Fordnatics List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted) (Doug Bailey)




>
> Well, I did it! I just placed a deposit ($2500) for a replica
> AC Cobra Kit from LA Exotics. I've had a couple of days now for
> buyers remorse to set in, but I'm still fairly cheerful about
> the idea. I now have to wait a few months for delivery.
>
> I have gone for a fairly simple set of options:
>
> Ford 289 with 650cfm Holley and Edelbrock manifold.
> Ford T5 manual gearbox.
> Ford 9" rear end.
>
> I'm fairly sure that this is an OK setup for reliable street
> use, but I'm concerned about a few issues. Maybe someone has
> some experience that they can share.
>
> 1. I think that Ford claims 185BHP from the 289. This seems a
> little lack-luster and I would ideally like to get into the
> 250-300BHP range, so long as I can do it without affecting
> drivability and reliability. I would ideally like to be able
> to use this car to commute to work a couple of days a week and
> at week-ends, I don't need to be uncomfortable, shaken, stirred
> or frustrated 2/5 of the time.
>
> I expect the Holley and the Edelbrock to improve the performnce
> to about 220BHP, maybe a little more. Given a $1000 or so budget,
> what else can I do to scrape 50 or 60 more BHP together?
>
> 2. The T5 gearbox must be fairly common. Part of my agreement
> with LA Exotics is that I supply the transmission to them. How
> do I recognise one (in a wreckers yard for example) and how do
> I choose a good one (I intend to re-build it anyhow, but keeping
> the cost down would be nice).
>
> 3. LA Exotics have a 3 month backlog or orders (says the salesguy).
> So they will not start building my frame, body etc until January
> sometime. Does anyone out there have eny experience with this
> company and their reliability on schedules and deliverables?
>
> 4. I'm expecting to pay about 19K for the 'almost turnkey' kit
> (needs wiring, hoses and sender units to complete). Was I just
> raped?
>
> If anyone is interested I'll keep you posted on progress.
>
> --
> Doug Bailey | Integrated Information Tech.
> (email redacted) | Santa Clara, CA.
> Phone: (408)-727-1885 | Fax: (408)-980-0432

- --
__________________________________________________________________
|Roger Hupfauer | |
|Software QA Engineer | |
|Autodesk, Inc. | All opinions are mine and do |
|Sausalito, Ca | not reflect those of Autodesk. |
|emailemail redacted) | |
|_____________________________|___________________________________|




- ----- End Included Message -----

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Roger Hupfauer <(email redacted)>

If you're wondering why my .sig is at the end of this message, it's
because I read this on alt.rec.rod-n-custom and told him to ask
"fordnatics". He must have replied to it and changed the reply to
field to fordnatics without deleting my .sig file first. Don't send
any replies to his question to me. I merely suggested he ask this
group.




>From (email redacted) Wed Oct 19 18:40 PDT 1994
>Errors-To: (email redacted)
>Sender: <(email redacted)>
>Precedence: bulk
>X-Info: Accepted by fordnatics distribution list at Wed Oct 19 23:32:34 GMT 1994
>X-Info: Submissions to (email redacted)
>X-Info: Change requests to (email redacted)
>X-Info: Authors retain implicit copyright to their material
>X-Info: Obtain permission from the author before redistributing messages
>From: (email redacted) (Doug Bailey)
>To: (email redacted)
>Subject: Re: Replica COBRA project RFI.
>Content-Type: text
>X-Lines: 67
>
>
>
>
>>
>> Well, I did it! I just placed a deposit ($2500) for a replica
>> AC Cobra Kit from LA Exotics. I've had a couple of days now for
>> buyers remorse to set in, but I'm still fairly cheerful about
>> the idea. I now have to wait a few months for delivery.
>>
>> I have gone for a fairly simple set of options:
>>
>> Ford 289 with 650cfm Holley and Edelbrock manifold.
>> Ford T5 manual gearbox.
>> Ford 9" rear end.
>>
>> I'm fairly sure that this is an OK setup for reliable street
>> use, but I'm concerned about a few issues. Maybe someone has
>> some experience that they can share.
>>
>> 1. I think that Ford claims 185BHP from the 289. This seems a
>> little lack-luster and I would ideally like to get into the
>> 250-300BHP range, so long as I can do it without affecting
>> drivability and reliability. I would ideally like to be able
>> to use this car to commute to work a couple of days a week and
>> at week-ends, I don't need to be uncomfortable, shaken, stirred
>> or frustrated 2/5 of the time.
>>
>> I expect the Holley and the Edelbrock to improve the performnce
>> to about 220BHP, maybe a little more. Given a $1000 or so budget,
>> what else can I do to scrape 50 or 60 more BHP together?
>>
>> 2. The T5 gearbox must be fairly common. Part of my agreement
>> with LA Exotics is that I supply the transmission to them. How
>> do I recognise one (in a wreckers yard for example) and how do
>> I choose a good one (I intend to re-build it anyhow, but keeping
>> the cost down would be nice).
>>
>> 3. LA Exotics have a 3 month backlog or orders (says the salesguy).
>> So they will not start building my frame, body etc until January
>> sometime. Does anyone out there have eny experience with this
>> company and their reliability on schedules and deliverables?
>>
>> 4. I'm expecting to pay about 19K for the 'almost turnkey' kit
>> (needs wiring, hoses and sender units to complete). Was I just
>> raped?
>>
>> If anyone is interested I'll keep you posted on progress.
>>
>> --
>> Doug Bailey | Integrated Information Tech.
>> (email redacted) | Santa Clara, CA.
>> Phone: (408)-727-1885 | Fax: (408)-980-0432
>
>--
>__________________________________________________________________
>|Roger Hupfauer | |
>|Software QA Engineer | |
>|Autodesk, Inc. | All opinions are mine and do |
>|Sausalito, Ca | not reflect those of Autodesk. |
>|emailemail redacted) | |
>|_____________________________|___________________________________|
>
>
>
>
>----- End Included Message -----
>
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Fontana Peter" <(email redacted)>



> I expect the Holley and the Edelbrock to improve the performnce
> to about 220BHP, maybe a little more. Given a $1000 or so budget,
> what else can I do to scrape 50 or 60 more BHP together?
>
Gee - throw $2500 at it and put a paxton on it for about a 100hp gain. From
what I hear, this was an original option (any verification on this?).

I don't know what base engine config you're starting from, but you might be
able to gross almost 300 hp at about 6000rpm (what's this in bhp?) from
attempting to build a Cobra motor: hi-po heads, 10:1 compression, the Shelby
solid lifter cam, dual points or electronic distributor. My exposure to
GT-350's shows me this is plenty tame for the street.

For more power, skip the original hi-po heads, run aftermarket aluminum, and
increase compression to 10.5:1. Depending on what kind of flow your running
and how much cam, you may be getting up there for power, but also starting to
lose some civility.

Plan B is always the same - more inches. You just missed a fun thread on
this list about the benefits of more displacement. Run a 351W and get 300hp
very polite hp in your sleep, for less $ than you'll spend on the 289. We
know of a killer-sounding shortblock for cheap on this list.

About T-5's - I hate 'em. I've broken a couple in street driving (and no - I
didn't get arrested doing it). If you are planning to dump $600-700 into a
5.0 T-5 and then put more $ into it, just get a new Richmond 5-speed or
Tremec for $1500 or so. If you succeed in getting the 300hp and use it at
all, you be glad you did. If you drive like my wife, the boneyard T-5
without any further attention will serve you well (and you'll get 60,000
miles from your Z-rated Comp T/A's, and probably 25mpg).

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