Biggest BANG!!! for your Buck$$$$

[REPTYL]

Thought it might be fun to have a little poll.

Just pretend you had .$12000 AUSTRALIAN in your hand. Your mission is:

Buy or build the quickest most reliable value for money engine possible.

It will be going in a Cobra that will be an every day driver and must kick butt at the track on the weekends (that’s circuit not drag).

Must be fully legal no NOS or other funny bits.

Motor can be new or second hand and feel free to bolt on a hair dryer or two if you please, just stay in the budget

[REPTYL]

I don’t pretend to know heaps when it comes to engine builds and budgets,
even though I like to hang a bit of shiit on the “non-Fordies”.

I think if I was doing it all over again and had the 12 grand.
The Lexus road would be the one I would travel.

I have done no research in to the subject and will probably be laughed at.

But if you do laugh; your name will be taken down and passed on to the Doc for future reticule.

[Rebel1]

Is that $12000 $A or $US


Take care

[REPTYL]

Thanks Reb'

post has been updated.

[750hp]

I'll jump on the Lexus bandwagon for this poll. Scott OZVENOM will no doubt jump in here, but his own car will serve as the perfect example of what can be done with the Lexus motors. By the time Scott has a Jap import half-cut disassembled, and has sold off the trans, power accessories, airbag suspension, and maybe the wiring loom, the quad cammer basically owes him nothing (but his own time).

This would leave enough for some quality second hand turbos ,a brand new bar and plate intercooler, aftermarket ECU and loom, new sensors, a bellhousing to adapt a Supra or Tremec trans, and a suitable Bosch fuel system.

What do you think Scott --- 600 to 700hp with absolute reliability on pump gas???

[TomH]

GM RamAir 502 $8.8K (USD)

[Aussie Mike]

Craig,

You would probably have a pile of cash left in your pocket with that set up. I agree a twin turbo, intercooled Lexus V8 is probably is the best value for money and all round performer.

If emissions compliance isn't an issue I'd look at an older gen-2 SB Chev with a couple of hairdryers on it. If you were carefull where you found the parts I reckon you could build a 1000hp plus motor for under $12K. I'd probably try to source a lot of the parts second hand from the drag racing, V8 Supercar or NASCAR crowd.

You can pick up ported aluminium heads like Brodix AFR etc for around the $2000 mark. There are heaps of top quality cranks rods and pistons etc available new at good prices. Good second hand bowtie and aftermarket blocks come up regularly (One school of thought says a seasoned block is better than a new one). Some good second hand ball bearing turbos, blow off valve etc shouldn't be to hard to find. The ricer crowd has assured us that there is plenty of this stuff around, just check ebay.

This could be done with a Ford SB as a basis too but there seems to be a lot more S/H Chev stuff arround.

The expensive stuff would be the engine management, intercooler, plumbing and tuning. but it should all be possible for under $12K

It might make more HP but where the Lexus wins is if the motor goes bang it'll be a whole lot more cheaper to fix.

The criteria is "quickest most reliable value for money engine possible" More HP doesn't seem to always add up to quicker. A lighter engine with good HP and drivability (no light switch power delivery) might be quicker on the track than a monster motor that spends all it's time spinning the wheels.

One of the criteria was that the motor had to be legal and I wonder how some of these realy big HP motors would go with emissions and noise tests? (not talking about anybody in particular here Craig )

So how about a naturally aspirated LS1 with some head work, cam rods etc. It will reliably make 500HP+ with a linear delivery. It could all be done with the factory ECU (tuned using LS1 Edit) and most of the factory fuel system so no need for an aftermarket ECU. It's feasable that it could meet emissions tests and the engineers like to see a factory ECU too. The engine is a feather weight at 180KG so keeps the total vehicle weight down and the mass centralised. A bar/plate intercooler is jolly heavy and all the plumbing and turbos add to the weight as well. Plus a lot of this weight is hanging out the front away from the center of mass.

Cheers

[750hp]

Mike, regarding everything that you just said..... I agree with it all !!! Where's the controversy in that?!?

OZVENOM might do a GTR Skyline 2.6TT 4WD conversion to your Cobra for $12K. We know how much he likes tearing the good bits out of Jap Imports

[CobraDan]

TomH posted a 502 Chevy but you said you wanted 600HP so you would have to go with the latest from Chevy.

ZZ572/620 GM’s Largest Most powerful Street Crate Engine

The new ZZ572/620 is built around an all-new Gen VI tall deck Bow tie cylinder block. This all new race block is filled with a forged 4340 steel crank with 4.375 inch stroke, shot peened forged 4340H-beam rods, and forged aluminum pistons with full floating wrist pins. Hard core race parts for hard core long term durability!

The redesigned rectangular port aluminum cylinder heads result in a pump gas friendly 9.6 to 1 compression ratio. A hydraulic roller cam with 0.632 inch lift actuates the stainless steel valves. And, of course, hardened chromemoly retainers, roller rockers, and duel valve springs are used to complete the valvetrain.

A new GM tall deck single plane intake manifold and 850 CFM Demon carburetor deliver enough air and fuel to make the 620 horsepower at 5500RPM and 650 ft. lbs. of torque at 4500RPM. Ignition is handled by a GM HEI distributor.

Pump gas friendly, massive torque and horsepower, all from GM, the ZZ572/620 is for those who consider excess to be barely enough.

Available in both long block and deluxe engine configurations in 2003.

Dan

[750hp]

Dan, WOW!!! 572 GM crate motor 10 years ago, who would have thought that GM would offer such a monster! Any idea what they're selling in the shops for?

Unfortunately, "fully legal" over here means a lot. Any 2003 Cobra now requires a brand new, 2003 spec factory engine using an unmodified factory computer, entire pollution equipment left intact from donor car, etc.

Lucky my car is a 2002 model

Craig

[BMK]

Hi all

$12,000 sounds good. Trust the Dr. to come up with this little ...'what if'.

I guess I have been around hotrods and Fords for to long. I nearly put a 350 in my early hotrod a 1928A but layed awake for a few nights and decided on a small Ford 289 with twin tunnel ram. I ran cobra rocker covers and lots of 60's dress up gear.

I have been Ford ever since. I would probaly stick with the 351 strocker I have and follow Laurie and force some extra down its throat. Taking 440's to 600+ instantly.

All I do then is hang on as it would be a wild ride in a cobra.

Cost all for about $9,500 - $10,000

The balance I would put into my super fund.

Cheers

Bernie

[750hp]

Hey Bernie - if you want $12,000 in your super fund by this time next year, you'd better put $15,000 in it now..... You've gotta love how these fund managers can lose their client's money, but still charge the exorbitant annual management fees....
A tunnel rammed 28A. Very nice!!!

[BMK]

Its gone south


The 28A was for sale about four editions ago in the
'Just World Cars" magazine. A great mag and about a third of the price of that other Unique magazine.

I sold the car to a guy in Tasmania a lot of years back now!!

He must have had two

I also took his 1937 Ford convertable in the price.

That car is floating around the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

I sold it to a guy called Tank who was the glasser at Ken Brownlee's Deuce Customs.

Yeah, sure agree about the 'Super Funds'. However, I am in a Managed Fund and shares are about 60% of original value.

My broker tells me they will come back up. May need some Viagra though.

Have always wondered why the guy who invests your money to make you a profit is called a BROKER ??

Have just shut the shop and heading home. Will watch this page. Its developing into a real chat forum.

'El President' did say he wanted us to use this site didn't he.

Just who was it who told him about the site??

Must get in that little red hotrod and drive home. The guys who were at ..'Weekend at Bernie's...' will tell you about that little rocket

See you all

Bernie

[REPTYL]

I'll do more than just tell them about it Bernie

How about a photo.

[Rebel1]

Oi Jason, How many of the cobra owners went riding on that Playground on the right of the pic??.

That lil red jigger looks kewl.....who the hell parked it in a reserved spot?...preferential treatment heh?

You take care

[750hp]

The Red Rocket must have had some effect on your group. I see the light blue and the sliver Cobras both tried to mimic the M logo with their rollbars

Is it Deuce Customs that got the contract to build cobra bodies for Boyd Coddington?

[CobraDan]

750HP,
I don't know the price yet of Chevys latest crate engines but if you want 100 additional HP and can get a hold of Raceing Gas.

ZZ572/720R
…AND THE R STANDS FOR RACE

Engineered by GM Performance Parts and GM Racing exclusively for sportsman races, the new ZZ572/720R is built around an all-new Gen VI tall deck Bow Tie cylinder block. This all new race block is filled with a forged 4340 steel crank with 4.375 inch stroke, shot peened forged 4340 H- beam rods, and forged aluminum pistons with full floating wrist pins. Plasma moly piston rings are standard is the screened and louvered windage tray. GM’s first purpose built drag race engine filled with hard core race parts for hard core performance and long term durability.

The redesigned rectangular port aluminum cylinder heads result in a race gas only 12 to 1 compression ratio. A solid roller cam with 0.714 inch lift actuates the stainless steel valves. And, of course, hardened chromemoly retainers, roller rocker arms, and duel valve springs are used to complete the valve train.

A new Gm tall deck single plane intake manifold and 1095 CFM King Demon carburetor deliver enough air and fuel to make the 720 horsepower at 6250 RPM. Ignition is handled by a multiple spark discharge ignition. And an SFI approved torsional damper is installed at the factory. Out of the crate and into your racecar – it’s that simple.

Race gas fueled, high revving horsepower, all from GM, the ZZ572/720R is the engine that will get you down the track consistently, pass after pass, season after season.

Available in a short block, long block and deluxe engine configurations in 2003

Reptyl,
I like the picture of the McD's Cobra.
Dan

[750hp]

Dan, I bet Reher-Morrison, Sonny Leonard, Riolo Racing etc will feel the pinch if GM get into a price war with them.....

NOTHING beats the sound big cubes with big compression!!!!!

[BMK]

The liitle red rocket was a clean swap for the Cobra!!! Someone got away with a real bargain

Left the Victorian Cobra meeting in a cloud of smoke. Still having some trouble handling the power from the new Chev 502 in the back. Must learn to lean forward to keep the weight over the front wheels. Its hard to steer with the wheels off the ground.

A few surprised faces.

I worked at the shop in Thomastown for the last four days. Made good progress and was great to catch up with Terry who drove his Cobra over to catch up.

Will get some photos on soon. Slack keep forgetting the video. I remembered the fuel tank and the rest of the bits.

An ageing thing

The red rocket was parked in the Macca's car park and the Cobras parked around it - something about being seen parked next to a red rocket.

Thanks for the photo Jason. My cover is now blown no more lies about my red rocket.

Cheers

Bernie

[BMK]

The talk around here is yes Duece customs are building Cobra bodies.

Ken Brownlee has been building a number of quality roadsters and coupe bodies.

I have not checked this out. The last time I was there Whitey'
( chassis manufacturing) was next door and he was somehow involved - or his ex partner Dennis Nosworthy - with Boyd.

Dennis, the last time I spoke with Whitey, was working for Boyd or someone similiar over there.

Will follow this up.

Bernie