Roush Racing was designated by Ford to come up with the engineering solver
for the Cobra and found the missing or unexplained loss of horsepower. Ford
opted to repair any of the Cobra or a buy back.
The Cobra, like other models, they just don't have the smaller gears (3.9X
or even 3.5X range) gearing for the rear axle but a measly 3.08:1. Seeing
different testing from four or more OEM manufacture, I can only laugh at
Kenne Bell engineering. Saleen S-281 , is the stock 260HP GT version and
now pushes over 350 and the 1/4 mile in the 12s for $32,000.00 (including
those 4000.00 wheel package). That is with the 3.08:1 gear. Now, can you
imagine it having a 4.10:1 gear? To much tire spinning in first gear will
result in loss time also.
The S-351, puts nearly 495 RWHP but the cost is around $52K. The car is
retuned from interior to exterior. Price? To expensive, when a driver can
do the same with the GT. Trade off is the top end is 170MPH (prohibitive
aero drag on the body shape).
Even the Viper has a 3.08:1 gear and yet run only low 12s or high 11s. I
would love the Viper with a smaller gear and run it in the 1/4 mile to see
the results.
-------------------------------------------
Steven St.Laurent
Test Engineer
Test Branch, GSD, MCTSSA
MARCORSYSCOM, USMC
760-725-2506 (DSN 365-2506)
Work:mailto:stlaurents@mctssa.usmc.mil
Home:mailto:saint1958@home.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Steven T. Ekstrand [mailto:cyberlaw@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 8:58 AM
To: dakota-truck@buffnet.net
Subject: Re: DML: Dakota R/Tvs.'99 Cobra
At the last two day Autocross school, there was a modified Cobra SVT in my
run group. Nice guy and a beautiful car. I was able to match him lap for
lap through out the weekend in my stock Dakota. He couldn't believe it.
It was pretty demoralizing. I tried to play it off as my having more
experience, but in truth I think he had more autox experience than I did.
Some of it was driver, but it made me wonder about the SVT's even with all
the Kenny Brown mods and massive 3 inch dual exhaust. Sure sounded sweet.
I heard that there is a class action lawsuit pending. The factory rated
the 99's at 320HP, but apparently most cars don't come close to that lofty
figure. The factory blames suppliers of the intake and exhaust systems as
not maintaining the specs of the prototype pieces. They have developed a
TSB that replaces these parts, but it still doesn't quite make it. Kenny
Brown will get you to about 330hp for about $10,000!!! Sounds like our
Blue Oval friends are going to be going through a Buyback fiasco like the
R/T owners went through. I'd say they have an even better case.
-STE
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Short" <ashort@flash.net>
To: <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: DML: Dakota R/Tvs.'99 Cobra
| Stlaurent Mr Steven wrote:
| >
| > It was the Cobra SVT, it runs in the low 13s (99) on street tires.
|
| Interesting....
| I have a run on video tape against a silver '99 Cobra with paper dealer
| tags on it, he sure didn't run any 13.
| I spanked him so bad, he left right after that.
| Alan S.
|
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