427 engine build

[MGP69stang]

427 for New Cobra build.. looking for suggestions/list of components, more torque oriented but with cam sound..450-475hp..not stroked
cast iron block, stock crank, hyd rollers, TFS heads, webers,

[Grubby]

Brent Lykins (Lykins Motorsports) can give solid advice and sell you the parts at a competitive price.

He builds engines to.

John

[MGP69stang]

Ok.. not planning to build myself ..trying to see if anybody has built a 427 more for
street-ability/torque 450-475hp but having that cam sound also

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by MGP69stang

Ok.. not planning to build myself ..trying to see if anybody has built a 427 more for
street-ability/torque 450-475hp but having that cam sound also

Forgetting actual power numbers for a second, and going solely with sound, it's hard to beat a solid flat tappet cam with a healthy dose of overlap. This is what mine sounds like, you might like it, or you might not. Click here: ERA 732 Engine Sounds Picking the right side pipes also plays a role in how your engine sounds, both at idle and under acceleration. You don't want them too loud, but you want them loud enough. All of these things you have to tell your engine builder. And then discuss it with him after you've told him kind of what you want.

[CCKW353]

Brent built me a great 427 Sideoiler for the street. As noted he is good source to speak with and get drivetrain parts. We had long conversations about intended usage, gearing, trans to be used etc. before he built mine. Worth call in my opinion. My motor is 480 HP / 490 lbs of torque if I recall correctly.

[eschaider]

Which Cobra did you buy MGP69stang?

[patrickt]

Now, if you're curious, my cam is a 60 year old technology Ford “K” cam, and it is installed with a 109 ICL and has a LSA of 114 degrees and 245 degrees of both intake and exhaust duration when measured at .050”. It is one step milder than the cam used in their hi-riser engines, that had the same lobe specifications, but a tighter LSA, which made it a bit rougher.

Here is the graph of the specs. Now remember, cams have come a long way since 1963 and someone like Brent L. could whip up a cam that will beat mine in every way. But, I picked this cam for the sound, the smell and it performs quite well and is not a horrific bear when I'm caught in traffic. It's lightly rough in traffic but not terribly. And I chose it after talking it all over with my builder. Yes, a cam has a smell. A cam has a soul. And a cam has the ability to reach out and grab you. In choosing what goes in your FE, it is maybe the most important parts choice you make. But, if you make a mistake you can always replace it, so don't sweat it. Just try and get it right the first time.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by eschaider

Which Cobra did you buy MGP69stang?

Reading his posts, I believe he is in the "paper" stage of cobra ownership so far. Still trying to put figures together so he can create a realistic budget.


Bill S.

[MGP69stang]

I don’t own a cobra.. seriously considering one now.. Unique or ERA

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by MGP69stang

I don’t own a cobra.. seriously considering one now.. Unique or ERA

I would recommend you start with how much money you intend to spend. If you are in the $30K to $50K area, buy a used car off a site like BAT (Bring a Trailer). If you are in the $50 to $80K area, buy a used car off, you guessed it - BAT.

If you are in the low $100K window, consider buying and building. If you have never built one of these, buy a used car off BAT.

By now, you should be picking up a theme here. As many of the guys have already suggested building one of these is not like anything you have ever done before — even if you are a motorsports enthusiast. If you have built 'for real' race cars or open-wheel race cars, you will have the skills and, most importantly, the facilities and tools to do one of these builds.

If not, you will end up like so many before you with an incomplete build that you have given up on, cut corners to save money, and are now attempting to sell for $0.50 on the dollar and typically less because buyers demand higher build standards than you were willing to pay for.

Same story on the engine. Decide big block or small block desired horsepower (don't get crazy, 550 hp is a LOT in a 2400 lb car) and go to a builder like Brent Lykins (on the site here) and have him build you an engine from oil pan to air cleaner. You will be thousands of dollars ahead of the game, and you will not kill the engine before you have the first 500 miles on the car.

These cars look beautiful and are more arduous than almost any project you will undertake unless it is a Daytona Coupe or a GT-40. Don't piss away a pile of money — you'll be happier if you don't. And, we have not even touched on how not to kill yourself yet ...

[MGP69stang]

I can say that the Cobra build is beginning to ad up$ a lot

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by MGP69stang

I can say that the Cobra build is beginning to ad up$ a lot

Then multiply by 1.5 or 2.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by MGP69stang

I can say that the Cobra build is beginning to ad up$ a lot

The cobra hobby is not for the faint of checkbook. If you go for a complete turnkey ERA, with that nicely built side oiler, and it's decked out with all the trimmings that you really want, you will be lighter by six figures when it's all said and done.

[Alfa02]

As Tony (twobjshelby) said $ 1.5-2X's, same with time frame

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

As Tony (twobjshelby) said $ 1.5-2X's, same with time frame

In the end, most kits are never finished.

If you are in to tinkering and fabrication you should build a kit. But it will take longer and cost more than you think. And the inevitable "customizations" (deeper foot well, passenger roll bar, etc) add to that expense and time even more since custom fabrication is needed.

If you want to drive a Cobra just buy one and enjoy it 3 to 5 years before your kit will ever be done.

If you're on a budget and think you can save money by building one think that over carefully by recalling how many unfinished kits are sold here for pennies on the dollar.

Good luck whatever direction you take.

[fordracing65]

Buy used.

[MGP69stang]

No ERA or Unique for sale

[Alfa02]

Maybe contact Bring-a-Trailer about this one?? It's worth a shot. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...cobra-replica/

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

... It's worth a shot.

Uhhhh, no. Not unless his brother-in-law owns a paint and body shop.

[Alfa02]

Another one, that went to me, pretty cheap. Unique & ERA Cobras seem to show up on BaT quite regularly, I agree with everyone here, buy your first one (Used) Time & Money saved. Trust me, it's way more fun driving than building, I've done both @Patrickt, just to paint it from yellow to BEIGE https://bringatrailer.com/listing/un...cobra-replica/