[tpiini]

Okay guys, I need someone to chime in here and tell me if I'm halucinating. I bought a completed Cobra a few weeks ago. It has a 289 that is obviously built for top-end power. It can barely get out of its own way below about 2,000 RPM, can just about maintain a cruise down to about 2,800 RPM, and just rips from about 3,000 RPM and up. I spoke with the guy who put the car together. He says he bought the engine from a guy that built it for a road racing Mustang and says that it should pull well up to 9,000 RPM. The only thing he knew "for sure" about the internals is that it has a 12.5:1 compression ratio.

WTF??? I took it out this evening and accelerated to roughly 7,500 RPM and sure enough, it was still pulling strong. I couldn't find the nerve to keep stretching it, however.

Now what puzzles me is that it will idle at 1,000 RPM with a nearly-dying lope, but its not like it's the most radical idle I've ever heard.

The car has 4.57 gears and a Tremec 5-speed so it has plenty of acceleration. I just find it hard to believe that ANY engine can idle somewhat-decently and still have so much top-end power. And to top it off, I'm running 91 octane pump gas without any pinging.

So... for those who have built 289's, is this really so out of the ordinary? I'm just having a hard time believing my eyes here.

Thanks for any input,

Tom