automatic performance

[SnowVmax4]

This might be an oxymoronic post but is there an option for a performance automatic in these cars? I'm tired of shifting gears, but still want to keep some performance. I don't have a Cobra yet, but I am contemplating a big block car.

[Hotfingrs]

Mine with an auto tranny does alright....

[elgecko]

Hey
Sounds like a reasonable request. I am building a Cobra with 390FE+.040. A high performance C4 will be used with adapter. This one will handle 700 horses.
Hummmmm C4 or C6 ??????
Advantages over a C6 auto - light weight, requires less horsepower to run (more HP to rear). Weighs much less than a C6.
You will be able to wear big shoes with auto. (no clutch pedal).
Mine will be manual shift automatic. Shift it when you want to.

Disadvantages - The wife will be able to drive this one !!!

Dave
elgecko

[Hotfingrs]

Dave, Auto tranny's generally weigh more than standard, and the horsepower loss through the driveline is more, so you'll have less to the rear wheels. There is more rotating mass in an auto than in a standard. I use a TH350 and there is 40lbs less rotating mass than in a TH400....The TH350 was built by Coan to handle 900 horse, which is pretty much the limit on that tranny.

[Tom Wells]

Yo SnowVmax4,

I use a C6 behind my 521. It works fine

My mantra is "if it matters what gear you're in, the engine's too small"

The current trans (#4, long stories) was built by Carl Rossler, Girard, OH and seems fine.

I use it on the sports car track as well as the street, so it gets quite a workout. Wouldn't swap it for a manual trans!

[elgecko]

Jack
Yeah,
I should reword that. I was comparing a C6 to a C4. If he was going automatic, those would be his two choices for Ford power. You're right, you can't beat a standard to get HP to the ground.
Dave

[Karl Bebout]

I'm very pleased with my Hughes TH 400 and 10" convertor. Liked the idea of less weight from the 350 but worried that my almost 600#s of torque would be tough on it. Makes for a nice reliable little grocery getter. The car is very streetable and gets fairly peppy when I tell it to.

[relaxinrob]

My dad's cobra has a 390 FE with a C6 and it will really run! I like to shift, but some of the fastest Cobras I have seen were automatics including Hotfingers at DVSF-IV. That car will really go! Nice car Jack!

[klayfish]

I prefer manuals myself, but there are lots of autos out there.

I see you're in Delaware. My friend/Cobra builder/Cobra mechanic has one with a 514 big block and auto trans. It's a really, really wild and fast car. I'd be happy to hook you up with him if you want.

Steve

[marcocsx3121]

Automatics in performance cars come into their own when you approach very high HP to weight ratios. For straight line acceleration, they are easier to launch consistently and easier on the rest of the drivetrain. Road courses are another matter, unless the automatic would permit you to predictably choose each gear. Purists (myself included) would never have one in a Cobra, or any other sports car.

A number of original Cobras were converted to automatics for drag racing, including at least one 427 SC that belonged to a friend in the 70s.

[relaxinrob]

Steve,
I'd like to meet him

Rob

[tonyvda]

I've got the best of both worlds, a five speed Tiptronic gearbox.

Leave it in drive and its silky smooth changing up and down at very low revs so that you waft along and dont even hear the underfloor exhaust. A true cruising vehicle. Want a bit of brisk acceleration put the throttle to the floor, kickdown is operated, appropriate lower gears selected and you're pushed to the back of the seat.

If I'm feeling a bit bored I can simply put the gearlever into sport mode and the box makes all the decisions but with spirited driving in mind. Change points are when you lift off the gas or hit the rev limiter. 4th is good for 140 mph...........I've never had the balls to max out in 5th.

You get engine braking, and when you lift off, the gearbox stays in the same gear until you push on the accelerator again. Great for pushing the car on the slide through corners. Leaving the gearbox to make its own decisions is the way to get maximum speed out of this engine and gearbox combination, as has been proven on the track by professional race drivers.


And then when you want to do a bit of stirring of the gearchange you can manually ( if you can call such little effort manual) change gear with just a tap on the gearstick, even at full bore acceleration. No need to lift off, keep your foot to the floor and just tap the gearlever forward a quarter of an inch and instantly youre in the next gear.

Going into a corner on the brakes, tap the gearlever back a couple of times, the gearbox senses the roadspeed, traction slip, braking effort and puts you in exactly the right gear to exit the corner as quickly as possible.

Who would want a manual after this?

Cheers,

Tony

[marcocsx3121]

Sounds terribly civilized and high tech, but I still want the tactile sensations associated with a clutch and shift lever that are part of the experience of driving a manual gearbox. Just call me an auto-luddite.

[Tom Wells]

auto-luddite

with a 'vette?

[marcocsx3121]

At least the 'Vette has a manual transmission.

[bill bradshaw]

I have a c-4 re -valved so you have to shift . with the gear vender overdrive , it becomes a 6 speed transmission. The overdrive can be automatic over or manualy shifted. This set up is working fine behind a 500 hp motor.

[Bill E]

We are working on a 4 speed auto box with the bump stick That will handle major hp . it is only 23 inches long and fits fords. If you wont moor info let me know. Bill E

[NASSTY]

G'day All,
I will use a ZF 6 speed auto as currently found in current model Jaguars, Aston Martins and BMW 5 series. Ford Australia will be releasing this tranny in their local luxury and sport models for the Falcon in October this year. The top sports model Falcon is a GT powered by a 5.4ltr quad cam V8 - a cross b/w the F series block of 5.4 ltrs with the Cobra R heads from the 4.6 Mustang with locally produced cam shafts, good for 290kw or almost 400hp stock. With the custom exhaust, cold air intake and tuning of the ECU, the engine will be good for about 450hp and still retain the factory smoothness and economy (if that's really inportant to you). In the Jaguar XKR with 400hp and almost 4400 pounds it will do a claimed 5.2 sec 0-62mph. In a cobra with similar power and almost half the weight I'm hoping it will do significantly better!
It should do low 12's for the qtr That should be fast enough for me!

Edit:
Found a rare 347ci EFI windsor that Ford Australia produced and I went this option due to packaging and weight compared to a 330ci quad cammer. Made the right choice. Chose a modified C4 and 2500 stall and was very happy with the performance. Due to fuel prices and 2800 rpm at 60mph I'm currently fitting a modded AOD. 2500 Stall while great for takeoff is probably overkill in a 3500 pound car. Retaining stock stall this time as I have plenty of bottom end.

[kajun]

Check out a Ford AOD. I have a TCI from jegs that bolted right up to my 351 w. 400 hp and no problems. It's great choice for putting a automatic in a cobra!

[69 Mach I]

I would agree on the AOD. The TCI Street Fighter is good to 450 hp. More than that, Performanceautomatic.com makes an AOD.Comp that is good to 550 hp and the best out there is a lentech. You will get the ability to rachet shift into whatever gear you want. I am looking towards a lock upTCI steet fighter and a torque converter from Edge Racing Converter for my Mach 1.

Although you do lose more hp through the drive train with an automatic, you can minimize this loss by reducing the weight of your drivetrain's components. Get a Hays alum flywheel (15 lbs as opposed to more than 2x that), carbon fiber drive shaft from inland empire, (few lbs compared to 10), and a richmond lightened ring and pinion (save up to 6 lbs). You will put down a lot of power by saving about 30 lbs. from your drive train.