[johnd9]

Casaleenie

Funny you should make the comment about not enough HP. I am in the midst of dumping about $2,500 into a new top end for my 428 (too which you contributed to what to do in another forum - thank you), and the same thought has crossed my mind.

First, one learns to drive and get used to slow cars. For me that was Honda Accords, Acura Legends, Mazdas, etc. Somehow, when I got used to them, although they were slow, they were still fun from time to time to wind out in a low gear on a beautiful day with the sunroof open and the windows down. Then I got into Camaro z-28s, Corvettes and now a Cobra. When I first saw the Cobra my mouth dropped to the floor. I could not believe I actually had reached a point in my life when I could own such a cool car. I mean, who really designed this thing because it is hands down the most beautiful car I have ever seen. But the sound, and the speed...really blew me away - I just kept thinking to myself....get home....before the check book opens! Literally days before buying it I rationalized it with my fiancee that...."well at least I wont have to put anything into the engine because it is so damn fast already"....fast forward 2 months and it is spending 3 weeks in the shop having the work done that i already described. So what happened?

First of all, there are many things that make a Cobra awesome. open air, beautiful body, the simplicity of something without a computer. BUt the question of how fast it is haunts me. And I really am going to give you an answer to your question.

So here it is.....

I totally understand your need for speed, and support it wholeheartedly. Understanding you currently have a 351, here would be my recommendation. Go for a stroked 392-396 making somewhere around 500-550 hp. Should be a relatively light engine compared to the big blocks (unless this qualifies as a big block??) and should have plenty of room for hp. in that hp range, you should be near the handling limits of the car - straight line or otherwise. And it is the handling limits that I say are the true definition of when enough HP is enough. If you want more, I suggest you quit your day job and get into real racing. Anything else, and you would be risking your future just to get the rush of a little more speed from a chassis that really cant handle it.

Or so is my opinion.

Good luck!

john