Comp, S/C, Street 427 BB Engines

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Do you keep a 55 gallon drum of race gas in your home garage?

My neighbor stores it for me at his warehouse, I just go down and fill a bunch of 5 gallon cans when I need gas.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Cobra #3170

My neighbor stores it for me at his warehouse, I just go down and fill a bunch of 5 gallon cans when I need gas.

That makes sense. (I knew Bill had to be wrong.)

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Do you keep a 55 gallon drum of race gas in your home garage?

My neighbor stores it for me at his warehouse, I just go down and fill a bunch of 5 gallon cans when I need gas. We typically use 10 gallons on an autox weekend but took 6 cans when we went to SCCA nationals and used most of it.
It used 1 gallon a lap at Sears Point when SAAC ran there a few years ago so it is kind of a gas hog and it is making more HP now.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Cobra #3170

My neighbor stores it for me at his warehouse, I just go down and fill a bunch of 5 gallon cans when I need gas. We typically use 10 gallons on an autox weekend but took 6 cans when we went to SCCA nationals and used most of it.
It used 1 gallon a lap at Sears Point when SAAC ran there a few years ago so it is kind of a gas hog and it is making more HP now.

I just had the vision of one of your pals looking a car over and then carelessly tossing their Lucky Strike over at that old empty drum barrel....

[jconley]

Thanks for the input everyone. That is a big help.

patrickt - Thanks for the awesome link. I have some reading to do!
Dimis and others -Yep. I'll seriously consider MR heads and intake.
66gtk - You're right. Why shouldn't 400 or so HP be enough for a car that weighs a little as a Cobra? I drive a 2007 BMW Z4M coupe with 330 HP, 3200 lbs weight, and is pretty quick. It won't smoke the tires, but it makes me smile through the twisties.

[Dimis]

If I was in your shoes and considering a combination to go autoX and street cruising then I'd probably consider this shopping list of parts: an Alu Pond (or BBM) block stroked 468cubes (4.125 stroke), with a BT MR dual quad intake and some matching heads either Pond, BBM, or Survival.

I'd then take them to Brent (or Barry) and ask them to kit together the lightest valve train, crank, piston and rod combo, and to cam the thing accordingly to achieve the fastest reving (NOT highest reving) motor with a smooth and linear power-band.

This would be my approach. I however am no expert!

PS: this wouldn't be the cheapest way... but as the old adage goes: FAST, RELIABLE, CHEAP - pick any 2

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by jconley

I drive a 2007 BMW Z4M coupe with 330 HP, 3200 lbs weight, and is pretty quick. It won't smoke the tires, but it makes me smile through the twisties.

Excellent J, If that Z4 puts a smile on your face then a well set up Cobra is going to make you positively giddy!

[DanEC]

As much as I admire my dual quads if you plan to use the car for autocross you may want to think about going with a nice center pivot float Holley or Quickfuel single 4bbl instead. I think the 4160/1850 series of side pivot float carbs are not known to hold up too well in competition autocross and gymkanna type events due to floats hanging in hard corners and running out of fuel.

I believe I have heard that more than once. In any event it wouldn't hurt to ask some of the track guys about this.

[Cobra #3170]

Originally Posted by DanEC

As much as I admire my dual quads if you plan to use the car for autocross you may want to think about going with a nice center pivot float Holley or Quickfuel single 4bbl instead. I think the 4160/1850 series of side pivot float carbs are not known to hold up too well in competition autocross and gymkanna type events due to floats hanging in hard corners and running out of fuel.

I believe I have heard that more than once. In any event it wouldn't hurt to ask some of the track guys about this.

I would use Holley Self learning EFI with 4-barrel style throttle body, carbs are always trouble under high G loading plus the car will run much cleaner and start better too.

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by DanEC

As much as I admire my dual quads if you plan to use the car for autocross you may want to think about going with a nice center pivot float Holley or Quickfuel single 4bbl instead. I think the 4160/1850 series of side pivot float carbs are not known to hold up too well in competition autocross and gymkanna type events due to floats hanging in hard corners and running out of fuel.

Yup. They're no good on a track and a definite no-go on a small autocross course. On the straights though, they take it down better than Linda Lovelace.

[jconley]

Originally Posted by DanEC

As much as I admire my dual quads if you plan to use the car for autocross you may want to think about going with a nice center pivot float Holley or Quickfuel single 4bbl instead. I think the 4160/1850 series of side pivot float carbs are not known to hold up too well in competition autocross and gymkanna type events due to floats hanging in hard corners and running out of fuel.

I believe I have heard that more than once. In any event it wouldn't hurt to ask some of the track guys about this.

Thanks for the comment Dan. I'll keep that in mind.