New Member with Terminator Question

[powersof12]

I am new to this forum and just purchased a 2003 Convertible Cobra with 1,000 miles on it. The previous own installed a cat back exhaust, K&N air filter, and hurst shifter. My two questions are:

1) Every so often, the shifter doesn't go into 2nd gear smoothly. It kind of grinds for a second and pops out. It could just be me or maybe the hurst isn't adjust exactly right or the tranny is picky. Others have any annoyances with 2nd. I have only drove it for 200 highway miles so far.

2) I noticed a few drops of coolant near the radiator cap and appeared to come out of one of the hoses. Maybe a clamp isn't tight enough. Are there known issues with radiator overflow clamps?

Thanks,
Gary

P.S. Man are these cars fun. It is not the same experience as my supercharged 5.0L because the power comes on much higher in the RPM but very fun indeed.

[PureVenom]

Quote: Originally Posted by powersof12 I am new to this forum and just purchased a 2003 Convertible Cobra with 1,000 miles on it. The previous own installed a cat back exhaust, K&N air filter, and hurst shifter. My two questions are: 1) Every so often, the shifter doesn't go into 2nd gear smoothly. It kind of grinds for a second and pops out. It could just be me or maybe the hurst isn't adjust exactly right or the tranny is picky. Others have any annoyances with 2nd. I have only drove it for 200 highway miles so far. 2) I noticed a few drops of coolant near the radiator cap and appeared to come out of one of the hoses. Maybe a clamp isn't tight enough. Are there known issues with radiator overflow clamps? Thanks, Gary P.S. Man are these cars fun. It is not the same experience as my supercharged 5.0L because the power comes on much higher in the RPM but very fun indeed.

1.) It sounds like your shifter is not adjusted properly. I am guessing the hurst has some stop screws you need to adjust like the steeda triax does. If it does, back them off completely because you don't need the stop screws with a T56...they are built into the tranny.

2.) There are no known issues I have heard of with the coolant hoses. I haven't had any issues with mine before nor after cooling mod install. It sounds like your clamp may just be a touch lose, or on the hose in the wrong spot possibly and not sealing completely. Or, it could be coming out of the cap due to the cap not being secured completely.

3.) The power comes on much higher in the RPM range? I hope you mean in your blown 5.0. . I know my power hits from the moment of pressure on the gas pedal until I let off. Just had a couple fuel pump tweaks done to my tune today, and I can definitely feel the fact the car isn't losing fuel up top anymore.

And yes, these cars are rediculously fun. and the fun only increases as you up the power. And once you start upping it, you can't stop.

[Thomas91169]

WOW 1,000 miles? How much did you pick it up for?

Sounds like the hurst POS is adding to the already notchy nature of the T-56. Go with a MGW w/Orange handle and this should help matters. also a Fiore firewall adjuster and clutch quadrant may help with shifting even more.

Id imagine with a Roots/Twin Screw on a 5.0 you would have alot of low end power, i feel as my powerband is best between 2500 and 5500rpm, anything above 5500 it kinda starts to fall on its face, just a characteristic of the entire setup (a free-breathing small displacement motor that is rev-happy with a blower that isnt very efficient even stock-ish).

btw, pics asap. Welcome to the ME.com Cobra Owners Association.

[powersof12]

Thanks for the info. Since my 5.0L max RPM was around 4600 RPM, all of the power was down low. However, I haven't had that car for 8 years and like fishing stories, it may just get better each year as I remember it. I can't wait to drive this car again tomorrow. I will check on the stop screws in the Hurst and go buy a few clamps that go around the hose and tighten with a screw. I heard of problems on the new Shelby's with the hose clamps and thought maybe these had issues as well. I'll check into it during the light tomorrow. I have only seen the boost gauge move a couple of times as I have been easy on it my first day. However, give me a week to get used to it and I'll have a better idea on how it feels. I haven't owned a Mustang since I sold my 93 LX and it is great to be back.

[PureVenom]

It is deceptively fast in stockish form. It may not feel fast, but you will look down and see you are doing 100+ in no time. It won't rip your head off like mine will right now...but don't be disappointed if it doesn't snap your head back...the power is still there.

Now comes the fun of doing the neck snapping mods...port, pulley, tune.

[JROC]

Quote: Originally Posted by powersof12 P.S. Man are these cars fun. It is not the same experience as my supercharged 5.0L because the power comes on much higher in the RPM but very fun indeed.

Congrats on the low mileage Cobra. Hope you stick around.

They really are pretty amazing Mustangs. So much faster than a GT yet quite a bit more refined(except for the annoying loose rearend) than a pre-05 when your not pegging the boost gauge. I love mine. The thing I like least about it is insurance is out the roof on one, but if you want to play you got to pay I guess. Start modding that thing and you'll be amazed at what a difference even little boltons make. IMO one of the most rewarding things about these cars is they give you so much back for so little effort and money invested in mods.

I have actually heard people say good things about Hursts shifters on these cars, but IDK. I've never driven one with a Hurst shifter.

Quote: Originally Posted by PureVenom It is deceptively fast in stockish form. It may not feel fast, but you will look down and see you are doing 100+ in no time.

Thats the damn truth. I was riding someone in it one night not long after I got my Cobra and and I throw it in third at about 60 mph and when I hit fourth I stayed on it for a second and then let off. I looked over and said,"Its pretty fast, aint it." They said that it would be fast if we were doing like 100. I said we're at 120 right now and we've been costing for like 5 or so seconds. Not that I had any business going that fast.

Still the car does fell pretty dog on fast even stock. I could tell that a stock Terminator is easily faster than a stock LS2 powered GTO, and that was a pretty nice car in and of itself.

[Thomas91169]

its always a blast being in a car where the speedo goes up quicker than the tach, 4th gear on the freeway is awesome, starting at 80ish around 2300rpm and mashing it, and pulling up to 4500rpm within seconds and youre already at 120-130ish and your mind is telling you to shift (just due to the roar of the motor and blower and wind) but youre at a mere 4500rpm with lots of rpm to go!

it is a false sense of security how smooth the power comes on though, most my buddies expect some crazy whiplash like they have felt before (mostly with larger turbo 4cyl's) but that not the case. sometimes i will take them through 2nd and theyll go "that doesnt feel that fast" but then i hop on the freeway and take them through 3rd and into 4th a bit and its like they stepped into a new dimension, because the car pulls in 3rd and 4th just as quickly as 1st and 2nd go by (6spd+3.55's ftw)

[powersof12]

I plan to say around awhile. I have owned an 82 GT, an 86 SVO, and a 93 LX and each one was special. From a SROD 4 speed to the little turbo SVO to the tire thrashing 5.0L. This new Cobra should fit well into the mix. Thanks, I will read around the forum for some more information.

[Black95GT]

Yea they are really fun cars, always get looks and compliments. Compared to my 95 its like night in day. But like Purevenom says, you get a ride in a decently modded 03, and its a BIG difference, the response to bolt ons is great, you notice the difference with each mod

[slostang]

I thinks i seen someone selling some pullies in the classifieds!!!

[Herbstang]

Quote: Originally Posted by slostang I thinks i seen someone selling some pullies in the classifieds!!!

Have you no shame

P.S.- Your forgot the link 03/04 Cobra Parts

[PureVenom]

Quote: Originally Posted by Herbstang Have you no shame P.S.- Your forgot the link 03/04 Cobra Parts

No, he doesn't.

[slostang]

OH Noes! Rob you have found me out!!!!

[SpectorV]

the coolant can leak out from around the cap, if you pop the cap you will see a little line around it that coolant can come out of if it gets to high, mine did it when I had the coolant changed and they filled it back up, they just put to much back in it. These cars are a pain to get air out of the system when you change the coolant fyi.

When I picked my car up new it has a hurst shifter on it and it was a POS... it sucked... buy an MGW ASAP do not wait. Install it and toss that hurst in the garbage you will be SO happy you did.

I would drain/fill my trans fluid as well just to be super safe and check for any metal flakes~ I highly doubt you will have issues since your car is to low mileage but... being to low of miles is not a great thing in some respects either as it has probably been sitting around more than others so its a great idea to inspect the bushings and such for rot.

[I8YourSS]

My instrement clusters goes in an out on my 03 cobra what can be the problem

[JROC]

Quote: Originally Posted by I8YourSS My instrement clusters goes in an out on my 03 cobra what can be the problem

Its a pos Ford.

Found On Road Dead.




But really I don't know. Fuse maybe? Take it to a SVT dealership and have them look at it.

[SpectorV]

the lights go in and out or the gauges stop working etc etc? If the lights go in and out I would first try and trace it to the fuse/relay that controls it. Try and determine where the weak link is~ its probably not much of anything.