impure thoughts

[thardin]

Hello all,

I am a new member to this club as of today. I am currently checking out my options for a cobra kit car. I will be building the car myself and have decent fabrication skills. I plan to buy a kit with the intent to race in Autocross events (have never raced). One obstacle is that I am 6'-5" tall.
Anyway, I am looking for some direction. I have been to the ERA factory and am very impressed with their product and the people. I have also checked-out a friends build-up of a FFR kit that he is installing an LS1 and 6 speed into. That is about all for my experience to date, other than reading about them.
The thread tite "impure thoughts" comes from wanting to shoe-horn a 500HP / 600# Torque PONTIAC motor (sitting in garage without a home - sold GTO) into a kit! I am sure some of you are starting to feel ill. I know what I am buying is a reproduction car, but I am more interested in the fact that it is a "kit" that I can introduce my "personality" and "craftsmanship".
I am looking for the following traits in a kit: 1) ability to modify foot boxes to achieve as much room as possibe. 2) ability to set-up and tune car for different courses & events, ie: Autocross vs. Timetrials, etc. 3) Ability to stuff HUGE tread width within the flares (remember 600# torque at 3,000RPM)(straight axle vs. independant) 4) Weight (for racing) 5) Exterior appearance of a true high quality reproduction (love the ERA FIA 289) so people don't immediately dismiss it as a "cheap kit car". 6) Lasty, and least important, is resale value.
Any comments you all may have (other than purists freaking out) which might lead me toward a decision on Manufacturers would be greatly appreciated. I would rather have the 289FIA body style if I coud cram the motor in. By the way, the Pontiac motor is the same size as a 427. Also have concerns about a rear that can handle that much torque.
Thanks in advance for all of your thoughts.