horsepower

[ender2664]

How much are most people running? I am deciding on an engine and am not sure how much power to put in given how light it is and have the car still be able to hook up.

[wkooiman]

Any decent V8 should be plenty of power to overpower the wheels.

My suggestion: Don't shoot for any specific HP. Choose an engine family, and build it to do what you want it to do. If you build it for too much HP, you get all of the hassles that go with it - louder, reliability issues, sensitive to timing/gas, etc. If this is a parade car/garage queen, so what? If you intend to drive it, turn it down to 8. You will enjoy the car more.

The camshaft is the heart of the engine. Of all the engines I have had, I enjoyed the CompCams 282S the most. It has a small lope, plus the solid lifter sound. It makes big power, but it still works well on the street. I recently tried a 294S, and it felt like a race car. If it were a race car, so what, but this was in a car I intend on driving a lot.

[Maricopa]

500. All Cobras have 500hp.

[ender2664]

500hp seems like to much power for a car this light. I feel like you wouldn't even be able to push the gas pedal down all the way in the first few gears :/

[Maricopa]

Doesn't matter, has to be 500.

[ender2664]

Thank you for wasting everyone's time with your useless posting.

[Maricopa]

It's really no trouble at all, but in my defense I had no idea you were such a humourless turd. Now you can resume your thread where you will get all the same answers that have been posted here 1,000 times and was easily covered in a simple search.

Cheers.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Maricopa

It's really no trouble at all, but in my defense I had no idea you were such a humourless turd... )

Ender2664 -- I'm one of the few people on this forum that doesn't lie about his car's horsepower. I put out just under 500 HP at the flywheel. I can never use it all on the street. I can't even hit WOT for more than a second or two. Just testing my engine to make sure my secondaries open properly is dangerous. If you're going to be driving predominantly on the street, I think 350 to 400 at the flywheel is an honest, truthful answer as to how much you need. Even that amount will kill you in a heartbeat....

[ender2664]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Ender2664 -- I'm one of the few people on this forum that doesn't lie about his car's horsepower. I put out just under 500 HP at the flywheel. I can never use it all on the street. I can't even hit WOT for more than a second or two. Just testing my engine to make sure my secondaries open properly is dangerous. If you're going to be driving predominantly on the street, I think 350 to 400 at the flywheel is an honest, truthful answer as to how much you need. Even that amount will kill you in a heartbeat....

thank you, I appreciate the information. I was thinking with the weight being so low that a 400hp motor would have this thing running low 11s all day long, and that is more than enough for me!

[mikeinatlanta]

I have about 700. Its purpose is to get me close enough to know how much nitrous I'll need. My money is on needing a 200 shot.

Edit: I have a daily driver. I want a car so over the top dangerous that simply inserting the key into my garage door causes an adrenaline rush.

[1795]

When I was first shopping for a cobra I rode in a Antique's and Collectibles car that had a 351 Windsor in it with 375 horsepower and it had plenty of power to do what ever you wanted Of course that did not stop me from purchasingn ERA with about 500 hp

[twin turbo]

Originally Posted by ender2664

thank you, I appreciate the information. I was thinking with the weight being so low that a 400hp motor would have this thing running low 11s all day long, and that is more than enough for me!

400 flywheel hp in these cars will have you running 12's all day long, not low 11's. Doesn't mean you won't have fun though. Cheers.

[ender2664]

Originally Posted by twin turbo

400 flywheel hp in these cars will have you running 12's all day long, not low 11's. Doesn't mean you won't have fun though. Cheers.

I ran 12s in a 3500lbs z28 making 350hp. If u cannot break into 11s in a car under 2700lbs with 400hp, there is a problem with the car and/or driver.

[Sailfish]

I have a Roush small block (342) that was dyno'd at 450 hp. The car is very easy to drive in traffic and has no overheating issues. However, when you step on the loud peddle, be sure you're aiming where you want to go. Would I like to have more power----yes. Would it be wise to have more power-----no. For my needs and capabilities, 450 is more than adequate. As followup to a previous post------I wouldn't necessarily focus on how much power to shoot for, but instead on the engine type and reliability. Believe me, any competent v8 will give you enough power, but over time you'll want more!!

[Large Arbor]

I hear Foreigners song today about Reving it on the Redline and they mention 400 horses under the hood and that song is older. Its amazing to me the crazy amount of HP being produced today. My ERA puts out over 510 and it seems just right. I too have not yet hit the bottom of the pedal. I keep getting a little closer though. Its shear adrenaline rushing...

Phil

[Three Peaks]

Enders, I responded in the other thread and I'll repeat here what I've said. It seems you're over your head a bit with this Cobra lust.
From your questions and responses, I would suggest you consider installing a 302 with around 275-325 hp until you get the hang of controlling that in a light, short wheel base car like a Cobra. By time you get the hang of that, you may have learned enough about engines and driving a Cobra that a specific horsepower isn't any more than a bragging contest. By then you'll know what you can/can't control and bump up from there.

Lots of guys can easily kill themselves with 300 hp, while others are perfectly able and experienced enough with these cars to handle 500+ horsepower. I don't think you are in the latter group, IMHO.

Bob

[JLip]

How much HP!!!! ? WoW!!! I don't mean to be goofy but I totally agree. Don't get a Cobra... it could really bite ya!

[Blacklemming]

Is American horsepower the same as European horsepower?

Because 400 hp out of an m3 is pretty fast.
500 hp out of an m5 is pretty fast
And if you disconnect the electronics it's an insane ride!!

So I see figures of hp passing by this threat that I am curious about?
Next question
- if you have the horsepower,can you use it?
- and how many times do u use it.

I have had al lot of motorcycles (r1,hayabusa,gsxr1000) and on the street
We would ride fast ,but always at 30% what the bike could do.
On the racetrack 80% in the best circumstances ,otherwise you will hurt yourself.(unless you're Collin Edwards)

I think these cars have a good weight/ hp ratio ,but without electronics you must be one hell of a driver to use 600 hp in these cars.
My cobra has 260 hp and I am planning an upgrade on the motor,
But it drives nice already

Just thinking out loud

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by Blacklemming

- if you have the horsepower,can you use it?
- and how many times do u use it.

It's useful on the track. I've never used it all on the street.

But it's your car. Build it the way you want and drive it the way you want.

[undy]

600 hp from a KC all aluminum 482' side-oiler and... a set of M/T drag radials to use every last tasty drop of it too!!