Autokraft Mk IV (Cobra) 302 to 427 downgrade 😜

[AC Ventura]

Autokraft Mk IV (Cobra) 302 to 427 downgrade ��

A year is a long time in politics......also it’s a long time in stupid, crazy, pointless, dinosaur engineering car projects. But thankfully logic and passion don’t quite fit on the same page. The first pic is one year ago, 26 Dec 2017, the last day the original 302, 5L EFI engine which has been powering the car since 1993’ was running and the other two, earlier this week 19 Dec 2018. A few more connections before the 427, 532 bhp 7L will burst into life. I’m very pleased with my work to date and that I’ve tried to respect the Mk IV ‘s identity. Wasn’t easy, for example the entire inner engine bay is 3” wider, but without a tape measure it looks the same. I still have the, loom, dash, fuel lines, headers and underfloor exhaust system to construct. But maybe there could be a tiny change in the weather, around February 2019. Very pleased I went for broke.

[t walgamuth]

Looks very good!

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by AC Ventura

.... A few more connections before the 427, 532 bhp 7L will burst into life.....

....and don't forget the oil

A great upgrade! It's the engine that Autokraft should have pushed for in the Mk IV from the start


Cheers,
Glen

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by xb-60

....and don't forget the oil

A great upgrade! It's the engine that Autokraft should have pushed for in the Mk IV from the start


Cheers,
Glen

Then there would have been NO MK IV as the FE was not emissions certified. I was there and involved in the federalization of the MK IV and while the big block would have been nice it would have required the car to be sold as a "roller" and frankly the car would have failed to sell.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by xb-60

....and don't forget the oil

A great upgrade! It's the engine that Autokraft should have pushed for in the Mk IV from the start


Cheers,
Glen

Then there would have been NO MK IV as the FE was not emissions certified. I was there and involved in the federalization of the MK IV and while the big block would have been nice it would have required the car to be sold as a "roller" and frankly the car would have failed to sell.

[xb-60]

Yes I actually knew that. It's just that a car that looks like a 427 Cobra should always have a correct FE under the bonnet, in my non-humble opinion.
Not everyone here shares my thoughts though

Cheers,
Glen

[Gaz64]

Looks good. I hope you can get at the spark plugs.

Gary

[Ron61]

You did a good job and it looks great. And with that increase in power you will need to take it easy for a time until you get used to it.

Ron

[AC Ventura]

Originally Posted by Gaz64

Looks good. I hope you can get at the spark plugs.

Gary

Yes, can remove the plugs no problem....but have to admit that was one of the few things I didn’t stop to consider as I seemed to have more room that the few other Mk IV swaps I’ve seen. Luckily on the FE the plugs are also surprisingly diminutive.

Incidentally Autokraft, who made 480 small block Mk IV’s, did make 11 or 12, 427 FE powered cars. I’m not clear how complete they were and for sure one was a roller, sold less drivetrain. One that I actually viewed at a very high end London dealer, was not completed until 3 years after manufacture. It wasn’t ideally constructed, with minimal changes to get the engine in. In fact the motor as touching the inner wings/fenders. Liked a real fire risk to me.
I’ve painstakingly tried to optimise the compromises and have had the benefit of more time, than a commercial garage might have at their disposal.