So im looking at both the 96-98 Cobras and the 03-04 Mach 1s for a new daily driver because the old 72 is a pretty rough DD. I know both cars are powered by the 4.6 DOHC and are rated for 305 hp. Im also aware that they both use the 5 spd manual. I was just wondering are there differences in suspenstion, braking or any integrity issues with either model. I have heard that the power curve on the mach is better and its built better but is this true and if it is what really are the differences and does it really justify the extra money to buy the mach? I love the way both of the cars look and i love the sounds of the modular engines but the mach looks nicer inside and out. I like to go fast and would be doing bolt-ons for whatever i get and maybie a procharger eventually but i doubt it would ever turn into a drag car or anything crazy but i want to be sure the car can stand up to 350-400 hp before i have to start pulling things apart. I know that the Mach's crank is forged as well so is it safe to assume the same is true for the Cobra? anyways thanks for any help in advance guys.

 

you came to the Mach 1 forum so naturally your 1st response is going to tell ya the simple fact that the Mach is just a lil more of a car (alot more, to some). Machs come with upgraded brakes, suspension, a minor subframe connector, 3.55s, better trans., etc. The engine will surely handle the hp you noted, heck they already make 325 at the crank (they were underrated). This resulted from, among other things, increased compression, more aggressive cams, and better flowing heads. You mentioned a power adder, the Mach can take it, just remember you're already at 10.1:1 compression so it will be a good idea to upgrade the internals eventually.

 

You forgot to say the most notable mach feature, functional ram air [8D]

 

ok, time to unload my wealth of knowledge on the blocks between the two, and various other things.
1) the teksid block was cast by ferarri (96-98 cobra) and will hold 900-1k rwhp and is very light
2) the mach block cast by ford is light but will hold about the same, (i havent seen a maximum number on stock block)
3) both rods will fail at more than 500rwhp matter of time
4) i think the 90's cobra dyno @ ~260rwhp ..........we are closer to 270+ and our torque is amazing 300rwtq stock
5) they both have solid axels
6) the cobra can be had for a few grand the mach cant
7) the cobra compression is A LOT lower
8) the cobra has a steel crank and i think ours is steel as well( no worries either way)
9) we have 3.55's the cobra has 3.27's
10) we have a bad *** shaker, but the cobra has the slick looking hood ( sorry guys, i love that hood too)
11) the cobra heads suck, but you can swap ours on i think
12) our tranny is better


i could go on and on, i hope this helped...
but i hate to say it, out of the box modability goes to the cobra,

 

I like the hoods too lol. I love the big "nostrils" on the sides of them, looks menacing.

 

96-98 cobra or a mach?

thats a no brainer...c'mon

 

mach, but of course we are partial...i'm sure the mach1registry would have a good anwser for ya

 

Registries good for a bunch of stuff, but don't read a lot of their dyno guesses or hp for mods. No hp gains on LT headers is very rediculous.[sm=partyparty.gif] [&:]

 

i read somewhere that the 96-98 cobra cams are better than the mach cams for NA.

 

Do you have that link, i dont think it would be b/c of the loss of torque that happens....we pretty much have the Navigator cam's in our motor so torque is plentiful