cobra

So In about a week I'm about to be the proud owner of an 03 cobra and I am curious as to what are good upgrades to make to it at first. Just the normal intake and exhaust?

Some headers, X-pipe, and high flow mufflers will secure 12 second passes at the track.

Put a Lightning pully on with a performance chip and you'll see at least 400-450rwhp and 11 second passes.

So In about a week I'm about to be the proud owner of an 03 cobra and I am curious as to what are good upgrades to make to it at first. Just the normal intake and exhaust?


First off leave this forum... and head over to www.SVTperformance.com

It's the best place for Cobra info.
As for a specific answer to your question:

Cat back exhaust -
* Magnaflow for med-loud tone
* Stinger for LOUD tone

CAI -
* K&N FIPKII for open element
* J&L for in-fender type

MGW shifter without a doubt #1 w/cobra Bob's gasket set

Clutch cable mods -
* FIORE micro-click firewall adjuster and quadrant
* free-play adjuster spring kit.

These will put you around the 400-rwhp range.... If you want more the that.... then:

Pulleys -
* Billetflow 2.8 blower pulley
* Billetflow idler pulley's

Tune box -
* Diablo Predator II from Runningwiththedevil.com and custom tune.

Rear Diff Brace -

315-35 Nitto drag radials

This will get you in the 440-470rwhp range....

There are many ways to achieve power.. but as you will find.. it all comes at a price. The more you go, the more other parts you have to mod to handle the power.

Good luck and look me up on the svtperformance.com forum!!

So In about a week I'm about to be the proud owner of an 03 cobra and I am curious as to what are good upgrades to make to it at first. Just the normal intake and exhaust?


Also.. beware of listening to advise from anyone who doesn't actually own an 03/04 Cobra!! These cars are not like any other Mustang ...

SVTperformance.com is filled with ONLY SVT owners... so check it out.. read till your hearts content.. then decide how you want to begin your journey of Cobra modding!

Good luck and enjoy the burn!! :)

First off leave this forum... and head over to www.SVTperformance.com (http://www.SVTperformance.com)

Hey newb...don't come on here starting a flame war between 'stang guys. There are a shi-load of guys on here that own, or have owned new and old Cobras as well as other SVT products. IT's cool that you have a Cobra, and belong to the other forum...you're welcome to come here and post...but don't bad mouth the guys here.

Also.. beware of listening to advise from anyone who doesn't actually own an 03/04 Cobra!! These cars are not like any other Mustang ...

SVTperformance.com is filled with ONLY SVT owners... so check it out.. read till your hearts content.. then decide how you want to begin your journey of Cobra modding!

Good luck and enjoy the burn!! :)

Since when does owning a car make you an expert on them? LMAO

Anyway why are you even here if SVTperformance is the only place that knows 03-04Cobras?

Just take ya silly act somewhere else cause your hilarious.

Also.. beware of listening to advise from anyone who doesn't actually own an 03/04 Cobra!! These cars are not like any other Mustang ...

Well aint that sweet. Now read my sig. Take it to the track? I dont own an 03/04 cobra...does that mean I shouldnt be willing to answere a question with factual info? Uhh Nope! :loser:

Hey newb...don't come on here starting a flame war between 'stang guys. There are a shi-load of guys on here that own, or have owned new and old Cobras as well as other SVT products. IT's cool that you have a Cobra, and belong to the other forum...you're welcome to come here and post...but don't bad mouth the guys here.


Not bad mouthing anyone... Wasn't my intent... just letting a new 03 Cobra owner know to beware of listening to advise from NON- 03/04 owners.... and where he can find plenty of good info for his new toy.

Too many "Mustang" guys try to give advise on modding the 03/04 cobras.... With this car it's deffinately different tricks for a different beast.

I've owned 2 other Mustangs, 65 hi-po and 98' GT verts... so I know a thing or two about just how different the 03 Cobra is. Just trying to help a brother out.. that's all.

Not bad mouthing anyone... Wasn't my intent... just letting a new 03 Cobra owner know to beware of listening to advise from NON- 03/04 owners.... and where he can find plenty of good info for his new toy.

Too many "Mustang" guys try to give advise on modding the 03/04 cobras.... With this car it's deffinately different tricks for a different beast.

I've owned 2 other Mustangs, 65 hi-po and 98' GT verts... so I know a thing or two about just how different the 03 Cobra is. Just trying to help a brother out.. that's all.

I agree with ya.

Knowing cars is cool, but sometimes you will need advice from guys in the know.

Well aint that sweet. Now read my sig. Take it to the track? I dont own an 03/04 cobra...does that mean I shouldnt be willing to answere a question with factual info? Uhh Nope! :loser:

Ok.. I give .. how would you owning and older Mustang with a 351w give you ANY insight on how to tune/mod an 03/04 Cobra? Trust me, I've owned MANY type of cars, and have been building and racing car all my life... and this is deffinately NOT like any other car..... and it has it's own quirks. if you just go tossing the average Mustang speed parts at it.. you can actually slow it down, or do nothing at all.

I stand by my advise for him.... go to the place where you KNOW all the members actually own and mod the 03/04 Cobra, and can give you REAL info on what works and what doesn't!!

I'm not downing this forum.. it's good for other cars... there just doesn't seem to be a many 03/04 Cobra owners here. I have used this forum to get info on other cars I own... GrandPrix GTP, Honda Civic Si, and my Chevy Silverado 1500. It's a nice forum.. but it's NOT the best place to get good info on modding an 03 Cobra!

Its all good :)

Since when does owning a car make you an expert on them? LMAO

Anyway why are you even here if SVTperformance is the only place that knows 03-04Cobras?

Just take ya silly act somewhere else cause your hilarious.


I NEVER said I was an expert on the Cobra.. but I would bet ANYONE that there are guys on the svtperformance.com site who are MOST DEFFINATELY experts on the 03/04 Cobra.... considering they are the ones who are building the 600+ rwhp Cobra's, and the ones developing and building the parts for the 03/04, and all of the know tuners for the 03/04..... You see, for the Cobra.. I listen to thier advise... for my other vehicles.. I come to this forum.

I NEVER said I was an expert on the Cobra.. but I would bet ANYONE that there are guys on the svtperformance.com site who are MOST DEFFINATELY experts on the 03/04 Cobra.... considering they are the ones who are building the 600+ rwhp Cobra's, and the ones developing and building the parts for the 03/04, and all of the know tuners for the 03/04..... You see, for the Cobra.. I listen to thier advise... for my other vehicles.. I come to this forum.

Like I said, I agree with ya. Not like I am expert or anything, but I do see your point.

There are just somethings that certain cars have that are one of kind items, that just because you know about cars in general, you cannot know every specifics part of every car.

but well, back to the original question, and just to proove that the basics apply to any car out there be it a 3 ciliner or a 12 cilinder, a good way to start is like you said, intake and exhaust. which is gettin more air in the engine, and gettin rid of the gases. i would belive that this improves the power of any car out there

Ok.. I give .. how would you owning and older Mustang with a 351w give you ANY insight on how to tune/mod an 03/04 Cobra? Trust me, I've owned MANY type of cars, and have been building and racing car all my life... and this is deffinately NOT like any other car..... and it has it's own quirks. if you just go tossing the average Mustang speed parts at it.. you can actually slow it down, or do nothing at all.

I stand by my advise for him.... go to the place where you KNOW all the members actually own and mod the 03/04 Cobra, and can give you REAL info on what works and what doesn't!!

Thats fine, I'm just saying that there are people in this forum that could give advice and real time experiance with most cars that are talked about here. The 03/04 Cobra being one of them. Just because I have a pushrod motor in my mustang doesnt mean I am clueless about a blown modular. I know the cobra motor is worlds apart from a 99+ GT 4.6 with a S-trim kit for instance, dont get me wrong there. But its not like we would tell him to buy hardened pushrods and roller lifters for his mod motor :biggrin: .

Just FYI I'm trying to decide if I want to go with a Dart block motor or a mod motor for my turbo project whenever I has some cash saved up after my currnt build.

but well, back to the original question, and just to proove that the basics apply to any car out there be it a 3 ciliner or a 12 cilinder, a good way to start is like you said, intake and exhaust. which is gettin more air in the engine, and gettin rid of the gases. i would belive that this improves the power of any car out there

Yes a free flowing exhaust is a nice improvement for most any car. A cold air intake would also probably help these cars more than it would a stock 5.0. A smaller pulley will aid you more boost but then you would need a tune and possibly bigger injectors ect as before mentioned. Just remember, the more air you get coming in, the more fuel you will need to keep a safe air/fuel ratio, specially in a boosted application. You dont want to go too lean. That tends to break stuff!

Just FYI I'm trying to decide if I want to go with a Dart block motor or a mod motor for my turbo project whenever I has some cash saved up after my currnt build.[/QUOTE]

I'm not real sold on the modular motors yet..... I wasn't happy with the sohc as the block was a bit weak... which lead to heat issues. The dohs motor in my 03 Cobra seems to be doing much better, and responding to mods pretty well. But then again it's an iron block.... and it's heavy! I'd be interested to try an older dohc cobra aluminum block and see how it does.

I haven't used dart blocks, but I have used their heads on many occassions.. good company!

Get a Teksid. The heads on the 4.6 4 vavles, should be an awesome combo with a little boost behind it. The efficency of a 4 valve head is a heck of a lot better than any 2 valve head out there. But, as always there will be other issues.

Get a Teksid. The heads on the 4.6 4 vavles, should be an awesome combo with a little boost behind it. The efficency of a 4 valve head is a heck of a lot better than any 2 valve head out there. But, as always there will be other issues.


Yeah I wasn't impressed with the sohc 4.6 at all.... poor bottom end torq, even with the whipple blower.... and runs out of breath after 6500. The dohc 4.6 seems to really shine with the blower... I'll be switching to a whipple in the spring. It would be nice to lose some of the weight of the iron block... if the Teksid can hold the power reliably... I'd be willing to switch it over in a heart beat!

The dohc 4.6 is a good street motor though... I figure anything I can get 430+rwhp and still get 20mpg is good in my book!! :)

Yeah I wasn't impressed with the sohc 4.6 at all.... poor bottom end torq, even with the whipple blower.... and runs out of breath after 6500. The dohc 4.6 seems to really shine with the blower... I'll be switching to a whipple in the spring. It would be nice to lose some of the weight of the iron block... if the Teksid can hold the power reliably... I'd be willing to switch it over in a heart beat!

The dohc 4.6 is a good street motor though... I figure anything I can get 430+rwhp and still get 20mpg is good in my book!! :)

I hear ya about the ol' 2v.

The Teksid can handle 430 w/out any problems from what I have read of course.

I figure anything I can get 430+rwhp and still get 20mpg is good in my book!! :)

Cant argue with that :biggrin: !

I'd be interested to try an older dohc cobra aluminum block and see how it does.

I was thinking about trying to find a 96-98 cobra motor to build. Would say a '96 cobra 4.6 drop right in a 99+ GT inplace of the 2v?

I hear ya about the ol' 2v.

The Teksid can handle 430 w/out any problems from what I have read of course.


I'm planning on taking the Cobra to around 550-600rwhp and stop there.... any more then that and it's a pain to drive on the street with the manual... The whipple will get me there easily with stage II cams.

You see I have a 98' GTP modded to 300+rwhp as my daily driver/winter car... the 03 Cobra for my street car/cruiser..and my 70' Opel GT as my toy..... well, I also ride an 02' Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 sportbike.... Yeah, I have a thing for speed! :)

I was thinking about trying to find a 96-98 cobra motor to build. Would say a '96 cobra 4.6 drop right in a 99+ GT inplace of the 2v?

Hmmm... good question. My guess would be any 4v 4.6 would bolt in to the 99+ cars... I'd have to check the motor mounts to see if there is any difference, but I wouldn't see that as an issue. One thing for sure.. these dohc motors are BIG... not much clearence for headers, or between the heads and fenders.

And a 'Busa, damn I am a pussy compared to you.

And a 'Busa, damn I am a pussy compared to you.


ehhh.. no biggy lol ... like I posted earlier... I've been racing all my life. My whole family either drags, modified tractor pulls, 2wd truck pulls, go-cart racing, motor cross, SCCA... I started racing carts at 5yrs old... so speed is pretty much all I've known. lol

Yeah, you want a cheap thrill, (and know how to ride) the Busa can get you there and back in a hurry... Mine is mildly modded... pipe, air box mods, and tuned... right around 195hp... i love it.. it's a kitten around town, and with the flick of the wrist.. it's a rocket off to the moon! :)

(btw.. YES.. I'm a member of the 200+mph club)

I was thinking about trying to find a 96-98 cobra motor to build. Would say a '96 cobra 4.6 drop right in a 99+ GT inplace of the 2v?

Actually.. I've been researching the 5.4 aluminum blocks.... that would be an awesome choice.

and my 70' Opel GT as my toy.....


i have a buddy with like 3 of those, they are sweet as hell.

i have a buddy with like 3 of those, they are sweet as hell.

heh i just looked at the other post... my buddies dont exactly have 1400hp tho lol... thats rediculous.

Actually.. I've been researching the 5.4 aluminum blocks.... that would be an awesome choice.

I read some where, that the 5.4 had some issues, but I cannot remember what they were. You might want to research the 5.4 stuff, before you make a choice.

heh i just looked at the other post... my buddies dont exactly have 1400hp tho lol... thats rediculous.


Yea, I bought the Opel stock because it looked alot a mini version of my brothers 69 Vette. From there it took a life of it's own... constantly modding and eventually gutting the whole car, building a tube chassis, full cage, 9" ford rear (22" drum to drum), 4-link coil over suspension, custom front suspension... and engine and trans swaps galore! lol It's street legal..but just barely... of course you pretty much have to go gas station to gas station...lol Under minimal pedal it only gets 3mpg.... @ 25lbs boost, it's gallons per mile! lol In a full 1/4 pass it goes through about 3 gallons of race/av gas!

But man.. what a ride!! :)

Under minimal pedal it only gets 3mpg.... @ 25lbs boost, it's gallons per mile! lol In a full 1/4 pass it goes through about 3 gallons of race/av gas!

But man.. what a ride!! :)

I am shootin for 9s with 15mpg, I could not imagine 3mpg, let alone 1mpg.

or 12 gallons per mile...