Yeah, the 03 Cobras had serious production issues are first. I belive they shut down the production line due to excessive block shift and bad bearings (as a result). There wasn't time to redesign the aluminum block to take the extra hp so they basicly adapted the Lincoln Navigator's iron bock. Heavier, but easier on the hot roders in the long run (easier to bore... the classic LT1 vs. LS1 issue we all debated in 98-01 or so until sleeving and larger block really became available).

I remember one owner I knew picked up a brand new '03 and traded it in on a Lightning within 2 months... way too many issues. Mostly little things, but the weird one I was suprised an OEM didn't address at the factory was the cruise control "surging". Apparently the car would bounce around the speed set and was REAL choppy in doing so. I have a feeling this was a boost issue, but he swore it was at almost any speed. Did a search online and found others complaining of the same issue. That alone probably cost them a few sales I'd imagine. Add in the wheel hop issues from the IRS that had problems with squat in a heavy, high-hp car... well... I'll pass.

Reminds me of the '99 Cobra delays (head pinging) and the hp recall they needed. (not to mention the sloppy shifter and gutless performance until 3500... I really didn't like that test drive)

Every once in a while Ford puts out a real screamer, but the fact is the Cobra track record over the past decade or so seems like a consistant issue with delivering the whole package.

Personally I don't care if the dials do look like cheap plastic or the outline is short and boxy... I just want solid, reliable hp and a drivetrain to handle it. (which is why my 4th gen has a 12-bolt).

 

the cranks and some of the internals were made by callies i believe in the 03-04 cobras. the cruise surge was a computer reflash that fixed that.
the cobras in the 03-04 years were nothing like the 99's. they were recalled because the power was no where near rated. most barely got 220 at the crank.. they issued new cams heads and a couple other things to fix that low power.
the 03-04 cars are a very good package and for the power there isn't a whole lot that touch them.... plus there are some serious 9-10 second irs that say bring it on.

do not kill me my blood still runs chevy orange, but that is one bad ask mustang. easy 600rwp for $3400.00

 

our bad boy 03 cobra convertible runs 10's.

the issue with 03 block wasn't so much core shift of the aluminum although that may have happened. they just couldn't get an aluminum block to live long term. the iron block had nothing to do with the navi. the navi is a 5.4 1" higher deck.

the real issue with the 03 cobra was the lack of exhaust port cooling. it was fixed for 04. all of the 99-03 can suffer port overheating. and taht stupid intake hp issues for 99. just inexcusable. no torque.

the bad boy in our club makes 520 rwhp with two of us in the back seat to stop wheel spin and a set of bad plugs.

 

I read several places that the bracing from the navigator's iron block was mimicked to help reduce the block instability (I didn't mean core shift, just the block itself "shifting" and flexing... causing cranks and bearing failure). The block was essientally changed to iron then had stiffening ribs added in the same places the truck guys had to increase stength. Time was of the essence I guess.

Can't remember if that was in Fast Fords & Mustangs, or another ford rag I was reading at the time...

 

ok i'm sorry. you are right. it's a 4.6 block strengthened like our NVH 5.4 for longevity. it can take almost unlimited HP.... that a 4.6 -5 liter can produce on race gas. a lot of guys like the one in our club have higher boost and n2o.

my NVH block is identical to the GT500 block and it's good to only a tested 1250 hp. the 03-04 cobra can go much further.