Anyone heard of a 4wd/awd cobra?

[bigjohnsonbikes]

I know it would be next to impossible to do but there has to be a way. Anyone ever heard of such a thing? Thanks!

[Excobrabuilder]

Haven't seen one personally, but I hear there may be some coming. Back when I was building them I asked the bosses if it would be possible to use the GMC Syclone or Typhoon driveline in one of our cars. The owners were not interested. But the thought of a supercharged 4.3 Chevy or turbocharged 3.8 Buick in an all wheel drive Cobra Gave me the tingles. Sure hope someone takes a chance and builds one!

[bigjohnsonbikes]

The biggest problem I think is the location of the transfer case it would be right where your seat is. But just eyeballing it in cobras the front dif should be in front of the motor completely, not under it. Otherwise maybe some sort of an import drivetrain like a Subaru wrx or a Mitsubishi Evo?

[john chesnut]

I have mocked up an all wheel drive version on my Speedster car. This uses all C5-C6 vette components. The spindles are the same front and rear, so they can be used to carry a drive hub in the front. A common Vette gear is 3:42 to 1. This is the same ratio used in the Typhon, Cyclone and S10 all wheel drive vehicles. The front diff from these can be used. I can make everything fit in my car. I also have built my Cobra with all C5-C6 drivetrain. I converted the rear diff from a transaxle to taking a driveshaft. I believe that it would be possible to use the Vette suspension and run all wheel drive in a Cobra. John

[Austin_Snake]

[Double Venom]

NOT with a 351 Mountaineer/Explorer!

[stallion112]

Eventually, we'll be able to position an electric motor at 2 or 4 wheels and eliminate the rest of the drivetrain all together.
Do a search on "active wheel", "e-steer", "e-corner", etc.

[rustyBob]

I was thinking that the V8 all wheel drive Lincoln LS or all wheel drive Jaguar stuff would work......since they where almost the same.

[mr bruce]

There is a Cobra replica made in England that uses the Ford Sierra AWD settup. Also on one of the Mustang forums there was a 5.0 Mustang converted to AWD, that stuff could be grafted into a Cobra, how deep are your pockets?

[twobjshelbys]

I always thought an off-road Cobra would be fun Watch out Hummer But with all the stuff in the way the suspension would have to be raised. Probably need a stepladder to get into it. Oh, we can use the side pipes instead of a Nerf bar.

[Tommy]

The question that first pops into my mind when I think of an AWD Cobra is WHY? I can think of three reasons, but none of them make much sense.
1. To improve track performance. But it seems to me you'd have to go long way to beat the performance Bruce Cambern has extracted from his RWD setup.
2. To handle better on snowy/icy roads. Suicide by Cobra.
3. To show it can be done. OK, that's the reason behind a lot of things tried by men. But let's not pretend it makes good sense.

[bigjohnsonbikes]

My thoughts on why do it? Every cobra is realy fast. Its nothing to hear of a 500 or 600 hp cobra that will do a 11 sec quarter mile. Now imagine up at the starting line doing a long smokey burnout with the rear wheels, stop, get reset, click it into 4wd and put all that nasty grunt right down to the pavement. I think we're taking an already ridiculous car and making it even better. Hehehe

[bigjohnsonbikes]

By the way, where did the monster truck cobra picture come from? Is that real or is it just somebodys imagination? If it's real I think it's something I need to see in real life. lol Thanks for all the replies by the way guys!

[jcraigau]

I nearly bought a Subaru WRX at a damaged vehicle auction for AU$2300.
For that sort of money it was worth sticking in the shed until I found something to do with it. After looking at the wheelbase and track it wasn't far off. Hmmm.....

[SimonSays]

My choice would go to the quattro system from audi. Audi V8, gearbox and transfer case should do the trick.

You might get a LOT of understeer though, converting to AWD. But in regions where there's a lot of rain or dirt on the road, it would be a good idea.

[joyridin']

I would think all of these system would make the car extremely nose heavy. If I recall, the engine sits in front of the front differential on a Subie. They can do this because the engine is so short. On an Audi, the differential is close to the same as a Subie but the differential is part of the oil pan.

I would think you would need something where the front differential assembly is independent of the engine. This way, you can move the engine toward the back a bit to get closer to a 50/50 weight bias.

[Ozgur_Tan]

RAM UK was manufactured 4wd cobra using ford sierra cosworth component in beginning of 90's

[Bartruff1]

To me the attraction of a Cobra is mystic of the original cars....the look, the sound the performance... which I cannot afford...soooo.... I prefer a car that can reasonably/economically represent the cars of the mid 60's... just my 2 cents...

[twobjshelbys]

4WD/AWD vehicles have done well. The Audi Quattro won the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in 1985 (driven by Michelle Mouton) and 1986 (driven by Bobby Unser). She set a record at the time. My recollection was that Mouton was disqualified for a demonstration of speed (spinning a donut on the gravel) in 86. We lived there at the time. A friend of mine bought a Quattro and paid big bucks for it, then they made it pretty much standard equipment.

[I_wish]

I have an 05 AUDI S4 4.2L v8 with 79k Miles for sale in Pennsylvania. Its actually for sale to fund the toy project.

18k and its yours.. you can actually sell a lot of the goodies to recoup. The Alcantra recaro leather seats can get 1500 easy. A lot of the A4 guys like the brakes.. Suspension has HR springs $300 etc.. wheels are worth some dough..

You get the picture...

Or if someone wants to donate a frame and body and give me the car when done, that would work (just kidding).

AWD is amazing for launching.. Cobras are already insaine, but think about the ability to launch. Would be a site for sure. The Audi will blow away any stock mustang.. Is a highway BEAST ( I would challenge a cobra for a 5 mile top speed run) no lie... I may not win but I will have the AC on and the stereo playing while listening to hendrix ;-)

Stock the motor is 350 HP, to tune it up get ready to pay. JHM motorsports makes some interesting products, and I hear a twin turbo is on its way. Superchargers are available but they are apparently not doing so well.. The best 1/4 in a full JHM bolt on runs about 12.5 1/4 Not bad for a 3k lb car.


I know its my first post here so anyone who would be interested in the car and has mad money to make this happen shoot me an email dbc112@yahoo.com. Located in Philadelphia suburbs.