[olddog]

You can build any engine to 8.0:1 compression ratio.

Forced induction can run higher compression if you have an intercooler, but a Cobra does not have a lot of room to put an air to air heat exchanger, nor does it have room under a standard hood for large parts.

The Bill Cosby car had (I think) twin paxton superchargers. I have seen quite a few supercharged SB fords in Cobras and one turbo charged buick V6.

It's not hard to build 600 hp N/A engines. Short of all out racing there is no need for forced induction, when starting with a blank sheet of paper. My opinion. You really need to go for a ride in such a car before you pull the trigger on your engine.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a Chevy engine. However if you put one in a Cobra and then try to sell it, you will loose 80% of the potential buyers.

So how much hp are you looking to have? What was the Hp and weight of the fastest car you have driven? You really need to be thinking the ratio of weight to Hp. Most cars are over 3500 lb and have less than 350 HP or 10 lb/HP. A 2400 lb Cobra with 600 HP is only 4 lb/Hp. That is a huge differance!

By the way, these cars can get you killed with only 300 hp in them, if you do not keep your head on straight at all times. Your odds drop off rapidly, as the power goes up.