Small block Chevy in a cobra?

[blykins]

Well, unless it's a CSX registry, you're not gonna have much luck. FACT!

[maui]

if you want to put a chevy engine in a Cobra start with a 63 corvette replica.

The first time I saw someone put a 351C in a Cobra I was disappointed...let alone a Chevy... Chevy engines are great, but wrong. If you want to do it to prove you are a non conformist, go to Starbucks and order a large black coffee.

Cobra's have ford drive train. If there was ever a Shelby installed chevy engine, in a real Cobra, it was because somebody got drunk one night and when they woke up the next day had to chew their arm off to sneak out.

[joyridin']

Originally Posted by maui

if you want to put a chevy engine in a Cobra start with a 63 corvette replica.

The first time I saw someone put a 351C in a Cobra I was disappointed...let alone a Chevy... Chevy engines are great, but wrong. If you want to do it to prove you are a non conformist, go to Starbucks and order a large black coffee.

Cobra's have ford drive train. If there was ever a Shelby installed chevy engine, in a real Cobra, it was because somebody got drunk one night and when they woke up the next day had to chew their arm off to sneak out.

I would say probably 50-75% of Cobras do not have a Ford drive train. They might have a Ford engine, but the transmission and rear axle were not made by Ford.

[maui]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

I would say probably 50-75% of Cobras do not have a Ford drive train. They might have a Ford engine, but the transmission and rear axle were not made by Ford.

fair enough.

Ford engine.

Halibrands are not a ford or chevy item but still look good (for what ever equivalent wheel)

Don't get me wrong, I like Chevy engines and cars but I'm not gonna put a 426 Hemi in a 67 Camaro because it fits....I think it fits anyway.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by maui

I like Chevy engines and cars but I'm not gonna put a 426 Hemi in a 67 Camaro because it fits....I think it fits anyway.

I love quotes.

I was watching a drag racing documentary, and they interviewed Ronnie Sox.
He stated drag racers were in one of two groups . They were either running a hemi, or they wish they were running a hemi.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

I would say probably 50-75% of Cobras do not have a Ford drive train. They might have a Ford engine, but the transmission and rear axle were not made by Ford.

Ford didn't make the CSX Cobra's differentials. They are Salisbury 4HU diffs

[joyridin']

Originally Posted by xb-60

Ford didn't make the CSX Cobra's differentials. They are Salisbury 4HU diffs

Um..yes. That is what I said.

[Mike I]

Incredible silliness...some of you folks act like there's some sort of automotive cultural appropriation going on here...get a grip, this is a hobby for most of us, not a lifestyle.

[maui]

Hemi's are better engines. If they have 4 cams even better.

Put a Cobra body on a Prius for all I care. My persona taste is that an FE engine looks best in between the frame rails but if someone has a 572" chevy in there its a super fun car.

If you're born in a Cobra body and self identify as a Corvette I don't think less of the car. I might tease a little, but fast is fast.

[Anthony]

There are a lot of great engines! Sometimes , it’s hard to pick! I agree, I would not put a hemi in a camaro.

Originally Posted by maui

If you're born in a Cobra body and self identify as a Corvette I don't think less of the car.

Interesting thought! So which car is the male?

[maui]

Originally Posted by Anthony

There are a lot of great engines! Sometimes , it’s hard to pick! I agree, I would not put a hemi in a camaro.




Interesting thought! So which car is the male?

dunno, they're up to 31 genders in NYC right now, I think Male is just one of them. Not sure Cobra or Corvette are recognized yet but why not....

[Thor maine]

I had a ride in a Arntz Cobra with a 426 Hemi , it was fantastic!

[maui]

Originally Posted by Thor maine

I had a ride in a Arntz Cobra with a 426 Hemi , it was fantastic!

hopefully it was something like a KB

[Alfa02]

Come'on guys, this is getting silly Case in Point : We had a gentlemen last year call me to ask if he may join us at a big show (1000+ cars, we brought 14 Cobras) with his, I said sure the more the merrier. He shows up with a nicely done Cobra, spent years building it, and was justly proud, then he opens the hood and there in all it's glory is a 454 Chevy. Well you can imagine the horror we were shocked, how dare he , we quietly asked him to lower the hood, and keep it down Now if ANYONE believes that story they don't know our group here (PNW Region), He was welcomed with open arms, and has become a good friend to everyone in our group. Chill Gentleman, life's too short. Cheers TommyRot.

[olddog]

I have no idea what a 427 SO cost back in the day, but it is a little hard to believe it was significantly more than a 426 Hemi back in the day. Maybe quite a bit less. However to assert that independent racers could not afford Ford engines, which would certainly mean they couldn't afford Mopar either, doesn't seem to me to hold water. If this were true, why did independent racer ever race any Cobra's? I also have to ask just how much could have a 427 SO cost if you could buy the entire car new for ~$5K?

I recall watching Nascar races on TV a lot when those engines were raced. I recall a race when the first dozen cars (give or take) alternated between Ford and Mopar. The big block Chevy's seemed to run very fast, but couldn't stay together long enough to finish the race. I'm not so sure a Chevy engine was cheaper to use when you add up all the costs of trying to keep them on the track.

Also GM had Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Chevy. All totally separate engine designs. If GM did win more races in some years (which I do not doubt), how many GM wins were Chevy?

This is all interesting to debate, but has absolutely nothing to do with what engines were in Shelby Cobra's. They were Ford engines. Even if some clown put something other than a Ford engine in a Cobra back in the day, what does that prove, other than he was indeed a clown?

Although there is a rumor that Shelby went to Chevy first and was turned down. It is just a rumor. I believe the official story was that Shelby was aware that Ford about to put the new small block engine into service (or had just introduced it), when he started negotiations with AC. The small size and weight was likely to work in the AC car. The small block Chevy was both physically larger and heavier. I doubt he would have wanted to go with a Chevy if he could get the smaller lighter Ford engine, when you consider what AC had been using.

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by olddog

..... I believe the official story was that Shelby was aware that Ford about to put the new small block engine into service (or had just introduced it), when he started negotiations with AC. The small size and weight was likely to work in the AC car. The small block Chevy was both physically larger and heavier. I doubt he would have wanted to go with a Chevy if he could get the smaller lighter Ford engine, when you consider what AC had been using.

olddog, I agree. Your logic seems sound. Replacing the AC engine with a 260 SBF at around 450 lb rather than a Chev SB at around 550 lb, with the SBF physically smaller than the Chev unit as well, would seem to have been the best way forward.


Cheers,
Glen

[Snake2998]

Further to my previous post - I find the whole argument mildly amusing. I would imagine if Ford - Chevy was make or break in how your replica was viewed then rectangular or round tubed chassis and Glass or Aluminium body, or replica vs genuine wheels and suspension, and even gauge selection would be equally in the spotlight.

Hey guys - lets get real - what we have are hotrods in the image of a cobra, and what I want is to experience the sound and fun and all the good feelings that come in owning a car that touches my heart and sense of nostalgia, whilst knowing that I can never afford an original. I look at my car and see a COBRA and feel real good. I don't see the engine or any of the other stuff. I just know there is an All American V8 waiting to be unleashed and again I feel good. I start it and pull away and again I feel good. All this I get wether it is a Chevy or a Ford.

[Chicagowil]

Originally Posted by Snake2998

Hey guys - lets get real - what we have are hotrods in the image of a cobra, and what I want is to experience the sound and fun and all the good feelings that come in owning a car that touches my heart and sense of nostalgia, whilst knowing that I can never afford an original.

As I said earlier and whole heartedly agree. I have a neighbor/ ex-client (before I retired) that has 2 original 427 Cobras in his collection. I'm not sure he has ever driven either of the cars on the street- too valuable! But his real passion to collect and drive are early 60's cars that most of us overlook. He loves Buick Skylarks, Olds Cutlass, Buicks and Pontiacs. As well as small Triumphs and MGs.

The Cobras make him proud to own, but for him they are more of an investment because he cannot drive them. And I can tell you he is a passionate car guy. He made his fortune starting and owning a majority of the public parking lots in downtown Chicago. Actually has a full time employee that maintains/restores his collection.

We are all here because e=we love the sight, sound and smell of cars, in all of their iterations. We have our preferences and we have been blessed with the ability to chase our "dream car". But I would be willing to bet that if all we could own/drive was a Corvair (sorry Corvair lovers) we would have one!

Unit Gear Heads in our passion and embrace all owners of anyone that owns a car that is proud of his/her ownership!

Thom

[olddog]

Originally Posted by Snake2998

Hey guys - lets get real - what we have are hotrods in the image of a cobra, and what I want is to experience the sound and fun and all the good feelings that come in owning a car that touches my heart and sense of nostalgia, whilst knowing that I can never afford an original. I look at my car and see a COBRA and feel real good. I don't see the engine or any of the other stuff. I just know there is an All American V8 waiting to be unleashed and again I feel good. I start it and pull away and again I feel good. All this I get wether it is a Chevy or a Ford.

So back in 1977 when GM decided to quietly slip Chevy engines into Oldsmobile cars, why did that matter?

As the result of a class action law suit, over 10,000 people who bought Oldsmobiles with Chevrolet engines before April 10, 1977, were entitled to refunds of $550 each.

https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/28/u...f-engines.html

Granted the decision was based on false advertisement, but that is how most general public folks feel, when they walk up to a replica of a Cobra to see a Chevy engine in it. They are all excited when they see the car. Then they walk up and see the Chevy engine and get a rush of emotions. Shock, disappointment, and betrayal to name a few. False advertising sums it up.

Some may speak out angrily, and the owner thinks that person is a jerk. Most will choke back the vomit and try to say something nice. Certainly many are clueless or don't care. Since they have that in common with the owner, they are likely to carry on a conversation. But I come back to the ones that spoke out. Although the minority, are they really the jerk, or are they just too honest?

[blykins]

Originally Posted by olddog

Granted the decision was based on false advertisement, but that is how most general public folks feel, when they walk up to a replica of a Cobra to see a Chevy engine in it. They are all excited when they see the car. Then they walk up and see the Chevy engine and get a rush or emotions. Shock, disappointment, and betrayal to name a few. False advertising sums it up.

That gets back to my underlying premise....

Do you want a kit car or do you want a replica?

Most guys at a car show want to see a replica. They want to walk up, see a 427 side oiler or a 289. Seeing something else reminds them of a Fiero with a body kit made to look like a Ferrari, or a VW made to look like a Porsche 356.

Kit cars have less of a presence, reputation, and value.