Ok, I need your guys help. As some of you have seen my 1998 Explorer is for sale. I will be picking up a 2001 Cobra in the next few days/weeks. I will start modding up the Cobra the day I get it. I have already started looking for chrome custom 18" wheels and tires. I have already piccked out all my audio and vide stuff that will be going into it. What I need help with is the performance stuff. Like everyone else I want to get the best gains for my money. I need any and all recommendations from you. I would love some brand names, links, and rough prices and hp/tq gains from the parts you recommend. Some of the things that I am looking for are: Short throw shifter 100-150 shot of spray with purge Bottle Warmer Headers Chip Dyno Tuning in Michigan???? Cam (I know nothing about them though) 3.73 POSI rear end King Cobra clutch Cats cut off Dual 3"+ exhaust 42lb Fuel Injectors Complete Fuel system upgrade MSD ignition Cold air Intake Throttle body 10mm wires Platinum plugs Pulleys Line Loc 2" lowering springs I may or may not be going with a turbo charger or super charger in the future. Not sure right now. Can you guys help me out a bit with what I have listed above? Thank you in advance. And YES, budget is a bit of an issue here. Isn't it always?
Well, I could write a whole novel, so I'm just gonna tell you the brand names and performance/reliability of my mods: Short throw shifter - STEEDA Tri-Ax (works F-ing great!) 100-150 shot of spray with purge - no spray, just blown Bottle Warmer - see above Headers - MAC coated headers. So far so good Chip - Diablosport Delta Dyno Tuning in Michigan???? Cam (I know nothing about them though) - Stay away from cams until you really know about engines and the 4.6L DOHC 4V 3.73 POSI rear end - 4.10 IRS King Cobra clutch - good choice Cats cut off - I have a Magnaflow off road X-pipe but will be switching to either the Dr. Gas O/R X-pipe or the MAC O/R H-pipe Dual 3"+ exhaust - I have the magnaflow catback. Stock exhaust size is perfectly fine 42lb Fuel Injectors Complete Fuel system upgrade - not needed MSD ignition - not really needed, but if you want it Cold air Intake - Vortech lol Throttle body - stock 10mm wires - Platinum plugs - Autozone? Pulleys - STEEDA Line Loc - 2" lowering springs - I am going to go with either the H&R Supersports or the Eibach Sportlines
Two suggestions to start: Use a search engine. use www.partshopper.com I'm on the same internet you are. It's all I needed. 1.) IRS gears 4.10 - 4.30 $400 install and gears $170- get frpp - no HP but .5 or .8 of a sec off 1/4 mile. This should be your first mod. Consider poly IRS bushing purchase and installation now too. MM $50 and Steeda $50. Install $150 or less. or 3.73? NO .. at least 4.10, 4.30 is so close to 4.10 that's what I should have got, especially if you race 1/4 mile. Endless debate here. Move on. Solid GT axle swap = free if you find someone. 2.) shifter - I like my pro 5.0, some like steeda's triax better - $200 maybe add mgw handle for $65 3.) 100-150 shot of spray with purge Bottle Warmer - don't care to now about nitrous, anyone else? 4.) Headers - Get long tubes if you can legally, JBA 1 5/8" shorts if not or prefer. JBA - $650 + $400 install. 5.) Chip - $250 typical, whatever your dynotuner uses. Last mod to do along with dyno tune. 6.) Dyno Tuning - $150 7.) Cam - maybe VT Cams stage 2 with head porting. Wait for results on this one. 50 hp - $1000 for cams, $3000 for head port porting, aftermarket springs ect. $1000 for head removal. 8.) 42lb Fuel Injectors - included with blower kit. 9.) Complete Fuel system upgrade MSD ignition Why? I've never considered it. Sounds expensive. HP = 0 10.) King Cobra clutch - Go for it. My stock clutch for NA is fine. $200 +install 11.) Cats cut off - What? Get a Bassani, Magnaflow or some other X pipe. Cats or not. I have visual inspection in NC, so got cats. Dr. gas has most hp. approx 10+ 12.) Dual 3" - you will lose hp with 3" exhaust NA. Don't know about with blower. Go 2.5" NA. Magnaflow stainless for price/performance, Bassani is good, Bora is expensive but also good. cat back = little hp, shapes exhaust sound. 13.) Cold air intake - Many choices here, densecharger is cheap and good, quality is suspect (my aluminum elbow has cracked after 1 year use). WMS looks good, but expensive. JTL looks very promising. Look around. 5+ hp 14.) Throttle body - Only of blown. Accufab Single blade. Price? HP? anyone? 15.) 10mm Wires - What? 16.) Platinum Plugs - I hear NGK DP is good. $90, HP = 0 17.) Pulleys - Get the steeda. 8 hp, $170 install = $120 18.) Line locks - $125 19) springs 2" lower - I got steeda sport. 1 - 1.5" drop. Good street/strip springs. $260, $150 install. Whew.... A damn book is RIGHT! Good luck
