Let's talk engines...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RAO-3

I have to laugh; I got rid of some of these tools several years ago as I had no use for them on the "newer cars", such as the timing light, inductive tach. Isn't that the way it works?

Ray

You might never think of this, but one of the very best places to buy tools is your local pawn shop. Seriously.

[fkemmerer]

Originally Posted by RAO-3

Am I wearing you guys down yet?

Looking around at the member's galleries, it would seem that every single cobra has a different engine.

When you first built/bought your cobra, did you install your 1st choice engine, or did you start out with some other engine that you either plan to replace, or have already replaced? In making your selection did you give any thought to the original cobra? I noted that some vendors kits seem to have more non-original engines than others.

What engine did you pick and why?

Who did you have build it, and were you happy with the result? If you had it to do over again, would you go with the same engine and builder; if not what would you have done differently.

Ray

Ray,

I had Keith Craft build an aluminum 482 ci FE for my ERA. Went with stack fuel injection also.



I wanted the authenticty (and torque) of a big block FE without the weight. This is why I went with an aluminum block and cyclinder heads. We've built two street engines with EFI now and I don't think I would build another one with a carb. EFI can make even radical combinations work great on the street. The picture below is the first EFI motor that we built for the street.



Both of these motors make north of 600 ft-lbs of torque and 600 hp on pump gas. I do not have the FE motor in my cobra yet but if the blown and injected motor shown above is any indication, it will be very streetable, start and idle well (even in cold weather), and will produce gobs of power when its called upon to do so.

Keith Craft is a good builder and I would recommend you speak with him about whatever you decide upon for a motor.

- Fred

[RICK LAKE]

fkemmerer Fred You guys in the north way way too much winter free time. The eye candy that comes from the Northern woods. Can you swap motors with the blower in the cobra??? NAY. That motor looks like it's from the other camp(gm). You are right about the FI systems and nasty motors.. What cam are you running in the 482 motor? Is the TWM setup 48mm or 58mm? Nice stuff. Rick L.

[RICK LAKE]

patrickt That is the best and one of the cheapest tools evryone should have in there tool box. The problem is that some people stick them TOO FAR into there ears and hear NOTHING.:L OL: Rick L.

[fkemmerer]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

fkemmerer Fred You guys in the north way way too much winter free time. The eye candy that comes from the Northern woods. Can you swap motors with the blower in the cobra??? NAY. That motor looks like it's from the other camp(gm). You are right about the FI systems and nasty motors.. What cam are you running in the 482 motor? Is the TWM setup 48mm or 58mm? Nice stuff. Rick L.

Rick,

Yup, the blown motor is from the other camp. The Cam in the 482 FE is a Keith Craft custom hyrdraulic roller grind. Here are some basic specs:

Intake Exhaust
Gross Valve Lift 0.645 in 0.635 in
Advertised Duration 304 315
Duration @ 0.050 242 248
Lobe speration angle 112

Stacks are 58 mm. Here's some dyno information if you are interested:



The FAST computer system that I'm using also has electronnic traction control. This setup uses a driveshaft speed spensor to detect when the rear wheels are spinning and the computer retards the ignition timing to reduce torque to control the tire spin. I'm anxious to see how well this will work when the package is in the car.

[RICK LAKE]

fkemmerer Fred is the the XFI system? Is there something new to hit the market. I know of the kit for MSD that the Nascar boys got catch with. The kits around $900.00 dollars. I have not seen must info. Thanks for the heads up. I will have to look into this for the 498 motor. I have the next size down cam for the 498 from Keith. I hate when he gives you a data sheet without ALL the info. No A/F readings, Eff Vol% , Air Flow. He doesn't use EGT's but IMO they are important also. More on a turbo motor but just the same on a blower motor also. I have 50lb injector on my 482. You running about the same? I don't know what you are running on the blower motor but anything over 72 lbs, SOME of the Fast or Speed Pro ECU's are having driver failures. I have had mine fixed once. The other time was me doing some welding and not unhooking the ECU. Blown Shunt in the box. DUMB@$$. I am looking for a little more torque than your motor and a little less HP. Will retard the cam 6-8 degrees. This will kill a little off the top end and a little extra power in the bottom. Sending my stacks out to Al for the custom screens that go between the stack and throttle body. May also add the little bubble ones on the top of the stacks for extra protection to keep out low flying birds. Thanks for the info. Hope to see your car running somewhere like Limerock one day. Rick L. Ps how's the fishing???

[fkemmerer]

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

fkemmerer Fred is the the XFI system? Is there something new to hit the market. I know of the kit for MSD that the Nascar boys got catch with. The kits around $900.00 dollars. I have not seen must info. Thanks for the heads up. I will have to look into this for the 498 motor. I have the next size down cam for the 498 from Keith. I hate when he gives you a data sheet without ALL the info. No A/F readings, Eff Vol% , Air Flow. He doesn't use EGT's but IMO they are important also. More on a turbo motor but just the same on a blower motor also. I have 50lb injector on my 482. You running about the same? I don't know what you are running on the blower motor but anything over 72 lbs, SOME of the Fast or Speed Pro ECU's are having driver failures. I have had mine fixed once. The other time was me doing some welding and not unhooking the ECU. Blown Shunt in the box. DUMB@$$. I am looking for a little more torque than your motor and a little less HP. Will retard the cam 6-8 degrees. This will kill a little off the top end and a little extra power in the bottom. Sending my stacks out to Al for the custom screens that go between the stack and throttle body. May also add the little bubble ones on the top of the stacks for extra protection to keep out low flying birds. Thanks for the info. Hope to see your car running somewhere like Limerock one day. Rick L. Ps how's the fishing???

Rick,

Yes, the ETC system is an option on the FAST XFI system. Check out the following link for details:

http://www.fuelairspark.com/WhatsNew...t.asp?offset=5

The most difficult part of this setup involves fab'ing the driveshaft sensor setup. I started with a "standard" driveshaft sensor kit, removed the magnets and had a custom aluminum colar made to fit the flange on the ERA IRS center section. We then just installed the magnets from the original senstor kit in the custom part. Worked out quite well.

The injectors on the 482 are in the 50 lbs/hr range. The supercharged motor uses 60 lb/hr injectors.

- Fred