Yeah, I’m looking at picking up one of these babies in the spring. I’ve got the car picked out that a buddy of mine is selling.
One thing I can’t find is the stock cam specs that came with the thing. I want to start looking at some intake/fuel options but I don’t know the specs of the cam.
Also helpful would be what kind of pistons they used.
Googling seems to get a bunch of mod sites and hardly anyone gives the stock specs when talking about their cars so it’s been tough to get the original build specs for the 4.6 DOHC 32V motors they put in the Cobras.
I came up dry. I got specs for 215 HP and the 260hp SOHC engines, but I know the Cobra engines used longer lift duration…slightly more aggressive, but just don’t know what they are.
There are many parts suited for the Cobra from aftermarket companies that already know the Cobra well. I think the intake is already well regarded for its performance.
I know around that year there were **SERIOUS **issues with the advertised horsepower by Ford, and I think it took them a couple of years to admit the exhaust system was not holding up its end of the deal, costing serious horsepower. Enthusiasts were pissed and cried to Ford about the engine ‘missing something’ and not feeling up to the HP ratings.
I believe Ford eventually agreed to an expensive exhaust upgrade and possibly chip replacement or chip retune – it flew under alot of radar because there aren’t many Cobras out there.
Check into this issue (I will go back and check, too), and if it really happened, see if your potential car had the retrofit done.
False alarm. The 1999 Cobras were recalled, retrofitted with a better exhaust, improved intakes and a reprogram of the computer. Ford halted production temporarily and then resumed when the upgrades were permanent.
Thanks for the info so far. This particular auto has had intake and exhaust mods done. It already has a lot of bolt on adds. I’d like to get a more aggressive cam but first I would like to know how much of a cam I’ve got in there now.
The aftermarket companies will sell me anything I ask for but I’d like to have a baseline for what’s in the thing now.
The other spec I’d like to know are the CC’s of the heads.
I’m looking to keep it stock looking but screaming fast. No turbo or supercharger. It’s already got a well hidden nitrous supply system.
That means I can go with a somewhat rad cam and intake. I’d like to leave the lower end alone, the engine only has 45k on it. Barely broken in.
I think you are probably to the point that you need to take the VIN to a Ford dealer and get them to look up the part. You might then be able to reference the part number directly on the net and see if the specs are listed. It’s possible even Ford doesn’t list them.