Old / New guy, back with Terminator!

[5.0 HOtrain]

Well, sold my 418 hatchback back at the end of 2006 and have been out of the stang game since, until now............After vacation next week I will be taking delivery of a 2003 Sonic Blue cobra Car is mostly stock except for flowmaster cat back and K&N cold air intake. 22,800 miles, aftermarket 18 inch wheels, and slotted rotors with 10th anniversary calipers. I almost went with another fox (have owned 4) but have wanted a terminator since they came out. So a little happy divorce present to myself.

Thinking I will just do a differential brace, programmer, mid pipes, and pulleys for this year, anyone have any suggestions? Thank you for reading and offering up any advice, as this will be my first mod motor stang

Mike.

 

[NotoriousGT350]

Do some cooling mods such as an after market heat exchanger, intercooler reservoir(great for extra capacity and stuffing ice at the track). If you plan on keeping the IRS and making some trips to the track, an IRS brace is a must like you mention getting. There are some good upper pulleys that make decent power. Look into Billet Flow idlers and bracket for a tighter belt wrap with whatever upper pulley you go with. Later down the road you want to add a lower pulley, I would suggest having Steigemeir port the blower OR you can send it off an have it ported anyways for a nice whine, more power, and if you add more boost (15-17#s), then the port job will help slightly in not generating a lot of heat. Or getting heat soaked. They can also port the TB/PL ,but looking into an Accufab TB or Dragon setup(one of the best TBs).


One you start approaching close to 500rwhp, upgrading the maf and a KB boost a pump is a good suggestion so you will not be reaching the limits of the fuel pump or duty cycle. Diablo MAF.ia is great to upgrade the maf and KB 40 amp Boost-a-pump. MGW shifter is a must and very nice to have.

Find a nice reputable tuner for your cobra. Plenty of exhaust options you can go for as mid pipes. Remember wheel hop can kill a drive shaft. Every cobra is different and may or may not bust a half shaft. I was fortunate to launch mine on IRS with just a brace at 5200-6400 rpms numerous times on ET streets and Hoosier QTPs and never busted a half shaft. Easy 1.70-1.71 60' times with the best being a 1.44 60'.

Good luck and post up pics when you received the SB cobra.

J.R.



Oh yeah, with just a 2.80 upper pulley, no port, tune, mid pipe and cat back, cai... I dynoed at 465rwhp/494rwtq.

 

[5.0 HOtrain]

Thanks for the info I'm not sure how often I plan on going to the track. The thing that attracted me to the cobra so much is how little you need to make big power and have a beautiful car that you can drive anywhere.

 

[NotoriousGT350]

Thanks for the info I'm not sure how often I plan on going to the track. The thing that attracted me to the cobra so much is how little you need to make big power and have a beautiful car that you can drive anywhere.

I agree. Mine is parked in the garage with a car cover on it(west texas sand). Has a little over 18K miles since bought in Nov. '02 by the first owner. I'm the second. I know I can easily drive it anywhere as I have from Ohio to Texas when I picked up the car with 2800 miles for $28K and some mods already on. That's why I'm glad I have a DD such as my '89 GT and when it gets hot, I'll drive my wife's old '95 fireturd until I can fix the A/C on my GT.

Here is what my ported/pullied cobra sounds like...pardon the language of my friends.
car005.flv video by NotoriousGT350 - Photobucket

Old vid from 2007 when I got my first 11 second run in 5500' DA. Should do high-mid 10s now.
blackcobraonslicks.flv video by NotoriousGT350 - Photobucket

The most recent run for my first time down the track in the new setup and first time down the 1/8th mile....Spinning through 1st, 2nd, and some of 3rd on Hoosier QTPs(51* outside and track gone already due to weather and oil spills here and there).

200810242242471.flv video by NotoriousGT350 - Photobucket

 

[5.0 HOtrain]

Very nice job on your car man I just picked up the car on the 10th, and it is everything I could have hoped for and more, what a great car to drive. I can't wait to do the few minor mods that I have planned for this year.

 

[OregonMustang]

Ditto

Good call on the components

 

[5.0 HOtrain]

Thanks I will be doing the parts install this Friday, except for maybe the pulley as I may not get the puller in time, but that will soon follow. I ended up with the diablosport predator, billet flow 2.93 pulley, AFCO aftercooler, BBK high flow cat "X" pipe. I also bought the Invictus head cooling modification also. Oh, and a pro 5.0 shifter.

If anyone can post up a pic or two for me, please leave your email and I will shoot them to ya, much appreciated.

Mike.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

You are going to love it.

Go with the diff brace (BF is prolly still backordered, so buy the steeda), pulley, CAI, mid pipe and catback. They will make nice power.

Oh...get some DR before you do any of that. They cure the wheel hop.