FNG with a ?

[bruin_d]

New to the forum. I'm transferring soon from sea duty to shore duty (Navy) and am planning on building a Cobra in my free time. As all of you have done....I am bouncing around on motor selection. I've been doing quite a bit of browsing the last couple weeks and have a question that I have not been able to find the answer to. I have come across a lot of "wouldn't it be cool if...." type discussion but that's about it. I am curious if anyone out there has done a Boss 9 motor (460 with "semi-hemi" heads) in a Cobra. That top end setup that Jon Kaase sells continues to make me drool.

The picture below is my most recent build. Boss 9 or not....I look forward to joining the Cobra crowd!

[Three Peaks]

Welcome to the madness. I for one, am always interested in seeing somebody be the first to try something new but I'm pretty sure you are going to have some serious fitment issues.
The 385 motors (429/460) are pretty big and heavy already, but adding the Kaase heads will make the motor even wider than these already are and make fitting it in the engine compartment almost impossible. The foot boxes are pretty small already in most Cobras. You may have better luck with this install if you start with one of the stretched Cobra kits, but no guarantees until you do a lot of measuring and head scratching.....

Bob

[Ron61]

That is a very nice recent build that you have there. As for the Boss 9 in a Cobra, Three Peaks pretty well laid out the problems you may run into. I have seen some of the newer Ford engines which are pretty wide in Cobras but they really take every inch of space and are in the stretched frame ones. However if your budget can take it, Kirkham can build about anything you want. The owner of our site had a couple built by them and one was a flip top with a 427 Cammer in it and they did a ton of modifications but it came out great.

Ron

[twin turbo]

Here is a FFR the owner is putting a Boss 9 into Merry Xmas to me! - FFCars.com : Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum

[BossCER]

Bruin-
It can and has been done. Have a look at my gallery. It just takes money and time.
BTW- a stock Boss 9 is only 10lbs heavier than a stock FE motor. It is insignificant. It is also only 3" wider. I don't know about the weight and dimensions of the Kaase headed 385 series motor (my motor is '69 Boss Nascar motor).
The FFR guy referenced above stated that he had to put his heads on the motor with the motor already in the car. That is not the case in my situation as I have had my motor out twice through the engine compartment. The valve covers did need to be removed.
Good luck!

[bruin_d]

Originally Posted by BossCER

Bruin-
It can and has been done. Have a look at my gallery. It just takes money and time.
BTW- a stock Boss 9 is only 10lbs heavier than a stock FE motor. It is insignificant. It is also only 3" wider. I don't know about the weight and dimensions of the Kaase headed 385 series motor (my motor is '69 Boss Nascar motor).
The FFR guy referenced above stated that he had to put his heads on the motor with the motor already in the car. That is not the case in my situation as I have had my motor out twice through the engine compartment. The valve covers did need to be removed.
Good luck!

Awesome. Thanks! I'll check it out for sure. What kind of power does yours make?

[mikeinatlanta]

If you have some basic fab skills, the FFR is a very easy car to modify the foot boxes and mount any motor you want.

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by mikeinatlanta

If you have some basic fab skills, the FFR is a very easy car to modify the foot boxes and mount any motor you want.

Indeed. Plus you can make other modifications that will allow you to install and remove that motor with ease.



Obviously you have some mechanical skills. Go for it.

And keep us posted. Most of us love cool stuff like that.

[bruin_d]

Appreciate the actual feedback from everyone. I posted the same question on another forum and it turned into everyone lecturing me on it being way too much power and I would likely kill myself because I obviously wouldn't know how to handle it.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by bruin_d

Appreciate the actual feedback from everyone. I posted the same question on another forum and it turned into everyone lecturing me on it being way too much power and I would likely kill myself because I obviously wouldn't know how to handle it.

You can kill yourself (or someone else) easily in these cars with about any engine. They are like a loaded weapon....you just need to respect what they are capable of at all times.

Welcome aboard!

[D-CEL]

Bruin d,

I know that spot on the loop! Thank you for your service and Welcome to North Island! That’s a great place for some shore duty.
My eldest brother is an O-6 out there (we are hoping for O- 7 soon!) and my son is in week 4 at Great Lakes right now. Go NAVY!
Welcome to Club Cobra. Very cool Suburban.
Don’t let the 385 Series haters scare you away. They are by far the BEST COBRA MOTOR! (Those words are the CC equivalent of kicking an angry Chihuahua. Lots of annoying bark, but that’s it.. Lol)
With regards to weight: Yes, a 385 series build can be 750lbs, but it’s not a given.
Typical factory iron block, Alum head builds are in the 600-650 range.
Aluminum big block builds can be in the 520-570 lbs range. (351ish weight)
What is a given is that pump gas, hydraulic cam’d small blocks or FE’s don’t make 750-800 HP.
Those numbers are do-able with a ported SCJ or P-51 heads let alone the Boss 9 head.
There are a few Boss headed Cobras around. They are amazing heads with huge potential. You will just have to do some foot box rework and custom exhaust.
Regardless of the motor you choose, Cobras are pure fun and exhilaration from every angle.

Drop me and email if you want to talk about 460’s!

D-CEL
Jason