I'm curious to know what you guys think the best Cobra would be for your dollar? Not comparing stock for stockperformance, but what you get out of each for the price. I know you will get mroe performance form a newer Cobra than a older one, but that newer one will come at a much higher cost.
I can possibly get my hands on a very VERY low mileage 87 GT bone stock for under 5K. I'd prefer a Cobra though.
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89 Turbo supra - 400RWHP when I make it back
04 Caddy - Daily ;)
A 93 cobra will cost you some money if you want low miles!
It all depends on what your looking to spend.
All the cobras are nice in there own way.
5.0 cobras are cheaper to mod and you can get some nice hp out of them.
Now if your looking to do more of a forced induc.
I'd say go with a 4.6.
The 4.6 works better vs. the 5.0 because its more of a higher reving motor. Yes you can get both to do the same but it depends on how much money you have to spend once again!
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When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
--Thomas Jefferson
I'm just wondering about the Cobra its self. The build will come over time. I'm looking into more of a project car for fun. Prolly won't be driven very much if at all on the street, but I'd like to keep it that way.
It seems the modular is the way to go. I've been partial to the 03-04 Cobra's personally. Mainly because of the looks and flow of the car. But the older ones can be had for cheap. is the 4.6 easier to deal with as far as upgrades?
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89 Turbo supra - 400RWHP when I make it back
04 Caddy - Daily ;)
The dohc and sohc are harder to work on.
While the 5.0 is easyer and cheaper to mod.
As far as I seen and looked around I havent
found any after market heads for the 4.6.
They were only re-man heads nothing by trick flow or ect.
The 2003-04 cobras are very nice but like you've said they are pricey.
I'm a fan of the 5.0 because of the amount of mods that are on the market for the price and like I said before there alot easyer to work on.
If your looking to use it as only a racer I wouldnt
buy a 03-04. For that price and the amount of driving you'll do (from what you said I'd go with a 5.0 cobra or a fox body gt.
If your going to heavily mod the car I would look for just a gt. Both got the 5.0 and you'll save a few more grand for the mods you want to do!
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When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
--Thomas Jefferson
Thanks for the pointers. As of right now I wouldn't have the need for another car to be driven daily, but that might chage. I've always wanted to learn more about the s'chargers and feel a good one in action. Thigs might change, that's the beauty of it. You never know what'll happen. You think I should try for that 87 GT a few houses down from me? It's immaculate and only thing done to it is exhaust. It makes me mad to hear how he got it. He bought the house and the older couple left it in the garage. He insisted on paying for it and gave them what he had on him at the time (after buying the hosue), which was 2500. I believe it still has under 90K on ot.
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89 Turbo supra - 400RWHP when I make it back
04 Caddy - Daily ;)
The 5.0 is easy to work on but once you start working on the SOHC or DOHC mod motors, it's actually not that bad at all. A little more time consuming, that's about it.
For price, you can find 94-98 SN95 Cobras for cheap with miles on them. 94-95 5.0 Cobras would be easy to mod, but for the price and better performance and suspension, maybe get a 96-98 Cobra, of course a 96 would be cheaper than a 98 but you can find them. I've seen 99 Cobras with some high miles for cheap too and not a bad starting platform.
The 03-04 Cobras to me, are the best bang for the buck. Already have instant power from the Eaton and a few mods and you can have a 450rwhp monster. Get a little more serious with the boost and stage V port and have over 500rwhp. Get the whipple or KB and supporting mods and take the power out the roof.
Any Cobra you buy, you can't go wrong....as long as it's not a lemon. Good luck on what you buy.
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1995 Mustang GT-Heavily Modded-Sold 2003 Ford Lightning-Sold 1997 Saleen-5.4 conversion-Sold 2005 Mustang GT-Torch Red-Sold 2003 Mustang Cobra-Oxford White 2003 4Runner V8 Sport Edition 4X4
Whatever get will be done right. I'd prefer it be a sound setup and pass on a little HP, than raw HP with low reliability. More than likely a full rebuild, with extras here and there.
The SN95 style is second on my list to the 03-04. Not sure what they are. I'm thinking it sounds like I'll go with 4.6 over 5.0. a bunch of my ford buddies have said they prefer the 4.6 over the 5.0 anyday of the week, ad they're very familiar with them. It will be all a learning experience for me as I know little about Ford's engines ad s'chargers in general. Thanks for the advice guys. It might be a while before I get one but I'll definately be looking around.
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89 Turbo supra - 400RWHP when I make it back
04 Caddy - Daily ;)
If you leaning towards a 4.6 and do not plan on building the engine and just adding bolt-ons then the 03/04 cobra is the only way to go. The older 4.6 engines are limited to about 400-450 whp reliably before you start breaking parts due to their higher compression and weaker cast rods. the 03/04 motor can safely make 600+ rwhp with a good tune. Plus the mod motors NEED some sort of power adder to make big power which the 03/04 is already setup for. The 03/04 cobra is the best bang for the buck mustang PERIOD. They can be had for mid-low 20's depending on the miles and for what your getting thats a deal. If you buy a older 4.6 cobra you will have at least that much money into it just to match the performance of a pullied 03/04.
Whatever get will be done right. I'd prefer it be a sound setup and pass on a little HP, than raw HP with low reliability. More than likely a full rebuild, with extras here and there.
The SN95 style is second on my list to the 03-04. Not sure what they are. I'm thinking it sounds like I'll go with 4.6 over 5.0. a bunch of my ford buddies have said they prefer the 4.6 over the 5.0 anyday of the week, ad they're very familiar with them. It will be all a learning experience for me as I know little about Ford's engines ad s'chargers in general. Thanks for the advice guys. It might be a while before I get one but I'll definately be looking around.
Good luck finding your car!
I couldnt tell ya to get the fox body that's a few houses down from ya. I'd have to look at it (not paint wise but more of the body, see if it's rusting out and so on).
I do like the fox's. You said you got buddies that like the 4.6. Take them to look at the car and check it out if your hearts set on it.
Ether way a built 5.0 of 4.6 you cant go wrong!!!!
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When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
--Thomas Jefferson
I can vouch for the one down teh road from me. It's extremely clean inside and out. Paint is beautiful, whole car is rust free, even rims look brad new! It's almost perfect for an 87. I just don't know much about the car, but the basics check out perfect.
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89 Turbo supra - 400RWHP when I make it back
04 Caddy - Daily ;)
for a project I would go with a 94-95 cobra, Cheap and easy to work on . has the brakes already. Chassis are the same. Parts are cheap. They can be bought for $4k ish on craigs list
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1988 coupe race car 2700lbs 366rwhp
1965 2+2 fast back 4 speed tri power
1968 gt/cs 347 5 speed
1970 mach 1 428scj 4 speed v code 410 rwhp stock
1990 gt drag car 780hp on motor
1994 gt, 1998 svt cobra
2003 svt cobra 456rwhp
for a project I would go with a 94-95 cobra, Cheap and easy to work on . has the brakes already. Chassis are the same. Parts are cheap. They can be bought for $4k ish on craigs list
4 Grand with high mileage!
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When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
--Thomas Jefferson
Best Cobra for your buck... 
