What would you do with this cobra motor?

I would not see the gains of putting the same motor back in the Mark. If a mark had a dead motor, yes. But just to swap? Would be easier swapping some cams into the Mark motor.

However, from and engine standpoint, this would be an easy swap. Its the same engine.
 
Not nearly comprable performance... They're built much better than mark viii motors. 8 bolt crank. Better cams. forged crank. Better valve train than earlier mark motors. Hmmm.. A lot better base than a mark motor.
 
Ya, better base. But if your Mark's motor is fine, why swap this in? Putting in some Cobra intake cams and Aviator exhaust cams would still result in better gains than this engine, cost was less and really be less work.
 
dunno the difference in cobras as i dont know if they follow the curve of mustangs, but isnt that a NPI since it's pre-00?
 
does kb make a bolt on supercharger for these? and how hard would it be for the transmission change?

Ya, better base. But if your Mark's motor is fine, why swap this in? Putting in some Cobra intake cams and Aviator exhaust cams would still result in better gains than this engine, cost was less and really be less work.
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really, I was looking for the answer supercharge it, so adding cobra intake cams and aviator exhaust cams will not get me close to a bolt on supercharged mark. what in your opinion would be harder, swapping to cobra motor with bolt on kb, or beefed up mark engine with a kb adapted for the smaller heads but rebuilt top end.

better engine gain than this motor? really?

being a newb I don't know too much on the topic just looking for some helpful opinions. there is such a wealth of information to search through, threads like these can be informative. thanks.

how much harder would an 03 be to adapt to the mark?
 
normohl said:
does kb make a bolt on supercharger for these? and how hard would it be for the transmission change?



really, I was looking for the answer supercharge it, so adding cobra intake cams and aviator exhaust cams will not get me close to a bolt on supercharged mark. what in your opinion would be harder, swapping to cobra motor with bolt on kb, or beefed up mark engine with a kb adapted for the smaller heads but rebuilt top end.

better engine gain than this motor? really?

being a newb I don't know too much on the topic just looking for some helpful opinions. there is such a wealth of information to search through, threads like these can be informative. thanks.

how much harder would an 03 be to adapt to the mark?
Click to expand...

Smaller heads? The engine you posted is the EXACT same as the Mark engine. Exceptions being as MarkVIII93 pointed out. But that does not result in massive gains. Sure, its hand built one by one and has some forged parts, but overall its not a monster engine compared to the Mark. Its better, thats all. Same 4.6L, just a couple different internals that make it tougher.

There are super chargers that will bolt onto the Mark engine, it all comes down to cash. When talking super chargers you will be needing headers, etc. Thats a different ball game.

I guess we need to know what you want to do. Your looking at several thousand dollars when you start talking super charged.

I have an 04 engine from an Aviator, works well. The C heads do open more options.
 
As Unity stated. you really need to establish a direction you want to go and the budget you can live with. I would not recommend buying this motor as you can rebuild yours to same specs and then some. SC units will vary in price based on what you want to accomplish.
 
Forget SC, get gears, tranny mods, DS, Fuel pump, chip, and NOX setup. That should put a good dent in your wallet.
 
3-4 thousand will not be enough to put a supercharger in a Mark, and it definitely won't last you through the toddler years as you have to fix all the issues...

That 97 motor really gains you nothing by putting it in a Mark... its a lot more expensive than a Mark motor if that makes you happy?
 
The cobra motor will actually hurt performance dumped in a stock Mark. To take advantage of that vast 10HP you will have to dump the 308 gears for 327 at least, and up your stall 700rpm then you will get equal performance.
As for the differences in engines the exhaust cams are the same the intakes have 2 deg. more duration yes a whole 2 deg. as for the valve springs they where updated for the Gen2 marks and standard on Gen1 cobras, the heads are identical, the block identical, piston and rods identical except the cobras piston are full floaters. The stock Mark VIII crank will handle a fare share of abuse, and half the gen2 marks used the steel units, just luck of the draw.
The 10HP is mostly in the intake, the cobras power band is higher.
 
Tiltedhalo said:
... as for the valve springs they where updated for the Gen2 marks and standard on Gen1 cobras...
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Just want to point out that that actually all Marks from 96 up have updated springs - the same year the Cobra came with the 4.6L. So for one year the Gen 1 had the updated beehive springs.
 
being a newb i though that had the bigger heads, anyways i knew i was dreaming with a supercharger set up, but dreaming does not get me too far.
 
Tiltedhalo said:
I always forget those 96's, half breeds, dam half breeds.........
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You have NO idea! LOL Try getting wire harnesses for anything 96!


Anyway. Like I said, dead engine and the money to buy this and it would be the ideal base to build on. But just to swap in for a good base when you existing engine could be built to be on par? Not worth it.

I had a few options with my swap. The 03/04 4.6L is what I was pushed to get and glad I did.
 
Tiltedhalo said:
The cobra motor will actually hurt performance dumped in a stock Mark. To take advantage of that vast 10HP you will have to dump the 308 gears for 327 at least, and up your stall 700rpm then you will get equal performance.
As for the differences in engines the exhaust cams are the same the intakes have 2 deg. more duration yes a whole 2 deg. as for the valve springs they where updated for the Gen2 marks and standard on Gen1 cobras, the heads are identical, the block identical, piston and rods identical except the cobras piston are full floaters. The stock Mark VIII crank will handle a fare share of abuse, and half the gen2 marks used the steel units, just luck of the draw.
The 10HP is mostly in the intake, the cobras power band is higher.
Click to expand...

+1000!

This is absolutely 100% correct.

The cobra motor was intended/designed to be in a lightweight stick shift car with 373 gears. The cam and intake strategy were optimized for this very narrow application.

The Mark 8 motor was intended/designed for a heavy weight automatic car with 308's and the cam and intake strategy were optimized for this very narrow application.

there isn't really any bang for the buck for replacing a mark 8 motor with an early cobra motor as they are nearly identical with the exception of the different cam timing, different intake and SILVER valve covers.
 
ohh but the silver value covers are ohh soo pretty. how hard would the 03 cobra motor swap be?
 
normohl said:
ohh but the silver value covers are ohh soo pretty. how hard would the 03 cobra motor swap be?
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Thought we covered that! lol

Not hard at all, relatively speaking. Same size engine. The only issues would be the main engine harness which would have to be converted to Coil On Plug (COP) ignition, unless you use the older valve covers.
 
keep in mind the 03 cobra does'nt use knock sensors either. The 03' timing cover does'nt have mounting points for the VIII coils either. Fuel system needs upgraded, cooling, suspension (due to power)


The list and cost keep going.


I'm right in the middle of it.


Mike
 
No knock? Did not know that. My 04 did, but it was from and Aviator. I did have to make an adapter harness though since the stock Mark VIII sensors mount differently.
 
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