Corvette ZO6 vs Mustang Cobra SVT

Originally posted by SVTerminator


Have you driven an '03 Cobra? This car will out proform any production F-body ever built, on the street, on the track, and on the drag strip.:devil:
not according to motor trend.... Have you driven a new Z06?

Originally posted by DblOvrhedCamron

not according to motor trend.... Have you driven a new Z06?

A Corvette is NOT an F body. F bodies are Firebirds and Camaros.

The vette Z06 is not super natural. It can and will occasionally get beat by a cobra. The Z06 is a nice car, but it's not out of the cobra's league!:flash: :flash: :flash:

Who ever said the Z06 isnt underrated HP wise?

The F-Bodies are underated to keep the stock C5 from looking bad. Same damn motor just 'rated' different.

When the F-Bodies consistantly put down to the floor what they're rated at the crank... you know something is up.

Just something to chew on.


And Yes, I'm a Chevy fan... but the new Cobra is an awesome car. But truth is 90% of the people who own on wont be able to drive the car to its full potiential which is why i've seen them run mid 13s stock. Same damn things applys to Corvettes and any car... unless you learn how to drive it to its fullest you're just as fast as the rest of us.

Originally posted by PWMAN


A Corvette is NOT an F body. F bodies are Firebirds and Camaros.
I realized that after I posted it, but from reading all the posts b/f it I just assumed he slipped up since the thread was comparing a Z06 to a Corba and he seemed to favor the cobra. Why would he be comparing cars that were clearly not in its class.

Here's where it's at take the Z06 405 HP or whatever Supercharge that...it's only like 5000 or so it's gonna crank out about 538 HP...maybe even a touch of NOS and push about 638+ some HP...:)

Whatever Mustang it's not even close...even with MODS and NOS potential of ABOUT 510HP

Viper pretty much the same thing...NOS might beat the Vette mostly cuz it's got 10 Cyl to fill up w/NOS so there's more NOS there. If they made a Super for the Viper we're all screwed even SUPRA lovers and/or pretty much everything...potential of about 760HP superd and NOS'd up :)

actually straight line the z06 will rape and rape and rape the cobra for everthing it has, no competition, it barely and i mean barely beats the base model
mustang svt cobra 1/4 mile 13.3
corvette Z06 1/4mile 12.5
and actually moter trend had some pro driver run the Z06 and ran a 12.4
there's a big diff between 13.3 and 12.4 kid
and who's this guy talking about nitrous :newbie: :screwy:
hey kid, do you know who lingenfelter is?

Here's where it's at take the Z06 405 HP or whatever Supercharge that...it's only like 5000 or so it's gonna crank out about 538 HP...maybe even a touch of NOS and push about 638+ some HP...:)

Whatever Mustang it's not even close...even with MODS and NOS potential of ABOUT 510HP

Viper pretty much the same thing...NOS might beat the Vette mostly cuz it's got 10 Cyl to fill up w/NOS so there's more NOS there. If they made a Super for the Viper we're all screwed even SUPRA lovers and/or pretty much everything...potential of about 760HP superd and NOS'd up :)
Can you say detonation?
You can't just add a SC to any engine, and how did you get those numbers anyway?
Like I said a page or too ago, the GT only has about 9:1 compression(I forget now, but something like that) and the Z06 has like 10.5:1. First of all you can only boost the Z06 like 6 PSI on PUMP GAS. The GT you can boost like 14 PSI. And forget nitrous, that just isn't possible without detonation running pump gas.
So boosting the GT 14 PSI will create roughly 500 HP, and 500 HP for the Z06 to because you can only do like 6 PSI. But the Vette will probably still win in a race because it's much lighter, but it will certainly NOT annihilate the mustang by any stretch.
BTW, just cuz the Viper has 10 cylinders does not make nitrous more affective, where do you get your information noob?

Z06 vs. SVT-Cobra, have i not heard this one before.
A rule I go by is when I compare a car, plz do it in stock form. Or for no confusion. Don't say 34k plus 16k in mods okay. Or 50k plus 30k in mods alright, after that they cannot be compared because their probably in a different class. Kinda like comparing a Enzo to a 3cylinder Metro. For the sake of argument i wanna argue to hehe. Breakdown:
A Z06 claims 405hp. Cobra 390hp. (Remember thats what they claim) Weight: Z06 3150+/-, Cobra 3650+/-. Skidpad: Z06 .99g, Cobra .90g. 0-60: Z06 4.1+/-, Cobra 4.5+/-. Quarter Mile: Z06 12.6+/-, Cobra 13.1+/-. 0-100: Z06 9.1+/-, Cobra 11.1+/-. I'll even throw in gas milage(city/highway). Z06 19/28, Cobra 16/22. Okay now we have some numbers to compare with. If any of you think that your car can run .5 seconds faster than the rated 1/4mi. without doing anything, absolutly anything to the car than your dreaming ok. That means a Z06 will not run a 12.1 stock (thats ridiculous), or a Cobra running a 12.6 stock (omg whatever). Its just not going to happen, but you know, that every buddy has a "buddy", that knows a "buddy" who did somthing right.(bs "buddy"). Now im not talking drivers because they do make all the difference. Or put it this way, the same driver driving each car okay. That makes an even argument (get it). A 03' Cobra should be compared to a C5. Everyone knows their running very close to each other. A Cobra according to data (which relates to fact) will not beat a Z06 0-60, 0-100, 1/4. If a Cobra be named anything it should be a straight-line car, because its top end is no where comparable to a Z06, its just to heavy and to boxy. Now hell i respect a Cobra when I see one. (they have a nice profile), and vise versa for the Z06, but you cannot argue with the facts (data) ok, it just makes yourselfs look like a fool. Now i've seen dyno ratings rwhp/rwtq for a Z06 365/358, Cobra 369.7/359.7. Just for shits and giggles the flywheelhp/tq on the Cobra was 452.7/436.4 I shit you not, back me up mustang fans. This particular dynoed Z06 was flywheeling 404.7/398.9. So the Cobra does have more flywheel power, but it seems to loose a lot through the drivetrain. I'm not very up to date on the Cobras drivetrain technology but thats a lot of hp loss. And for one otherthing go by the hp/weight rule. Every 10hp makes up for 100pounds. That should give you a better idea for weight to power differences. All of my sources are credible (including dynos), most info came from car and driver, and why would they lie. Most dynos are posted on Mustang/Vette sites, and the graphs do not lie. I'm going for the Z06 as in performing, but damn I wouldn't mind it for a second if I had a Cobra no doubt about it. 35k vs. 50k. Its only money right.........hehe

IMO, no sane person would take the Mustang over the Z06. No doubt the Z06 would win a race, and the styling is almost uncomparible inside and out. Maybe I just am too much of an anti-Mustang guy, but I think the Z06 is clearly the better car.


I've been reading some of this and I just wanted to throw in my two cents. The Z06 is a great car no doubt. But the Mustang SVT Cobra (for about $17,000-19,000 less) has all the goods for beating out the Z06. Not only in Fast Fords and Muscle Mustangs did the SVT Cobra beat the Z06 in 1/4 mile time. The results were the same in Hot Rodder Magazine. One more, Due the outstanding design of the Independant rear suspension on the Cobra, the SVT Destroyed the ZO6 and Viper on slolum and road course. It's obviously no doubt that the best Bite for your Buck goes to The Cobra. (in case ur wondering the SVT 1/4 mile time was 4.5 sec. and the Z06 was 4.6)

actually straight line the z06 will rape and rape and rape the cobra for everthing it has, no competition, it barely and i mean barely beats the base model
mustang svt cobra 1/4 mile 13.3
corvette Z06 1/4mile 12.5
and actually moter trend had some pro driver run the Z06 and ran a 12.4
there's a big diff between 13.3 and 12.4 kid
and who's this guy talking about nitrous :newbie: :screwy:
hey kid, do you know who lingenfelter is?

i have the june 02 car and driver magazine that tested the mustang svt cobra, and it got 12.9 for the 1/4, i know every resource is gonna be different, but just showing some of the times that they have gotten for the cobra.

Sorry, 12.5 And 12.6

I've been reading some of this and I just wanted to throw in my two cents. The Z06 is a great car no doubt. But the Mustang SVT Cobra (for about $17,000-19,000 less) has all the goods for beating out the Z06. Not only in Fast Fords and Muscle Mustangs did the SVT Cobra beat the Z06 in 1/4 mile time. The results were the same in Hot Rodder Magazine. One more, Due the outstanding design of the Independant rear suspension on the Cobra, the SVT Destroyed the ZO6 and Viper on slolum and road course. It's obviously no doubt that the best Bite for your Buck goes to The Cobra. (in case ur wondering the SVT 1/4 mile time was 4.5 sec. and the Z06 was 4.6)
SORRY, 12.5 AND 12.6, I WAS THINKING OF 0-60 TIMES

OK so everybody has their own arguments. I've seen the Cobra smoke the Z06 and others have seen different. Hell maybe there is some bias in some of the magazines we read. Who knows. The most important two arguments that the Cobra has over the Z06 is obviously, for one the price. The second is Fords ability to make just about the same horsepower(390) compared to the Z06(405) using a significantly smaller block. SVT(281 cubic inches) Z06(350 cubic inches) nearly 70 cubic inches of difference or Wasted space.

In the motortrend article the C5 convertable edged out a Cobra convertable.
The cobra coupe will out run a C5 coupe in the 1/4 and is only .1 seconds behind the ZO6.
If you look at motortrend a few months earlier when they first started reviewing the cobra you will see that the 1/4 mile times were quicker than in the most recent issue. It was well in the 12's. Only in the new issue did it get 13's because that driver messed up the launch. He might be a professional driver but he definately messed up.

These GM guys have chips on their shoulder because they are falling behind. The FORD GT will stomp a Z06 and a Viper in the 1/4 or on the track.

:rolleyes:

You mention times out of Motor Trend, but when someone else uses the same magazine to to post some facts you call it bullshit. While I will admit that the Cobra can keep up with the Z06 in the 1/4, that is the only place it can. The Z06 is far better in every other aspect and will murder a Cobra on the track. Also, the GM guys don't have anything wrong, Ford is the ones with the problem. Also, let's keep in mind that the Cobra is supercharged while the Z06 is N/A. As for the GT, it had better out handle the Viper SRT-10 and the Z06 for the $150,000 pricetag, but then again it is all speculation because the car isn't even OUT YET. So shut up. If you want to play that game then let's just wait and see when the C6 Z06 and Viper Competition Coupe come out.

After reading the rest of your posts I must simply agree with Jimster here that both you and stangvette are deluded:

stangvette- you are deluded- just get over it :rolleyes:

Besides for SVTerminator, you guys are a bunch of chevy-loving freaks that don't know anything about the cobra. That was one article in one magazine. Big DEAL!!!!!!! SVTerminator is smart. He knows about the cobra. As for some of the rest of you guys, I'm not sure that you know much of anything.:flipa: :finger: :flipa:

Like I said before, you act like a child and both you and SVTerminator post a ton of bullshit with nothing to back it up. You give Mustang owners and fans alike a bad name.

The Z06 is faster then the 03 Cobra, out handles the Cobra, and gets better gas mileage then the Cobra. Of course it weighs about 400 pounds less. They dyno about 10-15 rwhp less then the Cobra though, because the 03 Cobra is heavily underrated hp wise. Not that it matters, cause the 03 Cobra is a boat in comparison. For the person that posted about how a 03 cobra smoked a Z06 at the track, go to ls1.com. They have a bunch of vids of Z06's smoking 03 Cobras. Of course here and there a Cobras gonna win, but stock versus stock the Z06 will win w/ identical drivers. I sat in a Z06, and i think people really make fun of the interior for no reason. The heads up display is easy to read. I'd buy one, but that is not gonna happen in the immediate future. :( BTW the Cobra is better to mod for going in a straight line. Those interanls leave alot of room for boosting.

vettes blow a** , a dime a dozen. they all look the fu**** same even Linginfelter vettes. you can't even supercharge one and get that much gain. they can only handle about 7-8 pounds of boost. Where as the Cobra with the 4.6L can handle up to 18 pounds of boost. Kenne Belle makes a bolt on supercharger for the cobra that boosts it up to 670 hp. it cost about $4500 but even so your still paying $12,000-$13,000 dollars less than buying a new Z06. And you can customize the f*** out the mustang of yours to boot, Making it an eye catching, bad ass mofo. If the rest of you have an extra $17,000 or so when you go to buy a new car then go for it. But if you want some good horsepower with some of smoothest flowing heads since the 351 cleveland, for a price hard to beat. Cobra all the way.

Stock for stock...the ZO6 will outrun a Cobra. I am a died in the wool Ford guy so you know that if I am saying this it's because I believe it. But, in no respect nor in any venue is it by very much. As mentioned above the Cobra does dyno higher than a Z06 (I have witnessed this a few times...in person), but it is a little heavier and I don't think it puts the power to the ground as well as the Vette does.

In no showdown does the Vette blow the Cobra away...not even on a roadcourse. Make no mistake, the Vette will win, but it won't be a walk away. I think this is as mucha credit to the Mustang as anything, considering what you can get into a Cobra for.

The Mustang has been ridden pretty hard as being a "drag strip" only kinda setup for some time now and this simply not true. The Mach 1 definately was designed with an eye on the strip and the GT's live axle is a liability although it hanbdles better than you might think. (The last gen Maxima used the fwd equivelant to a live axle rear suspension as it had a beam axle...as did the first generartion Audi A4)

But, with all due respect, people who think the 03 Cobra is a strip set up kind of car are either smoking something or do not get out much. Sure, the old girl shows her age in a lot of respects....steering's kinda vague, and uses more of a high powered hammer approach than a finesse approach to handling.

If you are driving a stock, new car that is in the Cobra's price range...unless you are driving an Evo or WRX STi And maybe a S2000 Honda on the right kind of road course.....(May I suggest all of them avoid picking anything with long straights or a lot of long sweeping curves.....and the Cobra brakes every bit as Hard as any of them) You have no chance whatsoever of ourunning a 03 Cobra anywhere except an autocross course in anything else for anywhere near the money.

It will flat take a 350Z, Crossfire, 330 BMW, RX-8...you name em...to school in any way shape or form. Road course, drag strip, whatever. The Honda, WRX, and STi only stand a chance on a road course and then, as I said, it had better favor the Japanese cars setup or you are not gonna do it.

The 03 Cobra can be put into a POWER ON controlled four wheel drift. For those of you who do not know what this is.....it is not what most people refer to as "drifting'. It is not for show as this is the real...most cars cannot do it...race car deal. For a car to to this requires big power and superb suspension tuning.

Yes, the Vette is the better performance car out of the box and I have to give the bowtie boys (and gals) their due. However, the Cobra is a lot easier and cheaper than the Vette to get a lot more hp out of...which I like. Cobra's can make genuinely sick hp levels (500+hp easily) with mods that wouldn't gain the Z06Vette 30 horses at most. Combine that with the Cobra's already lower price tag. ....And,. I like to think, even without my Ford bias I would rather have the Cobra money considered.

Also, and I am not alone here, while the Cobra is not nearly as good looking as it should be...I cannot stand the C5 Vette. I saw a pic of the new C6 and it is gorgeous, and I liked the old C4 too. But, the C5 looks like the designer of the MkIV Supra tried to do a Vette and forgot it isn't a Japanese car. IMO it's awful

I can see how a typical Japanese car guy would think the C5 was awesome. But, ironically, I think that demonstrates best of all why it was never well loved by "American" car guys

vettes blow a** , a dime a dozen. they all look the fu**** same even Linginfelter vettes. you can't even supercharge one and get that much gain. they can only handle about 7-8 pounds of boost. Where as the Cobra with the 4.6L can handle up to 18 pounds of boost. Kenne Belle makes a bolt on supercharger for the cobra that boosts it up to 670 hp. it cost about $4500 but even so your still paying $12,000-$13,000 dollars less than buying a new Z06. And you can customize the f*** out the mustang of yours to boot, Making it an eye catching, bad ass mofo. If the rest of you have an extra $17,000 or so when you go to buy a new car then go for it. But if you want some good horsepower with some of smoothest flowing heads since the 351 cleveland, for a price hard to beat. Cobra all the way.

A dime a dozen you say? There are FAR more Mustangs on the road than there are Corvettes, though I will agree that they still are a somewhat common car, and I do agree that the styling on the Vettes are a little plain. However; you have to understand that in the Mustang's engine you're dealing with forged internals vs. the cast internals in the Corvette. Of course the Mustang's engine will handle more boost. Build up the internals on the Corvette, then we'll talk.

you have to understand that in the Mustang's engine you're dealing with forged internals vs. the cast internals in the Corvette. Of course the Mustang's engine will handle more boost. Build up the internals on the Corvette, then we'll talk.
It's not really the fact of forged internals, it's the compression that stops it from running high boost on pump gas. But if you replace the internals with forged, you are adding atleast 5K to the already insane price over the cobra.

It's not really the fact of forged internals, it's the compression that stops it from running high boost on pump gas. But if you replace the internals with forged, you are adding atleast 5K to the already insane price over the cobra.

Yeah the compression on the vette's are far greater than on the mustang, which limits the amount of boost it can reliably take. It would require more tunning of the vette to generate more hp, and forged internals wouldn't be a bad start if you want big gains.
Though I wouldn't say the price was insane over the cobra, you pay for what you get. Cobra R cost more than the Z06, and it was still lapping slower, yet it performed better than the Cobra.

Yeah the compression on the vette's are far greater than on the mustang, which limits the amount of boost it can reliably take. It would require more tunning of the vette to generate more hp, and forged internals wouldn't be a bad start if you want big gains.
Though I wouldn't say the price was insane over the cobra, you pay for what you get. Cobra R cost more than the Z06, and it was still lapping slower, yet it performed better than the Cobra.
I believe the Cobra has 8:1 or 8.5:1, the Z06 has atleast 10.5:1 if not 11:1 compression. So you are limited to about 5-6 PSI on the vette, which non-forged internals can handle. That should boost the HP levels closer to 500. However, the cobra can get about 20 PSI, making closer to 600 HP levels.

I believe the Cobra has 8:1 or 8.5:1, the Z06 has atleast 10.5:1 if not 11:1 compression. So you are limited to about 5-6 PSI on the vette, which non-forged internals can handle. That should boost the HP levels closer to 500. However, the cobra can get about 20 PSI, making closer to 600 HP levels.

Since the Cobra's are designed with the supercharger it would make sense for a lower compression to be used. If Z06's were designed with a type of forced induction i'm sure you would see a different platform for their engine design. If you wanted to boost your Corvette, you would get a better gain on the standard C5's since their compression is lower (not a whole lot) than the Z06. 10.1:1 - C5 vs. 10.5:1 - Z06. Which really like I said, isn't that much. A Cobra's engine was definatley designed to be tuned easier stock for stock providing a compression of 8.5:1 (as far as increasing induction) on pump gas.

On another note, a cam swap goes a long way on a forced induction engine.

vettes blow a** , a dime a dozen. they all look the fu**** same even Linginfelter vettes. you can't even supercharge one and get that much gain. they can only handle about 7-8 pounds of boost. Where as the Cobra with the 4.6L can handle up to 18 pounds of boost. Kenne Belle makes a bolt on supercharger for the cobra that boosts it up to 670 hp. it cost about $4500 but even so your still paying $12,000-$13,000 dollars less than buying a new Z06. And you can customize the f*** out the mustang of yours to boot, Making it an eye catching, bad ass mofo. If the rest of you have an extra $17,000 or so when you go to buy a new car then go for it. But if you want some good horsepower with some of smoothest flowing heads since the 351 cleveland, for a price hard to beat. Cobra all the way.
You really don't look up the facts too much do you? For all those, "you can't boost a Z06 beyond 8psi", wow I guess I must've imagined the Lingenfelter twin turbo vette smoking every wannabe performance enthusiast shop cars (Including the Mustang adored Saleen, which wasn't even close). Forged interanls cost money, but honestly not $5K. Go to check out some lunati parts for a Z06. ANY car, and I mean any car can be boosted. You can make any car fast, including a Daihatsu Charade, just not w/ the stock engine. The bottom line is it comes down to who wants to invest the most money (Of course you have to invest it wisely). The vettes a better platform all around. Lingenfelter coereced a 9 sec. pass out of a bored/stroked out 427 twin turbo vette.
For the argument of handling, someone stated that you'd have to be smoking to think that a 03 Cobra isn't close in handling to a Z06 vette. Bzzzzzttttt!!!!! Wrongo. In Motor Trend they tested both cars, and the vette was more then 3 sec. faster on a road course. That's a serious ass whooping. The Cobra is heavy (3550 pounds), and it's nose tends to pitch in turns. It isn't a horrible handling car by a long shot, but it's no Z06. FYI a Z06 actually has better track times in several magazines over the Ferrari 360 Modena. The Z06 really isn't about 1/4 mile times, but about track times .

[QUOTE=2000LS1Z28]You really don't look up the facts too much do you? For all those, "you can't boost a Z06 beyond 8psi", wow I guess I must've imagined the Lingenfelter twin turbo vette smoking every wannabe performance enthusiast shop cars (Including the Mustang adored Saleen, which wasn't even close). Forged interanls cost money, but honestly not $5K. Go to check out some lunati parts for a Z06. [QUOTE]
Hey moron, the lingenfelter vette doesn't have 10.5:1 compression. You cannot boost a Z06 more than 6 PSI on pump gas. On race gas, I'm guessing the internals could handle anywhere from 12-15 PSI.

And yes the parts are not going to cost 5K, but once you include machine work it will. That is still including that you can put the engine together yourself too, and not pay to have it done.

I think you need to do some maturing if you are going to do some name calling. Of course the Lingenfelter vette has forged internals, that is why i brought up the fact about how much it costs to do forged internals. Here are the costs of the Lingenfelter performance package.
CNC ported cylinder heads
Three angle valve job, checking of spring tensions & heights
LPE custom camshaft
Two true ball bearing turbochargers
Two high efficiency air to air chargecoolers
Custom molded silicone air ducts
4 into 1 custom exhaust manifolds
Two turbo outlet adapters
Turbocharger scavenge pump
Turbo oil drain reservoir
Two K&N 360 degree conical air filters
Heat shields and stainless clamps
Professional installation, testing and tuning
GHL stainless steel exhaust system
Turbocharger water feed and return hoses
Turbocharger oil feed and return hoses
Gaskets and fasteners
Chassis dyno report
2 year/24,000 mile warranty
1997-2004 Corvette package prices
Manual transmission package $ 22,995.00
Automatic transmission upgrade $2,595.00
I'd imagine alot of the money goes into the warranty. I fail to see how $5K is being invested into the internals.

You really don't look up the facts too much do you? For all those, "you can't boost a Z06 beyond 8psi", wow I guess I must've imagined the Lingenfelter twin turbo vette smoking every wannabe performance enthusiast shop cars (Including the Mustang adored Saleen, which wasn't even close). Forged interanls cost money, but honestly not $5K. Go to check out some lunati parts for a Z06. ANY car, and I mean any car can be boosted. You can make any car fast, including a Daihatsu Charade, just not w/ the stock engine. The bottom line is it comes down to who wants to invest the most money (Of course you have to invest it wisely). The vettes a better platform all around. Lingenfelter coereced a 9 sec. pass out of a bored/stroked out 427 twin turbo vette.


Well if you want to boost a Z06 beyond 8psi it can be done, but not on the stock setup. Compression is already to high to be boosting much past that on the normal setup. What I am saying as well as many others is that stock for stock, a Cobra has better tunning capabilities (as far as forced induction) than a Vette. And since the Cobra is ohc, it makes it much easier to time the valves than the vette's ohv design. I'm not saying that with the vette it cannot be done, it just requires more tunning, which requires more money.

The Lingenfelter 427TT is based off the 427 pushing around 500+hp alone to start off. I have a video of one being dynoed at 735rwhp @9psi(which is what I think they are boosted to anyways). I'm not sure what the max boost achievable is on the 427TT package, but if you find out, I would like to know. A Cobra is capable of pushing 18psi or so as is, not a Vette, which is more like around 8.

The Lingenfelter 427TT is based off the 427 pushing around 500+hp alone to start off. I have a video of one being dynoed at 735rwhp @9psi(which is what I think they are boosted to anyways). I'm not sure what the max boost achievable is on the 427TT package, but if you find out, I would like to know. A Cobra is capable of pushing 18psi or so as is, not a Vette, which is more like around 8.
Actually the 427 TT vette has the C5R block in it. In any event, I already stated that you cannot boost the Z06 w/o forging the internals (Atleast not beyond 8 psi). I just doubt the $5K some people are claiming that it costs to forge the internals of a vette. As stated before, if you want to make a car fast, you are only limited by the amount of money in your pocket book.

I just doubt the $5K some people are claiming that it costs to forge the internals of a vette.
Well like I said before the actual parts will not cost 5K. Probably about 2K for the pistons, rods, and crank. But unless you own a machine shop and can build the engine yourself the labor will cost more than the parts.

It's not really the fact of forged internals, it's the compression that stops it from running high boost on pump gas. But if you replace the internals with forged, you are adding atleast 5K to the already insane price over the cobra.

That might be somewhat true, but lowering the compression will only give you so much more leway for boost. You will have to replace some of the internals with forged units. I am not sure of the strength of the crank and the pistons but you will want to replace the rods for sure.

... If you are driving a stock, new car that is in the Cobra's price range...unless you are driving an Evo or WRX STi And maybe a S2000 Honda on the right kind of road course.....(May I suggest all of them avoid picking anything with long straights or a lot of long sweeping curves.....and the Cobra brakes every bit as Hard as any of them) You have no chance whatsoever of ourunning a 03 Cobra anywhere except an autocross course in anything else for anywhere near the money.
...
The 03 Cobra can be put into a POWER ON controlled four wheel drift. For those of you who do not know what this is.....it is not what most people refer to as "drifting'. It is not for show as this is the real...most cars cannot do it...race car deal. For a car to to this requires big power and superb suspension tuning...


syr74, nice post, but to clarify a couple of things, the S2000 does well at tracks with a lot of high speed corners. It's advantage is handling, and franlky the only track I can see it being competitive with the other 3 cars mentioned (Z06 is 2+ sec/lap faster than the s2000) is at Lime Rock, and Sears Point (or whatever they change the name to, it'll always be Sears Point) which have no slow corners and no long straights.

I also think that in the dry, the power advantage of the 03 Cobra would make it a slight bit faster than either the Evo or STi at most tracks, but with these, the Evo/STi tracks would be more point-and-squirt type tracks with many slow corners and lots of braking, where the better gearing of the STi (not as familiar with the Evo) helps. NHIS and Laguna Seca come to mind here.

Driven properly, just about any car can be put into a power on 4-wheel drift on corner exit. It's more about the mid-corner transition from corner entry to power on, and in fact this is what is aimed for when driving at the limit of the car. It is easier to feel in a high powered RWD car, but can be done in just about anything, including all the cars I've ever driven on track (91 Ford Probe GT, 99 Miata, various Spec Miatas, 85 Porsche 944, 99 Impreza 2.5RS, 04 STi, 98 C5, 98 Mustang GT).

To be honest I think an Evo would school an 03 Cobra on a road course. They had a vid somewhere of a guy w/ an AWD Evo powersliding around a track surface. He blew away everybody, but then flipped the car.

first of all im not trying to put down the z06, i love that car. the z06s block is aluminum right? if so.. then in really high hp applications, the cobras iron block with forged internals should be able to take more boost/hp better than the vette.

Yeah it's an aluminum block on the Z06. I could argue like the old aluminum blocked Cobra owners do, about how it doesn't matter if it is an iron block or aluminum, and it's all in the tune. In reality the 03 Cobra can handle more boost. Then again it's also alot smaller engine then the vettes ;)

first of all im not trying to put down the z06, i love that car. the z06s block is aluminum right? if so.. then in really high hp applications, the cobras iron block with forged internals should be able to take more boost/hp better than the vette.

Yes, but boost does not equate horsepower, airflow does, and larger displacement means more airflow. The Corvettes engine will produce more power at the same boost pressure than the Cobra.

Yes, but boost does not equate horsepower, airflow does, and larger displacement means more airflow. The Corvettes engine will produce more power at the same boost pressure than the Cobra.

well im correct about it taking more boost, cause i never said its gonna produce more power with the same boost, but for the hp thing, im saying that the cobra should be able to take more horsepower safely if you keep both of their internals, and block stock.

well im correct about it taking more boost, cause i never said its gonna produce more power with the same boost, but for the hp thing, im saying that the cobra should be able to take more horsepower safely if you keep both of their internals, and block stock.
As long as its forced induced hp on the stock setup, I agree with that.

As long as its forced induced hp on the stock setup, I agree with that.

yes... forced induction

well im correct about it taking more boost, cause i never said its gonna produce more power with the same boost, but for the hp thing, im saying that the cobra should be able to take more horsepower safely if you keep both of their internals, and block stock.

Yeah, I'll agree with you there.

The Z06 is 15k more than a fully equiped SVT so the best bang for your buck is the Mustang. Both of these cars are not even in the same category. The vette is also lighter with fiberglass body which accounts for light weight and better times. The "case" 4.6 block is also heavier than the aluminum Z06. So if you add this all up.....the vette's times are slightly better due to weight and areodynamics of the car.
The 4.6 is more powerful but we also have to look at rear end gears also.
So kids, there are many factors to look at.

Hey, who wants to pay over 2 bucks for premium and get under 20 mpg in the city?

I think the MUSCLE CAR is coming to an end once again. GAS PRICES THIS TIME!

hell no, muscle still has a few years to go at least

The Z06 is 15k more than a fully equiped SVT so the best bang for your buck is the Mustang. Both of these cars are not even in the same category. The vette is also lighter with fiberglass body which accounts for light weight and better times. The "case" 4.6 block is also heavier than the aluminum Z06. So if you add this all up.....the vette's times are slightly better due to weight and areodynamics of the car.
The 4.6 is more powerful but we also have to look at rear end gears also.
So kids, there are many factors to look at.

Hey, who wants to pay over 2 bucks for premium and get under 20 mpg in the city?

I think the MUSCLE CAR is coming to an end once again. GAS PRICES THIS TIME!
Hey, I know you're a newb, but this thread is 7 months old. We try to keep dead threads that way here at AF. Please don't bring up old threads. Good day.

I'm sorry, I know we are not supposed to post in old threads, but I just have to say... How can you say the muscle car is coming to end... do you even know what you are talking about... obviously not... because a I6 TT car will eat just as much gas as V8. In case you missed JH physics, power is derived from potential energy, that in a combustable fuel, i.e. Gas, so any car making 400HP is going to require a substantial amount of energy, aka A LOT of gas. And LS1/LS6's get pretty decent gas milage for a 350.