Lethal Venom- The Heart of the Super Cobra Jet

In our last 2019 Cobra Jet Mustang Unleashed feature, the folks at Ford Performance and their supplier, Watson Racing, gave us unlimited insider access to snoop around in their massive build facility in Brownstown Township, Michigan. We were checking out Ford’s newest guided missile aimed directly at destroying the competition in the Factory Stock Showdown (FSS) battles being waged on drag strips across the country.

In part two, we do another deep dive, this time into the heart of what has powered the new Cobra Jet Mustang to an insane 7.80 e.t. at more than180 mph in FSS at NHRA and NMCA races this year. The supplier tasked with this undertaking was Performance Automotive Solutions (PAS) in Livonia, Michigan.

The bones of the Super Cobra Jet begin with production Ford 5.2-liter aluminum engine blocks that are supplied to PAS from Ford Performance. The prep begins with deburring, grinding all the casting flash, and removing the sharp corners throughout the block. The blocks are then washed, dried, and the dowels are installed. The main bearings are selected using a Ford production grading system to ensure proper fit and clearance. Blocks and cranks are identified with a matrix that determines what bearing grades to install.

PAS was founded in 1999 as a joint venture with Ford’s long term, go-to engineering house, Roush Industries. Together, they collaborated on many OEM and aftermarket projects for the Blue Oval. These included low-volume, niche-powertrain assemblies and systems that include superchargers and performance crate engines. PAS has engineered and assembled several different engines for Ford Performance including the Coyote Aluminators, 5.2-liter BOSS XS, 5.2-liter Road Race, and the 2013-current 5.0 Cobra Jet engine.

Just like at Watson Engineering when we showed you the Cobra Jet build process, we were given full access to see these engines come together at PAS and got to watch the build process every step of the way. To say we were impressed would be an understatement.  The fact that this 1,300 horsepower hammer used many production components says a lot about the Coyote’s architecture.

The technicians at PAS begin by measuring and kitting all rotating group components and place them on a specific cart for the engine. This attention is detail seems obvious, but it’s important in making all the moving components work in harmony when these engines are buzzing over 8,500 RPM.

Out of the gate, Ford’s new 327 cubic-inch Super Cobra Jet was so dominant, it cleaned house the NHRA FSS season opening Gatornationals. The NHRA tech department desperately tried to reign it in using rule revisions that included pulley changes. At the following two NHRA FSS events, the Super Cobra Jet once again put its competition on the trailer. Just recently, the NHRA Tech Department clamped down again and removed more power from the Super Cobra Jet. Remember, this is the NHRA’s sandbox, and they make the rules. They’re also trying to do what’s best in keeping all the OEMs competitive in a class that can quickly get out of control.