What are things you wish you knew when you first bought your Terminator?

As we all know, every car model and generation out there has its quirks, pro, and cons. What are some things you wish you knew about your Terminator when you first bought it? Whether it be about the engine, body, suspension, exhaust, whatever.

For example I just learned from the owner of the car I just about about the third tail lights cracking easily when the trunk is closed wrong. I also remember from a while back reading something about a head cooling mod on these? I gotta look that one up again.

I wish I knew or thought about all the now hard to get parts, floor mats, wiper foils, etc..

I haven't found a quirk yet that I didn't know about having previously owned a new edge and fox body prior to the cobra.

I did think the IRS would improve the ride quality or at least I thought I would have noticed a difference and improvement. It still rides like a dump truck. I guess that's one thing that did not meet my expectations. These cars' ride quality sucks.

I guess I can’t say there is to many things that I wish I knew asides one thing. I’m sure you boys will get a laugh out of this one. However having this car come out when I was 11 it made it easy for me to do research, and all of that fun stuff. By the time I was old enough, and able to afford one I had a plethora of knowledge on mods, quirks, etc. However on that same note, even though I had owned a 96 cobra 2 weeks prior to me driving down the road and seeing my Redfire for sale, I bought it. So I was driving downtown Sarasota. My car was on coil overs and sat Rather low on my new wheels. I ended up smacking my thermostat housing on the bottom side of the car, messed it up. Replaced it, replaced the thermostat, all the hoses because why not right? All was fine and swell when I started it up, temperature gauge, and my AEM gauge on the side started to get real high. Couldn’t for the life of me figure it out. So as luck would have it I did more research and found out that you had to take that little piece off the crossover hose and burp it. I also wish I knew more about the 7 thread heads versus the 9 thread. I blew a spark plug thru the head racing. Learned quick how to hellicoil pack it.

After having the 98 GT, 01 Cobra, and now the 04 I was pretty well up on all the quirks. It came in handy with my son getting a 98 GT and then a 99 GT. My daughter currently has an 03 V6. I think by now a quick Google search will tell you major areas to watch out for.

I only had one problem with the 4 thread heads on my 01. And that was because I was impatient and crossed threaded the number 1 plug putting it back in. The next time it saw 19psi showed me where I'm an idiot.

While I agree it's not a Cadillac, I don't think I'd say it's like driving a dump truck. Springs make a huge difference on these cars. My wife had Eibach's on her 06 and it rode worse than my car on H&R's. I think it does pretty well on the coilovers too. Granted I daily an F250 so YMMV.

01yellercobra said:

While I agree it's not a Cadillac, I don't think I'd say it's like driving a dump truck. Springs make a huge difference on these cars. My wife had Eibach's on her 06 and it rode worse than my car on H&R's. I think it does pretty well on the coilovers too. Granted I daily an F250 so YMMV.

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I drive a 1997 Lincoln town. It’s like riding on a couch floating down the road. I guess it’s all about perspective.

My cobra has stock bilsteins and H&R Race springs.

2003RedfireVert said:

I drive a 1997 Lincoln town. It’s like riding on a couch floating down the road. I guess it’s all about perspective.

My cobra has stock bilsteins and H&R Race springs.

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That reminds me of driving my son's 87 Cutlass. That thing was comfy. And it was hard not to do the gangsta lean while driving it.

How cobbled up of a mess it REALLY WAS!!!


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How weak the idler pulleys were. Shreaded the lower hitting 3rd gear pretty hard. Left me stranded, then the Cobra till I could get another stocker from Ford. Then Metco!

I wish I would've known going with a full return system could cause issues with super hot fuel after an hour or so of driving. I would've just went with a deadhead return setup out the gate.


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bought it new so for the first few years under warranty it was running fine like a brand new car should. maybe if i had known how much fun it was going i'd have budgeted a whole lot more for gas and roadtrips lol.

but after a while here's a couple things that might have been nice to know ahead of time and potentially saved me on repairs:

- torque on rear axle nuts should be checked regularly
- stock plastic clutch quadrant assembly can strip easily
- torque on oil cooler assembly should be checked every filter change
- torque on spark plugs should be checked regularly

and as mentioned above if i had a crystal ball maybe i would have bought certain terminator-specific parts (like the radiator and lower crank pulley assembly) when they were still available from ford.

Bought mine new. Here is a few of mine.

Wish I knew to get in and out of the car gently so that my driver's seat would have lasted longer. I probably also would have sat in the passenger side seat more when I would go out to the car at work to take a break or make a phone call in it. (I have since done the TMI seats upholstery).

As someone else already said wish I knew better to stock up on cobra specific parts, air foil wipers, and maybe the oil cooler assembly. Probably would have gotten a pair of rocker panels as well. Perhaps even a set of the Ford racing 4.6 valve covers too when they were available. Also an extra good liner and maybe a set of folding mirrors when they were still around.

Another one is I probably would have liked to have kept the OEM tires and have went to a different tire from the get go. I bet the eagle F1's that came with this car will fetch money some day as well as original battery, and oil filter etc.







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P49Y-CY said:

bought it new so for the first few years under warranty it was running fine like a brand new car should. maybe if i had known how much fun it was going i'd have budgeted a whole lot more for gas and roadtrips lol.

but after a while here's a couple things that might have been nice to know ahead of time and potentially saved me on repairs:

- torque on rear axle nuts should be checked regularly
- stock plastic clutch quadrant assembly can strip easily
- torque on oil cooler assembly should be checked every filter change
- torque on spark plugs should be checked regularly

and as mentioned above if i had a crystal ball maybe i would have bought certain terminator-specific parts (like the radiator and lower crank pulley assembly) when they were still available from ford.

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Please elaborate on torquing the oil cooler assembly

I have 3 cobras and never even thought to look other than checking for leaks

Thanks


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Dave.O said:

Please elaborate on torquing the oil cooler assembly

I have 3 cobras and never even thought to look other than checking for leaks

Thanks


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over time mine loosened up and eventually caused a nasty leak. so now i check that 1/2 hex every oil change to make sure it's "gudentite".

i believe that the torque value listed in the 03/04 factory service manual is too low for that fastener to keep it tight. (one of the few)

and i do notice from time to time that i can tighten it up just a hair so it might be loosening ever so slightly.

pridemore54 said:

.......For example I just learned from the owner of the car I just about about the third tail lights cracking easily when the trunk is closed wrong. I also remember from a while back reading something about a head cooling mod on these? I gotta look that one up again.

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Here is some info from my Terminator FAQs.

"Many ask if they can help prevent the head tick issue from developing in the first place, other than replacing the head(s). Fortunately, a couple of companies offer an inexpensive mod which improves coolant flow to the head. Both the Gen2 Even Flow and Modular Racing cooling mod kits improve coolant flow, which then helps to prevent this issue from occurring. Here is some information on how to upgrade your Even Flow kit with AN fittings and stainless steel braided hose."

Here is a photo of the Modular Racing cooling mod kit.


Modular Racing cooling mod installed.

I kept all my original parts off my OX coupe. The original battery I have, and the wipers. Sadly no oil filter was saved. These cars are a blast for sure, my seats in my OW are minty, my black coupe suffered some damage for sure during its previous owners stay. I will upholster the sides eventually.

Has anyone put a 2V oil filter adapter on their cobras to replace their oil cooler?

SVTdreamin04 said:

I wish I would've known going with a full return system could cause issues with super hot fuel after an hour or so of driving. I would've just went with a deadhead return setup out the gate.


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I thought that was half the point of a full return system? Keep pressure equalized and also continually cycles cool fuel from the tank?

Hopefully that's not an issue with E85.

CobraBob said:

Here is some info from my Terminator FAQs.

"Many ask if they can help prevent the head tick issue from developing in the first place, other than replacing the head(s). Fortunately, a couple of companies offer an inexpensive mod which improves coolant flow to the head. Both the Gen2 Even Flow and Modular Racing cooling mod kits improve coolant flow, which then helps to prevent this issue from occurring. Here is some information on how to upgrade your Even Flow kit with AN fittings and stainless steel braided hose."

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Thanks for posting that!

The overall idea of this mod is that it simply creates a better flow path for the coolant to keep the heads from overheating right? It's not necessarily introducing coolant somewhere it doesn't already go to from the factory.

what I know now, 19 years ago, I would have bought a regular GT, put a 5.4 4v, TH400, twin turbo. Its hard to part with the car and start over.