Difference in 99-02 and 03-04 internals?

Pro52R · 12-17-2005, 12:37 AM

Hey Folks,

I was just wondering. I know the eaton off a 03-04 will fit the older model cobra's.

But i was wondering what does the 03-04 have internally that the 99-02 doesn't?

I know of the manley or melling ? H beam connectiong rods and better crankshaft..but whatelse?

I hear the 03-04 is pretty stout so how about the 99-02?

Just wondering...

Also..dumb question...but if i were to find a blown up V6 stang (99-04 body style) and drop a tremec T56 and 03-04 complete engine w/ ecm,wire harness and everything would that be worth it money wise to build it to my liking.....or just spend the $$$$ and get the real thing?

I know you could probably find a blown V6 for around 3k-5k...engine/tranny another 6k-8k....other odds and ends (suspension,brakes,wheels) 2k-4k....So in the end I'm down $15-18k...is that worth it?

NO 5 OH · 12-17-2005, 01:12 AM

The difference between the 99-02 shortblocks and the 03-04 shortblocks is a big difference. 99-02 Cobra blocks were manufactured from aluminum, the 03-04 blocks are iron. Both examples feature the same crank... which is a forged steel crank that will easily see 800+ to the tires and not flinch. 99-02 Cobras have powdered metal rods and hyperutetic pistons (ie CRAP for boosted applications) and the 03-04 motors have forged Manley H-beam rods with forged, teflon coated Mahle pistons. Compression ratio is also different between the two, with the 99-02 motors having 9.8:1 compression while the newer cars have 8.5:1 for a "boost friendly" application.

You can swap everything from a Cobra to a 99-newer V6 Mustang but it would be a considerable amount of work. There are three or four wiring harness' you'd need (can't remember exactly) and new from Ford these harness' are over a thousand dollars. You'd need a computer, complete motor assembly w/accesories and the T56... plus other things as well. You could feasably do it cheaper than buying a used 03/04 but it would be a lot of work and a lot of time invested.

Good luck with whatever you decide... the 03/04 motors are fun to tinker with and make a ton of horsepower with a minimal amount of mods. My car is the "basic bolt-on 03 Cobra" and makes 600+ to the tires on 93 octane with 17 lbs of boost

HTH,

Shannon

Pro52R · 12-17-2005, 01:27 AM

thats what i figured..Hopefully byt he time i'm ready to buy i can find a decent one for 22K

ausie · 12-17-2005, 12:02 PM

You forgot that the fuel system is different as well as the dual pumps and different fuel pump dirver circuit. Another change was the radiator. The 99/01 Cobras had an aluminum core with plastic ends whereas the 03/04 Cobra is all aluminum and may have larger capacity. There is a slight difference in the header ports on the 03/04 heads when compared to the 99/01 headers. Also in the V6, the axle assembly may need to be changed if they use the smaller differnential gear (7.something inches compared to the 8.8 on the Cobra).

With the money spent on upgrading a V6 to Cobra status ouch, that may cost more than a used 03/04 when all said and done. I believe a complete supercharged 03 crate motor with harness, and ECU will cost about $12 grand.

InfamousSVT · 12-19-2005, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro52R

thats what i figured..Hopefully byt he time i'm ready to buy i can find a decent one for 22K

You can find some going for that much now! One went on ebay a few weeks back for $18,500.
Just need to keep your eyes open.

kilroy · 12-20-2005, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pro52R

Just wondering...

Also..dumb question...but if i were to find a blown up V6 stang (99-04 body style) and drop a tremec T56 and 03-04 complete engine w/ ecm,wire harness and everything would that be worth it money wise to build it to my liking.....or just spend the $$$$ and get the real thing?

I have a bud who has a black 99 Cobra vert with '03 driveline & live axle under it for sale. If you're thinking along those lines I could put you in touch.

ProfChaos · 12-21-2005, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfamousSVT

You can find some going for that much now! One went on ebay a few weeks back for $18,500.
Just need to keep your eyes open.

InfamousSVT is right, as far as I can see. ...Since I'm about to be blessed in a way beyond what I'd earlier imagined, I've been sizing-up the local talent in "mildly-used" (18K or fewer miles) '03-'04 Cobras, and have thus noticed that one sees, quite regularly, clean--sometimes even low-mileage--Cobras for around $21K-$23K (from private owners--obviously).

Also, it seems to me that since the GT 500 is about to sound both a more-sonorous-and-friskier-note on its way to local Ford dealerships, the local (Atlanta) Ford dealerships' asking price for '03-'04 Cobras (if you can find them) has been dropping at what seems an accelerated pace over the past few months. (A local dealership called the other day to let me know that their price on an '04 had dropped $2K since I talked to them two months ago; presumably, they now want somewhere around $26K for a fairly nice example of a relatively low-mileage '04 Cobra convertible.) If dealerships are creeping down toward $25K, private owners will likely be closing-in on $20K soon enough. Even though the Kelley Blue Book value for a Private Party Seller of an '04 Cobra convertible amounts to $31,855, you can sometimes find an '04 Mystichrome Cobra convertible for less than that, as with the one listed below on the AutoTrader's site:

Auto Trader Listing for '04 Mystichrome

________________________________

Laurie Snidow's '04 Cobra pictured below is not for sale (that I'm aware of), but the JPEG photo of her car arguably offers a fairly compelling example of how finding and buying a Cobra this clean might be, for some, an intelligent way to go--what a beautiful ride!--, as opposed to one's waiting in que for months and then forking-over $37K+ for an April-or-later edition of the GT-500.

A SWEET RIDE:

12-17-2005, 12:37 AM	#1
Pro52R Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 9	Difference in 99-02 and 03-04 internals? Hey Folks, I was just wondering. I know the eaton off a 03-04 will fit the older model cobra's. But i was wondering what does the 03-04 have internally that the 99-02 doesn't? I know of the manley or melling ? H beam connectiong rods and better crankshaft..but whatelse? I hear the 03-04 is pretty stout so how about the 99-02? Just wondering... Also..dumb question...but if i were to find a blown up V6 stang (99-04 body style) and drop a tremec T56 and 03-04 complete engine w/ ecm,wire harness and everything would that be worth it money wise to build it to my liking.....or just spend the $$$$ and get the real thing? I know you could probably find a blown V6 for around 3k-5k...engine/tranny another 6k-8k....other odds and ends (suspension,brakes,wheels) 2k-4k....So in the end I'm down $15-18k...is that worth it? __________________ 2003 Chevy 3500 Silverado Ext Cab Blk Duramax/Allison,Predator,4in Exhasut,6in tip,Sun Coast Ram-Air Hood,PUTCO Grille,and other do dads.... 325rwhp/683ft.lbs 30lbs of Boost Future Plans are 450rwhp/1010ftlbs 14.8@90mph so far I know its not a Cobra. But I plan on having a 03-04 SVT Termin8r. "Juice is like a girl w/ STD's. You know you want to hit it but your afraid of the consequences"

12-17-2005, 01:12 AM	#2
NO 5 OH Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 1,613	The difference between the 99-02 shortblocks and the 03-04 shortblocks is a big difference. 99-02 Cobra blocks were manufactured from aluminum, the 03-04 blocks are iron. Both examples feature the same crank... which is a forged steel crank that will easily see 800+ to the tires and not flinch. 99-02 Cobras have powdered metal rods and hyperutetic pistons (ie CRAP for boosted applications) and the 03-04 motors have forged Manley H-beam rods with forged, teflon coated Mahle pistons. Compression ratio is also different between the two, with the 99-02 motors having 9.8:1 compression while the newer cars have 8.5:1 for a "boost friendly" application. You can swap everything from a Cobra to a 99-newer V6 Mustang but it would be a considerable amount of work. There are three or four wiring harness' you'd need (can't remember exactly) and new from Ford these harness' are over a thousand dollars. You'd need a computer, complete motor assembly w/accesories and the T56... plus other things as well. You could feasably do it cheaper than buying a used 03/04 but it would be a lot of work and a lot of time invested. Good luck with whatever you decide... the 03/04 motors are fun to tinker with and make a ton of horsepower with a minimal amount of mods. My car is the "basic bolt-on 03 Cobra" and makes 600+ to the tires on 93 octane with 17 lbs of boost HTH, Shannon __________________ 03 Torch Red 10th Anniversary Convertible A few bolt-on's, a black supercharger and some boost... The replacement for displacement has "Whipple" cast into it. Chuck Norris built my Cobra. It runs off the tears of small children and makes 10,000 horsepower. He calls it his "street version."

12-17-2005, 01:27 AM	#3
Pro52R Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 9	thats what i figured..Hopefully byt he time i'm ready to buy i can find a decent one for 22K __________________ 2003 Chevy 3500 Silverado Ext Cab Blk Duramax/Allison,Predator,4in Exhasut,6in tip,Sun Coast Ram-Air Hood,PUTCO Grille,and other do dads.... 325rwhp/683ft.lbs 30lbs of Boost Future Plans are 450rwhp/1010ftlbs 14.8@90mph so far I know its not a Cobra. But I plan on having a 03-04 SVT Termin8r. "Juice is like a girl w/ STD's. You know you want to hit it but your afraid of the consequences"

12-17-2005, 12:02 PM	#4
ausie Don't let the dog drive Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kinston, NC Posts: 1,883	You forgot that the fuel system is different as well as the dual pumps and different fuel pump dirver circuit. Another change was the radiator. The 99/01 Cobras had an aluminum core with plastic ends whereas the 03/04 Cobra is all aluminum and may have larger capacity. There is a slight difference in the header ports on the 03/04 heads when compared to the 99/01 headers. Also in the V6, the axle assembly may need to be changed if they use the smaller differnential gear (7.something inches compared to the 8.8 on the Cobra). With the money spent on upgrading a V6 to Cobra status ouch, that may cost more than a used 03/04 when all said and done. I believe a complete supercharged 03 crate motor with harness, and ECU will cost about $12 grand. __________________ 2004 SVT Cobra, Silver, February 2004 SVT Build # 2485 out of 3768 SLP Loudmouth Cat-back UPR double lock firewall adjuster UPR GMS extreme double hook quadrant Wheels: Ford SVT 10th anniv. wheels (track duty) SVE 10th anniv. style 17x9F, 10x10.5R BBS RK Plasma 18x8.5F, 18x10R (retired) (retired) 2001 black SVT Cobra, October 2001 missed but not forgotten

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