94-95 5.0 or 96-98 cobra??

[svtaz345]

Hi, I’m new to this board. I am 16 years old and I am looking into getting a cobra. I am debating between the 94-95 5.0 or 4.6. I know that there are millions of parts for 5.0's so I am kind of leaning towards the 5.0. Anther question is what one can you make faster? I am looking for a high 12 to low 13-second daily driver. Any responses will be appreciated.

[cbakcobra]

With the cost and availability of all the aftermarket parts, you can make a 5.0 go faster easier, and for cheaper than a 4.6. Slowly, but surely, that is changing as more and more aftermarket guys get into the 4.6s. Also, if you want to do a lot of the work yourself, I would say, and I think that most would agree, that the 5.0 is a little easier to work on. If nothing else, there's a whole lot more room to move around in side the engine compartment.

[Cobra50]

The 50 has an arsinal of aftermarket goodies to get and install yourself in about 1 hour to a weekend project. Also I would have to say the go fast goodies for a 50 are a little cheaper then with a 46, so you would have to take into consideration what your budget is. I own a 50 and would recomend the 50, but it is all personal preference. If you like doing work yourself and like buying part cheap and getting big HP gain then go with the 50, but if you are not so handy in the garage and have a limited budget then go 46. I will say this thought, the aftermarket world is starting to come out with more and more for the 46. Hope this helps.:cool:

[SVTNICK]

Id have to agree. If you are just starting out and it sounds like this will be your first car, Id go with the 5.0. Its an easy motor to learn and very easy to modify. Not only is there alot of aftermarket stuff, but there is also alot of used performance stuff out there to grab from the Want Ad's. Its definately a great motor to learn on..it was what I learned on when I was 16.

-Nick

[SVT X 2]

If you can find one, I'd go for a '94-'95. They pop up once in a while, but seem to be getting harder to come by, unless you want to pay bo-coo bucks for some of the dreamers on e-bay.
Some of those guys really want a mint for their Cobras.

[SVTNICK]

If this is really going to be your first ride..Id might even look into getting one of the 79-93 Fox bodies. IF you look hard you can find some that are not abused. Now thats a car you can find lots of parts for, and wont hurt the wallet too bad to boot. Find one for 5 or 6 thousand and put a little work into her and your good to go.

[tcrews]

heh well being in the forum you're going to get a lot of "pro" 5.0 recommendations :)

I've owned both, a 1994 Cobra coupe and now a 1997 Cobra coupe. Out of the two the 1997 is by far my favorite. Stock for stock there is a significant power gain with the 4.6 DOHC motor over the 5.0. Parts are definitely cheaper for the 5.0 but that's only for the bigger things (heads, cams, intakes, etc..). The basics are almost identical in price (exhaust pipes, gears, pulleys, etc...).

For a daily driver....I think the 4.6 DOHC is a little nicer. It's very smooth and right out of the box can run in the 13's. Simple bolt ons can get you in the low 13's high 12's without sacrificing daily driver comforts/MPG much.

It's your decision so get which ever one you want.
The '94/'95 give you the nicer spoiler/trunk-lid but the '96-'98 give you the nicer hood/rear bumper :) LOL

Both are great though so it's a win/win situation either way!

[28 Fangs]

Unless your going to really get into the motor of your car,I'd go with the 4.6 Mod...You can boost both and rock with either,but a boosted 4.6 compared to a boosted 5.0 I believe has at least 90 to 100 horse advantage for almost the same price.You'd be surprised at how well the 4.6 DOHC takes to a supercharger and exhaust wich I'm assuming you would do to either one you got... :thumbsup:

[Beanhead]

I'll have to chime in and suggest the 5.0. I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet, but the 5.0 has both iron heads and block. I believe (and this is from what I've heard), the 4.6 aluminum heads are easier to "blow". Aside from that, I have found that it's fairly easy to work with (except for the pilot bearing, my current issue of angst), and like you said, no shortage of parts!

Also, like someone else mentioned, the 5.0's are getting harder to find. I kind of feel like I have one of the "last-of-the-5.0's", a dying breed that may someday be completely extinct!

Maybe someday, when fossil fuels are gone, kids in the neighborhood might knock on my door and ask to see what internal combustion engines were like "back in the day", and I can proudly show them the last of the 5.0's and reflect upon that "special" generation...

All right, I've gone way overboard on this one....!

http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server-smilies/contrib/edoom/ALD.gif

[SVT X 2]

Originally posted by Beanhead
I'll have to chime in and suggest the 5.0. I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet, but the 5.0 has both iron heads and block. I believe (and this is from what I've heard), the 4.6 aluminum heads are easier to "blow". Aside from that, I have found that it's fairly easy to work with (except for the pilot bearing, my current issue of angst), and like you said, no shortage of parts!

Also, like someone else mentioned, the 5.0's are getting harder to find. I kind of feel like I have one of the "last-of-the-5.0's", a dying breed that may someday be completely extinct!

Maybe someday, when fossil fuels are gone, kids in the neighborhood might knock on my door and ask to see what internal combustion engines were like "back in the day", and I can proudly show them the last of the 5.0's and reflect upon that "special" generation...

All right, I've gone way overboard on this one....!

http://www.uniquehardware.co.uk/server-smilies/contrib/edoom/ALD.gif
I totally agree! Not overboard at all!

Is this thread relly a year old?? I see Oct. 2001 post dates on here...?

\\Tim

[cobrabitn]

Do like me....buy one of each....LOL. OKay, maybe you can't have two of them right away so I would go with the 5.0 as a starter. It's great car to learn more about the Cobra. They are smooth and reliable. To me, if it were my daily driver, then I'd want reliability. For me, that's the 5.0. The mod motor hasn't shown me that reliability yet.

I know here come the flames..... ;)

[SVT X 2]

No flames... just a head nodding "I agree" :)

[smashedheadcat]

My first cobra never had any problems at all ('97). I did learn just about everything I know working on my old '88 GT. The 5 liter is definately a car to get if you're into learning more about engines. The 5 liters are nice and easy to work on, yet they still have its share of computer controlled stuff. It's just like working on a muscle car, yet gets ya prepared for today's newer things as well (the modular motor). I'm saying from expirience that the 5.0 is definately gravy to work on compared to the 4.6's. But, i'm going to say hands down that the 96-up cobra would be a better car for a beginner. Here's why: If ya want a 12-13 second daily driver, then the 4.6 is definately what you want. Gas mileage is far superb to the 5.0 (at least compared to the fox's) the 4.6 is a faster car out of the box. I used to promise myself that i'd never switch to the 4.6 but it only took about 30 seconds of driving one to make the change forever.

[smashedheadcat]

Also, Tom made a valid point. The normal bolt-ons for the 5 liter are priced pretty equal to the 4.6. (Headers, H-pipes, cat-backs, MAF's, CAI kits, underdrive pulleys). Putting those things on a 5.0 and lining up with a similarlly equipped 4V cobra....... bye bye 5.0 and you still get the MPG advantage.

[SVT X 2]

Let's talk about labor for the "equally priced" bolt-ons... have fun putting a set of LT's on that mod motor!

Hmmmm... how 'bout an AFR'd 306 w/8lbs. of centrifugal boost? Ohhhh yea...

One thing that's nice about mod-motors, they sure love boost... slap a Vortech on and viola.

Anyways... I'd say this is a dead thread, the poster hasn't posted anything else!

[Mystic_Cobra]

I'll add that the 4.6 Cobras are a lot more fun to drive and if you know where to look, you can get a good deal on one.
I was looking for a 94-95 Cobra two years ago, because I thought that was all I could afford. I was wrong. I found a 96 Mystic Cobra for the same price that most 94-95 Cobras are going for. If you don't know about Mystics, go to mysticcobra.net for more info.

** ALSO ** I just happened to have a spare 96 Mystic Cobra for sale. I'm asking $13,900. It runs great and needs nothing.
Email me, if you're interested.
mustangresource@hotmail.com

[SVT X 2]

Actually... for an equally milaged '94-'95... they seem to (for the most part) be right about the same price (within a grand) as '96's and even '97's... which is good for me :)

[smashedheadcat]

Originally posted by SVT X 2
Let's talk about labor for the "equally priced" bolt-ons... have fun putting a set of LT's on that mod motor!


Been there done that:D:D:D:D:D

[tgentry]

I'll put in a vote for the mod motor. Keep in mind that a 5.0 needs fairly significant mods just to keep up to a stock mod motor Cobra.

Bolt-ons are similar in price, and they aren't as hard to work on as some would have you believe. I don't have long tubes, though, so that may be different.

If you're thinking power adder, I've seen a couple blown 5.0 Cobras that struggle to keep with my NA 4.6 Cobra.

OTOH, if you get into internal mods, the 5.0 will be like shopping at Walmart while the 4.6 is Marshal Fields.

I'm no real drag racer but with just pulleys and K&N my '96 was doing mid 13's @ 104 on street tires. Maybe the experienced pushrod guys can give you some idea what it takes to get that from a 5.0. Then you can make an informed decision.

Bottom line, if you want mid to low 13's they'll both do it. A 4.6 Cobra will do it without being loud and having a lumpy idle, but some people like that.