bowite cobra

koadog · #1 (**permalink**) 12-29-2001, 01:05 PM

just starting reseacrh into the market to see who makes a kit readliy adaptable to bbc drivetrain. so far i've found shell valley, midstates and everett-morrison. any feedback on the subject would be appreciated. thx

koadog · #2 (**permalink**) 12-29-2001, 10:54 PM

ok, so I cant type!

xlr8or · #3 (**permalink**) 01-10-2002, 12:07 PM

I believe StreetBeasts makes accomodations for a BBC.

wicked fast · #4 (**permalink**) 01-10-2002, 12:48 PM

Check out the NEW photo gallery to the left under my info.
Might give you an idea of what lies under the skin.

Bowtie · #5 (**permalink**) 06-25-2002, 06:21 PM

The kit I bought is from Classic Motorsports in Fargo North Dakota...BBC fits like a dream with a cable clutch, Super T-10, and 9-inch from Mosier Engineering.

HPNUT · #6 (**permalink**) 09-04-2002, 06:57 PM

I have an older EM with an Alum head 454, Turbo 350 trans and 12 bolt 4.10 gears. It was originally built for this guys wife and she wanted an auto. I believe it was built in 83-84, when EM was just starting out.

Plenty of room, but right now it only has exhaust manifolds, but there is plenty of room for at least shorty headers.

HPNUT in Ohio

wyocobra · #7 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 04:20 PM

Brian Alexander and Steve Newmark at Lone Star Classics were the best of help to me. Their LS427 Competition model wraps itself around my 454/TH400 very well. Steve still does not believe me that I don't have a traction problem.. Mash it down, it just squats down and hooks up..Blastoff!!!. Lone Star's competition frame does come with the Ford motor mounts welded in place, but they just made a good bracket to weld my 2 1/2 inch square tube Chevy mounts onto. Very Simple adaptation. Headers were built by me with Lone Star supplying the engine flanges(bare) and a bare sidepipe flange. They supplied 8 pieces of exhaust pipe, prebent for their own Ford headers. All I had to do was puzzle and cut them to fit and weld them up. Motor mounts took me a sixpack to finish, headers a twelvepack. Rear tranny mount very easy-- just reverse the angle iron piece furnished by Lone Star with the web facing rear instead of forward, drill holes for isolator, and get a driveshaft built to fit. BBC's fit very well in Lone Stars!!!

leslie.files · #8 (**permalink**) 10-17-2003, 03:49 PM

wyocobra, did you have room for an HEI or did you have to go with a smaller distributor. I mocked my SBC in and tack welded mounts, tried to drop my HEI in and is extremely close to the firewall, 3/8 " away. How does the BBC fare?

Jack21 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-17-2003, 07:02 PM

Classic Motorsports is in Miami, FL and make Streetbeasts. Surprised you have a car to build instead of a file folder of backorder slips. Classic Roadsters was in Fargo ND until recently when it became Classic Roadsters II by Don Scott in MN.

Anyway, Cobras use a variety of unusual powerplants. DV uses a Dodge Viper V-10 engine (which is how he got his handle Double Venom, or DV), there's a guy terrorizing the streets with a Buick GN turbocharged V-6. Next, I suppose we'll see an 1,800 CI Allison V16 WWII aircraft engine powered Cobra, or jet funny car.

One opens the hood (Bonnet for you UK guys) on a Cobra and expects to find something that says Ford on it. If it doesn't, you have a lot of explaining to do. In some parts of this country (and even some parts of Australia), you can be tarred and feathered for having a Chevy engine in your Cobra. Even the Brits are more forgiving for putting a BMW engine in a Cobra.

How about a compromise? Use a Ford 460 stroker for 514 CI or thereabouts.

Or if you're bent on Chevy power, don't put it in a Cobra, put it in a Cheetah. Cheetah's were created to beat Cobras with Chevy power (because Corvette's couldn't), and I think Shell Valley makes them.

Be True to your School, Huah!

vettestr · #10 (**permalink**) 10-17-2003, 08:43 PM

take a look at my photo gallery. I build a Cobra inspired body kit to fit any 1968 through 1982 Corvette Chassis. I am running a 542 inch Gen 6 Dart motor and handles like a dream with IRS and 4 wheel disc brakes. The wheelbase 98" is longer and wider than the Shelby Cobra at 90". We have Ford motor mounts also. Have a new body design in the mold as we speak.

wyocobra · #11 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 08:07 AM

leslie.files
In answer to your HEI question: no I am not running it. Have near antique Mallory dual point marine distributor. Simple to work on and can still find parts for centrifugal advance and totally watertight. It is fairly low profile and have no clearance problems toward the firewall. The Lone Star body has fairly deep footboxes toward the front with moulded areas inboard for the headers of a ford engine. The area directly behind the intake manifold and rear mount distributor is fairly set back. (4-6 inches from the distributor) The only trouble I really had was trying to get my headers from the rear cylinders foreward to clear the inside of the footboxes. Sort of built my own blockhuggers. I'll try to email you a few of my build pictures within the next couple of weeks to help give you some ideas.

CobraDan · #12 (**permalink**) 10-19-2003, 08:30 AM

Everett Morrison hasn't been up and running for over a year and I beleave are not coming back. Hunter Cobras of Florida builds Cobras that will hold BBC engines and also put a Viper V10 in one of his Cobras.

Dan

leslie.files · #13 (**permalink**) 10-20-2003, 01:54 PM

wyocobra, I am taking my Mallory dual point and having a Pertronix unit installed in it. I also slid my engine forward an inch and 1/2, now I can make headers and pipes to fit. There is also another Cobra here in Lovell. It has a supercharged 302 in it and may hit the street in the spring. If you find some photo's I would appreciate the help! Thanks..

vettestr · #14 (**permalink**) 10-20-2003, 03:49 PM

I have found coating unit with thermal paste is a must on bottom side where it mounts to point plate. Makes a world of difference and cheap if I am blowin smoke so please coat base. You can get small tube at say Radio Shack for 4 bucks and last you years in home shop.