Got Torque? '03 Cobra E85/Whipple build

c_mart_28

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Hey Guys,

Just got my car tuned yesterday so I thought I'd finally take the time to do a proper write up on my fuel system build and install. The end result is a simple, very easily replicated combination that ended with some real awesome results!

The car starts as a stock longblock '03 Cobra with a gen II 2.3 Whipple supercharger (Just the little guy..) Full exhaust to JBA dumps, stock TB all tuned with an xcal2. This combination made 572 rwhp last spring on 16-17psi and I took it to a personal best of a [email protected] mph.

This winter I got the itch to do a fuel system to enable me to run E85. I decided to ditch the stock returnless system in favor of a traditional return-style system. So in goes the call to Ryan Vitiritto at Driven Performance (515-419-2268, Driven Performance) Over the period of a couple months I put together the following:
-Magnafuel SQ-525 fuel pump.
-80 lb injectors
-Magnafuel Y-block
-Magnafuel FPR
-Fore fuel rails
-Earl's Pro-lite 350 -10 feed, -8 return.
-Summit AN fittings
-Competition engineering sump for the stock fuel tank.

We finally got it all put together and scheduled a time to have the car tuned at Kurgan Motorsports with the man himself, Bob Kurgan. Now, I don't know if anyone has ever seen Bob while he is in the act of tuning, but all I can say is that he really, really gets into it. You can definitely tell he has about 15 different things on his mind all at once. After quickly taking care of a couple minor issues, the end result of him working his magic resulted in some truly staggering (IMO..) numbers.
Final pull:
672 rwhp.
715 rwtq!!!
The car makes over 600 ft lbs of torque at 2200 rpm and clears 700 ft lbs at 3k RPM!!

The craziest part of this all is that I was only able to get the winter blend of E70 for the car and so Bob played it very safe and only ran 17.5* of timing (peak boost was 24.8psi but fell off to off to only 20 by 6k RPM.) We will be adding additional timing to the mix for the true E85 summer blend which I'll probably just buy by the barrel.

While the power it does have is outright brutal and crazy responsive on the streets, by far the most impressive aspect of the tune that Bob put together for the car is the driveability! The car has NEVER run smoother, been easier to drive or more enjoyable to just putt around with on the streets. I'm not even kidding when I say that my 80 year old grandma would be able to hop in this car and drive it without a hitch! I've never before paid for a professional tune but after this car it is easy to see why people come from all over the country to have Bob tune their cars. Its just incredible. All in all I am 100% satisfied with my results.

On a side note, I most definitely have to thank a few folks for helping me get this accomplished:

Ryan Vitiritto at Driven Performance. (Driven Performance) I can honestly say that if wasn't for Ryan's patience with me and willingness to put in all sorts of weird hours to get this done, I wouldn't have ever been able to get this accomplished. Either that, or I'd of really messed some stuff up trying! I learned a ton from just being able to watch the process unfold. Thanks again Ryan.

Bob Kurgan at Kurgan Motorsports. (Kurgan Motorsports) Easily the best driving nearly 700 hp car I've ever been in. The car feels literally better than stock.

Scott at Nightmare Motorsports. (515-238-1024) Best known for his "Project Sniper" build. Your quick turnaround in getting my sump installed helped move this project along. Its also an awesome testimonial to the quality of work you are able to provide!


There are several folks on this site that have completed very similar builds and were nice enough to post up their findings and even answer a few of my questions during this process. Thanks again to everyone that helped me in getting this car done!

Few Pictures!
2010-04-02170625.jpg

Tank completed by Scott.
2010-02-12183540.jpg

How it hangs!
2010-03-24161640.jpg

Core components.
2010-02-12184551.jpg

Can't argue with results!
2010-04-05182240.jpg

Randoms.
2010-03-24135133.jpg

2010-03-24154934.jpg

Parked out front with a 42R FD RX-7.
2010-04-03182203.jpg

Poor quality shots, I'll try to get some better of the engine bay. Gives you a good idea though of how quality Ryan V's installation is.
DSCN1080.jpg

DSCN1084.jpg

Out in front of Bob's fantastic shop ready to make some power!
DSCN1050.jpg
 

Zimmer0924

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I heard about this on ChicagoSVT the other day. This is amazing. Bob is a master at what he does. Great numbers and can't wait to see what it does on E85.
 

Digital

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What sucks about e85 is if you want to put down some real big power you gotta have a driver module and 120# injectors, that's big $$. I've thought about it but cannot do it even with my current setup to support my power goals.

Great build man, congrats on the "free" power.
 

skaarew04SVT

Not quite fast enough
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once again, E85 is the ticket !! im not making that much torque, as I'm only around 21 psi on my 2.3 with MBT spark, but my numbers are in my sig.

welcome to the corn burnin club!
 

torque addict

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wow! nice numbers!! im planning to go with the hellraiser tt on my 03, and i want to do e85 also..hopefully it helps to get me good results aswell..
 

c_mart_28

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once again, E85 is the ticket !! im not making that much torque, as I'm only around 21 psi on my 2.3 with MBT spark, but my numbers are in my sig.

welcome to the corn burnin club!

Thanks man! It was actually your car that got this whole E85 idea going in my head.

And yes, I'm anxious to see what it puts down with more timing..although the power it currently sits at is more than enough..it'll be a nice summer "mod" :banana:
 

divided

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If grandma went even half throttle on accident I'm sure she would need a change of depends©. Awesome numbers man.
 
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c_mart_28

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Haven't really totaled it up. Almost afraid to. I bet that if you are buying over time and take advantage of the deals when they present themselves (..used parts..) that it could be done for around $2000 when going full return. +/- a couple hundred or so..
 

EBCOBRA

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Man I wish E85 was more readily available in Southern California.

Congrats on the awesome numbers.:beer:
 

Hkaiser83

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Holy crap!!

I'm about to do a 3.4 whipple crusher with some E85! Your results give me a lot of hope!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

99cobrajn

cant touch this........
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Sick I have a e85 kb stang in cedar rapids if you ever make it over here we should run them for run! lol
 

c_mart_28

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Sick I have a e85 kb stang in cedar rapids if you ever make it over here we should run them for run! lol

Nice mod list!

I fully intend on making a couple trips up to CFR this year. Dunno if I'd be able to keep up with your machine though!
 

skaarew04SVT

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Thanks man! It was actually your car that got this whole E85 idea going in my head.

And yes, I'm anxious to see what it puts down with more timing..although the power it currently sits at is more than enough..it'll be a nice summer "mod" :banana:

Nothing like a fellow redfire burnin some e85! I hope to get new numbers soon, I have just thrown some LTs on the car, as well as a 2.6 upper only (stock manifolds and 2.75 upper only got the numbers in sig)....

Your car will love the timing....one good thing to note, that the guys over @ HPP have not experienced any detonation on any vehicles running the corn....if that tells you anything!
 

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