Street friendly, 300 hp, cobra or 5.0?

dstang01 · Mar 12, 2007

Thanks for the replys, its true that you 94-95 guys are the most helpful
Im leaning towards the 5.0, the two big attractions of it are its price (like I said, about half that of the cobra) and its simplicity/reliability. I was looking at 94-95 cobras too, but the name "cobra" seems to make people think they can ask rediculous prices for what is basically a lightly modified gt. Now that I think about it, the 5.0 gt will also cost me less in insurance and ill be able to run regular instead of premium. When I start modding, I might aim for a bit more than 300 bhp, I basically want to beat lt1s, newer GTs and hand ricers their asses. I want to be able to hang with ls1s, but Im not expecting to beat them. Thanks again for opinions, the more the better.

If I were to go 5.0, im thinking these will be my first modifications (in order) feel free to add to or comment on my list:

tune up
subframe connectors
offroad H and flowmaster 40s
cai
shift kit(if auto, im happy with maual or auto)
aluminum pulleys
perhaps some gears and suspension mods

eventually when im ready, the h/c/i, supporting mods, headers and tune

fordtech28 · Mar 13, 2007

Go with the cobra I have a 95 cobra .It already has most of the key components for it to go over 300 hp like the 24 pound injectors the mass airflow sensor the cobra intake gt40 heads your more than half way there .I got mine port and polished along with the intake and headers and a tune im hitting the 300 rwhp mark see my sig for the rest of the modifications

HISSIN50 · Mar 13, 2007

dstang01 said:
Now that I think about it, the 5.0 gt will also cost me less in insurance and ill be able to run regular instead of premium.

As Fordtech and the others hinted at, the irony is that the Cobra is Less likely to need premium and won't be as quick to need a tune (or need a tune as badly, I should say). The GT guys have a very lean factory tune to contend with, whereas the Cobra tune (what many GT owners upgrade to) is a vast improvement.

MHO.
Good luck.

dstang01 · Mar 13, 2007

HISSIN50 said:
As Fordtech and the others hinted at, the irony is that the Cobra is Less likely to need premium and won't be as quick to need a tune (or need a tune as badly, I should say). The GT guys have a very lean factory tune to contend with, whereas the Cobra tune (what many GT owners upgrade to) is a vast improvement.

MHO.
Good luck.

I was referring to the DOHC cobra needing premium fuel, not the 5.0 cobra (does the 5.0 cobra call for premium too? I havent really researched them) Even so, could you explain 'less likely' to need premium fuel, im kind of confused?

blksn955.o · Mar 13, 2007

The tune/eec of the 94-95 cobra is much more forgiving and has FAR less ping/det. issues compared to the 94-95 gt. Its not TOO uncommon for a gt to ping with prem. and I would be willing to bet a cobra could run on 87 with stock timing.

Pokageek · Mar 13, 2007

I thought 300bhp would be fine too. Then I wanted 300rwhp. Now I want 400+ rwhp and dropping in a 408, lol. Mainly what effected me though was that after driving a 5.7l LT1, I was expecting the same low end from a h/c/i 5.0 just because it had the same or more peak HP.. so for me going from a LT1 to a H/C/I 5.0 was like going from a 5.0 to a 4.6 mod motor. Interesting how you seat of pants don't forget.

lager94GT · Mar 13, 2007

I haven't been on here or posted in ages, but I just checked back and couldn't resist this thread. Go with the 94-95. I bought my car new and will not part with it. I love the 5.0 engine. My lowish 280rwhp is totally streetable. Torque is good. Nice idle. Lots of fun. Didn't cost too much to get there either.

...however, I would like more power at this point and am looking for a used kenne bell.

BlackVert · Mar 13, 2007

that is the thing about the 5.0. you can stroke it to 347, or you can drop in a 351 and stroke it to 427. you have so many more option with it than you do with a 4.6 dohc.

dstang01 · Mar 13, 2007

lager94GT said:
I haven't been on here or posted in ages, but I just checked back and couldn't resist this thread. Go with the 94-95. I bought my car new and will not part with it. I love the 5.0 engine. My lowish 280rwhp is totally streetable. Torque is good. Nice idle. Lots of fun. Didn't cost too much to get there either.

...however, I would like more power at this point and am looking for a used kenne bell.

I think your setup might be something Id be looking for, you say its very streetable, idles nicely, has good torque and makes around 280rwhp?

Also, when you say it didnt cost you too much, how much is not too much?

final5-0 · Mar 13, 2007

The two words ... "Street Friendly" can be influenced GREATLY by pcm
optimization

My Ed cam has a lsa value much lower than what you see quoted
by many peeps in those threads of cam recommendations which
play nicely with our pcm.

Just said that to show ... you can go more aggressive with a combo
than what you might first think

Of course ... I had to make an investment in time and money to
gain that benefit

But considering the only thing I put up with is a bit of cam lope

I'd have to say ... It was worth it all

Grady

WHITE94COBRA · Mar 13, 2007

I have both a 98 cobra and a 94 cobra, driveability in the 98 is rock solid, and it's fun to drive as well, just expensive to mod, my 94 is a little harder to drive (Clutch is heavy) and doesnt like to be below 1500 - 2000 rpm's, but is really fun to drive, and was pretty cheap to mod. If I had to do it all over and have only one car I would pick the 98, but I will never get rid of my baby.... My 94......

Pokageek · Mar 13, 2007

WHITE94COBRA said:
I have both a 98 cobra and a 94 cobra, driveability in the 98 is rock solid, and it's fun to drive as well, just expensive to mod, my 94 is a little harder to drive (Clutch is heavy) and doesnt like to be below 1500 - 2000 rpm's, but is really fun to drive, and was pretty cheap to mod. If I had to do it all over and have only one car I would pick the 98, but I will never get rid of my baby.... My 94......

After having both...in stock form, would you say the 98 was noticeably more powerful? Faster? I am wondering if the rating of 240Horse was low or on the money on that 94?

WHITE94COBRA · Mar 13, 2007

Honestly the 94 "felt" faster, because of where the torque band starts, but in actuality the 98 is deffinatly faster stock for stock. The 94 would take the 98 off the line everytime, the 98 makes it up real fast fom 3k to 7k rpm's. So to answere that question the 94 felt more "powerfull" but not faster. Another contributing factor in my quest for speed, the block on the 98 is waaaayyyyy better than the 302 block, and much smoother.

greenstang1313 · Mar 14, 2007

Pokageek said:
After having both...in stock form, would you say the 98 was noticeably more powerful? Faster? I am wondering if the rating of 240Horse was low or on the money on that 94?

Ive heard that most 94-95 Cobras make about 225-230 horsepower at the wheels in bonestock form. That could be around 260hp at the crank. Ford definatly underrated the 5.0 cobras at 240bhp.

mackey · Mar 14, 2007

I'd go with the 96-98 Cobra after owning a 94/95.

I love my 94 GT but after taking a ride in the 96 I loved it. The higher revving motor feels nice when you can keep pulling making each gear lower. They make up in upper end what they lose in the low end torque. If you buy the Cobra you will pay more for the car but trust me. You will NOT be disappointed.

BlackVert · Mar 14, 2007

mackey said:
I'd go with the 96-98 Cobra after owning a 94/95.

mackey · Mar 14, 2007

I love my car, but the 96-98 was just more fun to drive around. Plus i love their exhaust note more.

95_cobra123 · Mar 14, 2007

i had a 96 Gt i sold it then i thought to my self what do i want i drove a 97 cobra and a 95 cobra and the 95 cobra was more to my liking in the mods for money and also it held door to door with the 97. reason i say this is i bought the 95 and my friend bought the 97 and it was an even match to 87 or 90 mph. But he has done gears and full exhaust and i have done the same and i can run 12.9's while he is running 13.2's yes he does have a better mph at the end. FOR price and to still be able to own a 5.0 go with the 94/95 Cobra i would still do it the same way if i could go back.

Nik_95Cobra · Mar 14, 2007

238 rwhp in mine back when all it had was exhaust and a drop-in k&n. If you're concerned about the price of running cheaper fuel and such, get the 5.0, cause they're also cheaper to mod like was mentioned, and horsepower's something that's not always affordable. BTW that last major fuel crunch a while back I ran mine on 89 in our 120 degree summer with no hint of pinging.

dstang01 · Mar 15, 2007

you all bring up great points.. which makes it even harder to decide haha

5.0 is simple, inexpensive to buy, cheap to make power and maintain, very do-it-yourself, feels powerful with its low end, and runs regular fuel. The bads are it is underpowered stock (the gt), runs out of steam in the top end, doesnt handle as well (ive heard the cobra is much more rigid and handles alot better), gets worse gas mileage (but runs cheaper fuel, so that doesnt really matter)

4.6 cobra is more powerful, handles better, has better build quality, gets better gas mileage, keeps pulling into the top end, and Id basically be very happy with it in its stock form. I think I also like the modular exhaust more, but the 5.0 sounds sweet too. The bads are that it costs alot more to buy, requires premium (at least I think it does) lacks the 5.0 low end, and if it ever breaks it is costly and not so much a DIY like the simple 5.0.

Just trying to line up my pros and cons.. i guess the verdict is if i can afford the cobra it would be the best choice, but even if i get the 5.0 ill have to throw a few grand at it to get it at par with the cobra.. its a tough call, Im a highschool senior if it makes a difference, I make alot of money for my age (tutoring) but I still dont have alot to spend, Im just a young white guy who wants his stang

Street friendly, 300 hp, cobra or 5.0?

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