KC Pond 482-580hp. Does that sound right?

[diegokid]

I finally decided to go with the FE for my build. Motor is beeing built now at SA, we wanted reliability and driveability. My wife was sure to voice the point she didn't want it to sound like a school bus,"I have a great wife." The motor is supposed to be around 450/480. In all honesty can anyone say this is slow or not enough?

Who is getting 35 MPG out of an FE and how?

[blykins]

What do you consider slow?

[68gt500]

Originally Posted by diegokid

...
Who is getting 35 MPG out of an FE and how?

30+ mpg? -No I don´t think it can be done.

I have put a lot of effort into reducing my Shelbys fuel consumption and I am up to 16 mpg - pretty decent considering the weight, the speed we can drive at and the Webers...

Thas is at a normal Autobahn cruise of about 85 mpg.

Its no problem to put it into single digit mpg mode - and a lot more fun.

[bret a ewing]

I'm glad Keith does what he does.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Keithc8

Now that I think of it that has to be why we work 12 hours a day. My wife has a saying and she reminds me of it regularly. You have to be careful about what you wish for, you just might get it. If I can just make it for another ten years I might be able to slow down. Oh I forgot I have three kids to put through college. Well I guess that screws up that plan, make it 20 more years. Thanks, Keith

Keith,

A lot of us are in the same situation me included.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by diegokid

Who is getting 35 MPG out of an FE and how?

One of the CC members, Al Pace, joked about that since he was Only putting out 530 HP on a 482 from KC. The only way an FE can make 35mpg is downwind in a hurricane with the engine turned off.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by diegokid

The motor is supposed to be around 450/480. In all honesty can anyone say this is slow or not enough?

If that's dynoed with mufflers and accessories attached, then that's pretty close to my FE. On the street, I can't really hit WOT safely. If you're not careful, you can break the rear wheels loose very easily. You can scare yourself very, very easily. BTW, if you scare yourself while driving, you will absolutely terrify your passenger. The first time I took my older brother (Porsche 911 owner and aficionado) for a ride in my Cobra I did just that and the look on his face was easily worth the price of the ERA itself. First time in my life I can remember him absolutely speechless -- and I will remember that look on his face 'til the day I die.

[Rosco]

Originally Posted by Barry_R

I've only seen really high RPM out of hydraulic rollers in cars that were required to run them by the class rules. They "cheat" them into acting solid by nearly bottoming out the innards with the adjusters. They always seem to poop out on me around 6200 when run normally. But thats where they belong anyhow...

That dyno sheet looks like it had a safe and honest pull on it. I am pretty confident that you could wring more bragging numbers out of it with a leaner mixture - 12.0 coupled with BSFC around .5 shows it pretty safely rich. A bigger carb would also help with the glory part of the pull. I recently tried a 445 incher that made 455 on a 750 and 485 with an 850 - no other changes. Now - put that big carb and lean mixture on your motor and you'll have higher peaks but weaker throttle response, and a higher risk as far as fuel toreance.

Sounds like a nice engine to me....

Can you explain the A/F Ratio and what is optimal in a dyno "pull". I've seen several dyno sheets with different A/F Ratios and am confused...

Does an A/F Ratio of >13 or 14 mean to lean and not a realistic ratio or conversely, <10 A/F mean too rich and perhaps leaving power on the table?

Thanks to all,

R

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Keith;

If you would quit running around Arkansas and Louisiana with that dirt modified and stay home more, you'd have more time to work in the shop on weekends and build an Engine Masters engine!!!!!
BTW: when ya heading back to Thunder Valley?????

Besides being a "pretty good" engine builder,Keith is a racer, was probably a racer first, engine builder second.....is/has raced in some of the top dirt series/cars around these parts..........

BTW 2: I could use an engine sponsor for my road racer, about 550 hp/tq should do in a 331/347.......

I don't think I would ever go into the engine building business, no matter what someone paid me.....

seems you just can't build enough of those 700+hp/tq, 8,000 rpm,pump gas,idle @ 800 rpms,city driving motors that will last for 100,000 miles and run in the mid 9's on the quarter mile strip, for a measely few thousand dollars and warranty them for 5 years anymore!!!!!!!!!!!! seems that's what everyone wants now-a-days............

David

[RICK LAKE]

Diegokid If your run FI and lean the crap out of it. This will get you into the 20's. Remove the windshield and go with a helmet should be go for another 4-5 mpg. Coast down alot of hills for the differents. Get out and push up hill. Put the smallest cam you can find in your motor, lower the compression. That's about it. GOOD LUCK. Rick L.

[hi-tech cobra]

My initial question, "Does that sound right?" sounds like I'm not happy with the dyno numbers.

I am very happy it 'only' has 580hp. I just wanted to know what others have experienced with this setup to see if I was in the ballpark.

BTW, the dyno sheet is in my pic gallery.

[Excaliber]

Yeah I hear that, 'only' 580 horse, far less than 600, uh, right...

[diegokid]

Someone in this thread had mentioned the high MPGs, I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it. I'm not too concerned about it really. We are building this to drive and enjoy.
As far as camming it down my wife was guite direct in the point that she doesn't want it to sound like a bus engine. She was also the one who suggested I build a new shop just to build the Cobra in, even bought a mini fridge for the Beer.

[hi-tech cobra]

diegokid,
"She was also the one who suggested I build a new shop just to build the Cobra in, even bought a mini fridge for the Beer."

She got a sister?

[hi-tech cobra]

What do you guys think of the dyno sheet (in my gallery)?
Is the a/f mix rich?

[nmayes]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

My initial question, "Does that sound right?" sounds like I'm not happy with the dyno numbers.

I am very happy it 'only' has 580hp. I just wanted to know what others have experienced with this setup to see if I was in the ballpark.

BTW, the dyno sheet is in my pic gallery.

hi-tech

It looks like your motor is close to what we had built. I had Keith build a 482 Pond Aluminum engine with Dual Carbs. It dynoed out at 606hp at or close to 6000rpm, with 589ft-tq at 4300rpm. More engine than I am experienced to run. I think I would have been happy with less. I told them what I wanted, and they went over and beyond what I asked. I will definitely have KC build my next engine, as I am sure you will too!

Neil

[diegokid]

She has several, all taken, yes they are little gems also.

[hi-tech cobra]

Originally Posted by diegokid

She has several, all taken, yes they are little gems also.

Darn

[vector1]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

What do you guys think of the dyno sheet (in my gallery)?
Is the a/f mix rich?

doesn't show what is below 4400 but 11.8 could be little rich. idle at 13.5 with richer to mbt at 12.5 usually 5000 to 5500 then slight lean out again maybe.

should be someone with a lot more experience chime in.

[undy]

Originally Posted by hi-tech cobra

What do you guys think of the dyno sheet (in my gallery)?
Is the a/f mix rich?

If you brought the A/F to 13.1, assuming the A/F probe's in the tailpipe, you could probably bump the 580 to around 600, maybe. 13.1 at the pipe is usually around 12.8 at the motor/installed bung (not too sure if this'll apply to the Cobra' exhaust though??). Well ... anyway, that would give you a little more "bragging rights", which I sense you would like a little more of. Your A/F is not rich, just a good safe A/F that sacrifices a minute, undetectable amount of horse power in favor of building you an engine that will "safely" (at least A/F wise ) obliterate the tires at will.

Dave