514 ready again?

Jahred · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2002, 11:31 AM

Spring nearly here. Fresh 514 being installed now, ready in ten days, after little mishap with 514 number one. Mechanic number 2 crossed remote oil filter hoses so first six miles on car did not sit terrribly well and engine blew after 350.

Fortunately, dealership made good on a new crate engine and she should be ready to kick butt in a very few days.

If you are getting help with your COBRA, negotiate with care!

I am on my fifth mechanic but still on budget!

Ouch.

bmalone · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2002, 11:49 AM

Hey John:

Good luck, I'm envious that you are almost finished. I am hopefully day/weeks away from a 520 in an SPF. I drove it last weekend, and it was an absolute animal.

Bill

Tom Wells · #3 (**permalink**) 03-01-2002, 11:50 AM

Jahred,

Just a curiosity point: did you ever find out exactly and conclusively what the cause of failure was?

Tom

Jahred · #4 (**permalink**) 03-01-2002, 12:35 PM

Long story, but I had a very large Ford dealership in my area do some final finishing work on the drivetrain. They were the first to start the engine.

Unfortunately, they were also supposed to finish up the gauges and that was real spotty. So when I picked it up for a test drive, few of the gauges worked. Somewhere along the line they crossed the oil hoses to the remote oil filter. It overheated, they were "unable" to diagnose. I messed with it myself, replaced a bunch of stuff and spent alot of time with Summit and others diagnosing it. Ultimately another mechanic stopped out and eventually traced it to the crossed hoses. There was no oil pressure till the hoses were put back in the right positions. Then we had oil pressure immediately. The car started, sounded fine.....and I drove it for 350 miles. It blew pretty hard. But it was obvious that the bearings were shot.

I hate to admit this, but I decided to have local folks do the paint and "install" the drivetrain based on bids and wanting to keep the work "local". By the time the dust had cleared there was $40k expended beyond the rolling chasis and net net, due to the blown engine, the vendors I used PAID me $2500. IE they spent $42,500 for the pleasure of working on the car. It will have cost me about $10,000 to get the new engine in, but that will put me reasonably on budget. I was very lucky the vendors I used more or less stood by their bids and behind the work, but a word of caution to those who dont do turn key and try to hire some of the work out. I got a fabulous paint job and hopefully the engine will purr this time.

Jeff Frigo · #5 (**permalink**) 03-01-2002, 02:08 PM

Don't Shell Valley cars come with oil pressure gages?

Jahred · #6 (**permalink**) 03-01-2002, 08:33 PM

Jeff - Wow. What a signature! Yes, they do. Like I said above, however, the shop that took the final pass did a lousy job with the gauges. The car had been run in the shop and tested a bit. I am guessing they somehow crossed the hoses late in the game. To add insult, the only gauges working was the temp gauge, otherwise I was flying blind. So by the time I got around the block, the damage was pretty well done. Thats why they wrote a check for $10k. Good news, I have another 514 just a short block or less away from looking for another Hot Rod.

Jeff Frigo · #7 (**permalink**) 03-01-2002, 08:38 PM

Sorry. I need to learn how to read. I'm glad at least they stood behind their work.

Back in Black · #8 (**permalink**) 03-02-2002, 12:34 PM

I assume this is the 600 horse bracket race motor from Ford motorsports? The very same motor is being installed in my West Coast turnkey right now. I want hear about your impressions of this motor ! My only concern is a really rough idle, bottom end power problems, but maybe it's not a problem at all...I have never heard one of these motors run, or driven a car with one, so it's just a lack of info.

Hope your 514 number 2 turns out to be a healthy "cave troll"

Jahred · #9 (**permalink**) 03-02-2002, 04:11 PM

Back in Black -

Will let you know. Should be on the road in a week or two.

I dont think the original ever ran properly. The first 250 miles the throttle was maladjusted and not opening properly. After I got that fixed it was definately a bit wild. But I think by then it was probably pretty damaged. It only ran another 100 miles. Kicked out pretty good in first and second, though all in all excellent traction with Powertrac rear end and moser axels on ford 9inch. No squeeking on the locker rear end. Very friendly. Please with that. Sound was great. I have a 1050HP carb?? And an AT Francis ) Blue Thunder type manifold. Cobra oval would not fit under hood. Needed all the clearance I could muster. Makes for some backfiring and a little flamethrowing when the throttle is released. Will see if the new one does that and will keep you posted!

PS where did you get cobra valve covers? I did not think they were available to clear rocker arms on the 514.

bmalone · #10 (**permalink**) 03-02-2002, 06:28 PM

BinB:

I drove two SPFs cars last weekend (actually 4, two had SBs). Hope to buy one in particular.

I drove a stock 514 and a custom-built 520. The 514 was easy to drive. No rough idle, good low-end power. It ate up ground in a hurry, kind of deceiving. Man, did it sound good.

The second motor was a custom 520. It hit much harder, and was much more abrupt. The power curve was different, it came on sooner and harder whereas the 514 was a flatter power curve. I preferred the 520, but of course it was more money.

Anyway, I think you have nothing to worry about in terms of driveability on the 514. Those cubic inches sure help considering the lift and duration on that motor.

Oh yeah, did drive the SBs too. One a 418 w/ over 500 HP and the other a 427 w/ 490 HP. Neither came close to the impressions left by the BBs. Both BBs could pin you to the seat and bust both tires loose in 3rd gear. The SBs pulled hard and long (better suited for track).

Since my goals are 75% street driving and I don't want to get beat in a drag race, I was convinced the BB was the way to go. Just call me "waxer" Bill

Hope to hear about your ride soon! Good luck.

Bill

Back in Black · #11 (**permalink**) 03-02-2002, 09:57 PM

bmalone:
Thanks for the impressions, the motor is listed as a 9 second bracket race unit, which sounds kinda rough running and intimidating right off, with no hands on experience. Your comments put a big grin on my face

Jahred:
Keep us all posted. Many guys are going for the 514 now, and I bet we all want to hear every impression ! Hope the next 514 block is the "cave troll" you seek

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I requested the valve covers as one of my accessories, Vern has not mentioned any fit problem so far, but if there is, I will know soon, the motor will soon be installed.....we can use the shiny Ford Motorsports covers if the cobra type ar a no-go, the Ford type look good too
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

cobra fever · #12 (**permalink**) 03-03-2002, 02:12 AM

bmalone who's your engine builder?

bmalone · #13 (**permalink**) 03-03-2002, 09:21 AM

Hi Fever:

The cars I mentioned were used. I am trying to make that happen now.

I spoke with Dean Woodruff at House of Cobras in Anaheim (not terribly far from Glendale). He has built many stroked 460s. He likes to make a 520, which I drove and it was brutally fast. So, he is familiar with the 385 engines and also Windsors. http://www.houseofcobras.com

Bill

cobra fever · #14 (**permalink**) 03-04-2002, 12:09 AM

BMALONE
just got my SPF delivered from HOC on the 27th of February. Dean built my 520 stroker. He took me for a ride, because I got a broken foot, that thing pulls like a freight train. You may have test driven mine hope you liked it. The skid marks in his lot are mine. Can't go wrong with HOC. Dean can build you an engine in any stage you want whatever suits your budget. I'm a big block guy and I'm glad to see more people going with the 460's. Bill did you see the yellow 520? The guy is going to have Dean put a blower. That same car was in the kit car magazine some time ago. If you have any questions or if I can be any help contact me (818)468-5292

BACK IN BLACK
you are going to love your engine. I love the noise it makes and love that torque. Good luck

bmalone · #15 (**permalink**) 03-04-2002, 08:06 AM

Fever:

Thanks for the offer. Drove the one where the guy is going to ditch the 520 for a 600 cubic inch monster. Is that you? As you say, the 520 pulled unbelievably hard. It had 2x4 on a Blue Thunder manifold.

The yellow one had a stroked Windsor when I was there.

THanks for the endorsement. I'll see you soon , one of these days.

Bill

cobra fever · #16 (**permalink**) 03-04-2002, 11:31 PM

bmalone
mine is a royal blue w/white stripes ceramic coated pipes and chrome roll bar it does have double holley 600cfm but edelbrock manifold.
The yellow one I'm talking about is owned by Tracy Nolan. I know about the one you saw it has a 351 stroked to 427 never been in that car. However been a passenger in a 418stroker that Dean built. "super fast" If I don't see you at HOC try to make
it to the Knotts show coming in April.

bmalone · #17 (**permalink**) 03-05-2002, 08:10 AM

Fever:

You bet, look forward to meeting you at Knott's.

Bill

Venom S · #18 (**permalink**) 03-05-2002, 09:09 AM

Glad to hear about the performance impressions of the big block. I'm putting a 502 cubic inch fire breathing monster in my car. Maybe I should put on some Depends just in case!!

Venom_S

gsharapa · #19 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002, 06:50 PM

A lot of good information here! I'm currently doing my own install on a 514 SVO crate with the new eagle rods in SPF Cobra # 924.
Doing lots of neat things and should be sticking the motor next weekend. This is my 3rd Cobra and my first big block. Last two were 351 SVOs and one (last one) had Shelby Paxton Supercharger with 10 lbs of boost. Pretty impressive but I think the 514 is going to be even neater!

Back in Black · #20 (**permalink**) 03-23-2002, 08:09 PM

And keep us informed about how you like the 514