Yea, I really miss the good ole days when engines were measured in cubic inches. The weirdest thing I ever saw was a 60's Galaxie, I think, that had a '7.0 Litre' badge on it.

 

Big head applies better. The overhead cams on the 4.6 make it nearly as wide as a 460. The 4.6 was an enemic engine at best until about 2000 or so, hardly any better then the 30+ year old design it replaced.

The LT1 engine was rated about 275Hp and 325 torque and the LS1 was rated about 320 HP & 335 torque. The 4.6 in the Mustang was orginally rated at 215 HP and 285 torque back in 1995 and slowly creeped up to 260 HP and 302 torque, just enough power to let you think you can run with the big dogs but not enough to actually do it. You move up to a 4V engine and you get about 300 hp and 300 torque, that one will run with the later F bodies, but don't plan on dominating them unless you've done your home work and they haven't. The R code is the one that really spanks the LS1 powered F bodies but you pay to play.

With the only pony car in production on earth don't plan on Ford reaching for the gold untill Chevy or Dodge pushes them to it.

 

just because the hurricane is going to be primarily a truck engin does not mean ford might not put it in a mustang. they put the 5.4 in the cobra R and put a V10 in a test mustang. you never know what ford might do. i just hope that if the comaro and firebirds come back out ford will be there to spank them all over the road straight from the factory.

 

The 4.6 already blew away the competition. Try buying a 2004 Camaro.

 

My 97 Cobra (stock) would NOT run with a RAM AIR T/A or Z/28/SS Camaro. If you mean MODS by "homework" then yes...I'm sure it's possible to modify the 97 Cobra to run with or better than the 97 Ram Air F bodied cars.

I don't really understand all the "back and forth debate" about who's is faster/better - people take it really personally and discussions get heated up, but does it really matter? I mean, I appreciate a great running car as much as anyone, but does it really mean anything if I throw more money at mine and make it outrun yours or vice-versa??? What is the point? My brother-in-law is consumed with the whole drag-racing thing...he's dumped $$$ thousands in his 92 GT so it will produce lower E.T.'s and spank C-5 Corvettes, but again, what's the point? Couldn't that Vette owner put mods into his and regain the high ground? I guess I just don't get it.

To me, the real bragging rights would go to the winner of a competition where two people are given identical cars, identical budgets, identical parts resources and see who can produce the best running car. But even that begs the question, "what does it prove?" other than the winner may have been more saavy at putting the resources to the best use.

I LOVE the current horsepower/performance wars between the manufacturers - trying to outdo each other with the best performance machines. Competition DOES improve the breed, so I guess that's reason enough alone, for the competition itself. I'd much rather drive today's Mach I or supercharged Cobra than my first car - the 76 Cobra II! Even my 93 Cobra is a fun car to drive. I guess I've probably answered my own question...the only thing that bothers me is the cost - I'd love to have the new Ford truck in the works that will equal Dodge's SRT10, but I could never (in good conscience) pay $50k + for a performance truck, or nearly $40k for a blown Cobra...they're awesome but I just couldn't justify the fun factor as a reason to spend so much on (what boils down to) transporation. I guess it's all relative to one's disposable income. I just haven't achieved that earning potential - probably never will.

Regards,
Scott

 

one big reason why your 97 cobra would not run with a z28 or ss or even the ram air is because ford puts 3.27 gears in the rear of the mustang. the z28, ss and ram air all get 3.42 gears.

 

Yep...some 3.55s or even better... as set of 3.73's would wake the Cobra up, but then we're getting into the arena of tit-for-tat. Then the Camaro/Firebird owner could change their gear, etc.

I believe in comparing two showroom stock cars and in that case - the F-bodied GM cars have the edge.

Regards,
Scott

 

well they must not ahve ahd much of an edge cause they are no longer being made right now, lol.

 

The F-body cars were plaqued with problems, at least the ones I remember. You couldn't drag race them too much or you ran the risk of litterally tearing the thing in half. We have a 1986 Iroc Z-28 with a TPI 305, that will scare you.... We've spent the last 3 or so months fixing it.. Its only suposed to have like 40somek miles on it and needed a crank and bearings. A buddy of mine in high school had 2 '85s that he couldn't keep head gaskets on....