Worst cars ever made

[Dichotomy]

okay I need a cigarette now..

Thanks Skuzzy 

[CAP1]

Well, we have two big gatherings coming up.  The state wide gathering in San Marcos is coming up, and then we have the annual race event at Texas Motor Speedway in College Station.

The San Marcos gathering is the largest of its kind (I am pretty certain of that).  We expect around 140 Cobras to be there.  The College Station gathering is smaller, as it is more for racing than anything else.  Looks like a Corvette club is scheduled to be there the same time.  Last year it was a Porsche club.  Should be a hoot!


I have been busy getting my work space in order to start my personal build.  The engine is almost done.  First dyno pass yielded 576HP @ 6200RPM and 543 ft/lbs of torque at 5900RPM.  Not bad for a street engine (389ci Windsor with Cleveland mains : i.e. Ford's BOSS 351 block).  I am going to dial back the cam a bit to move the torque curve lower.  I know it will reduce the horsepower, but I would rather have a flatter curve, starting earlier, than what I have right now.  I figure two more tests and I will have what I want.

Then again, I am bouncing between the Twisted Wedge and AFR heads, so it may take a couple more runs.

It will be enough to motivate the 2200 pound car to a reasonable level of acceleration and speed.  I am dropping a 6 speed Tremec behind it with 3:73 gears (9 inch Ford).  If I can get the rear end to hook up, it should go down the road quite nicely.

And in side news, I went down to Houston a few weeks ago to do a complete rewire of a Cobra.  It was a mess.

couple years ago, there was a guy at atco. he had a cobra kit with a 514 crate motor in it. slept on the line something fierce. he clutched it like he was street driving. every gear blew the rear tires away. he went through the traps at a low 11 second pass, nearly 130mph. babying it. you're gonna have funnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[Skulls22]

Well, we have two big gatherings coming up.  The state wide gathering in San Marcos is coming up, and then we have the annual race event at Texas Motor Speedway in College Station.

The San Marcos gathering is the largest of its kind (I am pretty certain of that).  We expect around 140 Cobras to be there.  The College Station gathering is smaller, as it is more for racing than anything else.  Looks like a Corvette club is scheduled to be there the same time.  Last year it was a Porsche club.  Should be a hoot!


I have been busy getting my work space in order to start my personal build.  The engine is almost done.  First dyno pass yielded 576HP @ 6200RPM and 543 ft/lbs of torque at 5900RPM.  Not bad for a street engine (389ci Windsor with Cleveland mains : i.e. Ford's BOSS 351 block).  I am going to dial back the cam a bit to move the torque curve lower.  I know it will reduce the horsepower, but I would rather have a flatter curve, starting earlier, than what I have right now.  I figure two more tests and I will have what I want.

Then again, I am bouncing between the Twisted Wedge and AFR heads, so it may take a couple more runs.

It will be enough to motivate the 2200 pound car to a reasonable level of acceleration and speed.  I am dropping a 6 speed Tremec behind it with 3:73 gears (9 inch Ford).  If I can get the rear end to hook up, it should go down the road quite nicely.

And in side news, I went down to Houston a few weeks ago to do a complete rewire of a Cobra.  It was a mess.

Voooommmmm!!!

[dirtdart]

Skuzzy,  what kit did you decide to go with and why?  Probably should be a new thread, but there are some of us out there that might be close to pulling the trigger.  Factory Five seems to have a good rep.

[Skuzzy]

couple years ago, there was a guy at atco. he had a cobra kit with a 514 crate motor in it. slept on the line something fierce. he clutched it like he was street driving. every gear blew the rear tires away. he went through the traps at a low 11 second pass, nearly 130mph. babying it. you're gonna have funnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Ohhh, I know.  One of my friends has a 427ci SBF with 515HP.  I have driven it and ridden in it at over 165MPH.  If I get my suspension set right, I should be able to show him my tail lights (they will be bright ) on the track.

I have also added a 4'x4' vacuum table to my array of tools.  Being able to make non-structural parts from ABS is going to result in a decent weight loss for many of the Cobras.

Skuzzy,  what kit did you decide to go with and why?  Probably should be a new thread, but there are some of us out there that might be close to pulling the trigger.  Factory Five seems to have a good rep.

I am going with a Lonestar LSC427 kit.  Longer wheelbase and bigger footbox.  Factory Five finally fixed the bumblebee butt they had for years.  Now it looks a lot better.  It is a good kit, but be ready to buy an air or electric rivet gun.  There are a bazillion rivets to deal with.

All kits have pros and cons.  Lonestar wins most car shows for best in class.  They really nailed the look and got the proportions right. It is not without its warts.  You have to expect it with any kit.

Lonestar also makes thier kit here in Texas a few miles from where I live.  I know the owner well and he is a good guy.

Every builder has to make the choice and it usually goes to what each person wants out of the car.

[Banshee7]

Josh, just remember that the tires are one of the most important items for dirt track cars.

Yeah, you're right.  There's so many regulations on those things now.  Some series want you to run Hoosier on all 4, some want you to race a hoosier on the right rear, other don't care, some won't let you sipe, some won't let you grind the tires (but will let you clean the mud off).  I just do what I'm told! lol

[5PointOh]

Yea we get it too.  World of Outlaws we havve to run Goodyears, All-Stars we have to run Goodyears, and everything else we get to run Hoosiers.  I hate the GYs, pain in the arse to groove and sipe, super pain in the arse to dismount after a session. 

[Imaslipper]

corvette zr1 lmfao

The new ZR1s actually surpassed corvette expectations. Most of the reviews i've seen have all said good about it. I do agree about the old ones though haha a joke

[Banshee7]

Yea we get it too.  World of Outlaws we havve to run Goodyears, All-Stars we have to run Goodyears, and everything else we get to run Hoosiers.  I hate the GYs, pain in the arse to groove and sipe, super pain in the arse to dismount after a session. 

Do you know where you closest race to West TN is this year?  I'm assuming MO.  I haven't looked at the schedule yet

[Mano]

 .... ..... ..... .....

[CAP1]

there was a gremlin X running around here last summer.

[RTHolmes]

This engine gets from 0-60mph in 15.3 seconds, the pickup you need on expressways.

I hope it had decent brakes with that kind of performance 

[RTHolmes]

543 ft/lbs of torque at 5900RPM

are you doing any chassis strengthening mods? I imagine 543lbft would twist it quite effectively

[CAP1]

I hope it had decent brakes with that kind of performance 

 ya know? i never timed it, but i think my prism may be faster than that. 

[Skuzzy]

are you doing any chassis strengthening mods? I imagine 543lbft would twist it quite effectively

The cars frame is rated to 1000ft/lbs of torque with less than +/-.25" of deviation.