Thanks for the tips.
I've been trying to get my hands on as much material I can find regarding V8 engines. Unfortunately, I've yet to find info that details the parts of the engine and what role each plays in making the engine function.
The data you guys have pointed me to has been a big help in informing me of what parts I can change and what end result or benefit (in HP gained) will be achieved.
Buzz my man, good news and bad news, Good news is as fate would have it, I found a very decent and accommodating fellow who has been restoring and scratch-building cars as a hobby for the past 25 years. He's built almost a hundred cars, 4 of which have been AC Cobras. He actually had one in his shop (1 he built in 1999) that his customer is selling. It would have been the easy way out but I realize what I really want is a cobra that I had a big hand in building.
That was the first time I saw a finished AC Cobra. Man, I thought it looked great in pictures but seeing, hearing and sitting in it was like the day I picked up my R6 from the dealer ... or the first time I laid eyes on my newborn son or ... you get the picture.
Bad news is it's going to punch a big hole in my wallet.
I computed that for the price, I could buy me a used Mitsubishi Eclipse and a pair of used Miatas. Then again, I can drive all day (even a whole year) and see many miatas and eclipses -- and not see a single AC Cobra.
Well as they say, you get what you pay for. And everyone I asked who knew him said his work is well worth the wait and cost. Being in the situation i'm in, i'm lucky to even have this option. With this project, i intend to have as much involvement in the sanding, welding, bolting, etc. This will make the car 10 times more valuable to me.
Body is from a 427 mold. 2 of the Cobras he built were raced here and my chassis will be the same as those.
Some pics:
427 body waiting to be worked on.
Cobra #2 ... Dude who built this will build mine ... soon!!! Mine will be in this color too.
A few simple questions which I'm begging to be answered:
1. What does 302 mean when you say that it's a 302 engine and how does it relate to the 289, 427, and 429?
2. What does 351W mean?
3. I plan to stick with a stock 302 engine but should I go for the bolt-on upgrades, in what order do you think I should prioritize the upgrade parts? That's way down the road as I figure to finish the project in 2-4 years. By then, I estimate alloting around $500 per month to spend on upgrades. Or ... would I be better off saving for the whole gamut of upgrade parts then spending for and attaching them in one go?
As for them suped up civics, evos, porsches ... me and my trusty R6 have whooped their behinds more times than i can remember. I'm 100% sure i'll have the self control to refrain from street racing the Cobra because I plan to grow old with it plus the weekend drives will mostly be with the wifey. Leave 5am, enjoy a 150 km drive to the outskirts, have a hearty breakfast, then cap it off with a fun 150 km ride back. We should well be home by 9am -- just in time to catch the kids waking up