Cobra Intake

KStromberg

VIII looking for 8s
Well, i just purchased a real nice piece off of ebay. It actually had a Buy It Now option so I had to snatch it up quick before it was gone. That was only 3 hrs after the sale went up.:cool: It is out of a 50K mile CObra and is in great condition.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0462590440&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Here's my question:

The Cobra Intake I have heard is NOT a direct swap as there are rerouting of emissions and other things that need to be modified. Can I use the stock Mark VIII fuel rails with this intake? Will I have any hood clearance issues with the 98 as the Gen 1 Marks had with this swap? I have a buddy who can port and polish. Would this be worth it for this intake or does it flow well already?

Please, give me any of your experiences with this swap. Buh Bye 14 second club. :D
 
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You can keep the Gen 2 fuel rails if you delete and block off the EGR. If not then you'll need Cobra fuel rails.

You're also going to need to find a bunch of obsolete smaller items to make it work. The throttle cable bracket and return spring and possibly a Cobra throttle cable.
 
You can keep the Gen 2 fuel rails if you delete and block off the EGR. If not then you'll need Cobra fuel rails.

You're also going to need to find a bunch of obsolete smaller items to make it work. The throttle cable bracket and return spring and possibly a Cobra throttle cable.

Thanks for the response Doug. :) So for sure the bracket and spring, but you are not too sure about the throttle cable? Thanks for the advice on the fuel rails. I knew it was a situation where it could go either way with the rails, but I wasn't sure why. Now it makes sense. :wink:
 
So for sure the bracket and spring, but you are not too sure about the throttle cable?

I've read about folks adapting the stock throttle cable, but since I've got a couple of Cobra cables in stock, I haven't looked at it.

Hopefully you won't need it, they've been obsolete for a while now.

The only really big issue is the EGR, if you decide to keep it, as the Cobra EGR tube won't fit the fitting on the headers. So you're left with only a couple of choices: Bend the stock tube to the Cobra EGR location or make a new tube from parts of the stock tube and one from a Cobra.

It's also nice if you can find the Cobra PCV tubing.

You can see some of the bits and pieces in the attached pics.
 

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If you have any of these still available, particularly the Cobra throttle cable and PCV tubing and am looking to sell, please PM me. :wink:
 
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Use the stock 2nd gen cable with a modified stock bracket.
It fits a lot better than the cobra cable, which is just barely long enough for this app.

Definitely adapt the cruise control cable, as that is what provides the return action for the TB. No need for that extra spring.
For the cruise cable to reach you can either find a different ford cable (the ends are pretty much all the same across the brand), or relocate (preferred) the module couple inches into the wheel well.

Get the 03-04 Cobra intake tube instead of the pictured 96-98, it fits a lot better against the shock tower and A/C lines.

If you need to keep the EGR, definitely fab up a piece out of both cobra and Mark VIII pipes.
 
Good info in this thread. :) I like how you tried to sneak in there to buy the cable, lmao.
 
I just don't remember it being that tricky.

Cut the little tab off under the hood so it doesn't rub the intake.

Get a cobra IAC hose or it'll look a little goofy (like mine) with a piece of hose from autozone looped around the engine bay to fit.

Bend / tweak the stock throttle cable bracket to fit. I don't know why you'd swap the throttle cable.

get a cobra fuel rail. The shraeder valve is in a bad spot with the stock one.

Cut a section out of the fuel lines and use rubber hose (rated for fuel injection) and double clamp them over the existing metal line to get the fuel lines where you need them to fit on the fuel rail.

You do need a throttle return spring on there, but you can use the stock one. If the cruise control cable pops off the throttle will feel really light but it'll still close. I don't recall having to relocate the cc actuator, but it was a long time ago so maybe I did.
 
I just noticed yesterday that the seller has the cobra manifold bolts for sale in another auction:confused: Aren't I going to need these, or can I use the manifold bolts that hold down the stock intake. I sent him a message asking if I am going to need these and he says he is not too sure but wouldn't be surprised and to compare to my existing ones. So why the heck aren't they included:rolleyes:
 
I'm gonna guess that they'll be needed. They were included with mine. I'll try and remember to compare them to the stock ones tonight, if no one else replies.
 
It's Arrived!

It's Arrived!

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Next on the list:

4.30 gears
Steeda Underdrives
80mm mass air kit with ice box
and a REAL tune courtesy of Casey here local. Yes, I said local! :p
 
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Resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one...

So let's just say, hypothetically speaking of course, that someone were to obtain a Cobra intake...

Does anybody have a pic or two of their modified throttle/cruise cable bracket they'd like to share? Besides the fact that the Mark's bracket has the cables reversed (because of the upside-down throttle body), what are the specific issues with the Mark cables, assuming somebody was using the Mark TB? Looking at some pics I found online, it looks like the Cobra has a shorter distance between the bracket and the TB. Does the Mark's CC cable need to be shortened on the end? I much prefer the compression spring on the Mark's CC cable as opposed to the extension spring on the Cobra. Not only does it seem a more reliable design, but it just looks cleaner. Assuming a person could make a custom bracket, can the Mark CC cable be made to fit with the compression spring intact? Reading Jeremi's reply, I think that's what he's saying but I want to confirm. I'm just not sure what he means by "adapt". My car is in storage about 10 miles away so I can't go out and play with it.

Also, I was reading some of the old posts when people were first trying this, and several complained about losing brake assist at parking lot speeds. Isn't vacuum supposed to be highest at idle? So that makes no sense. The Cobra uses "Hydro-Boost" for the brakes, but I assumed it was simply because there wasn't enough room to fit a booster on the firewall. If I had to guess, I would think that the brake problems were a result of relying on rubber vacuum lines, and those lines collapsing at idle speed. Thus, no brake boost.

I'd be interested in reading, or preferably SEEING, how people have plumbed the vacuum lines using the Cobra intake, especially since there are fewer vacuum ports on the Cobra. You can't tee off of the PCV, so that leaves two ports I believe.
 
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Oh, and Doug, if you ever decide you don't need that IAC tube, I will make you an offer you can't refuse. ;-) Well, hypothetically speaking of course.
 
Here's some picture's of my set up.

Cobra throttle cable and bracket

Accufab single blade throttle body

Cruise control deleted


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