Need some help. I just bought a 2004 Cobra and it is bone stock save for MagnaFlow cat-back exhaust. On start-up, I get a loud ticking noise that goes away once the car has warmed up. I have read that it could be the head, or perhaps the boost bypass valve (I am hoping it is the later). The car has less than 10K on it, and it is later in the 2004 production run (#2309).
I am not a pro, but this is my 4th Mustang and 2nd Cobra, but my first "Terminator." I really hate like heck to take it to the local dealer as they aren't reputable- rather notorious. Any tips on how to find out if it is the bypass valve sticking, that would be great.
Thanks!
Mike
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1998 Cobra, Atlantic Blue/Black Top, 2003 Cobra F/R seats, KENNY BROWN (KB) springs, UCA's, urethane bushings, Koni Adjustable shocks and struts, KB Strut Tower Brace, KB Lower Brace, Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber plates, KB Extreme Matrix Bracing System, Steeda Ultra Lite Chrome Wheels, Bassani X Pipe & Catbacks, 3.73 Gears, Pro 5.0 Shifter, Stainless Steel brake lines... AND a Vortech Polished S/C @ 8 psi. #2: 2004 Competition Orange Terminator
It's the valvetrain in the Cylinder Head, it's actually a common problem in the 03-04 Cobras, you'll have a noticeable tick upon startup and it lessens as the engine warms up.
Change the oil and replace with a good synthetic (Valvoline,Castrol, Royal Purple) & add an 8 ounce bottle of Militec-1 on top of the 5 quarts & 24 ounces of oil.
That's correct if you use an oil filter that doesn't have an anti drainback valve your cold starts will lack lubrication to the valve train for that split second and your gonna hear ticking til warmup!
I was looking through my old posts, and thought I'd update this. When I first purchased my '04 Terminator last January, I discovered it has what I found out is the "infamous" Cobra "tick." Through a lot of research and info from other members, I found out it could be a host of issues. One being that the Termi's have a noisy valvetrain. (Which can be quited, see Brutal's post above.
My car's problem, as it turns out, is that it has bit of piston slap (per a trusted source/engine builder at a local performance shop). Once the car warms and the piston(s) expand to operating temps, it goes away. Per the info received from the shop owner who been building race motors for decades, he advised not to worry about it. I know over time this can cause some excess engine wear, but it isn't worth a tear down presently to fix it.
Eventually I'd like to "trade up" to a Teksid (aluminum) block like the one that's in my 98 Cobra. It kills me though, I wish Ford built the Terminator motors just as they did but in the Teksid. It's reported that it is the best aluminum block ever used by Ford and is capable of supporting well in excess of 1000 HP. Then again, what would you expect from the same manufacturer that made blocks for Ferrari?
Mike
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1998 Cobra, Atlantic Blue/Black Top, 2003 Cobra F/R seats, KENNY BROWN (KB) springs, UCA's, urethane bushings, Koni Adjustable shocks and struts, KB Strut Tower Brace, KB Lower Brace, Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber plates, KB Extreme Matrix Bracing System, Steeda Ultra Lite Chrome Wheels, Bassani X Pipe & Catbacks, 3.73 Gears, Pro 5.0 Shifter, Stainless Steel brake lines... AND a Vortech Polished S/C @ 8 psi. #2: 2004 Competition Orange Terminator
Hey Mike it's a misnomer that Teksid made blocks for Ferrari, yes they have cast some parts for them, but it's well known that Ferrari has it's own foundry and casts it's own heads/blocks in house, there's a great documentary on TV called "superfactories" where they follow the build of the new Fiorano, there you can see the foundry and the casting techniques right in the factory.
Your engine can be rebuilt and retuned to eliminate the tick/slap, my tuner does it all the time...legend has it that they blew up 8 aluminum blocks developing the Terminator engine, thus the cast iron model.
As a side note, I'm looking for a terminator short block so I can turn up the boost on my Kenne Bell
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
Last edited by 2Manystangs; 3 Weeks Ago at 07:56 AM.
Reason: edit
Hey 2Many, thanks for the updates, much obliged! Good to know, and I don't want to be spreading bad info. Not sure though, how one would tune out piston slap? I am sure the valvetrain could be adjusted. If you know, please advise! I would love to get it corrected. It is annoying.
Thanks!!
Mike
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1998 Cobra, Atlantic Blue/Black Top, 2003 Cobra F/R seats, KENNY BROWN (KB) springs, UCA's, urethane bushings, Koni Adjustable shocks and struts, KB Strut Tower Brace, KB Lower Brace, Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber plates, KB Extreme Matrix Bracing System, Steeda Ultra Lite Chrome Wheels, Bassani X Pipe & Catbacks, 3.73 Gears, Pro 5.0 Shifter, Stainless Steel brake lines... AND a Vortech Polished S/C @ 8 psi. #2: 2004 Competition Orange Terminator
Mike you'll have to find one of those great tuners, from what I understand they adjust the timing on certain cylinders, obviously in a rebuild the pistons and rings could be addressed, it is peculiar that the early Teskid engines don't suffer from any chronic problem, just a weak piston/rod, but to get that bullet proof bottom you have to contend with some minor? issues, I agree that sometimes you have to wonder what goes on in the Ford design/engineering dept. I've always wanted one of those great NA 5.4 Cobra R motors...hah, good luck on that huh?
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
You wouldn't happen to know any of those tuners up Chicago way, would you? You're right on the Teksid. Knock on wood my superchargded 98 runs flawlessly. Hey, do you think the head cooling mod for the 03-04 is worth it? I suppose if that's where the slap originated, i.e. poor cooling of one or two cylinders, it,s too late but... Thoughts? Thanks again for the solid insight. I plan on keeping this car only aadding to the collection... Regards, Mike
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1998 Cobra, Atlantic Blue/Black Top, 2003 Cobra F/R seats, KENNY BROWN (KB) springs, UCA's, urethane bushings, Koni Adjustable shocks and struts, KB Strut Tower Brace, KB Lower Brace, Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber plates, KB Extreme Matrix Bracing System, Steeda Ultra Lite Chrome Wheels, Bassani X Pipe & Catbacks, 3.73 Gears, Pro 5.0 Shifter, Stainless Steel brake lines... AND a Vortech Polished S/C @ 8 psi. #2: 2004 Competition Orange Terminator
2004 Cobra Ticking Noise? 
You're right on the Teksid. Knock on wood my superchargded 98 runs flawlessly. Hey, do you think the head cooling mod for the 03-04 is worth it? I suppose if that's where the slap originated, i.e. poor cooling of one or two cylinders, it,s too late but... Thoughts? Thanks again for the solid insight. I plan on keeping this car only aadding to the collection... Regards, Mike
