It's about TORQUE, this is what moves the car front stop until your HP crosses your torque band in the higher rpms. Heres a couple of questions for you to answer and think about,
Sound like you have a great car already. It has everything to protect you, launch control, ABS, traction control, reduced power if tires spins, I think you get where this is going, the most you will get for a cobra is power steering and MAYBE an ABS system if you build it yourself.
Every time I have added more power you have to learn how to drive the car all over again, rolling on and off the gas smoothly. Same for the brakes.
Alot dending on who's car you buy and what chassic configuration is under the body. some cars twist more than others. You can drive a car with 400/450 HP and Tork and have a great street car and a little fun. I started with a real numbers 452 motor with 348hp and 446ft of tork at the crank. Car will run 12's in the 1/4 mile. idle at 700 rpms smooth and little noise. The key thing for this is setup of rearend ratio and manual trans ratios in the 5 speed and then 6 spd. You don't need to turn 7,000 rpms with these motors. I have a limiters of either 6,000 rpms or 6,200 rpms MAX. I have gone to a 482 stroker with 620 ft of tork and 540 HP at the crank. It has become a hand full. Having the suspension and good tires help alot, but can still smoke 335's in the mid range of the car. Sometmes fun, sometimes not fun
. With going to a driving school for a week, a good 500/500 will be a safe range. Start here, get the power bug and build bigger in a couple of years. The last question is how deep are your pockets??
This may limit your power wants and have you asked the boss???( other half)
Have a good day Rick L.
