How much HP is ENOUGH?

[bmcmillan]

One thing to remember: most throttle pedals are infinitely variable from zero to full throttle. Once I realized this, I came to the conclusion that no amount of horsepower is too much.

With the right compression ratio, cam duration, and carburetion, 600 streetable HP is achievable. Once you get the correct cam timing/overlap/lobe centers (vacuum), you can get this beast to a gentlemanly idle.

Look up some of the guys with high hp Genesis/Keith Craft motors - they'll prove my point. JW and RB have dyno sheets showing 675+. They were detuned from 700+ to make them grocery getters.

Some of these FE boys really have it together. All old-school thinking went out the window when Genesis, Shelby, and Pond came on the scene.

Don't be afraid. If you don't want more now, you'll want more later.

Step it up.

Brian

[TMK 2002]

Hahaha, classic!

Here is anew question - how many MPG do you get thats l/100km for the few that have not been around since the dinosaur age

[302cobra]

In a small lightweight car such as the Cobra you don't need loads of power, even with a nicely tuned small block, you can still get a decent amount of power. Thats why I fitted a 302 into my Cobra, (yes the engine is now in the car) It'll still develop some ponies, but won't do a backflip, because it has so much grunt. I've read about guys, with superchargers, NOS, even engines from Aussie V8 Supercars, and they have from 700 to 750hp, and sit there smoking the tires in top gear. I am being realistic here, because, I have read a lot of the posts which basically say, "too much is never enough".

Lets face it, most people are using there Cobras for street use, and a bit of fun on weekends, and possibly a few tests on the strip to see what it can do. And the people who do race their Cobras are looking for something reliable, but not nessecarily something with a zillion hp.

My Cobra may only develop 300-350hp, but its probably a lot more user friendly than other Cobras I know of, with 460 Big Blocks, and even a 427 Windsor. And thats exactly what I was after when I decided to purchase a Cobra, a user friendly, fun vehicle, which I could build in my spare time/on weekends.

[Excaliber]

667 horse actually, documented. On the tear down seeing the way it was built I had no reason to doubt it. Gessford did a "paper work" analysis based on the original engine specs and concluded it was possible.

I could have run in the 10's with that motor, no doubt in my mind. When I ran 11.90 it wasn't anywhere near it's full portential, nor was I. Pump gas and retarded timing for one thing. Sticking valves in the valve guides for another (discovered on tear down). Over 2 second 60 ft time, I was HARDLY looking for a "hole shot". 121 mph trap speed was impressive!

Same thing with the 11.99 I ran with the new motor, not at all "dialed in", pump gas and STILL over 2 second 60 ft time. Just "cruising", and yet making some impressive numbers!

3:31 rear gear, close ratio top loader with a HIGH 1 st gear. I shift into 2nd at 65 mph! Hardly a "drag race" setup. Even with that gearing traction is still a MAJOR problem, and if you "nail" 2nd you better be pointed straight ahead or you WILL risk a spin out!

[Blair]

Sounds like I need 667 HORSES! To be honest 1 horsepower is better then what I've got at the moment. Dam it, a Datsun 120Y is faster then me at the moment.

Blair

[Excaliber]

To make BIG horse power your going to need BIG compression. I had 12.5 to 1 and got 6 mpg with the old roller solid cam, wouldn't idle below 1200 rpm. NOT fun on the street.

[TMK 2002]

Originally posted by 302cobra


In a small lightweight car such as the Cobra you don't need loads of power, even with a nicely tuned small block, you can still get a decent amount of power. Thats why I fitted a 302 into my Cobra, (yes the engine is now in the car) It'll still develop some ponies, but won't do a backflip, because it has so much grunt. I've read about guys, with superchargers, NOS, even engines from Aussie V8 Supercars, and they have from 700 to 750hp, and sit there smoking the tires in top gear. I am being realistic here, because, I have read a lot of the posts which basically say, "too much is never enough".

Lets face it, most people are using there Cobras for street use, and a bit of fun on weekends, and possibly a few tests on the strip to see what it can do. And the people who do race their Cobras are looking for something reliable, but not nessecarily something with a zillion hp.

My Cobra may only develop 300-350hp, but its probably a lot more user friendly than other Cobras I know of, with 460 Big Blocks, and even a 427 Windsor. And thats exactly what I was after when I decided to purchase a Cobra, a user friendly, fun vehicle, which I could build in my spare time/on weekends.

Are you my dad?

[TampaFla]

The answer was on "Greatest Cars" Tuesday night. Cobra's won the "most notorious" with legends concerning it's light weight and 260 Ford engines. Most memorable were the two guys who hit a wall at 120mph while leaving 300 yards (??) of skid marks. Too much horsepower is simply the amount it takes to remove your wheels from steerable contact with the earth.

[David Hodgson]

Hey come on Todd, thats probably the first sensible thing 302cobra has said.

[jdog]

Originally posted by Jim Barnett


(still, a 600HP MONSTER would be nice to have IF I owned stock in the tire company that manufactured my tires)

Check my photo gallery to see a shinny new (66' seasoned block)
600hp Monster 427fe side oiler!

Enough? Maybe!
Time will tell.

I've already confirmed that a 200hp NOS kit would not be too much for this engine to take.
800hp! WOW!
More tires please!

jdog

[Anthony]

Originally posted by JustOne


You will never, never run mid 10s on street tires. 125-130 sure, but if you run 11s with this MPH you will run 10s on slicks.

I've seen people run 10's on street tires, with cobra's.

There is a guy on this forum with a Superformance Keith Craft stroked FE, I think about 510 ci that if I remember correctly ran a low 10 sec 1/4.