Engine Confusion

[Gav]

I suppose every Shelby Cobra reference book is wrong then?
An Austin Healey with a chev is not a bad idea either.

[Excaliber]

Shelby himself has stated his original idea was to use an Old's engine. When he went to GM he was 'following the money', he needed more than an engine, he needed a great of deal financial support. It was no different with Ford, just following the money. His timing was superb, Ford had just released it's new light weight V8, a 221 cube that would grow into the 302 we know today. But it could have been a Dodge enigne as far as that goes, he needed both the money and the motor!

There are many examples of an Austin Healey 3000 with a Chevy small block. There are several in Hawaii! They all have one thing in common, their a 'straight line' car, they simply don't handle very well. The AC suspension is far superior in that regard, though it to is 'antiquated' it is still head and shoulders above the Austin. I happen to own an Austin Healey 3000, have for years, I know it's limitations.

To suggest that a Chevy engine is OK in a replica Cobra because Shelby once considered the idea is a pretty lame argument. Shelby's vision could have been any number of combinations. Aston Martin with an Offenhauser? Healy with a Hemi? MG with a Caddillac? Masserati with an Olds? But in fact, it was an AC with a Ford. History has spoken!

283 GM, 575 pounds. 289 Ford, 440 pounds. Approximate numbers.

[sambo]

Excalibur, down here we don't have many "legal" engine choices and the GM offering is more compact and a lot lighter than Ford's alternative. Not dissimilar to Shelby's original reason for going with the Ford engine.

[Excaliber]

I totally understand your delimna, which is shared with your European neighbors, no fault running a Toyota, Chevy or whatever you gotta do to get-r-done!

...just don't gimme that "Well Shelby woulda, coulda, shoulda", line, I aint buying it. Besides, you guys are admired in the USA for doing your own thing and doing it in an interesting fashion. Keep up the good work.

[NASSTY]

Originally Posted by Philm

I have a rule that always seams to work, The more you pull it apart the more it costs you to put back together.

Nassty, you will be surprised how quick you get used to the power, when I first drove my car I said, yep this is the car that will kill me. It wasn't long before you are flat to the boards down the straight tapping the dash saying come on hurry up.

500hp... at the wheels just enough

Phil

I like that rule Phil, I opened mine up after I bought it. It too cost me more to put it back together again

I've read about n/a 347's making over 700 horses, but it's not too hard to get 500 horses. 500 at the rear is even better!

Us Ford boys don't need to go around building Death Stars

Cheers
Al