General LSX Automobile Discussion - 03 cobra or ls1

i know i know this is an lsX forum but i want honest opinions!

i have a friend with an 03 cobra, she wants to make it a track only car with the occasional weekend ride! she wants to make roughly 500rwhp! but shes at a crossroad b/c she sat in my camaro and listened to it choppin and lopin hard! she said that she is really debating on trading in her car for an ls1......what would be the easier/better/cheaper way of doing this? camaro or 03 cobra? if you had to choose which would you go with?

If 500whp is her goal I'd say the COBRA. Its going to make that much with very few mods. Getting that power is nothing more than a lower pulley, intake, tune, exhaust and maybe a 35 dry shot away.

For a race car I would buy a LS1 and for a DD I'd get a cobra.

If 500whp is her goal I'd say the COBRA. Its going to make that much with very few mods. Getting that power is nothing more than a lower pulley, intake, tune, exhaust and maybe a 35 dry shot away.

and thats what i told her! it could make 480 or so with full bolt ons, and 500+ with a steigmier port kit! but she said she wants to go the best route for built racecar, and what i mean by that is built suspension, rear, tranny, motor and cutting excellent times at the track! shes just very confused and wants some insight from people with both cars!

For a race car I would buy a LS1 and for a DD I'd get a cobra.

What? other way around, dude

Well by what you're saying she wants a racecar. At that point its no longer what car will be better but rather how deep your pockets go. With either car you're going to be changing many of the basic components out for better race parts. Trans, rear end, suspension, most likely if its going to be a dedicated racecar she'll want to build a race motor. Either car can be made equally fast at that point it just going to be what she likes better. Race Cobras swap for 8.8 rears with built axles and an AOD trans. An LS1 will usually run a built Turbo 400 trans, and a beefier rear like a 12 bolt or a Ford 9". These are just a few examples of what will start being changed on the car to make it a true racecar. Figure on a tubular k-member, all new suspension, and we haven't even started to touch anything with the motor or power adders and supporting modifications.

500whp cobra vs 425whp LSX i would take the LsX and win the race without a SC. My car has 413whp and i ran dead even with a 500whp cobra! Power to weight ratio ;) My car runs 11.6 with out any power added ;)

03 Cobra all day long. Sorry.

Have to respect the cobra...only one i do.

I have a very close friend who has an 03 cobra. Its stock motor just intake, and suspension upgrades. I have driven the car many times and love the thing! Lots of fun to drive. I raced him from a stop light couple weeks ago and to my surprise beat him. Granted he said he spun through 1st and 2nd, but we will settle that at the track soon. From a roll though he gets me every time. The way I see it is the cobra is easy and cheep to make fast, once you buy one! They are a lot more expensive than a F-bodys! But it hits its limit after a pully tune and exhaust. To do anything els besides spray is ridiculously expensive. The thing has 4 cam's so be prepared to drop some serious $$$ to do that, and heads are much more expensive than LS1's. Now If you start with an LS1 then you have more places to go. With the extra 10K that you didn’t spend on the cobra you can buy the right heads and cam its already got more power than a stock cobra. Plus you add a turbo or pro charger and or a 100-125 shot of spray and your making BIG numbers. My point is IMO it would be cheaper to go with the LS1.

I'd have to say an LS1 on this one. Seems like the cheaper alternative to me when youre trying to make big power.

You like exclamation points by the way.

lS1 all day long but i may be a bit bias hehehehe....but that is the only mustang i would consider owning * gasp* but my LS1 M6 is too much fun...best bet..buy a roller F body ..drop in crate forged shortblock $2800, h/c pkg $2500 built M6 ( or get a old one refurish for $1260) and M9/9" 4:10s spool etc...QA1 all the way around..drag bag out back...Juice * if you want it* sunoco hood ...the list goes on..........

Both are nice rides. Its all personal preference.

If 500whp is her goal I'd say the COBRA. Its going to make that much with very few mods.


not exactly.....

Mod motor(4.6L) and cheap don't belong in the same sentence. For a dedicated track car I say go with the LS1 and this is coming from a mustang owner.

Like someone said earlier, but the other way around.... SVT Cobra for a race car and an LS1 for a daily. I just enjoy my t-tops too much. plus she already has the Cobra, might as well keep it now. going through the hassle of getting another car and paying all the taxes, it might end up costing the same. But starting from scratch an LS1 will be cheaper.

and thats what i told her! it could make 480 or so with full bolt ons, and 500+ with a steigmier port kit! but she said she wants to go the best route for built racecar, and what i mean by that is built suspension, rear, tranny, motor and cutting excellent times at the track! shes just very confused and wants some insight from people with both cars!

you do know that the keyboard has a (.) button :jest: The cobra is going to be the easiest to hit the 500rwhp mark, unless you want to buy a 7-8k z28 and spray the hell out of it:devil:

The cobra is going to be the easiest to hit the 500rwhp mark, unless you want to buy a 7-8k z28 and spray the hell out of it:devil:

That Idea is pure genious.:devil:

03 Cobra all day long. Sorry.

Agreed. Although I wouldn't take one over my car, but just from the POV that they come supercharged/forged from the factory, ease of gaining power wins the argument for the Cobra.

ls1 car would probably make a better track car, cobra would be a better street car. and if your completely redoing the car, your going to want to spend less on the car to start with and you can find a ls1 car much cheaper than a cobra.

Someone has to do it...:chug:


:pics:

buddy has a 03 with 470 rwhp and 501 rwtq...ran a 11.9 with a 1.7 60...sweet:eyes:

buddy has a 03 with 470 rwhp and 501 rwtq...ran a 11.9 with a 1.7 60...sweet:eyes:

Doesn't sound like he can drive... IRS sucks tho.

LS1 hands down. Its cheaper to go fast with the LS1 especially if you can do the work yourself.

Here is an example.

A friend of mine has a 2000 Z28. He did all forged internals and kept the stock cubes. Installed a custom ground nitrous cam and ported heads and a 220 shot. Then did an ATI turbo 400 and 4000 stall nitrous converter. Did a 9" rear and did the tuneing himself with LS1 edit.

Car ran mid 11's all day on motor (got to remember the tune and engine and converter was designed for nitrous). When he hit it with the 220 shot it went 9.90's and started getting kicked out of all the local tracks because the car had no cage and no harness. Bone stock interior except for the rear seat delete. He didnt care because his intended purpose was to win money if you know what i mean. And by god did he ever take alot of money from alot of people.

not exactly.....

really what i listed will get 500whp easy at least here in FL. One of my good friends has an 03 with steeda intake, 6lb lower, cat-back, Diablo sport tune, and a 35hp dry shot and made 502whp and 556rwtq.

IMO....
your going to pay 19 grand plus for a decent (read decent) 03 cobra. Plus bolt ons lets say 1 to 3 grand for that.

Find a nice ls1 for 14 grand use the 7ish gs you saved and use your imagination.

www.hellionpowersystems.com too many people think the cobra has to be limited to a supercharger. I know a few twin turbo cobras, one of which has 750hp and is daily driven. Doesn't take much to make those things fast, plus she already has the car...

What? other way around, dude

Not for me, I want an auto at the track and a M6 for a DD.

This again??? Do a search...or...buy whatever car you want. It's not that hard.