03 Redfire Cobra Thread

Last fall I picked up this 2003 Redfire convertible locally. It had some decent parts on it but the car definitely needed some love and attention as it was not well cared for by previous owners. Despite this, the car is extremely clean! Decided to pull it apart to do a mild restoration and some upgrades on it at the same time. I dropped the motor and transmission, have ordered a bunch of parts, and have been painting a ton of parts to make them look much better. I’ll be using this thread to track progress and keep a list of parts used on the car.



Have a ton of new parts ready to go on, dropping off the valve covers for powder coat this week, and dropping the transmission off at a shop to have the 26 spline input shaft installed as that was not something I was super confident in attempting myself.


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Welcome to the RF Vert club. Looks pretty clean from the picture. Mine came with a chrome BBK intake as well…you should junk it.

Mine is a parchment top. I like your black top. Looking forward to your updates.

How many miles?

Nice RF Cobra! What is the mileage and how is the paint? Are you going to do a paint correction?

2003RedfireVert said:

Welcome to the RF Vert club. Looks pretty clean from the picture. Mine came with a chrome BBK intake as well…you should junk it.

Mine is a parchment top. I like your black top. Looking forward to your updates.

How many miles?

Click to expand...

The car has 41k miles on it. Despite being in Canada, the car was brought over from the states a couple owners and many years back. As far as the BBK intake goes I’ve already purchased a JLT ram air to replace it. I’ll have plenty of updates over the next few months as things progress and more parts start making their way off the couch and onto the car


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

CobraBob said:

Nice RF Cobra! What is the mileage and how is the paint? Are you going to do a paint correction?

Click to expand...

The paint is surprisingly pretty good for how poorly the previous owner took care of the car! I’m definitely going to be doing a paint correction on the car once it’s all back together. Plan on doing a three stage with a mild cut, buff and polish, then going to have a friend of mine help me ceramic coat it as he has experience with it and I’ve never personally applied it.


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Paint the underside of hood. It'll look amazing!!

Tifosi2003GT said:

Paint the underside of hood. It'll look amazing!!

View attachment 1793447

Click to expand...

I was debating on removing the hood insulation to see how it looks under there. I have heard that some are painted and others aren’t. Is that correct?


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

VLONE said:

I was debating on removing the hood insulation to see how it looks under there. I have heard that some are painted and others aren’t. Is that correct?


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Click to expand...

Some are. Mine was black primer in middle

VLONE said:

I was debating on removing the hood insulation to see how it looks under there. I have heard that some are painted and others aren’t. Is that correct?


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Click to expand...

Mine is a mid-03 based on build date, and mine was painted.

This Car arouses me sexually.

nice Redfire!

Some progress updates. Engine is pretty much all back together after tearing it down to replace gaskets, paint brackets, powder coat the valve covers, install some pulleys, etc. The engine bay has been touched up too. Transmission was gone through by a T56 specialist, carbon synchros replaced, 26 spline input shaft installed, billet TOB sleeve installed, new bearings, clutch, flywheel, anti venom mod, etc. MGW still has to go on and has to be filled with fluid. Still much more to come but hopefully it’s all back together in a month or so!





Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app

Wow, that is nice. I need to do this to mine. Looks great!

Talk about not fooking around!!! Love it!

This looks great, I’ve had powered coated valve covers since I bought the car I just don’t see myself been able to do that job lol