Best way to proceed with improving up 427 Windsor street setup

[Ace23]

Originally Posted by RET_COP

Be careful with the Street Extreme, the only difference between the 550HP and the 700HP is the disk. The 700HP doesn't have an organic side and will probably chatter more off idle. I really don't think you need it. The Cobra is a light weight car.
As far as transmissions and gearing, you can drive yourself nuts with the formula. What do you plan on doing with the car. Are you a long hauler (Highway), do you just cruise the streets? Your car is cammed like mine. I have no issues with the TKO 600. I've had both the .64 and the .82. with a 27" tire. My motor is cammed like yours also. If I had one complaint it would be the large rpm drop of the .64, but 2200 rpms on the highway was quiet. .73 would have been ideal. I'm more concerned about my gearing for the autocross ( I run tight courses in my area, and will try 3.55 rear gears. So, you see what I mean, it really depends on what your going to do with your car.

I want my cake and I want the ice cream to go with it! My car is purely a street car and all I want is insane roll on power and a cruising gear.....thus I have been looking at the T56 tranny option. I know it cost more but if I can get more aggressive gearing than what I have now and still have a 6th gear for interstate / faster back road cruising then I think I would be really pleased with the car. I have looked at all the .82 TKO-600 combos and the 5th gear is too short when you get into 3.91+......I also don't like the idea of the .64 4th to 5th rpm drop. This new cam Brent specified and all the other freshening that is taking place should make a world of difference.

Originally Posted by blykins

I do a million of these combos....if you're wanting something to hold big horsepower and not chatter or have on/off engagement, you need a twin disc. Otherwise you're stuck with a very aggressive single disc that won't be fun on the street.

As for the rearend, a 3.73 to 4.10 is usually the sweet spot for these cars. Going from a 3.27-3.31 to either one of those ratios will be a dramatic difference.

I have no issue with using a twin disk and I'm not willing to save a few hundred dollars to deal with chatter ect. I think you estimated my HP to be around 550HP with this new cam so while it isn't big horsepower it may future proof the car for future upgrades. I will take a look at the McLeod RST.....I believe this was in my previous 03 Cobra.

[blykins]

I see no benefit in running a T-56. It will be hard on your wallet, not only for the price of the trans, but for the driveshaft and everything else that you will have to buy for it. If you run a twin disc, the midplate will need to be modified for an adjustable ballstud plus you'll have to run a notched fork. Otherwise, it will be hydraulic throw out bearing.

I'm a T-56 hater, plain and simple. Too long, too big around, too heavy, not enough benefit from another gear to spend that much money.

You would not be able to tell any difference in performance between a 3.73 and a 4.10 gear. My $.02 would be to run the TKO 600 you have, put a 3.73 in the rear, and cruise at 70 in the lower 2000's.

[Ace23]

Originally Posted by blykins

I see no benefit in running a T-56. It will be hard on your wallet, not only for the price of the trans, but for the driveshaft and everything else that you will have to buy for it. If you run a twin disc, the midplate will need to be modified for an adjustable ballstud plus you'll have to run a notched fork. Otherwise, it will be hydraulic throw out bearing.

I'm a T-56 hater, plain and simple. Too long, too big around, too heavy, not enough benefit from another gear to spend that much money.

You would not be able to tell any difference in performance between a 3.73 and a 4.10 gear. My $.02 would be to run the TKO 600 you have, put a 3.73 in the rear, and cruise at 70 in the lower 2000's.

If you stick a 3.73 in it and go the route of the 325-50-15 tire that pretty much is equivalent to running the current 315-35-17 with the 3.31 so I would expect no change in gearing performance. Would you still advise using an aluminum flywheel in this instance or would you be moving to billet steel style.

[blykins]

Forgot about the tire swap.

If anything I'd swap to a .64 OD TKO 600...or just leave it alone until you see how the new cam works.

[Ace23]

Originally Posted by blykins

Forgot about the tire swap.

If anything I'd swap to a .64 OD TKO 600...or just leave it alone until you see how the new cam works.

Yep.....moving to the 15's with the taller aspect ratio changes things. This is where I got sideways as I was thinking wow a 3:31 to a 4:10 that is a huge change.....not so much when you factor in tire sizes and the differences in TKO600 and T-56.

[blykins]

I'd play with the cam first, then if you want to tweak after that, swap cogs and TKO 600's.

Remember, you can realistically expect about 50% or less on a used "hot rod" part. So that $2450 TKO 600 is worth about a grand. You'd have to pony up a bit more for a T-56, then pay for the parts to swap.

[Ace23]

Update 9-16-2016
All the parts have been ordered and should start trickling in over the next few weeks. I went back and forth on alot and finally decided on the below. The valuable lesson in all this was what I thought I wanted ended up not being exactly what I wanted.....I would still buy this same car 5 times over again but now it is time to make it my own. Many of the below items were wear and tear but there is just as much personalization taking place. I think it will be a very tasteful car that should ride better and have a bit more power when done. I could have left the car as is and it probably would have gone for years but it would have driven me insane the way it was setup.

*1 7/8 set of headers needed to being fabricated,
*15" wheels with 325-50-15 rear and 255-60-15 front
*For now going to stay with the TKO600 .82 in the car but going to 3.91 rear gear
*3" ID side pipes
*Edelbrock polished water pump,
*Polished Vic Jr. Intake
*New Comp cam specified by Blykins
*New Cloyes timing chain setup
*Brodix heads being gone through by Craft racing
*While the motor is out going back with all new gaskets and rear main seal
*Replace the kinked speedo cable and match new speedo gear
*New shift boot
*Replacing the blue/red AN fittings found at oil cooler and under hood with polished
*New air cleaner setup
*Quick Time bell housing
*New belts as the current are too large.....I've purposely dropped about 25lb and the previous owner weight on me.