Going to look at a cobra

[jconnor3]

I don't post here because I've never owned a cobra, but I'm over at Corral a lot. Anyway i'm going to go look at an 03 cobra this weekend. I'm a little concerned because it looks to be at a small dealership that has all makes and models and they say it's an anniversary model. Well, once i seen the pictures it obviously isn't. There are no anniversary badges, the seats are the black and grey sued and the brakes arn't red like they should be.

Also, the guy said he was unaware of any performance mods...one look at the underhood shot and even not owning a cobra before I can tell thats not right. I can see at least an idler pulley and im assuming a supercharger pulley change as well, cold air intake and also C/C plates. Cant tell if it has coilover or lowering springs, but the car is pretty low in the front.

What all should I be looking for when in person. I'm going to be looking for quality aftermarket parts, leaks, and any shoty work. But, what are the problem areas for Cobra's i should check on? I see cooling seems to be a small problem, but not sure there is much i can check there. Obviously if I were to get this car, the first thing I would do would get it tuned to make sure it's right on.

Below is the engine bay shot....see what all you can find

 

[mike_b_svt]

Below is the engine bay shot....see what all you can find

Looks like the MAF is different. Or maybe it is just reflecting light from the flash / sun?
Battery was changed - make sure it is secured properly, cuz it looks dodgey. What's with the piece of cardboard stuffed in next to it?

 

[jconnor3]

I thought that about the MAF as well, im not sure. Is there any reason to change these out with the stock blower still on other than it just going bad. Tough to tell what is beside the battery. The car has 65,000 on it, do these cars last fairly well? I know thats kind of a loaded question depending on how hard she was ran, what is actually done to the car, and what kind of tune in on it.

Seems like a buying this car could be a real shot in the dark seeing how i can't talk to the previous owner and the car place can't even tell its not a freaken anniversary model.

 

[LETHAL03COBRA]

Go on CobraBobs website. Has a ton of info. on his site. Click on the link below. Good luck!!

Terminator FAQs

 

[03cobra5485]

looks like it has a 2.76 pulley on it, which if it's not a ported blower, is going to overspin it, get it way too hot...If you can, check out and see of it has a steggy serial number or posi mark on the blower...If it doesn't, it isn't ported and has prob seen too much boost...unless it's a self port..The only way it's an anniversary is if it's an 04, and it would have the red inserts on the seats (i may be wrong) but i think only the 10th anniversary cobra's have the red inserts...Also the caster camber plates don't look stock..

 

[jconnor3]

If the blower pulley doesn't have any numbers on it...is 2.76 just the size of the pulley? I know that has to be a basic question, but again, never owned a cobra and figured I can at least measure it while there. What is a safe size pulley?

Does Steggy typically number the blower in the same location on all port jobs? That would help going there knowing a specific location.

 

[Konaboss302]

It's a port, you can see the step emblem on top of the gear case on the blower.

 

[jconnor3]

Dang, good eye. It does look like there is something on there.

Is there any way to tell if the cooling mod has been done?

 

[timspony]

Engine bay cooling is all stock from the pic...

 

[jconnor3]

dang, that seems to be really important once you start modding these cars and upping the boost levels.

Wish there was a good way to see the motors condition...having zero background on the car makes it seem like a jump into the deep end and hope the car will last.

 

[sabotage]

yup its a ported blower steggy ....i would do a compression test on it .....all look at the plugs while your at it take it to a shop with a lift look under it....i wish i wouldve when i bought mine. Also make sure the tob sleeve aint broken almost asure you that it is ...easy way to tell is you feel the clutch pedal shake also look at the irs make sure it aint got greese spots from explding axles etc .....good luck man

 

[3Stang]

It looks like there is a good amount of radius on the supercharger pulley from the center up. I would say maybe a 3.1" pulley but you won't really know unless you take a ruler to it or something of that nature. FYI Stock is 3.65" We went from that to a 2.8" in ours and ours looks much smaller, so I would say 3.1". Also, if you do end up buying it IMMEDIATELY get that thing's A/F Ratio checked as with the improper tune, could lead to catastrophic engine failure.

 

[sprstr1000]

Make sure there is a hand held tuner with the car. Looks like stock injectors,their probly working pretty hard with a ported blower.

 

[jconnor3]

Thanks guys, this is a lot of great information! What color top are the stock injectors? I would feel more comfortable if it was a 3.1 pulley, but I will measure it when I get there Saturday. Buying a modded car always make me second guess it, especially with these cobra's. I am hoping I see a bunch of quality name brand parts so at least i know the owner had pride in the car or cared and didn't try doing everything on the cheap!

 

[sprstr1000]

Stock injectors are blue. If you look at the pic # 1 cylinder has a blue injector.

 

[sprstr1000]

Lol it was pretty late last night when i looked at the pic. Now im not so sure if that little patch of blue is an injector.
Anyway ask about fuel pumps,boost a pump,mass air flow,clutch and do a comp test and if possible a leak down test.

 

[05satinGT]

looks like it has a 2.76 pulley on it, which if it's not a ported blower, is going to overspin it, get it way too hot...If you can, check out and see of it has a steggy serial number or posi mark on the blower...If it doesn't, it isn't ported and has prob seen too much boost...unless it's a self port..The only way it's an anniversary is if it's an 04, and it would have the red inserts on the seats (i may be wrong) but i think only the 10th anniversary cobra's have the red inserts...Also the caster camber plates don't look stock..

10th Anniversary Models are 2003's hence the 93 Cobra, only special edition in 04 is Mystic Chrome. A 2.76 pulley will not overspin a stock blower. That's what I run on my car and many other people who own cobras. :beer:

 

[jconnor3]

Yea, i know for sure it's not an Anniversary model. No red seat inserts, no badging and no no red calipers. That doesn't bother me to much, it's just going to help my negotiating showing them they don't know what they have that they are trying to sell! I was hoping it was the Anniversary model though, but o well...

Reguarding the pulley size, at least it appears to be a ported blower so that helps that situation. I will check the actual size when I get there.

 

[PudgeTheMidget]

Yea, i know for sure it's not an Anniversary model. No red seat inserts, no badging and no no red calipers. That doesn't bother me to much, it's just going to help my negotiating showing them they don't know what they have that they are trying to sell! I was hoping it was the Anniversary model though, but o well...

Reguarding the pulley size, at least it appears to be a ported blower so that helps that situation. I will check the actual size when I get there.

Black book only gives the 10th anniversary a $100 increase in terms of value, be prepared for that going in.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

 

[jconnor3]

Yea, I know it doesn't add much, I just want to show them they don't know what they are selling. They also said there were no performance moddifications, obviously wrong. Ill make sure to use of this to hopefully get the price down on a mystery car that could be a time bomb and they need to come down on the price....lol in all actuality it might actually be just fine and has some great mods. Hopefully downselling the car to them will help the price!