Engine choices???

[Wannabe1]

OK at some point i am going to do a cobra. Not sure on make yet but i know for a fact that i will have some sort of kit/factory reproduction. My issue is i cant decide which engine to build. I figure if i can get that out of the way before the actual car is purchaced it will seem as if i spending less money... . My main concern is weight in the front end. I would like to go with a BB (428 or something along those lines) but when compared to the 302 that Factory FIve tested thier car with its about 200 lbs more in the nose. Has anyone put there BB car on scales to see how the weight transfers out or know what a BB's weight can be lowered to with various light weight engine components i.e alum heads? Any info or opinions would be great....thanks in advance

[foothills gary]

Wannabe,there isn't really that much difference in weight between a small block and an FE series engine.The brawnier 429/460 series is heavier yet.It is my understanding that an FE with alloy heads,intake and waterpump weighs about #80 or so more.The 390/428 engines are always a great choice ,especially if you are building a 427s/c style Cobra,as opposed to a FIA where a small block would be more at home.ERA Replicas has a great chart in their engine section of the website that gives approximate weights of the most common Ford engines for Cobras.This info helped me decide to go 428 in my car,but I don't intend to race it with the exception of possibly autocross.If you intend to race that may change the equation,in that a full boogie smallblock can probably be pro built for about 1/2 the cost of an FE BB,especially if you go to a 427 alloy s/o.Bill Parham at Southern Automotive Engines also is a good source of info in this regard.Good luck on your quest,and welcome to the site!

[gsharapa]

For the money and power to weight ratio try a small block stroker like a Keith Craft 427 small block stroker with 640HP.........

[Wannabe1]

This is proving to be difficult. I feel almost bad putting a SB into a cobra, but the with the weight vs additional HP a BB would add it seems almost silly not to. I guess my only other option is to run a chevy engine . Any one running a boosted FE or SB?

[foothills gary]

Wannabe,there is no wrong choice-as long as it is a FORD!There are plenty of examples of boosted small blocks on this site.You can see many engine pictures in the Gallery.The original iron block 427 Cobra weighed in at around #2600.Most Replicas probably weigh in #2400-2500.Thats still an extremely light car!The Factory Five car with an SB I believe comes in at a claimed #2250 or so,and with a stock 225h.p. 302 will dust just about anything on the street.Relax and enjoy the experience!No matter which decision you make,you are among friends here.Have you narrowed down your manufacturer choices yet.We would love to hear your thoughts in that regard.

[Wannabe1]

Right now im kinda stuck between the Factory Five car and ERA. I like the option of the independant rear on the FF cars, along with lowerd weight and the fact that the body is not attached to the chassis. Also it is alot cheaper and seems like it is more of a bare bones car. Thus allowing me to build it the way i want with out purchacing things twice. My big problem is im 6' 5 so i need to call FF or do some research on here on what the "claimed" leg room ect is. I dont mean come off as tence and worried but i need to build a car that in my budget and does what i want. Obviously any way you look at building it its not going to be cheap but i need to do my research before hand and get that all straight....and who better to ask then drivers. There are a few cars around here but they are all driven by people that have had them built and dont know the first thing about the questions i am asking. I just joined the forum and posted just to hear some opinions and i thank those who have responded. I will do some more searching around here and if theres something i cant find...dont worry you will hear from me again

[foothills gary]

Wannabe,is most of your height in your legs or torso?Classic Roadsters makes their Cobra with I believe a 6" stretch in the wheelbase to accomodate very long legs.Backdraft and Venom have a 2'' stretch.The ERA has lengthened footboxes,but their site lists it as only fitting up to 6'4".The Superformance cowl appears to somewhat higher,which might help someone who is longer in the torso,or wishes to sit lower in the car.I looked into the Factory Five,and would have probably gone that way if I had more time to dedicate to the project(very nice people,by the way).Their tech people are very helpful and they have a huge client base of satisfied owners.I loved all the aluminum work on the Factory Five.There may be longer footboxes available for the FF.They have a great owners site-ffcobra.com,which you may have already discovered,with many vendors to support the FF.I am very at peace with my choice of ERA,because for me authenticity was very important,I wanted American made,and the people are great to deal with-very family like.Quality is also outstanding,but again quality is not really an issue with most of the big names available to choose from.

[craigayl]

Wannabe1

The engine CG in a Cobra is about 27 inches behind the front axel, so the engine contributes about 2/3 front to 1/3 rear. If one engine weighs 100 lbs more than another, it is only going to cause about a 33lb weight shift. In fact, my SPF is about 47% front, 53% rear with my 514.

Before you decide on an engine, you need to give some consideration to how you will use your car.

Daily driver? A moderately tuned Windsor

Road racing? A well built Windsor.

Shine and show? An FE

Drag racing? A well built 358 (514 or bigger) with an automatic

A “shock and awe” cruiser? Any 385 with a 4 or 5 speed.

The possibilities are endless, but note, when making the decision, engine weight would only be a factor in serious track racing. Most people will not notice a 30-50lb weight shift or a 100-150 total weight difference. At least for me, I wanted all the HP I could get at a reasonable price. I wound up going the Ford crate route. I just couldn’t find anything better than a $7K, 600HP Ford 514 crate.

One last thing, you should know something about the car you want to buy. Some manufactures do not recommended a BB and some do not recommend a SB. Don’t get caught with the right engine wrong car…

Hope some of this helps

Craig

[valpodoc]

Before you buy consider what you'll be using it for. If your into track racing the SB will give you better handling and less cost when you blow it up. If your looking for a head turner there is nothing like a BB for sound and jaw drops when you open her up. Do your home work and drive as many as possible before pulling the trigger.

Roland

[Wannabe1]

"craigayl" thanks for the info on engine placement. Although there is almost a 200lb increase in weight from SB to BB that makes it seem a little more reasonable to even consider a larger displacement engine. As for "valpodoc's" post...who in thier right mind would hand the keys over to me...LOL...thanks for the info so far.

[craigayl]

Wannabe1

The weight difference is not as much as you may think

In Iron configuration

Windsor 351 – 510lbs
FE – 650lbs
385 (429/460) – 640lbs

Either the Windsor or 385 can be fitted with either aluminum heads or block which will reduce the weight, but the 130lb differential will remain about the same.

The weight information is available in several places on the WEB http://performanceunlimited.com/docu...neweights.html is one example, or you can check the Ford racing catalog. The catalog weights are “shipping weights” so they include the weight of the crate, but you can see approximately the same differential)

Happy hunting

Craig

[Wannabe1]

Thanks for all the help guys.