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Tips from the pros.....
Hello, long time lurker first time poster.
I should be receiving my CMC kit shortly(In storage for some time but never started). I have just a few basic questions to you all for starters( i'm sure i'll get to be a bigger pain in the ass later).%/ 1. Manual Trans(I like the performance) or auto(simplicity of install and drivability) 2. Motor(I'm leaning FE Carbed) 3. Steering rack(power or manual) I realize alot is personal preferance but would like to get some pros and cons from the experts before I go and make any hasty decisions. My first thoughts are carbed big block with manual trans. and manual steering. ANY SUGGESTIONS??? |
Your first thoughts are right on ! But it's your car and you gotta make yourself happy and nobody else.
Welcome to the forum and have fun.:3DSMILE: Hersh:) |
Like Hersh said, it's your ride, so make yourself happy, and the heck with what other people like! :D If you looking to make a dollar on the car down the road, the more you make it conform to the "norm" the better your chances of getting top dollar.
.... and welcome to the club - Jim - |
everybody has one and here's mine
go with a SB stroked to 427 save that extra 200# sports car builders would kill for 100# savings the boys in Arkadelphia can get you 600+ natural HP from the motor. insulate it WELL put a standard tranny in it, you dont want people calling you SHIFTLESS good luck tommy |
Im gonna preface this by saying...Im no expert....But, The car is light enough not to need power steering. For some reason, power steering, to me, would make the car jumpy and twitchy at speed. Even while stopped I can turn the wheel with no problem.
I also think the the essence of the car is a manual gear box. Its a big toy, and a toy should be fun. So why let the tranny have all the fun. Plus, the manual tranny brings you closer to being "at one" with the car and the road. The motor is all you....(just no Chevys please) Dane |
Thanks for the welcome and the feedback!
I guess manual steering and Transmission it is! I've got a line on a stroked 390(550 HP) That I can pick up fairly reasonable, so I think it will end up spinning the tires. |
A stock small block will spin the tires quite well. I think you need to consider what you want to do with your car and go from there. FE are expensive to build and maintain but the look so right. Small blocks can be made to out run most FE and are readily available. What ever you decide to do will bring you a ton of fun.
Clois |
Your car but for me I like the manual trans and steering.I believe you will have a better feel of the car with the manual steering and if you go big block you start running out of room under the hood for the pump.I like the manual trans just seems right in the cobra.
I don't see in your profile where you live if you are near we maybe able to help each other. Welcome to the club Bill |
My $0.02. The manual trans is not that difficult to install. You will only need to run another master and slave cylinder to actuate the clutch. That said I have an automatic in mine:rolleyes: I did so because at my age I prefer to just drive. Performancewise a manual valve body and higher stall converter will accomplish alot to get you close to the drivability of the manual. Confused yet?
Enginewise the best handling cars I have seen and driven were smallblocks. You dont need a tremendous amount of horsepower to make a rocket out of one of these cars. Quite frankly performance is all about a balanced car not one that has so much power you cant brake, accelerate or corner. Smallblocks will also give you a considerable weight advantage which will slightly impact the effort needed to turn the car. I strongly suggest you do unassisted steering. While they are sometimes a bit heavy to steer around parking lots, once you get the wheels turning the steering is just fine... Good luck with your build |
Yes.. next question?
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Chifo,
Is your car a bronze color? I ask because I found a Butler built in an early 80's (1982) in Hotrod Magazine that had that combination. Interesting. |
Mr Scobrac,
Nope no bronze on my car. Used to be red now its blue/silver. But the manual valve body C6 coupled with a higher stall converter is a unique combination in the car. With 3.73 gears in the rear I do wish I had an overdrive at freeway speed. So what kinda engineering do you do? |
www.urscorp.com civil but mostly field work.
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Loose the automatic, keep the power steering.
P.S. will actually give you faster track times. Half the fun of a Cobra is shifting through the gears. Motors? Gotta be Ford of course! Ernie |
Ditto, 1000% on everything....
...Thomas Gayer says! REALLY look into that Keith Craft built Dart stroker---351---to---427 ci and a bullet-proof block. The kinda engine you keep and put in your NEXT cobra.... :D
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Much sound advice, so many choices and only one chassis.
The BB has the cool factor and gobs of torque going for it yet the SB has a big weight advantage (plus my kit has SB mounts supplied). The car will be stricktly for fun runs and shows so serious racing is of no concern. AHHH..... another restless night........... The times I've awoke at 3:00am ready to start mounting A-arms this week alone. I've built this car many times already(in my head), I'm sure a few of you know what I'm going through. The real technical ?'s will follow shortly. |
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