while this may be true for the 94 and 95 5.0 cobras, the 96-98 svt does com factory with 305hp at the flywheel

 

Your cobra might be running bad if it has a lot of miles on it.
The imrc's could possibly be shut, making it alot slower than it really should be.
In stock form (long ago) my car dynoed at close to 270 rwhp and 278rwtq at the wheels. So i would say 305 at the flywheel is what it should be.
How many miles do you have?
Do you feel a surge of power around 3250 rpm's?
If not your imrc's (secondary ports) are not opening.

 

It has 131k on it. I drove the car today for the first time where I was able to open it up. I did feel a surge of power over 3000 RPM. However I connected mu scanner to the car when I got it a few days ago and have a code 1519 for the IMRC stuck closed. I reset the computer but have not checked again to see if it is still there. I also recieved a code for #7 Missfire. I have new plugs and wires to install i hope that takes care of it. I feel the car surge when in higher gears like 5th at lower rpm's. I was just reading something about #7 being an issue for some people due to low or no fuel to #7 I need to research this more I am worried. the plug was clean on #7

 

I was just reading something about #7 being an issue for some people due to low or no fuel to #7 I need to research this more I am worried. the plug was clean on #7

I personally havent heard of fuel issues with just a specific cylinder. but the #7 and #8 in general tend to fail first in the case of melted piston rings, detonation, etc. This is due though to the lack of coolant flow through the back of the drivers side head and It gets hotter there than in most places. but they do sell a mod to fix this and if you ever drop your tranny or do a clutch job,its well worth it. (it requires getting to the back of the motor and this is the only way to get there with out pulling the motor.)
here is a link on info to that
http://www.socalterminators.com/ldc/index.html
it says 03/04 cobras but pertains to the others though.

As for the misfire though, dont know much besides changing your plugs and wires and maybe the coil pack with the mileage you have.

 

Thanks that is a great write up it looks like the Chicago kit is a much better design. IS this heat build up an issue on stock unmodified engines?

 

It's not a rumor. Ford recalled the '99 model year Cobra because many of them were not producing anywhere near the advertised power. There was a problem with the intake manifold castings and the exhaust sytem. Ford made good on this and replaced those parts and reprogrammed the PCM. Many claim now that their 'fixed' '99 Cobra have more than the 320 advertised horsepower.

There is a considerably noticeable difference between a '95GT and a '96 Cobra. Some '96-'98 Cobra owners experience Intake Manifold Runner Controller (IMRC) problems. These problems may include the secondary ports or valves gunked up from carbon and oil buildup, the cable from the controller breaking, or the controller failing all together. A 'Check Engine' light should illuminate if the IMRC module causes the failure. If this secondary intake system, the heart of the 32V, is compromised in anyway you will have a "215hp" car. There are numerous writeups on the internet targeting this problem.

Thanks that is a great write up it looks like the Chicago kit is a much better design. IS this heat build up an issue on stock unmodified engines?

Every little bit helps. The Chicago kit looks like a great part and upgrade. Whenever I need to do the clutch I will be doing that mod. All cylinders chould be get equal cooling for maximum power output. '96 Cobra are susceptible to cooling issues due to the dense A/C condensor that blocks the radiator's airflow. I can say in stop-n-go traffic in the middle of summer, my scan tool indicates an engine temperature of approx 220+*F. The cooling fans are programmed to turn on at 211*F which is way too high and too late by then! At that temperature you definitely notice a drop in power.

 

If your IMRCs are stuck closed, you are probably not making much more power than a GT, when they are working, it should feel like an old 4 barrel carb when the secondaries kick in at 3250RPM. With the IMRCs working and running well, my '96 Cobra made 270 rwhp on the dyno. The '96s dynoed all over the place because they had trouble getting the cams installed right. If yours is tossing no codes, check the compression and if one bank is lower than the other, you probably need to have the cams degreed. There is alot of power there if the cams aren't set right. Like I said, my '96 made 270 rwhp and run very strong. That's 10 HP more than the standard 85% of crank hp to the rear wheels!

HTHs,

Joe

 

...The '96s dynoed all over the place because they had trouble getting the cams installed right...HTHs,

Joe

That is the first time I have heard of that!

FWIW, my '96 dynoed 279hp/280tq with Bassani catted-X pipe and Bassani cat back.
Check those "secondaries." At 3250 RPM, the car really wakes up when the IMRC opens the intake ports and the fuel pump goes full power. The Cobras hava 2-speed fuel pump to feed the extra air coming in. A relay closes and bypasses an inline resistor to the fuel pump. You actually feel a slight bump when he intake, fuel pump and timing come into play.

 

It might be a perception problem. When i first got my cobra motor, it alwasy felt sluggish to me compared to 5.0s. I guess the lowend grunt of 5.0s make them feel more like a muscle car. The cobras make a lot more power, but they do it in the upper RPM bands, and it comes on oh so smooth. Dyno the sucker and report back. Good luck.

 

yea the secondary ports are bad about gunking up from what i hear because they dont have fuel sprayed through them, they are dry ports right?? nothing to keep them clean so they eventually gunk up with BS

 

If you think it barely feels faster than a stock '95 GT, something is DEFINATELY amiss. Like everyone has stated, start with the IMRC's. First, tug on the cables at the rear of the motor above the bellhousing first, to see if they open. Then, if they do, rev the motor freely to 3250+ RPM and manually feel if the IMRC controller is opening them, and go from there. If you want to get the car in tip-top running condition, uses some of my tips and write-ups that are stickied over on SVT Performance in the SN95 Cobra section. I outlined all the major things to be addressed in getting your 96-98 Cobra to run at its maximum potential.

 

thanks I am starting with the basics I plan to do the IMRC's as well in the next few weeks I am just limited on time they are stock according to my scanner I will try your methods with the cables how much slower will stuck IMRC make the car feel?
I found last night that they had the wrong spark plugs in there
some idiot installed AP764 plugs the correct plugs from the dealer are different being that the threads are twice as long which will put the electrode further into the head. some of the msd wires are bad as well
I am trying to get it all back to stock with oem parts

 

A stuck IMRC will make the motor VERY sluggish. When the IMRC's don't open, the motor is extremely choked at higher RPM's. You're talking about a possible 50rwhp deficiency. While you're doing some maintenance, replace the fuel-filter as well, it's probably clogged up by now.

 

Well to be honest I have a 96 cobra fully stock 85,000 original miles, perfect interior motor don't use no oil runs good but they just don't have any power the cars are slow they cannot keep up or beat today's four cylinder cars. so do yourself a favor if you want to fast Car get something besides a 96 cobra .

 

14 year old thread. And you added nothing of value to it. Also, your logic is stupid and counter the "hot rodder" mentality most here live by.

 

Do you even own a cobra?

 

What if I said no? What if I said yes? What difference would it make either way?

You are the one that resurrected a 14 year old thread and proceeded to add nothing of value to it.