FE vs Coyote

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dallas_

... with a Coyote motor in it. A different look ... He had some nice covers on it.

Well, it's a shame he had to cover it up in order for it to look good.

[blykins]

Do Cobra owners worry about gas mileage? That was always the last thing in my mind when buying a weekend toy.

I think that if you broke down the costs of buying an FE or SBF vs the cost of a Coyote, supporting hardware, and the cost to fit the engine in the car, I really don't see the advantages. Another con is that when you get used to the 412hp, where do you go for an upgrade? Superchargers aren't cheap. You could change the cams, but the VVT engines have phasers which need to be worked around.

What happens when you need to work on it?

Don't get me wrong, I build Modular Fords too and I have respect for them in the right application...

[Great Asp]

Just for a cruiser and if the OP doesn't care about a more period correct looking engine, I'd say the Coyote motor. No carb, no issues.

If he gets tired of that, build a new Cobra.

E

[olddog]

Originally Posted by blykins

Do Cobra owners worry about gas mileage? That was always the last thing in my mind when buying a weekend toy.

In this economy, hell yes it matters! At least to some of us.

Since I purchased the Cobra:
My company cut all overtime and cut awards - I lost $20K/yr income.
Gasoline has doubled. All my energy cost are up.
Insurance rates up 50%.
Food cost up 30%.
All my benefit costs went up.
The school divided the voters and got a 1% tax on earned income.

I used to have $1000 per month of expendable income to do as I pleased. I no longer can fund my IRA and I look for ways to cut my monthly bills by $20. I have absolutely let the Cobra sit because I didn't have the cash to fill up the tank.

All numbers is based on emotional feelings and are not to be relied on for any valid economic analysis.

[Skuzzy]

I am not going the "replicate" route, but there are some things that just seem like the right thing to do.

I will violate the original in many ways and I know the purists will cringe, but when I raise the hood/bonnet, all the cringing will stop,...well,..mostly stop. The puke tank will be my own design and I will probably go with a complete electronic ignition system. I will stick with the twin 4bbl carburetors.

As far as what others do to their car. It is your car. Do what you want and be happy with it. I'll never judge. Truth be told, I will not have any room to do that.

At the end of the day, if driving it puts a smile on your face, then you did good.

[LesMurray]

That's it, I'll just do a slabside and put my SBF in there and be done. No kids will be crying.

[Skuzzy]

Originally Posted by LesMurray

That's it, I'll just do a slabside and put my SBF in there and be done. No kids will be crying.

LOL!

It's all good.

[mdross1]

I'm all for the original look and to most that look at our cars they see it.Have to say that if the badge says 427 always hope to see at least some form of big block when the hood is lifted.
Honestly when it comes to our Cobras it is all about the performance a lot of us are after fortunately there are a lot of choices,thankfully with our kit cars we have that freedom and do not have to worry about hurting a collectable.
Originality was my focus, stuck to it as much as functionally possible at least with a big block Ford.
These cars are an excellent way to express our ourselves and to show the world our passion for vintage muscle.There will never be an other car that excites me like a door shaking big block Cobra.Sure anxious for the days to warm up and get the car out of storage.
Whatever engine you choose make it what you want and enjoy the rush.

[olddog]

FE Vs Coyote?

This is like comparing a T-Rex to an Elephant. One is a warm blooded, vegetarian, mammal. The other a cold blooded, meat eating, dinosaur. They are nothing alike, other than they both breathed air.

No one asked why the original OP had narrowed his choice to these two. I have to assume that the OP has had absolutely no interest in engines in his past. By the things he is considering, he knows he needs one to make his Cobra go, but does not understand the huge difference between these too engines. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Based on this assumption, I have to think the OP will be much happier with the Coyote. Decent power, modern day reliability, and good manors will make him happy. Remember it is what would make the OP happy, not what would make me or you happy!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by olddog

Remember it is what would make the OP happy, not what would make me or you happy!

Unless one is going against the Cobra's nature... which is abhorrent. He should consider the children's eyes, as they well up with tears, at the mere sight of a Coyote engine.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Unless one is going against the Cobra's nature... which is abhorrent. He should consider the children's eyes, as they well up with tears, at the mere sight of a Coyote engine.

I guess if that's who you hang with, the peer group whose opinions mean a lot to you, then absolutely let them dictate the motor for you, you'll be much happier being king on their hill

[olddog]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Unless one is going against the Cobra's nature... which is abhorrent. He should consider the children's eyes, as they well up with tears, at the mere sight of a Coyote engine.

I give you an "A" on the theatrics and emotional strings, but an "F" on reality.

Children's eyes light up when they see a Cobra. They are too young to have a clue as to what engine belongs in one.

The younger generations are few and far between to have any understanding of how an engine works. Many are lucky to know how to check the oil let alone change it. Cars are so reliable today they rarely need worked on. They are so complicated to work on they intimidate. Any power level can be purchased from the factory, so there is little need to build your own hot rod. To these generations they see no problem with a modern engine in a Cobra.

I'm afraid the old codger purest's are the only ones who cry about modern engines in a Cobra.

[AL427SBF]

hum, interesting analogy, if tech = brains then about right

[vector1]

some of the younger ones who grew up on efi wouldn't know how to start a carb'd vehicle nor keep it running......

[AL427SBF]

I once saw patrickt in a group photo with his buds talking cobras, 5 of them at about 4'6" in the front, two on either side of patrickt back row ~4'11", then patrickt a full head taller in the middle, they all had their thumbs up.

[CobraEd]

Most of the kids these days do not even know what a Cobra is. They know it is a cool looking car and thats about it. They are all good at staring at their iPhones all day.


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[AL427SBF]

Luce, if you do a little research here you will find that the concept of the hood scoop on a cobra being a working ram air or forced induction design is a misnomer. At speed, a boundary layer of stagnant air sets up along the hood line that is 2-3" thick, your scoop isn't grabbing any air - but if your carb intake is sealed to the hood, then you can suck ambient air in versus the hotter under hood air and that will give you better combustion due to the denser/cooler air intake.

[Luce]

I/we now know that there's a slightly negative pressure there and GM later learned to pull it in from the cowl or leading edge of the hood for positive pressure.

The cool denser air is why I posted my homemade glass turkey pan, but my point is that it's a big part of the character of the car, and should be utilized as was intended. I'm just saying... with a coyote, it's just acting as a hot underhood air exhaust.

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by Luce

I/we now know that there's a slightly negative pressure there and GM later learned to pull it in from the cowl or leading edge of the hood for positive pressure.

The cool denser air is why I posted my homemade glass turkey pan, but my point is that it's a big part of the character of the car, and should be utilized as was intended. I'm just saying... with a coyote, it's just acting as a hot underhood air exhaust.

I agree, and correct me if I'm wrong - but from what I've read even the cobra scoop location puts you in negative pressure land. That being said, then a big part of the character of the car is a turkey pan so the scoop becomes functional, otherwise any cobra not equipped with one is using the scoop as a hot underhood air exhaust.

For the history buffs, in terms of the cobra evolution, 289/FIA/427 - did the scoop versions have factory installed turkey pans from the beginning or did that follow later?

[REAL 1]

There are still kids that know what a Cobra is without being as familar with the details about it as we are. It is still one of the few cars that have transcended generations, however, most kids are more interested in the "rice burners" that are what they can afford and modify. No different than any previous generation.

The Coyote is a really cool peice and engine, however, it does not belong in a Cobra replica IMHO unless you (a) don't care about aesthetics/originality (b) your priority is track performance and reliability and efficiency it is a great choice.

While most "kids" don't care about originality there are still enough of us old codgers around that do care and/or appreciate it and so does the resale market. I don't cringe when I see a modern engine in a Cobra replica but I don't care for it as much as seeing an original FE motor.

Further, no matter what Cobra replica you have you of course can build it the way you want and the way it makes you happy.... however, at the end of the day the more aesthetically accurate the more your car will be worth and the more desirable it will be on resale and the more it will bring on re-sale. Period. At least for now.

On this issue a questoin is raised just how long will the Cobra and replicas of it be a desirable car as our generation fades and the upcoming generation comes up. My son has an Automotive site called Automotive Erotica and posts photos and videos of exotic cars, muscle cars and tuners along with some videos on Youtube. A tuner video he posted by far exceeded the number of views then vids of Cobras and muscle cars. Sign of things to come and the prelude to a fading heros such as the Cobra and others from the generation we grew up in????