Lightning Engine in Cobra body
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From: State of Confusion
Lightning Engine in Cobra body
Anybody else see the July issue of Motor Trend yet? Ford actually built a Cobra with a Lightning engine and a T56 6 speed manual trans. Quarter mile times in testing w/3.55 gears was a disappointing 13.4 sec at 109.5 MPH. After reading this article, it looks like I should leave the 32 valve engine in my Cobra and find something else to put my crate engine in.
Lightning Bob
Lightning Bob
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Lightning Bob
I thought that you were putting a Lightning motor into a Mustang body. If you do you know that you can do better than a 13.4 (no slicks on those test cars). Just a quick weight to horsepower ratio will tell you that you can and a quick read through this board will show you Lightnings running very low 13's and they are about 1000 lbs. heavier. If you don't mind me asking could you say what you paid for you Lightning motor. Thank you in advance and good luck with your project.
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BABolt
SVT#290
I thought that you were putting a Lightning motor into a Mustang body. If you do you know that you can do better than a 13.4 (no slicks on those test cars). Just a quick weight to horsepower ratio will tell you that you can and a quick read through this board will show you Lightnings running very low 13's and they are about 1000 lbs. heavier. If you don't mind me asking could you say what you paid for you Lightning motor. Thank you in advance and good luck with your project.
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BABolt
SVT#290
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Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Cincinnati, Oh, USA
If they did that for a stock sale, a lightning motor in a Cobra body. My lightning wouldn't be the only supercharged engine in the driveway, thats for damn sure.
I would kill for that COMBO. Think about it, a pair of slicks would easily get you down into the 12s. THen start modding the hell out of the thing, like we do to our beasties!!
Oh my, I think the heartbeat just skipped a beat reading about that!
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* 99.5 Black Lightning
* Personal Best ¼ Mile 13.82 @ 99.98 Mph
* Ohio Plate SVT2GO
* Sal’s Chip and Filter
* Interceptor Trans
* All three Factory options for 99
* Factory CD Changer
* Class 3 Towing Hitch
* Factory Tonneau Cover
* 8" Bazooka Tubs
* Kenwood 80 watt *2 amp
* Viper 550 Alarm w/ remote start
* 97 F-150 Extended Cab 4.2L V-6 daily driver
Injection is nice, but I'd rather be blown. 99 Lightning, the best of both worlds!
I would kill for that COMBO. Think about it, a pair of slicks would easily get you down into the 12s. THen start modding the hell out of the thing, like we do to our beasties!!
Oh my, I think the heartbeat just skipped a beat reading about that!
------------------
* 99.5 Black Lightning
* Personal Best ¼ Mile 13.82 @ 99.98 Mph
* Ohio Plate SVT2GO
* Sal’s Chip and Filter
* Interceptor Trans
* All three Factory options for 99
* Factory CD Changer
* Class 3 Towing Hitch
* Factory Tonneau Cover
* 8" Bazooka Tubs
* Kenwood 80 watt *2 amp
* Viper 550 Alarm w/ remote start
* 97 F-150 Extended Cab 4.2L V-6 daily driver
Injection is nice, but I'd rather be blown. 99 Lightning, the best of both worlds!
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From: State of Confusion
BABolt
I went looking for a 97 up GT but got a great deal on a 99 Cobra with less than 1400 miles on it so I bought it. I've got my Lightning running 13.5's so I realize a 13.4 in a Cobra body with a Lightning engine can be improved upon. I've got about $4200 in the L engine with shipping, but it is missing most of the accesory drive brackets belts, pulleys, etc. which I anticipate will cost another grand or so. I also need to come up with a intercooler radiator, pump, resevoir etc. In talking to the Ford Racing guys at WFC, they also indicated keeping half shafts in the IRS Cobra is a problem they haven't yet solved. They told me the stock Cobra T45 trans is not up to the task either. The extra weight of the L engine makes the Cobra handle badly, and that they have been working with Vortech on SC packages for the 4.6L 32 valve engine and have come up with combos yielding up to 650 HP(which are not for sale currently). I haven't decided not to do the swap yet but all the info I've gotten lately indicates putting it in this particular car may be a mistake. A friend of mine is pulling the engine out of a 91 GT and he told me I could have the chassis which is in relatively good condition. So I have some thinking to do on the subject as I collect the rest of the pieces required to make the engine complete.
Have you seen that other Cobra in your area, and have they solved their clutch problems yet? I still would like to talk to them, if you could get me a number I would really appreciate it. Gotta go.
Lightning Bob
I went looking for a 97 up GT but got a great deal on a 99 Cobra with less than 1400 miles on it so I bought it. I've got my Lightning running 13.5's so I realize a 13.4 in a Cobra body with a Lightning engine can be improved upon. I've got about $4200 in the L engine with shipping, but it is missing most of the accesory drive brackets belts, pulleys, etc. which I anticipate will cost another grand or so. I also need to come up with a intercooler radiator, pump, resevoir etc. In talking to the Ford Racing guys at WFC, they also indicated keeping half shafts in the IRS Cobra is a problem they haven't yet solved. They told me the stock Cobra T45 trans is not up to the task either. The extra weight of the L engine makes the Cobra handle badly, and that they have been working with Vortech on SC packages for the 4.6L 32 valve engine and have come up with combos yielding up to 650 HP(which are not for sale currently). I haven't decided not to do the swap yet but all the info I've gotten lately indicates putting it in this particular car may be a mistake. A friend of mine is pulling the engine out of a 91 GT and he told me I could have the chassis which is in relatively good condition. So I have some thinking to do on the subject as I collect the rest of the pieces required to make the engine complete.
Have you seen that other Cobra in your area, and have they solved their clutch problems yet? I still would like to talk to them, if you could get me a number I would really appreciate it. Gotta go.
Lightning Bob
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Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,247
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Lightning Bob
Thank you for the information. Your trans choice would have to be the T56 six speed. It is about the only one that can handle the torque. There are reworked E4OD's that can handle the torque but that would take the fun out of driving. Yes, the additional weight on the front end could affect the handling but that can be addressed with a light weight K-member, tublar A arms and coilovers. Also a light weight braking system. The other route you could go is with an SLA suspension, weight savings and great road race type handling. There are some stout rear half shafts available for the Cobra and some of the Lightning guys here have seen them. They would be up to the load. The clutch should not be an issue. Boy 'O' boy did I just spend a ton of money. Just think of the fun you could have going modular racing.
PS. With no auto trans to contend with the electronics is not as great an issue to overcome.
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BABolt
SVT#290
Thank you for the information. Your trans choice would have to be the T56 six speed. It is about the only one that can handle the torque. There are reworked E4OD's that can handle the torque but that would take the fun out of driving. Yes, the additional weight on the front end could affect the handling but that can be addressed with a light weight K-member, tublar A arms and coilovers. Also a light weight braking system. The other route you could go is with an SLA suspension, weight savings and great road race type handling. There are some stout rear half shafts available for the Cobra and some of the Lightning guys here have seen them. They would be up to the load. The clutch should not be an issue. Boy 'O' boy did I just spend a ton of money. Just think of the fun you could have going modular racing.
PS. With no auto trans to contend with the electronics is not as great an issue to overcome.
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BABolt
SVT#290