svt restoration

I'm wondering about other places for restoration parts for my 97 cobra. I've used american muscle and LMR. Its a good daily driver but I want to make it nicer. pacific green/saddle leather. Also what is the best approach to front suspension restoration and upgrading? Its not a race car but I want to be able to hold my own against current cars and I'm on a budget. Not sure where to start upgrading with so many suspension options out there. would also like to hear from other svt owners and see pics of their cars.

Welcome from another PG 97 Cobra owner. You can add NPD (National Parts Depot) to your supplier list.
Regarding suspension upgrades, there are a lot of choices as you mentioned. What I have chosen to do on my car with 78K mileage is less popular with most forum members, i.e. stay at stock ride height. So far, these things have been changed on the car:

• FLSFC welded in (Maximum Motorsports).
• Replaced the missing front strut tower bar.
• 4 point K-member brace (Maximum Motorsports).
• Fresh rubber - Continental 255/45/17 on stock wheels.
• Wheel alignment.
• JLT oil catch can
• MGW shifter
• Fluid changes (brake, tranny, power steering, coolant, oil so far). Rear end needs to be done.
• To be installed this year are a set of solid steering rack bushings (Maximum Motorsports).

Tillerman77 said:

Welcome from another PG 97 Cobra owner. You can add NPD (National Parts Depot) to your supplier list.
Regarding suspension upgrades, there are a lot of choices as you mentioned. What I have chosen to do on my car with 78K mileage is less popular with most forum members, i.e. stay at stock ride height. So far, these things have been changed on the car:

• FLSFC welded in (Maximum Motorsports).
• Replaced the missing front strut tower bar.
• 4 point K-member brace (Maximum Motorsports).
• Fresh rubber - Continental 255/45/17 on stock wheels.
• Wheel alignment.
• JLT oil catch can
• MGW shifter
• Fluid changes (brake, tranny, power steering, coolant, oil so far). Rear end needs to be done.
• To be installed this year are a set of solid steering rack bushings (Maximum Motorsports).

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Lmr customer service is second to none.

If you have the part number eBay and Amazon are good resources as well

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Wanting to keep up with current production on the street & in a budget isn’t totally aligning. I’d focus on refreshing your shocks struts springs and go straight with a s/c + tune. That’s going to give you your best happy medium.

jgt58 said:

Lmr customer service is second to none.

If you have the part number eBay and Amazon are good resources as well

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Click to expand...

there’s a lot of fakes on eBay & Amazon. It’s not worth saving a couple extra bucks go with a reliable source or right from the manufacturer.

sonicx said:

Wanting to keep up with current production on the street & in a budget isn’t totally aligning. I’d focus on refreshing your shocks struts springs and go straight with a s/c + tune. That’s going to give you your best happy medium.



there’s a lot of fakes on eBay & Amazon. It’s not worth saving a couple extra bucks go with a reliable source or right from the manufacturer.

Click to expand...

That's why I said if you have the part number it's a good resource. When Ive searched by part number I've never got a fake

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jgt58 said:

That's why I said if you have the part number it's a good resource. When Ive searched by part number I've never got a fake

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Click to expand...

you’ve had better luck than I. There’s people unfortunately out there that list a real product, correct sku but you’ll get a knock off. Even more so, you might not know you did. BMR had this happen to them where people got took from a vendor selling what they thought was BMR but they were fakes.

Restoration or resto-mod? I’ve been doing a complete bottom side restoration of one of my cars for the last 6 months+. Restoration will involve original or like-original parts to keep it as if it just left the factory. If you are looking for improvements, there are a host of aftermarket vendors with goodies for your car.

LMR, CJ Pony Parts and NPD are the main 3.

Front suspension on a budget?

Fresh front control arms/balljoints from Amazon
Steeda Sport Springs for a mild drop
Tokico Blue Shocks/Struts
Steeda Subframes
MM CC Plates
Prothane swaybar bushings/endlinks
MM Solid Steering Rack Bushings
New inner/outer tie rod ends
Prothane spring isolators

Rear:

New Axle side upper control arm bushings
New OEM upper control arms
Steeda Lower control arms
Prothane spring isolators

Bolt ons:

Good mid pipe and catback
Tune
4.10 or 4.30 gears
MGW Shifter

Don't screw with "cold air" or do anything like replace the TB or MAF or anything else that won't do anything. Obviously do a full tune up. New fuel filter, new fluids, OEM Motorcraft black plug wires (rockauto) and a set of new plugs.

Then go about paint, interior stuff etc... Me personally for looks I'd replace the rear with with a S281 wing and maybe Saleen side skirts. The 96-98 Cobras had the good front fascia, good hood and good COBRA bumper. I mean looks are subjective but less is more with these cars, don't be the dude who rices the hell out of one.

OH, headlights. Look into getting some DEPO projectors and then install 9011 and 9012 bulbs in them in place of the 9005 and 9006 bulbs. You can also swap out the small Cobra fogs for Durango or Envoy fogs which fill up the opening much better. I had Envoys in my 98 with the Cobra front and it was a perfect fit.

Pretty much all I can think of doing if you are on a tight budget. What I listed will give you a quick fun car that can handle decently and with those gears and a 4V you will be able to really accelerate quickly vs what you might expect from a 300hp car that's 25 years old. Car is never going to handle great without going to a 3 link out back or built IRS swap and completely replacing everything up front.

As others have said, NPD all day every day.