small block for FIA

[Ted G]

Hello all, I need some advice for some streetable power for an FIA. I have been looking through these threads and there's alot of good info but im kinda of a newb at this and have some questions.

351w stroked to 408 - 460 hp from Southern Automotive for an FIA: Too much low end torque to make the car streetable? Will an aluminum flywheel help the motor spin up faster for more usable HP on the street?
I am concerned the motor may have too much HP for this car, is this possible? Will this much HP consistantly break the tires free "by accident' or will I get used to it.
Would this motor be better suited to a 427 car because of more car weight and wider tires?
I wanna haul A$$ but not to the point that it could get away from me easily.

Suggestions for a motor? not concerned about "correctness"
I'm going to put $$ down on a Unique kit SOON and need to make some dicisions about an engine. Going with a TKO 600 Trans.

Sorry for the ramble, but, I know this forum is the standard for everything Cobra and I'll eagerly wait for some replies.
Regards. Ted G.

[Manowar]

Ted,
Might I suggest our World products Man O'War "Cruiser Power" 427 Windsor, #102030.
It features a hydraulic cam, forged internals, dual plane intake and 870 Hardcore carb. A customer recently bought one for his Superformance Cobra and is very happy. Unfortunatley, it made 476 HP on the dyno, 26 above it's rating. These have a broad and flat torque band and are not highly stressed, excellent for crursing. Dyno tested and warrantied. We also make Man O'War engines to 625 HP and 460 cubic inches.
See our two sites for details.

[Dan Stryffeler]

It's not the HP/Torque that causes these cars to break loose and bite you - it comes down to how heavy your right foot is

Like anything else, it kinda comes down to how/where you are going to be driving the car. The most fun I have is getting out in the more rural areas and run it through the hills, dips and turns on the country roads, but I don't need 500hp to do this, (or arguably even 300hp). If I was drag racing, autocrossing or road racing I might need more..

Another way to look at it is how much do you need as opposed to how much do you want?

My buddy has a Unique FIA with a 351 and it is very streetable, (not sure if it is stroked or not), great car.

- Dan

[wtm442]

I wanna haul A$$ but not to the point that it could get away from me easily.

Hahahaha

You can do that in any Cobra with any motor. Just step on the loud pedal in first gear. Of course, with high HP motors, that includes second gear.

[Ted G]

Thanks, I think I got my answer, More torque, more HP = more Fun!

[turnpike boy]

Ted, I also have a Unique, but bought the 427 model. There truly isn't any substantive difference - other than cosmetic - between the models, FIA or 427.

I started out with a Ford crate 302/345hp which was great, but left me looking for a little more power after a couple years. Mind you, it wasn't short on steam, but I wanted more hi gear power than it had available. I bought a 331 stroker shortblock this past winter, AFR 185 heads, and the Ford Z303 cam. I figured I would try this combo first and - if more was wanted - then a cam swap would give me an easy way to crank more in.

It's worked. Hi gear power is now there in spades. First gear is now useless at more than about 1/3 throttle (just wheelspin), second gear has to be approached with some caution, and 3rd, 4th, and 5th. are stunning. The best comparison I have is that the car became a lot like a big bore Japanese bike; power anywhere you choose, and will put you into velocities way beyond what you expected in no time at all. I'm finding that a light right foot is now a requirement rather than a burden.

Buy a little more than you think you want - better to have it and not want it, than to want it but not have it.

[pmfranke]

You do get use to what ever hp it is that you have. It's just the first time thats hard to handle.400hp is a good number to shoot for. Happy thanksgiv'n

[jarendall]

I can hit 130MPH in third gear and burn the tires off in first gear, what more could you want, running a 350HP 302 HO, I get around 18mpg on pump fuel, beware of all the pluses and minuses of a high hp engine vs a mid hp engine

[Dwight]

jarendall, what is your rear gear ratio and what trannie do you have? I have a TKO 600 and 3:55 rear end with 25 1/4" tires. 3 rd tops out at 103 & 4th about 132 mph.



Ted G, If this is your first hi-performance raw in your face car, start with 300 -350 flywheel HP and after a year or so go for more. A mild 351w will give you 300 + and you can stroke it to 408 later ( about 430 rwhp ). If you plan your car with the right trannie, tires and rear end gear ratio you can do with a lot less HP.

Dwight

[Ted G]

Thanks guys, some good info and advice here. My adrenline machines have always been 1000cc sport bikes but want to switch to four wheels for safetys sake. I live in Phoenix and alot has changed in the last 20 yrs. People seem to drive like ther posessed or on cell phones. Ther're just not looking out for the bikes. Plus, I'm gonna be a gramps in Feb. A boy. .
Sounds like the 410hp 351w from SA should give me the ground rush Im looking for for now and when the time comes, maybe stroke it to 408. Not looking to race and win, just a mad streeter!
Regards to all, Ted G

[jarendall]

I am running a T5 worldclass and a 3.27 rear at about 6500rpm in third gear the speedo is showing 130mph (was in the process of out running a Harley) I let off and shifted into fourth, don't know what it will top off at, in fifth gear the rpm drops to about half, I still think it has more than 350HP, I am going to get it dynoed and then I should know, I ran it again today and hit 100mph in third gear at 5800 rpm, the thing starts floating when you get up over 120mph

[lovehamr]

"I am concerned the motor may have too much HP for this car, is this possible?"

No!

LOL, Steve

[dlampe]

Ted, I also have an FIA "289" car. Check out my gallery. I would be happy to discuss some of the pro's and con's of the small blocks for the FIA. If I can help just give me a call. 618 322 6046. I will be around all weekend. I have had 2 427 cars before this and I will never go back! I love the FIA look.

Good choice!

[Dwight]

jarendall
What size tires do you have? When we check ours buddies speedo with a GPS we found they were off by 12 to 19 mph. Most guys change the rear gears but not the speedo gear or they install the wrong one. Our Cobras are set up about the same and I sure I have smaller tires, 25 1/4". My speedometer is off by 1 mile per hour at 70 mph. I have to be close because I drive 7 or 8 over the speed limit and do not want to donate some of my car part money to the "officers". But I have been stopped 5 times, but no tickets yet. I've got this thing about spinning tires.

Dwight

I guessed at your tire size 295/50-15

Second Strike Gearing Calculator



Speed (MPH) in Gears at RPM



Trans Ratio 3.27 1.98 1.34 1.00 0.68

Overall Ratio 10.69 6.47 4.38 3.27 2.22

Split 1.65 1.48 1.34 1.47


Gear 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
1500 11 18 26 35 52
2000 14 24 35 47 69
2500 18 30 44 58 86
3000 21 35 52 70 103
3500 25 41 61 82 120
4000 29 47 70 93 137
4500 32 53 78 105 155
5000 36 59 87 117 172
5500 39 65 96 129 189
6000 43 71 105 140 206
6500 46 77 113 152 223
7000 50 83 122 164 241

http://www.secondstrike.com/Technical/GearCalc.asp

[turnpike boy]

Dwight, his speedo is probably off some; seems most are.

Anyway, look at it this way - a 295/50x15 tire is 26.62" in diameter (www.rogerkrausracing.com/tiredem.html), which works out thus: 26.62" x 3.14 divided by 12"/ft = 6.96'/revolution

Now....1.34 (3rd.gear) x 3.27 rear = 4.38 drive ratio in 3rd. gear; 6500 rpm divided by 4.38 = 1484 revs/minute, divided by 60 seconds = 24.73 revs/second.

So. 24.73 x 6.96' = 172.1'/sec, x 0.6818 = 117.3 mph, not too far off that SecondStrike calculator.

But - go to a 275/60x15 tire, which is 28" in dia (actually, 27.9" - I cheated and rounded up), and 7.32'/revolution, and your final calculation here winds up being 123 mph - which is admittedly a ways from 130 mph, but who's looking at that speed anyway?

Hey, Jarendall, when you find a decent stretch of road....................ah, never mind.

[Excaliber]

Heres a 'rule of thumb' I been working on:

"The more horse power you have the more you need two things."
1. Sticky tires.
2. Taller gears.

A STOCK 302 with low gearing and nothing special tires will lead to fish tailing and spinouts. Wanna 'smoke 'em'? No problem, match a T5 ultra low 1st gear trans with a 3.5 or lower rear gear and nominal tires. Now that can be fun at times, but not when it happens unexpectedly in the middle of a curving freeway on ramp!

You need to CONTROL the power, sticky tires and tall gears are a MUST HAVE for big horse power\torque light wieght car setup (like a Cobra). Get the gears low enough and you will need 'slicks' to control the power!

[turnpike boy]

................or a lighter / quicker right foot..............

[Excaliber]

Well theres the problem, my right foot is quick, very quick and heavy too.

[turnpike boy]

We gonna have to call you "Quick" instead of "Slick" now!

[jarendall]

I am running p275/60 15 I have changed the speedo gear three times, the one in now reads real close to the mile markers on the interstate, I also changed the gears in the T5, had a 330 ft lb kit installed, stainless steel gears and bronze spacers, I don't know if the new gears are the same as stock gears, the input shaft has also been changed