Warning: New Guy Content

[willtwallace]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Ahhh - but which original? And even more so since magnesium originals (or alum sunbursts) are nearly unobtanium and unaffordable, which reproduction of which original? Nothing in these cars is simple.

darnit! Okay, i see just as in Bible study, the use of precise and clear language is key in the Cobra world also

[Bernica]

If it's a 427 replica, then an FE all the way...with single 4, dual 4 or Webers?

Next, the transmission...traditional 4 speed Toploader? Tremec? 5 speed? 6?

Rear end...what ratio? (first decide on transmission above)

Then the sidepipes...chrome? ceramic coated? stainless? What size?

See, this is a sickness shared by most on this site and we have all been through it. You will twist and turn, make mistakes along the way and tear things out and throw them in you "mistake pile" until one day you say "OK, now that's what I was talking about!"

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

If it's a 427 replica, then an FE all the way...with single 4, dual 4 or Webers?

Next, the transmission...traditional 4 speed Toploader? Tremec? 5 speed? 6?

If you subscribe to the "I can't tell a difference without a lift" test, then have blykins build you a nice stroked and bored 390FE, he'll check the runout on the BH for you, and have him throw in a TKO600 on it. Then have him ship it out to you in a big wooden box. Nobody can tell the difference between an original side oiler and a budget 390 build, in a Cobra, without a lift. Same goes for the transmission. And a five speed really adds to the enjoyment of the car.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

If you subscribe to the "I can't tell a difference without a lift" test, then have blykins build you a nice stroked and bored 390FE, he'll check the runout on the BH for you, and have him throw in a TKO600 on it. Then have him ship it out to you in a big wooden box. Nobody can tell the difference between an original side oiler and a budget 390 build, in a Cobra, without a lift. Same goes for the transmission. And a five speed really adds to the enjoyment of the car.

Maybe it's a broad generalization, but it seems to me that a very large amount of the ERA's that I've seen on the market in the past few years have been built with 428's.

However, if you have a tight budget, and want an FE, then the 390 is the way go.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Maybe it's a broad generalization, but it seems to me that a very large amount of the ERA's that I've seen on the market in the past few years have been built with 428's.

However, if you have a tight budget, and want an FE, then the 390 is the way go.

Yes, because if you want an original iron block, from the original time frame, that "technically" matches originality, then that's the easiest way to do it. Finding original 427 blocks, that are in good shape, is getting pretty hard. Under some conditions, having an old block in your car gets you around the emissions problems.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yes, because if you want an original iron block, from the original time frame, that "technically" matches originality, then that's the easiest way to do it. Finding original 427 blocks, that are in good shape, is getting pretty hard. Under some conditions, having an old block in your car gets you around the emissions problems.

Yup, nothing wrong with a nice 428 or even a 390. Both are still quite obtainable and relatively affordable compared to a true 427 side-oiler, the 390 of course more so. And in a car that weights somewhere around 2,500 lbs or even less that's more than enough!