This is topic My 03 Cobra..and dyno numbers... in forum General Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
Some of you may know the history of my 03 DSG Cobra, some may not. Car was stolen in Jan 04, less than 5800 miles on it, and was left in the hills above Sacramento. Fast-forward to late 2007; car is found, comes up for sale here on CAFords. To call it a basket-case is being nice. For all purposes, the car should have been parted out. On a spur of the moment decision, I picked it up with the hopes of finally having a 03-04 Cobra. Here's what I came home with...


And no, the headlights, wheels, and hood were NOT on the car when I bought it. All were put on so it could actually come home...my neighbors would have killed otherwise.

After a year, numerous nights on CAFords, EBay, and other internet classifieds, I ended up with this...


I think it turned out ok, even if I do hate the color.

Now, to the numbers...

Shaun at AED made time for me yesterday afternoon and took care of the final tune for the car. What it's got: stock everything (MAF, TB, inj's, fuel pumps), rebuilt longblock (rings gapped for optimal boost, port-matched heads, studded bottom end and cyl heads), stock rotating assembly. Stock mainfolds and stock cats. Stock trans and stock clutch.
Oh ya, and a Whipple 2.3

So what did it make? 553hp/501tq on 91 pump gas on only 13 psi

To say I'm happy is a understatement.
I'll post up the graph this afternoon...I can't figure out the scanner. lol
 

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Posted by BlowN67 (Member # 4229) on :
 
i rememeber when that car came up. you did a wonderful job giving that car a re birth. Didnt it need a back window too.

great job on the numbers too. looks stock an can kill with a flip of the throttle i like it..
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by BlowN67:
i rememeber when that car came up. you did a wonderful job giving that car a re birth. Didnt it need a back window too.

great job on the numbers too. looks stock an can kill with a flip of the throttle i like it..

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Back window, all engine bay and PCM wiring, all connectors for both front and rear lights, emblems, complete front bumper with foglamps, headlights/tail lights, all AC components...the list goes on and on...it all had to be replaced.
 

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Posted by EXcobra/LS1NOW (Member # 8408) on :
 
WOW Thats a hell of a story!! Hold on to that car!
 

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Posted by asskickn88 (Member # 4957) on :
 
That's and amazing transformation! I remember the car coming up on the board but didn't know who got it. I couldn't believe they cut up the seats like that, its sad to see the carnage they caused but if it didn't get stolen then you wouldn't have ended up with it anyway.
 

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Posted by Luke87GT (Member # 21) on :
 
Very cool story John!
 

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Posted by East Bay 50 (Member # 8081) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
Some of you may know the history of my 03 DSG Cobra, some may not. Car was stolen in Jan 04, less than 5800 miles on it, and was left in the hills above Sacramento. Fast-forward to late 2007; car is found, comes up for sale here on CAFords. To call it a basket-case is being nice. For all purposes, the car should have been parted out. On a spur of the moment decision, I picked it up with the hopes of finally having a 03-04 Cobra. Here's what I came home with...


And no, the headlights, wheels, and hood were NOT on the car when I bought it. All were put on so it could actually come home...my neighbors would have killed otherwise.

After a year, numerous nights on CAFords, EBay, and other internet classifieds, I ended up with this...


I think it turned out ok, even if I do hate the color.

Now, to the numbers...

Shaun at AED made time for me yesterday afternoon and took care of the final tune for the car. What it's got: stock everything (MAF, TB, inj's, fuel pumps), rebuilt longblock (rings gapped for optimal boost, port-matched heads, studded bottom end and cyl heads), stock rotating assembly. Stock mainfolds and stock cats. Stock trans and stock clutch.
Oh ya, and a Whipple 2.3

So what did it make? 553hp/501tq on 91 pump gas on only 13 psi

To say I'm happy is a understatement.
I'll post up the graph this afternoon...I can't figure out the scanner. lol

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You did a good job bringing that car back John, Congrats!
 

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Posted by 9cobrasnake9 (Member # 575) on :
 
Thats pretty awesome man. Nice Job!!
 

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Posted by EPIK (Member # 7481) on :
 
Great job brining that thing back from the dead John, & Congrats on its new found glory...
 

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Posted by 89bluenotch (Member # 7454) on :
 
good numbers and the car looks great....even with that color
 

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Posted by stanger50 (Member # 1665) on :
 
wow. you would have never notice it being fucked up the way it was. good shit man. we got a cobra lover for life guys.

ps. i hate the color too
 

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Posted by EXcobra/LS1NOW (Member # 8408) on :
 
I think the color is badd ass though.
 

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Posted by stangin' (Member # 514) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by EXcobra/LS1NOW:
I think the color is badd ass though.

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x2, i love that color. great job and nice numbers:patriot:.
 

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Posted by 306Coupe (Member # 4988) on :
 
Good stuff John, I;m glad to see it u;p and running, and running it is.
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
Thanks fellas!

I was glad I could save the car as well as have a decent ride in the process. The story on this thing is crazy; bears in the car (torn seats), rats nesting in it (two were in it when I bought it!), to birds nests and over 50lbs of acorn and walnut shells throughout the car when I started. Spent alot of time pressurewashing it to remove caked-on mud and dirt.

I'm going to present this to a few magazines to see if they'll run a story. Coupled with my 93, I think I've got a good chance.
 

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Posted by EPIK (Member # 7481) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
Thanks fellas!

I was glad I could save the car as well as have a decent ride in the process. The story on this thing is crazy; bears in the car (torn seats), rats nesting in it (two were in it when I bought it!), to birds nests and over 50lbs of acorn and walnut shells throughout the car when I started. Spent alot of time pressurewashing it to remove caked-on mud and dirt.

I'm going to present this to a few magazines to see if they'll run a story. Coupled with my 93, I think I've got a good chance.

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Bears were in the car???? How did this happen?
 

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Posted by season'd 88 (Member # 169) on :
 
Tenacity..JohnB style!!
 

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Posted by asskickn88 (Member # 4957) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
Thanks fellas!

I was glad I could save the car as well as have a decent ride in the process. The story on this thing is crazy; bears in the car (torn seats), rats nesting in it (two were in it when I bought it!), to birds nests and over 50lbs of acorn and walnut shells throughout the car when I started. Spent alot of time pressurewashing it to remove caked-on mud and dirt.

I'm going to present this to a few magazines to see if they'll run a story. Coupled with my 93, I think I've got a good chance.

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quote:

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Originally posted by 50 Deep:
Niiice

How much money & man hours do you have into it bringing it back 2 life?

Wondering if going the route u did was cheaper than having bought one

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I stopped counting the labor hours after 100. It was depressing. Cost? Less than 9k, Whipple included.
 

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Posted by JohnCM (Member # 1076) on :
 
I like that color man, looks pimp.
 

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Posted by MikeD. (Member # 8060) on :
 
Seen this car in person today and you would think he bought it brand new, car looks awesome inside and out! Great job man!
 

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Posted by 50 Deep (Member # 6216) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:

quote:

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Originally posted by 50 Deep:
Niiice

How much money & man hours do you have into it bringing it back 2 life?

Wondering if going the route u did was cheaper than having bought one

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I stopped counting the labor hours after 100. It was depressing. Cost? Less than 9k, Whipple included.

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Diznam. That's what I call a budget build
 

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Posted by fstryde3 (Member # 8436) on :
 
That is a great job man car looks sweet and all under 9K thank god for ebay.
 

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Posted by SSSSIKH (Member # 8397) on :
 
congrats on the number john! and good seeing ya yesterday!!

in pictures and in person, as a cobra/mustang enthusiast you would never imagine what the car has gone through!

props to you john!
 

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Posted by FoX GT (Member # 4587) on :
 
Remember, the motor was thought to be good for just scrap! John brough it back to life with just a little of massaging. Here are pics from when I bought it.







It sat in the woods like this for 2 years. No hood, no intake, no valve covers. John just polished it up and got it fired back up.





It's come a long way!

[ March 22, 2009, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: FoX GT ]
 

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Posted by Als50 (Member # 6003) on :
 
great job!
 

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Posted by slow96cobra (Member # 6001) on :
 
x1,000
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by fstryde3:
Thank god for ebay.

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You ain't kiddin'. Alot of the switches and a few trim parts came from Ebay. There are a few folks I'd like to thank, as it wouldn't have been possible without them:

Fox GT (for the car!)
Beasty5.0 (lookin' out for me on numerous websites for parts I needed!)
AED in Cameron Park(helped out with stock engine parts and accessories as well as the killer tune!)
Venomousnotch (hookin' me up with the Whipple, IRS brace)
Jesse (don't remember his post name ) hooked me up with TONS of his stock SC stuff!

And of course, Craigslist...what would we do without it? lol
 

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Posted by 94gt (Member # 3060) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:
Jesse (don't remember his post name ) hooked me up with TONS of his stock SC stuff!

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Hater.
Glad to see you got the Whipple on!
 

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Posted by JohnB (Member # 969) on :
 
How the heck did I forget the GT? Daaaamn, I'm gettin' old. lol
 

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Posted by slowback67 (Member # 6348) on :
 
You did a god damn good job bringing that car back to life
 

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Posted by 427 StRoKeR 94 GT (Member # 8722) on :
 

 

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Posted by gnatsum05 (Member # 3293) on :
 
Wow! Nice... Great job... Nice color... What is the color that you wanted? "Sonic Blue"... Awesome RWHP & Tq #'s... With 13PSI on Pump gas... Those Whipples are Lightning in a bottle... I can see you have an eye for details... Two Excellent Cobra's! Brother...

John, can I ask you... I have a 03 Cobra with 28,000 miles should I do the Head Cooling Mod... Which one did you go with... Have you changed anything about the crappy IRS... Wheel-hop? What shifter are you using? Right now mine has the Steeda Tri-Ax... I think it's MGW time! The clutch pedal in these cars are way too high... I need to adjust it lower... The seat rails are way to high... I guess I'll be looking for some 99-04 V6 seat brackets... What type of tranny fluid are you using? I can think of alot of other things but I think I'm already asking you alot...

These 03-04 Cobra's from the factory really need some tinkering with to make them as good as a Vette... Thanks a million... Tom

Opps! Sorry John... Maybe should have asked those questions in the Tech Area... I just got carried away...

[ March 24, 2009, 02:33 AM: Message edited by: gnatsum05 ]
 

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Posted by 03SVTPower (Member # 518) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by gnatsum05:
Wow! Nice... Great job... Nice color... What is the color that you wanted? "Sonic Blue"... Awesome RWHP & Tq #'s... With 13PSI on Pump gas... Those Whipples are Lightning in a bottle... I can see you have an eye for details... Two Excellent Cobra's! Brother...

John, can I ask you... I have a 03 Cobra with 28,000 miles should I do the Head Cooling Mod... Which one did you go with... Have you changed anything about the crappy IRS... Wheel-hop? What shifter are you using? Right now mine has the Steeda Tri-Ax... I think it's MGW time! The clutch pedal in these cars are way too high... I need to adjust it lower... The seat rails are way to high... I guess I'll be looking for some 99-04 V6 seat brackets... What type of tranny fluid are you using? I can think of alot of other things but I think I'm already asking you alot...

These 03-04 Cobra's from the factory really need some tinkering with to make them as good as a Vette... Thanks a million... Tom

Opps! Sorry John... Maybe should have asked those questions in the Tech Area... I just got carried away...

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quote:

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Originally posted by JohnB:

quote:

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Originally posted by fstryde3:
Thank god for ebay.

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You ain't kiddin'. Alot of the switches and a few trim parts came from Ebay. There are a few folks I'd like to thank, as it wouldn't have been possible without them:

Fox GT (for the car!)
Beasty5.0 (lookin' out for me on numerous websites for parts I needed!)
AED in Cameron Park(helped out with stock engine parts and accessories as well as the killer tune!)
Venomousnotch (hookin' me up with the Whipple, IRS brace)
Jesse (don't remember his post name ) hooked me up with TONS of his stock SC stuff!

And of course, Craigslist...what would we do without it? lol

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Glad to see that you're car is running great john.Those are some good numbers.I'm glad that I helped as much as I could.Thanx again john and keep the car the same color it looks bad ass.....

 

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