Been there and done the math .... if you want to start with a set budget and bench race on who will make more hp who do you think will win?
stock vs stock .... no one question the DOHC motor makes more power but please think.... just a little bit about it.

How much will a head and intake pkg cost on a stock DOHC to reach 400rwhp?
Math major.

 

Simple, cheaper go fast parts.

 

ok math major, lets do some math math. stock dohc heads flow easily twice as much as stock 5.0 heads. go spend 1300 on some new afr heads, for the 5.0. now youve got heads that are about equal to the stock dohc heads. then go spend 1300 on porting and valve work on the dohc. what does that equal? a head that will flow better than any aftermarket 5.0 head available[sm=smiley20.gif]
such as?

 

Cheaper go fast parts, or just more of them to choose from??? Someday the aftermarket world will catch up with the 4.6. Then it will be a fun motor to have.

 

Getting back to the original question...

Are you set on a Cobra? The smart money would be to buy a '99 GT, since it will spank both of those Cobras and you can find them all over the place for around 10 G's. You're looking at picking up a 10 year old Mustang, lets face it, they're all probably high milers and have had the **** beat out of them. Or at least the affordable ones will be.

Pick up a 30,000 mile GT put a blower, exhaust, gears...You really want to get crazy, port the heads, cams...It'll be way more fun then some old beat up Cobra.

 

Doesn't get any more right on than that. Sidewayz4.6=Smart Bastard.

 

I get that a lot! [X(]

 

nomocobra- Again you miss the point of the thread and the question.

The math isn't flow rates head vs head. Aftermarket vs stock.
The math is $20k and a choice between a 5.0L 94 and a 4.6 DOHC 96.

You and I could easily spend that money and have very fast and well handling car but to say Is either ill-informed or completely biased. I like to explain options .... all options with the best possible course of action left up to the person asking. Because it isn't my money it's metallica895's.
Least you forget ... I own 2 modulars, so I'm fond of them and know full well what they are capable of, but metallica895 would probably expect a more informed opinion and like to consider his/her options.

Besides if you wish to argue the point that 5.0Ls can't make the same power of 4.6Ls then I'll leave you with that thought. If metallica895 wants an unbiased and informed opinion PM me.

 

Why do people get so hung on "stock" stuff who cares we are talking about building an engine here. IMO go find a rust free SN95= $6000 for a nice one, that leaves you a nice chunk of change to do the rest of the car, $14000 into a drive train will get you a nice reliable low 11-high 10 sec. ride. If you want a cobra that badly put some cobra badges on it.

 

smoke your wrong my friend...20k in a 4.6 will get alot more hp than 20k in a 5.0....yeah, parts are cheaper, but with the 5.0 you will have to buy all new parts....block, internals, heads, intake. a whole new engine for that matter. with the dohc, the block is good for well over 1k hp, so is the crank. all he needs is pistons/rods. the heads wont need to be replaced, ported at best. intake man goes the same. and when its time for the power adder, sure, you will prob spend 800-1000 more, but the gains will be substantial.
and why do i have my biased opinion you might ask? well, ive owned both. a 96 cobra, and a 95. the dohc is far superior to the pushrod 5.0. better gas mileage, higher and faster reving, more reliable, responds better to mods, especially boost.