Looking for build suggestions 94-98 Cobra (Canyon Carver)

Im looking to buy a 94-98 cobra. What im looking to get out of the car is a comfortable GT car for 5 hour drives to Las Vegas. I also want some punch off the line and good passing power on the freeway. Still want to be pretty easy to drive in traffic. Kenne Bell supercharger is high on the list because it seems like the quietest. Quiet it very important to me. I don't know much about gearing and stock vs forged internals, heads, etc. Would like to see 410-450whp

I feel like this part might be the hardest. I want to take it on some canyon carving runs. There are some great roads near me but they are very tight, turn wise, and not much fun if your car does not corner fairly flat with direct steering. This may be at odds with the comfortable thing but our wants are what they are and I want it to handle as well or better than my 05 Nissan Z.


Anyone got suggestions on mods?
I appreciate it.

 

Thanks for your input Cpotts

In 1999 i bought a '95 Mustang v6 in lazer red with tan cloth interior. I drove it cross country three times. Slept in it a few times, it was comfy and the cloth on the 95 seats where really good, everyone who sat in it commented on them. I wasn't into canyon driving at the time so i dont recall how it handled specifically. At the time i also had nothing to compare it to either. That 'stang was my favorite car, still is. Sold it in 2008 to buy my dad a Lexus. Only thing i wish my old car had was a convertible and a cobra badge. Im back to right the wrongs lol.

 

Oh and when i say quiet i mean the blower. I dont mind loud exhaust as long as there is no drone. Dont really mind the wine of a TVS or Roots type but anything high pitched is intolerable to me. Centrifugal Superchargers tend to have a high pitch whistle even at idle. I cant do it. I put a cold air intake on my 95 v6 and it whistle at me constantly. Not even 1000watts of stereo would drown it out. Drove me nuts.

 

Budget.. think i can pick up the car for around 10k. Likely another 5k to 10k in mods of course over time this could be more. 300$ here and there.
Things i know i want. Style Bar, Speedster cover, Lowered, short throw kit, side exhaust, modern radio.... over 400hp and reduced body roll,

 

I love the engine from the 03-04 cobra but seems like a lot of trouble to swap. I think the stock engine will be fine.
I did think about the IRS though.... I wonder if its worth it. How much do you think that would be? Can you just buy a complete kit?
Anyway to just make the stock suspension better?

I want to try and do a lot of this myself the keep the cost, and my wife's annoyance, down. Major surgery on just one part is less than ideal, how easy is the IRS swap?

 

Thats exciting. For sure will look into that

 

While researching and shopping for a 94-98 Cobra ive come across the issue of horsepower.
Ive decided that i dont really save money by buying a 94-95 and the 96-98 make more power.
I know i want to supercharge with a TVS/Roots
However it seems that the Kenne Bell for 96-98 only delivers around 350rwhp
350 is a good amount for this car considering the stock HP but kind of weak in comparison to centrifugals
To get more im going to have to swap heads for 03-04 cobra units and that means paying someone to pull it apart (been a long time since i turned wrenches to that level)
Add to that the cost of wanting IRS from an 03-04
After all is said and done i could have had more HP and IRS stock if i just buy an 03-04 Cobra

ok so here is the issue for me. I like the 96-98 body better and have a connection to it from owning my 95
Is it better to buy a much much cheaper 96-98 Cobra and use the change for mods
or buy the more expensive car that, stock, out performs the older car but leaving no money for mods?

(typical car guy struggle)

 

Damn thats one hell of a road and one hell of a car. Love it. :thumbsup:. My roads aren't half as nice. Here in LA, Angeles Crest and Mullholland have to suffice. The surface gets pretty rough in some sections. My Z needs an alignment after my last run in the Glendale Mountains.

You mind running down a list of your suspension mods?
IRS is so tempting. I looked around a lil and saw them running for about 1400. My fear is buying used parts then not actually having all the parts i need... while laying out a ton of cash for the privilege. Only bonus is im pretty sure i could install it myself. is it true the 99-02 have IRS as well as 03-04. There is some confusion about that in the threads. If so does it matter what year you use?

 

To me there really is just no fun in buying someone elses modded car. Id rather build what i want from a stock car. I would take it if had just been lowered had a style bar and speedster cover for a vert and some rims. But everything else should be blank canvas for you to mess with.

 

You know i think if i were reading a stat sheet id take the 03/04
But i just like the 90's car i grew up with.
Being able to afford the mods is a big plus also. Parts are relatively cheap.