Hey there, New to the community and am already addicted!
I finally bought my 97 cobra, two months ago.. looking to do some minor mods on my DD. Have about $400/month for mods.. So far CAI and flowmasters. projector lights, Light Bar. Synthetic oil. What should my next step be for a little more power...? Thinking about SCT X3...any advice for this long journey!

 

Wait until you have more mods to get an Xcal. How about an o/r h pipe and a shifter. That will free up some power and make your gear changes alot firmer and quicker. After that a 4.10 gear + Xcal 3. I would do the shifter now, then save up those $400/month for 4 months and get the o/r h pipe, 4.10 gear and bearing/install kit, and Xcal 3 all together. With the Xcal you'll be able to get a mail order tune for your mods, and you'll also be able to shut off your check engine light from the o/r pipe, and recalibrate your speedo from the 4.10's.

 

so just shifter for now...how easy is that install for a semi beginner? any certain...steeda? With the X3 can I expect about 15 or so...also how will the 4.10's handle the daily drive?

 

Install is very simple. Unscrew shift ****, pull up on platic panel around shifter until it pops off, unsrew 4 bolts holding metal covering/inner shifter boot, unscrew 4 bolts holding shifter. It will probably take you 1 hr to do. Once you see how simple it is, next time you'll be able to do it in half that time. MGW is the best shifter. http://www.mgwltd.com/mustang_shifter.shtml

How fast do you drive on average, and for what distance? This will determine if the 4.10's will suit you. If you do alot of driving above 70mph for long distances, then the 4.10's might eat up your gas a bit. If you do more of street/city driving then 4.10's will be fine. 15rwhp from a mail order tune on the X3 is stretching it a little. I wouldn't expect any more than 10rwhp.

 

I agree with the shifter being the first thing. You don't realize how sloppy the stock shifter is until you get an aftermarket one. It'll bring tears of joy to your eyes the first time you row through the gears.

 

I third the shifter!

Get the shifter.

Also the intake and IMRC control plates could use an internal cleaning. Taking the intake off will show how the gas only flows through one intake port in the heads. The port that see's no fuel will be gummed up, killing performance. While you have the intake off, notice the runners inside the intake may have some casting flash.
Remove that flashing as it causes dead spots for the incoming air. The upper intake that bolts to the lower, sits very close to this flashing. It's also good to polish the inside of the upper.
This is the cheapest upgrade I know, gains in the 25hp range. Completly porting the intake has shown close to 50hp at 8000rpm's.

 

Ok..thanks for the advice, I've got the shifter you suggested on the way. the county I live in also has no smog rugulations, so I am thinking of a good setup for the exhaust next...any more advice,? or should I go with a different upgrade. appreciate the help!

 

are you thinking about doing headers or just a midpipe? If you will be doing headers, get longtubes and a shorty h/x pipe to go with them. If you just want an h/x pipe for sound and a little bit of a gain, get an off-road one. Look at Mac for a low cost/decent quality pipe. After the headers or o/r pipe you'll need the X3. The headers will require a tune, and the o/r pipe will tirgger your check engine light so you'll be able to turn if off with the X3, or you could just by MIL eliminators if you don't have the money for an X3 at the time.

 

yay fo tax returns....so, before I place this next order, what do you think. I am going to install the shifter tomarrow. then I am going to order longtubes...what do you recommend..for long tube, and h pipe combo...let me get this right, with this setup I will keep the cats right??? o/r pkg then???( long tubes + short h pipe + X3) Keep the flowmasters, and order the X3 with the exhaust...and also, with the x3, do you plug and play, or pull off the kick panel and do it that way? sorry thats a lot, but I really appreciate the help! thanx

 

With longtubes you can go with cats or without. The cats are always on the midpipe. So it is up to you if you want an o/r or catted mid pipe. I would recommend BBK (ceramic coated) for the longtubes/midpipe combo. For the price they are good quality. If you want something that is stainless steel you are going to have to pay upwards of $800 just for the headers. The X3 is plug and play.

 

I put that MGW in, and holy sh*&!!! That was a huge difference. Thanks for the advice. Do you think a mid pipe w/o cats will be toooo much? or since I'm getting the x3 anyway, go for it? w/o cats, you can't expect noticeable HP...? the longtubes with flowmasters w/cats should still make a mean sound? or will I regret it later?

 

go to streetfire.net and mustangexhaust.com and listen to different setups. Longtubes + catted or o/r midpipe + flowmasters will sound sick either way. Just depends on how loud you want it. If you drive for long distances at highway speeds, then the o/r pipe might get to you after a while, but it does sound badass. My car is pretty loud will longtubes, catted x pipe, and flowmasters. I know it would sound even meaner without cats, but i didn't want to be that loud becuase I have emissions, I didn't want to attract too much attention (cops), and was concerned about my hearing a bit also. If you don't have emissions, and do fairly short daily trips with the occasional longer trip, then definitely go off road. If this wasn't my daily, then I would have definitely went o/r all the way. The horsepower difference between an aftermarket catted and o/r pipe is very minimal. At most 2- 3 rwhp. A guy with the same mods as me, and an o/r pipe, dynoed 267 rwhp compared to my 266 rwhp.

 

do they have shifter for the older cars?

 

if you dont have to go through emi. i would go with out the cats

 

Depends how old. As far as I know, they only make it for the TREMEC trans (T5, T45, T56, TR3650, and TKO/3550).

 

So I finally got my package on the door step!!! I went with the BBK setup, I heard the most positive feedback from that set up. LT w/h o/r! So it should sound pretty mean. Oh and the X3. Once again thanks for the help. what kindof HP can I expect now...CAI, LT o/r Exhaust, 93 tune????

 

hey "blownstang"...I know with the X3 I can clear the code for the o/r Pipe, but do I need to order MIL's? what is the correct way to handle my lack of cats to keep the car running right?

 

no need for mils, the X3 will take care of the code for you. the car will run fine without cats.

 

[QUOTE=mz44mgm;311774]So I finally got my package on the door step!!! I went with the BBK setup, I heard the most positive feedback from that set up. LT w/h o/r! So it should sound pretty mean. Oh and the X3. Once again thanks for the help. what kindof HP can I expect now...CAI, LT o/r Exhaust, 93 tune????[/QUOTE

try and get the car dyno tuned. the 93 tune on the Xcal will be ok, but a custom dyno tune will yield better results. I'm guessing you will be making around 335hp/335tq at the motor, so like 285-290rwhp/285-290rwtq. Your numbers may be higher. I only have experience with how 2v's respond to mods. For your next mods look into frame connectors, control arms, and a 4.10/4.30 gear. The car will be a blast to drive, and with traction should run in the high 12's.

 

hey, Have you heard about using CNC...for cleaning the MAF..? have you done this, what would you recommend.

 

Oh and I will be getting a new camera sometime soon, ( for the girlfriend) I'm really getting it so I can document these upgrades, anyway I will be sure to upload the video for the sound....I am going to start this weekend. Thanks again

 

Do you mean CRC? CRC makes an Electric Parts Cleaner spray that people use to spray the MAF wires and then let them dry. I've never done this. Now that you mentioned it, I may try it after I clean and re-oil my filter in a few months.

 

what are the differences in function ..power..sound between the xpipe and the hpipe!

 

x pipe is supposed to produce more hp, while the h pipe more torque, but the difference is very minimal about 1-2hp/torque. H pipe has more of a deep muscle car sound, while an X pipe is less deep, a bit raspy, and higher pitched.

 

What about the next mod being a TB??? is it worth it?...I am trying to find a Dyno within 150 miles or so, it might not be easy! Anbd yea..CRC...good stuff couple hundred miles after a filter recharge!

 

i don't think it is worth it on a cobra with only a cai. If you had cams or a supercharger then yes, but $350 can be spent else where. You're not going to feel the <5hp difference. If you plan on adding a supercharger or cams in the future then go for it. It's the same deal with underdrive pulleys. If you really want to squeeze that extra 5hp out, then spend the $200 on the pulleys (but you will have to switch back to stock if you plan on using a supercharger in the future). Do the 4.10 gear, it will feel like 40 hp. You should be able to get the gears, install kit, oil, and have them put in for $600.

 

How about this place: Idaho Speed Center. It's 150mi from you.
http://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/...Corvette/65617

 

http://www.dynojet.com/dyno_centers/...utomotive.aspx