[arnettdr]

ok i found a 1997 cobra engine to drop in my 1997 gt, besides the engine and wiring harness what all esle will i need?
Im new to modding mustangs but ive heard that the cobra engine is the way to go because everything is forged already..
Anyone have any advice on this swap?:headscratch:

 

[Snake Pliskin]

The 97 Cobra motor isn't forged for starters. It is aluminum however. Should be a nice upgrade.

 

[arnettdr]

oh its not? see shows how much i know but it is a 4v motor right?

 

[East Bay HC]

yes it is a 4v motor. i just bought myself a 98 cobra...it runs like a champ and its so much fun to drive. the only thing i have been told by some people on this forum is that they have crappy rods and bearings....as long you dont supercharge it without rebuilding you should be fine.

 

[arnettdr]

well if its a 4v motor than it would only need a rotating assembly then right? then adding a procharger would increase my hp by how much?

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Forged as in 03-04 forged it is NOT. The rotating assembly is not up to high boost tasks. Forged rods and Pistons would help it survive a procharger. I'm not sure how much the aluminum block will take. That's a question for the hardcore boost 96-98 guys. I think i remember hearing the Teskid block is stronger. Ford chose to go with an iron block on the 03-04 cars to survive boost. Whatever you do, I think even a stock 305 hp block will be a nice upgrade. If you boost it with A REPUTABLE TUNER and drive sensibly you should have something that will last a while.

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Sorry, didn't answer everything you asked. I personally feel that you could safely get 450-500 RWHP that would be real world streetable out of that combo. Of course there could always be more but that package would be (key word) streetable. Not only would it be streetable, you would have a KILLER sleeper. The 97 GTs were pre PI heads and don't have a good street fear factor (215hp ?). You would have the benefit of a stronger straight axle rear. You could have the power of a mildly modded terminator with the sheeps clothing of a 97 GT. The procharger power comes on differently than the roots blowers so I think you would hook better than my terminator off the line. The live axle is also better for dragging. I'm kinda stoked about your combo. If Oklahoma wasn't a world away, I'd love to tear into it with you....then run against it to see what you got.:gringreen Best of luck. I'd advise you not to lose the steetable idea...I did with a notch years ago. Deleting all creature comforts and jamming to produmps gets old, real old.

 

[arnettdr]

thanks man that helps me a bunch. What exactly is a teskid block? so with the 97 cobra block and heads, a slightly upgraded rebuild it would be safe to add the procharger? i really want it to be streetable and i really like the "no fear" factor of the pre "pi" car.

 

[arnettdr]

also what all do i need to get before i attemp the swap. like do i need the computer withe the engine or can my ecm be tuned to run withe the procharger and the new engine? will i need any cooling lines? im looking to get in the 380-420hp range at least. do you know anyone that tunes well? i would relly hate to let someone mess with it that doesnt exactly know how to do it if ya know what i mean.

 

[Snake Pliskin]

Going into gray area here but a Teksid block I believe is an Italian block maker that also makes Ferrari blocks. They are the strongest aluminum blocks made. Your 97 should be a Teksid. The WAP are Windsor produced (google this one). I would think you would want everything out of the 97 cobra as far as electronics. Yeah I know a great tuner but he's here in TN. I'm sure you can find a reputable mustang shop or find a club that can hook you up.

 

[arnettdr]

ok i did some research and found out that my car has a windsor block. Is the widsor better than the romeo to rebuild? i read that the windsor is cross bolted on the mains vs the romeo being "jackscrewed". can anyone tell me wheter or not the windsor block will withstand 600hp+
Can i just get a set of 4v heads and install them to get better performance or will i have to go with a set of pi heads?
Im just trying to explore all of my options.

 

[arnettdr]

i got all of my info from Rebuilding the Ford 4.6L SOHC Engine, Doug Anderson, Engine Builder, April 2002

 

[coopdog123]

hey man, im from tulsa, i would love to do this swap myself. first off, dont hold me to this, but i thought all pre-2002 blocks are romeo, and then ford went to windsor in 03. ive herd that the teksid block can handle 800 hp with plenty of machining and balancing of some awsome forged internals. the 97 cobra computer will work the best for your aplication, and youl want most of the wiring from the cobra if you can get it.

 

[arnettdr]

ok what i have in mind now since ive done a little research is just rebuild my windsor block with some pi heads and the add a procharger:happydance: im looking to get in th 350hp range or better would be great what would you do?

 

[coopdog123]

for the power your looking for, a bottom end rebuild, pi swap, and a kenne bell supercharger you will be well into the 450 hp range. prochargers from what i read are fine blowers, but most people kinda have a soft spot for the twin screw, as do i.

 

[arnettdr]

Twin screw? sorry i dont know that term

 

[coopdog123]

there are basically 3 kinds of superchargers (not to be confused with turbochargers). they are centrifugal, which is what procharger is. centri blowers look and perform more like turbo chargers. then, there is the roots style blower, which is a positive dispacement blower that uses.... almost camshaft shaped lobes to compress the air. lastly there is the twin screw, which is also a positive displacement blower, except it uses two parallel corkscrew shaped compressors. twin screws are very effecient and are know for massive low end toque numbers. that help?

 

[arnettdr]

Yeah thanks so with the procharger being like a turbo you would have to keep it spooled in order to keep the power there? so a kenne bell supercharger is a twin screw style?

 

[coopdog123]

ya, a kenne bell is a twin screw. but the procharger isnt exactly like a turbo, it just makes most of its power in the higher rpm's. you dont really have to keep it spooled, but you wont feel all the power until you got the motor screamin.