Reply to "MODULAR OR BUST!"

Motorcity72, you have some interesting points but I don't quite agree with your philosophy. I'm not saying it's wrong or anything like that because like George stated, everyone's ideas and buildups are valid and a work of art.

But, there's no reason to buy a running engine and pay that extra cash if you're just going to disassemble it and resleeve it for 3.7" pistons to get to 5.0L. These engines use torque to yield fasteners and they are a one time use item that must be replaced when you untorque them. You'd end up spending allot of $ on top of the big bore kit. If you're going to pay the extra cash for a running engine, don't open it up, just put the blower on it as it is.

If you are going to open it, or build one from a parts engine like I'm doing. There's no real point in looking for a Cobra. The Lincoln Mark VIII engine is nearly identical (less the forged steel crank) to the 96-98 Cobra engine. The cast crank is still good to over 500hp according to SHM. So get one of these engines and buy a forged steel crank and some of the newer 99-03 heads.

Also, I don't see the point in putting a big bore kit in it if you're putting a blower on it. The guys with the 03/04 cobras are changing pulleys, throttle bodies and other external parts and getting well over 500 HP at the rear wheels. This is according to my Dyno guy. With blower upgrades and head work they are getting over 600 HP at the wheels.

I'm building a twin turbo setup with T3/T4 hybrid turbos and I'm shooting for a measly 600HP. I'm running a Mark VIII block (93-98 Mk VIII and 96-99 Cobra blocks are the strongest stock blocks) a cobra forged steel crank, Manley Pro Series I beam rods, JE pistons 8.5:1 comp ratio, 2002 cobra heads (99-04 have the single intake runner per cylinder, 93-98 have two runners per cylinder), coil on plugs, and a bunch of other little do-dads.

With the deep skirt block and the 4 bolt main caps with cross bolts these things are bullet proof!

Your friends setup sounds like a hot ticket though. I'm not sure if any blower that uses a belt differing from the 03/04 cobra's super charger belt will fit in a Pantera. From the pictures I've seen, there's only 1/4" clearance with the 03/04 cobras blower.

Just my observations on everything, and that doesn't mean it's correct or the only way.

Nate