advise on 03 Cobra
08-24-2008, 10:37 AM
#11
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Posts: 14,917
The head tick is not the end of the world. The people who claim the head tick cause their engine to fail already had an underlying issue.
A good way to guarentee the head tick is doing 40mph in 5th gear and mashing the throttle until you hit 100+.
A good way to guarentee the head tick is doing 40mph in 5th gear and mashing the throttle until you hit 100+.
08-24-2008, 12:05 PM
#12
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 5,893
+1
There have been no documented cases that there were motors that failed due to the head tick... it's just really annoying.
But, as long as you do the cooling mods, and as long as you don't act like a retard while driving the car - you'll be fine...
There have been no documented cases that there were motors that failed due to the head tick... it's just really annoying.
But, as long as you do the cooling mods, and as long as you don't act like a retard while driving the car - you'll be fine...
08-25-2008, 07:03 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 5
Thanks for all the info. I brought the car home on Friday I will post some pictures soon. I am a little disappointed that ford still feels the need to use that useless plastic clutch quadrant. That is the first thing on my list, outside from Lo Jack, (I would like to hang on to this one). Thanks for all the help.
08-26-2008, 10:56 PM
#14
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Posts: 1,123
i have little experience with the cooling mods and minimal experience with the mod motors but there is no proven facts that the cooling mod helps, hell i know of 2 cobras which we did such cooling mod by tapping into the freeze plug on one and using the radiator hose and a T fitting for the other and the tick came back...they say the 2005 manufacture head should fix the tick because of revised coolant passages but ive even heard of people with the new heads having tick issues, but in the 05 head they still dont use bronze valve guides...so maybe the cure isnt the coolant passages, sure thats an issue but theres more going on here then just coolant passages.
08-29-2008, 07:38 AM
#17
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 333
As mentioned above, there is some helpful info relative to the tick issue on my website. Most important is to note that a very small percentage of '03/'04 Cobras have developed it. The cooling mods do help, but they won't guarantee you won't still develop the issue. Here is the link to my website for more tick issue info. http://stangshiftergaskets.com/2003_...m#_Toc35092459
08-30-2008, 01:15 PM
#20
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 14,917
It never goes away and nobody wants it...
Even the re-designed head released in 05 still develops the tick. Ford obviously tried to save a couple bucks in production and still tried to save money while fixing a new head. Typical.
It's just annoying and even embarassing.
Even the re-designed head released in 05 still develops the tick. Ford obviously tried to save a couple bucks in production and still tried to save money while fixing a new head. Typical.
It's just annoying and even embarassing.