Do You Think Having A Non-Ford Engine Is Wrong ?

[FUNFER2]

I hear from mostly non-Cobra owners, that having anything but a Ford engine in a Cobra is wrong. I even saw a Hemi in one. For the most part, I agree, but what ever gets your rocks off.

I feel the same with Hot Rods, but there's something different with Cobras, but don't know
why ?

I could not put a Chevy, MOPAR, Pontiac, BMW or,.....Ferrari, in my Cobra. Even if given to me.

Is it wrong, no,.... just not me.

I almost wish I could, like say a crate 502 or like I built many years ago with my Pro-Street Camaro, a 468 Ratt, only because,....of price vs a FE motor.

A 600 HP Chevy done my way....$10,000

A 600 Ford FE, done my way,....$18,000

Anyway, back to my point. How do you feel about a non-Ford engine in your Cobra ?

Even to a point of the original cars, the small block to 427FE or 428FE only ?
No modern Ford engines either ?

[DRED]

Unless your goal is to build a replica that can barely be told from an original 1960's car, anything goes with respect to power train etc. The "wrong" engine in an original car is undesirable when it comes to collectability but replicas, even really good ones, should reflect the tastes of the builder/owner/driver. Replicas are mainly for fun whether they are exact reproductions or they merely look something like a Cobra.

[Dwight]

Cobra should have a 289 or 302 or 351 or FE.

[FUNFER2]

Well,....they are "replica". So engines also. lol

[twobjshelbys]

Pete Brock's very own Daytona Coupe has a Chevy LS3.

[FUNFER2]

Someone here,.....is selling a GT40 with a LS-7 motor. Very nice too !

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Pete Brock's very own Daytona Coupe has a Chevy LS3.

Peter's ,....Why ?

[xb-60]

The engine is the heart and soul of a car. My replica 289FIA has a 302 Windsor family engine and I never considered any other maufacturer's engine or any other engine family.
It's very much a personal thing though - my car has an aluminium alloy semi-monocoque chassis which is light years away from the original, and I'm quite OK with that.

Cheers,
Glen

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by Dwight

Cobra should have a 289 or 302 or 351 or FE.

I suppose they should also have IRS, a 90" wheelbase and a proper, low-slung stance like the originals. To me, an accurately shaped and proportioned body with any brand American V8, IRS, manual trans and a single roll bar better replicates a Cobra than the stretched, raised, bulged and otherwise sedan-ized examples out there.

There are plenty cars with a historical legacy of race wins and impressive street performance, but it is all that plus the look of the Cobra that makes it so iconic. Slapping badges, a hood scoop, roll bars and sidepipes on a vaguely cobraesque kit and powering it with a Ford derived engine does not capture the essence in all its totality.

Its just more pandering to polarized, divisive brand marketing than anything else - "Ford rules, Chevy sucks, blah blah blah." Both brands (and Pontiac and Mopar) produce(d) great and not so great cars, regardless of what we've been conditioned and programmed to believe (or admit).

Drive a good Cobra with a Brand X V8 and you wouldn't know the difference without looking under the hood (notwithstanding the FE whisperers who can tell by the feel and sound ), but show me one with bizarre proportions and a jacked up stance and the difference kicks me right in the nuts from half a block away.

To each his own and I love a pure, meticulously correct, FE powered 427 Replica as much as the next enthusiast, but it's the liberties with the look and dynamics that ruin it for me. I also respect the newer Cobra convert who is attracted to the hobby but wants more legroom, comfort, safety and bling, but I rail against the notion that their cars are more accurate just because they have a Ford powerplant - especially since most of them are Windsor based strokers in a car with 427 badges.

Just my take and all in good fun

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

Peter's ,....Why ?

It fit better in the space allocated.

[Snake2998]

Who cares - guarantee that 9 out 10 petrolheads sitting in a "replica" (either driving it or as a passenger) or hearing one drive by wouldn't know whether a Ford or Chevy was under the bonnet (hood). Both will give an equally authentic feel and experience.

[Ron61]

I have Ford engines in mine but I have friends that have MOPARS, Chevys, and one person that I have seen has a Volkswagen engine in his Cobra. These are not original cars and to me, whoever builds one or has one built is doing it for himself and should use whatever engine he likes. As for original engines, there were no 302s or 351s back when the originals were built. They had 260s, 289s, and 427s.

Ron

[scottj]

I really only had one stipulation when first getting in to this 19 years ago- it must not replicate the 1960's driving experience. I also like early Mustangs an Camaros, but the ONLY way I'd own one of those is if it had Detroit Speed or a Schwartz chassis and a modern driveline. To me, the Cobra body is the ultimate platform for the current trend in performance builds... it's just that I was about 10 years ahead of the curve with my Cobra. So, no FEs for me... I know, I probably not worthy of owning a "Cobra". LOL

[66AC]

In my opinion a non Ford engine is not correct but is it wrong? I think it is wrong if you are trying to build or own a true as you can make it replica Cobra with a leaning towards originality. No more wrong I suppose than putting in a trannie that did not exist in the Cobra back in the 60's.... I know that real FE blocks are getting harder and harder to find in good shape.

Really to some all that matters is Smiles and Happy Miles....

[keezling]

Yes (it's wrong). Scotti, may the Schwartz be with you.

[Jim Vander Wal]

If you're trying to build an "accurate" replica then yes a Ford 289 or FE series is probably the way to go but it's still a "replica". Have at it.

My thought is to build whatever you want and it probably won't matter until you try to sell, then the Ford block will have advantages.

BTW, Pete Brock replaced the RDI aluminum 427 Windsor originally in his Superformance Daytona Coupe with a Chevy LS7 427 not the LS3. I saw it a few times during the transition. I thought I'd heard that he's changed it again.

Jim

[trularin]

My cobra is Ford powered because I liked the engine ( Boss 351 ).

My GT40 is Ford powered for the same reason ( 358 W ).

Really doesn't matter. If you are the one working on it, you should put what you want.

However, there is an element of "ribbing" that comes with a square peg in a round hole.

Tru

[scottj]

Originally Posted by keezling

Yes (it's wrong). Scotti, may the Schwartz be with you.

LOL... The Schwartz is strong in this one keezling.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by FUNFER2

I hear from mostly non-Cobra owners, that having anything but a Ford engine in a Cobra is wrong. I even saw a Hemi in one. For the most part, I agree, but what ever gets your rocks off.

I feel the same with Hot Rods, but there's something different with Cobras, but don't know
why ?

I could not put a Chevy, MOPAR, Pontiac, BMW or,.....Ferrari, in my Cobra. Even if given to me.

Is it wrong, no,.... just not me.

I almost wish I could, like say a crate 502 or like I built many years ago with my Pro-Street Camaro, a 468 Ratt, only because,....of price vs a FE motor.

A 600 HP Chevy done my way....$10,000

A 600 Ford FE, done my way,....$18,000

Anyway, back to my point. How do you feel about a non-Ford engine in your Cobra ?

Even to a point of the original cars, the small block to 427FE or 428FE only ?
No modern Ford engines either ?

You could also have a 600 HP Ford 385 series for $10K - so you could stay Ford.

[DRED]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I have Ford engines in mine but I have friends that have MOPARS, Chevys, and one person that I have seen has a Volkswagen engine in his Cobra. These are not original cars and to me, whoever builds one or has one built is doing it for himself and should use whatever engine he likes. As for original engines, there were no 302s or 351s back when the originals were built. They had 260s, 289s, and 427s.

Ron

Left out the 100 or so 428 coil spring cars!