Club Cobra Keith Craft Racing  

Go Back   Club Cobra > Engine Building, Tuning, and Induction > 429/460 Engine Talk

MMG Superformance
Nevada Classics
MMG Superformance
Main Menu
Module Jump:
Nevada Classics
Nevada Classics
Keith Craft Racing
MMG Superformance
Advertise at CC
Banner Ad Rates
Keith Craft Racing
Keith Craft Racing
MMG Superformance
Keith Craft Racing
March 2024
S M T W T F S
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31            

Kirkham Motorsports

Like Tree1Likes
  • 1 Post By Maricopa

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-02-2015, 10:07 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Saratoga Springs, UT
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR MK IV, 460 SCJ
Posts: 58
Not Ranked     
Default Distributor too tall

Old questions but I'm a new guy. The MSD distributor that came with my 460 SCJ is too tall and conflicts with the air cleaner. What distributors do you experienced guys use? What would be your recommendation for solving this problem?
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 07-03-2015, 09:43 AM
cycleguy55's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: White City, SK
Cobra Make, Engine: West Coast, 460 CID
Posts: 2,844
Not Ranked     
Default

I had the same problem - my oval air cleaner contacted both the boots on the distributor and the hood.

I went with a K&N 9" x 2.25" filter element and a K&N X-Stream top. The setup is similar to this: MAXX Air System MAXX Air System [427 289 CSX CCX KMP ACE HT SPF] - $275.00 : Acton Custom Enterprises, Custom Metal for Cobras
__________________
Brian
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 07-03-2015, 11:33 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR: 302 w/aluminum heads, Edlebrock injection. Street car trim, no scoop, side pipes or rollbar.
Posts: 1,869
Send a message via AIM to Maricopa
Not Ranked     
Default

Probably why 'REAL' Cobras never had those oval air cleaners.
cycleguy55 likes this.
__________________
"Cobra-Cobra-bo-bobra, banana-fanna-fo-fobra, fe-fi-mo-mobra...Cobra!"
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 07-03-2015, 12:53 PM
cycleguy55's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: White City, SK
Cobra Make, Engine: West Coast, 460 CID
Posts: 2,844
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Maricopa View Post
Probably why 'REAL' Cobras never had those oval air cleaners.
Yes, the originals were Stelling & Helling, and they were 8 1/2" Diameter (with no X-Stream top). Stelling & Helling Air Cleaner
__________________
Brian
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 07-03-2015, 08:37 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Saratoga Springs, UT
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR MK IV, 460 SCJ
Posts: 58
Not Ranked     
Default

Thanks guys for your ideas, links and pictures. I'm going to rethink this issue and see what I can come up with. It would be nice if I don't have to replace my distributor and can make it work with what I have. Oh and the air cleaner banter was fun too.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 07-04-2015, 07:52 AM
Tom Wells's Avatar
Senior Club Cobra Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: St. Augustine, FL
Cobra Make, Engine: E-M / Power Performance / 521 stroker / Holley HP EFI
Posts: 1,912
Not Ranked     
Default

lastdime,

The shortest height distributor I found for the 429/460 is the stock Ford Duraspark. You can use it with an MSD box if desired. It is a good way to go. Get it curved correctly, set it and forget it.

I had to use one on my 557/81 Zephyr so I could use an adequate air filter, i.e., 14" circular with a 3" tall element. Anything less won't flow enough air to let the engine breathe adequately. My Cobra tolerates the MSD height.

Just be sure you use the correct material for the distributor gear/cam combo; steel for steel (roller or hyd roller) or cast for a flat tappet cam.

Tom
__________________
Wells's law of engine size: If it matters what gear you're in, the engine's too small!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 07-04-2015, 09:18 AM
scootter's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Jose, Ca
Cobra Make, Engine: SPF #1436 514
Posts: 1,487
Not Ranked     
Default

I have the 8577 distributor which just fits under my air cleaner with a 3/8" phenolic spacer.

Scott
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 07-10-2015, 10:16 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance, Survival Motorsports aluminum FE 482
Posts: 662
Not Ranked     
Default Would this cap work?

MSD Ignition 8541, MSD Distributor Caps and Rotors | MSD Ignition

Looks a little odd but may solve the problem.
__________________
Bill
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 07-10-2015, 02:36 PM
Tom Wells's Avatar
Senior Club Cobra Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: St. Augustine, FL
Cobra Make, Engine: E-M / Power Performance / 521 stroker / Holley HP EFI
Posts: 1,912
Not Ranked     
Default

Bill,

Got me all excited - then after researching, it looks like it only fits the MSD crank trigger 8486 and 8489 distributors. If you have a Chev engine, you're all set.

If only they'd make one for the regular 460 distributor!

Tom
__________________
Wells's law of engine size: If it matters what gear you're in, the engine's too small!
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 07-10-2015, 03:13 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Cobra Make, Engine: Superformance, Survival Motorsports aluminum FE 482
Posts: 662
Not Ranked     
Default

I did not dig that deep. You might want to dig deeper or call MSD
__________________
Bill
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 07-10-2015, 03:52 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR Challenge Car, RDI aluminum 427w
Posts: 344
Not Ranked     
Default

I think the question could be rephrased. How about "my air cleaner is too low"? This forces one to review the air cleaner (general cheap) rather than the distributor (generally expensive). Doesn't take as much technical ability to change either and there are many options.

So can you raise the air cleaner or the carb with a spacer(s) to gain the required clearance? I had to cut a notch in the front bottom of the air cleaner for clearance. Later added spacers but then had to grind a bit from the hood where things rubbed. Just cheap fiberglass. Using a 14" x 3" round piece with a serious drop base. There were more mods but those involved a mill and a ballpeen hammer and you probably don't want to hear that story.

Jim
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 07-11-2015, 09:19 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Saratoga Springs, UT
Cobra Make, Engine: FFR MK IV, 460 SCJ
Posts: 58
Not Ranked     
Default

This is what I love about the forum....I get totally frustrated and I can ask for help and let other guys get frustrated. Thanks for your help.
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 07-12-2015, 03:46 AM
mdross1's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Windham,, Me
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 1,590
Not Ranked     
Default

My choice was a Mallory Unilite, when racing use 14 x 3 with Extreme top otherwise pop the Stellings on for looks. Also picked up another hood grafted on a Harwood scoop to give the 14 x3 plenty of wiggle room. The engine never lacks for air.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:50 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: CC Policy
Links monetized by VigLink