those are actually my favorite colors...along with redfire...but I'm extremely luck to have this one
2003 Aniv Terminator (4k mi) - Thoughts on Mods?
- Thread starter BtownB
- Start date
good points...hard to believe it's almost 20yrs old...still not slow
I loved my Redfire. I’ve owned almost every color but sonic blue. That’s for sure the goal now.
Thanks!
Personally, if I bought a 4K mile 2003/2004 Cobra, I’d keep the factory wheels (Ford designed the wheel perfectly) and go with an MGW shifter, catback, mid-pipe, Metco 4-piece idler set, RAI, 2.90 upper, tune, maybe a throttle body, and lowering springs. That would put me at around 450whp and 475wtq. Very safe setup that would easily handle around town cruising and long mile trips. Whatever YOU do, I’m sure you’ll be very happy. That’s all that counts. I just tossed out what I’d do.
CB, that is pretty much what I plan to do to a T...I may try to slide a 10 inch factory look wheel but that is it
The wider replica rear wheel is a popular choice. 
You're going to enjoy your Cobra going forward.
You're going to enjoy your Cobra going forward.
i agree and think it's a good philosophy for someone who wants to regularly drive the car. as you say, it's very appealing to feel like you can just jump into your terminator and drive cross country if you like.
i've been able to average about 1,000 miles per month for the last 18 years in my terminator and i attribute a lot of it to keeping it basically stock, esp the blower and fuel system. requires maintenance, but any sports car that actually gets driven does. how does the old saying go? fast, cheap, reliable... pick two. lol
i will go a bit further though and say these cars can still remain extremely reliable even if you up the power a little bit with a smaller pulley - as long as it is tuned properly. the "fun factor" and speed compared to stock is like night and day, with much of the torque increase coming in under the curve. you gain (lose) a full second in quarter-mile elapsed time just by doing it.
so imo that's the sweet spot for quickness and reliability in a dd cobra, just as the old adage went 20 years ago when these cars first came out: CPIE.
I decided I should keep the original tires mounted to the original wheels, in case I sold it maybe it would make it more valuable to whoever buys it? who knows, but it made it easy for me to justify buying new wheels with the new tires
I put a 1 inch spacer in the rear for mine on the stock 17x9.
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I thought about keeping them...everyone says keep the original battery etc etc but this car is a sentimental car for me and I don't plan to ever sell it so now I'm storing tires for the next 20+ years? I'm going to toss them and not clutter the garage space any furtherI decided I should keep the original tires mounted to the original wheels, in case I sold it maybe it would make it more valuable to whoever buys it? who knows, but it made it easy for me to justify buying new wheels with the new tires
Stock wheel studs?
Had to get longer lugs, but that’s it.
Going with the H&R Race springs...wanted to get some feedback on shocks/struts
I've always been a Bilstein fan. Companies like Vorshlag always say to go with the monotube design. The only experience I have with Konis were a set of the orange STR.T's on an 06 convertible. They were decent for the price point.
Unless yours are currently leaking you'll probably be ok since they only have 4k on them.
Unless yours are currently leaking you'll probably be ok since they only have 4k on them.
Bilstien.
Yeah I'm not as concerned about cost as just keeping the stock ones with old fluid etc and running into issues down the road...I had the cost for coilovers in my head until I did some more looking into it anyway so it's just down to which brand...appreciate the feedback
I have coilovers and really like them. I mostly wanted them so I could put the ride height right where I want it. My car came with H&R Race springs and they were a good set up.
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