What should the op lean towards?

Lol
 

Welcome to the forum, you are new here! If Patrick made the statement everyone should get an ERA with no more than 450 hp because it is a little known secret that you can't use more than 450 hp (according to him).

The sound
 

I agree. A cobra is raw. It is supposed to be raw if you are going for a duplicate of the original. If you are not I would think about an Aerial Atom. A much better, faster open air car.

From my experience a Cobra at full song is sensory overload.

First the sound, I don't think a modern motor can give the raw sound of an old, big cam, big block.

Second the wind/turbulence, it multiplies the effect of speed greatly. It is not a modern convertible.

Third the smell, the exhaust, what area you are driving through.

Fourth the front fenders heading for the sky.

Fifth keeping track of traction in any gear so you don't end up in the weeds.

It takes a while to be able to wring out a Cobra because when you first start driving it is like going into hyperspace. There is so much going on and it is happening so fast. The senses are overwhelmed. As you become more comfortable it is easier to focus.

When I first got the car I was shifting by sound because looking down was out of the question. I was thinking wow that is an experience. I was sure I was at red line. Over time I got comfortable and looked down at the tachometer. I was shifting at 5,000! LOL. Shifting at 6,000 is definitely more of an experience.

The modern motors are awesome don't get me wrong, they are an incredible value. I am just not feeling it for me in a Cobra Replica.

If I was going to do a Resto-mod that I wanted to drive a lot it starts to make sense. If you did the whole suspension, brakes and steering why not.

Absolutely. A true period correct build with the intention of replicating an original Cobra would mean aluminium bodywork, authentic chassis and suspension, interior, switches, etc. etc., and of course, the correct drivetrain.

Once you have a fibreglass body, altered wheelbase or shape, rectangular tube chassis, different suspension, dual roll bars, TKO transmission, modern brakes, EFI, etc. etc., then it's a custom build and from there it's just pointless to pontificate about the "correctness, authenticity or originality" of putting a Ford FE engine under the hood. If you do so because you love FE's and that's what you want it's all good - but it won't make your customized build "more of a Cobra" than the next guy's with a stroked Windsor, a 385 series or a Coyote.

The OP owes it to himself to investigate the other half dozen quality makers. Some of which will, of course, cost more. In the end, he may go back to BDR, or he may not. But until he puts his "toe in the water" he won't know for sure and he could be avoiding a big heartache.

Seeing how tnc110 is the OP, talking in the 3rd person is really not necessary - unless tnc110 wishes to remove himself from direct dialogue based on an erroneous assumption :LOL:

One simple truism when it comes to Cobra replicas.

Any replica choice is fine. As long as the color isn't beige.

No, some are better than others. But others are better than none.:cool:

Patrick,
Are you saying that some are "none"?!
Great. Here we go again!
:LOL:
;)

No, some, by definition, are always better than none.;)

... and as to the color, a couple of weekends ago I had the gas contractor out to service the gas fireplace in the "man cave" that adjoins the Cobra garage. When the kid (late 20's) saw it, not only did he go absolutely nuts over the color, but he insisted I use his phone to take a shot of him kneeling down next to it so he could send it to his father. Of course, I was happy to oblige....:D

Yep, I saw that pic posted on a social media website with the caption "Who in their f'ing right mind would paint their Cobra beige?" :LOL:

The beige works for Patrick's car and is unique IMHO.

Where beige never works is when we used to have some big presentation with a client and someone would show up in beige or brown suit. I would sent them home and not let them be part of it. Just bad "JuJu"!;)

Now, aren't we supposed to be talking about a 588 BBF here?

C'mon Pat, tell the truth... You wouldn't pay him until he looked at it...and... promised him a tip if he gave up some gratuitous praise.

Uhhh, I think this kid would have moved right in and stayed. "Hey, is that the new 4k UHD big screen? And you've got it tilted just right. Is there a fridge in here? Oh, my Dad's gonna love this pic....":LOL:

Sucker move!
Many residential contractors send a pup out first to case the joint and take pics of the cars and anything else. Then they go report back to the owner who decides if he wants the job, based on the cars and toys. I just threw a kid out of my house for trying to pull that sh?t. Took more pics of my cars and tv than the house! They won't be back.

I second what others say regarding FE's. They look great, period correct, and can produce lots of hp's. I am kind of light in that category at just over 500 hps, but as others have said, once you get to a certain point your just spinning tires. I love the sound of mine but on long trips the noise gets to you a bit. Earplugs work, but the sound is just fun to enjoy.

However, there are lots of choices but the experience of the guys on this site is excellent. Listen well to these folks....

Phil

I myself was thinking of a big block just a few weeks ago. I think it would sound really cool and be one heck of a ride. I then sank back down into reality and thought do I really want a 6mpg car that probably wont hook up until 4th gear......not really. From what I have researched a properly built stroked 385 series can make 750hp and 700+ torque. This amount of power is pretty awesome but I just think you would have one hell of a time getting it to not blow the tires off everytime you rolled into it. From the little seat time I have spent in mine a 6500rpm pull in 3rd gear gets you to 110-120mph and that's moving in one of these cars on the street. If you get under one of these cars and really look around it will scare you when you realized its a big fiberglass coffin lol. If you were to really crash one of these things you would be done. I actually laugh everytime I strap on my 5 point harness and look at the fire extinguisher.....its on the same level of WTF as when you put on a seatbelt and go 600mph in a Boeing 30,000 feet in the air. Take a ride in a car with a stroked Windsor or something that makes 500+ hp and see what you think. Whatever you do just make sure you buy one and don't sit on the sidelines thinking about it!

Hey tnc110, dont let these lads confuse you...

There is nothing wrong with a BDR, they're great package, value for money hard to beat, new modern parts, definitely an improvement technology wise on a CSX cobra.

The answer that question lies in what YOU want from your cobra.

If you enjoy the build process - then a FFR is probably better than a BDR,
If you want to track/race it then a BDR is probably not as good as a JBL, but better than a Kirkham (and I'm NOT suggesting Kirkhams cant be tracked, Morris tracks his successfully, but I couldn't get past the thought of binning an Alu body...).

Its all going to depend on YOUR personal preference, and what you rank more important to YOU.

If you just want a big a$$ed engine in a cobra to go in straight lines - try a Weineck... PS: how's your German and bank balance? You might need ample levels of both...

Weineck Cobra & Motorenbau UG - Home

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbpbAwo_EXw[/ame]

Enjoy

But he adjusted the gas fireplace quite nicely. It's very snuggly now.;) I can sit there all warm and toasty, watch Graveyard Cars on the big screen, and glance at my Cobra through the open doorway. Then I call the dog up on the couch, put my feet up, and drift off to slumberland. :MECOOL: