Motor choice

[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.

[Maricopa]

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.....

[Excaliber]

For those that FAIL to understand WHY I appreciate a well built more 'accurate' replica over one that is not please do this:

Put that GM small block with an automatic trans in your whatever, add AC and power steering while your at. How about some 17" chrome wheels with 'spinners' to really set it off?

See heres the problem, as Jack Nicholson would say, "You can't handle the truth." FACT is, and it's well documented right here on CC that a Chev engine is not acceptable to the majority of folks. Certainly true come re-sale time. Following the logic of those who want to do it 'their way', why not? Why NOT run an auto trans? Why NOT run 17" chrome rice wheels? Why NOT run BMW suspension? Why NOT run a VW engine?


Where DO YOU draw the line? I'm drawing my line at 'mass production' diluting the spirit of what means to have an accurate replica. As one can readily see is happening from the posts opposing such an idea right here in this thread! Good, bad, call it what you want, it's 'real'.

[ItBites]

Slick,

I understand you prefer a more original appearing Cobra. Fine.

However, you are dead wrong about seeing the end of an era. You are also wrong about what this hobby used to be about. You apparently have not been around this hobby long enough to talk about what it used to be about.

In the more distant past, more percent of kit cars (forget this new high-and-mighty, self important title of "replica" - that is certainly not the way the hobby used to be - I know, I was here) were chevy powered, more used mustang II suspensions, etc... I can tell you that today, it is much easier to come closer to original in so many ways, and many folks do just that. In fact, Ron's Kirkham that you point to as a better example wasn't built in 1990, it was built much more recently.

You also point to the current market shunning of chevy powered Cobras as evidence that the hobby has been diluted and will not accept these atrocities. I have to tell you that in the past (the way the hobby actually used to be) chevy engines were much less shunned. Frankly, the hobby used to be much more tolerant of off-brand powerplants. It is only in the recent few years the hobby has become so intolerant, so if you want to go back to the era you said is coming to an end, you need to embrace off-mark powerplants and stop your whining. You do not get to re-write the way the hobby used to be - you weren't there to know.

I think you can find way more "original" appearing cars today than ever in the past. Next time you want to wax nostalgic about how things USED to be, maybe get yourself in the way-back machine and find out how things in the hoddy used to be, because your assertions are completely wrong in this case.

More replicas today are closer to "original" than ever before.

[computerworks]

Fellas...

This is the Scratch Builders Forum.
This thread is "Motor Choice"...from an overseas perspective.
The question posed was:
"...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? "

Can we limit the discussion to the thread starter's question, please.

Thanks
ron
ClubCobra Moderator

[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.

[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:

[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

[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.