AC Cobra Replica

[Scott Costanzo]

I ran across this video this afternoon and I really liked how genuinely excited this guy got about the car. I got to thinking how a few of the cars here probably have the type of acceleration this Cobra has. Jim Stabe's car comes to mind. Looks like a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy it.



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[BlownMGB-V8]

I'd say that was quite a trick building that car to a weight of "Just under a ton".

Jim

[Jim Stabe]

I agree with Jim B, you are not going to get that car to even "just OVER a ton". A real 427 Cobra is around 2400 lbs and that is pretty bare bones. That said, with over 600 hp you don't need it that light to get really mind bending acceleration.

[Scott Costanzo]

I'd say that was quite a trick building that car to a weight of "Just under a ton".

I believe the gentleman was referring to a British ton which I believe it about 2240 lbs.

[Jim Stabe]

That might be doable if it has a small block with a lot of aluminum parts and not much gas in it.

[JWD]

Having built one and being active in the Cobra community for many years and can say that the vast majority of small block Cobras fall into the 2200-2400 pound range. Add 200 for the big block cars.

[kstevusa]

Jim is probably correct on the weight.  My car was weighed at the Omaha Ne. gathering with 3/4 tank fuel, "junk in Trunk" and maybe a cooler. The F/G rear cover, hood and SBF Cast Iron Block and rest aluminum  (276RWHP & 308 Ft #'s Tq), T-5Z & 8.8 R/E weighed at 2457#'s.  Probably could have jetisoned 15-20 #'s.  Wonder what the 427 CID put to the rear wheels?  Also difficult to imagine the accleration and braking force of that auto.  0-100-0 in how many seconds? The original test figure was listing in Hot Rod at the time and another test was done many years later with a slightly improved 427 Cobra.   We live through  the "Golden Years" and still survive! :-)  Happy Days are here again
SAFETY FASTER!

[Jim Stabe]

Weight adds up quickly in a car as you modify it. Without putting much thought into it I always assumed my car would be in the 2400 lb range. It actually is right at 2700 lbs full of fluids and I still don't have a roll bar or upholstery in it. After a little thought, it makes sense.

A stock MGB roadster weighs in the neighborhood of 2100 lbs give or take.

The Chevy LT1 is probably about 100 lbs heavier than the MGB four banger. The 6 speed trans at 135 lbs is a good 60 lbs heavier than the MG. Adding 11" to the width of the car adds about 75 lbs of metal. The blower and all the mounts and plumbing is ~ 35 lbs. The wheels and tires add another 75 lbs over the MGB ones and the brakes add at least 20 lbs more. The gas tank is heavier and it holds another 3 1/2 gallons of fuel for another 33 lbs. The water/methanol tank and 3 gallons of fluid add 27 lbs. The cooling system holds an additional 3 + gallons of coolant for an additional 28 lbs. There is about 125 lbs of structural tubing in the car and the exhaust weighs about 20 lbs more than a stock MGB exhaust.

Add it all up and it comes to 598 lbs and when added to 2100 you get 2698 lbs. Although disappointed at the weight, with 535 flywheel hp and 550 flywheel torque it will still snap your head back when you floor it.

[JWD]

I'm sure your MG is a rocket. My Cobra was slightly under 2500 lbs. with 415 RWHP. The big issue was lack of traction, even with sticky 295/50/15 tires.
My MGB should weigh in about 200 lbs or so less than it's original weight but with a much more mild engine than the Cobra.

[Scott Costanzo]

My car weighed 2019 lbs with my V6 and half a tank of gas the last time I weighed it at the V8 meet in Wisconsin in 2008. I expect it to weigh a bit less than 2150 with a full tank and the V8. Hope Pete brings his scales to Indy!

[Jim Stabe]

Traction is better than I expected but I have 315-35-17 sticky tires on the back and I don't do hard starts because I don't want to break the rear end. I can feel it getting a little loose when I punch it from a roll and after shifts. Before I put the milder cam in it it had 543 rwtq (625 flywheel) and traction was a little more of an issue but nothing you couldn't deal with.

[MGBV8]

A friend of mine has built two Factory Five 302 Cobras. He told me they were right around 2200 lbs. Seems about right for the small block.

http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/293257-how-much-does-your-cobra-weigh-you.html

[Scott Costanzo]

I think the trick would be to figure out what was done to this Cobra to get it to hook-up as well as it seems to.

[MGBV8]

Click on XCS 427

http://www.walker-partnership.com/

[burner1]

I know specifially of a Superformance Cobra just under 2300lbs with a bored and stroked 460 to 605 dynoed just under 700hp which does the 1/4 in the 10's...(then has to leave the track for lack of roll cage).