Ok, if you guys like to "Bench Race" like I do, lets figure out my wants, needs and budjet for my 427 Cobra.
Different combinations to best suit a patcular engine.
What to do about blocks, heads, valvetrains, rotating assembly's, products, manufactures, specs and where the best prices can be found.
I'd much rather,....have a powerhouse low rpm torque monster FE, for street fun, yet high rpm HP for some, track racing.
Would like to rev over 6,000 rpm. With the light weight Cobra, it suprised me just how fast the rpm's come up to 5,000 (+)
A lot of it is setting up the suspention for traction. I used a set of electronic scales to get all four corners equal in weight and almost 50/50 front to back, even with a hipo weight FE. With street slicks it launches hard, yet not dumping the clutch and using 2nd gear.
Although I need a lot of power, to a point, I need some decent gas milage, I don't want a 8 mpg like I had with my Pro-Street Camaro either. lol
Being a sprint car racer, I need it to fricken rock & roll. I can't express this point enough,..ROCK & ROLL guys ! (like Van Halen) lol
To each it's own, but that's what a Cobra is all about. Hearing a smooth kitty purrrrr,.....in Cobra's I've seen is silly, plus using comfortable high back seats and stereo's ? Come on ! Lol....
So to start off, let's talk about a block. 1st I'd like a side oiler, 2nd is a 428FE, third a 390, 4th is a 385/460.
Pro's & Con's- (I could talk all day on this point, but will get you thoughts)
FE-
PRO'S
Original to the later years of Cobra's.
Blocks look great.
Sound.
Praises from people. (yes, it matters, sorry)
CON'S-
COST !
If you want to change the intake, you must remove the heads. Pain in the ass !)
Other than that, can't think of more.
385 series-
PRO'S-
Huge power capable. 600 and even 700 HP/TQ is easy.
I'm excited about all the full range power of power of say a 460/545 (other cid's) and lower cost !)
The torque down low is incredable.
Low cost,.... even with steel crank, pistons and good aluminum heads.
I have a brand new steel scatter shield, bullet flywheel and two disk clutch.
CON'S-
Not original to the Cobra's.
Although from the charts reading the FE and 460 are equal measurments, except the 460 is 2 inchs longer, but that dooesn't matter.
I'm concernd about the 460 being too tall for under the hood. I'm getting mixed results from Cobra owners. I looked at some Cobras on youtube that have 460's, their hood scoup's are taller than most Cobra's.
I may,.....have to cut out the scoop and build/buy a taller one, do a bunch of body work on and under the hood, sand the hood and repaint the body color and the custom mixed white with added pearl paint of the stripes, from the nose of the body, the hood to the windshield. Not only a lot of time because of my bad health, and the expense.
Would need to sell the FE parts I have, for 460 parts. (shield, flywheel clutch) etc.
So is the lower cost and huge power worth all the time, money and work to the hood worth it ?
(If,....iit needs it)
With there was a plastic 460 engine to mock up the engine bay !
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