horsepower

[ender2664]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

I think some are missing the point, ender2664 is probably happy with his pecker size so no need to compensate with unusable HP
Joe

Thank you Joe, couldn't have said it any better myself.

[Dwight]

I started with 380 and now I have 402 at the rear wheels;dyno number (480-500 flywheel)

Just about right.

I have driven several big block Cobra with 600 -630 flywheel (dyno numbers)

Just about right

I would say 500 to 650 is a good hp range for a street Cobra. They come with a gas pedal not an on off switch.

Dwight

[Jim Vander Wal]

About 550 at the crank, 440 at the wheels. 335/35/17s with 3.46 gears. Will break loose in first with throttle after that you have to work at it. 11.8/120mph quarters. Cruise around town, back roads, highway, lots of trips, drive in the rain just for fun, road track for adrenaline. 50 k+ miles.

Seems that many think the throttle is on/off when it is really a variable switch that you control. It's not the HP it's how you use it. But if you are afraid of it, don't buy it.

The only safety is the link between your brain and your foot.

Jim

[Dimis]

One of my favourite cars to drive was my (former) neighbour's lotus Elise 200+/- hp out of a Toyota engine.
Sweet, Sweet drive... And given good fortune I'll add one to my stable.

BUT That said, it didn't stop me from putting a 600+hp/tq engine in the cobra...
Why?
Because (for me) a cobra is all about the engine.

Again For me, It's about lifting he bonnet and seeing an old school piece of machinery, that can naturally aspirated, can produce more power than most anything else on the road today, and can be fixed with simple tools, a screwdriver and spanner, in keeping with the theme of what is a "Cobra"

If I wanted a coyote Id have bought a new GT falcon (Google it) or if I wanted a Windsor Id have bought a mustang, or built a 289 or fia.

You've got to decide what YOU want to see when you pop the hood.
What gets YOU excited?
What are YOUR goals/plans/desires for this car?

The only right answer is what tickles YOUR fancy

Good luck with it and enjoy the journey

[Dimis]

Ps. I mentioned the lotus at 200hp bc that's enough to kill you right there if you're not behaving

[JLip]

How much HP!!!! ? WoW!!! I don't mean to be goofy but I totally agree. Don't get a Cobra... it could really bite ya!

[Blacklemming]

Is American horsepower the same as European horsepower?

Because 400 hp out of an m3 is pretty fast.
500 hp out of an m5 is pretty fast
And if you disconnect the electronics it's an insane ride!!

So I see figures of hp passing by this threat that I am curious about?
Next question
- if you have the horsepower,can you use it?
- and how many times do u use it.

I have had al lot of motorcycles (r1,hayabusa,gsxr1000) and on the street
We would ride fast ,but always at 30% what the bike could do.
On the racetrack 80% in the best circumstances ,otherwise you will hurt yourself.(unless you're Collin Edwards)

I think these cars have a good weight/ hp ratio ,but without electronics you must be one hell of a driver to use 600 hp in these cars.
My cobra has 260 hp and I am planning an upgrade on the motor,
But it drives nice already

Just thinking out loud

[dallas_]

Originally Posted by Blacklemming

- if you have the horsepower,can you use it?
- and how many times do u use it.

It's useful on the track. I've never used it all on the street.

But it's your car. Build it the way you want and drive it the way you want.

[BossCER]

You rarely hear guys guys with big h.p. complaining that it's too much or not streetable. In fact, it seems you always want a little more!

[1985 CCX]

Give or take 350.

[olddog]

The peak Hp number only tells you how it will accelerate at full throttle, when the engine rpm is near where the peak Hp is reached. The torque curve over the usable rpm range tells you "the rest of the story."

A high strung small displacement SB that peaks 450 Hp at 7500 rpm is only making 315 lb-ft of torque. Its peak torque might be 375-400 down around 5000 rpm. Below 3000 rpm it might be below 200 and off idle could only be 75 torque. Such an engine would be no fun to try to drive normally on the street. The fact that the torque is all over the place, depending on rpm, you never know what to expect, when you mash it.

On the other hand, it is not hard to have a large displacement BB that also makes 450 HP but at 5500 rpm. It might have a peak torque of 550 at 4000 rpm. It could have about 450 off idle and climb to near 550 by 2000 rpm, with a flat line to 4000 rpm. Then slowly drop off until the peak Hp.

Even though both engines have 450 Hp, the difference between them is night and day. The BB with a flat torque range, will feel like it has twice the power, every where other than flat out. It will have so much more throttle response everywhere and pretty much the same response everywhere. It would be much more fun on the street. Yet when geared properly both engines pretty much run the same time in quarter mile.

So again, Hp is not the question you should be asking.

[azsprint6]

My formula for this is N x W = R

N) Need

W) Want

R) Result

So I figured I need around 375 HP

I want at least 50% more

The result is 563 HP and that works for me

[mikeinatlanta]

Originally Posted by olddog

The peak Hp number only tells you how it will accelerate at full throttle, when the engine rpm is near where the peak Hp is reached. The torque curve over the usable rpm range tells you "the rest of the story."

A high strung small displacement SB that peaks 450 Hp at 7500 rpm is only making 315 lb-ft of torque. Its peak torque might be 375-400 down around 5000 rpm. Below 3000 rpm it might be below 200 and off idle could only be 75 torque. Such an engine would be no fun to try to drive normally on the street. The fact that the torque is all over the place, depending on rpm, you never know what to expect, when you mash it.

On the other hand, it is not hard to have a large displacement BB that also makes 450 HP but at 5500 rpm. It might have a peak torque of 550 at 4000 rpm. It could have about 450 off idle and climb to near 550 by 2000 rpm, with a flat line to 4000 rpm. Then slowly drop off until the peak Hp.

Even though both engines have 450 Hp, the difference between them is night and day. The BB with a flat torque range, will feel like it has twice the power, every where other than flat out. It will have so much more throttle response everywhere and pretty much the same response everywhere. It would be much more fun on the street. Yet when geared properly both engines pretty much run the same time in quarter mile.

So again, Hp is not the question you should be asking.

And then there is the high strung, big displacement small block.

[mikeinatlanta]

Originally Posted by BossCER

You rarely hear guys guys with big h.p. complaining that it's too much or not streetable. In fact, it seems you always want a little more!

Bingo. Most guys who like to say how much is too much don't have enough for those who really do.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by olddog

The peak Hp number only tells you how it will accelerate at full throttle, when the engine rpm is near where the peak Hp is reached. The torque curve over the usable rpm range tells you "the rest of the story."

A high strung small displacement SB that peaks 450 Hp at 7500 rpm is only making 315 lb-ft of torque. Its peak torque might be 375-400 down around 5000 rpm. Below 3000 rpm it might be below 200 and off idle could only be 75 torque. Such an engine would be no fun to try to drive normally on the street. The fact that the torque is all over the place, depending on rpm, you never know what to expect, when you mash it.

On the other hand, it is not hard to have a large displacement BB that also makes 450 HP but at 5500 rpm. It might have a peak torque of 550 at 4000 rpm. It could have about 450 off idle and climb to near 550 by 2000 rpm, with a flat line to 4000 rpm. Then slowly drop off until the peak Hp.

Even though both engines have 450 Hp, the difference between them is night and day. The BB with a flat torque range, will feel like it has twice the power, every where other than flat out. It will have so much more throttle response everywhere and pretty much the same response everywhere. It would be much more fun on the street. Yet when geared properly both engines pretty much run the same time in quarter mile.

So again, HP is not the question you should be asking.

Exactly. Paraphrased, it's less about where and how high the HP and torque curves peak than it is about the 'area under the curve' - particularly for street use. A rich, fat torque curve will not only make it more fun on the street, but will often out-perform a higher HP engine that's 'peaky'.

That fat torque curve will also allow you to keep the revs down and, hopefully, keep from drawing unwanted attention from the local gendarmes - they really seem to come out of nowhere when the revs get much above 4,000 RPM.

[SPF1061]

Originally Posted by ender2664

How much are most people running? I am deciding on an engine and am not sure how much power to put in given how light it is and have the car still be able to hook up.

Ender 2664,
The Cobra experience is not about being rational. I am going to guess that anything over about 300/325 is going to be a challenge hooking up. I am also going to guess that the AVERAGE Cobra hp is somewhere around 475. Regardless of how much hp you start off with, if you keep the car long enough eventually you will want more. You can take that as gospel.

[Joe's Garage]

Never knew that, seat time in a cobra makes your pecker shrink.
Joe

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by Joe's Garage

Never knew that, seat time in a cobra makes your pecker shrink.
Joe

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are marketed to, uh, mature males - Cobra owners use higher HP and torque to achieve similar results. And yes, just like the little blue pills, I did talk to my doctor about my Cobra. I think he's itching for a ride - it's WAY better than his Jaguar.

p.s. Still waiting for the erection lasting longer than 4 hours...

[Blue66]

Originally Posted by undy

600 hp from a KC all aluminum 482' side-oiler and... a set of M/T drag radials to use every last tasty drop of it too!!

What size drag radials do ya have ???

[undy]

Originally Posted by Blue66

What size drag radials do ya have ???

315/35/17s