Where do I start with my '03?

[03whitesnake]

Hello everyone! I am a new member and in the final stages of becoming the new owner of a 2003 Cobra, hopefully by the end of this week! It took a lot of time and patience (almost a year) to narrow it down and wait for the right one but it was so worth it. High gas prices+newborn+high payments = good deal for me!

Anyway, I have just a few basic questions about modding. If I mod anything would I have to reprog. the chip, even for the slightest thing? Would it be better to just buy a programmer if I eventually plan on adding more than a few performance parts? And is there a preferred order to modding? What would be the first mod sub $1000? Could I just add a K/N filter at first or should I start with an exhaust (X-pipe?)? I am also interested in upgrading the brakes from stock. Are the 10th Anniversary Edition brakes any better than the regular '03's? And lastly, I've heard that the side vents on the rear quarter panels could be used to direct air to the brakes through ducts. Would the increase in weight nullify any advantage?

Thats all for now. I love this site and the way it's laid out. Very classy and clean. Lots of advise and pics! I will post mine when I pick it up soon. Will have to drive it back about 600 miles but I would rather put the miles on it and put it through the long distance test right away rather than to entrust it to a carrier to get to me who knows when. I actually dreamed that the trucker took it to Vegas for a few days and blew the engine running from gangsters in the projects shooting at him while trying to pick up some trick. Thats just not going to happen!

Thanks for any replies and let me know if you need any more info. The car is currently all stock and I'm considering just leaving it that way unless there is some noticable power loss. I would like at least one upgrade tho, whether it be one part or a 'package' deal. :SNSign:

 

[Uncle Meat]

Well... let me see if I can help out a fellow Oxford White Cobra owner...

Hello everyone! I am a new member and in the final stages of becoming the new owner of a 2003 Cobra, hopefully by the end of this week!

Congrats! You're going to love it!

If I mod anything would I have to reprog. the chip, even for the slightest thing?

No. Not all mods will require reprogramming or a re-tune.

Would it be better to just buy a programmer if I eventually plan on adding more than a few performance parts?

Depends on what "parts" you're going to add! Not only that, but today's handheld programmers provide the ability to change other parameters that many find useful like advancing the timing, turning off traction control, changing tire/wheel size or rear gear ratio. If you ever plan to run a smaller supercharger pulley then I would say yes most definitely go ahead and get one.

And is there a preferred order to modding? What would be the first mod sub $1000? Could I just add a K/N filter at first or should I start with an exhaust (X-pipe?)?

Most 03/04 owners start out with the two most basic mods that provide the best bang-for-the-buck. A CAI and a cat-back. Those two mods alone will put you near 400RWHP and a re-tune won't be necessary. You could even throw in a catted X-pipe and still come in under $1000 for all three.

I am also interested in upgrading the brakes from stock. Are the 10th Anniversary Edition brakes any better than the regular '03's?

The anniversary edition brakes are no different than the the non-anniversary ones. They are just painted red is all. There is really no need to upgrade the brakes or rotors on the 03/04 unless you plan on road racing the car. The stock brakes are very good to begin with.

And lastly, I've heard that the side vents on the rear quarter panels could be used to direct air to the brakes through ducts. Would the increase in weight nullify any advantage?

The side vents are cosmetic only. You would have to do some major body work to make them truly functional. Now the front vents next to the fog lights is a different story. There are kits already available to duct cool air to the front brakes using them. Again, unless you're road racing the car it's completely unnecessary.

Thats all for now. I love this site and the way it's laid out. Very classy and clean. Lots of advise and pics!

Thanks! I'll pass on your kudos to those in charge... I'm just a moderator around these parts and can't take credit for the site myself.

Now here's what you need to do... Go read the 03/04 Cobra FAQ ASAP! It's going to answer so many of your current and future questions concerning your new Cobra. 03/04 Cobra FAQ

Please feel free to come back here and post up any other questions you may have that aren't answered in the FAQ listed above...

U.M. (Fellow Oxford White Terminator Owner)

 

[3 eyed snake]

starting off

you can do a pulley swap,preditor tune, get 10.5" wheels,little tint, exhaust.... knock ya-self out:SNSign: :SNSign:

 

[SVT98Snake]

IMO, stay away from Predator....go SCT.

I have had numerous friends with the Predator that has dropped tunes...

My fantastic 4 for mods....

2.76 or 2.8 pulley
exhaust (MAC, Bassani, or Magnaflow)
JLT CAI
SCT Xcal

That will get you around 450-470 rwhp depending on how conservative your tune is.

 

[03whitesnake]

Thanks for the great advise all! I like your fantastic 4 picks SVT98Snake, but would I need to reprogram the chip for those mods? What would happen if I didn't? Also, I have just purchased insurance for it and will probably have to wait another week or two to pick it up. I remember seeing an ad in either Hot Rod or Mustang Magazine about a month back for a product that acts as spacers for the wheels to increase their width appearance and fill out the wheel wells better. Does anyone know what these are and where I could find them? Thanks again.


John

 

[Uncle Meat]

Thanks for the great advise all! I like your fantastic 4 picks SVT98Snake, but would I need to reprogram the chip for those mods? What would happen if I didn't? Also, I have just purchased insurance for it and will probably have to wait another week or two to pick it up. I remember seeing an ad in either Hot Rod or Mustang Magazine about a month back for a product that acts as spacers for the wheels to increase their width appearance and fill out the wheel wells better. Does anyone know what these are and where I could find them? Thanks again.


John

YOU ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY MUST HAVE THE CAR TUNED IF YOU ADD A SMALLER SUPERCHARGER PULLEY!!!!! Failing to do so will cause a lean A/F ratio and you'll burn the motor up.

As far as wheel spacers are concerned there are many types and widths available depending on what exactly you are trying to accomplish. Most of us just opt for wider tires and/or wider rims to fill out the wheel wells.

I have a set of LFP 3/8 inch hubcentric spacers and extended reach lugnuts, plus a set of rounded IRS subframe bolts installed so my 17X10.5 rims will clear the IRS and fill out the wheel wells. I got the spacers here: http://www.lightningforceperformance.com/catalog/productDetails.php?productID=1168 and the IRS bolts here: http://www.maximummotorsports.com/subframebolt.asp

U.M.

 

[TheDukeOfEarl]

Congrats on the new cobra.

As always. My advice to new Terminator owners is to just drive it for a while. Enjoy it. It has lots of power and is quite fun. The mod days will come soon enough.

Uncle Meat..... He asked about rear brake ducts.. I may have a road racer here LOL They are so few and far between.

SVT98Snake.... The predator should only be used to transfer tunes from your computer to the car. I would never use the one that came with the tuner other than the first trip to the dyno shop.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Uncle Meat..... He asked about rear brake ducts.. I may have a road racer here LOL They are so few and far between.

That was the first thing I thought to myself when initially reading his post! You road course guys are a minority around these parts!

U.M.

 

[SVT98Snake]

SVT98Snake.... The predator should only be used to transfer tunes from your computer to the car. I would never use the one that came with the tuner other than the first trip to the dyno shop.

Exactly...that is what I have always heard and what I tell people....some just don't listen...