RrCoX22

iTrader: (6)

I was gettin dinnner at In & Out tonight in the drive thru and this kid comes to the window saying hes gettin a '96 Cobra and sayin' that he would run me. I told him to get a real car and gave him a taste of my Loudmouth . I'm assuming that it's stock when he gets it. I see this kid all the time so I'm definitly gonna run him. Just want to know if those cars have anything and what the run would be like from a roll,...dig??? My mods are in sig. and if the cobra had some mods what would it be like then? Obviously my take on it is that he would get scrapped on like no other but really not so sure cuz I've never raced one before..... Thanks yall!!!

02ZOh6

I had a 97 Cobra. I ran 13.61 @101 bone stock. I'd think you'd probably beat one pretty easily, especially when you hit 3rd gear. Take him down.

BLKWS.6

What is all this about the LS1's 3rd gear??? I'm lost, never thought it was any meaner than the others, please enlighten me?

02ZOh6

A stock LS1 will trap 103-105, highest I ever trapped was 101 in my SVT. I could usually hang until 3rd and then it was all over. The difference between 2nd and 3rd (trans ratio) is pretty big if I recall on a T-5 which added to my demise, never mind I'd be down 30-40rwhp. If the other car traps higher than you he will usually be pulling you at the end of the track, ie 3rd & 4rth gear. Hope that helps.

Redfiresnake

I still have my stock '96 Cobra. I can only speak from my own experience and the power doesn't start to kick in until 4000 rpm. 3:27 gears don't help and the swirl-port head design was replaced in '99 by the tumple-port heads being used today.
Gears and a power-adder are almost a must if you want to compete in the 96-98 Cobras.
My '03 Cobra is a beast in comparison. I say you take him no problem!

Matt SS

Yes I agree, you will take him quite easily. The 1996-2001 Cobras are NO match for an LS1!

Ghostriderr

You should win without at lot of trouble unless he has some serious work done. A dig would be a safer bet for you as that gen of Cobra is trickier to launch well due to a lack of low end torque. Traction on both vehicles being similar and all.

buffman

iTrader: (9)

my friends 97 cobra ran 13.7s with gears, exhaust, and a CAI of somesort on street tires. He added some DR ands went 13.3s

Matt

Wants an LS1

yea, theres a reason im tryin to sell my cobra and get an ls1, on the cobra board if this question was asked in vice versa, pepole would be telling him either A.hes dead unless you cant drive or B. Filling him with false hope that if he does "something" (this can range from launching right to buying a nitrous kit) diffrent, hell beat you. Snakes taste good with that extra 1.1 liters of displacement to wash them down with

ZEEMAN

LIke said above with out some type of power adder and gears or major bolt-ons i dont think they could hang with an LS1. It should be good though. Im my bone stock A4 Z i put about 2-3 cars on a geared pullied exhaust intake 97 cobra in the 1/8th

Superstocker

I would say an ls1 is in third gear maybe a slight bit before or after the 1/8th and on AVG they are pickin up 26 mph after the 1/8th mile. This means they freight train once in third gear, im gonna bet your mustang picks up 21-22 mph after the 1/8th. thats a huge diff.

MattSS, how is it a mach1 is a match for an ls1 yet a 01 cobra is not? they have the same motor, only main differences are liveaxle and 3.55s.

Big Jimbo

I beleive Mach1's have different heads, intake, and cams, but they arent a huge difference from what the old cobras have. Im pretty sure because i think Ford changed the 4 valve cams that came in 4 valve cobras a couple times right?

****What i hate most is people telling other people that they'll race this person when they get a car.....I cant stand it.

BLKWS.6

I'm sorry, but If I had a 4V cobra i would mod the **** out of it. I would much rather have it than the LS1. Why? Its more unique, it has LOTS of potential (yes, i know the LS1 does too), And they sound wicked at 7K

BLKWS.6

Yes Jimbo, the Mach1 is a LOT meaner than the old NA cobras, 280rwhp+ vs. 250-260rwhp.

Redneck Z

iTrader: (3)

3RD gear for some reason seems to be the point where the bigger LS1 motor starts to really shine. My old head/cams 4.6l would keep up with the LS1's through 2nd, then when they shifted into 3rd would blow by me like I was standing still. I knew when I'd race my friends LS1's I'd have to race from a dig, leap out of the hole and hold them off till 3rd. I never wanted to race from a 60 mph roll. I have raced alot of mustangs in my T/A, and when I shift into 3rd it's game over. For some reason 3rd gear, and 4th for that matter, is a whole lot more fun in the T/A vs. GT. I think gearing can only do so much for a smaller displacement, lower trapping motor. Bigger motors can make more use of 3rd-5th(6th?) gears.

Black Soul SS

dude u have a ls1 nough said

00firebird

iTrader: (3)

this third gear 'advantage' is the same on both autos and manuals?

Sparetire

A comment like that is a sure way to eat crow eventually.

It likely wont be this time though. 96 was a early year for the 4.6, and they just did not have the potential that the old Windsor motors do.(still dont if you ask me).

That said, they love boost. Some FI might have you pretty shocked.

mattkimsey

FI on just about any car will make good power...

On average, I believe, the 96-98 Cobra is a 13.9-14.1 second car(about the same as a 99-04 GT). So, your average 6spd. ls1 has atleast half a second or more advantage. Yes, both cars can be modded and either car can be faster than the other.

Bitemark46

See sig. Oh and I don't have any probs with this "3rd gear phenomenon". -Mark