Important things to look for when buying 2003-2004 Terminator SVT Cobra collection Buyer guide

[@Dryceman]

Just bought an ‘04 - this video was gold for me. I really appreciate you and love your content my man

[@Lethal_Venom]

Great video Danny. Always bothered me when people harped on small things about other peoples Terminators when they where never intended as show room condition unmodded and have mileage and use on them. People buy these cars for a multitude of different reasons and many of these cars have a mixed past from previous owners over its life span. The main thing to remember that with a limited number of these car's made and the number that are left those of us that have one just have to be happy that we even have one and for other's that do instead of nitpicking and criticizing others for what they have. I bought mine modded and always intended on whichever Terminator I ended up with to also mod it further, it has previous owners and use and while in my opinion its not a pristine perfect Terminator it's becoming exactly what I want it to be

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

I love to see people driving them as well. If not why even have a factory forged engine? And those that sit a long time have problems because they need to be driven. On the other hand, I don’t like seeing people pick them up and brag it is all original and I see all kinds of things missing so the video hopefully educates them a little more. I also jokingly point out things in for sale ads when someone says “selling my 100% stock terminator.” Challenge accepted 😃

[@Lethal_Venom]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage 🤣🤣

[@tomkjr1]

Of course there are the more obvious things to avoid when looking for a pristine or even just a good Terminator Cobra to enjoy driving for a long time. Things like an auto trans swap, turbo or turbos instead of superchargers, a straight rear axle, and a "drag pack" wheel & tire setup. Avoid cars with these things done because, in most cases, they indicate a car that has been tracked a lot and has had a hard life. 03-04 Terminators were made to take it on the rough side, but you really want a Cobra that you can either preserve or use up, not one that someone else already has used up. Nowadays since Terminators are approaching 20 years of age, we will be seeing more Cobras that have been rebuilt, repainted, etc. and some are really nice and worth buying, but proof is the big thing here. If the car comes with documentation for the work done, fine. Otherwise, I would walk away. Great video Danny!

[@CheesusSVT]

😁 Loving the regular uploads. Excited to see whats in store. 😁 Always learn something new here. Just a library of knowledge. And fun for me since im uneducated 😁

[@philjamieson9501]

Dan, Regarding the SVT certificate, I ordered mine in July of 02 and received it in October. My certificate is original and signed by "George Ayers & Hau - Thai - Tang". They are not all signed by Tom & John.

[@eee-tb9cl]

You got an 03 in October of 2002? That's wild

[@philjamieson9501]

@@eee-tb9cl Um, yes. You should probably brush up on your math skills.

[@eee-tb9cl]

@philjamieson9501 don't be an asshole. Am genuinely interested and curious. I didn't know you could pre order and get the car months before 03. Literally didn't know.

[@philjamieson9501]

@@eee-tb9cl 03's came out in May of 02. I assumed you were being a wise guy like most on here.

[@iNeverHadMercy]

This is THE most in-depth "checklist" for Cobras......great job!! In a Perfect World, I would own one. Until Utopia becomes a real thing, I'll just be patient

[@PASquared]

Original radio seems to be another item to check. Very obviously visible one of course, a lot of people wanted bluetooth radios, then now a nice touchscreen unit. I picked up a nice touchscreen radio which brings the car into the 21st century, then picked up an original radio just to have in storage

[@modlist6129]

I kept the original radio also I got a double din touch screen but kept my original just in case I change my mind and go back to original later on.

[@CesarHermosilloSVT03]

it feels so peaceful to come to this channel and find such a great and informative content, quite the opposite from most of the FB mustang groups, where mostly of the members only have negative comments and so much hate to the 03/04 Terminators, sometimes I feel like I am in the wrong mustang group just dealing with a bunch of chevy and mopar fans(no offense to them).

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Thanks 🙏🏼. My brother and I feel like we are true enthusiast. We enjoy the cars for what they are and there is so much to enjoy rather than be negative. 👍🏼

[@PASquared]

It's really one guy with initials S K that causes half the BS in the FB groups

[@CesarHermosilloSVT03]

@PA Squared also another guy called Mike sanchez. he has like 3 different profiles, and he's always talking BS about our cars

[@midnight347]

@@CesarHermosilloSVT03 he prob got smoked by a terminator or two and he's salty lol. This was the blueprint for the hellcat 12 years before there was a hellcat so I don't wanna hear shit from any dodge or gm guy for that matter. Gm guys used to dog on fords for "needing blowers to go fast" although most of their highest performing cars the last 10 years have all been factory supercharged years after the cobra was doing it. They're just salty.

[@justin.c_svt]

I’ve seen people melt the tail lights when they try to remove tint from them. Little dents in the middle of each bar

[@jakel3424]

Wow. The Screaming Yellow is beautiful

[@craighanlon3163]

Absolutely Love your videos. I don’t even have a cobra “yet” but I’m going to school on these videos and becoming educated when the time comes . Cheers

[@Wretched2JZ]

WOW! 😎 what a beautiful parking garage. Can’t get enough of those mountains!

[@michaelholden5781]

Just went to my car to check these things. Found out my driver's side front fender isn't ford oem. Weird though because it's fitment/ alignment on that side is better than the passenger side which is oem

[@Wretched2JZ]

@17:23 so your re print certificate came with a stamp still of Johns name on the back?! I didn’t know that!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

It’s actually a blank one I also have kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJnGd52ibbureKs

[@andrewgetz1829]

Danny, really like your informative videos, want to PM you, I have a 2003 Anniversary Cobra coupe with 6K miles and a 2003 Mach 1 with 360 miles yes 360 miles both are 100% original. I never thought these Mustangs would be what they are today.

[@12northdakota]

Can’t wait for the Mach 1 version

[@Wretched2JZ]

Completely agree, great video my friend! Yea some folks will pay more for say a Whipple Cobra vs a more stock one. As much as a stock one is cool and all, I personally feel they need to be modded a little to enjoy!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

They came with a build engine for a reason. It’s almost a waste not to use it, but the eaton is an awesome sound too

[@Wretched2JZ]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage I agree!

[@5.0_meatballmarinara]

Bought one last year and I’ve spent the last 11 months taking off and replacing 90% of what you just said is valuable!! Fml

[@stefanospasaro7668]

Thanks Danny Awesome review of your Awesome Cobra 👌 💛

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

No problem 👍

[@boxcarent.3147]

Frame rails in engine compartment rust really fast, thin metal.

[@aceburgers8801]

Great vid as always. Really from watching you n Justin’s vids has helped me immensely and continue to learn more as a newer owner. I took my original knob off and put it away. Took wipers off just the other day put those in my little original parts box lol. Antenna etc. Question if i take my hood carpet thing off, will it effect the paint with/from the heat? Im lucky if I will put 1k miles during the nicer days/months to come in future. Thanks 👍🏼🐍

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

The concern is the heat can fade the paint on the hood. I always put my hood up after a drive and it has been fine for me.

[@franciscoperez854]

Great video. I need to verify my SVT cert not sure if its original or a reprint now.

[@edgarmonterrubio7399]

Great Video man!

[@lowlifeslides9918]

You said you were gonna link those hood vent rain guards but I cant seem to find a link to them

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

It appears they no longer are available. They must have run out of the last batch. Here is the video I linked in the description: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4KqgIWYf6x9g7csi=6RZj25ey9lqlNI6u

[@jasonmitchell7677]

My third brake light cracked while pushing the car during clutch replacement. Be careful everyone while pushing the car.

[@flickboogers9325]

If you're buying one ass the owner for emissions testing paperwork. Pay attention to that trail to see how much mileage has been driven. I came across a Terminator where the guy said the car had 2,000 mi but it actually had over 20,000 mi he tried to pull a fast one because we saw his emissions paperwork which he forgot was in the car😂

[@Michael-bu7ni]

Awesome video and yeah Tim is the man.

[@Bucketheadland1]

Great video, Beautiful car 👊💪🏁

[@DoctorRickSanchez]

_I should've picked one of these up a decade ago when they were going for $16k vs $35k_ 😢

[@fitasj]

Always awesome videos thank u. Any ideas where I can find original chrome wheels. ?? Thanks

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Facebook marketplace, Facebook cobra pages, eBay

[@flickboogers9325]

A tech at the Ford dealer scratched up my front chin spoiler. 😢

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

I hope you got good compensation

[@flickboogers9325]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage No unfortunately I did not notice until I got home and later that day I had to get on to a flight so I just let it go. Stupid move on my part

[@scuevas7]

Awesome video!

[@k.t.523]

Good information. Thank you.

[@stephenalexander2427]

I got to looking at mine and thought … the windshield! Mine has the pony, is that a cobra thing ?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

All mustangs have the running horse, but it’s good to know you have factory glass

[@stephenalexander2427]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage I’d trade a whindshield for the wipers 😂😂🤦‍♂️ i saved the broke stock intercooler pump , fogged out stock head lights and 12 other stupid broke and stock stuff and threw the airfoils away . 😂😂😂

[@necos10thanniversaryvert59]

Great Vid, I picked up 10th convertible mine last November 2020 wanted one since they first came out. Bone stock getting ready to mod but have second thoughts of just leaving as is or if I do mod to keep every single nut and bolt etc.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

I’d mod it and enjoy it, just keep all the old parts and try not to do any irreversible alterations

[@andrewjacobson556]

Congratulations!!👍👍

[@nomanmughal1247]

My favorite car

[@joshshepherd6548]

Great video 🐍

[@sergiodoordie319]

What if there's is a different small pulley on the supercharger what does this mean.?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

A smaller pulley has been added to spin the supercharger faster to make more horsepower. This means the car should have also been tuned. It’s very common but a collector may not like the car has been altered

[@9145709902]

Surprised you did not say anything about the ignition coil covers.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

That’s for sure another one swapped out a lot and hard to find 👍🏼

[@adillon2four]

Is not have the original wheels a deal breaker? I'm looking one buying but the wheels have the cobra logo. TIA!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

They are important, but you should be able to find a pair of them. It would be a good thing to find. They aren’t marked with a serial number, just a part number, so as long as they are good condition that you find, it should be okay

[@davidosborn7675]

I have a 2004 40th anniversary Mustang do you have any videos on that?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Yes, all but cobra 2004 mustangs had the 40th anniversary logo, but ford also made a 40th anniversary package for the V6 and GT with a special Crimson red color found only on the package cars, Oxford white, and black. They had special Arizona beige (gold colored) stripes and interior kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2etZpKemLd-gdU

[@fitasj]

Danny what is the head code difference between 9 n 4 thread heads. Thanks

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

AF, AG, DA are 4 thread, DB, DC are 9 thread kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn20dGuOjaefaLs

[@12northdakota]

Great advice!

[@jayc9509]

If your terminator cobra is slightly modified....and in prestine condition like mine is....it will still hold its value....trust me!!!

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

18:34 in the video, I agree

[@Wretched2JZ]

I notice your rear bumper is like mine. If you look at the gap between bumper and trunk mine starts to tighten up as you go towards the passenger side. Wonder how we can fix that? Heat and pressure? Also where did you end up finding a blank original SVT cert?? Very cool

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

You can get a piece of flat bar and glue it to the inside of the bumper. A friend of mine did it. The main concern is if it’s rubbing anywhere and if it will chip the paint doing so

[@Wretched2JZ]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage interesting! So you do that with the bumper off the car I take it? And do you put the bar in and leave it? Or put bar in the add some weight then use heat gun carefully?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

@@Wretched2JZ yeah, remove the bumper, glue the flat bar to the inside of it and put it back on

[@Wretched2JZ]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage is your car like this too? Thanks maybe I’ll do that in the future!

[@Wretched2JZ]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage so many mustangs had this issue it’s crazy! My dads old 1990 Gt had same issue 😆🤷🏼‍♂️

[@manueltovar4821]

If it's a cobra shouldn't it have the snake in the front instead of the horse?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

No, so many people have changed it to a snake you would think it’s factory but all 03/04 Cobras came with the horse

[@manueltovar4821]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage so same thing for the snakes in the front fenders? Should it only say cobra in the rear bumper ?

[@stephenalexander2427]

Great video

[@RA-lk1vz]

Amazing quality of vio

[@samconway5288]

The two knobs looks the same to me

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

One has a higher dome on the top

[@APwraps]

Notification gang 🏃🏻‍♂️

[@CheesusSVT]

[@2wheelcobra]

Hey Danny, do you know anyone with a Sonic Blue convertible for sale?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Sorry, I don’t

[@aldeezy87]

Where do you get the certificate from?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4bIXomveal_na8

[@marlostanfield1087]

When are you going to switch to a shorty antenna?

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

I’ll have to grab one when I order parts again. I don’t listen to the radio in the car, only cd, so it doesn’t really matter. It’s just easier not to lose it when it’s on the car lol

[@marlostanfield1087]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage true! I only got my shorty antenna for cosmetics lol my BT stereo works for me lol 😝

[@joebravo7220]

My Friend rest in paradise just lost his life Ford hard fan died in his 2004 mistic color cobra 2004 17000 miles crazy didn't have his seat belt passenger came out with out scratch but yea he had svt lighting ,boss 2016,Ford rtr, mustang ,

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Sorry for your loss.

[@Daniel22777]

Gorgeous car 😮‍💨🔥🔥

[@svtdan643]

Question reguarding the CC plates....... Is it possible to put the stock plates on a car that currently has the aftermarket ones installed? Or does the new hole prevent it? My cobra is lowered with CC plates and I would like to return it to stock because of the ride quality.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Depending on the brand, you should be able to put the old ones on. You’ll just have an extra hole that might be covered by the stock ones kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6nUgoaYo99-oZo

[@svtdan643]

@@dannyjohnsonsgarage MM brand. Okay thanks ! ill look into it. - Just in case, is there any issue running the CC plates with stock springs?

[@Tattoodtoolow]

i just got a 03 vert 10th ann car 14k well spent. Just realizing It’s only 1of 237

[@Sloimer]

How many miles did it have?

[@Tattoodtoolow]

@@Sloimer 56k. And it also has vmp sc

[@Sloimer]

@@Tattoodtoolow not bad at all. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for one, but the prices I’m seeing are pretty high. Market is crazy right now.

[@Tattoodtoolow]

@@Sloimer Unfortunately there will be a lot of financial pain here soon But on flip side. Might be able to pick one up cheap then. Cash cash cash

[@Sloimer]

@@Tattoodtoolow yeah no doubt. Tough to imagine the prices coming down in the current and upcoming environment. Definitely time to hold some cash.

[@jasonsylvester717]

I knew your voice sounded familiar

[@stephenalexander2427]

I threw away the airfoil windshield wipers not thinking! 🤦‍♂️😂😂😂

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

You’re not the first and you won’t be the last 😁

[@Wretched2JZ]

I like how you said don’t be too picky on the seats. I’ve passed on cars because of the seats alone lol. I guess I’m learning I’m a little over the top anal when it comes to these. Good thing is I got paid today for my car, and the Mystichrome I ended up finding will soon be in my driveway! Hopefully! And I looked at 6 MC cars in the last couple months before that and man everyone has their own opinion on what “clean” actually is. Clean to some folks means rust flaking on the underside 🙈

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

Congrats!

[@iworkhard2013]

Did you ever get your Mystichrome? Got mine (convertible) yesterday gifted from my father.

[@Wretched2JZ]

@@iworkhard2013 Nice man! Yea I got it, but sold it kinda quick..wasn’t feeling the colors.

[@andrewverrett568]

Why would people nitpick these so much? People really buying these as collector items? What a waste. Keep it nice but drive it. Thats what its for. To put a smile on the face.

[@dannyjohnsonsgarage]

That’s just how car collecting goes. Some find enjoyment as art, I like to meet in the middle and have a nice car and also drive it