Future plans, long off but i want a cobra

[JackNco]

ok well first off let me introduce my self
*hey im John*

Ive been spending way 2 much time on this forum over the past few days and a few of u might have seen confused posts by me over the last couple of days so sorry for not introducingmyself properly before this.

ok so ive been doing my homework and finding out as much as i can on cobras/daytonas over the last week. been wanting a cobra for years, even had one of the guys from badaytona.com on the phone earlier.

atm im in uni but should be finished with that in just over a year so i can become a propper grownup and get my self a job and put somethign back in to society instead of being in uni getitng bored.

anyway I would be hoping to start a build in about 18/24 months but i belive in being thourough with these things. and i plan to keep my eyes peeled for parts like a decent RV8 3.9 or a cheap american block. so by the time the thigns built ide be getting on for 25 and so insurance shouldnt be to much of a problem.

so i was just hoping for some points on where to direct my research (hey anythings better than revision)

all ide really want from a cobra/daytona would be something i can take outon the open road, ide love to use it as an evey day car but we will see how things go with that. im not after a track day car, just something that
looks as good as a cobra does and has a bit of poke to it.

im not really sure how much power i shoudl be looking for i knwo the 3.9 RV8 has around 180ish (or so i tihnk ) but i was thinking something more along the 250mark?

Thanx in advance
John

[JackNco]

Also been looking on ebay at Jag XJR engines? have anyone on here used a 4.0L Supercharged engine? meant to produce 370bhp? seems quite good for the money they go for

[BenBaron]

Hi John,

I was in a similar boat to yourself when I first started building and my first mistake was to buy a RV8 and recondition that. Waht I should have done originally was wait till Id saved a few more pennies and just gone for a yank. Im now in the process of rebuilding a 351w and thats before the car is on the road......:thumb:

[JackNco]

Originally Posted by BenBaron

Hi John,

I was in a similar boat to yourself when I first started building and my first mistake was to buy a RV8 and recondition that. Waht I should have done originally was wait till Id saved a few more pennies and just gone for a yank. Im now in the process of rebuilding a 351w and thats before the car is on the road......:thumb:

Cheers ben, i would love to built an american engine, its deffinatly an option, i am curiouse to know how many people on this forum have used Jag engines though? as i am planning on buying a donor jag anyway i thought it might be a good idea to look a little harder and find a 4.0 supercharged jag, ive seen the engines on ebay for about 600 and with 370bhp (or so im told by wikipedia) it seems like a sensible idea?

[Big Thirsty]

Originally Posted by BenBaron

Hi John,

I was in a similar boat to yourself when I first started building and my first mistake was to buy a RV8 and recondition that. Waht I should have done originally was wait till Id saved a few more pennies and just gone for a yank. Im now in the process of rebuilding a 351w and thats before the car is on the road......:thumb:

Ben,

Did the same myself with a Rover V8 and nothing to put it into The finished engine sat around for months, until I decided to buy a Cobra. As soon as I got it on the road, I knew that it wasn't powerfull enough and wished i had used a Yank lump instead.

I should have packed it in there and then, if I had any sense.

Ian.

[BenBaron]

Hi John,

from what Ive seen using a jag lump will affect your re-sale of your finished car - nobody wants em....

Ian, its a scarry thought that Im about to be finished and have it on the road (not driven it yet) and be disappointed with the performance enough to swap the engine over the winter

[JackNco]

heya
Resale value isnt really something im worried about. seems to be something alot of people are worried about? im looking for a cheapish way for getting decent power. if i build it and then decided to sell it i think ide be happy with 70/80% of what i put in to it. so if that mean i get only 8k back then im not to worried.... although im sure it will run to more than a 10k build.

i know theres a guy on here puttin lexus engines in them and im sure thats the same story?

[Robin427]

The Lexus engine is a modern unit, much like the LS range of Chevy engines. I think with rising fuel costs etc. to fit a big old thirsty lump is a disadvantage. My LS1 isn't very "bling" but runs cleanly and produces more than enough power. Not a cheap option, though

[JackNco]

Originally Posted by Robin427

The Lexus engine is a modern unit, much like the LS range of Chevy engines. I think with rising fuel costs etc. to fit a big old thirsty lump is a disadvantage. My LS1 isn't very "bling" but runs cleanly and produces more than enough power. Not a cheap option, though

oh dont get me wrong, i think its great that theres a wide range of different engines in kit cars, just saying that it seems alot of ppl are saying u shoudl use an american engine for resale prices.

[TonyD]

Originally Posted by Robin427

The Lexus engine is a modern unit, much like the LS range of Chevy engines. I think with rising fuel costs etc. to fit a big old thirsty lump is a disadvantage. My LS1 isn't very "bling" but runs cleanly and produces more than enough power. Not a cheap option, though

As most people know on this site I am certainly not a purist.

In fact I positively dislike Yank engines as they are generally speaking inefficient, thirsty, heavy and require expensive rebuilding, tuning and aftermarket components to achieve respectable power per cc figures. The latest generation all aluminium engines such as the GM LS range are heading more towards the fuel efficiency and power delivery of modern European V8's but even they still insist on using those pushrods thingymajigs........just ever so last century !!

Yank engines are also the most popular engine to use and putting anything else in a Cobra engine bay will undoubtedly harm both the chances of both selling and the resale value of the car. :boohoo:

When Tim and I built the Beemer engined Cobra we wanted a modern European fuel efficient aluminium V8 that had good power out of the box, and the BMW V8 was a perfect answer. We also had no intention of selling the car therefore the idea of resale didnt enter into the equation. Unfortunately, how would we know that Tim's Mrs would be so bitten by the Cobra bug that she insisted in having one for themselves rather than a half share?

Hence the decision to build two more Cobra's so that we could have one each.

Next came the decision as to what engines to put into the new cars.

Tim is looking for a cruising machine , I'm looking for something I can "play with" in future years. Yank engines were out given the reasons above, BMW engines are extremely expensive to tune and the just support isnt there, Jag V8 engines are expensive to get hold of and early ones suffer from Nikasil and timing chain tensioner problems, Merc ones are too wide, Audi V8's too expensive.........but Lexus engines are the right size, have a huge support base of tuning knowledge, are easy both to work on and tune, have self learning ECU's that can support improvements to induction systems etc. ( 8psi hairdryers work wonderfully well I'm told)

They are also so well built and reliable in the original vehicles that the demand for replacement engines is non existent.............which means they are inexpensive.

Frankly, if you after a car to build and keep for a summer and then sell on go for the tried and trusted Yank motor ( an LS1 will really help the resale in the future), if you're looking for a keeper do what you want to do, its your car!

Cheers,

Tony