on borrowed time and low boost. The bottom ends are not made to handle it! My 98 was done at 55k miles with no super charger. Not worth it unless you build the motor, which is more $$ than just buying a 03 04 cobra.

 

^Then you have a quirk car or it wasn't taken care of. They can handle it... I wouldn't have a problem supercharging a car with 120k mile.

 

everyone how has owned these cars knows the dont have strong bottom ends. Everyone I took the car to, even ford, and jba said it is very common in 96-98 cobras to spin rod bearings. Even newer cobras dont have the bottom ends to handle lots of boost. Why do you think ford made the bottom ends so good on their super charged 03 04. Why did they do that if the other cobras would handle it? borrowed time on a super charged non 03 04 cobra. I own and have owned many of these. The point is the non 03 04 cobras are good with out a super charger. Adding boost to one will blown it up sooner or later.

buy a 03 04 if you want big power or you will be paying to replace the engine sooner or later
just trying to say you money in the long run

 

Why do you keep bringing up High Boost? No one has said anything about High boost in this thread (except you). No one will disagree with you that to much boost on a stock 4.6L is a ticking time bomb. But you can safely boost ANY 4.6 2V,3Vor 4V with no issue.
I'm sorry Ford tech's are the last people I listen to about what an engine can and can't do (to brain washed by the OEM to make educated answers)
I don't mean to sound like a Dick but your Stating your personal opinion as Fact and that is wrong.
I'll say it again the 4.6 can handle boost (safely)...........

 

well said bramas

 

On borrowed time! not fact
just experience, that is what a forum is about!

I can put 25 psi of boost in my lawn mower, it can be done but wont last very long!

 

So then how much horsepower are the internals good for? 450 RWHP like my 2000 GT?

 

There was something to SVT's reasoning though for going from the 96-99 and 01 aluminum blocks to the cast iron blocks in 03-04. From what I remember in the articles, the aluminum blocks weren't holding up to the M112's heat with much success. Keeping in mind, their tests were likely centering around the claimed 390HP/390TQ rating (probably more like 435 or 440HP and TQ) and were probably a little more intense than everyday driving, sprinkled with spirited driving from time-to-time.

Therefore, if your goal is to make more power with a roots supercharger on top of a pre-03/04 aluminum block....you may end up finding what SVT originally found.

My guess is, you can probably get around this by going with a centri. set-up or twin-screws application. Just some thoughts.

 

The block is not the weak point on the 4.6 it's the Rods and Pistons.
It's a fact that the early (96/98 Cobra earlier if you want to include Lincoln) Teksid block is the strongest 4.6 block you can get
Yes it's a general consensuses that 450HP (my opinion lower) is the max on stock parts

 

The Teksid block is the strongest aluminum block Ford ever produced. FWIW the crank in the '99-01 and 03-04's is the same, the pistons and rods is where the difference is. I would agree that 450 or so on stock internals is MAX for the 99's and 01's. It should run 7-8 lbs of boost or a 100 shot of juice relatively fine with a good tune. The problem with spun bearings is retarded owners not keeping enough oil in the pan and spinning the engine to 7k while its cold. If taken care of the 4v should last to 150k.