Small block Chevy in a cobra?

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by olddog

I'm sure it is a nice car. It has a good reliable engine that makes plenty of power. Don't misunderstand me. I am not spitting on your Cobra, and I have no issue with you. Maybe the original owner had a good reason or maybe he did not. My issue, if I had one, would be with the original owner, but what's done is done. I'm more interested in getting the generations to come to think before they act.

If I had been able to choose things it would have some sort of Ford and IRS. I'd probably go with a Windsor based engine too. I might go with some sort of tranny with dogs instead of synchros too.

It is pretty fun as it is.

[olddog]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

If I had been able to choose things it would have some sort of Ford and IRS. I'd probably go with a Windsor based engine too. I might go with some sort of tranny with dogs instead of synchros too.

It is pretty fun as it is.

When it is well put together and runs great, why spend a bunch of money fixing things that are not broken? Economically it makes no sense. That is why I never changed a lot on my own Cobra.

If money were no object for me, I would buy a Kirkham and drop a 427 FE in it. If I owned an original I could not enjoy risking it on the streets, so I would choose a Kirkham over an original, if money didn't matter and I had to choose one. Otherwise I would own both.

My second engine choice would be a 390/445 stroker FE. My next would be a Windsor or a Clevor. I also have to admit that the 385 series is a great engine to make a lot of torque for little money. It's a tight fit, but they will fit.

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by olddog

...
If money were no object for me, I would buy a Kirkham and drop a 427 FE in it. If I owned an original I could not enjoy risking it on the streets, so I would choose a Kirkham over an original, if money didn't matter and I had to choose one. Otherwise I would own both.....

its the same money to fix a Kirkham or an original after an accident ...

[olddog]

Originally Posted by peterpjb

its the same money to fix a Kirkham or an original after an accident ...

But if it is a total loss, a piece of history would be lost forever.

PS

Any car that is in pristine original condition is worth more than one that was wrecked and repaired. Let's just say a 20% reduction in value. So a 2 million dollar car would loose $400,000 in value, and a $150,000 car would loose $30,000 in value. Even though the cost to repair them would be the same the economic loss is quite different.

Even though the economics says crashing an original is worse, my real reason is risking a lost piece of history forever.

[peterpjb]

Originally Posted by olddog

But if it is a total loss, a piece of history would be lost forever.

PS

Any car that is in pristine original condition is worth more than one that was wrecked and repaired. Let's just say a 20% reduction in value. So a 2 million dollar car would loose $400,000 in value, and a $150,000 car would loose $30,000 in value. Even though the cost to repair them would be the same the economic loss is quite different.

Even though the economics says crashing an original is worse, my real reason is risking a lost piece of history forever.

how many are in original condition and never damaged? 2%? normally any original car was damaged or modified, so it is pretty meaningless if you damage it again, total losses aren’t existent btw, only if you had placed all your paperworks in car when it totally burns

[Ace23]

I wouldn’t think twice about a Chevy engine if that is what you want. A nice stroker LSX block making 700hp+ On pump gas with a hydraulic roller and OEM fuel injection would be pretty awesome.

[olddog]

Originally Posted by Ace23

I wouldn’t think twice about a Chevy engine if that is what you want. A nice stroker LSX block making 700hp+ On pump gas with a hydraulic roller and OEM fuel injection would be pretty awesome.

There are gobs of FE making 700hp and more. In fact Shelby built two with ~900 hp. The surviving one (his personal untouched Cobra) went at auction around $6,000,000.

People put EFI on FE too. You don't like FE? Well a EFI Windsor can easily make 700 Hp. Want something newer? You can make 700 hp out of a Modular to.

Exactly what is so awesome about it?

[joyridin']

Originally Posted by Ace23

I wouldn’t think twice about a Chevy engine if that is what you want. A nice stroker LSX block making 700hp+ On pump gas with a hydraulic roller and OEM fuel injection would be pretty awesome.

Mine is 850 hp, and you can drive it easily in traffic or on a 95 degree day. On top of that, it gets 22 mpg on the highway on pump gas.

[twsharpe]

Originally Posted by peterpjb

its the same money to fix a Kirkham or an original after an accident ...

Just fly one of the Kirkham guys to your house for a week or so....