This is why you don't put a Chevy 350 in a Cobra...

[blykins]

I have absolutely zero animosity toward anyone, but it always makes me laugh when guys who put Chevy engines in their Cobra do it because, "Shelby approached GM about using a Chevy engine".

Maybe 'ole Shel thought about putting curb feelers on, a 5th wheel for pulling a horse trailer, or a snow plow on the front too.

I've asked this for 2 decades now: Do you want a replica or do you want a kit car?

[Thor maine]

I want a HotRod that looks like a COBRA!

[twobjshelbys]

Put whatever engine you want in it. But the history here clearly shows the net result of that choice down the line.

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by blykins

I have absolutely zero animosity toward anyone, but it always makes me laugh when guys who put Chevy engines in their Cobra do it because, "Shelby approached GM about using a Chevy engine".

Maybe 'ole Shel thought about putting curb feelers on, a 5th wheel for pulling a horse trailer, or a snow plow on the front too.

I've asked this for 2 decades now: Do you want a replica or do you want a kit car?

I agree with Brent, here. It is not about animosity toward the bowtie brand, rather, it is about doing the right thing for the Cobra and its resale potential - because they are all for sale at some point! Would you put a Cleveland in a Cheetah replica?

Chevy is fine in the right place... behind a Cobra, just like in the 60s!

However, it is your car and your money, so do what you like and makes you happy!

[MasterAnubis]

Hay all,

I don't consider myself a purist by any stretch. I am a Ford guy though. I wanted to do an electric Model A for for a long time. By the time I got to a point I could, I decided to build a "Cobra" instead.

I've heard a ton of reasons for any powertrain and think the best is "that's what I could get." I'm a bit tired of people feeling the need to justify that they put a Chevy in Cobra. If your a Chevy guy and know SBC then cool. put a SBC in it. I wouldn't do it. Mainly because I have no interest in SBC, BBC or SBF for that matter. I've only owned FE cars. That's what I know. That's what I have parts for and experience with. If my first car had been a 429 Thunderbird then I'd be considering a 429 in a Cobra.

That being said. There are a couple of things that I've notice recently.

First, there are more than one example of rotary Corvettes. I know, not Ford but not Chevy. They say they got a nice welcome at LS Fest, not what they expected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e7mVcjzOOk

The other is Superformance MKIII-E.
https://www.superformance.com/factory-models/mkiii-e


I'd be fine with electric if it wasn't so limiting. I've been suggested to put something unique in mine. What ever it ends up being, I'm not defending it. It just... is.

[Snake2998]

I would guess that none of us getting into a new to us Cobra replica could tell during the first drive whether it has a Ford or Chevy motor so from the pure driving experience what motor it has doesn't matter a damn and just enjoy the car for what it is - a small, relatively light weight mean driving thrill machine where every drive is exciting.

Here in Cape Town the majority of the mainly Backdraft Cobras hired to tourists (about 30 to 40) are either Chevy or Lexus motored (I would guess for reliability reasons?????), and the majority (I would guess) of privately owned replicas are Chevy engined. Here the engine choice will make a negligible impact on resale with a possible bias to Chevy?? but in America I would go with Ford as it seems that they are more biased.

[DanEC]

Probably just me but the illusion of originality in the body, the interior and under the hood in my cars is important to me. I own old Plymouths (one with a 426 Hemi), a Chevy Vette (427 with many L88 parts) and my ERA. I strive to keep all these cars looking close to original. You won’t find any red ignition wires, MSD boxes, small padded steering wheels, aftermarket bling, oversized wheels or other non-period stuff on them. When I walk out to the garage I don’t want to see a 427 Chevy under the hood of my 66 Hemi Satellite, or a FE under the hood of my 66 Corvette. And I don’t want to see a Chevy 427 or an Hemi under the hood of my ERA. But I love them all, when under the hood of the respective car they belong under.

[Thor maine]

I had a ride in a Artnz Cobra with a 426 Hemi in it, it was FANTASTIC!

[Buzz]

I absolutely get the rationale behind folks keeping their cars pristine and true to their original condition/appearance/branding - no explanation required.

What makes me laugh out loud is how outraged, agitated and apparently threatened some of you people get when someone else sees things differently and chooses to do things their own way with the cars they buy with their own money and enjoy on their own time and dime. Really - why do you even care? Not like their Chevy motor is going to tank the resale value of your replica.

[86Sebring]

Sebring, a Healey replica, they were built with Chevy and Ford engines, both could be super fast, nobody complained about which engine was in it since they came originally with 4's and 6's

[joyridin']

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Put whatever engine you want in it. But the history here clearly shows the net result of that choice down the line.

The question remains; Are you building the car for resale value, or are you building it to your needs and the fun factor?

The majority are not real Shelby Cobras, so if you are building it for resale, you will be sorely disappointed regardless of what you do to the car.

Now, here is something to actually get riled about. A real Ford being butchered to install a GM engine. Not a fiberglass Cobra with modified body lines, A/C, power steering, stereo, twin roll bars, and every other modification under the sun. https://www.facebook.com/groups/7232...0388052460571/