way compares to the handling ability of the IRS. I think that the cobra's take uneven surfaces and bumpy roads better too personally

Uncle Meat · Aug 2, 2004

The times you'll notice the biggest difference are when the pavement is not perfectly level. I had an '02 GT before the Cobra and there was this certain stretch of twisties as you come off the toll road where I noticed the biggest difference. Like on off-camber corners or where there are dips in the road around a curve. The straight axle would have a tendencey to kick out whereas the IRS maintains a better contact patch and held the road better. Specially under hard braking.

If you are mostly straight lining it go ahead and DUMP THE IRS! You can mod the snot out of an 8.8 straight axle to the point where it will handle as well as the stock Cobra IRS if you're willing to spend the extra dough. You don't even need to do those mods now, wait and beef it up later on. The great thing about the swap is the weight savings..... almost 150lbs from what I've read! :wow: Too bad it's on the wrong end of the car! Be nice to shave that kind of weight off of the front.....

I say do it!!!

U.M.

54life · Aug 2, 2004

it's right around 80 pounds.....who told you 150?

gemex · Aug 2, 2004

Off topic, but you can go to the two part Baer rotors in the front and save 24 pounds in unsprung weight where it counts the most.

ElectricGreen99GT · Aug 3, 2004

54life said:
it's right around 80 pounds.....who told you 150?

Weight savings seem to vary from what I've read . Some people see a 125lb difference and others see a little less . Checkout www.svtperformance.com and do a search for weight savings it has been beat to death . There are many helpful posts of personal experiences by people .

Uncle Meat · Aug 3, 2004

54life said:
it's right around 80 pounds.....who told you 150?

I went back and re-read all those posts about straight axle/IRS swaps over on ModularFords.com and I stand corrected, it's more like 125lbs according to this guy:

http://www.modularfords.com/forums/showpost.php?p=50349&postcount=26

U.M.

chuckystang · Aug 7, 2004

does anyone have any probs with the irs for a street car that doesnt really see the track much? another words, can it handle say 410 gears, this is on the non supercharged 99??

Uncle Meat · Aug 7, 2004

chuckystang said:
does anyone have any probs with the irs for a street car that doesnt really see the track much? another words, can it handle say 410 gears, this is on the non supercharged 99??

4.10's or even 4.30's are a MUST for the pre-03/04 Cobra's!

U.M.

Miklowcic · Aug 7, 2004

cool

Awesome thanks for the replies..for some reason I stopped getting email notifications until now...

Since I am a straight line performance person, I am definetely going to do it, but will have to wait until next season some time. I'm scheduled for another new tune next week and the VOlvo died...only cost me $400 but i rented a car to come down to NC $$$$....ANYWAY....getting pretty low on cash for this season..

I decided to get a truck for sure now too.. Probably just a F150 SC Lariat...Then a trailor.....then the solid swap,heat exchanger,Roll Bar and Procharger!...maybe

I am doing the solid swap 100% sure.....anyone interested in an IRS? Actually I think my mechanic said he know someone who wants it...hopefully I wont break it in the mean time...

SHOULD I TRADE SOMEONE FOR THEIR SOLID REAR OR BUY A NEW ONE?

trents99 · Aug 7, 2004

Pros everything, cons nothing....IMHO.

It'll be cheaper to trade and build it up versus buying one. Cheapest I could find a stock one in a junkyard around here was $850. Found a GT to swap with and we did the labor ourselves, didn't cost me a dime other than driving to him.

Uncle Meat · Aug 8, 2004

Don't quote me on this, but I think you'll want a rear out of an '01 and up GT. They are a tad bit wider than the previous years...

U.M.

trents99 · Aug 8, 2004

Any of the 99+ GTs/Mach 1s will be what you want. If you go pre 99 it's going to be narrower.

Cobra Jay · Aug 8, 2004

trents99 said:
Any of the 99+ GTs/Mach 1s will be what you want. If you go pre 99 it's going to be narrower.

Uncle Meat · Aug 9, 2004

Okay.... 99+ then! That's why I said not to quote me... LOL!

U.M.

trents99 · Aug 9, 2004

Uncle Meat said:
Okay.... 99+ then! That's why I said not to quote me... LOL!

U.M.

I was just giving him an optional choice of two more year models

Miklowcic · Aug 11, 2004

...

ok...
well im waiting until next season..... I have to get the stang payed for and off full insurance coverage and buy a replacement for my volvo (daily driver) next...F 150? or a Dodge???

The volvo is at 242,000 miles and running funny

I am definetely switching to a solid rear next season....thats my next mod

Hopefully my mechanic will still have someone that wants to swap...although I prefer someone with a newer GT without so many miles on the rear..

PROS and CONs to running Solid GT rear in 03 CObra?

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