429 in dax cobra

keane · #1 (**permalink**) 07-17-2002, 02:53 PM

Hi, to everyone in USA, my 429 build has hit a snag ,the kitcar company(dax) have fabricated the wrong mounts for my engine, however I now have time to try and sort out a few questions and hopefully some of you experts can point me in the right direction.The engine is a 1971 t/bird 11:1cr, std heads ported and polished, I am unsure what set-up to go for as regards cam/carb/ manifold/lifters etc,I want to have a useable car that will drive on our english roads but also have some clout!! Bearing in mind that spares for bbf 385's are like rocking horse droppings over here. I have just picked up a toploader(RUG/AV) that started life in a mustang in 1970,I need some feedback on the following

1) Will the box I have be up to the job or do I need a 31 spline box(which are as rare as hens teeth)(2) If it will cope what clutch set-up would work best(3) I have seen some cheaper cams(blue racer for sale) are they any good? My biggest problem at present is locating a bellhousing over here, other than a new mcleod which are mega expensive,CAN ANYONE HELP PLEASE!!!I look forward to any replies. regards DAVE KEANE POOLE DORSET UK e-mail dave.keane@virgin.net

jdean · #2 (**permalink**) 07-17-2002, 03:28 PM

Dave,

Right now there are at least (2) 429/460 bellhousings for sale on ebay. You could probably buy them and ship them to the UK cheaper than sourcing them over there.

Standard "385" bellhousings are on ebay quite often.

John

jdean · #3 (**permalink**) 07-17-2002, 03:31 PM

Also, for a cheap cam/lifters, you can always buy them from Summit.

Cost will be about $80.00 US dollars.

Do you have adjustable rockers on those standard heads? If not I suggest you convert them to adjustable with a kit from Crane. Not that expensive from www.jegs.com.

Thanks,

John

keane · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2002, 06:06 AM

John, thanks for your reply, i've had a look on ebay, the b/h that would do the job the vendor won't post o/s usa but as you say there will be more options, I have mentioned to the wife about moving home to the states,needless to say she wasn't impressed!!how do you find theC6? I had a C6 but really fancied a manual gearchange,any other info gratefully received. Dave keane

jdean · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2002, 10:15 PM

Dave,

I don't know how the C6 in the Cobra is yet since I am still building. I know another member, Tom Wells has one with his stroker 460, and he likes it. Also, George Anderson has a C6 in a Cobra he races and he more than holds his own. I went to DVSFII and saw a few other Big Block automatics, so there are more running around here in the US than you might think.

My last performance car (Chevy powered) I put an automatic in and liked it. Perhaps it is because I am lazy. But I do enjoy driving a 5 or 6 speed car, like my brothers new Mustang Cobra with the Supercharger on it.

With the low-end torque of the 460, I just thought an auto made sense and was for me less complicated to put in.

If you had a C6 already, did you miss the shifting part? How did it run?

John

keane · #6 (**permalink**) 07-21-2002, 01:10 PM

John, I am still building so did not have a C6 on the road, I had the autobox with the engine from the t/bird, the only reason I was going to use the auto was pure cost,I always fancied manual and having picked up the toploader for a decent price I am sticking to manual. Dave

jdean · #7 (**permalink**) 07-21-2002, 03:51 PM

Dave,

can't beat that. hard to find a good deal on a toploader.

good luck with the build.

john