New Cobra Owner need some advice.

Stevo306nc · Jun 22, 2021

Finally pulled the trigger and picked up my dream car a 2004 cobra. Car has 42k miles, only one owner who was older and had the car since 2004 kept in the garage. Nothing has been done to it everything is mint condition stock and I mean everything. Purchased for 21k.

My goal is 550-600hp. I want to keep the stock Eaton and eventually get it stage 8 ported by steig. Now that you know what my goals are what mods can I do along with supporting mods with the port being the very last mod.

I want the JLT intake but I'm unsure of the CAI or the RAI version.

Also looking at the 2.76 pulley if I do that on the stock Eaton what supporting mods do I need if any besides the tune. And what supporting mods will I need after the stage 8 port.

I Also was expecting the supercharger to be louder. I plan on putting new hood vents in taking the hood blanket off and adding the intake. Anything else I can do to make it louder.

BossMane · Jun 22, 2021

The blower will be louder when you port it, spin it faster with the smaller pulley, and/or install the CAI. Find a good local tuner. That should answer some of your questions. There is a lot of information here, so do some looking around and reading.
It sounds like you found a good car. Congrats! These things are a blast!

CobraBob · Jun 22, 2021

Pre-port suggested mods - catback, midpipe, intake (either JLT CAI or RAI), short throw shifter (with my shifter gasket kit), 2.90 upper pulley, 4-piece billet idler kit, tune. You shouldn't need any fuel related supporting mods. Note that with the RAI, it is easier to change/clean the air filter. Also, if you go with their CAI, "the air filter is low in the bumper to get the coolest air possible. While driving in the rain is not an issue, you MUST be aware of flooded streets and deep puddles".

Ported-Eaton mods - Port of your choice, 4 lb. lower (with larger alternator pulley), upgrade fuel pump/BAP, larger MAF, larger injectors, updated tune.

I recommend that you read through this section in my Terminator FAQs.
Modifications Questions

I hope you enjoy your "new" 2004 Cobra. Awesome that you found one with a stock engine.

sonicx · Jun 22, 2021

Congratulations! If you got a pretty mint 04 cobra with lower mileage, 1-owner, stock, for 21k (in this market) I’d say you’re ahead of the game. Honestly, drive it as it. Flip it and get a another modified cobra. Probably even make money.

01yellercobra · Jun 22, 2021

You need to decide if the goal is 550 or 600. 550 will be a maxed out eaton on E85. And even then I think it'll be a stretch. You'll need a bigger blower to hit 600. So if you're already having thoughts of 600 I'd take the money you'd spend on a port and put towards an aftermarket blower.

Stevo306nc · Jun 22, 2021

Here is some pictures

Stevo291sc

Thank you everyone for the info. Just what I was looking for. I sought after a stock cobra over a modified one for 2 reasons. I don't like owning vehicles not knowing what people have done to them or how they have treated them. And it is fun building it and knowing how everything works. This came up for sale and within 8 hours I drove down with a u-haul 5 hours away from my house with cash. For now I'll go with the JLT RAI intake. The billet idler pulleys. Upper pulley catback and midpipe. Problem is I don't want to drive around a super loud exhaust car I just want to hear the engine. Also how much of a difference does it make with a short throw shifter vs stock.

BlckBox04 · Jun 22, 2021

Save your money on a ported blower and just get a twin screw. You’re limiting yourself long term with an Eaton.
A twin screw, injectors, boost a pump, cai, throttle body and a MAF and you’ll get 600hp no sweat

Stevo306nc · Jun 22, 2021

I guess I need to state I'm not worried about high HP with an aftermarket supercharger. The whine of the 03-04 cobra is what has drawn me to them. And the Whipple and vmp chargers has less of that whine I'm looking for. I would however consider the 2.2kb if I could find one

CobraBob · Jun 23, 2021

The factory shifter has longer throws and sloppy gear engagement. An aftermarket shifter (MGW recommended) will give you shorter throws and more positive/crisp gear engagement. So, yes, there is a difference. That said, there are owners who have preferred to just stick with the factory shifter.

You probably already know this, but installing an aftermarket shifter in the 2003-2004 Cobra is very simple. Probably an hour of your time at the most.

03cobra#2 · Jun 23, 2021

I would think long and hard about doing a ported vs twin screw. By the time you pull the blower off and send it out to get ported it's just as easy to put a vmp or twin screw. Of course it's more money but you'll sure enjoy the heck out of the car.

CobraBob · Jun 23, 2021

Stevo306nc said:
I guess I need to state I'm not worried about high HP with an aftermarket supercharger. The whine of the 03-04 cobra is what has drawn me to them. And the Whipple and vmp chargers has less of that whine I'm looking for. I would however consider the 2.2kb if I could find one

If you like the blower whine, check out this video. Jump to 2:39.

Stevo306nc · Jun 23, 2021

CobraBob said:
If you like the blower whine, check out this video. Jump to 2:39.

Yes that sounds good! Sounds like the stock Eaton pulled.

Stevo306nc · Jun 23, 2021

03cobra#2 said:
I would think long and hard about doing a ported vs twin screw. By the time you pull the blower off and send it out to get ported it's just as easy to put a vmp or twin screw. Of course it's more money but you'll sure enjoy the heck out of the car.

Yes I totally understand what your saying. I have thought about it alot the past day or so. I would be much happier with a louder blower whine than a faster more efficient quieter supercharger. I can only go so fast on the streets and it's just for my enjoyment and not for the track. That whine is what caught my eye back in 2003-2004 and I have wanted one ever since. The more research I do and the more older videos I look back at it's the 2.2 KENNE bell whine I am seeking. Anyone know about how much one used would go for?

wckdvnm · Jun 23, 2021

Stevo306nc said:
Yes I totally understand what your saying. I have thought about it alot the past day or so. I would be much happier with a louder blower whine than a faster more efficient quieter supercharger. I can only go so fast on the streets and it's just for my enjoyment and not for the track. That whine is what caught my eye back in 2003-2004 and I have wanted one ever since. The more research I do and the more older videos I look back at it's the 2.2 KENNE bell whine I am seeking. Anyone know about how much one used would go for?

They are all over the place; the gen 1 2.2 which was the louder version is hard to come by. Gen 2’s are still fairly loud and can be had from 2.5k and up; they get really hot if you want them to be spun that hard.

NightRide · Jun 23, 2021

Congrats OP, I just got an 04 as well just has a catback. Still to quiet imo and I will be removing the hood liner and doing an o/r mid pipe. Eventually an upper only and try to make 450ish. I think a lot of these guys don't get the excitement of the blower whine. That's the only thing I really miss about my gt500 with the m122. Went TVs then whipple each getting more quiet. I'm on my second coyote car and you can't even hear the blower until 6500 rpms. I know they are more efficient now but there is just something about hearing that whine with the exhaust grumble in the back. I will say this to imo these cars feel a lot more loose at high hp then the newer cars. Not as many nannies to keep you between the dotted lines. Just something else to keep in mind. I'm sure with a few thousand in suspension work it might not feel that way but I don't want to get carried away with this car either. Mods don't equal a lot of return on your investment.

Hef · Jun 23, 2021

My advice......don't ever sell it

Sent from my SM-N960U using the svtperformance.com mobile app

01yellercobra · Jun 23, 2021

NightRide said:
Congrats OP, I just got an 04 as well just has a catback. Still to quiet imo and I will be removing the hood liner and doing an o/r mid pipe. Eventually an upper only and try to make 450ish. I think a lot of these guys don't get the excitement of the blower whine. That's the only thing I really miss about my gt500 with the m122. Went TVs then whipple each getting more quiet. I'm on my second coyote car and you can't even hear the blower until 6500 rpms. I know they are more efficient now but there is just something about hearing that whine with the exhaust grumble in the back. I will say this to imo these cars feel a lot more loose at high hp then the newer cars. Not as many nannies to keep you between the dotted lines. Just something else to keep in mind. I'm sure with a few thousand in suspension work it might not feel that way but I don't want to get carried away with this car either. Mods don't equal a lot of return on your investment.

We all get the excitement for the whine. It's one of the reasons people like the VMP. Sometimes I miss the whine. But I enjoy the 650+hp a lot more. We're just trying to help him spend his money wisely as a lot of guys have done the stock, ported, twin screw steps. The fact that he mentioned 600hp means he's going to end up with a big blower IMO. And what's a good port cost nowadays? $2000 or so? A buddy of mine just sold a gen 2 whipple 2.3 for $2500. It was just getting started at 590rwhp. And I think c6zhombre has some whine from his whipple 2.3.

TerminatorCobraJP · Jun 23, 2021

You got a steal on that car. I have seen people increase their compression ratio on the stock Eaton to 9.5:1 or 10:1 to make more power but of course if you increase the compression ratio then it becomes less safe to run a lot of boost.

Sent from my SM-G950U using the svtperformance.com mobile app

NightRide · Jun 23, 2021

01yellercobra said:
We all get the excitement for the whine. It's one of the reasons people like the VMP. Sometimes I miss the whine. But I enjoy the 650+hp a lot more. We're just trying to help him spend his money wisely as a lot of guys have done the stock, ported, twin screw steps. The fact that he mentioned 600hp means he's going to end up with a big blower IMO. And what's a good port cost nowadays? $2000 or so? A buddy of mine just sold a gen 2 whipple 2.3 for $2500. It was just getting started at 590rwhp. And I think c6zhombre has some whine from his whipple 2.3.

I get what your saying I just think even 500hp feels a lot faster in this car then an s550 if that makes sense. Nothing to me sounds as good as a pullied Eaton imo. I've already got a highway killer in my coyote just want to enjoy this car for what it is. That's my sense with the OP as well maybe I'm wrong. I also don't understand why in the world a port costs so much now. I think I paid posi about 650 to port back in 2011 with an elbow match.

01yellercobra · Jun 23, 2021

NightRide said:
I get what your saying I just think even 500hp feels a lot faster in this car then an s550 if that makes sense. Nothing to me sounds as good as a pullied Eaton imo. I've already got a highway killer in my coyote just want to enjoy this car for what it is. That's my sense with the OP as well maybe I'm wrong. I also don't understand why in the world a port costs so much now. I think I paid posi about 650 to port back in 2011 with an elbow match.

I get what you're saying. The newer cars dull the feeling. But just think how 600+ would feel.

New Cobra Owner need some advice.

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