[banned]

you can tell a pi from a nonpi from the intake and the coil on plugs i believe

[matted2thefloor]

Originally Posted by banned you can tell a pi from a nonpi from the intake and the coil on plugs i believe

True...but being I have the 96 which didn't use C.O.P., you can still have PI and no C.O.P.s. The VIN reads 8th digit "X" and the valve covers are 13 bolts, So I guess as for being a windsor that is good, just need to nail down whether its PI for sure now. I asked about differentiating by the intakes, the FRPP guy says doesn't matter, doesn't mean a thing. . He said only sure-fire way is to pull the intake and look at the ports! Well, wish I could. I don't want to tear down the engine just to figure this out. Someone must know a way!!!

[banned]

can you post a pic?

[matted2thefloor]

Originally Posted by banned can you post a pic?

Of the intake???

[Ryan Paymaster]

I was always under the assumption for pure power the 03/04 wins. Cheapest 500hp out there. I guess if you go with 5.0 there was the range of years that I think had some forged parts in them making them marvelous boost candidates?

However, if you have money and want to build a ridiculously good motor the 96-98 had a lot going for it. From what I've read, the heads flow ridiculously well and hurt the low-end torque. (Why the IMRC was put on this motor.) However, I've read and been told that the heads are only an advantage at much higher RPMs, where you'd need the rest of the bottom end built to hell and back to hold it together. Can someone correct me if I'm wrong?

C Heads for 95% of people are a much better Cobra head than B heads, daily driving and otherwise. They make the power where most people will use it, the street and the weekend strip. The nice thing on the 96-98 is the Teksid Aluminum Block; not sure many people here would ever push the B heads to their potential. The only complaint I have on the 96-98 personally is the valve seals are trash. What a pain...

[banned]

Just a pic of the whole bay should work

The cheapest 500 hp is a 4.6 2v GT for 8-12k and 3k vortech superchager

Better Heads are an advantage across the board, ported B heads sometimes outflow ported C heads, B heads are badass but when you remove the IMRC they need tuning for the lower rpms, all and all tho the C heads are probly the best 4v head, but 3v heads get my vote for being the best

[HMUSN]

^ i disagree

a fox would be cheaper.

and a simple s/c isn't getting500 ponies out of a 2v

[ItEatSS]

03-04 cobra by FAAAR!!! i have 88k on mine with a ported blower and huge kit and it runs and drives like new....just a lot faster.

[Remembermorrison]

03-04 Cobra. No challenge.

[COSTANG]

2000 2v Windsor

also cheapest 500hp...

2v for 8k, 4k for KB charger....
fuel mods, tuning, ect 3k

$15,000 Total.... easy...

Plus I have seen 99-04 GTs sell like civics, check craigslist you can get a 2001 convertable GT for $5000.00.

The Cobras will always hold thier value, I dont think you could get a 99-04 cobra for less than 10k ever.... let alone 15k....

[97Cobra]

[forcefed'0715]

00-03 cobra

[acidtonic]

I personally believe the 97 Cobra is the best year for potential and heres why.

Just remember the question was best potential not cheapness.

* 96-98 has the teksid aluminum block which is much lighter.
* 96 had many problems with cooling

* 98-04 cobra switched from return style fuel to returnless for emissions which is worse for performance. Return style is way better for flow.

* 99-04 switched to IRS which sucks IMHO. 03/04 had thicker IRS than 99-01 but it still sucks in my opinion. Might explain why they dropped it for the GT500. Might I mention IRS was heavier too.

* B-Heads are awesome once ported with a blower and no IMRCs

* 96-98 had the best aerodynamic body.
* 96-98 still has an 8.8 rear.

* 96-04 has OBD2. I personally think fox platforms lack of this is a problem.
* 96-98 can be made MUCH lighter than 99-up.
* Fox was great for weight but most people dont realize 96-98 can be made JUST AS LIGHT. My 97 cobra weighs about 2800lbs with me in it. I still have AC,EGR,full exhaust and leather seats. Gas mileage is much better too without those pounds.

* 96-98 comes with 4 disc brakes, fuel injection, better motor than Fox.
* 99 had issues with power and had the weakest IRS.
* 03-04 heads have ticking problems unless it has the coolant mod.
* GT500 is not a 4.6 and its WAY too heavy. Who cares how much power it can make. 4.6 Teksids are good to well over 1000 as it is with forged parts.
* My 2800lb 97 with me in it will out handle the GT500 any day being 4100lbs empty.

* I personally believe weight is very important. We already have handling issues which are greatly reduced by a good diet. You will understand once you've driven a very light mustang. Doesnt even feel like the same car.

* 8.8 solid rear is really not worse than IRS when built with a 5 point suspension. Especially after losing lots of weight.

* 03-04 switched to IRON which is too heavy and no longer teksid. New Edge is also too heavy. I agree 03-04 is the best for COST, but not potential. (I know they went Iron earlier with a mix of both in 99-01)

So in my opinion the 97 cobra has the best potential. You can still make it as light as a fox if not lighter, yet make great power without swapping motors. You still have aluminum teksid, solid rear, B-Heads, Return style fuel, 4 disc brakes, OBD2, and great aerodynamics. Throw in a blower and forged internals and you're ready to rock.

[rockybalboa]

Originally Posted by drgnracin72 03-04 cobra and i bet 99% will say the same they come with a forged motor and can handle nearly 1000 ho reliably

you'd def be smart to save cash with the mach and get nearly the same results, but that forged motor cuts the cake baby

[brock04gt]

Originally Posted by Garhfer Both engines used forged internals? What other engine besides the Terminator engines had forged internals from the factory?

well its not made by ford but the ls lineup comes with forged internals

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by acidtonic * 96-98 can be made MUCH lighter than 99-up. * Fox was great for weight but most people dont realize 96-98 can be made JUST AS LIGHT. My 97 cobra weighs about 2800lbs with me in it. I still have AC,EGR,full exhaust and leather seats. Gas mileage is much better too without those pounds.

While I'm totally feeling you on the b-port Cobra vibe, how in the HELL did you get one down to 2800 lbs with driver? If you're a skinny-ass little emo kid, that car weighs 2700 lbs, which means you somehow found at *least* 500 lbs to pull out, running with a low estimate of 3200 lbs stock.

I'm not calling BS yet, but your story is slightly odiferous at this point.

[COSTANG]

especially with full leather seats still in!!!

[beckerb]

Prior to my 2004 Mach I had a 2000 cobra. Both of them had/have pro-chargers making over 500rwhp (Dyno-Jet). The 2000 cobra had hundreds of 1/4 mile runs on it with stock internals and I never had a problem. When buying a new mustang in 2004 I looked at the cobras but did not like the IRS nor the roots type super charger. I did like the forged rods but both had a steel crank and the MACH block was far lighter and based on my experience more then strong enough to handle 500+ RWHP. To me the choice was simple the MACH I was be best package. Today I have a 633AWHP 3000cc dodge stealth with nearly 45K invested in the motor not to mention a Viper and and SRT-8 superbee. For the buck the MACH I is by far the best deal. Go for a cobra if you want but roots superchargers are a pain compared to something like the pro-charger...

[torchedmach]

i tell you what man here is a deal 4 you 18,000 and you can have my mach title in hand it has 8400 original miles and its already been lowered the stock subframe connectors were takin out and i put stronger bbk full lengths under it and welded them in and i got the rubber and rims 2 make the car handle and launch well plus i just through my steeda triax in it and it comes with slp lm1's in the trunk ready 2 get pipe bent up 4 them u cant beat that deal bro pm me if u want more info

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by beckerb Prior to my 2004 Mach I had a 2000 cobra.

Well, the only 2000 Cobra was the Cobra R, which also had IRS, as did every Cobra between '99 and '04.

Given your current lineup of cars, I don't doubt you could have afforded a 2000 Cobra R, however, to make that a dragstrip car is a total waste of that car's potential. Might as well be drag racing an Exige.