Transmission options

[thardin]

Hello,

I am fairly new to this board, and have just become "serious" about the purchase of a cobra kit. I am looking at the FFR kit. I know a ton of you will think I'm nuts, but I plan to put in a pontiac 455. I had this motor built for a different project, but no longer have the vehicle and am sitting on the motor. It was built to the exact specifications of a project motor in HotRod magazine, so I am predicting 500 HP @ 5.200 rpm and 580 lb-ft at 3,000 rpm. IF I can fit this motor into the car, I am looking for a 5 or 6 speed tranny that can handle this power. I am not looking to drag race, just a fun car to drive and play around in an occasional autocross. Any suggestions on something that will bolt up to my bellhousing? Looking into a scattershield that will accept modern transmissions as well.

Thanks,
Tom

[Jack21]

Probably not the answer you wanted however...

Being an old Pontiac guy myself, I'd drop the 455 Poncho into a vintage GTO, '79 - earlier Trans Am or sleeper '70's vintage LeMans or Oldsmobile Cutlass size station wagon.. Too big, too hot, too heavy, and all the torque on the wrong end of the curve for a Cobra; not to mention all the engineering and custom parts to get all to fit. Although trans wise, the Richmond 4, 5, and 6 speeds would bolt right up.

That being said, a 455 Buick would make an interesting Cobra powerplant. Big bore, short stroke, high revving, and lightweight compact block...in anything but an FFR.

Although I've got a CR, half the guys in our club own FFR's, and shoehorning anything bigger than a 302 into them gets tricky. Stroker 302's and blowers seem to be the way to make FFR's go fast (very fast).

The T5Z makes a nice choice for small block power, and the G-Force gearset swap would be my choice for anything over 400 HP.

Lastly, anything but Ford power in a Cobra kills your resale value.

[thardin]

Jack,

Thanks for the response. I was not suprized to see your response. I am aware of the resale value issue. I do not sell things. I build them and keep them...my wife does not like this peculiar trait of mine! If I was to sell it, I could easily just drop a 302 with transmission and driveshaft in to get rid of it.

I have seen many 427 / 460 FFR's, so I have a hard time believing a 455 will be a problem. I have researched the motor width, length, heigth, and weight. It is no bigger than a 427 or 460, and the motor weighs less with the aluminum heads. The issue I see is the exhaust headers. This could be tricky.

I am still open to other manufacturers and motor combinations. I have been to ERA and FFR locations and gotten tours. I was impressed with the FFR product and price (I was also impressed with ERA's product, they are true craftsmen). Do you have any suggestions for a better chassis for a large motor and a large human? I am at least 6 months away from purchase and could check out other mfr's.

My second choice in motors would be a coastal high performance 427 (punched out 351). I figured I would set the pontiac in place to check required modifications, then make my decision about using the motor or not.

[James Neal]

The money you might be trying to save on installing the poncho in a cobra, is nothing compared to how much you will spend trying to put this combo together, sell the poncho motor buy a ford crate motor and put a little blower on it. tons a ponys for FFR and fun to drive, less headaches. Plus heaven forbid if you ever had to sell it ,you could. Are you going to Jig up the poncho motor for Motor mount locates and tranny support, oil pan for low ground clearance on cobra. Are you going to move motor a little higher up for pan clearance and upset handling?Custom oil pan and pump, custom made headers Trans adapter or automatic. These Items alone are extremely costly, but excitement and challenge is what we live for. Good luck
Jim

[thardin]

Thanks for the reply.

I am a pretty big fan of Poncho Power, which is why I have this beast of a motor in my garage in the first place. I was hoping to be able to bolt up a transmission that I would use behind a Ford or the Pontiac. If I can find a bellhousing that will work, I can purchase the transmission without the fear of having a worthless transmission if the Pontiac idea fails. That is really why I am posting in Transmission talk.

The other items you have mentioned, I think I am OK on.

Resale - Don't care. Could always pull the motor and throw in a Ford 302 if it really came down to it. Call me stupid...whatever.

Fabrication - I have a dummy block & heads. I plan to purchase the kit without motor or transmission mounts installed so I can locate drivetrain myself. Might even use motor plates. My friend did the same to mount his LS1 and his is moving along fine. I used to work on a team building Winston Cup Modifieds, so the fabrication issues are not a problem.

I have done some research, and I am pretty sure the Pontiac is a good fit when compared to big-block fords. Not sure if it was 427 or 428 block I was comparing to, but it was 25# heavier (negated by the Edelbrock Aluminum Heads), it was 3/4" shorter in length, same width, and about 1.5" shorter in height. I think the low profile Milodon oil pan I have on will allow it to sit just as low or lower than any Big Block ford set-up.

The biggest concern I have is the exhaust headers. The pontiac exhaust ports are actually angled down (pontiacs cylinders are on a wider degree from centerline) which might actually help me out. I have built some custom headers from mandrel bent tubing in the past, so as long as there appears to be room, this should not be a problem.

Anyway, once I get comfortable with my transmission options, I will make the purchase without mounts welded in and make my decision about whether or not to use the Poncho motor or not. If I don't use it, maybe I will use it in something else some day!

Tom

[Jack21]

If a Cobra, look at West Coast or Classic Roadsters. More big block, and big guy friendly.

My dream car with that Poncho mill would be a '71 or '72 Trans Am with all the suspension and brake goodies, and Recaro seats.

If you go the 351W route to a 427, take a long look at SVO or Dart 4 bolt block. You can go with larger bore and shorter stroke to get there. Over on the Pantera forum, they are selling Australain made aluminum Cleveland heads that would wake up a 427 Cleveland. Of course, if you staart with an aftermarket block in a 9.2" deck height, and your OEM and aftermarket Cleveland parts bolt right on.

Think a 427 Cleveland would be the way to go in a Cobra, yet keep it "Ford" powered.