I know it might sound like a dumb question, being that this is an ls1 website, but im just looking for an honest opinion. I will always be a GM fan but i myself admit that there are other fast cars as well. My cousin sold his 99 ws6 with 67k miles and it had some mods (mid-low 12sec car). He decided to sell his car becuase some guy out of nowhere offerered him $14K. He took it and he found a clean clean 97 dohc cobra (305hp stock) that has a vortech s/c aftercooled system. It has about 60K miles and he got it for $11K. Now he has $3k to invest into it. I think the car might be a little slower than his ws6, but im not sure. What do you guys think of those cars and his deal???

 

with the mods it sounds like he should be really close to the WS6. I think it depends on what he wants. If he really wanted a mustang, then its a good deal to him. Personally I would have kept the WS6, but thats just because I like them more.

 

I agree

 

me too

 

I have a friend with a 97 Mystic with an 03 Cobra motor/blower, running 11 teens before the port, definitely a sick car, I'd pimp it!

 

I prefer GM, buy I do like Cobras and Saleens.

 

i like mustangs, only the Mach 1 and the 03/04 cobras, forged motors + twins would yield a sick car, but i would've kept the WS6, just my .02

 

I'm a big f-body fan but that's not a bad deal for a s/c Cobra. I see lots of s/c ones the same style for a lot more than that.

 

3k, build that motor....end of story

 

+1

I maybe Asian, but Im an American Muscle guy period. I used to have an '03 Mach1. 305 HP under rated motor (same as the 03-04 Cobra, but not forged internals..only the crank), low 13's stock...almost the same motor as your bro's. except different compression and internals....and Damn i miss her. but my '02 WS6 is sooo much faster... and GM engines respond to mods a hell of alot better then Ford engines. but for the price and what its got...he came up pretty good ild say. price is about $1000 more then what ild pay for it, but the extra cash he's got will more then make up for it...and the potential it has, with $3k and his blower, i can see him go into MAYBE mid 11's.

 

'97 Cobra? I think thats the one that Horsepower TV threw a S/C on and got something like 480RWHP? I was impressed (but its still a mustang).

 

I hope that motor has already been gone thru.those motors dont like boost.he should put some forged internals it in.my friend has a 96 with a vortech and forged bottom end and its nasty.

 

i personally wouldnt have done it

 

I see that as a trade down but that's just me. Now an 03/04 Cobra would have been a hell of an upgrade

 

I believe all the cobra motors are the same begining with 96. Their all DOHC 32valve motors. The only differences are small ones such as heads and little things like that. Just like our ls1 motors that have difference head castings and intakes and such through progressing years. Onced superchaged, their almost the same! Actually, being it is a 97, i think it has an advantage being that it weighs only about 3350lbs compared to the 03/04 that are more like 3600+

 

I woulda stayed with the general, but thats just me

 

Your right about them being the same displacement throughout the years, but other than that, they are completely different. 96-98 are identical for the most part, then 99-01's have different heads as you mentioned as well as different blocks, Mach 1's have different cams/compression alum. blocks, and 03/04 Cobras have forged internals w/iron blocks. Comparible I guess to the differences between cam specs and such with the LS1 models, but there are more diff. with the Cobras.

 

1fastz, I think your cousin made a good choice. As was said, he should take the extra $$ and put some forged internals in the car, then crank up the boost. The teksid blocks on those year Cobras are tough as nails, the pistons and such are the weak link.

 

+1 to that...Those teksid blocks can be built very stout...I'd imagine he's over 450whp and easily an 11 second car there with the right driver and tire...Another good thing about the 96-98 is the solid axle, just watch out for the T-45 trans, that'll probably break soon. The clutch and trans are the only real weak link in the drivetrain...

Get some 4.10 gears, that car loves them as much as it loves the boost...

I'd take it over a 99WS6 anyday

 

I was referring to 03/04 Cobras having forged internals, a blower and capable of 500 rwhp with bolt-ons.