[geeks] Hmmmm fattening

[Chris Byrne]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: geeks-admin at sunhelp.org [mailto:geeks-admin at sunhelp.org]On Behalf
> Of Kurt Huhn
>
>
> > Saw a gennie 427 cobra bored & stroked
> > to 514.  Whumpa whumpa whumpa...

If someone actually did that they should be shot because they ruined a
potentially million dollar car

>
> I've dropped my V-Twin powered micro-hotrod idea in favor of a cobra
> kit-car.  I'm debating what engine should go in it - perhaps a V-10 if
> there's room :)  Dodge is also going to be making a 6.1-liter Hemi in
> the next couple years, and that might be a nice powerplant too.
> --
> Kurt

I've been involved in a couple of these bad boys and my advice is, go
lightweight. Get one of the kits that have a fully iundependent suspension
(corvette or jaguar usually) on a new tubular chassis with a large diameter
backbone, and then get the lightest small block V8 you can.

I know the temptation is to go for big cubes, but you are much better off
with less weight up the front end. The original 427 used to twist like a
rubber band between the weight on the nose and the torque. The only reason
the car doesnt have horrible weight distribution is because the wheels are
pushed out so far.

The F.I.A 289 was actually a hell of a lot faster around as reasonably tight
track than the 427, and was only down 50 or so on horsepower. A modern well
put together small block, especially if you go for one of the dove or keith
black aluminum blocks can produce more HP than the 427 at 1/3 the weight and
10 times the reliability (the 427 had HUGE problems with  it's oiling and
its bearings), and without the massive understeer/snap oversteer problems.

All that being said, ANY cobra either original or well done kit is a true
thing of beauty to drive.

Chris Byrne