Upgrading a 2003 GT to Cobra
10-23-2007, 10:42 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location:
Posts: 13
Upgrading a 2003 GT to Cobra
I'm hoping some of you guys can give me some insight on my ride.
From what the dealer told me, and some of which I can tell on my own, it has the following. It has a different rearend, a hyperchip, cam, cold air intake, dual flowmaster 3" exhaust dumped, Ford racing manifold.
According to Carfax, when I run my VIN number, it states:
[quote]2003 Ford Mustang GT
Coupe
4.6L V8 FI SOHC 16V
Rear Wheel Drive[/quote]
Now, according to h**p://www.stangnet.com/2003cobramustang/2003cobraoverview.html, the 2003 SVT Cobra has a 4.6-liter, DOHC 4-valve V-8. I'm assuming the SOHC in my VIN means "single overhead cam" and the DOHC for the Cobra means "dual overhead cam" but what I don't understand is why my VIN says I have a 16V motor and the Cobra is stated to have a 4 valve. I'm guessing my motor has 16 valves and the Cobra has 32. Am I correct? My original question is...how much money am I looking at in order to put Cobra heads on my motor along with the Eaton supercharger that comes stock on the Cobra? This is the first 'Stang I've owned and while I'm not going to race it, I do want to beef up the motor if for nothing more than bragging rights.
Thanks for your time.
From what the dealer told me, and some of which I can tell on my own, it has the following. It has a different rearend, a hyperchip, cam, cold air intake, dual flowmaster 3" exhaust dumped, Ford racing manifold.
According to Carfax, when I run my VIN number, it states:
[quote]2003 Ford Mustang GT
Coupe
4.6L V8 FI SOHC 16V
Rear Wheel Drive[/quote]
Now, according to h**p://www.stangnet.com/2003cobramustang/2003cobraoverview.html, the 2003 SVT Cobra has a 4.6-liter, DOHC 4-valve V-8. I'm assuming the SOHC in my VIN means "single overhead cam" and the DOHC for the Cobra means "dual overhead cam" but what I don't understand is why my VIN says I have a 16V motor and the Cobra is stated to have a 4 valve. I'm guessing my motor has 16 valves and the Cobra has 32. Am I correct? My original question is...how much money am I looking at in order to put Cobra heads on my motor along with the Eaton supercharger that comes stock on the Cobra? This is the first 'Stang I've owned and while I'm not going to race it, I do want to beef up the motor if for nothing more than bragging rights.
Thanks for your time.
10-23-2007, 10:51 PM
#2
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 1,517
RE: Upgrading a 2003 GT to Cobra
You are correct, it means 4 valves per cylinder. So 32 valves for the cobra. 16 valves for the GT.
I am not sure about the cams and supercharger though..... anyone else?
I am not sure about the cams and supercharger though..... anyone else?
10-23-2007, 11:14 PM
#3
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 12,575
RE: Upgrading a 2003 GT to Cobra
More than likely the "rearend" on your car is nothing more than a gear upgrade, like a 3.73 or 4.10 gearset. So far as the ford racing manifold, to my knowledge FRPP doesn't offer any upgraded intake manifold for the 2v.The only manifold from ford that they offer as an "upgrade" is the one that comes stock on the 03 GT, and the only difference between it and any other PI intake is the aluminum crossover on the front of the intake, as older versions were prone to cracking.
If it has a cam, the instant you start it you will know. it will simply not sound like a stock car whatsoever, it will have a very distinct idle. You don't hear a cammed modular and wonder if it is cammed or not.
So far as upgrading it to a "cobra" its not really worth it. It would be lots of $$ and PITA, not to mention needing lots of little parts (unless you find a donor car). On top of that, the 2v doesnt have the same bottom end as a 03/04, so you wouldn't really have a "cobra engine".
It would be much cheaper to just do a blower install from any of the name brand companys out there that make kits specific for your car, such as vortech/KB/procharger/novi etc etc.
If it has a cam, the instant you start it you will know. it will simply not sound like a stock car whatsoever, it will have a very distinct idle. You don't hear a cammed modular and wonder if it is cammed or not.
So far as upgrading it to a "cobra" its not really worth it. It would be lots of $$ and PITA, not to mention needing lots of little parts (unless you find a donor car). On top of that, the 2v doesnt have the same bottom end as a 03/04, so you wouldn't really have a "cobra engine".
It would be much cheaper to just do a blower install from any of the name brand companys out there that make kits specific for your car, such as vortech/KB/procharger/novi etc etc.
10-24-2007, 09:09 AM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location:
Posts: 13
RE: Upgrading a 2003 GT to Cobra
Yeah, I agree. Since the other guys response, I've already been looking at the Kenne Bell superchargers and if I can bolt on 150hp with one of those babies with minimal modification, that's exactly what I wanna do.
10-24-2007, 09:15 AM
#8
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location:
Posts: 13
RE: Upgrading a 2003 GT to Cobra
Hahahaha, well...now that 2000GT4.6mentioned I should just get a supercharger for it, I too think that's probably the best bet and much less of a headache. I'm wanting to do some other things to it before dropping the 5K for a charger so I'll prob wait 6 months before doing that.
10-24-2007, 09:50 AM
#10
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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Posts: 13
RE: Upgrading a 2003 GT to Cobra