01 cobra rebuild advice

cobra99svt · July 13th, 2011, 08:32 PM

I have a friend that is wanting to sell me an 01 cobra motor for $800, supposedly it has a bent connecting rod. He also has some used 03 cobra connecting rods (SVT/Manley) for $200. Then to top it off 98 cobra cams for $180. How hard is this rebuild with some mechanical skills and a good rebuild book? I have never rebuilt and engine. However, I have done r&r on my transmission and rearend in the past. Is it worth it to try and tackle this my self. Any input is appreciated.

I know I will need new gaskets, seals, bearings, some maching work and what not. I have plans to do a 4v swap in a 96 GT I just bought not to long ago. That way I can work on the real plans, getting my cobra built and turboed.

4valvegt · July 13th, 2011, 11:48 PM

They are not very complicated but the mod motors do seem to get very spendy very fast.

cobra99svt · July 14th, 2011, 12:17 AM

I will be doing it over the course of the next few months. It will be on weekends when I can make it back home. I also need other things like engine stand and some specialty tools. Probably will go to Harbor Freight Tools for stuff like that. I don't want to cut corners or anything like that. I still need to probably find pistons, or should I just reuse the ones in there?

4valvegt · July 14th, 2011, 12:53 AM

Depends on your plans but wouldnt be much point in using the manley connecting rods then because the pistons arent much stronger than the extremely weak powdered metal rods these motors use, new pistons would be best. But it does all come down to what you want to do with it. This something you plan on building up or just stock rebuild?

4valvegt · July 14th, 2011, 12:56 AM

I have a set of the factory full floating powdered metal rods left from my original motor if your just looking for stock rebuild.

cobra99svt · July 14th, 2011, 01:26 AM

My plans are to get the 96GT I just bought a 4valve so I can have it as a daily driver. I really want to build my 99 Cobra up. However I still want about 350hp for my daily driver.

cobra99svt · July 14th, 2011, 01:32 AM

How much did you want for the stock rods?

4valvegt · July 15th, 2011, 01:18 AM

2003 Ford 4.6 Mach 1 Stock Rods & Pistons (8) 37k miles | eBay

Saw this on ebay, otherwise i would probably do 40 shipped on them, have around 30k on them.

WickedSnake00 · July 15th, 2011, 09:14 AM

New pistons aren't a bad idea as long as you're in there.

As far as building it, it's not too bad. Lucky for you with the 98 cams you don't have to change springs. That in itself is a huge PITA. Also you only have to change intake cams, exhaust are the same as the stock ones. The degreeing process is a bit of a PITA with 4 bumpsticks. Believe me. I got the OTC cam degreeing tool kit as well as the Summit degreeing kit. You may not even go to that length, but I had to degree mine.

cobra99svt · July 15th, 2011, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by 4valvegt

2003 Ford 4.6 Mach 1 Stock Rods & Pistons (8) 37k miles | eBay

Saw this on ebay, otherwise i would probably do 40 shipped on them, have around 30k on them.

Thanks, I will keep an eye on them.

Originally Posted by WickedSnake00

New pistons aren't a bad idea as long as you're in there.

As far as building it, it's not too bad. Lucky for you with the 98 cams you don't have to change springs. That in itself is a huge PITA. Also you only have to change intake cams, exhaust are the same as the stock ones. The degreeing process is a bit of a PITA with 4 bumpsticks. Believe me. I got the OTC cam degreeing tool kit as well as the Summit degreeing kit. You may not even go to that length, but I had to degree mine.

What cam degreeing tool kit do you suggest?

WickedSnake00 · July 15th, 2011, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by cobra99svt

What cam degreeing tool kit do you suggest?

You may not need it if you're just going to line up the marks. Degreeing isn't required, but it can help. Not to mention it takes a lot of time, patience, and money.

This is the kit I used. I think I bought it somewhere else for about $4 cheaper.

Amazon.com: OTC 6498 4.6L 4-Valve Cam Timing Kit for Ford: Automotive

cobra99svt · July 15th, 2011, 04:11 PM

Im in no big rush. Considering I will be doing this over weekends when I am back home in my garage.

July 13th, 2011, 08:32 PM	#1
cobra99svt Regular 99 Cobra / 96 GT vert. N/A Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 159 iTrader: 0 reviews	01 cobra rebuild advice I have a friend that is wanting to sell me an 01 cobra motor for $800, supposedly it has a bent connecting rod. He also has some used 03 cobra connecting rods (SVT/Manley) for $200. Then to top it off 98 cobra cams for $180. How hard is this rebuild with some mechanical skills and a good rebuild book? I have never rebuilt and engine. However, I have done r&r on my transmission and rearend in the past. Is it worth it to try and tackle this my self. Any input is appreciated. I know I will need new gaskets, seals, bearings, some maching work and what not. I have plans to do a 4v swap in a 96 GT I just bought not to long ago. That way I can work on the real plans, getting my cobra built and turboed.

July 13th, 2011, 11:48 PM	#2
4valvegt Enthusiast 03 Cobra Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 809 iTrader: 1 reviews	They are not very complicated but the mod motors do seem to get very spendy very fast. __________________ MM Cobra Club #86 2003 Mineral Grey Cobra 2004 True Blue F-150 FX4

July 14th, 2011, 12:53 AM	#4
4valvegt Enthusiast 03 Cobra Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 809 iTrader: 1 reviews	Depends on your plans but wouldnt be much point in using the manley connecting rods then because the pistons arent much stronger than the extremely weak powdered metal rods these motors use, new pistons would be best. But it does all come down to what you want to do with it. This something you plan on building up or just stock rebuild? __________________ MM Cobra Club #86 2003 Mineral Grey Cobra 2004 True Blue F-150 FX4

July 14th, 2011, 12:56 AM	#5
4valvegt Enthusiast 03 Cobra Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 809 iTrader: 1 reviews	I have a set of the factory full floating powdered metal rods left from my original motor if your just looking for stock rebuild. __________________ MM Cobra Club #86 2003 Mineral Grey Cobra 2004 True Blue F-150 FX4

July 15th, 2011, 01:18 AM	#8
4valvegt Enthusiast 03 Cobra Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nebraska Posts: 809 iTrader: 1 reviews	2003 Ford 4.6 Mach 1 Stock Rods & Pistons (8) 37k miles \| eBay Saw this on ebay, otherwise i would probably do 40 shipped on them, have around 30k on them. __________________ MM Cobra Club #86 2003 Mineral Grey Cobra 2004 True Blue F-150 FX4

July 14th, 2011, 12:17 AM	#3
cobra99svt Regular 99 Cobra / 96 GT vert. N/A Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 159 iTrader: 0 reviews	I will be doing it over the course of the next few months. It will be on weekends when I can make it back home. I also need other things like engine stand and some specialty tools. Probably will go to Harbor Freight Tools for stuff like that. I don't want to cut corners or anything like that. I still need to probably find pistons, or should I just reuse the ones in there?

July 14th, 2011, 01:26 AM	#6
cobra99svt Regular 99 Cobra / 96 GT vert. N/A Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 159 iTrader: 0 reviews	My plans are to get the 96GT I just bought a 4valve so I can have it as a daily driver. I really want to build my 99 Cobra up. However I still want about 350hp for my daily driver.

July 14th, 2011, 01:32 AM	#7
cobra99svt Regular 99 Cobra / 96 GT vert. N/A Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 159 iTrader: 0 reviews	How much did you want for the stock rods?

July 15th, 2011, 09:14 AM	#9
WickedSnake00 MM's king of Neon's 404 - car not found 17.81@87 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Diesel Engine Capital of the World, Columbus, IN Posts: 7,373 iTrader: 0 reviews	New pistons aren't a bad idea as long as you're in there. As far as building it, it's not too bad. Lucky for you with the 98 cams you don't have to change springs. That in itself is a huge PITA. Also you only have to change intake cams, exhaust are the same as the stock ones. The degreeing process is a bit of a PITA with 4 bumpsticks. Believe me. I got the OTC cam degreeing tool kit as well as the Summit degreeing kit. You may not even go to that length, but I had to degree mine. __________________ Official Secondhand Snake Build Thread Here Looks Like a Cobra, Sounds Like a Cobra, Tastes Like a Cobra, Not a Cobra. For Sale: P71 Interceptor motor

July 15th, 2011, 04:11 PM	#12
cobra99svt Regular 99 Cobra / 96 GT vert. N/A Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 159 iTrader: 0 reviews	Im in no big rush. Considering I will be doing this over weekends when I am back home in my garage.

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