98 Svt Cobra

[xzaero0]

So this kid around town has a 98 SVT Cobra. It dosent have a super/turbo. The kid says that it has a cam, but I didnt hear it lopping and it didnt seem to idol rough so Im thinking that its not that radical, and he didnt say anything about the heads at all. I got to look at the engine and I didnt see anything out of the ordinary with it, nothing looked really aftermarket on it. The Valve covers were huge tho. He says that he has never been beaten but has never had his car up to the track so dosent have any numbers. He hasnt had it dynoed either. He says that he has raced a number of GT mustangs and LS1 Fbodies, said he always won and I hear that its pretty bad ass from other people. So how much power could he be pulling if it dosent have any engine displacement or FI mods done to it? I have been to the track a few times and beaten almost evey stock LS1 by about a second in the 8th which I dont understand becuase my numbers suck. I did agree to race the kid next year at the track after I get my exhaust, suspension and tranny done this winter. I figured that if it was "really" fast I should atleast get mine up to speed before I raced him.

[VTR99]

Just because you can't notice a radical lope does not mean he doesn't have a good cam. Most streetable cams are made for mid range power and torque, and don't have a lot of lope. A cam will add more power than any other single inexpensive mod, but usually requires bigger injectors to make it work to it's potential. Since the Cobra already has good headers and top end flow from the factory a better cam adds a considerable boost in power. More than likely the contest will depend on what transmission and rear end gears each car has. If he has a stick, and you have an auto you may be in for a dissapointing surprise. If it's the other way around you should be in good shape.

[2000T/A Guru]

A cobra agaisnt an ls1 the ls1 usually pulls, but a cammed cobra that is a challenge. It will be a good race

[CHiCKeN08]

all cobras i think are usually stick race him from the hole if you are an automatic you will most probably pull on him

[VTR99]

all cobras i think are usually stick

Good point!

[2000T/A Guru]

Unless hes a good driver, i race auto ls1 cars all the time and hang right with them if not half a car ahead until 2nd then im gone lol

[secondgearscratch]

98 Mustang Cobra Specifications

(selected from press releases) Engine Configuration Longitudinally mounted, 90-degree V8, cast aluminum block and heads, iron cylinder liners, fully counterweighted forged crankshaft, six-bolt main bearing caps
Bore x Stroke 90.2 mm x 90.0 mm
Compression Ratio 9.85:1
Redline 6,800 (fuel shut-off at 7,000 rpm)
Valve train Double overhead cams, chain-drive to exhaust cams, secondary chain from exhaust to intake cams, roller finger followers with hydraulic lash adjustment, ovate-wire beehive valve springs, four valves per cylinder
Fuel System Sequential electronic fuel injection
Rear Axle 8.8 inch limited-slip differential
Transmission Borg-Warner T45 five-speed manual
1st Gear Ratio 3.37 with 45 mph max. speed
2nd Gear Ratio 1.99 with 77 mph max. speed
3rd Gear Ratio 1.33 with 115 mph max. speed
4th Gear Ratio 1.00 with 152 mph max. speed
5th Gear Ratio 0.67
Final Drive Ratio 3.27
Suspension, front Modified MacPherson strut with separate spring on lower arm, variable-rate coil springs, 29mm stabilizer bar
Suspension, rear Rigid axle, upper and lower trailing arms, two leading hydraulic links, variable-rate coil springs, shock absorbers, 27mm stabilizer bar
Steering Gear Ratio 14.7:1
Steering, turns lock to lock 2.38
Wheelbase 101.3
Length 181.5
Height 53.4
Width 71.8
Track, f/r 60.0 in./58.7 in.
Curb Weight, coupe 3,439
Curb Weight, convertible 3,581
EPA City Fuel Economy 18
EPA Highway Fuel Economy 26
Acceleration, 0-60 mph 5.9 seconds
Quarter-mile 13.99 seconds @ 101.6 mph
Top Speed 152 mph
Braking, 60-0 127 ft.
Skidpad, 100 ft. 0.89g
Slalom, 80 ft. 52.1 mph

[2000T/A Guru]

I agree that you would pull a stock one but if he drive and has cams, it will be close

[CHiCKeN08]

i race a 97 cobra a lot since my best friend has one he has only exhaust and intake but they are pretty easy...also a cam on mustang dont think they get much gain from them like an ls1

[9T8W66]

In my Experience I've never lost to a stock `96-`01 Cobra
They usually hang for most of first gear but after I hit second it's all over.
Bolt on Cars with gears (4.10's to 4.30's) can be pretty fast though so I would pay close attention to his mods.
In any case you never know what will happen till you try
Just Race the guy, Win or Lose it's all about having fun.

[2000T/A Guru]

If he is cammed he probably has some bolt ons, who cams a car and leaves the exhaust stock. That car can be making over 300rwhp, with gears, and or drag radials its all over, does he have street tires? Every bolt on cobra i have raced i have beaten aswell, however i have seen some with full bolt ons, cams, tune and drag radials run low 12s.

[CHiCKeN08]

my friend also had 4.30 gears i know he doesn't have a cam but his motor is bored out so hes like a 4.8 liter or something like that i think still only way to find out how fast he is just race him hehe.... and if u lose its only a race

[zggill04]

My buddy had a 99 Cobra, he wasn't the best driver but he could drive and didn't suck like some other people I've seen. His car only had a cat back exhaust. I raced him twice when I was only really running on 7 cylinders due to a burned plug wire and I hung with him, no real clear winner. With the extra cylinder and the car running fine I was able to beat him, not by much but I have an LT1. He had another 99 Cobra before that one and I was able to beat that one by about a car length.

Just keep in mind that the Cobra is a dual over head cam, so you might want to ask the question and see if the kid knows what he's talking about. The N/A Cobras still have a very long power band like their S/C brother, my buddy let me drive his and it felt so much faster then my LT1 and seemed to pull forever.

[zggill04]

And another thing, keep in mind, I'm not sure if your younger or not, but if you are, most of the younger crowd is going to think a Cobra is bad ass because it's something they aren't used to seeing. People back home think my LT1 is badass, and it isn't even that fast, it sounds nice and is quicker than what most people are used to back home. So just keep in mind the sort of people your talking to.

[AKIRA]

Did no one see what secondgear put up? Those cobras are DOHC. So hed have to have had done 2 cams, plus a lot of work to get to them. My guess is thats hes LYING.

Race him NOW.

[zggill04]

^ Exactly what I said too

[zggill04]

And one last thing for now, you said his valve covers were huge, all Cobras have valve covers about twice the width of the ones on our Camaros. The height isn't that tall, so don't be fulled by stock valve covers, all Cobras have big covers.

[joejenkinsglass]

if the cobra is so bad it should have been dynoed before it ever hit the street

[xzaero0]

I realize that a cobra really isnt that big of a deal, it still just a 4.6l with some goodies that the GT dosent have. I did cruise around alittle behind him and it didnt sound any meaner than my TA does, he lit them up pretty good about 15-20 roll but its nothing that I cant do if I lay into it. I had my TA dynoed and it was pretty sick--in a bad way. It only pulled 281/283 with some boltons. Im gonna wait until I get my exhaust done right, shift kit and some SFCs with a torque arm this winter, then Im gonna get him up to the track and see what it can do. He was talking about looking at putting a Supercharger on it. When he bought it, it was already built. but thats ok if he does get a supercharger by that time my Formula should be done and still my displacement and my boost will be greater than his so either way I should win. I think that Im gonna let Rhinoman with his 06 GTO run him first to see what hes got, seems the kid was looking for him also, and if Rhinoman beats him well I beat Rhinoman at the track so it shouldnt be a problem then, just more insult to his injury. I also have a buddy with a pretty mean GTP that wants to play with him after he gets his new tranny in. So I'll see what happens and keep you guys posted. Thanks

[secondgearscratch]

Did no one see what secondgear put up? Those cobras are DOHC. So hed have to have had done 2 cams, plus a lot of work to get to them. My guess is thats hes LYING.

Race him NOW.

thank god someone caught that.

and just so we arent confused here. the 2vs are single overhead cam, so one cam for each cylinder bank.

dohc should have 4 cams total, two or double, for each cylinder bank.

[secondgearscratch]

I realize that a cobra really isnt that big of a deal, it still just a 4.6l with some goodies that the GT dosent have. I did cruise around alittle behind him and it didnt sound any meaner than my TA does, he lit them up pretty good about 15-20 roll but its nothing that I cant do if I lay into it. I had my TA dynoed and it was pretty sick--in a bad way. It only pulled 281/283 with some boltons. Im gonna wait until I get my exhaust done right, shift kit and some SFCs with a torque arm this winter, then Im gonna get him up to the track and see what it can do. He was talking about looking at putting a Supercharger on it. When he bought it, it was already built. but thats ok if he does get a supercharger by that time my Formula should be done and still my displacement and my boost will be greater than his so either way I should win. I think that Im gonna let Rhinoman with his 06 GTO run him first to see what hes got, seems the kid was looking for him also, and if Rhinoman beats him well I beat Rhinoman at the track so it shouldnt be a problem then, just more insult to his injury. I also have a buddy with a pretty mean GTP that wants to play with him after he gets his new tranny in. So I'll see what happens and keep you guys posted. Thanks

just my opinion, but dont ever go into a race thinking this way. you will get upset sooner or later.

the dohc motors, while still not having the bolt on potential of a pushrod engines, are no doubt far superior to the 2v or single overhead cam engines. cobras can easily put 300 hundred to the wheels with a catback and intake from the ones ive seen. it really comes down to gearing, kinda like racing a mach 1. dont discredit them, ive seen sn95 cobras that were beasts.

[xzaero0]

Your right after I re-read that it did seem a little cocky. I think that even now tho, It would be a good run, but I dont think that it would be a total defeat even if I lost. I have been beaten before and it really dosent bother me, I am a good loser. I think its great when I do get beat, it gives me a reason to get better. I think that anyone who atleast puts up a good show, should be shown respect unless they are a total ass about the out come of the race, win or lose. I only try to race people now that are in the same general type of class of car, I dont even bother with civics or mazdas unless they are built up, or they just want to see where they stand. Some of them are out for blood tho, I dont bother with them, I wont race someone with something to prove. The only thing that really bothers me is when people say they beat you when they didnt or if they brag about it when you didnt even race them.

[jad628]

And one last thing for now, you said his valve covers were huge, all Cobras have valve covers about twice the width of the ones on our Camaros. The height isn't that tall, so don't be fulled by stock valve covers, all Cobras have big covers.

A 2V 4.6 has huge valve covers too. My T-bird had that engine, and I had another one on an engine stand. It looked like a friggin' 428!!!

[N20LT4]

I'd be willing to bet that guy is telling a tell tell. In my experiences with the 4-valve and the cam grinds readilly available for them, there is usually going to be atleast a slight difference in idle as a give away. Plus, if you looked under his hood and said that nothing 'looked' aftermarket, like not even a throttle body or MAF of some sort, i'd say he's probably bluffing. The 96-98's were respectable nontheless, but were atleast solid half second behind an LS1 car with a good driver.