Motor choice

[FUNFER2]

I'm with you Excaliber. I don't mean to offend anyone with idealization what a Cobra should be but, I don't accept anything other than a FIA type small block, 427 side oiler or a FE, as a engine. I also don't believe in a "Hot Rodded" Cobra. I can't even see using 17" wheels, unless maybe, for racing. Don't like automatics, or BMW suspension's, wood dashes or high back seats. Cobras were built as a race car. Fuel fumes, harsh ridding, noisy and hit the pedal so it pushes you back in your seat and scares the crap out of your passenger, gives you the "Cobra experience". I don't care that you can put in a crate Ford 514cu. with 630 hp or a Chevy 572 cube for easy and cheaper power than building a expensive "FE". I've even heard of a crate Hemi in a cobra ! (shameful) You could even put in a relatively stock, rice engine with twin turbos, coolers, alcohol injection and incredible boost numbers and have 800 + hp............it's not a cobra. Is my cobra as original ? No, I've just polished the aluminum on the engine, half of the wheels and dash ect., and I still get people asking, "is it real" ? Which I reply, "no but thank you". "I wish I could afford one though" Even a kirkham is out of my reach so, I'll have fun driving my Lone Star. I'm not saying that anything other than original is wrong. "To each it's own" and "what ever makes you happy" IS, what I saying but, at least try to stay with in the parameter of original. I would never....put a V-8 in a BMW unless it was manufactured that way. Or how about putting a rice burner engine in our sprint car, I don't think so ! LOL !!! A Cobra is all about great....... "American muscle power".

[Excaliber]

Ron, I wouldn't be offended if you would break this thread into a separate one. It's a very tough subject to discuss without offending someone, but I think it needs to be aired out.

In the past there were limited numbers of kit cars, replicas or whatever you want to call them. TODAY the numbers are much bigger than ever before. Where IS the replica market headed? Frankly, and with apologies, BDR is like the 'Walmart' of the Cobra industry. Not to single out one brand, there are many examples.

[GeorgiaSnake]

Ken, I say go for it and post pictures after it's finished.

I would think the wiring will be the most difficult challenge.

[GeorgiaSnake]

Ernie WTF are you drinking - the Cobra world is far bigger than you or your opinions. WTF needs to be "aired out" other than what you think.

[wilf leek]

FASTRAXSG:

Yes - I can point you in the direction of a Brit who has succesfully put a BMW V8 in a Cobra. His forum tag is "TonyD", and you will find him on the UK Cobra Replica Club forum which is at http://www.cobraclub.com/

We also have people looking at putting Jag V8s and Lexus V8s into Cobras right now. The Aussies use the Lexus V8 a lot in their cars. So there is a lot of info out there about how to deal with ECUs etc.

Slick - I still think you are dead wrong, and really don't undestand where this current train of thought of yours emanated from. No problem if you personally want to go a certain route with your car, but don't denigrate the choice of others. Their choices are every bit as valid as yours. Don't for gawd sake come to the UK - most people here stick Chevy engines into their cars, it would give you a heart attack.
BTW, I don't have Kirkham, I have a Crendon, which incidentally has an accurate twin 4" tube chassis!

[Lowell W]

The cars I admire most are truly 'old school' which is what this hobby USED to be about! A well built ACCURATE Hi Tech is a thing of beauty, for instance. In general were loosing it to a market willing to buy at a nice price with less appreciation of what it means to 'replicate' a Cobra.

Actually the Arntz\Butlers are an interesting interpretation and worth a second look.

I never said they weren't "interesting" or "worth a second look"; they're great cars but how do they fit in with your definition of "ACCURATE" (your caps) with a Chevy engine? HMMM?

Oh, and BTW...

Yaaaawnnnnn. Is Ernie still telling us what he 'thinks'? Shouldn't he be out putting the correct style suspension and grafting a round tube frame on his ERA so he can 'appreciate' it more? Zzzzzzzzz.....

Maybe you'll feel better after a nice enema...

Lowell

[Excaliber]

As I all ready stated, choices are limited outside the USA, I understand that. I appreciate the guy who actually BUILDS his car, such as is the case here. Bravo! And Wilf you KNOW you would rather run a Ford than a BMW power plant given the reasonable choice!

Cookie cutter cars, yeah, whatever. I simply have more respect for the 'scratch builder' who goes HANDS ON and builds his car. I prefer a 'Rat Rod', with an a old Caddy engine built in someones garage over a "Boyd Coddington" super slick high dollar Deuce Coupe ANY DAY!

So Lowell when was the last time you saw a really 'accurate' to detail build of a replica? There getting harder to find everyday!

[wilf leek]

Hey Oinie - You are in luck - you are halfway there to a rat Cobra anyway - isn't black crackle finish de riguer for those rodent autos?

[Three Peaks]

Have you checked the dimensions of the BMW V8 engine? I've looked at my son's 4.0 V8 in his 540I and it looks like it would be a tight fit in the engine compartment of a Cobra.

[Jamo]

Gents...mind what Ron said. Pretty please.

[Lowell W]

So, "Slick"...why are you still going by the name, "Excaliber" (sic), anyway?

I simply have more respect for the 'scratch builder' who goes HANDS ON and builds his car. I prefer a 'Rat Rod', with an a old Caddy engine built in someones garage over a "Boyd Coddington" super slick high dollar Deuce Coupe ANY DAY!

I couldn't agree with you more. And, let's see...you built your ERA from...what?

So Lowell when was the last time you saw a really 'accurate' to detail build of a replica?

I guess the short answer is: It's just not that important. One of the guys in our local (WCCC) club just built a gorgeous Kirkham. But-OH NO-he has the billet suspension parts. To me: BFD if it isn't "ACCURATE"; it's freakin' beautiful.

Old cars, old motorcycle restorations, replica cars, whatever: there's always someone there from the Originality Police trying to impress everyone with how much he knows. All they do is create an annoyance, ruin people's appreciation of whatever it is they're beholding and make themselves look like a$$holes.

Ya know what's more interesting to me? A car with patina. I saw a black ERA at Spring Fling a couple of years ago (didn't go last year or this year) that looked rode hard and put away wet and frankly, I probably spent more time looking at that car than any other.

Ya know something else? As an owner of one of the "cookie cutter" cars-BTW, weren't the originals built in a factory of some sort?-SSSSHHHH...I probably wouldn't know if it was accurate anyway!

And furthermore, I don't have my car to show off to other people and have some anal retentive, self-styled "expert" nitpick it to death; I have it to DRIVE!!!

Lowell

[xlr8or]

Originally Posted by Lowell W

anal retentive, self-styled "expert" nitpick it to death; I have it to DRIVE!!!

Lowell

DING DING DING!! We have a winner!

Lowell you should see my 460 powered Kirkham with alloy suspension.

[Steve R]

ken,
Don't let the automatic tranny statement bum you out..... Carroll Shelby's personal Cobra had an automatic transmission.... probably still does.
BMW engine in a Cobra ....Go for it!
Steve

Carrol's shifter:

[hssss]

Originally Posted by fastraxsg

Not a problem, I'm not biased toward any motor, it's just we have titling issues here and by using an old car and re-body and re-chassis can sometimes work. The BMW is the only car locally with a V-8 at this time, unless you count a HummerH-3...plus it was in the right price range and unique. So...I've been told its more complicated and such. There is a guy on Cobraclub.com that has a Cobra with a 4.8 or 4.4 beemer motor and it looks good, well not as good as the Lexus V-8, he is building one of those now. It's just that in Indonesia, car life/modifications/cobras are not easy to do. That is why I have my old sorta wannabbee Cobra now.....thanks

Just a couple of thoughts. Using the parts and title of the BMW are the best way to get a car registered there It might be worthwhile to do, depending on yur fabrication skills, a space framed version of Ken Miles Flip-top car http://www.csxinfo.net/compcars/fliptop/fliptop.htm this would allow more engine room and the ability to service it. You might look at some of the Locost 7 sites for the means of adapting strut fromt spindles to A arms. In short build a kinda wide Locost 7 using the BMW running gear http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1004 then drape a Cobra body around it using a tilt nose. I would think that though a country is bad on customs charges for a complete car they should be less so for repair parts. The thought being that if you have trouble with the body have it cut into quarters and shipped as parts in seperate shipments. The Locost style frame materials should be able to be sourced in the local market. Just some thoughts.

[fasterpatrick]

Well, Okay this is it. Time to grab a bowl of popcorn and start back at the beginning. by the time I get back to here I'm positive that some more spew will be flying. Now lets just say it's the day after armagedon and all you can find is a old chebbie that runs and can't drive and a rice burner that could drive but doesn't run what would you do? I have often had (bad) thoughts of useing alternitive drive lines in my custom cobra. Many of which are imported but the detroit standard is still my best bet. Cut the man some slack Atleast what he is contiplating has eight cylinders. My 2-cents If you could handle what it would take to hook up everything and get it working go for it who gives a rats-ass what the purists think it's your car. Patrick

[Mastiff107]

This is like arguing over who is the best tribute band or who has the most accurate copy of the Mona Lisa. It's either the real deal or it ain't and if you got one of the ain'ts, dont try drawing the line on the shifting sands. If you want to paint your Mona Lisa copy using house paint and it makes you happy, go for it. If you got the real one you probably got the class to keep your opinions on copies to yourself. There's always someone who wants to set himself up for the "standard". Bottom line is, if you do all your own mechanical work; built your own house; build your own appliances; grow your own food; do your own dentistry and medical work; make your own clothes; etc. then you have a right to set the bar. If not, then you buy **** like everyone else, you just may pay for different **** so you ain't settin no bars so get over it.

[Excaliber]

MASS production vs Single build using whatever specs you want. GET IT? I guess not...

There IS a difference. One impacts the market, sets the standard, good or bad. The other is one guys interpretation, which may be interesting in and of itself.

[alfy65]

Originally Posted by fastraxsg

Being out of the USA has provided some unique challenges from me. I am having trouble getting a kit imported and was thinking about undertaking a scratch build, I can get a body locally if worse comes to worse but motor and trans are problem, when thinking about the usual choices. However, today I looked a beautiful 1996 BMW 530i with a 3 litre V-8 and auto transmission. The car is complete, never in an accident and runs like a top. Any one out there on this site ever put a Beemer V-8 in a Cobra? Should I duck now before the usual insults are hurled?

TRY THIS LINK.....

[Excaliber]

... or for more 'pounding your head against the wall' this one...

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72130

[Jamo]

Thanks Ernie...I trust THAT discussion will follow you so that these folks can get back to the thread subject.