Small block Chevy in a cobra?

[kyleb]

Originally Posted by xb-60

kyleb,

What is the situation in Victoria now? I know you now have club/historic registration, so with that, do you still need to meet an emissions standard, or is it 'open season'?

Cheers,
Glen

edit: attn Mr. Dimis - any comments from you?

G’day Glen
All bets are off with Club/historic registration in Vic nowadays which is great for cars that can’t get full registration or owners that want to utilise the much reduced rego cost.
Club registration can be problematic if you want to drive between states though.
I wanted full registration for my car so that I wouldn’t be restricted in any way.
Cheers

[Mike I]

Flame retardant underwear on...

I love how passionate you diehard Ford purists are...

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by Mike I

Flame retardant underwear on...

I love how passionate you diehard Ford purists are...

Dude, you're engine is back to front. The distributor is in the wrong spot.


Whatever tickles your tities...


I'm a form for function type of guy.

At the time, the 427S/C evolved and developed the following, fit for purpose pieces that make it look supercool:

• A roll bar to protect the driver,
• Quick jacks to speed up pitstops,
• A hood scoop to ram air into the carbs and,
• flared guards to fit wider wheels

Now they each may have had debatable success at achieving their purpose, but they were designed for function.
They never pretended to be something other than fit for purpose.

I'm all in on electric- I'm keen to electrify my next car. Old Porsche, CJ7, VW combi or Karman ghia, whatever my kids think is cool. But i dont think I'd ever hide that electric motor with "tarnishing"... Whooops I mean garnishing.

I'd celebrate the fact it was electric.

https://youtu.be/q7vTCK9ywBA

ENJOY...

[t walgamuth]

While I would choose Ford if building a car from scratch, the Chevy in my car is strong and parts are immensely available. I might consider putting in a ford though if the Chevy were to fail.

[Alfa02]

Ford motors in a Cobra, is the way God & Ol'Shel intended, and yes both of mine have Ford motors, but we're talking about our "Pretend" Cobras. I believe since we're not hurting a (Real One) the owner's can do whatever they like with "Their Cars" This is one reason I like this club, no one really poop-poop's anyone else's idea, of what their Cobra should or should not have. In the end, I believe the title will have the owners name on it, not yours or mine, and they will have final say, on their own cars We need to support each other. My $.02 Cheers TommyRot.

[t walgamuth]

I believe the 928s had Mercedes automatic transmissions. When Mercedes built their first automatic in the sixties or seventies they copied the GM hydromatic, so it is possible the 928 was at least half a copy of GM's finest. Of course you probably know that Rolls Royce built an aluminum block version of the chevy 366 and ran a turbo hydromatic for years.

Anyhow, there has always been a lot of copying back and forth when a mfgr comes up with an excellent product.

[Snake2998]

When I started building my Cobra in 1985 there where most probably less than 10 replica Cobras in South Africa and most of them had Chevy motors. Tuning parts, motors and spares where easier and cheaper to get and prejudices of Ford vs Chevy not really very obvious (No Internet, social media or Google!!!) so I went the Chevy route with no regrets.

If I built one now I might go Ford - or maybe not.

[Dimis]

Ps. Brent - That engine you built me is a MONSTER!
Scares me every time!

[Ron61]

Actually there was one original Cobra that had a 351 in it. For a time Shelby had one in his own personal 289 Cobra but switched it back to the original 289 for originality. At the time he said if the 351 had been available then he would have used it for sure.

Ron

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Actually there was one original Cobra that had a 351 in it. For a time Shelby had one in his own personal 289 Cobra but switched it back to the original 289 for originality. At the time he said if the 351 had been available then he would have used it for sure.

Ron

351W didn't show up in production until 1968. Did Shelby have access to a pre-production 351W, or was this installed in a VERY late car that either hadn't yet received its engine or perhaps one that had destroyed a 289? What's the story on this?

[olddog]

Be ware of those who decide what is best, in their mind (often best for them), and then want to pass a law to force everyone to do it their way. People are free to do what they want. Well at least they should be. In theory they are, but then there is reality. I've digressed again.

There is a thing called having some respect for history, tradition, icons, and yes even a deity you may not believe in.

I was in a monastery that records on it date back to the 5th century, built by the Romans. Inside Saint Odile lays in a stone sarcophagus. Deeply religious people come there on a pilgrimage. You cannot help but feel how special this place is. Yet there were young people walking around running there mouths, acting foolish, and mocking the place.

I have also toured Cathedrals and the priest would have to remind people that they are in a place of warship and to quiet down and act with respect. I have seen certain crowds have to be told several times.

This is caused by raising generations of children telling them that they are free to do anything they want, they cannot be punished, and anyone who would judge them is a bigot.

My issue goes much beyond cars. Yes you should not stick a ford engine into a 1969 Hemi Cuda, or a SBC in a Cobra, if possible to do the right thing. But for me it's about having some respect for what something is or was or stood for. The people who are mindless about doing so are annoying. Those in intentionally do these things just to piss off the traditionalist or mom and dad, I especially have issue.

I have held my tongue, as part of the silent majority, for a lifetime. I'm done holding my tongue. You can do whatever you wish, but no I do not have to agree. I do not have to praise you. I can tell you exactly what I think. It's about time some people learn there are consequences, and I do not have to support them. It is not all about what they think. I am allowed to think too.

In short, I just think people should have some respect for history.

[t walgamuth]

I like history too.

[Thor maine]

Well I just had to say something! AC cars Ltd back in the day at least 2 Cobras left their factory with Chevy engines, FACT! They used Ford engines but were not required to, if a customer wanted a Chevy they got a Chevy in their COBRA from the factory. And today AC Cars what ever that means now uses GM LS engines. And a former Shelby mechanic back in the sixties who later went on to build his own Cobra kit car told me that back in the late sixties and early seventies as a privateer racer the trick was to pull the 427 ford and put in a 427 Chevy because as a privateer you could afford to race and win or race and blow a motor and with a Chevy you could afford to be out racing the next weekend and with a Ford sideoiler , well who could afford that with out factory sponsorship?? So a Chevy in a COBRA is not without precedence.

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

Well I just had to say something! AC cars Ltd back in the day at least 2 Cobras left their factory with Chevy engines, FACT! They used Ford engines but were not required to, if a customer wanted a Chevy they got a Chevy in their COBRA from the factory. And today AC Cars what ever that means now uses GM LS engines. And a former Shelby mechanic back in the sixties who later went on to build his own Cobra kit car told me that back in the late sixties and early seventies as a privateer racer the trick was to pull the 427 ford and put in a 427 Chevy because as a privateer you could afford to race and win or race and blow a motor and with a Chevy you could afford to be out racing the next weekend and with a Ford sideoiler , well who could afford that with out factory sponsorship?? So a Chevy in a COBRA is not without precedence.

My first statement would be, prove it. Let's see some documentation. Hearsay doesn't count, because I'm sure there have been all kinds of stories passed down over the decades.

Second statement is, if an AC car came with a Chevy, that's all fine and good, but that's not the same as building a Shelby Cobra. Show me a CSX car with a Chevy engine.

[Thor maine]

Originally Posted by blykins

My first statement would be, prove it. Let's see some documentation. Hearsay doesn't count, because I'm sure there have been all kinds of stories passed down over the decades.

Second statement is, if an AC car came with a Chevy, that's all fine and good, but that's not the same as building a Shelby Cobra. Show me a CSX car with a Chevy engine.

Yes you are right AC Cars Ltd had nothing to do with the building of the Cobra and the AC 289 that was sold in Europe and the rest of the world is a completely different car , how stupid of me! How could I had made such a mistake? I am more of the AC built the car , Shelby turned into a world champion race car! A COB or COX will do just fine!

[blykins]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

Shelby turned into a world champion race car!

With a Ford engine.

[Thor maine]

Originally Posted by blykins

With a Ford engine.

And Chevy/GM engines they have never have never won anything??? ( Because I have read that GM powered cars have more titles than all other manufacturers combined, FACT)

[Alfa02]

@ Thor maine, that may be true (I believe you are speaking of Ron Butler, as the builder of the kit cars), you could put a 427 Chev. in a Cobra and be back racing the next weekend. But you couldn't run in A Production, they (SCCA) would put you in A Sports Racing, which in the day was known as Group 7, CamAm's humble beginning, which during that time, had a LOT of Lola T-70, both open cockpit, and closed, McLaren Mk. 1A though and up to the M8E. Not counting the one off Genie's, or any other Group 7 cars that happen to showed up. The Cobra would be back of the pack car, at the very best. TommyRot P.S. The name Group 7, came about because it was more then likely the last race of the day, and kept the crowds there, as they were the fastest cars of the day (Lots of Thunder & Action There is a well known fact that by the third or fourth lap, your Beer or Pop would be flat from the sound (True story, I was there)

[blykins]

Sure they do.

But getting back to the point at hand, GM winning something doesn't detract from the fact that there were no Shelby Cobras that had Chevy engines. I'm also still waiting to hear/see your proof that AC used Chevy engines.

Listen, you guys can put whatever engine you want in your Cobras. However, I'm done with all of this "Well Shelby thought about...." or "I once heard that...." It didn't happen. There were no Shelby Cobras with Chevy engines and there is not a rumor true enough to justify that decision. I wish guys would just say, "I put a Chevy engine in my car because I found one cheap." That would be more truthful than trying to justify all the hear-say.

BTW, adding "FACT" at the end of a paragraph doesn't lend any more credible evidence to your argument. Let's see some documentation.

[Thor maine]

Originally Posted by blykins

Sure they do.

But getting back to the point at hand, GM winning something doesn't detract from the fact that there were no Shelby Cobras that had Chevy engines. I'm also still waiting to hear/see your proof that AC used Chevy engines.

Listen, you guys can put whatever engine you want in your Cobras. However, I'm done with all of this "Well Shelby thought about...." or "I once heard that...." It didn't happen. There were no Shelby Cobras with Chevy engines and there is not a rumor true enough to justify that decision. I wish guys would just say, "I put a Chevy engine in my car because I found one cheap." That would be more truthful than trying to justify all the hear-say.

BTW, adding "FACT" at the end of a paragraph doesn't lend any more credible evidence to your argument. Let's see some documentation.

Now I have to go dig out the books!