Should I trade in my Superformance w/ 482FE?

[garry viohl]

I have had it for about 7 years and love the car, but it is an absolute beast for me! It's got 482Fe with 525hp and 575 tq, and side pipes. I love the power and acceleration, but it is a handful.

Some things I don't like are

Side pipes (hot and fumes) and its very loud
Very heavy clutch
Hard to drive in the city with stop and go traffic
It get 6 to 10 mpg, but not a deal breaker

Thinking of getting the Superformance street version and dropping in a 302/347/ or 363. That puts me in the 300 to 400hp range. Quieter exhaust out the back. More hp is fun, but I feel its not as much fun to drive with a big engine. I think I would drive it more if it had a smaller engine and pipes out the back

Has anyone traded theirs in for a smaller one? Driven both? Been very happy with only 300 to 400 hp? Will I regret this? Thanks for the advice.

[jhv48]

I went the other way. First cobra had a 375 hp 302 in it. Easy to drive and rarely got me into any trouble. Kind of boring after a while, but a great handling car. Just like driving my daily driver in traffic. No over heating and on the freeway I got over 20 mpg.

My current cobra has about 550/575 hp/tq. More than a handful to drive. Must be very judicious with the gas pedal, but an absolute hoot to drive.

If I had the room, I would have both in my garage. One for short drives, and the other for longer drives.

[Dwight]

I build a small block 302 (380 hp) and over the years have increased the motor to a 354 (347) with 500 hp at the flywheel. Mine is fuel injected so it's easier to drive on the street and get 20 mpg.

But I have driven my buddies big block Cobras hundred of miles and love them.

One, a Hurricane with KC 428 stroked to 461, about 600 hp.
A Unique with a 427 s.o. stroked to 487, 620 hp, another KC motor.
And Coach's new Unique with a KC 482 with 620-630 hp.
All three are easy to drive on the street. Nine and a half to 10 compression ratio motors with great street manors.

I think you need to look at changing your clutch. You may have a street/strip clutch that is more strip than street. When with changed the 487 clutch it was a big different in the way it drove. Not a leg killer at the red light. If you don't do nasty burn outs and drag race your Cobra you can use a street clutch that is easy to push in.
One of our guys has a 525 hp 408 with a Centerforce clutch that is as easy to work as the clutch on my 06 Mustang.

Are your sidepipes ceramic coated? Ceramic hold more heat inside and cools a lot quicker than paint, stainless, chrome.

All three Cobras get 10 to 12 mpg. Hodge's 408 was gettting 6.7 till Coach tuned the QuickFuel. Now it gets 13 - 14 mpg.

I think you should fix what is wrong with the Cobra you have. Lots cheaper.
And if you like to color and everything about it, I think fixing it is the way to go.

Dwight

[GBowman]

BLASPHEMY!!!! Kidding but I dont see a big difference relative to your "issues"...a 6 cyl will run as hot as the 482 and will the decibels be that much less with a 302??? I would think that a total phase shift would be the only solution...maybe a coyote set up?

[PLDRIVE]

Garry,,, get a duel disc clutch (lighter peddle) and some quieter mufflers.. problem solved.

[RodKnock]

Garry, I'd recommend buying a new(er) Corvette.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by garry viohl

Some things I don't like are

Side pipes (hot and fumes) and its very loud
Very heavy clutch
Hard to drive in the city with stop and go traffic
It get 6 to 10 mpg, but not a deal breaker

Garry, I understand completely. All of those points are "fixable" without heroic efforts. Coated "quiet type" pipes, a smaller carb for better manners (you're probably running rich if it's burning your eyes), a lighter clutch, and that car might be just perfect. Think about doing all of that first; you'll save money and you'll be happier.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by garry viohl

I have had it for about 7 years and love the car, but it is an absolute beast for me! It's got 482Fe with 525hp and 575 tq, and side pipes. I love the power and acceleration, but it is a handful.

Some things I don't like are

Side pipes (hot and fumes) and its very loud
Very heavy clutch
Hard to drive in the city with stop and go traffic
It get 6 to 10 mpg, but not a deal breaker

IMHO - None of these reason are good enough!

Originally Posted by garry viohl

Thinking of getting the Superformance street version and dropping in a 302/347/ or 363. That puts me in the 300 to 400hp range. Quieter exhaust out the back. More hp is fun, but I feel its not as much fun to drive with a big engine. I think I would drive it more if it had a smaller engine and pipes out the back

Has anyone traded theirs in for a smaller one? Driven both? Been very happy with only 300 to 400 hp? Will I regret this? Thanks for the advice.

But this is... Will you regret not giving it a go?
There is nothing "wrong" with making a "bad" decision, but there is something wrong with NOT making a decision and letting time/opportunity slip you by.

Basically what I'm saying is DON'T let fear of stuffing up stop you...
If it turns out to be the wrong call, you can always find a way to right the wrong.

Just my 2 cents.

Either way "enjoy" you have a good problem

[Mark IV]

We have had a couple of owners talk recently about moving into the "Roadster" model with undercar exhausts. Still a nice sound and burble when you get on it, but no "snakebite" and a little less conspicuous.

There is a video of a 351/396 roadster that makes 510 HP dyno'ed we sold at: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...type=2&theater Plus other pictures of the car as well.

A Roadster makes a nice driver....with no stripes it is almost a stealth Cobra!

[diverrick]

Not to steal this thread, but what is meant by "it is a handfull"?
Does it keep loosing traction while trying to leave a stop sign? or sliding out in corners? Etc.?

[garry viohl]

525 hp and 575 tq in a car that weighs 2700lb and 90in wheelbase
same power to weight ratio as a supercar and no traction control
Its fun but can get away from you very quickly anywhere if you don't respect her.

[gthompson]

I haven't traded a 427 SC for a smaller horsepower big block streetcar, but I know that when I had to have the engine in the 427 SC rebuilt, Brittany and I would fight over who would get to drive the other 427 comp car and who had to drive the 289 street car.
We both wanted to drive the 427 big block with the hood scoop, side pipes, roll bar, wider wheels and tires and quick jacks.

The clutches on the 2 427's aren't hard to push at all and the side pipes are jet coated

[fordracing65]

Your set-up is the most desirable Cobra wanted, leave it, love it,,,

[mdross1]

Your not alone when it comes to not being happy with your ride.Went through it once after buying a big block Vette with side exhaust.
As you have read your issues can be fixed.Have to add the only way you are ever going to know is dive into it.If you get rid of your big block car for a small block car then are still not happy,it may be a lot more expensive to go back to a big block and modify it to satisfy your needs.
Rear exhaust is how we went with our big block car and love it.
Good Luck

[itstock]

Originally Posted by garry viohl

525 hp and 575 tq in a car that weighs 2700lb and 90in wheelbase
same power to weight ratio as a supercar and no traction control
Its fun but can get away from you very quickly anywhere if you don't respect her.

Put a throttle stop on it.

A 350hp car with crappy tires is going to get away from you just as fast as your current car...before you notice it. Be mindful of the pedal in either setup, and that is the only thing that is going to save you. It's not like you are going to get a 350hp car, be able to mash the gas around a turn and expect it to not come around on you.

It's a light car. Use a lighter clutch. That problem is easily solved.

I'm not sure if the hard drive in the city is do to the clutch or the cam, but you could always get a smaller cam/lesser lobe separation. It could be much more street friendly when it comes to idling out without a huge loss in power...or any loss in power depending upon your current cam.

When is the last time you have had your carb tuned? It might be running a bit rich. If it still bothers you after a proper tune, EFI is still an option. Your engine isn't that radical so there are some options. Those two options will fix your gas fume problem as well as your mpg's (perhaps not much with just carb tuning).

As for your side pipes being too loud, there are a lot of threads on here about how to quiet them down. My factory backdraft exhaust really isn't that loud so it's not much of a problem, but I suppose it could become grueling if I had the same dB readings as some on here do.

It's going to be cheaper in the short and long run to "fix" what you have. You have a pretty desirable combination (superformance with big block), and if you can make it even better by doing the above, why the heck not?!!??!

[D Dubya]

I would keep sorting out the car you have. Change a few things.

[decooney]

Originally Posted by garry viohl

...Hard to drive in the city with stop and go traffic

Is this something you need to do or enjoy doing with your Cobra?

[Got the Bug]

If I had a do over, I would have gone with under car exhaust. That being said, my 402 with 500/500 at the crank is a blast to drive. One of these days, I am going to go for quieter side pipes, even if that means a slight loss of power.

Tweak with what you have, it's cheaper than starting over.

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by diverrick

Not to steal this thread, but what is meant by "it is a handfull"?

My guess is, it has no power steering...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

My guess is, it has no power steering...

Uhhh, I have an FE in my ERA, with no power steering, and can turn the wheel with one arm. If that's his problem, then he needs to hit the gym. RodKnock can get him started on an upper body workout....