What intake did I buy ... ?

[89MustangGX]

I picked up an intake real cheap last night -- too cheap to pass up. Now that I look at it in the daylight and examine it a little closer, I wonder if I did the right thing.

This is supposed to be a REAL 93 Cobra Intake (read: off an original Cobra), with some nice port work done to it.

First, the upper (RF-F3ZE-9425-CB):



This appears to be a Cobra intake, though I'm not sure if original or not. The part number leads me to believe it is. The port work I don't know about -- I can measure if that would help anyone determine. I've never seen an untouched one, so I have no idea how they look.

Now the lower (RF-F87E-9K461-BA):



This I didn't notice at first (until today!), but the part number here seems to decode to a 97 truck. I am now thinking it is an Explorer lower. It seems to have all the sensor holes drilled and tapped (which I think is the only difference between Explorer and GT40 lowers), so that's what threw me off. Again I don't know about the port work done here -- I can measure if it would help.

So, questions are -- Can anyone confirm that this is an original Cobra upper and an Explorer lower? How about the port work? Is there any advantage or disadvantage to the Explorer lower over a GT40? Does it look like this intake needs anything else, or is it good to go (aside from bolts and hoses?)?

Thanks!

 

[2000xp8]

Looks to be a cobra intake missing the plate, and likely and explorer lower as you said.

Intake wise i don't trust other peoples port work, especially since the lower should be ported to the head, not the gasket like people often do. Porting an intake hurts the value of it, i know, i've watched dozens go off on ebay.
If the lower is ported too large, the air hits the corner of the intake port on the head, and that's obviously not good.

There is a tool for scribing the lower intake that you go in through the head and mark off where to port match.

 

[88stangmangt]

ya make sure there arnt any ledges..for the air to get hung up on....if not run it...

 

[Jekyl]

Can I have them?....

 

[25thmustang]

100% NOT an original Cobra intake its an aftermarket. We have both an original and an aftermarket FMS one, and your is the same as the FMS one. I can tell by the backside, (would be drivers side when on the car) on the original it doesnt have that little bump out, it goes flat down to the bottem, yet the aftermarket one has it!

As far as the lower I am not sure!

 

[squeeeg]

Is it an explorer intake maybe? Call a ford dealer and have them run that part number.

 

[89MustangGX]

100% NOT an original Cobra intake its an aftermarket. We have both an original and an aftermarket FMS one, and your is the same as the FMS one. I can tell by the backside, (would be drivers side when on the car) on the original it doesnt have that little bump out, it goes flat down to the bottem, yet the aftermarket one has it!

I'm not sure what you're describing. I compared my pics of this one to pics of yours and they look identical as far as I can see. Can you descibe better?

-----

Does this even look like it has port work done to it? I know it looks clean and smooth inside, but that's about all I can tell. I don't have anything to compare it to, so I have no idea how it matches up or if it even has anything done to it!

I am not 100% sold on running this yet, but I didn't want the offer to pass me by. I'd like to know what it really is, at least then I know what it's worth. I can decide on the rest later.

(Maybe someone has an intake that we can compare part numbers to? Or maybe a list of part numbers?)

 

[jb89coupe]

Well the upper is clearly a cobra, aftermarket or not.. it's not an explorer. As for the lower, I don't think the explorer lowers have the hole tapped for the IAC sensor, yours does, so I'm pretty sure that's a cobra as well. It's also clearly had some home porting done to it.. looks pretty uneven, but you could always touch it up or send it to tmoss.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I have a Ford Motorsport Cobra Intake kit and those are the same part numbers that came in my kit. I bought my kit around 2000-2001. I actually made a similar post back then when i noticed the lower intake had an F8 part number on it. I wondered what it came off.

It's identical to an original '93 Cobra Intake but not off a actual Cobra.

 

[streetflossin]

The first two letters/number are the date code (E=8, F=9 for the decade, plus the year....F3 being 93), next two letters are for the car line (Mustang parts use Z_ , trucks use T_, Full size cars use A_), then the next digits are the part. All cobra uppers should use 9425 in this instance. The last two letters are revisions. The CA (no ridge) came first, then was revised to include the ridge, so the revison went up a letter to CB. The next revision would be CC, etc. That's not to say a mustang can't have a part originally made for say a full size car and have the A_ letters after the date code, but generally speaking that is how they are decoded.

The CB revision was: the ridge on the upper intake was added to strengthen that portion of the intake due some kind of harmonic issue.

The lower is a little tricky, I will have to do some research on it

 

[89MustangGX]

Thanks everyone for the help so far!

Well the upper is clearly a cobra, aftermarket or not.. it's not an explorer. As for the lower, I don't think the explorer lowers have the hole tapped for the IAC sensor, yours does, so I'm pretty sure that's a cobra as well. It's also clearly had some home porting done to it.. looks pretty uneven, but you could always touch it up or send it to tmoss.

I have a Ford Motorsport Cobra Intake kit and those are the same part numbers that came in my kit. I bought my kit around 2000-2001. I actually made a similar post back then when i noticed the lower intake had an F8 part number on it. I wondered what it came off.

It's identical to an original '93 Cobra Intake but not off a actual Cobra.

Guess that pretty much settles that aspect. I was confused as to the upper indicating a 93 origin and the lower a 98, but if you're sure about that, there's not much more to it.

-----

So all that we have left to discuss is the port work. If I took different/better pictures would it be easier to tell how extensively it is done or how well it is really done? I thought I got a good enough deal on it that any port work was just going to be a bonus anyway, but I don't want to have to spend big bucks to fix problems from shotty work done to it.

 

[jb89coupe]

Thanks everyone for the help so far!

So all that we have left to discuss is the port work. If I took different/better pictures would it be easier to tell how extensively it is done or how well it is really done? I thought I got a good enough deal on it that any port work was just going to be a bonus anyway, but I don't want to have to spend big bucks to fix problems from shotty work done to it.

Take your intake gasket of choice, drop it on the runner surface and line up the edges/bolt holes, and trace the ports onto the intake with a marker. Then see how the port work lines up to your tracing.

 

[89MustangGX]

Take your intake gasket of choice, drop it on the runner surface and line up the edges/bolt holes, and trace the ports onto the intake with a marker. Then see how the port work lines up to your tracing.

I didn't do any drawing, but I did toss the gaskets that I got with the intake on there and take a couple pics. Note -- I just lined them up quick, so take that into account (I might not have gotten them perfect). These gaskets are marked Interface Solutions, but I have no more info about them.

Lower intake to head:



Lower intake to upper intake:



Upper intake to lower intake:



What do we think now? I can still take more pics if it would help, I am totally lost as to knowing how much is done on these. I've never taken the time to do this even on a stock intake.

I appreciate any more info you guys can offer.

 

[89MustangGX]

ttt

 

[tmoss]

Looks OK to me. Port work appears to be on the mild side. Good score!

 

[jb89coupe]

Make sure the bottom of the gasket (the long flat edge) is lined up with the edge of the intake, and line up the bolt holes good. Take a picture while it's in place that shows all of the runners straight on, one picture of each side. That will let us see a little bit more.

 

[89MustangGX]

Looks OK to me. Port work appears to be on the mild side. Good score!

Thanks for stopping by Tom -- your input is much appreciated.

Make sure the bottom of the gasket (the long flat edge) is lined up with the edge of the intake, and line up the bolt holes good. Take a picture while it's in place that shows all of the runners straight on, one picture of each side. That will let us see a little bit more.

I took a couple more pics the way you asked me to. Like up the gasket as best I could with bolt holes and edge of manifold.



Let me know what you think or if you need more.

 

[tmoss]

Still looks close to stock to me, but it's kinda hard to tell cause those gaskets are freakin HUGE. measure the width and height of the runner openings and post them up.

 

[89MustangGX]

I'll take measurements and be back later!

 

[89MustangGX]

Ok, approximate measurements (since the ports are not perfectly squared):

Intake-Head ports are about 1 1/8" x 1 3/4"

Upper-lower ports are about 1 5/8" diameter

Thanks!