2002 Cobra 340 hp from the factory?

[94_302]

First off I'm not talking about the aussie snakes.

I remember reading a long time back about the story of the "Terminator" and how SVT came to build it. It mentioned Coletti test driving what was supposed to have been the 2002 Cobra. He was not pleased with the performance, thought it was a dog and they fixed it in the 03-04 cobras.

Anyways I remember in the article that the 2002 cobra had a 340 hp from a 4.6 4 valve motor. I'm wondering if anyone knows what they did to get this. Since it would have been a production car I'm sure it had all the emissions, no long tubes, air intakes, and probably a somewhat mild tune. How did they uncork 20 more hp than the previous cobra? Which was rated at 320 I believe. I'm just wondering if there are ways to get a little more out of these motors n/a than what we know of.
340 * .15 (assumed drivetrain loss) = 51
340-51=289
I know we have people on the board who have dynoed cars n/a over 289hp at the wheels but how many of those where with the emissions, cats, stock air intake assembly, 91 octane, and other things that are on production cars that enthusiast swap out or get rid of. I know that to go fast in a Marauder you need boost, no way around it. However I'm just wondering if because boost is so popular for going fast are we over looking some of the n/a possiblities of this car.

[DEFYANT]

There are no 2002 Cobras. They sucked so bad, they never made it to the market.

They fixed it in 03 with a roots style superchager made by Eaton.

[RoyLPita]

There are no 2002 Cobras. They sucked so bad, they never made it to the market.

They fixed it in 03 with a roots style superchager made by Eaton.

And came out in June of 2002.

[94_302]

There are no 2002 Cobras. They sucked so bad, they never made it to the market.

They fixed it in 03 with a roots style superchager made by Eaton.

I know there are no 02 cobras, at least not in the states. Anyways what would have been the 02 cobra had 340 hp. I'm just interested in how they could have achieved this. Even though it's a number at the crank, it is still impressive imo. The mods we would need to achieve this number we get by using parts that a factory car can not due to various restrictions.

[Breadfan]

I know there are no 02 cobras, at least not in the states. Anyways what would have been the 02 cobra had 340 hp. I'm just interested in how they could have achieved this. Even though it's a number at the crank, it is still impressive imo. The mods we would need to achieve this number we get by using parts that a factory car can not due to various restrictions.

I think the reason there was no '02 Cobra was the fact that they could not get that number stable. I think it was '01 they had the power problem, where cars were dyno'ing lower than factory specs, they were recalled and fixed, but this impacted the plans for '02. I think they saw the same problem happening and pulled the plug for a year so they could redesign, that's how we got the super '03 Cobra which was a step in the right direction if you ask me. :)

I could be way off by the way!

[cyclone03]

Well I got 286 at the wheels with just a tune add 20% drive line loss and we're at 340 at the crank.
I have to guess the Cobra exhaust would be good for 5-10hp over the Marauder's.

So my answer is we got the Cobra engine.

[SergntMac]

340 * .15 (assumed drivetrain loss) = 51
340-51=289
I think you're lite on the drive train loss. My numbers from a long time ago measured bone stock RWHP at 240 to 250, depending on variances in dyno and atmosphere. Calculating a 25 percent power loss in a bone stock powertrain, I get 305 brake HP under the hood, which is close enough for government work.


I know we have people on the board who have dynoed cars n/a over 289hp at the wheels but how many of those where with the emissions, cats, stock air intake assembly, 91 octane, and other things that are on production cars that enthusiast swap out or get rid of. I know that to go fast in a Marauder you need boost, no way around it. However I'm just wondering if because boost is so popular for going fast are we over looking some of the n/a possiblities of this car. You ask a good question, and the answer is money. What mods produce the maximum performance with the least investment. Why should I buy heads, cams, valves and so on, when I can buy a supercharger kit, and get the same (if not more) performance?

Hoping not to make a game show out of this...Here's 5K in Marauder.Net cash. Spend it any way you want on the club's mutually owned absolutely 100 percent bone stock 300A, and post an educated guess at your performance "bang for the buck". One rule though, no blowers, turbos, or spray. Let's see what can be built without a power added?

[cyclone03]

Note in my above post I said 286 with a tuneI was right with Mac at 240 bone stock.
I stand by my guess that we have the non-produced 2002 Cobra N/A engine with exhaust to fit our car and a milder tune.

[SergntMac]

Note in my above post I said 286 with a tuneI was right with Mac at 240 bone stock.
I stand by my guess that we have the non-produced 2002 Cobra N/A engine with exhaust to fit our car and a milder tune.I tend to agree with Lance. The Marauder is a parts bin car, ditto the '03-'04 Mach I. Where's the bin that held 18, 000 4V DOHC engines?

[Warpath]

I think the reason there was no '02 Cobra was the fact that they could not get that number stable. I think it was '01 they had the power problem, where cars were dyno'ing lower than factory specs, they were recalled and fixed, but this impacted the plans for '02. I think they saw the same problem happening and pulled the plug for a year so they could redesign, that's how we got the super '03 Cobra which was a step in the right direction if you ask me. :)

I could be way off by the way!

99 Cobras (which I own) had the low hp issue. They also had issues with the IRS (new for that year) vibrating. According to Ford, they spent all of their resources fixing the 99's problems that they didn't have time to work on the 00 Cobra. So, the next Cobra to come out was an 01 Cobra. There were some small tweaks to it. But, it had the same power as the recall fixed 99s. Both the 99s and 01s were rated at 320 bhp. 15% driveline loss gives you 272 rwhp which mine made on a Mustang dyno post recall bone stock. Ford stated to assume 15% driveline loss which seams reasonable to me with an IRS. The story I've heard is that the 02 Cobra was delayed to the point that Ford just called it an early 03. They learned their lesson on the 99s and underrated the 03s. They were dynoing about 350 rwhp stock IIRC from what I read on the net. That works out to be about 420 bhp stock. They accomplished the increase in hp over the 99/01s with an Eaton positive displacement blower (I don't remember which kind). It has a lot of low end torque. Some people who have driven one have told me it pulls like a freight train. I haven't been fortunate enough to drive one.

[juno]

Well, they must have been short of forged cranks 'cause only the Machies got them in the 5 speed. :)
So the 5 speed Mach's have a Cobra motor with the shaker. We got the motor with a cast crank.

I agree with the tune. I knocked .8 off my 1/4 time, 15.4 - 14.6 with just a tune and 3.73's. I'll bet my tune was worth at least 40-50 crank HP, maybe much more. The car must have been real low HP before. My guess is I have 340-350 at the crank now.

[SergntMac]

Well, they must have been short of forged cranks 'cause only the Machies got them in the 5 speed. :)
So the 5 speed Mach's have a Cobra motor with the shaker. We got the motor with a cast crank. The SVT Cobra engines are hand assembled and signed by the builder. Our Marauder/Mach I/ Aviator Intech 4V builds are simply mod motors with a likeness to the Cobra engine, and the ability to interchange most parts. 6 or 8 bolt crank, there is no comparasion to a Cobra engine.

[juno]

Hate to disappoint you but I was referring to the earlier cobra's because we were talking about part bins. They came with forged cranks ala the Mach 5 speed. The parts are the same post Teksid. They did improve our block though, over the original non teksid ones.



The SVT Cobra engines are hand assembled and signed by the builder. Our Marauder/Mach I/ Aviator Intech 4V builds are simply mod motors with a likeness to the Cobra engine, and the ability to interchange most parts. 6 or 8 bolt crank, there is no comparasion to a Cobra engine.

[Breadfan]

Thanks for the claficiation, you are right about the year they had power issues. I get mixed up on stuff like that.

The '03's should have the Eaton M112 blower, right?

Funny, I know Ford was being conservative with the ratings for '03 Cobras, I am surprised they didn't just toss in the extra 10hp to make it an even 400hp rating. Might not be much, but 400hp look a heck of a lot better thant 390hp on paper.

[SergntMac]

Hate to disappoint you but I was referring to the earlier cobra's because we were talking about part bins. They came with forged cranks ala the Mach 5 speed. The parts are the same post Teksid. They did improve our block though, over the original non teksid ones.No disappointment here dude, I know what's in a Cobra engine, and what's in a Marauder/Mach I engine. You can create all the illision you want for yourself, but neither the Marauder nor the Mach I (in any trim) have a true Cobra engine. Just look-a-likes.

[94_302]

Well I realize that adding a blower, turbo, or nitrous will give you more power for your dollar when going n/a. Cyclone03, was that 286 with a dyno tune or an off the shelf tune? But even then an aftermarket tune is nothing like what you would find on a factory car. Also the cobra exhaust unless something drastically changed still would not explain the 20 crank hp difference between the 01 cobra and what was going to be the 02 cobra.

I guess I was just trying to figure how they got that increase, I would guess some part would have to be different or have been developed to be more efficient.

[SergntMac]

Combustion chamber volume? It is different between build years, ranging from 42cc to 52cc. Different pistons in different builds as well.

What about the Lincoln MK VIII 4.6L 4V DOHC...What's inside that?

Oh hey! Peek at this? A few more details on the history.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=45149

[RF Overlord]

What about the Lincoln MK VIII 4.6L 4V DOHC...What's inside that?If it's the one in Dennis's car, a whole boatload of hamster wheels...that car FLIES! :lol:

[BUCKWHEAT]

I agree with Warpath. I had a new '99 Cobra. Dyno'd at 249 rwhp before the factory "fix" and 268 after. IRS had more hip hop than...well you know.

[cyclone03]

Cyclone03, was that 286 with a dyno tune or an off the shelf tune?
.


Off the shelf DR reflash.

[Warpath]

Autos get a cast crank because it is cheaper and does the job. Owners of manual trannies who race tend to drop the clutch near redline. That's one helluva impact on the crank. So, they get a forging. That type of impact is difficult to recreate in an auto tranny. The TC isolates the engine for the most part. Also, I don't know too many people willing to neutral slam an autotranny at redline.