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So...thinking of a 96-98 Cobra & have some Questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter baller760
  • Start date Start date Apr 23, 2004
B

baller760

New Member
Apr 23, 2004
98
0
0
So. Cal.
Apr 23, 2004
#1
  • Apr 23, 2004
  • #1
Alright. As of now I have a 2000 Ford Focus with a few mods. Anyway, I just recently went and took it to California Speedway for some drag racing and was really dissapointed with my results. I ran a 16.328 @ 82.99. Well, there were two other cars there that really impressed me. Millions of Mustang Cobras doing 12's and 13's and the new Focus PZEV's doing a 15.6 with just an intake. So, I'm a little tired of my slow 2.0l Zetec Focus, it just doesn't have enough power. And if I wanted to run what the Cobras were running I'd need a $4k Supercharger or $5k Turbo and I'd be totally illegal being that I live in sucky California. Then the other day I realized that I could sell my Focus for about $7k and take $1k from that and use it as a down payment on a different car (Can't use the other $6k b/c I owe money on the Focus still). So I decided to look into the lovely Mustang Cobras. My limit is $11000 and I would like to know a few things about your Modular 4.6l 4v's:

1) What exactly is the difference between the Cobra motor and the regular GT motor besides the 2v to 4v?
2) What do 96-98 Cobras run stock in the 1/4? I heard between 13.8-14.
3) What are the major manufacturers of Mustang parts? SHM, Steeda, Bassani, Flowmaster, Magnaflow, Ford Racing, MAC, BBK, anything else?
4) What are the best intake choices?
5) What are the best Header choices?
6) Are H pipes or X pipes better?
7) What's a quiet but good sounding exhaust?
8) What is the stock baseline of rwhp and rwtq for these cobras?
9) How many mods are needed to break into the 12's?
10) Do these Cobras handle any good at all or are they just good in a straight line?
11) Any problems with the engines? Weak rods or something?
12) How long do these engines last? Is 60k-85k too many miles for modding or anything?

If there is any other information please fill me in. Thanks for the replies.
 

cold96snake

20+ Year Stangneter
Jan 26, 2004
817
1
39
Truly, out to sea
Apr 23, 2004
#2
  • Apr 23, 2004
  • #2
baller760 said:
1) What exactly is the difference between the Cobra motor and the regular GT motor besides the 2v to 4v?
2) What do 96-98 Cobras run stock in the 1/4? I heard between 13.8-14.
3) What are the major manufacturers of Mustang parts? SHM, Steeda, Bassani, Flowmaster, Magnaflow, Ford Racing, MAC, BBK, anything else?
4) What are the best intake choices?
5) What are the best Header choices?
6) Are H pipes or X pipes better?
7) What's a quiet but good sounding exhaust?
8) What is the stock baseline of rwhp and rwtq for these cobras?
9) How many mods are needed to break into the 12's?
10) Do these Cobras handle any good at all or are they just good in a straight line?
11) Any problems with the engines? Weak rods or something?
12) How long do these engines last? Is 60k-85k too many miles for modding or anything?

If there is any other information please fill me in. Thanks for the replies.
Click to expand...
1) rpms go to 7k instead of 5500
2) gears will drop that to 13.5 or so
3)Saleen, roush
4)
5) long tubes as long as you don't need any trans. work.
6)depends more on w/ or w/o cats and purely performance wise or sound quality
7)again, subjective
8)see my sig.
9)you can stay n/a and break 12's
10)i wouldn't try a porsche in the twisties, but w/ the proper suspension mods they will do just fine
11)cast bottom end, so forget about pushing > 8-9 psi
12)depends on how heavily modded, but i plan on staying n/a and 100,000+ miles shouldn't be a problem.

The real know it alls should feel free to correct me on anything if i'm wrong.
 
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