"some minor modifications to make her a little faster" screams gears! You think the car pulls hard now, try it with a set of 3.73s.
The other simple, good starting point modification, is under drive pulleys. Pulleys cost less then $200, install easily and are good for 6-8 hp and torque.
The gears will cost about $170 for the parts, and depending on where you go, $200-? for the installation.
Welcome to the top of a very slipperly slope...
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1997 Cobra
Suspension: Steeda G Trac. Tokico Illumina shocks and struts, Sport Springs, upper and lower control arms, cc plates, rear adjustable sway bar, front sway bar, subframe connectors, bushings, Cobra R wheels
Exhaust (soon): FRPP ceramic headers, Bassani X-pipe w/ cats, Dynomax Ultra Flow cat-back
Bolt-ons: 4.10s, Steeda Tri-Ax, Pro-M 80mm, K&N, Steeda Underdrive pulleys, Steeda timing adjuster (soon)