[richsd]

The answer on what to do with your engine in a Cobra replica reallly depends on the purpose behind the build of your car. There seem to be various objectives when building a Cobra replica. I seem to be in the minority but the purpose I had when building my car was to be as close to the original car as possible down literally to the smallest screw. My objective was to recreate the actual experience of driving a Cobra from the 60s.

There are a few things that defined the Cobra including an aluminum body, toploader transmission, but nothing more defined this car than the Ford 427 side oiler. This engine was the primary reason that the Cobra became what it is. Sure its big and heavy, it gets hot when standing still for too long in the summer but it is the real deal and for me that's what it is all about. Its all part of the Cobra experience.

So is it true that "the bigger the engine and the more HP the more problems"? This can be very true but so far I have had more reliability with my Cobra with a 427 SO than I did with my Pantera with a 351 Cleveland. The bottom line is that it all depends on your purpose and if engine originality is not a concern then a smaller option is great but if it is important to you then you don't have a choice on what engine to put in your car.

Rich