have a 97 cobra conv. is stock except for off road h-pipe, and a mac cat back. would like to put it in the high 12s to low 13s. and if ya know what should it run stock??? any help would be great!!!!!!
They run about 13.5-13.9 stock usually, depending on the driver and track conditions... Drag radials, 4.30's or 4.56's gears, pulleys, o/r midpipe, good catback, and maybe a few suspension mods should get you there... I should be farther into the 12's with my setup but I can't drive worth a darn and our tracks here aren't the best...
a 96-98 cobra running better than 13.8-13.9 stock is like an LS1 that runs 12's stock up here (sea level). It doesnt happen that often...but it does from what I hear. I have never seen it. Most people run low 14's @ 100-101mph stock with a 96-98 cobra. You need the following: 4.10's or higher dr's LT's Timing adjuster/pulley set CAI Maybe even a shifter too Those mods should theoretically put you in the high 12's, but its up to the driver. Those trannies are notchy as hell, but dont be affraid to slam those gears. My buddy's 97 cobra is very notch and takes 2 motions to go from one gear to the next. I showed him how to slam the gear in one motion and the gears grinded hard. It went in and barked the tires, but the tranny didnt like being speed shifted like that.
Ya i've heard a lot of different opinions on what the 96-98 cobras should run, i know the 96's are a bit slower because of cooling problems that ford fixed on the 97-98's. I've seen a 98 cobra run a 13.5 on street tires with nothing more than an after market exhaust. Wouldnt you think that 4.10's are a lot for a car that is drivin mainly on the street??
Nope...4.10's are actually the perfect street gear for these cars...really wakes them up...4.10's aren't that great for the strip though because they make you shift into 4th right before the traps at the end... I have a set of 4.56's waiting to go in my car, but it's not a daily driver anymore...
The cooling issues that the 96's had has nothing to do with performance, 96 - 98 Cobra all run pretty much the same despite of the rumors running around. The 98's had supposedly a different tune to the computer but it did not run any better than the 96-97..... Ford just moved some parameters around from bank 1 to bank 2 or vice versa. There is no evidence to support the theory of better performance,no one has been able to prove it to date, they all dyno about the same between 255 hp and 265 hp and run about 13.6 to 13.9 in the 1/4. But like with everything else in life there are exceptions either faster cars or slower ones..
My buddy installed 3.73's in his 97 cobra and those gears really woke his car up as well. He likes to cruise in it and take an occasional ride to the track. He wanted reasonable rpms on the highway, so he went with 3.73's. You'll here people say 3.73's arent a big enough jump and blah blah blah, but most of those people never had 3.73's PM my buddy, I believe his username is 97rmcobra. He'll give you an honest opinion on them.
He doesnt want to be taching over 3000rpm @ 70 on the highway, that was his whole point. He wants a cruiser that will get up and go, and going from 3.27's to 3.73's really woke his car up. Plus he is doing what lots of guys on here dont do...plan ahead (not intended toward you missouri). He wants a blower down the road and wants to maintain decent traction for the street without having to run some serious stickies. I am the same way, I planned to run low 120's in the 1/4, so i got 3.73's to keep me in 4th. Well I am building a 600+rwhp 383, so now i will be seeing 130+mph in the 1/4, ad i will now need a bigger tire. The original plan though was how i taylored my mods. Helbo11 - Decide what your goals are and then post them. We will have better input once we know this.
3.73's are a good choice if he is indeed going to add a blower later on... BTW...with 4.30's a Mustang at 70mph in 5th gear will be only at around 2600RPMs...It's not really that bad...and some people actually have better gas milage with the lower gears...
Yeah, i dont recall the rpms, but the 3.73's will tach 15% less, and after punching calculators and other variables like cruising, gearing at the strip, etc. he decided on 3.73's.
Have heard a lot of different opinions on gears, i've been in a mustang with 4.10's felt like a lot of gear for the street. Main goal i want with my car is too run in the high12's to low 13's and keeping the car reasonably streetable. Like to cruize with it, but get up and go is important and i think the 3.73's good do that? and i heard pulleys are bad for the motor?
3.73's seem like a good choice for you. I havent heard the pulleys thing tho. My buddy has the timing adjuster/pulley kit and he found some power by bumping the timing. I think steeda makes the kit.
4.10's at 70mph is 2800-2850, 75mph is around 2900 and 80mph is 3000. 4.30's will put you close to the 3000 rpm range on highway speeds. You will definately get better gas mileage though.
4.10's are a street gear and actually aren't good for the track because they have you shifting into 4th right before you cross the line.....but he's right gas mileage will increase for your "in town" driving anyways
