Everyone has their ideal dream car and as someone that grew up racing at NMRA and World Ford Challenge with his father, for Keith Ciborowski that car is the Dark Shadow Gray 2003 SVT Cobra. Otherwise known as the Terminator.
The supercharged 4.6-liter powered Mustang pumped out 390-horsepower and was only offered with six-speed manual transmission. All in all, the Terminators production run was limited to just two years and Dark Shadow Gray was one of the rarer color options as only 851 hardtops were produced in that color. That didn’t stop Ciborowski from getting his though. In 2013 he picked up a low mileage Terminator that had minimal work done to it.
Quickly realizing the 390-horsepower supplied by the factory supercharger was a bit too mild, Ciborowski swapped the Eaton M112 for a VMP blower using the Eaton TVS 2300 rotor pack. With supporting mods like a Fore fuel system, headers and exhaust, and a custom tune, the mild natured powerhouse was transformed into a formidable 700-horsepower beast.
At the Gateway Motorsports Park drag strip, the new power plant proved to be too much for the Tremec and the IRS that were better suited for the street. So the 8.8 live axle rear end and 4R70W automatic transmission conversions were put in during the 2014/2015 off-season. The combination, plus a small shot of nitrous, had the Cobra running consistent 9.20s for the 2015 NMRA World Finals.
While the Terminators initial transformation was extreme, it was far from over. With the help from JPC and RGR, the next step was underway. A highly modified Coyote 5.0-liter with a Precision Pro Mod 85mm turbocharger along with some chassis and suspension mods got the car past the 8-second mark for the first time and by the end of 2018 Ciborowski ran his best time of 7.56 at over 187 mph.
Currently, the big turbo has been exchanged for a 76mm turbo allowing Ciborowski to compete in a limited NMRA schedule for the 2019 season. However, his plans to see exactly how low in the 7s he can get have only been put on hold, as he still has the big boost maker sitting on the shelf.
Elizabeth is hardcore horsepower enthusiast with unmatched intensity for making things faster and louder. She wakes up for power and performance and only sleeps to charge up for the next project that’s heading to the track. From autocross to drag racing, Elizabeth is there with you, so stay tuned for her unique perspective on horsepower news, builds, tech info, and installs — with her, it’ll never be boring!
