03 Cobra Mods - Please help!!

[rrohrig]

I just bought an '03 Cobra with 7K miles - Any suggestions on modifications? I was thinking of headers, Pro 5.0 shifter, exhaust, pulleys, tune, gauge cluster. Please let me know what brands you recommend. I have a '98 Cobra, but this car is completely different and obviously the mods will be too. I am not concerned about cost because I am getting the parts at wholesale cost without paying sales tax, as well as doing the changes myself. I can take the cats off and plan too as, there is no e-check where I registered the car. Thanks for any input.
-Ryan

 

[Uncle Meat]

I just bought an '03 Cobra with 7K miles - Any suggestions on modifications? I was thinking of headers, Pro 5.0 shifter, exhaust, pulleys, tune, gauge cluster. Please let me know what brands you recommend. I have a '98 Cobra, but this car is completely different and obviously the mods will be too. I am not concerned about cost because I am getting the parts at wholesale cost without paying sales tax, as well as doing the changes myself. I can take the cats off and plan too as, there is no e-check where I registered the car. Thanks for any input.
-Ryan

Now where are you going to get 03/04 Cobra specific parts at wholesale cost?

For everything you ever wanted to know about the 03/04 Cobra, but were afraid to ask... Start by visiting this thread: http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=681843

U.M.

 

[shhak]

I'm sure U.M will agree the only shifter to buy is the MGW. The best pulleys are Billetflow. As for exhaust, any major brand will be fine but I just got the SLP Loudmouth kit and i really like it. Haven't done the headers yet so I can't help you there. JLT is the only choice for a Cold Air kit. Hope this is a start.

 

[rrohrig]

My buddies Dad owns a racing shop where he builds 100K motors. I could also go to one of my clients who is an NHRA Pro stock dragger. Both of which are exempt from sales tax in the state of Ohio. I don't remember the name of the wholesaler, but it is the same one that supplies Summit Racing. I could also order from the Keystone book as well.

 

[Dan_Soprano]

don't mess with headers. the stock logs flow well enough. not worth the $ IMO.

 

[slitherin' 03]

Advice that I got from this forum has helped greatly. MGW shifter. I love it. Cant miss third gear anymore. Jlt CAI is great too. It's not as hard as everyone says it is to install. And, of course the billetflow pullies. And the Steiggy stage 4 port. Just got all this stuff done and thrashed on her tonight. Took a couple of "non car guys" for a "ride" They went right to the bathroom when we got back! :SNSign:

 

[6SpeedLX]

id say get some nice longtube headers to really open up the exhaust and let that ported blower breathe....the stock manifolds are horrible and i bet youll pick up a ton of hidden power with headers.

 

[Uncle Meat]

id say get some nice longtube headers to really open up the exhaust and let that ported blower breathe....the stock manifolds are horrible and i bet youll pick up a ton of hidden power with headers.

Actually his gains will be minimal at best. The stock exhaust manifolds on the 03/04 Cobra flow very well just as Dan_Soprano hinted to above. Plenty of guys putting 600RWHP down through the stock logs.

U.M.

 

[BadMoFo]

no need for long tubes unless you are well over the 600 hp mark.

mgw shifter rocks.

billetflow pullies and a port job. or upgrade to whipple/kb.

I like an o/r h pipe and flowmaster or mac catbacks. but thats just my taste.

might want some subframe connectors, irs brace and maybe some sticky tires. this is all just for starters.

 

[Stangette91]

might want some subframe connectors, irs brace and maybe some sticky tires. this is all just for starters.

All three of those things are must-haves. Bushings too.

As for exhaust, how loud and obnoxious do you like it? Or do you just want a deep, semi-quiet tone? I had just a Magnaflow catback for the longest time and it was way too quiet for me. Sounded mean and deep, but since I like Mustangs ridiculously loud, I had to do something else. Got an MRT catted H, and although it sounded better, the catback had to go in place of Borla Stingers. Not as loud as you would think, and definitely not as loud as my 2002 GT was. But it sounds MEAN.

You don't need headers on these cars.

Definitely a shifter... everyone loves MGW, and I have used it on a friend's Cobra and it's not bad. I've had my Pro 5.0 since I bought the car and that's just what I'm used to.

Gauges, yes, which ones are you thinking of? Water temp and boost if you want two.

BTW - congrats on finding an '03 with 7k miles. May I ask where you found it? What color? Good luck with it!

 

[BadMoFo]

why does it have to be an white cobra hunter? dont hunt what you cant kill, lol.

missed the gauges, I will be going with boost and fuel pres. and maybe a good a/f ratio guage.

 

[Stangette91]

missed the gauges, I will be going with boost and fuel pres. and maybe a good a/f ratio guage.

His name is Hunter. And how do you know what I can't kill? :Zip2:

 

[BadMoFo]

His name is Hunter. And how do you know what I can't kill? :Zip2:

ah gotcha. glad that you finally got your cobra though.

 

[Stangette91]

ah gotcha. glad that you finally got your cobra though.

I got it three years ago

 

[rrohrig]

BTW - congrats on finding an '03 with 7k miles. May I ask where you found it? What color? Good luck with it!

I bought it from a Jaguar/Land Rover dealer in Cleveland. Sonic blue/$26.5K Some guys wife made him trade it in because he had a baby. Me, on the other hand, just had a baby and decided to pick up an '03 since my '98 just isn't cool enough for me. He traded it in on a Range Rover. It is bare bones stock and CLEAN. Have had the '98 for 4 years now(50K miles, for sale).

I already got my MGW short throw shifter(I have a Pro 5.0 on the '98, but I hear the MGW is the best on the '03-'04), JLT CAI and of course a California Custom Car cover. I am ordering my magnaflows in a few along with the billet flow pulleys(4 wheel set and 2.93), then off to the tuner...

I am pretty sure of the magnaflows, but I like ridiculously loud. I have flowmasters on the other cobra, but need some more noise.

Any further suggestions?

Should I even bother paying a shop for a tune while putting the pulleys on, or should I rent the billetflow S/C pulley tool and get a SCtxCal2 and do it myself? I am pretty smart with computer/cars/whatever but is this something I should just pay someone to do or can I do it without risking the car?

 

[slitherin' 03]

imo go to a tuner. the canned tunes are not very good. at least that was my experience from the predator. canned tune from them for the 2.93 was approx 35 hp less than a custom tune. dont know about the sct tunes. if you want loud exhaust i would go with the borla stinger cat back and bassani x with a mid pipe. that's what i have and i think it may be the loudest out there. its so loud, i may swap out the mufflers for something a bit quieter.

 

[Uncle Meat]

Let a professional who knows how to tune these cars do their work. As slitherin' 03 already stated, the tunes that come "built-in" to these tuners from the factory are FAR from optimal and should only really be used to get your car from the garage to a experienced tuner & dyno where it can be done right.

U.M.

 

[Stangette91]

I bought it from a Jaguar/Land Rover dealer in Cleveland. Sonic blue/$26.5K Some guys wife made him trade it in because he had a baby. Me, on the other hand, just had a baby and decided to pick up an '03 since my '98 just isn't cool enough for me. He traded it in on a Range Rover. It is bare bones stock and CLEAN. Have had the '98 for 4 years now(50K miles, for sale).

I already got my MGW short throw shifter(I have a Pro 5.0 on the '98, but I hear the MGW is the best on the '03-'04), JLT CAI and of course a California Custom Car cover. I am ordering my magnaflows in a few along with the billet flow pulleys(4 wheel set and 2.93), then off to the tuner...

I am pretty sure of the magnaflows, but I like ridiculously loud. I have flowmasters on the other cobra, but need some more noise.

Any further suggestions?

Should I even bother paying a shop for a tune while putting the pulleys on, or should I rent the billetflow S/C pulley tool and get a SCtxCal2 and do it myself? I am pretty smart with computer/cars/whatever but is this something I should just pay someone to do or can I do it without risking the car?

Congrats on your new baby too!

If you like ridiculously loud, then the regular Magnaflow catback isn't going to do it for you.

My vote goes towards a real tuner as well, not just a handheld.

Good luck with everything!

 

[rrohrig]

Thanks.

I called one local shop and they said a dyno tune with SCT is $550. Is this a high/average price?

 

[shhak]

That sounds about right. The tuner I use gets $399 plus tax for the SCT and then $100 an hour for dyno tuning. Usually an hour our so is all they need.