KC Pond 482-580hp. Does that sound right?

[Keithc8]

Now that I think of it that has to be why we work 12 hours a day. My wife has a saying and she reminds me of it regularly. You have to be careful about what you wish for, you just might get it. If I can just make it for another ten years I might be able to slow down. Oh I forgot I have three kids to put through college. Well I guess that screws up that plan, make it 20 more years. Thanks, Keith

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Keithc8

Now that I think of it that has to be why we work 12 hours a day. My wife has a saying and she reminds me of it regularly. You have to be careful about what you wish for, you just might get it. If I can just make it for another ten years I might be able to slow down. Oh I forgot I have three kids to put through college. Well I guess that screws up that plan, make it 20 more years. Thanks, Keith

Keith,

A lot of us are in the same situation me included.

[undy]

Originally Posted by Keithc8

I would like to do the Engine Masters thing but it always seems like we are behind on getting work done or at least working so that we are on time I should say. My engine assembler talked about this deal and it would be fun. I always seem to waite to late to get in on it when I do think about it. I do like some of the rule changes because most of the engine that were being built early on would never work very long in the application they were intended. With all of the light parts and high compression with the crazy lift cams. Not very many people run a 250 @ .050 camshaft with .850 lift. I do not even know the rules for this year and if it is to late to get entered. The thing with the Ford deal is that everybody uses about the same set up with the 351C style 3V heads. Maybe they will limit the heads a little like all in-line valve heads or something.
I know on the NHRA Super Stocker and Stocker engines that you are limited by pretty strict rules. I do think that the Cammar stuff will be neat if they ever get anything that will hold water and work. We are doing a 514C.I. Boss 429 style engine with aftermarket heads and intake for the street. The customer wants a hydraulic roller and about 10.5 to 1 compression. This thing is suppose to make about 800HP with this combination. It will be a interesting engine to see if it will make that kind of power on pump gas and a hydraulic roller. Will have neat looking valve covers anyway.
I say it all of the time about this business that there are more people out there that know more about it than I do and that that is probably why they did not get into it for a living. I will be happy to fix anybody up with a complete shop and a lot of inventory so they can hit the ground running. Have about 40 different CNC programs for aluminum heads with several for different makes of blocks. Even have a CNC valve job machine from Newen where you can design any valve job that you want. Can do complete radius valve jobs with any radius you want. Do valve jobs with all of the angles .030 wide with 10 different angles. You can design anything that you have the time to cut and flow test. This machine was 80,000.00 alone but people get up-set if you charge more than the electritian, plumber or cable guy, Hell y accountant charges more an hour than we do and I have about 2 million invested and they have an office with a computer and calculator. Like I said you have to be pretty stupid to get into this business. And to think I have a business degree, I should know better. Good luck, Keith Craft

Yea, but we both know when you wheel that 700hp Kirkham out of the garage hitting heavily on all 8, motor cautiously down the driveway and then put that puppy sideways the fist 100 or so yards of asphalt .. it all suddenly becomes worth it.. t'would hate to be you.

12 hours a day??? ....you slacker!

[blykins]

What else would you do Keith if you couldn't do this? If you didn't have the shop to keep you busy, you'd be out in the driveway under some car turning wrenches. Might as well get paid for it. Customers are customers no matter what business you're in. They all think they know more than you.

BTW, tell the kids to get a job and put themselves through college. That's what school loans are for!

[diegokid]

I finally decided to go with the FE for my build. Motor is beeing built now at SA, we wanted reliability and driveability. My wife was sure to voice the point she didn't want it to sound like a school bus,"I have a great wife." The motor is supposed to be around 450/480. In all honesty can anyone say this is slow or not enough?

Who is getting 35 MPG out of an FE and how?

[68gt500]

Originally Posted by diegokid

...
Who is getting 35 MPG out of an FE and how?

30+ mpg? -No I don´t think it can be done.

I have put a lot of effort into reducing my Shelbys fuel consumption and I am up to 16 mpg - pretty decent considering the weight, the speed we can drive at and the Webers...

Thas is at a normal Autobahn cruise of about 85 mpg.

Its no problem to put it into single digit mpg mode - and a lot more fun.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by diegokid

Who is getting 35 MPG out of an FE and how?

One of the CC members, Al Pace, joked about that since he was Only putting out 530 HP on a 482 from KC. The only way an FE can make 35mpg is downwind in a hurricane with the engine turned off.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by diegokid

The motor is supposed to be around 450/480. In all honesty can anyone say this is slow or not enough?

If that's dynoed with mufflers and accessories attached, then that's pretty close to my FE. On the street, I can't really hit WOT safely. If you're not careful, you can break the rear wheels loose very easily. You can scare yourself very, very easily. BTW, if you scare yourself while driving, you will absolutely terrify your passenger. The first time I took my older brother (Porsche 911 owner and aficionado) for a ride in my Cobra I did just that and the look on his face was easily worth the price of the ERA itself. First time in my life I can remember him absolutely speechless -- and I will remember that look on his face 'til the day I die.

[blykins]

What do you consider slow?

[bret a ewing]

I'm glad Keith does what he does.

[Excaliber]

Yeah I hear that, 'only' 580 horse, far less than 600, uh, right...

[diegokid]

Someone in this thread had mentioned the high MPGs, I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it. I'm not too concerned about it really. We are building this to drive and enjoy.
As far as camming it down my wife was guite direct in the point that she doesn't want it to sound like a bus engine. She was also the one who suggested I build a new shop just to build the Cobra in, even bought a mini fridge for the Beer.

[hi-tech cobra]

diegokid,
"She was also the one who suggested I build a new shop just to build the Cobra in, even bought a mini fridge for the Beer."

She got a sister?

[hi-tech cobra]

What do you guys think of the dyno sheet (in my gallery)?
Is the a/f mix rich?

[diegokid]

She has several, all taken, yes they are little gems also.

[vector1]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

What do you guys think of the dyno sheet (in my gallery)?
Is the a/f mix rich?

doesn't show what is below 4400 but 11.8 could be little rich. idle at 13.5 with richer to mbt at 12.5 usually 5000 to 5500 then slight lean out again maybe.

should be someone with a lot more experience chime in.

[undy]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

What do you guys think of the dyno sheet (in my gallery)?
Is the a/f mix rich?

If you brought the A/F to 13.1, assuming the A/F probe's in the tailpipe, you could probably bump the 580 to around 600, maybe. 13.1 at the pipe is usually around 12.8 at the motor/installed bung (not too sure if this'll apply to the Cobra' exhaust though??). Well ... anyway, that would give you a little more "bragging rights", which I sense you would like a little more of. Your A/F is not rich, just a good safe A/F that sacrifices a minute, undetectable amount of horse power in favor of building you an engine that will "safely" (at least A/F wise ) obliterate the tires at will.

Dave