Upgrade or new engine?

Flywheel or Rear wheel horsepower?

Are you talking flywheel or rear wheel, cause that can make a huge difference. I feel your pain on the FR500 parts. When my original Teksid snapped a rod, I thought about having it rebuilt. The cost was very high, but it would have been a hell of a motor! I opted for a Mach 1 crate motor instead, thinking it would be a pull out and drop in operation. It wasn't. ANYWAY....

Assuming you want 500 flywheel ponies, and since I already have the new Summit catalog sitting here....The only thing here with that kinda power is the ManOwar big blocks. You are looking at 9,500-11,000 for the crate motors. Keep in mind these 427s are not going to just drop right in, so some other changes will be needed to get them running.

You could get a built 4.6. Places like SHM or DSS make short/long/crate 4.6 packages. A SHM crate motor (which sounds just like the FR500 Cammer) with upto 450 horses naturally aspirated is 14,000. Then they step up to 600hp with a SC for 17,500. The swap with these would be alot easier. I know the fuel pump would need upgraded, and you don't have a returnless fuel system like the 99 and later Cobra's. I have found SHM to be very high priced though, so some searching could get you the same item for less.

The cheapest option would be to get a blower. About 5,000 should get well over 450 horsepower if not more with proper tuning and bolt ons. The question is, can your block handle it?

Your best bet, IMHO, would be to sell your 96 and buy an 03/04. A few bolt ons will get you right where you want to be, and with an iron block that will hold up. Looking at the prices for a new motor of that caliber, plus the additional expenses you will incur in the swap may equal the price of a Terminator Cobra once it's all said and done.

As I mentioned earlier, I bought a Mach 1 crate motor. It was 6000 for the motor, plus some harness', plugs and fittings needed to be modified to make it work. All that still left me at stock horsepower!

Or you could look for a wrecked '03 '04 Cobra and swap the motor. I know a guy that got a totaled '03 for $8,000...

A supercharger is the easiest way to go IMO

As long as you don't go crazy with the boost level, and get a good tune you will be fine.

Start off with a supercharger, take it easy with the tune and keep the boost level low. During the time save up for rebuild with forged internals then you can really starting making some real power.

Stay stock and use bolt ons if possible

mustang_jr+ said:

It's a mystic cobra, but I don't think it will be worth a damn except in maybe 30 years.

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All SVT's are rare; the Mystic, Cobra R, Pace Cars, and Mystichrome models being the rarest. As far as higher values in the future, you will need the car as close to stock as possible when you goto sell it. This is where bolt ons versus motor swaps help. Can you imagine someone advertising their "rare Mystichrome Cobra" for top dollar after painting it Grabber Orange?

mustang_jr+ said:

The sc is about 4k? The rebuild and labor are what I can't guess at. Another 4k in parts and labor?.

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The down side to the 4V is the limited selection of internals. The FR500 heads are going to run you around 1500, the new FR500 valve train and cams another 1500, plus about a grand for forged pistons, rods and a crank. You still need new seals, lube, etc. You can shop around and find the best deals, but this still doesn't include labor. Nowadays, shop rates are high. I can't see getting a rebuild AND new FR500 parts for near $4K. You might be able to get your stock parts reworked for that price.

mustang_jr+ said:

One guy said to me "I'd wind of having to charge so much you could build a nice 5.0 with what I'd have to charge you for the headwork and cams alone".

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Yup. I could have gotten a killer 347 Stroker for what I paid for my Mach 1 crate motor, but all the money I saved would have gone to modify everything else to make it work. I spoke with Ford Racing before I ordered my crate motor to ensure that the 03 would "drop right in and go". They said yes. None of the coil on plug connectors matched, the AC lines where all different, I had to reuse my old power steering pump, and the ECU plug needed some changes as well. So the $6K for the motor (which was "discounted" by the way) plus the labor to remove, rewire and reinstall the motor may have gotten my Teksid rebuilt with FR500 goodies and it would have BOLTED RIGHT BACK IN! Hindsight is 20/20. At least I still have a DOHC (with 12 month warranty) under the hood even though it is not the much lusted after hand built SVT flavor.

On a side note, have you already completed or planned out the other upgrades you'll need? 500 HP is not going to sit well with stock fuel pumps, air meters, injectors and brakes. Is your transmission going to take the upgraded abuse? You will also need to beef up your chassis. Someone here said it best....

"Speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?"