Some people take a New Edge V-6 or GT Mustang's appearance to the next level by adding Cobra emblems, a hood, bumpers, a spoiler, and wheels. Others add the Cobra brakes, IRS, seats, or drivetrain. Either way, the Terminator Cobra ('03-'04) is one of the most sought after late-model Mustangs. It offers an aggressive-yet-subtle exterior, a blown Four-Valve powerplant, and a refined and comfortable interior.
So it stands to reason that Enrique Dealba of Newark, California picked that to style his Mustang after. "In July 2006, I sold my supercharged '03 GT and was looking for an '03-'04 Cobra," Enrique tells us. Then he found something online that caught his eye. It was a '99 GT with an '03 Cobra drivetrain. The owner had totaled the '03 Cobra and bought it back from the insurance company.
Model: Brittany Herrera
"He found a '99 Mustang GT rolling chassis, and put everything from the totaled Cobra into this shell-drivetrain, interior, and wiring harness," says Enrique. "He also got rid of the Eaton supercharger and put on a Novi 2000, using '01 Cobra components to make it work-this is what attracted me the most," recalls Enrique. "He painted the entire car Rio Red. The paint job is flawless with no orange peel-like a factory paint job."
Once Enrique made the purchase, it wasn't long before he decided to crank up the boost. Then pumping out 700 hp, the faux Cobra was operating beyond the limits of the stock engine. Soon after the upgrade, the engine spun a bearing. Enrique took this opportunity to perform some upgrades to the short-block. He enlisted Chris Costa of Hayward, California to install the Kellogg stroker crankshaft, and Manley rods and 0.020-inch-over pistons, bringing displacement to 302 ci.
Enrique ditched the Novi 2000 for a ProCharger F1A, taking power output to 711 rwhp. "Unhappy with the power level and loudness of the blower, I decided to go turbo and haven't looked back," said Enrique. So he ordered a 76mm turbo from Turbonetics and built a custom system himself, thanks to help from friends on www.modularfords.com and www.theturboforums.com.
After the welding was complete, a dyno tune by Nextgen Autosport in Hayward, California netted 789 rwhp and 815 lb-ft of torque. Some other upgrades include Corbeau seats, an eight-point cage, a Tremec TKO-600, a solid 8.8 with 31-spline Moser axles, and 18-inch FR500 wheels with BFGoodrich rubber.
If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, then '03-'04 Cobras everywhere have reason to feel privileged. Though not exactly what was originally intended, Enrique's '99 GT packs enough punch to intimidate some of the toughest Terminators on the street or track. "This project isn't finished, but it will be by the end of this year," Enrique tells us.