I need your thoughts and opinions - Page 2

Chuck Nickloy · #21 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 07:51 PM

Ok, this might be painful . . . but:

I have a replica with a 427 so. I like it! It is bad to the bone!

The question comes is that a 427? Yup it is

The next questions comes Is it Real ? Uh well . . . what you call real man. It is uh uh a replica. Oh . . .

I have a CSX 427 so car. I like it! It is bad to the bone!

The question comes is that a 427? Yup it is.

The next question comes, Is it Real Uh yup it is, but you see Shelby is still making cars and this is a new one, so it was not built in the 60's. Oh . . .

I have a Kirkham hybread with a blown 4.6. I like it! It is bad to the bone marow!

The question comes is that a 427? Well no it is a 289 FIA on a 427 chassis. Huh?? It has a tuner motor in it, blown 4.6.
Huh, wuss zat mean??? Well, thats hard to explain. I like my car and there is only one of um. It a lot faster than the old Falcon Sprint I had when I was a kid.

If you don't have a 60's car, you don't have the answer most of us want to hear and want to give. Finish what you got. Enjoy it!!!!!

If it quits cranking your trigger, build the next one. Get done and get some experience with all your efforts to date.

Some one is gonna die when they get slaughtered by my 280 cu/in motor. Especially the guys with almost double the cubes.
But my stroker goes sideways at 80 and my 27 revs like nobodys business.

Havin' some fun
Chuck

REAL 1 · #22 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 07:55 PM

I certainly wouldn't change the body to a 289 style.

As to the engine any well done BB probably has been balanced and blue printed with all new interanl components with a "seasoned" blocks.

Its not about what some "yahoo" at a car show thinks. Who cares. Some people like car shows as much as driving. Thats what floats their boat. Its not about more horsepower. Even non trick SBs put out more hp than most can use or need. In fact we don't even need a Cobra or Cobra replicas. We have them not because of anyone else but because it makes us happy.

Although your Cobra is not original or authentic it is a Cobra replica and to me the idea is to get it as close to original specs as you can within the limits of what you have to work with.

While some "love" their SBs in their 427 style cars I prefer a BB in my 427 Cobra. I wouldn't have it any other way. It just wouldn't seem right.

Again. If you have your heart set on a BB your 427 style replica go for it. Its whats gonna make you happy not what makes anyone else happy. Put in the engine you really want. Period.

TomH · #23 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 08:47 PM

Your Windsor, with modern peripherals, is more already capable than the original. The bad news is that there will always be the car that is badder and faster than anything you can build. So the difference between dogma and fidelity is in the eyes of the beholder.

In the effort to be "period correct," will you also downgrade the brakes, steering, tires, and fuel systems to revert back to '60's capabilities?

The fun part about these cars is that you can do whatever you and your wallet are comfortable with. Joke 'em if they can't take a ...

Bumpster · #24 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 09:32 PM

Brent - Happiness is wanting what you have, not having what you want. It sounds like you are not happy with what you have. The reason for that is yours alone. Do what you must do to achieve happiness.

TomH - I like the "dogma and fidelity" thing. I'll have to give that some thought.

Bumpster

KobraKarl · #25 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 10:01 PM

"Dogma and fidelity" LOLOL........wut da fuch dus dat mean.....gotta admit it rings like a bell.

KK

cobralee · #26 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 10:10 PM

Here's my $02. I have a replica with a 427FE. I wanted the original engine. I also feel very strongly that if I have 427 emblems on my car, I'd better damn well have a 427 under the hood.

On the practical side, the Windsor is the way to go and is a very good performing engine. But they don't make 352 emblems that go on the Cobra!! All in all, I would take that small block out and put something bigger in.

Good Luck.

Ron

Excaliber · #27 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 11:15 PM

,,,,,,,well thats why I put Powered by Ford emblems on the side of mine. Just didn't "feel right" having the 427 Emblems with something not even close (a 5.0).

THEN I was all bummed because the 427 body style DIDN'T use the Powered by Ford emblem.

Oh the tangled web I was weaving........(but hey, I still VERY happy with what I got, LOL).

Ernie

foothills gary · #28 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 11:24 PM

In the book "Shelby Cobra,Gold Portfolio" by Brooklands Books,there is a 1965 289 Cobra that Carroll Shelby had redone for himself with a Boss 351 and Cleveland heads.He had the fenders flared,used a C4 auto,a full hoop rollbar,and even had the audacity to paint it CorvetteTarga blue!If this car came on the market would it be considered "incorrect"?It doesn't appear to me that the Old Man is or was to hung up on authenticity or resale,but build what pleased him,and won races!Carroll it is sain considered using 390FE engines in his cars,as 427's were rare and expensive even in'65.Witness the use of 351w engines in even the cars made by him today,and I am convinced that if the 351W was available in'65,Carroll would have used it.

Excaliber · #29 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 11:39 PM

Thats like asking if Van Gogh screwed up a painting and tossed it aside would it be an orignal?

"Back in the day" many of the Cobras were "modified" in all sorts of ways. Racers wouldn't hesitate to cut the fenders, hammer in more clearance, whatever it took.

The ONLY way to get an replica "right" is to pick a SPECIFIC car from the era and do the specs to THAT car.

Ernie

foothills gary · #30 (**permalink**) 08-01-2003, 11:50 PM

Thank goodness Shelby is building 'glass bodied Cobras,so even a 'glass bodied"replica " can be more authenic!(ha ha)

Excaliber · #31 (**permalink**) 08-02-2003, 12:44 AM

,,,,,well there you go, a glass bodied replica of a real glass bodied Shelby! It's a thing of beauty, now THERES a replica a guy could get "right"!

Ernie

GeorgiaSnake · #32 (**permalink**) 08-02-2003, 05:31 AM

Never thought I would agree with Real 1 but he has a valid point. 427 bodied cars = BB, FIA and slab side bodied cars = SB.

I built an FIA car because I wanted to use a SB. It's fast, correct for a replica and floats my boat.

Cracker, help Brent out, pull the webers and work out a trade that makes both of you happy.

Randy

blykins · #33 (**permalink**) 08-02-2003, 06:45 AM

Cracker...

You have mail.

Lowell W · #34 (**permalink**) 08-02-2003, 07:36 AM

Brent,

So...who are ya building the car for? Yourself to drive and enjoy or the geeks at the gas pump who ask "What the heck is that, anyway?" and the show-queen car owners who say, "Oh...it's not a BIG BLOCK..."? If you spend the money to satisfy the "authenticity" guys, they'll still find something to bum-rap your car on. That's their nature. There are only 360-some guys out there who have "REAL" Cobras anyway. Finish the freakin' car, drop in the freakin' motor-which you've already paid for-and enjoy it and be proud of your accomplishment. As you rack up the miles, ask yourself whether there are aspects of this car which you would like to change. If you identify enough items you don't like, then consider building another car or another motor. Hal was right: the more time you spend screwing around because of what other people might think of your car, the less time you have to enjoy it. I don't have a "real" Cobra; $hit, I don't even have an "authentic" Cobra. Some folks might even say I don't have a Cobra at all!!! But I do have over 8,000 miles on my car in the last 4-1/2 months and I'm a happy dog!

OK, just my $.02...Now I'm going to go drive my Cobra...

Good luck and enjoy your car!

David Kirkham · #35 (**permalink**) 08-02-2003, 07:38 AM

When I am driving up the canyon--and UP the mountain--SB engines just don't compare. If you build a SB to have killer power, the streetability goes down. BB just really don't care where they are running.

As for your car, I would only spend money on what you want, NOT what someone else wants. Someone else isn't paying for it and someone else shouldn't be driving it. Make what you want and be happy.

If you aren't happy, put your car on e-bay, take what you get, and start over. A BIG mistake we always run into is people spending money on their cars in order to sell them...big no-no. You will NEVER get the money back out. Better to take a loss now, than a loss later (probably a bigger one at that). I have seen it too many times.

Get what you want. If you have what you want, then make it how you want it. People who don't like it...well, they have probably never driven up the canyon...

David

blykins · #36 (**permalink**) 08-03-2003, 05:31 PM

Thanks to all for their opinions and input. It's greatly appreciated. I still haven't made up my mind what I wanna do. It's sort of a big decision...either to keep on going the way I am...or to totally ditch a $9k engine and start over.

I guess technically though, it would still be a Cobra "replica" since Shelby is offering his new cars with fiberglass bodies and 351w's.

Thanks again.

ENTDOC · #37 (**permalink**) 08-03-2003, 05:49 PM

I say sell the motor and build the best FE you can afford(SO or CO)I agree it does not matter what others think but it matters what you think and I believe you will not be satisfied untill you have a 427.It has nothing to do with which motor is better or faster or more modern technology ,it has everything to do with the fact that you really want a 427 or you would not be considering such a big move.I know, since I just went through that and bought a Kirkham(it will have a 427) even though I have not finished my Hunter yet. the Hunter is a great car and probably prettier than the Kirkham and plenty fast with a built 351c,but it is not a 427 car. chuck

blykins · #38 (**permalink**) 08-03-2003, 05:54 PM

Well I have thought that option over...and there's probably no way I could even recoup half of the parts cost...much less the labor involved. That's really not a good business decision...paying $9k for an engine and selling it for $4k-5k.

casaleenie · #39 (**permalink**) 08-03-2003, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by REAL 1

Although your Cobra is not original or authentic it is a Cobra replica and to me the idea is to get it as close to original specs as you can within the limits of what you have to work with.

While some "love" their SBs in their 427 style cars I prefer a BB in my 427 Cobra. I wouldn't have it any other way. It just wouldn't seem right.

Again. If you have your heart set on a BB your 427 style replica go for it. Its whats gonna make you happy not what makes anyone else happy. Put in the engine you really want. Period. [/b]

Uhhhh.... does the word "condescending" come to anyones mind?

David Kirkham · #40 (**permalink**) 08-03-2003, 06:31 PM

Blykins,

Just my humble opinion here.

You said, "That's really not a good business decision...paying $9k for an engine and selling it for $4k-5k."

I think it is a worse business decision to put a 9K engine in the corner for X years wondering where and if you will ever get the money back out of it. It is MUCH easier to store the money than it is to store an engine.

I think it is much more important to have what you want and to be happy.

David