Cobra R mods - MORE POWER!

[mustangmad]

Looking for some suggestions! My 95 Cobra R needs "MORE POWER". The 351 has stock everything except SVO aluminum heads and a custom chip. Exhaust is Bassani off road X pipe with Flows. Power is 295 at the rear wheels and would really like 350+ without going too far into the motor.

Suggestions! Mass Air? Throttle body? Cold air kit? Injectors? If so, whose product and what size? What about extrude honing the intake? Is it worth the cost? Port and polishing the heads is another possibility.

Really appreciate any suggestions from you guys (girls?) with experience modifying the 5.8!!! Thanks in advance.

Dean S.

[Cobra-R]

Originally posted by mustangmad
Looking for some suggestions! My 95 Cobra R needs "MORE POWER". The 351 has stock everything except SVO aluminum heads and a custom chip. Exhaust is Bassani off road X pipe with Flows. Power is 295 at the rear wheels and would really like 350+ without going too far into the motor.

Suggestions! Mass Air? Throttle body? Cold air kit? Injectors? If so, whose product and what size? What about extrude honing the intake? Is it worth the cost? Port and polishing the heads is another possibility.

Really appreciate any suggestions from you guys (girls?) with experience modifying the 5.8!!! Thanks in advance.

Dean S.

I am in the same boat, Dean. I am totally stock and want to change heads and have been told to do a cam also. Supposedly should be in the 325-350 hp range, but I want to also maintain the flat power curve we have already. I am 269 rwhp now.

Brian

[Racer_726]

Dave Schotz has a lot of nice mods, and he keeps it ESP legal with the Ford TSB heads. He has around 400 ft/lbs of torque at the rear wheels. He's put a lot of research into which intake to use as well.

From another forum:

Originally posted by Dave Schotz

In 2003 the Car won 4 Pro Solo's 3 National Tours, and won Both the OVER ALL PRO SOLO CHAMPIONSHIP as well as the Solo 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Car has been modified to the limit of ESP Rules, including the Ford TSB Aluminum Y303 Heads, Moton Double Adjustable Front Struts, Penske Double Adjustable Rear Shocks, Ford TSB Subframe Connectors, 2 sets of Bogart Ultra Lightweight Wheels, 1 set of Factory Cobra R wheels with the original BFG Tires, 2 Corbeau Racing Seats, Momo wheel, Trick Flow intake, Kooks Custom Headers, T2R Diff, Lightweight Clutch, Flywheel & Pressure Plate, 3.55 gears, MSD Digital 6 ignition, and too many other items to list I am sure...


There's also a really good article in Hot Rod Feb. 1998 about having an 11.1 compression NA 87 octane 400HP 351 with Factory EFI. They basically use stock block, 400 rods, JE pistons, Crane roller cam, Twisted Wedge R heads... or something. See if the local library has that one.

Good luck,

Dave

[mustangmad]

I'm sure we could build a pretty potent engine (400HP+) from the block up, a 392 stroker is my dream. But my budget says to keep it relatively simple (and cheap) for now.

If bolt-ons like an MAF and new TB with a cold air kit can add 20 or 30 HP to a 5.0, shouldn't it do about the same on a 5.8? Throw in a little head work and that should add close to 50 HP.
BINGO!

So the question is; Which and what size Throttle body? And MAF? Most everyone seems to like the WMS cold air kit, right? Brian you have Dean Smeltzer's '95 R, I believe? Didn't he add the WMS? Are you happy with it?

As always, I appreciate you-alls opinions.

Dean S

[Cobra-R]

Originally posted by mustangmad
Brian you have Dean Smeltzer's '95 R, I believe? Didn't he add the WMS? Are you happy with it?


Dean S

Right, I do have Deans 95. I am not sure what brand cold air kit it has, but WMS does sound right. The only other thing done to it is the air pump has been removed and it has Bassani catless X(besides the timing advanved to 14 degrees). Dean Dyno'd at 269hp and 339 tq if I remember right. (I have the dyno sheet at home)

Any idea what 95's are dynoing completely stock? I would be curious to find out if the three simple mods are really doing much.

Brian

[95cobraR]

Originally posted by Cobra-R
Any idea what 95's are dynoing completely stock? I would be curious to find out if the three simple mods are really doing much.

Brian

Alot more than yeller Z06's! How come you list Fred's fast '03 in your sig?:D

[Cobra-R]

Originally posted by 95cobraR
Alot more than yeller Z06's! How come you list Fred's fast '03 in your sig?:D

Woops. ;)