Backdraft Motor

JSLOVES · #1 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 09:09 AM

HAVE A BACKDRAFT ON ORDER WITH A 302/345HP ENGINE, LIVE AT 8500FT ALTITUDE, CURRENT THINKING IS A PROGRAMABLE F.I. OVER CARB. ANY THOUGHTS. SHOULD IT HAVE A BIGGER ENGINE FOR BETTER RESALE? THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

newBDR · #2 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 09:22 AM

Buy as much motor as you can afford. I got a 302 in my BDR due to cost constraints at the time, and of course, I already wish I went with more motor. The 302 moves it along fine, but you know, a little more than you already have is just enough.

TRE · #3 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 04:10 PM

Go with the bigger motor for bragging rights or straight line performance but for weight distribution and streetability you can't beat the 302. I have a "slightly" built 302 in my BDR and it is dyno tested to 310 HP at the rear wheels. the block is stock bore and stroke and has Edelbrock everything with a Ford Racing B303 hydraulic roller cam. The BDR will jump just about anything out there and I can still sit at stop lights comfortably. I Know I will get at least $10,000 more than what I put into it and that doesn't include the fun!

tfarhood · #4 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 04:50 PM

Don't buy any Cobra if you are concerned about re-sale prices. Buy a Cobra because you love the car, selling it in your mind before having it on the road is the wrong approach. Now if you just want to brag about HP.............................!

Jack21 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 05:54 PM

These BDR's are getting really popular, aren't they.

Food for thought...

I wouldn't put anything smaller than a 351 in a Cobra. Why? As soon as you learn how to drive and appreciate your car, you'll want more power. And, the day some kid in a Camaro dusts you off, the 302 is coming out! I'm already eyeballing a 393 upgrade.

You make a good argument for altitude adjustment retaining the factory EFI. EFI's adjust automatically for this, carb's don't. So a compromise may be in order. Do a warm stroker motor, 331 or so, but dial the compression in at about 8.5:1. Later, install a Vortec.

Guy in CACC (Wade Chamberlain) runs this setup in an FFR. 446 HP at the the rear wheels on the chassis dyno.

Resale wise? One really doesn't build a Cobra to resell. Once you start driving it, you'll never want to sell it. But if you build it right with lots of attention to detail, keep good records, and maintain it, it will hold its resale value based on condition. Cobras are already antiques when you put them on the street. There is no annual depreciation.

Trueoo7 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-24-2005, 07:42 PM

If you're thinking about EFI, check out this site and read the testomonials. It deals with higher elevations, real sweet setup too.
www.qualityroadsters.com

Cashburn · #7 (**permalink**) 02-27-2005, 09:26 PM

We really like the 342s from Roush and Ford but dollar for dollar the Keith Craft 408 is a killer!

Best all around combo with these cars is a 4.6... you heard it here first! It will be a big choice for a lot of reasons if you know the motors.

Rogers · #8 (**permalink**) 02-28-2005, 11:07 AM

There are some boys in Kansas City using the older 4.6 Cobra Mustang motor...changing the rods..strapping on a supercharger...I've ridden in one of these and it is incredible!!!!

Cashburn · #9 (**permalink**) 02-28-2005, 01:13 PM

I'm sure you recognize that expansion tank

Rogers · #10 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 04:04 PM

You need to strap a S-charger on that Cashburn. Have you had any feedback on the Paxton supercharger for a carburated 302?

got snake? · #11 (**permalink**) 03-03-2005, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rogers

You need to strap a S-charger on that Cashburn. Have you had any feedback on the Paxton supercharger for a carburated 302?

I'm looking into doing the samething but wanted somebody else to be the tester.
I'm pretty sure there are a few SPF's running around with them on 351w.
Sid

Rogers · #12 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 03:57 PM

I'm gonna spring for one in about 30 days...should put me well over the 400 hp mark but most important....t..o..r..q..u..e....... I have the 391 rear-end but still have trouble roasting.

got snake? · #13 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 08:24 PM

That was the other thing I was wondering about. the 3.10. Will it let me roast tires? I was told its is for top speed which makes sense coming from a BMW. From what I know BMW are ment for smooth acceleration and power at all parts of the RPM band. I'm pretty sure the cam I have is pretty agressive but not too crazy. Don't even have the cobra yet and have already desided that next winter some changes will need to be made like a 3.73 or 3.93 and/or supercharger. LOL!

Sid

BTW regarding the Paxton set up will need to be the passenger side kit with some custom brackets to fit under the hood of our cars.

DC COBRA · #14 (**permalink**) 03-04-2005, 08:55 PM

Personally I would go with the biggest possible motor package you can afford and then beg borrow or steal for a tad more. This way your cobra will always surprise you in some way. My motor with 600 plus on horsepower and torque will not roast tires if you keep below 3500 on launch and accelerate thru the gears decent. They spin somewhat with a little smoke in 1st and 2nd. I have 3.73 gears in rear. Though it is fast and sounds great and impressive to feel and watch....BUT you drop the hammer above 3500 and not much above you get a very smoky 1st 2nd 3rd and some of 4th too scared to go to 5th. Will pull 7500 rev limiter chip in each gear quick and I mean quick and is very very fast and hard pulling while roasting the tires. Fortunately with the locker rear this thing doesn't want to get even sideways at all. Now that really sounds real good and to look very impressive because it feels really scary. That the little surprises you get when you go with the biggest motor you really can't afford.

DON

blykins · #15 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 07:25 AM

DC Cobra.....how much torque did that engine make?

My gas pedal is one from Tri State Motorsports with the pedal stop on the pedal itself....I haven't adjusted it yet, and at WOT, the secondaries don't even open up.....

Even then, I can spin through 1st and 2nd gear from a rolling start....lots of smoke.

I dyno'd 500 lb-ft at 4500 rpm.....using a Toploader and a 3.70 9" rear....

DC COBRA · #16 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 09:47 AM

blykins

The motor dynoed out at 612 horsepower and 615 torque. Maximum horsepower was at 5700, torque was at 5000. Decent for a "pump gas motor"

DON

blykins · #17 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 05:47 PM

Very decent indeed. You should be very satisfied with that setup.....

Who needs big blocks anyway.....

aumoore · #18 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 08:48 PM

My $0.02

If I was you and was a little short on cash get a good EFI 302 for two reasons. #1 you live in high altitude so it will compensate for the thin air. #2 you can always strap a supercharger on and then you will think you have a big block car with the lighter weight of a 302.

There are more than a few stroker 351's and big block cobras that have been smoked by a 302 car. I have a magazine that states the fastest "STOCK"Ford ever tested by their magazine was a 289 Slabside car back in the early 60's. The 427 Cobra was actually slower but they did say the 289 car was probably a ringer but still it was faster than the big block car.

I have a Hunter with a 302 and for most all driving it is fast enough. My motor is almost a stock Explorer motor with a Holley 600 on top.

DC COBRA · #19 (**permalink**) 03-05-2005, 09:20 PM

Some very interesting points indeed.

Strapped for cash, go with 302 and bolt on supercharger, how expensive is that?

Going with the 302==345hp package I presume, how many more dollars would be the 408 package?

Wanting to add fuel injection to the current 302 package and then possibly add the supercharger to get the feel of a "big block" . When you add these things up, it seems that the cost of the say 408 package is not so bad afterall. Lets not forget that if you build it for a 302 to begin with that the driveline may not sustain the abuse of later adding a supercharger without some upgrading.

As far as the 289 outperforming the 427 cobra could had very well happened, I don't pay to much hype with magazine articles, I am more hands on. lets go red light to redlight or possibly to the track wiyh both cars that you can see and touch, drivers that can talk to each other and nothing staged to see who can have so called "braggin rights" and fun of course.

My windsor is aluminum blocked, close to the weight of a 302,possibly lighter. It has big block cubes at 427. now think of the possibility of "strapping" a supercharger to it, yea buddy.

Build the biggest possible motor you can and can't afford that way you are not left with the sudden urge of needing more power and wishing you would have done so.

THESE ARE JUST MY OPINIONS! My motto is build it big and bad, people notices big and bad, and you will respect big and bad. I promise you on that. I like old school by the way, big motor, big carbuetor, BIG SMILES.

DON

blykins · #20 (**permalink**) 03-06-2005, 04:50 AM

Those who say an out of the box 302 is plenty has never ridden in anything else....hehehe....

I've never ridden in many 302's (or other stock small blocks) with a blower that felt like a big block. Small engines with low cubes just don't have the displacement or stroke to get lots of torque. Even with a blower, you get lots and lots of horsepower, but no torque.

Look at FMS' 347....yeah it makes a nice little 450hp.....but the torque is "only" at 400. Yeah, in your bone stock Mustang, 400 lb-ft is a lot.....but in Cobra land, it's somewhat lacking.

I'm going off of personal experience. I've ridden in a lot of cars....and I know what gets me excited.....

Just my humble opinion and a few cents mixed in...