fordracer,
IMO - unless you are going to turn it into a full-on drag car/suspension setup and race it, why so much power in a 90" wheelbase /
IRS based car on the street with street tires? If you've never driven a hi-powered 700+HP Cobra on the street before with an IRS, get ready for a ride or a wreck! A close friend let his other friend (7-time NHRA World Record holder) step into his 580HP Cobra and he didn't last 5 minutes before he put it through a few fences and almost killed himself. Bad ass drag racer almost lost his head, literally. He quickly found out first hand why Cobras can bite you.
Another buddy just finished a brand new SPF 542 stroker for a customer, at 700HP. He kept trying to hint to the customer it would not be what he thought it would be. Customer had to have the biggest/baddest; so he proceeded. We all just sort of laughed shaking our heads, sat back and waited for the phone call to come in. Sure enough, didn't take but a few weeks, now the customer is reportedly selling the car becuase its a bit too much and not that easy to drive without swapping ends. Seriously, my friend says at any speed the thing just fries the tires and can get out of control quickly. Its a normally aspirated 385 series / 542 crate motor. The customer now wishes he had a 351 in his car. Oh, by the way, an ERA with 550+HP gets to be pretty useless if you ask me. That's about the limit. I spent months building/testing stronger diferential/ traction system that helps but its still and IRS. If you go 385 series, the SPF would be a better car to try that in my opinion.
I say go Drive or be a passenger in a true 500+HP (90" wheelbase) Cobra and experience it first before you decide to build an overpowered out of control 385 series monster with turbos. Good Luck.
