[quiksilver0226]

my friend just got a 96 cobra, and his redline is 7-8000 rpm. Why can cobra rev so high? i have a 95 gt, and i shift around 5000. How do they do that for the cobras. also how are cobras different from a regular gt? i know their faster and different body style, but what does a cobra have that a gt doesnt have performance wise? can make my gt run like a cobra, and be able to shift at 7 grand?

[65coupe]

I'm not sure of the complete specs of the cobra engine but the main difference is that the 4.6 cobra motor is dual overhead cam, while the gt is just a single overhead. I could be wrong but i think the extra cams are mainly what raises the power band on those motors. Hope this helps. :thumbsup

[janderson80]

cobra mustangs also have a different crankshaft and flywheel allowing the rotating assembly to be stronger and i believe lighter (don't quote me on that). Regardless the stronger the assembly the higher the revs you can push lighter decreases stress on the pins and caps and also allows a faster rev up. It's like how bigger/heavier wheels actually slow your car down a heavier rotating assembly will keep your motor from reving up as fast.

[jamiehjr]

Hey!

I have a newly acquired 1997 Cobra. The specs are 305 horsepower at 5800 rpm. The powerband extends to about 6300-6400. The Redline is 6800, and fuel shut-off is 7000 RPM. Spinning past 6400 is a waste of gas, I say try changing a gear every now and then.

The base GT is Single Over Head Cam, 2 valves per cylinder. It has a small cam for big torque for the displacement of the engine. The Cobra is Dual Over Head Cam, 4 valves per cylinder. Twice as many cams and valves. More surface area when valve is open, more air in and more air out. A GT can make 305 horsepower, but a much bigger cam is required to lift the valve higher and keep them open longer. Luckily Competition Cams just started offering bigger cams for a 4V Cobra engine so I can make some serious horsepower over my factory 305+/- horsepower, too!

Jamie

[Blk&Gld 94 GT]

Originally Posted by quiksilver0226

my friend just got a 96 cobra, and his redline is 7-8000 rpm. Why can cobra rev so high? i have a 95 gt, and i shift around 5000. How do they do that for the cobras. also how are cobras different from a regular gt? i know their faster and different body style, but what does a cobra have that a gt doesnt have performance wise? can make my gt run like a cobra, and be able to shift at 7 grand?

1) Your compairing a 95 GT, which is a OHV 5.0L Pushrod Motor, and a 96 Cobra, which is a DOHC 4.6L Modular Motor.

2)Our GT heads restrict us to spin that high and has 16 valves operated/opened with 1 cam vs. the Cobra has 32 valves (4 valves per cylinder or twice as much) operated by 4 cams. So air is able to move more freely in and out of the Cobras Cylinders.

Also depends on the years on Cobra to which you want to Compair to the same year GT.

(93/95) Cobra vs GT - Heads, Intake, Cam, Injectors, Computer Tune, Brakes?

(96/01) Cobra vs GT - Heads, Injectors, Cam, Computer Tune, Brakes, Wheels, Body Styling

(03/04) Cobra vs GT - Heads, Injectors, Cam, S/C, Computer Tune, Brakes, Wheels, Body Styling

Pretty much the basics plus all cobra years have more Standard options than the GTs, not to sure i got every thing. The 93 is a Fox chassis 5.0 and the 94/95 is the SN95 chassis 5.0. The 93/95 Gt motors are considered 5.0 H.O. and the cobra's are just 5.0. This refers to the short block, if you ever have to get a new short block assy.

Hope this helps, don't quote me on any of this.
Peace Out
Drew

[NoSlow5oh]

The big difference between your motor and your friend's is a completely different motor. Ford designed the 5.0 to be a good torque puller with a mid range hp peaker. When they designed the 4.6 DOHC they went more for higher rpm hp, thus sacrificing lower rpm torque. Just open any mustang magazine and you will find all you need to meet or beat him. Be glad that you can modify your car for ALOT less. If you are still fairly stock, you should shift at 5250 on the stock tachometer. If your in a 4.6 cobra you should shift when you get to redline, and no less. I took my car to the track a couple of times when it was stock, only to be clocking 9.1's in the 1/8th. I then found out I should shift at redline, and instantly went down to 8.9s. I had it dynoed not long after and it shows it peaks at around 6k, but it never really falls off all the way up to redline. It just lingers up there, proving the track times were not just better air or more traction. One more thing, when I had it dynoed, it was stock down to the paper filter, and it pulled 261hp/260tq at the wheels. Thats a couple of more hp than it was rated at, after 100K on the motor. Not too bad if you ask me.