Important cooling mods for 03/04 Cobras

[JROC]

What are they? I know an aftermarket heat exchanger and cylinderhead cooling mods(LDC and Even flow) are pretty important but what are the others? I have heard that some of the cooling mods that for Terminators are more for looks under the hood and don't really help the car run cooler. Do you think a 160 or 180 degree thermostat is a good idea? I just want to know what mods are important(beside of course the fuel system) if you what to make 500+ HP with your Terminator.

[PureVenom]

Our stock thermostat is 180...so that won't matter. A 160 is technically a little too cool for the car...and will just run your fans more.

A larger IC tank is rumored to help cooling, but, it is all hype. It falls into the "dress up" category you mentioned. If you want to cool IAT2 temps a ton, check out RWTD's killer chiller...ties into your AC lines and cools your IC Fluid to about 39* .

Really, all there is is a better radiator, head cooling mod, heat exchanger, and that's really about it.

[JROC]

Quote: Originally Posted by PureVenom Our stock thermostat is 180...so that won't matter. A 160 is technically a little too cool for the car...and will just run your fans more. A larger IC tank is rumored to help cooling, but, it is all hype. It falls into the "dress up" category you mentioned. If you want to cool IAT2 temps a ton, check out RWTD's killer chiller...ties into your AC lines and cools your IC Fluid to about 39* . Really, all there is is a better radiator, head cooling mod, heat exchanger, and that's really about it.

Damn right, I had never heard of the KillerChiller mod before. It looks like a very innovative idea. The only think I don't like is you have to be running your AC for it to work, but it seems like a very good idea if your going to be pushing your car hard. Do you think a bigger radiator should be a priority, I have alway heard that the factory one was pretty good? Also do you an oil cooler is a good idea? Since buying my Cobra I have tried to study up on how to mod them, but one area that I have kind of neglected is the cooling mods, and as most Terminator owners know their about the most important to helping our cars live a long, healthy life. Thanks for the info.

I have one other question. Does the Expansion tank send coolant to the HE?

[PureVenom]

Yes, the expansion tank receives IC coolant from the intercooler...and then it runs out the bottom into the exchanger and then back up into the intercooler. Increasing the volume of fluid is good for the initial period of time, but then eventually all of the fluid will have gone through the system and equalized in temp.

As for the killer chiller...you only have to run your ac when you are sitting in the pits. You don't need to run it down the track or while staging. If you insulate the everything properly, you won't even have to worry about any condensation. When you figure it will drop your IAT2 temps down to ambient air temps...or possibly lower depending on your boost level...it is a killer idea.

As for radiator...the stocker is kind of ok. It seems to get the job done. But, if you move into something that is a bit bigger with another core or two for cooling...will only cool things that much more.

As for the oil cooler...we already have one I believe. It is located under the radiator if I remember correctly. It is a POS unit in my mind...an upgrade wouldn't be bad (evans cooling makes a 3 core radiator with a built in oil cooler).

Some of the evans changes aren't bad either. Check out lethal performance...they have complete evans kits available. They relocate some things seperating them...I believe it is something about your oil and coolant flow through the same fixture...very inefficient and heats the hell out of the coolant.

[JROC]

Quote: Originally Posted by PureVenom Yes, the expansion tank receives IC coolant from the intercooler...and then it runs out the bottom into the exchanger and then back up into the intercooler. Increasing the volume of fluid is good for the initial period of time, but then eventually all of the fluid will have gone through the system and equalized in temp. As for the killer chiller...you only have to run your ac when you are sitting in the pits. You don't need to run it down the track or while staging. If you insulate the everything properly, you won't even have to worry about any condensation. When you figure it will drop your IAT2 temps down to ambient air temps...or possibly lower depending on your boost level...it is a killer idea. As for radiator...the stocker is kind of ok. It seems to get the job done. But, if you move into something that is a bit bigger with another core or two for cooling...will only cool things that much more. As for the oil cooler...we already have one I believe. It is located under the radiator if I remember correctly. It is a POS unit in my mind...an upgrade wouldn't be bad (evans cooling makes a 3 core radiator with a built in oil cooler). Some of the evans changes aren't bad either. Check out lethal performance...they have complete evans kits available. They relocate some things seperating them...I believe it is something about your oil and coolant flow through the same fixture...very inefficient and heats the hell out of the coolant.

Thanks for the replys Rob. They are very helpful.

I would ask this stuff on svtperformance, but alot of their responses are stuff like, "Try doing a search" or "A search is your friend," but when you do a search you get like 15 pages on the subject and it takes awhile to find a thread dealing specifically with what your asking.

Right not I'm going to finish my suspension mods, but after that I want to start with the power mods and I'm trying to figure out how I want to do it. I know I want to a Whipple, but that may take awhile.

I was looking at the Evans cooling package that you are talking about(thats how I came up with the oil cooler question) but it over $2,000.
Evans Cooling 03-04 Mustang Cobra Cooling Package w/Oil Cooler [LP-EvansCoolingB] - $2,249.65

Does anyone make an aftermarket intercooler for our cars(I have never heard of one) and if so would that be a good upgrade. Also what does IAT2 temp mean?

[PureVenom]

Quote: Originally Posted by JROC Thanks for the replys Rob. They are very helpful. I would ask this stuff on svtperformance, but alot of their responses are stuff like, "Try doing a search" or "A search is your friend," but when you do a search you get like 15 pages on the subject and it takes awhile to find a thread dealing specifically with what your asking. Right not I'm going to finish my suspension mods, but after that I want to start with the power mods and I'm trying to figure out how I want to do it. I know I want to a Whipple, but that may take awhile. I was looking at the Evans cooling package that you are talking about(thats how I came up with the oil cooler question) but it over $2,000. Evans Cooling 03-04 Mustang Cobra Cooling Package w/Oil Cooler [LP-EvansCoolingB] - $2,249.65 Does anyone make an aftermarket intercooler for our cars(I have never heard of one) and if so would that be a good upgrade. Also what does IAT2 temp mean?

Yeah, I don't ask questions over there either...for the same reason.

Yeah, the evans stuff is expensive as hell...and worth it from what I understand from the road race and autocross crowd.

There is no aftermarket intercooler for the car that I am aware of.

As for IAT temps...your IAT1 temp is the temp of the air as it first enters the intake system. The IAT2 temps is the temp of the air after it has been compressed as it is going into the cylinders...post intercooler. High IAT2 temps = bad for power...timing gets pulled...and if they get above 155 or 160 the car goes into limp mode. Lower temp = more power.

As for more mods...just ping me...I have been taking notes on this shit for almost 5 years now...

[SpectorV]

a bigger coolant tank for the blower will keep temps down but how much... not much... more fluid is just better but... it wont matter enough to make it worth while so its really dress up.

Put on the revised heads or do the cooling mods~ with an upgraded heat exchanger.

[JROC]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpectorV a bigger coolant tank for the blower will keep temps down but how much... not much... more fluid is just better but... it wont matter enough to make it worth while so its really dress up. Put on the revised heads or do the cooling mods~ with an upgraded heat exchanger.

Yeah, I was thinking my next mod would be an LFP Daul Pass HE, but that won't be until I get all my suspension stuff put on. If I ever change my clutch I do the LDC mod at the same time.

[SpectorV]

the best way to prevent damage is to not rag on the car that much lol, pick the times/places and dont do it day in and day out.

[PureVenom]

Quote: Originally Posted by SpectorV the best way to prevent damage is to not rag on the car that much lol, pick the times/places and dont do it day in and day out.

Which translates into...don't buy a cobra if it is going to be a garage queen/sunday go to meeting car.

[SpectorV]

If you rag on your car and beat the shit out of it everytime you get into it then you need more self control. Most of the time people bitch about issues or problems they are having with their cars... and it can be traced back to neglect or abuse. Dont bitch about having the head tick if you were just doing 160 in 110 degree heat.

[Cobalt2.4ss/sc]

an1 have stock cobra h/e for sale?

[JROC]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cobalt2.4ss/sc an1 have stock cobra h/e for sale?

Negative! Not for awhile anyways. I know you could probably get a stock HE for much of nothing, but why not go with an aftermarket one? They aren't that expensive and are much better than the factory Ford one.

LFP Extreme Dual Pass Intercooler Heat Exchanger 2003-04 Cobra [LFPDualHeat] - $289.95 : Lightning Force Performance

I have seen quite a few threads where people are looking for and finding stock heat exchangers here. Just ask in the "For Sale/Wanted" forum and I'm sure someone will reply with one for sale.

SCMC Message Forum - powered by vBulletin

[PureVenom]

Quote: Originally Posted by JROC Negative! Not for awhile anyways. I know you could probably get a stock HE for much of nothing, but why not go with an aftermarket one? They aren't that expensive and are much better than the factory Ford one. LFP Extreme Dual Pass Intercooler Heat Exchanger 2003-04 Cobra [LFPDualHeat] - $289.95 : Lightning Force Performance I have seen quite a few threads where people are looking for and finding stock heat exchangers here. Just ask in the "For Sale/Wanted" forum and I'm sure someone will reply with one for sale. SCMC Message Forum - powered by vBulletin

Because the aftermarket ones are much bigger than stock and our stock ones are bigger than the stockers in his cobalt. I don't believe the cobra aftermarket H/E fit into the cobalt. Our stockers fit with no problems...

[Cobalt2.4ss/sc]

^^^^ yea i need the stock one h/e...keep me in mind if any has one

[rydog]

I got a Hypertech high flow power stat and it seems to run a little cooler than it did before might try picking one of those up when you get a new H/E and install it