Got cold feet yesterday

[sideoiler10]

You're not pissing me off, but I wonder just how much you know about Cobras and Ford engines in general. Almost anyone who knows about Cobras will tell you the ultimate Cobra is one that is powered by the engine for which the Cobra 427 is named...the Ford 427 sideoiler. It was the engine that Ford used to kick ass on the NASCAR tracks, in the GT40s in Europe, and on the drag strips in Super Stock and Factory Experimental classes before the cammer came out. The 427 had a much shorter stroke than the 429/460 series and produced much more power and revved much faster. Plus, the 427 has a very distinct sound, especially the ones with the iron heads.

A friend of mine here in town just received his brand new Superformance with a stroked 460. It doesn't sound very radical at all and has a fairly quiet, but deep muffled tone to the exhaust. My 427 powered Cobra has a much more radical idle and has a much deeper and richer tone. It almost sounds "gruff" when it is idling. Plus, the entire car shakes when idling. His Superformance sets there idling with the engine rockinf slightly and hardly any vibration in the body. The Superformance is a totally different type of Cobra.

I guess it all depends on what you want...a beast, like the original 427s, or a kitty cat that has a nice purr to it.

Either way, man, go ahead and buy it. I guarantee, you will never regret it. By-the-way, have you ever seen an armored car in a funeral procession? You can't take it with you, so you might as well enjoy it with the car. Heck, whoever you leave the car to will enjoy the hell out of it and you would save him the trouble of taking the money you leave and buying one him self.

Seriously, every day you delay is one more day you'll miss having the time of your life! Good luck, Bob

[jhv48]

Similar story, similar age, similar background, similar fears. 59 years old. Kids graduated from college, got the $$$, rode in a 65 427 back in 67. Wanted one ever since. Saw a FFR Cobra up for sale at the Knotts Berry Farm show a few months ago. All new parts, perfectionist builder. Went home and came up with 25 reasons not to buy it. Bought it anyway. Wife and I love it. Just do it! This is what mid-life is all about!

[madmaxx]

I agree call dynamic motorsports get a quote for a new one with pe 351 @ 425 hp for 53K. Chassis will be like 2600, with warranty. I think the car you are considering is worth 40K at best. My buddy just bought a superformance with roush 402R, chassis 21?? and 46 miles for 51K. There is a smoking deal on a bdr right now in the for sale section with a roush 402R with 1500 miles for 45k with every single option, top, remote oil filter, halon system, 17" knockoff's.

[relaxinrob]

I think you need to read this. If you don't want a cobra by the end, then you have your answer:

Driving a Cobra Replica

"If you want to just gas and go, and never have to worry about replacing an alternator, or snugging down the header bolts, or getting a wet leg driving in a rainstorm, or learning how to set your carb float level, or driving in traffic on a warm winter day with "winter gas" in the tank, get a Corvette. "

With a Cobra Replica you have to remind yourself that you are driving a hand made race car on the street. There is no compromise for anything other than pure speed. These cars are brutal and unforgiving, with all the refinement of a medieval battle ax. Like being in a relationship with an exotic dancer, you can never take anything for granted. These cars don't have millions of miles of testing refinement before you get yours. For any trip longer than an hour, you need earplugs, and goggles, and carry Advil and eye drops. You will need to learn to "read" the clouds for rain in your path, and have experience in unwrapping your frozen fingers from the MotoLita. You will experience lady passengers "wetting" the passenger seat when you merge into traffic from an on ramp, and then nearly burn their calf getting out of the car.

You will have all the invisibility of a burning Hindenburg, and flee from underground parking lots when uncountable car alarms are screaming your departure. When you shop, you will remind yourself that these cars get more attention than a dead body in a parking lot.

With a power to weight ratio better than almost every super car, you will find your 1/4 mile times traction rather than power limited. On the other hand, when you stage, out of the corner of your helmet's visor you will see almost the entire audience lining up at the fence, most with cameras up. If you track on a road course with a Porsche club, owners of expensive German machines will come to the fence to watch you power out in smoking oversteer. You won't even try to start your engine in the garage, but push it out onto the driveway, else your loyal watch dog will croak from the exhaust fumes. If you idle next to other "sports" cars at a traffic light, by the green, their girlfriend will be coughing green phlegm into her hanky, yelling at her date to just go! When you refuel, you might as well prop the "bonnet" open, because you are going to have to show your motor to just about every other guy there. When you order your wings at Hooters, your waitress will whisper in your ear "take me for a ride." When you stop at the red light, the girl in the convertible next to you will invite you to "take my top off too."

When you slowly pass a troop of Harley riders, they will look over and give you thumbs up. When you want to ease out into traffic, other cars will immediately pause to let you go ahead of them. When your engine has its hot, crackling, intimidating exhaust side pipe aimed right at the flank of the GTO, or the Z28, your exhaust pulsation's slowly unscrewing his lug nuts, the other car will remain motionless, as if the slightest quiver of his car will cause your car to stomp it dead. When you leave it open in a parking lot, and come back to find your sunglasses and cell phone still sitting on the tunnel, it is because your car has sullenly warned those who came over to admire it "touch me and I will rise up here and kill you dead."

When you put that tiny silver key into the ignition, and begin your start countdown, your car will whisper "take me for granted, and I will kill you."

When other drivers just hop in and snap up their belts while backing out of their parking space, you will still have two more minutes before you even get all the Simpsons properly on and snugged down. Pulling up in a Cobra Replica is like landing an F4U at an ultralite convention.

In summary, very, very few drivers want this kind of attention, or can tolerate all that a formidable Cobra Replica demands. These cars are intolerant mistresses.

But remember, there will come a day when you have to hang up your car keys for the last time. And perhaps you want to say then "I did it."

[Poolw]

That was very well said. It just about brought a tear to my eye. I really do love my cobra too!!

There are a lot of very good cobras for sale right here on Club Cobra and of course on www.cobracountry.com as well.

Go get one and enjoy it.

[Excaliber]

The above was first posted by that great writer who oft entertains us with his stories of Cobra life, the good Doctor, Hal Copple.

100,000+ miles on his small block SPF, many of them at various race tracks around the country!

[relaxinrob]

I read that at least once per month.....it's awesome!!

[BDR561]

Relaxin Rob,

Damn... well said...

I have NEVER heard it better said

[jhv48]

Now I want another one!

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by sideoiler10

You're not pissing me off, but I wonder just how much you know about Cobras and Ford engines in general. Almost anyone who knows about Cobras will tell you the ultimate Cobra is one that is powered by the engine for which the Cobra 427 is named...the Ford 427 sideoiler. It was the engine that Ford used to kick ass on the NASCAR tracks, in the GT40s in Europe, and on the drag strips in Super Stock and Factory Experimental classes before the cammer came out. The 427 had a much shorter stroke than the 429/460 series and produced much more power and revved much faster. Plus, the 427 has a very distinct sound, especially the ones with the iron heads.

A friend of mine here in town just received his brand new Superformance with a stroked 460. It doesn't sound very radical at all and has a fairly quiet, but deep muffled tone to the exhaust. My 427 powered Cobra has a much more radical idle and has a much deeper and richer tone. It almost sounds "gruff" when it is idling. Plus, the entire car shakes when idling. His Superformance sets there idling with the engine rockinf slightly and hardly any vibration in the body. The Superformance is a totally different type of Cobra.

I guess it all depends on what you want...a beast, like the original 427s, or a kitty cat that has a nice purr to it.

Either way, man, go ahead and buy it. I guarantee, you will never regret it. By-the-way, have you ever seen an armored car in a funeral procession? You can't take it with you, so you might as well enjoy it with the car. Heck, whoever you leave the car to will enjoy the hell out of it and you would save him the trouble of taking the money you leave and buying one him self.

Seriously, every day you delay is one more day you'll miss having the time of your life! Good luck, Bob

Hello Bob

I guess I need to clarify my statement about not being a fan of FE series engines. That was not intended to mean they are not good engines, or that it was not possible to extract some nice HP numbers out of them.

My knowledge of Cobras is limited to what I have been able to read, and in conversations with owners when I run across them, and they have the time to talk. I try not to make a pest of myself.

Engines? I was rebuilding engines, transmissions, including automatics before I had a drivers license. Got a fair amount of experience in that area. I guess I can trace my comment regarding FE engines to the fact that when I was young I had a few vehicles with BB Chevies in them. At least in my experience at that time, it was easier and cheaper to get the HP out of a BB Chevy than it was with the FE engines.

Once again, it was not my intention to offend anyone with my statement, and thank you for your comments.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by relaxinrob

I think you need to read this. If you don't want a cobra by the end, then you have your answer:

Driving a Cobra Replica

"If you want to just gas and go, and never have to worry about replacing an alternator, or snugging down the header bolts, or getting a wet leg driving in a rainstorm, or learning how to set your carb float level, or driving in traffic on a warm winter day with "winter gas" in the tank, get a Corvette. "

With a Cobra Replica you have to remind yourself that you are driving a hand made race car on the street. There is no compromise for anything other than pure speed. These cars are brutal and unforgiving, with all the refinement of a medieval battle ax. Like being in a relationship with an exotic dancer, you can never take anything for granted. These cars don't have millions of miles of testing refinement before you get yours. For any trip longer than an hour, you need earplugs, and goggles, and carry Advil and eye drops. You will need to learn to "read" the clouds for rain in your path, and have experience in unwrapping your frozen fingers from the MotoLita. You will experience lady passengers "wetting" the passenger seat when you merge into traffic from an on ramp, and then nearly burn their calf getting out of the car.

You will have all the invisibility of a burning Hindenburg, and flee from underground parking lots when uncountable car alarms are screaming your departure. When you shop, you will remind yourself that these cars get more attention than a dead body in a parking lot.

With a power to weight ratio better than almost every super car, you will find your 1/4 mile times traction rather than power limited. On the other hand, when you stage, out of the corner of your helmet's visor you will see almost the entire audience lining up at the fence, most with cameras up. If you track on a road course with a Porsche club, owners of expensive German machines will come to the fence to watch you power out in smoking oversteer. You won't even try to start your engine in the garage, but push it out onto the driveway, else your loyal watch dog will croak from the exhaust fumes. If you idle next to other "sports" cars at a traffic light, by the green, their girlfriend will be coughing green phlegm into her hanky, yelling at her date to just go! When you refuel, you might as well prop the "bonnet" open, because you are going to have to show your motor to just about every other guy there. When you order your wings at Hooters, your waitress will whisper in your ear "take me for a ride." When you stop at the red light, the girl in the convertible next to you will invite you to "take my top off too."

When you slowly pass a troop of Harley riders, they will look over and give you thumbs up. When you want to ease out into traffic, other cars will immediately pause to let you go ahead of them. When your engine has its hot, crackling, intimidating exhaust side pipe aimed right at the flank of the GTO, or the Z28, your exhaust pulsation's slowly unscrewing his lug nuts, the other car will remain motionless, as if the slightest quiver of his car will cause your car to stomp it dead. When you leave it open in a parking lot, and come back to find your sunglasses and cell phone still sitting on the tunnel, it is because your car has sullenly warned those who came over to admire it "touch me and I will rise up here and kill you dead."

When you put that tiny silver key into the ignition, and begin your start countdown, your car will whisper "take me for granted, and I will kill you."

When other drivers just hop in and snap up their belts while backing out of their parking space, you will still have two more minutes before you even get all the Simpsons properly on and snugged down. Pulling up in a Cobra Replica is like landing an F4U at an ultralite convention.

In summary, very, very few drivers want this kind of attention, or can tolerate all that a formidable Cobra Replica demands. These cars are intolerant mistresses.

But remember, there will come a day when you have to hang up your car keys for the last time. And perhaps you want to say then "I did it."

Great story. I'm going to print it out to remind me why I'm going to probably do this. Thanks

One of the things I love about a Cobra is the fact it has a distributor, carb, (or in this car's case, 2 of them) and is simple to work on. Or at least is a vehicle that you can play with and tune without requiring a laptop computer to flash a PCM.

The vehicle I just sold was a SRT/10 Ram Truck with the Viper engine. Nice truck and it was quick for what it was, but you could not do anything to it, or if you did it had to go to a "Tuner" (read that to be a the guy with the laptop computer) to retune it for the changes you made.

I want to be able to go out to the garage, drink a beer or 12 and play with the Cobra.

That is the reason I'm looking at a Cobra instead of a Viper. With a Viper I would still not be able to do much with it. Plus the fact that at least for me, the Viper does not have the raw savage sex appeal that the Cobra does.

[BDR561]

Originally Posted by relaxinrob
I think you need to read this. If you don't want a cobra by the end, then you have your answer:

Driving a Cobra Replica

"If you want to just gas and go, and never have to worry about replacing an alternator, or snugging down the header bolts, or getting a wet leg driving in a rainstorm, or learning how to set your carb float level, or driving in traffic on a warm winter day with "winter gas" in the tank, get a Corvette. "

With a Cobra Replica you have to remind yourself that you are driving a hand made race car on the street. There is no compromise for anything other than pure speed. These cars are brutal and unforgiving, with all the refinement of a medieval battle ax. Like being in a relationship with an exotic dancer, you can never take anything for granted. These cars don't have millions of miles of testing refinement before you get yours. For any trip longer than an hour, you need earplugs, and goggles, and carry Advil and eye drops. You will need to learn to "read" the clouds for rain in your path, and have experience in unwrapping your frozen fingers from the MotoLita. You will experience lady passengers "wetting" the passenger seat when you merge into traffic from an on ramp, and then nearly burn their calf getting out of the car.

You will have all the invisibility of a burning Hindenburg, and flee from underground parking lots when uncountable car alarms are screaming your departure. When you shop, you will remind yourself that these cars get more attention than a dead body in a parking lot.

With a power to weight ratio better than almost every super car, you will find your 1/4 mile times traction rather than power limited. On the other hand, when you stage, out of the corner of your helmet's visor you will see almost the entire audience lining up at the fence, most with cameras up. If you track on a road course with a Porsche club, owners of expensive German machines will come to the fence to watch you power out in smoking oversteer. You won't even try to start your engine in the garage, but push it out onto the driveway, else your loyal watch dog will croak from the exhaust fumes. If you idle next to other "sports" cars at a traffic light, by the green, their girlfriend will be coughing green phlegm into her hanky, yelling at her date to just go! When you refuel, you might as well prop the "bonnet" open, because you are going to have to show your motor to just about every other guy there. When you order your wings at Hooters, your waitress will whisper in your ear "take me for a ride." When you stop at the red light, the girl in the convertible next to you will invite you to "take my top off too."

When you slowly pass a troop of Harley riders, they will look over and give you thumbs up. When you want to ease out into traffic, other cars will immediately pause to let you go ahead of them. When your engine has its hot, crackling, intimidating exhaust side pipe aimed right at the flank of the GTO, or the Z28, your exhaust pulsation's slowly unscrewing his lug nuts, the other car will remain motionless, as if the slightest quiver of his car will cause your car to stomp it dead. When you leave it open in a parking lot, and come back to find your sunglasses and cell phone still sitting on the tunnel, it is because your car has sullenly warned those who came over to admire it "touch me and I will rise up here and kill you dead."

When you put that tiny silver key into the ignition, and begin your start countdown, your car will whisper "take me for granted, and I will kill you."

When other drivers just hop in and snap up their belts while backing out of their parking space, you will still have two more minutes before you even get all the Simpsons properly on and snugged down. Pulling up in a Cobra Replica is like landing an F4U at an ultralite convention.

In summary, very, very few drivers want this kind of attention, or can tolerate all that a formidable Cobra Replica demands. These cars are intolerant mistresses.

But remember, there will come a day when you have to hang up your car keys for the last time. And perhaps you want to say then "I did it."



I think "nearly" needs to be deleted from the paragraph....

[Excaliber]

I've always wondered if I would have the same passion about a Cobra had Shelby been able to cut a deal with GM and use their small block? I suspect it would have lost a TON of appeal for me. I go to the local cruise in's and the car lot is FILLED to overflowing with 350 crate motors ad nauseum! What a thrill to see an old flat head, Pontiac or Olds engine under the hood, like it was 'back in the day'. But for a real thrill, it sure is nice to stumble onto a genuine FE on rare occasion (and THAT includes COBRAS, by the way)!

Do something different, stuff a Hemi in it if you don't care for the FE.

[BDR561]

I have seen one with a Viper V10 and a Jaguar V12... The Jag motor looked impressive under that hood......

[BDR561]

Jag V12 in a Cobra....



http://videos.streetfire.net/hottest...CFFDD75756.htm