5.4L in hand..now the build

phithebuilder · #1 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 02:23 AM

hey everyone,

new here on the forum! im trying to build a new cobra svt supercharged 5.4l.

i figure if i keep talking and planning i will never get my cobra. so on a rainy day i closed my eyes and bought a wrecked gt500 from a friend and towed it back to my home. Now i have 1/10th of my dream completed. I paid alot for the car so im hoping to use as many parts as i can from this car to get the most bang for my buck..

Now im shopping for a kit that will accept the engine. i got some advise from fellow members that backdraft and SPF.

I think that 45k for the SPF kit is a hard to swallow but i was wondering is it WORTH the money? are there any other makers out there that someone can point me to.. I don't mean to be rude but FFR chassis looks too "fragile" and i do have doubt because of value maybe? i could be wrong maybe quality and price do come together.

gt500 has brembo brakes, which i really like to use and also use the existing
rack and pinion if that is possible. i need something that will just be a drop in
where minimal work is required. i prefer doing body and interior work myself because Im very good with leather and fiberglass so i will stick that OEM navi in there..

thanks for reading...your expert opinion is greatly appreciated.

jolsen42 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 02:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phithebuilder

I don't mean to be rude but FFR chassis look too "fragile" and i do have doubt.

You are kidding right? I mean you are kidding.

John O

fordracing65 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 02:42 AM

The ffr chassis is the one of the best in the business, if not the best.

Dimis · #4 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 02:52 AM

Of all the options available to you, the ffr may be the best.
ie: cheapest initial cost, and you could make maximum use of you donor parts.

I'm no expert, but that would be my first point of investigation.

Either way bdr & SPF means your glass & leather skills aren't required.
Those cars are rollers & come complete in this area.

;-)

Dimis · #5 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 02:57 AM

Ps: congrats on the purchase and jumping in!

Three Peaks · #6 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 07:34 AM

The FFR kit is easily the best option for what you propose to do. Excellent chassis, good price point, lots of aftermarket support, and a great website for FFR builders that you will lean on time and time again while building your chariot.

The 5.4 is a really large engine and you will struggle with just about any chassis you decide to put it in, but I believe several people on the ffcars.com site have made this installation and can help you through it.
You didn't say which year your cobra donor is? Does it have IRS? The FF5 kit has the option for mounting the Ford IRS unit. You will be able to use the pumpkin, CV's, and the hubs,but you will have to use Tbird IRS uprights.

Welcome to the madness.

Bob

cobradvm · #7 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 04:57 PM

First off I should let you know I own a FFR, so now that that's out of the way, I would agree with the others that the F5 is the way to go with what you want. You can get the entire car built and painted with all new parts and done to an equivalent fit and finish of any of the other makes for probably $45 to $50k. You've already thrown out the idea of making it a clone of an original with the GT500 power plant. If you're good with leather and glass work, you're already ahead of the curve. The other stuff's not that hard. You could probably come out under $45k all in, depending on your paint skills. I chose to farm that part out to the tune of $8k, so you can probably do that part for a lot less.
The chassis is can stand up to anything you can throw at it - there are sub 10 second FFRs in the quarter mile, and F5 has it's own spec racing series - there's a lot of cars out there and the chassis has been well tested. The other benefit of building it yourself, is you can spread out some of the expense, by buying what you need as you go other than the initial buy in cost of the kit.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

letsboogie351 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 05:02 PM

althogh not supercharged there are a number of 5.4 litre quad cams fitted to cobras in AU, here is mine

cheers
Doug

Cashburn · #9 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 05:34 PM

If you are married to the concept of using as much of the donor car as possible then the advice you have already been given here is spot on, even as a BDR dealer I have to say the FFR fits your plan.

If you are willing to change your plan and part out the chassis etc I feel the BDR fits your power plant and end game the best.

Either way the prospect of that engine in any of these replicas makes me jealous...

phithebuilder · #10 (**permalink**) 04-09-2011, 09:39 PM

Door jam sticker manufactured date "2009" however title show a 2010, confirmed with my local ford dealer and it is a 2010 gt500..

5.4 liters
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 540 bhp at 6200 rpm
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 480 lb-ft. @ 4500 rpm

phithebuilder · #11 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 12:25 AM

[You didn't say which year your cobra donor is? Does it have IRS? The FF5 kit has the option for mounting the Ford IRS unit. You will be able to use the pumpkin, CV's, and the hubs,but you will have to use Tbird IRS uprights.

Welcome to the madness.

Bob[/quote]

no its a solid axel i believe

i definitely want a 9 in the rear

phithebuilder · #12 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 12:38 AM

"althogh not supercharged there are a number of 5.4 litre quad cams fitted to cobras in AU, here is mine"

cheers
Doug[/quote]

so beautiful awww....blue color too...

Three Peaks · #13 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phithebuilder

[You didn't say which year your cobra donor is? Does it have IRS? The FF5 kit has the option for mounting the Ford IRS unit. You will be able to use the pumpkin, CV's, and the hubs,but you will have to use Tbird IRS uprights.

Welcome to the madness.

Bob

no its a solid axel i believe

i definitely want a 9 in the rear[/quote]

Do a little research before you make a lot of expensive decisions on how you are going to build your car. These cars are so light, a 9" ford rear sounds reasonable, but is probably overkill unless you are going to do some serious drag racing. The Ford 8.8 IRS and 8.8" live axles hold up just fine in Cobras even with serious hp powerplants. The biggest problem is traction.

And many of the kits (including the FF5) are set up to accept the 8.8 rear .

Bob

Cashburn · #14 (**permalink**) 04-10-2011, 11:15 AM

Now that you throw in the 9" requirement... I think you are looking for a drag car? BDR/SPF/etc. are IRS.