small block vs. big block in a cobra

[ByronRACE]

As far as heat and a big block goes, I can't get mine to run hot enough, and the block is 1/3 filled and the engine is supercharged...so if you're having trouble in that regard I think you have a cooling system deficiency or tune problem. I spent hours on the dyno last saturday with no supplemental cooling fan and a ton of run time and the hottest it ever got was 167deg F.

As far as happy...I'm very happy with my choice. Durable. Makes tremendous power with ease on pump gas even with a very soft tune and low rpm. 600/600 to the tires at 5000rpm having not reached a torque peak yet. If I had to guess, I'll have a torque somewhere around 5500 and peak power somewhere up around 7000...power to burn. And, this is with 16deg total advance and an 11:1 AFR on a 7.8:1 compression supercharged tiny 435" big block pump gas build.

I can only imagine what it's going to make at 12:1 AFR and 24deg advance...which I'll know this Saturday if my fuel injectors arrive. Probably near 700ft-lbs and over 800hp to the tires on pump gas. That looks like a good guess at this point.

The great part is...this is being done with an OEM block and OEM crank, OEM fuel injection, and a 429 based build and a relatively small supercharger (Vortech V7-JT). Just imagine what you could do with a 545" build on a race block with a huge blower. The big valves and big ports of the 385 makes power so much more easily than on a small block platform unless you start looking at exotic parts. It's amazing how much you can do with this platform on a budget. I have less than 8K into my engine; including the EFI and Supercharger.

You'd spend a hell of a lot more to try to duplicate the output on a small block platform. You'd have to start with a race block and a billet crank, then top it with some exotic heads. By that point, you've already come near the price tag of my completed engine assembly. Power per dollar, the 385 is a pretty amazing platform.

That said, I've found that more than 500rwhp in a Cobra is pretty ridiculous; that's near the traction limit starting at freeway speeds. If you have no experience behind the wheel of low-tech cars with big power, I wouldn't recommend more than 400rwhp for the first time out; that's enough to scare most anyone. Mine is basically a half-throttle street car; WOT is reserved for straight line track duty.

B