Question about a short block for the marauder.

[mclemore102]

Hey guys i am looking for a 03/04 cobra shortblock for the marauder. Is 3,000 a good price for one with 10k miles on it?

[FordNut]

No. And why? Put good internals in the aluminum block and it's plenty strong.

[Joe Walsh]

Lower compression ratio on the Cobra blocks, so you will lose some HP unless you put a higher boost pulley on your Trilogy S/C.
Was the engine raced or run with a lot of added boost while in the Cobra?
Are the heads still on the block so that you can do a compression/leak down test?

[mclemore102]

No heads just the shortblock. It was pulled out of the car for a stroker shortblock. How strong are the blocks in our cars? If i did use the aluminum block i heard the 96-98 cobra block were stronger is there any truth to that?

[Joe Walsh]

Our aluminum blocks are plenty strong. There are plenty of blown 96-99 Cobras putting out 600-700 HP with no problems.
Having said that, I opted to put my OEM shortblock in storage when I went to a 'Big Bore'/forged build-up.
Modular Performance had a Mercury Mountaineer Aluminum block that they sleeved with 3.70 bore liners for me.
They said that the Mountaineer blocks are a little more stout than our OEM blocks.:dunno:
It saved me the time and cost of stripping down my OEM block, then paying freight to ship it to Modular Performance.
I liked the idea of keeping my 'numbers matching' (if there is such a thing today) OEM block for future use.

[ROB502]

There is a 2003 Cobra motor in our local Iwanta paper blower and all for 3K. The add said all it needs is pistons?
I think it's Iwanta.net it comes out of North Augusta SC.

[HwyCruiser]

A built MMR 900 shortblock is $2800, so I'd say a used stock Cobra shortblock for $3000 sounds pretty steep.

[FordNut]

If you're starting from scratch, the best block to use is '93-'98 Mark VIII or '96-'98 Cobra. They are called Teksid blocks because they were made by Teksid, an Italian company. They're good to around 1500 hp. The aluminum blocks for '99-'01 Cobras and '03-'04 Mach1/Marauder are good to around 1000-1200 hp. They changed manufacturers to save money. The newer blocks have extra webbing, but they are thinner. Minor differences, different size bolts for knock sensors and one timing cover bolt hole is different.

[TooManyFords]

Hey guys i am looking for a 03/04 cobra shortblock for the marauder. Is 3,000 a good price for one with 10k miles on it?

Simple answer, NO.

I just bought an MMR Brand New shortblock with better parts for less.

For all you know, there may have been a rod knock in that block and you're buying something that is unknown.

Cheers!

john

[Todd]

Obviously you have your answer already....

But I just wanted to add that you can get a stock Cobra shortblock from VT engines for under $3k. The Cobra Sportsman shortblock is $2900 and includes forged h-beam rods (doesnt mention pistons but I am sure they are forged). Then they have a Pro short block that has billet rods... That price is $3900.

And they are a sponsor of this site IIRC...

[O's Fan Rich]

Simple answer, NO.

I just bought an MMR Brand New shortblock with better parts for less.

For all you know, there may have been a rod knock in that block and you're buying something that is unknown.

Cheers!

john


Who or what is MMR?:confused:

[TooManyFords]

MMR is Modular Mustang Racing (http://www.modularmustangracing.com)i n CA. They built my new motor for me.

John

[juno]

Yeah, MMR has a block with forged pistons and rods but a cast crank for only 2200 if you are on a budget. Should still be good to 650-700 hp. Probably fine for most folks.

[O's Fan Rich]

Thank you. I feel edumakated now. :)

[Warpath]

If you're starting from scratch, the best block to use is '93-'98 Mark VIII or '96-'98 Cobra. They are called Teksid blocks because they were made by Teksid, an Italian company. They're good to around 1500 hp. The aluminum blocks for '99-'01 Cobras and '03-'04 Mach1/Marauder are good to around 1000-1200 hp. They changed manufacturers to save money. The newer blocks have extra webbing, but they are thinner. Minor differences, different size bolts for knock sensors and one timing cover bolt hole is different.

The 99-01 Cobra etc. blocks are said to be only good up to I think 700-900 hp according to some Mustang boards. They have a "name" too. I think they're called WAP blocks or something similar.

[MikesMerc]

Does MMR offer any aluminum blocks? It seems all they advertise is cast iron which I'm not at all interested in.

[TooManyFords]

You can send them a block of your choosing if you do not want the iron ones. I think it is a $200 deduction. Figures since if I remember correctly the aluminum one is about $200 over the counter.

John

[MikesMerc]

Gotcha. Thanks!

[mclemore102]

Thanks everybody for the advice. I think i will just build my block so i can really up the boost!:banana:

[MikesMerc]

That's all you really need to do. Throw some quality forged internals into the alum block and your good for 800hp. The alum blocks are quite beefy. Not as durable as iron, but much lighter and still good for serious power.

[Marauderjack]

Ahem......

If you can't get 450 RWHP to "hook up"......why make 600 RWHP or more??:confused:

I have 500+ HP in my Cobra and it is pretty dangerous....Guys still add more to 700-800 FWHP and get killed!!:shake:

Our cars in stock form can get you hurt on wet pavement and with a S/Cer can get ridiculous!!!:rolleyes:

Just wondering why make more than 450 RWHP......TESTOSTERONE???? :help:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[MikesMerc]

Ahem......

If you can't get 450 RWHP to "hook up"......why make 600 RWHP or more??:confused:

I have 500+ HP in my Cobra and it is pretty dangerous....Guys still add more to 700-800 FWHP and get killed!!:shake:

Just wondering why make more than 450 RWHP......TESTOSTERONE???? :help:



First off, who says I can't get 450rwhp to hook up? At a good track that has been properly prepped, traction is not that big of an issue.

Second, it sounds like you have more or less picked a power number as a limit that YOU are personally comfortable with for no other reason than you are comfortable with it. Why isn't anything over 375rwhp too much? 350?

For that matter, why even make superchargers or other performance parts? They certainly aren't needed to go get milk from the corner store.

The answer is that there are plenty of high horsepower street cars out there already. They need to be handled with responsibility. Whether you have 450 or 650 hp doesn't really matter. If you cannot control yourself, a 350rwhp car is just as dangerous.

Finally, if you think 450rwhp is alot, you haven't been around the high performance arena to long (no offense). There are non exotic factory offerings coming close to that already. 500-600 rwhp mustangs are a dime a dozen now. They are all over svt.net. In fact, your nuttin special until you reach 800 rwhp or more. 450 is pretty mild in the high performance world.

All that said, it sounds like you have picked a limit you're comfortable with based on what you want out of your car. I'd suggest you stick with it.

[GreekGod]

[quote]:"Our cars in stock form can get you hurt on wet pavement "

Macho men may think "I can handle it". A stock MM in the wet can be a light switch on wet pavement, either on or off. Somewhat like driving on ice. The greatest driver in the world can 'lose it' on ice and do a 180 with no time to react.

[99SVT]

The 99-01 Cobra etc. blocks are said to be only good up to I think 700-900 hp according to some Mustang boards. They have a "name" too. I think they're called WAP blocks or something similar.

Ford switched to the WAP (Windsor Aluminum Plant) block sometime between 99 and 01. Some 99 Cobras have it and most 01's do. The Mach 1's and Marauders also use this block, although they added some material and called it the NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) block. As to what power level they are good to, no one's really found out because the internals usually fail before the block does, or the builders use block fill to beef it up before it fails.

[Marauderjack]

Mike...

FYI I have had and currently have two very quick cars and yes I am very happy with the power levels in both....My point is unless you race or are a TESTOSTERONE JUNKY....450 RWHP is quite enough for the average street driver in any car!! :argue:

I hope you can make 1000 RWHP if that's your goal....MORE POWER TO YA??:beer:

I'm very happy right where I am....thank you SIR!!:rasta:

Marauderjack:burnout:

[MikesMerc]

Fair enough. That's your opinion and you have every right to have it.

I'm just not sure why you felt the need to jump in on this thread to express it.:confused: This thread was about short blocks...not practical horsepower levels for the street.

BTW, I still contend that anything over 300hp in our cars is impractical on the street anyhow. It won't help you get milk any faster :D