Hunter's 427 96" WB turns up in Hinckley, IL (you saw it on ebay...)

[Busted_Knuckles]

Hello all, checking in, signed up, been passing through here for a while searching the threads on what to buy. It all started when the girlfriend says to me one day out of the blue..., " I want a cobra!", Im a 42 year old, extremlely serious full time gearhead, with quite a resume, and I reply with. "you will need to clarify what you mean by Cobra ?", I carry on with " are we talking 1993 Mustang, or Mustang II Cobra, or King Cobra or ???" She says "AC Cobra", and a little confused myself, I come back with, " you know what a cobra is ? "

Now my first car was a 65 mustang, got it when I was 14 and was driving two years before I got my drivers license. Ive owned every mustang except those from 74-79, and the new retro model of today. Suffice it to say, a cobra had crossed my mind a couple times, but I never had the discipline to "put it together". I even knew what motor I wanted and about how much horsepower and what the HP to weight ratio would be. So Im in shock for some period of time over her statement of wanting a cobra, took a while to digest this. Next thing I know, she's tracking unfinished cars on ebay, long story short, its sitting in storage today, while I begin to procure the hardware to finish it. Weve only got room for one project in the shop at time and Ive got a couple to push through while I get ready for this one.

Heres what Im thinking, the car is a 2001 Hunters 96", has C4 Vette front and rear suspension already in place, body is painted, needs engine, trans, interior and hardware. At this early stage Im thinking LS2/4L65E, should be able to hit around 550hp at the flywheel on pump gas (93 octane). Ive not ruled out a blown version of the same motor, need to look at what I can find cheap laying around from folks that overbought on this last run of the economy (like this car..!) and are in that " I need cash fast" mode, my favorite sellers !!!

The girlfriend is 5'10" and Im 6'4, so we where looking for a stretched car, I like the Vette IRS and front suspension from a "bang for the buck" stand point and figured id round it out with some more chevy, I know some members have already bailed out on me, when I mentioned the LS2, or are reeling from the mention of GM parts on a Cobra. She wants to drive it, not watch me work on it. Im of the opinion the LSx motors are an easier pick than the trition, or the windsor, or the cleveland, been there and done all that. Im looking for simplicity, reliability, integrity, driveability, $/HP, weight/hp, and of course Horsepower itself. That engine delivers all that and more, cant even seem to see a close runner up ? I wont be suprised if it pulls 20mpg + going down the highway.

So thats my grand plan, would love to hear from anyone that knows Im about to screw up, they have been there and done that, or know some one how has or whatever your thoughts, even if you think Im a Moron for putting a chevy in a Cobra, I can take it, the good and the bad.

Thanks for your time and thoughts, Bill