Club Cobra - BB's and handling

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BB's and handling

Do these cars handle better with a small block. I've seen numerous posts that talk about this in general terms. I'm committed to the FE but am curious what this is all about.

malibu

Small blocks will handle better, but unless you are going to race the car, it really doesn't matter. Cobras are not known for their extrodinary handling.

This will get an argument going I'm sure, but it's pretty easy to look at Dick Smith's racing record with a 427. As far as I know, he's the winningest Cobra driver ever.

Unless you are going racing for real, I wouldn't worry about any differences there may be. I've driven both varieties and own a 427.

On a short, twisty track, a well prepared (and driven) 289 Cobra will run right with a 427. On a track with long straights, the 427 will get it every time.

For street and recreational purposes, either one will handle well enough to give you a real thrill. Tires and suspension have a lot more to do with handling than horsepower and engine size. Yes, somebody will argue about weight distribution and I'll simply say if you're at a 50-50 weight bias, it doesn't matter what engine it is.

If you're really wanting to push the car and it wants to "push" as the NASCAR boys call it, use the throttle and go back to sorting out the suspension and tires until it will corner without driving off the track.

Just remember, with any light, short wheelbase car and high horsepower, you need an adjustable right foot, that's well connected to a functioning brain.

Like FE's? Go for it and don't look back....except at the smallblock car in your rearview mirror......! :)

a snake,

I buy your 50-50 argument and like that you referred to Dick Smith. It looked like his car is equipped with cast ironheads as well, no weight savings in sight ..., no fancy pedal arrangement, just bone stock - it seems.

I wish I knew the internals of his engine, and well his racer's part of the brain ;-)

dominik, cape town

Hi

I have raced an FE406 Cobra and a BB Chev injected 650bhp kevlar Cobra, the Chev powered Cobra has so much grunt and reasonable handling but the IRS 9" with Richmond gears and the Jaguar Axles kept twisting and breaking to the point where I have sold the car and am building a lightweight small block car. Having said all this I go racing and small blocks are more driveable, you haven't got the weight to throw around, 50/50 is great but the weight is still there at the turns, under braking. This time round though racing is not important and having a nice road car is my dream, with a 351W stroker maybe 392!
All the best with your decision and I would have to say if I could afford it I would have an all alloy FE427 in my car - as that would be the ultimate!!

Cheers Ant

Small blocks handle worlds better, no question. Doesn't matter if it's on the racetrack or the highway, their differences are still there. But most of the fun of a cobra is not in pushing the limits in every corner, for many it's standing around a parking lot BS'ing with other car guys with the hood up. Buy what you want, it will still be fun.

Would love to have a Big Block and just SMOKE the tires down to the rims, ha ha! Dick Smith was no doubt running longer courses than the one I run at Hawaii Raceway Park. It's short and TIGHT. It IS a small block course. Not to mention the SCCA Solo II runs! Talk about SHORT and TWISTY! Last weekend I couldn't even go WOT except for one very short section. Big Block would be ridiculous on a course like that. A VW GTI, an old Dastsun 510, a number of 240Z's are TOUGH competition for me in the SCCA Solo II events! On the FULL road course, I eat them for breakfast and go looking for the Vettes. And yeah, those Big Blocks blow my doors off down the straigt-a-way (but I catch 'em in the corners)!

What to do, what to do? Have fun, you really can't loose no matter WHICH way you go!

Ernie