Motor choice

fastraxsg · #1 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 11:08 AM

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?

hssss · #2 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 02:09 PM

http://forums.corner-carvers.com/showthread.php?t=29060
Food for thought.

FUNFER2 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 02:12 PM

PLEASE...................don't. Find a way for a Ford engine.

hssss · #4 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 09:27 PM

That was not an add for a LSx, rather a comment on the BMW. Note the MB with a Ford.

fastraxsg · #5 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 09:53 PM

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

Excaliber · #6 (**permalink**) 08-20-2006, 11:26 PM

Being overseas really makes a difference, with the laws and regulations you gotta do what you gotta do. I respect that and still admire those who do the best they can. Now in this 'land of plenty', I'm not so easy going...

As for the USA, I'm getting rather 'annoyed' with the general acceptance of all kinds of TO many incorrect small blocks (AND BIG BLOCKS) and suspension components that don't even attempt to replicate the real thing. Not to mention body shapes, wheels, dash's, gauges and a host of other things. I don't like the cookie cutter cars and am not afraid to say so, SPF, BDR and FFR lead the charge.

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.

It's only a replica is the often heard excuse, and thats all it is, an EXCUSE!

fastraxsg · #7 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 09:01 AM

One of these days we are supposed to move back to the States, when I don't know but....then its time to do a FIA or similar type...I'd love to have a set of Webers to hear every time I start it up...until then, this is the best I can do..now if you ever get bored and want to trade cars, let me know....

wilf leek · #8 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Being overseas really makes a difference, with the laws and regulations you gotta do what you gotta do. I respect that and still admire those who do the best they can. Now in this 'land of plenty', I'm not so easy going...

As for the USA, I'm getting rather 'annoyed' with the general acceptance of all kinds of TO many incorrect small blocks (AND BIG BLOCKS) and suspension components that don't even attempt to replicate the real thing. Not to mention body shapes, wheels, dash's, gauges and a host of other things. I don't like the cookie cutter cars and am not afraid to say so, SPF, BDR and FFR lead the charge.

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.

It's only a replica is the often heard excuse, and thats all it is, an EXCUSE!

How times change, it seems only yesterday that you were buying the same Excaliber for the second time. Fantastically original car that, not a "cookie cutter" cobra in any way, oh no. Very "old school".

Consistency is all.

Excaliber · #9 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 11:12 AM

There are a few exceptions to the rule. For instance there are not enough Excaliburs to 'dilute' the market and they are hardly a 'cookie cutter' being mass produced. That said, I DID grow tired of opening the hood to reveal yet another (yawn) 302 fuel injected Mustang motor. I tell you this, I was ALWAYS careful to point out HOW the Excal should not be considered an 'accurate' replica in any way! Celebrate your car for what it is, but don't pretend your (insert any number of modern replicas here) is anything CLOSE to 'original' specs!

A 427 SC Kirkham showed up at a local gathering here recently, with a small block. I found it rather annoying, but whats even MORE annoying is the K brothers warm embrace of essentially a 'crate' motor'! Kirkhams USED to be known for an accurate build, thats changing as they 'market' to the masses. You wanna run a small block? Get an FIA! You wanna run a 460, uh, OK, Im not sure WHAT your trying to do with that!

We ARE seeing the end of an era.

Look at the early replicas and the attention to detail and the effort to make an accurate car that went into them. Workmanship and dedication like that has been lost, such is life, marketing will go on. The masses have spoken.

GeorgiaSnake · #10 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

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.

I'm confused - is it "old school" or "high tech" that you admire?

wilf leek · #11 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 11:16 AM

Whatever happened to "Its your car, its your dream, you build it how you like?"

Anything else is just fascism.

If I wanted to put a crate motor into MY Kirkham, guess what, I would, and your opinion is worth just what I paid for it. And if you were to be "annoyed" by it, tough!

Excaliber · #12 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 11:29 AM

It's cars like Turks, currently on e-bay that I admire! It's cars like my friends older "Hi Tech" (the name of the manufacturer), with dual electric fuel pumps in the alloy skinned trunk that I admire (and a real 427 side oiler under the hood). It's cars like jdogs, a CSX with a 'real' motor under the hood. There are LOTS of good examples of 'classic specifications' Corbras and replicas out there. But their numbers are falling as we bow to the 'cheap' cookie cutter replacements readily available.

Where do YOU draw the line? Rice wheels? Crushed velvet interior? VW motor? A Honda powered front wheel drive replica Cobra? We ALL draw the line somewhere. Wilf might want a Roush crate motor 427 small block in his Kirkham, OK. Certainly not MY cup of tea, especially in THAT car! More suited to an FFR or a BDR, which are not well known for 'accuracy' anyway. Oh there hard to beat for price, but not something that gets my blood pumping. Kind of like seeing yet another small block 350 Chevy in a 'Hot Rod', TOTAL yawn factor.

Lets say your at the car show. Parked next to Ron's (Computerworks) incredibly detailed Kirkham accurate right down to last nut and bolt is an FFR with a fuel injected 302. Now WHICH car would YOU spend more time 'studying', talking about, taking pictures off and LEARNING from?

Steve R · #13 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 11:49 AM

Ernie,
Sounds like you are taking this stuff way too seriously.

Lowell W · #14 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Look at the early replicas and the attention to detail and the effort to make an accurate car that went into them. Workmanship and dedication like that has been lost, such is life, marketing will go on. The masses have spoken.

Oh...you mean like the Arntz Cobras?

You have your car the way you want; I'll have mine my way. If you're the kind of person who's irritated by a Windsor in my car, that's your problem; not mine! If my car isn't "original" enough for you, or "Real" enough for you, have a good time hanging out with the rest of the snobs. You won't be "studying" my car at the show 'cause I'll be out driving and enjoying it!

Lowell

Excaliber · #15 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 11:58 AM

Actually the Arntz\Butlers are an interesting interpretation and worth a second look. Snob? Just recognizing reality, sometimes the truth hurts. I may well buy back my old Excalibur at some point, and I WILL enjoy it for what it is. But I will never admire it with the same passion as I would a well thought out and well built accurate replica. Which are becoming more rare everyday, and THATS the truth and THATS the point!

Maricopa · #16 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 12:13 PM

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.....

Steve R · #17 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 12:16 PM

Ernie,
For me, it's the word "annoyed" that goes beyond enjoying a particular cup of tea. Now, if they come over and pour it on my head, THAT'S a different story!

Excaliber · #18 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 01:23 PM

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 · #19 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 01:35 PM

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 · #20 (**permalink**) 08-21-2006, 01:44 PM

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