cobra vs. mach 1
#31
10-10-2006, 05:49 AM
Found this too..
The 2003 Mach 1 makes up for cubic inches with multivalve technology. It uses the 2001 SVT Mustang Cobra's 32-valve, 281-cu.-in. (4.6-liter) V-8. But if you look at the Mach 1's numbers — 305 bhp at 5800 rpm and 320 lb.-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm — you're bound to ask a big "what's up?" For the horsepower number is down from the Cobra's 320.
The reason is that Ford changed several engine pieces to give the Mach 1 better torque at lower engine speeds, at the sacrifice of peak horsepower. The biggest change is to the higher-flow cylinder heads, which were fitted with intake cams from Ford's 5.4-liter V-8. Different exhaust cams were also added along with a new set of exhaust manifolds matched to the cylinder heads.
So while the horsepower number may not look as good as the Cobra's, the Mach 1 has gained 3 lb.-ft. of torque that peaks at a much lower 4000 rpm compared with 4750 for the 2001 Cobra. In other words, Ford has just improved your chances at the highly coveted stoplight drag wars.
The 2003 Mach 1 makes up for cubic inches with multivalve technology. It uses the 2001 SVT Mustang Cobra's 32-valve, 281-cu.-in. (4.6-liter) V-8. But if you look at the Mach 1's numbers — 305 bhp at 5800 rpm and 320 lb.-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm — you're bound to ask a big "what's up?" For the horsepower number is down from the Cobra's 320.
The reason is that Ford changed several engine pieces to give the Mach 1 better torque at lower engine speeds, at the sacrifice of peak horsepower. The biggest change is to the higher-flow cylinder heads, which were fitted with intake cams from Ford's 5.4-liter V-8. Different exhaust cams were also added along with a new set of exhaust manifolds matched to the cylinder heads.
So while the horsepower number may not look as good as the Cobra's, the Mach 1 has gained 3 lb.-ft. of torque that peaks at a much lower 4000 rpm compared with 4750 for the 2001 Cobra. In other words, Ford has just improved your chances at the highly coveted stoplight drag wars.
Cant go wrong w/ an 01 Snake. 03/04 Interior with better HP than the Mach, and the IRS is like budda, very smooth.
Just firm up the IRS a lil bit and its worth every penny.
#32
10-10-2006, 09:42 AM
Cobra guy will of course say the cobra's a better car and mach guy will say the mach is a better car....the debate will never end, but I know which car I'd take and it doesn't have snake badges.
#33
10-10-2006, 12:50 PM
and the debate continues....with equal drivers and stock for stock the mach will win a 1/4 drag race due to the better low end power, 3:55 gears, and live axle. The 01 Cobra has an edge in the top end.......but all of it's close enough to be called a drivers race. Add a few mods and 4:10's to both cars and things could get really interesting, but the 1/4 mile probably would still go to the mach.
Cobra guy will of course say the cobra's a better car and mach guy will say the mach is a better car....the debate will never end, but I know which car I'd take and it doesn't have snake badges.
Cobra guy will of course say the cobra's a better car and mach guy will say the mach is a better car....the debate will never end, but I know which car I'd take and it doesn't have snake badges.
I'll have to dig the article up.
#34
10-10-2006, 01:11 PM
ha ha ha ha...ok. COBRA'S CAN NEVA LOSE....just ask a cobra owner...sorry had to get that in there.
#36
10-10-2006, 01:39 PM
Honestly, all kidding aside. You can't go wrong with either car. If you can find an 01 cobra that is in good shape without a ton of miles then by all means go for it and you won't be dissapointed.....Mach's are newer so it might be easier to find something with lower miles. Really, you can't go wrong with either car and if one was hands down better than the other then we wouldn't be having this debate (well, cobra owner might think differently). It really comes down to what you like.
#37
10-10-2006, 02:05 PM
Originally Posted by gtmustang04
what's rickety about the IRS and junk
The IRS was built on rubber mounts that isolate noise and vibration pretty well but they allow rapid coupling and decoupling of the ring and pinion which have to be set up with bigger tolerances than their solid axle brethren so they don't burn up or make even more noise. The term cobra clunk comes from this lousy way of putting IRS together. Wheel hop is native to the mustang IRS and is the number 1 destroyer of them, that sucks. Yes you can tune much of the wheel hop out but not all of it and certainly not if you get the car on a prepared track and try to launch.
Aside from the durability issues, it handles ok but not beyond the limits of what a well put together live axle can do. I used to be a IRS believer and I've swapped 2 of them into formerly live axle stangs of mine, then I got my MM Max Grip kit and I tell you what, the live axle is so much easier to drive fast. It's way more predictable and easier to tune.
Unless you make the IRS so unfriendly to actually have on your car that you come to hate it with passion you can't make it grip, or handle or hold together well enough to justify the added 90lbs and smoother ride.
What I will give the IRS was that it was VERY comfortable to drive upside a similar handling live axle.
#38
10-10-2006, 04:04 PM
geez. its such a hard decision...both vehicles have their ups and downs. how hard would it be to turn the mach into a 12 sec. car? cuz i wanna be able to drive it on the weekends and maybe do some track time during the summer. Also, how will the Venom Kit mustang tuning sells fare on either engine? will it hurt it at all? anothe question is...if i were to buy the mach, what exhaust kit would i buy for it? the GT kit?
#39
10-10-2006, 04:11 PM
geez. its such a hard decision...both vehicles have their ups and downs. how hard would it be to turn the mach into a 12 sec. car? cuz i wanna be able to drive it on the weekends and maybe do some track time during the summer. Also, how will the Venom Kit mustang tuning sells fare on either engine? will it hurt it at all? anothe question is...if i were to buy the mach, what exhaust kit would i buy for it? the GT kit?
if ya wanted to go really fast get a shot of nitrous... the mach block and its forged internals can take that... and with 32Vs it goes even further...
#42
10-10-2006, 05:52 PM
only problem is im not buying the mustang soon....probably not until the summer. im just trying to get as much info as possible so i know exactly what i want when the time comes
#43
10-12-2006, 09:54 AM
geez. its such a hard decision...both vehicles have their ups and downs. how hard would it be to turn the mach into a 12 sec. car? cuz i wanna be able to drive it on the weekends and maybe do some track time during the summer. Also, how will the Venom Kit mustang tuning sells fare on either engine? will it hurt it at all? anothe question is...if i were to buy the mach, what exhaust kit would i buy for it? the GT kit?
As for exhaust and mid pipe....you get the GT kit. The cobra has different exhaust cause of it's IRS. The mach has a live axle like GT's so it works perfectly.
#44
10-14-2006, 03:33 PM
Get the Mach, they're a really fun car to drive. They just feel lighter than the 03-04 cobras, even if they're not as fast. And you really can't beat the styling. And jjtgiants right, we need more Mach's on the site!
#46
10-14-2006, 04:15 PM
lol well thats an easy fix.....just buy some eagle rods and JE pistons and ur set!
#47
10-14-2006, 04:21 PM
Yeah, I know. I was just posting to inform all the guys who had a misconception about a mach having forged internals.
#48
10-14-2006, 09:18 PM
it all good dude....im just hoping that when im ready to buy ill be able to find a mach for sale
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
customstang
General Tech Forum
8
04-17-2006 02:52 PM
01, 101, blower, cobra, compression, cylinder, difference, differences, engine, head, mach, mach1, mustang, vs, wing
