Prepping the 98 Cobra for the Open Track!

[Venomous01]

I posted this in the SN95 Cobra section, but figured I get more track specific responses here.

So I'm prepping my 98 Cobra for the track and doing some modifications.

Here's the newly installed mod list:

• Saleen T1 Racing Wing
• Russell Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines
• Steeda Ball Joint(s)
• Steeda Bumpsteer Kit
• Brake Cooling Kit
• Torsen T2R Differential (31 spline) - I damn near love this diff in my 04
• Moser 31 spline axles
• Water Wetter/Distilled Water 50/50 mix per dtheo's recommendation

Any thoughts on what else I would need?

The car as it sits has the following:

Engine/Drivetrain:

• Brand New Motor
• K&N FIPK
• DiabloSport Predator Handheld Tune
• Flowmaster 80 series mufflers with custom side exit exhaust
• 3.73 Gears
• Ford Motorsports aluminum driveshaft
• King Cobra Clutch
• Steeda TriAx shifter
• Steeda Clutch Quadrant and Firewall Adjuster

Chassis/Suspension:

• Kenny Brown 6 point roll cage w/ padding
• Kenny Brown Strut Tower Brace
• Kenny Brown 4 point G Load Braces
• MM Panhard Bar setup
• Kenny Brown Panhard Bar setup w/ custom (longer) torque arm bar - NEED TO INSTALL
• Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber plates
• Maximum Motorsports Full Length Subframe Connectors
• BBK Upper Control Arms
• Muscle Motors Adjustable Coilovers (Front and Rear)
• Urethane swaybar/Steering Rack Bushings

Brakes:

• Brembo Cross-drilled Rotors (Front and Rear)
• Hawk HPS pads

Misc::thumbsup:

• Water Temp Speedhut Gauge w/ custom crossover tube sensor fitting
• Oil Temp Speedhut Gauge
• Autometer Dual Pod
• Billet Fuel Door
• Black 18 inch Saleens w/ KDW2's (Front: 18x9 265's and Rear: 18x10 295's)
• Clear Corners w/ amber bulbs
• Stainless Steel Cobra Letters
• Carbon fiber door panel/center console overlays
• 8 inch Shorty Antenna
• Cobra front grill Emblem
• Tint

Extra parts I have if needed:

• Centerforce Clutch
• Aluminum '03 Cobra Flywheel
• Extra T45 Tranny with 30k on it - perfect condition

 

[racebronco2]

I don't see what tires you are running but you will not need "r" tires until you get more seat time. Also you will need to get high temp brake fluid.

 

[Venomous01]

I don't see what tires you are running but you will not need "r" tires until you get more seat time. Also you will need to get high temp brake fluid.

Carlos I'm just running the same tires I ran on the 04.

Fronts: BFG KDWs - 265s on 18x9
Rears: BFG KDWs - 295s on 18x10

I'm planning on running valvoline full synthetic brake fluid (Same as I run in the 04).

 

[wheelhopper]

My last HPDE event I rode in my instructors car. It was a '01 Bullit Mustang. Completely stock, everywhere, except, HPplus pads and Nitto racing tires. I can tell you that you don't need all that stuff you listed. Even if it is nice to have. I don't know your experience level, but from my experience, seat time is your best mod.

 

[Venomous01]

My last HPDE event I rode in my instructors car. It was a '01 Bullit Mustang. Completely stock, everywhere, except, HPplus pads and Nitto racing tires. I can tell you that you don't need all that stuff you listed. Even if it is nice to have. I don't know your experience level, but from my experience, seat time is your best mod.

I agree nothing is better then seat time, but the mods the car has DEFINITELY increase the handling aspects of the car ten fold.

Take that same driver and put him in a his car with mods that increase the handling characteristics of the car and alleviate the negatives well I'm sure he would run the course even better.

My 98 responds better then my 01. My main focuses on the car are braking, traction, handling and chassis. The car has all the power mods I need and is fast enough. Lightening the car up would be the next order of business.

Of course you can take a stock car to the course and do fine, but as you learn you'll feel the characteristics of the car that need improvement. I'm asking a little more from the 98 then the stock form will give me. Where I'm at as far as suspension I'm more then happy. I have heard great things about the steeda ball joints and may try them out.

Modding is something that's fun as well. I like to distance myself from the norm and be different. I like to take something mod it and see what I pieced together perform at the track. I'm very in tune with the car and by far the mods it currently has have improved the cars responsiveness and handling a great deal.

On top of that I'm an overly cautious person at times who likes to think things through and prep a car completely so I know that when I plan to beat a car I did everything I wanted and covered most if not all bases before I rolled out on the track.
:beer:

 

[ac427cobra]

.Brakes:

Brembo Cross-drilled Rotors (Front and Rear)

I'm not too crazy about that! Get yourself some solid or slotted rotors instead of them damn drilled rotors! :nono:

:thumbsup: :coolman: :beer:

 

[Venomous01]

I'm not too crazy about that! Get yourself some solid or slotted rotors instead of them damn drilled rotors! :nono:

:thumbsup: :coolman: :beer:

Yeah I was discussing this with Dave (dtheo) and I think those will be changed out some time in the very near future.

:beer:

 

[sleepless]

bigger and baffled oil pan

 

[Venomous01]

bigger and baffled oil pan

Brand preference? Canton road race oil pan?

 

[brkntrxn]

I like my Canton, but I am not an expert.

 

[ac427cobra]

Yeah I was discussing this with Dave (dtheo) and I think those will be changed out some time in the very near future.

:beer:

You might be able to get away with them on the rear depending on how hard you're going to be pushing the car. But I sure would not run them on the front!

FWIW

 

[Venomous01]

Any thoughts on the steeda x2 ball joints? I'm thinking about picking those up as well.

So far this is what I'm thinking:
1. Canton road race oil pan with baffle.
2. Solid rotors - shortly
3. Rear end diff cover (ford aluminum, trickflow or TA?)
4. Cowl/Saleen Hybrid hood with a 2 3/4 cowl hood.

I think other then that I'm looking good. Some of this stuff is for looks and isn't terribly necessary, but will add to a nice look. Can't wait to get the saleen T1 wing some time this month.

Then lots of seat time seat time seat time!

 

[ac427cobra]

Any thoughts on the steeda x2 ball joints? I'm thinking about picking those up as well.

So far this is what I'm thinking:
1. Canton road race oil pan with baffle.
2. Solid rotors - shortly
3. Rear end diff cover (ford aluminum, trickflow or TA?)
4. Cowl/Saleen Hybrid hood with a 2 3/4 cowl hood.

I think other then that I'm looking good. Some of this stuff is for looks and isn't terribly necessary, but will add to a nice look. Can't wait to get the saleen T1 wing some time this month.

Then lots of seat time seat time seat time!

IMHO you should do it in this order:

1) seat time seat time seat time

2) everything else

(of course the basics, braided front lines, front brake cooling)

Food for thought. :thumbsup:

 

[Venomous01]

Ok here we go:
I'm looking to order:

1979-1998 Mustang Heavy-Duty Rear Lower Control Arms w/ Polyurethane Bushings - $189.99

Thoughts?

 

[Venomous01]

IMHO you should do it in this order:

1) seat time seat time seat time

2) everything else

(of course the basics, braided front lines, front brake cooling)

Food for thought. :thumbsup:

That's logic talking! :smmon:

can't you tell I'm a bit far from logical at times.:whine: :kaboom:

 

[sleepless]

Brand preference? Canton road race oil pan?

Canton is what I use :rockon:

 

[racebronco2]

You should also run a windage tray, and have your oil level a little above halfways on the dipstick. Our engine use alot of oil on the top half of the engine.

 

[Venomous01]

You should also run a windage tray, and have your oil level a little above halfways on the dipstick. Our engine use alot of oil on the top half of the engine.

Carlos, I'm curious do you run a canton?:shrug:

 

[sleepless]

You should also run a windage tray, and have your oil level a little above halfways on the dipstick. Our engine use alot of oil on the top half of the engine.

Ditto on the windage track; forgot to include that in the oil pan recommendation. After watching a friend toast his '99 engine from oil starvation at the track, the Canton pan and windage tray were the first things I ordered when I got my Cobra!

 

[99COBRA2881]

David,
It's your car so take my recommendations with that in mind. Looks don't mean crap on track. You and I both have our good looking cars at home in the garage, this one is the track whore, plain and simple. Eliminate anything on the '98 that doesnt make the car go faster, handle better or brake harder. I deleted and added a few things from the list, like I said its your car but remember this is supposed to be a "track car" :beer:

Here's the planned list:

• Saleen T1 Racing Wing
• Russell Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines - ORDERED
• Steeda Ball Joint(s)
• Brake Cooling Kit - NEED TO INSTALL
• Torsen T2R Differential (31 spline) - I damn near love this diff in my 04 - ORDERED
• Moser 31 spline axles - ORDERED
• Water Wetter/Distilled Water 50/50 mix per dtheo's recommendation

Any thoughts on what else I would need?

The car as it sits has the following:

Engine/Drivetrain:

• Brand New Motor Protect it with an Accusump
• K&N FIPK
• DiabloSport Predator Handheld Tune
• Flowmaster 80 series mufflers with custom side exit exhaust
• 3.73 Gears
• Ford Motorsports aluminum driveshaft
• King Cobra Clutch
• Steeda TriAx shifter
• Steeda Clutch Quadrant and Firewall Adjuster

Chassis/Suspension:

• Kenny Brown 6 point roll cage w/ padding
• Kenny Brown Strut Tower Brace
• Kenny Brown 4 point G Load Braces
• Kenny Brown Panhard Bar setup w/ custom (longer) torque arm bar - NEED TO INSTALL
• Maximum Motorsports Caster Camber plates
• Maximum Motorsports Full Length Subframe Connectors
• BBK Upper Control Arms
• Muscle Motors Adjustable Coilovers (Front and Rear)
• Urethane swaybar/Steering Rack Bushings

Brakes:

• Brembo Rotors (Front and Rear)
• Hawk HPS pads

Misc::thumbsup:

• Water Temp Speedhut Gauge w/ custom crossover tube sensor fitting
• Oil Temp Speedhut Gauge
• Autometer Dual Pod
• Black 18 inch Saleens w/ KDW2's (Front: 18x9 265's and Rear: 18x10 295's)
  
  Extra parts I have if needed:
  • Centerforce Clutch
  • Aluminum '03 Cobra Flywheel
  • Extra T45 Tranny with 30k on it - perfect condition

• 
  
  There that looks better!!
  
  Anthony