Factory Five Cobra: Engine Selection

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

I ran with a Cobra Club for a while. I learned a few valuable things. Of course, this was after my build. I have an FIA car. So, that guided my engine choice. I’ll finish with that, in a few. The first thing I learned was that all the cars with a solid rear axle would bottom out on less than perfect roads. The two of us with independent rear, did not...ever. The second major thing was engine choice. One member had a motor producing Over 600hp. There were cars all over the range. Some with fuel injection, others carbureted. Some aluminum blocks, others full iron. Some big block motors, others small. My end conclusion was that no matter what I chose, it would be carbureted. That is mostly for experience. Personal, of course. As I mentioned, I went for the FIA feel & look. A 64’ 289 with small chamber iron heads & medium bump up in cam. Nothing crazy. I topped that off with 48IDA’s. It was a brutal learning curve but, I eventually got it all figured out. I don’t track the car. It’s purely for the feel & vibe of owning/driving a Cobra. Everyone has their own reasons. However. In the streets, there was rarely ever a moment when I wished I had more power. Street driving, I don’t have much trouble keeping up with any other car or cobra, big or small. To me, there are a few ideal feel/sounds for a cobra. A small block with webers, a big block with a 4bbl & the right cam or a small block slabside with a carburetor. I feel like a lot of people lose sight of this when building. & probably don’t end up satisfied. For me, There’s nothing more thrilling than listening to those webers sing, & that sound between shifts(no vacuum advance). I would take any of these three cars. All of them were a time in history that can only be reproduced by driving such a car.

[@TacoJoe]

Excellent feedback WhenViolets TurnGrey and I think we think alike :) Did you have any issues dialing in the webers? That's one area I haven't dabbled before, but it's on my list to try someday. Sounds like you have a sweet ride. 289 topped off with some webers - awesome - thanks for the comment!

[@whenvioletsturngrey9597]

@@TacoJoe ​ Webers are a big can of worms. Probably a lot more info online, these days. I had to "bits & pieces" it all together, when I did mine. I had a solid understanding of carburetors. That's a good base point to start from. Start with a good linkage. If your carbs open evenly, that's important. They don't always ship with a good linkage. They don't like vacuum advance & need the right springs in the distrubutor. It's a lot of jet swapping. Might as well grab a full compliment of jets, if you can.

[@carlbeaver7112]

@@whenvioletsturngrey9597 Agreed. I came here to pretty much offer up the same input. The Webers can be fun and look great (I've had multiples before) but I'm not so certain I wouldn't be tempted by the same engine with aftermarket EFI (something I haven't dabbled in before.) These cars don't need monsters under the hood. And we all know there's a lot more fun in getting a responsive car to work at its extents as much as possible than there is looking for someplace to work an overpowered/overweight car for a few moments.

[@ronwhittaker6317]

on every there exist compromise you mentioned the engine and how it matters//whatever you build a car around that will be the final factor. build it around you< the engine. specialty equipment, and so forth.

[@CrisAnderson27]

@@carlbeaver7112 You can easily run single throttle body per cylinder setup (or even better, 4x dual throttle bodies off a Lincoln MarkVIII) for aftermarket EFI, and you no longer have to worry about jerking around with tuning individual carbs.The linkage setups are much better quality, and the sound is identical to Webers. You also get all the benefits of EFI in efficiency, power, and drivability. Even cost isn't a drawback because...well, any period style Weber setup is going to be spelled "W$$$r" lol. A temperamental car with a temperamental induction setup just doesn't seem like 'fun' to me...unless it's full out on the road course where low speed manners isn't even close to relevant...and this is coming from a guy who daily drove a 10 second naturally aspirated 8.2 deck SBF, in a 67 Mustang for years. I can put up with a lot...but crappy and unpredictable throttle response with a moving target for tuning isn't among those things.

[@yolandalindsay8368]

Finally someone has built a Cobra that makes daily practical fun driving sense. Enjoy!

[@sebbonxxsebbon6824]

Practical means a supercharged coyote for sure.

[@Hobbit247]

Hey bud...I'm an old fart from the 60's...Dad had me changing tranny's and engines when I was 8 LOL. I love your vids. Makes sense. Thank you. Carrol was a gift

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks Ken- glad you like the videos / swapping tranny's when you were 8?!?! You lived in the golden era my friend - thanks for the comment!

[@michaelsmith6156]

@@Hobbit247 my dad had a salvage yard for a period and a garage /w gas through high school. My “K” cars both have Edelbrock top end, but for stacks I could change. My son’s car has no intake.

[@paulvarrieur976]

Thanks for emphasizing that 300 hp is a good power target for the engine. Too many people believe that more is better, and end up with a vehicle that is difficult, if not impossible to drive on the street, or track.

[@bubbacomputer]

I couldn't agree more with you. While I don't own a Cobra, I've ran quite a few small block Ford Windsor motors (260, 289, 302, 351) over the last 40+ years. Your math is spot on, in a car that light and configured the way it is, anything between 275 HP and 350 HP is going to be an absolute blast to drive on the streets. I've always preferred the 289 or 302 motors, their combination of bore and stroke make them so much fun in a lighter weight car.

[@TacoJoe]

thanks @bubbacomputer - and they sound great at the high RPM too!

[@michaelsmith6156]

We also have a 390 Mustang and a 312 Fairlane from my youth. I should add 5 /2025 Fairlane hardtops. Along with two race cars for the weekend. A 427 CobraJet and a 427 Falcon. Sounds like I am bragging. But, I am speaking the the truth, we also have 2025 Fairlanes for daily driving.

[@deckert618]

I've been driving small block Windsors since the 80's, and have no plans to change that. They are just dead simple, reliable, parts are cheap and available literally everywhere. Some really well paid engineers at Ford perfected those engines over nearly 40 years

[@TacoJoe]

I agree / thanks for the comment deckert618!

[@williambarry8015]

And they look cool.

[@donaldparlett7708]

My cousin’s friend has a 66 Cobra. It has the original 289 Hi-Po. He has driven different Cobras over the years and he said the small block was so well balanced in power and the performance was he could really get into the throttle and it remained so much better the the power houses

[@LordHolley]

I completely agree with your assessment about the power needs for these cars. I had an early FF5 cobra with the old 302. It had about 260 whp. The car had enough power to have fun with it but not feel out of control. It was pretty quick, but 300 would have been ideal.

[@JDB1184]

Awesome ! It seems to me that the power of the original Ford “Hi-Po” 289 motor in the big-block Cobra set-up is about perfect . I knew of someone who had that very motor in a Cobra replica , along with a beefed-up C-4 auto transmission; for his wife . It was very streetable , but she had plenty of respect for it , too ! 😁👍

[@TeddyRumble]

My dream car would be (beside an original, of course) would be a top-quality reproduction, with the 302. I don't have feelings of inadequacy.

[@WongGame727]

I know my question is a year later, but how did you FF5 Cobra hold up over time? Any thing crop up after a while that made you question the quality?

[@daoud1256]

Not currently in the plan to build one but I love watching these videos

[@TacoJoe]

Glad you enjoy them / thanks for the comment!

[@zavatone]

It's nice knowing the tips to use just in case you decide to consider building one, right?

[@davidporeilly1]

I want to compliment you on the perspective, clarity, engineering knowledge, graphics and sheer communication skills. Fantastic work sir.

[@yankeewatchdog]

I was at an all Ford car show, in Nashville, back in the 90s. Found a guy with FFC with a SOHC 427 in the car....HOLY SMOKES!!!! Overkill, but I loved it!

[@DrewTaylor-e4o]

I would have never consider rebuilding an engine, but this video completely changed my mind. In fact, I think I will do the engine and transmission before I even purchase the kit. It will be a for me and my kids drive, so I don't want it to be a rocket. I was reliable and budget- and I want to end with a car I truly build. I imagine there is that much more pride when you revived an engine like this. Thank you!

[@TacoJoe]

glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment!

[@Edmund_Mallory_Hardgrove]

Great tip on the valves. I've just did it by sound and feel, but I really like the paint thinner idea. An old dog can learn a new trick. Thank you.

[@sharkybrown6226]

Thanks for a great no B.S. presentation. Loved every minute of it. I particularly liked your approach and logic to the horsepower requirements for having a super fun yet safe road going sports car.

[@robsolf]

Great vid! Thanks for posting! Yeah, people will assume the Coyote is small because of the 5L displacement, but those heads are massive. In terms of fitting it into an engine bay, it can take up a lot of useful space. The main reason I'd do it is it can be a turnkey system, which is amazing for all the ECM stuff involved. LS for base motor simplicity, Windsor for saving dough and it can be fun to dig around for something to make your own without getting too exotic. Great suggestions!

[@TacoJoe]

thanks for the comment robsolf / I totally agree!

[@blarose79]

Great video with allot of info for someone who hasn’t rebuilt a engine before. Good job. BEAUTIFUL cobra. C.S. Would be proud.

[@copisetic1104]

Small block stroker 347 good heads and nice matched cam with holley FI

[@Brownbear77777]

I absolutely love Cobras. This gentleman is very knowledgeable. Everything he says makes sense. I really like the Cobra he built. I envy him for how neat and clean his garage looks.He built a really nice Cobra. Thanks for the video and your technical expertise.

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks much for the kind comment- appreciated / glad you like the channel :)

[@BA-pz3lo]

tacojoe your car is my favorite factory five car ive seen. the tires, the wheels, the black paint, it all looks period correct and perfect. great work!

[@user-od9iz9cv1w]

Great video. I can imagine you are extra proud of your build because you rebuilt the engine. I think one great shortcut is getting a Blueprint power train made for the car. Fuel injection, dyno tested and a warranty and everything ready to drop in.

[@su5119]

Good video from a retired machinist. Brother in law talked for decades threatening to build one. Never did. I was semi interested. Although thinking it through my preferred engine would have been a Cleveland 351. Rebuilt many that never came back.

[@John-no3ie]

I'm not sure how I found this channel and to be honest I don't know a lot about building engines but you did an amazing job with your explanations and the editing was excellent. This was a solid video and beautiful car; Thanks for sharing.

[@TacoJoe]

Glad you liked it John / thanks for the comment!

[@hardykornfeld1733]

This was one of the best videos I have seen on KZbin. In the event that I get a Factory Five replicar, I would like to build and install the lightest ~300 hp engine possible.

[@TacoJoe]

Glad you liked it Hardy - thanks for the comment!

[@uliwehner]

ford 2.3 liter ecoboost 4 cylinder has 310 horse. just saying

[@TacoJoe]

4-banger rev-monster / like it! Thanks for the comment!

[@gordonadams9038]

I bought a kit factory 5 in 2000 my son and I when to pick it up on his 16th birthday. I have never put it together. I had lost my job than collage came around than kids got married than they started there own family’s . I’m 70 now I just spent the summer building an addition on my shop so I will have a place to put it together. In 2006 I built a 347 it’s time to put it together I’m running out of time. I always loved these cars. Thanks for the video. From Vermont.

[@fred463]

Well done. I needed an engine for my truck 4.3 v6. Found one for 300$ that only had 78k miles. But the guy who had it didn't believe in changing oil. I measured the crank and it was good. Replaced bearings and oil pump. it works great. I am glad I checked the bearings though they looked really bad.

[@TacoJoe]

Did you end up replacing the bearing then? 300$ for any motor is definitely a deal / thanks for the comment!

[@fred463]

@@TacoJoe Yes I replaced the bearings. I looked through the spark plug holes with a camera and could still see the crosshatch so I figured that was ok. The oil in the pan (what was left of it) was pure mud. Really disgusting. Oil filter had 7646 miles written on it, so if that was true they hadn't changed the oil in 71,000 miles. Crank was within spec but the bearings looked awful. I was really happy and engine has been fine with 60 lbs of oil pressure. I change oil every 3000 miles, some people don't believe in changing it at all.

[@TacoJoe]

sounds like you are back in business with that motor and agree- change the oil regularly!

[@hanshoogendyk2203]

I am building a cobra from the ground up, its a 25 year old never finished project, been through a couple of poorly selected hotrod shops, now starting over with a brand new chassis, been doing a lot of research over the 18 months i have owned it, while building up the build budget. Reading about the original 289 and 427 cars, found that the 289 was a sports car, the 427 is a beast ready to kill you the moment you take your eye off the ball, these are motortrend road test of original cars, the most interesting item that shows up , the 0-70mph time, its when the 289 beats the 427 only after that speed does the 427 pull away, my car will have a 4500cc 350hp non usa engine 6 speed manual, i am aiming for 0-100-0 in the original cobra bracket, around 14? Seconds

[@TacoJoe]

Really like the detail on the 0-70 time!!!- thanks for sharing / Did you pick a motor yet for your build? Motor choice & paint color are the biggest decisions to make / thanks for the comment Hans and good luck!

[@todds5809]

I had 3 cobras starting with a 392 stroker 430 hp. Got tired of it fast. Then went 427 FE side oiler with about 475 hp. Was fun for awhile been then wanted more. Finally had a 482 FE built with a aggressive cam and heads that put out just over 600 hp. Finally had something that got my attention and never tired of it. Go big at first so you don't go through what I did. You don't have to run it hard if you don't want to but it will be nice knowing it's there if you want to. Drive safe!!

[@TacoJoe]

600hp -biiiig power / I image you had some nice tires too to make it hook up! Thanks for the comment!

[@escanormurillo9742]

Sweet car, I need to start budgeting because I recently found out that I NEED one 😅 awesome and informative video thanks for sharing!!!

[@donjuan4910]

I love your approach TacoJoe. An old saying states that "the enemy of good is perfect."

[@zavatone]

That's the perfect response! /s/s/s/s

[@JayLang7]

Idk if that’s your garage , but I love it. Clean , organized greatness.

[@TacoJoe]

It's my shop and thanks for the comment!

[@jeffreyliscum1436]

We built an end of series Mark 2 kit almost 20 years ago with a 302 from a 79 Mustang. Very glad to have fuel injected the motor (rare at the time) since the car is garaged and not driven enough to keep a carb in tune. Back in the day, 427 motors were more powerful, but never needed for street performance. With some mild upgrades the motor has 365 hp and I would not want any more. Factory Five has continued to upgrade/update/impress with their engineering and remains at the top of the "reproduction" companies.

[@pwhurley49]

Well done! Clear, concise, reasonable, practical, and affordable! Perfect job!

[@djSmokeShow]

Thoroughly enjoyed this build and video, you did an amazing job on both. At this point in my life I'm definitely more interested in stability and control over maximum hp. I grew up at my grandfather's salvage yard so I really enjoyed watching you tear down that old junk yard motor and rebuild it. I gasped when you pulled that beautiful engine block out of the electrolysis tub, I guess that means all of this car stuff is still in my blood LOL.

[@TacoJoe]

sounds like you need a kit :) - glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the comment!

[@ChrisCraigie-oi1un]

Really an outstanding presentation! Thanks for all of the information THAT MATTERS as compared to the "fluff" that many put on. Truly outstanding. If I am ever in a position to own a Cobra, I will use your advice. Thanks again.

[@oleriis-vestergaard6844]

A guy here in Denmark has a Cobra Replica car with a Jaguar V12 5.3 HEI engine , it looks like they have putting it in the engine well using a huge shoe-horn .

[@BKMDano17]

I built one of these twenty years ago and put a 460 in it. I'm building another one now and I decided I'm going to stick with the 460. There is a ton of concessions I have to make including the cost. And Factory Five doesn't make headers therefore I'll have to have them made elsewhere. I'm sure your video will help many considering a build like this

[@TacoJoe]

460!?! Beast motor- get some good tires man - lol / thanks for the comment

[@advicemaster1365]

Man I like the idea of the big block. Have you thought about Fords Godzilla with a cam?? Awesome OEM sound, awesome power, but I hear what you gain in mid range torque through top end, you lose in low range torque?? ANy thoughts?

[@briggsquantum]

I built a replica 30 years ago - and used a 460. Great engine, and I'm with you on sticking with that or the 429. 385 Series all the way!

[@mdavis472000]

Another OUTSTANDING video Joe!!! Can’t wait to hear about the new motor.

[@TacoJoe]

thanks Mr. Davis- we need to do FFR KZbin collaboration man!

[@scpost96fms]

Ha I found you.😮

[@bodieb.1239]

Great video. Logical approach and yes being a PAST owner of an MKII with 420 HP you are correct. That was too much HP. Crazy to handle under spirited driving moments. Each spring the car reminded me not to be a fool. Loved the car and only sold it because during the summer months here in MA it was like sitting in a toaster on a warm day. That was my only complaint. Again, a good video from a very logical and frugal perspective. Thanks,

[@TacoJoe]

Well said Bodie / I couldn't agree more. Are there days you miss it? Agree with you on the hot summer day bit... its most at home 68-78F / sorta a temperature diva car - lol - thanks for the comment!

[@marcusdeanda7905]

Amazing video, packed with so much information. No nonsense and to the point. Thank you for sharing

[@Stevie671]

So glad you didn't fall for a big block. I'm seeing you're meticulous and you don't like to waste a dollar, so the Windsor makes sense. 300hp can be a waste in the wet, and you want to be able to use all the power for a great experience. I'm talking about having a car that's fun to own. Personally, I'd go with a warmed over 289, and I wouldn't go for max HP. People tend to disregard how the driver can get great results, especially with great brakes and suspension, gbox and diff ratio. I love the build up.

[@TacoJoe]

thanks for the nice comment Stephen / Ford 289s are underrated motors in my opinion too!

[@moto_ronto]

Awesome video and topic. The electrolysis was just mind blowing!

[@nicholaspayne7977]

I think you did a very good job informing people of what you were trying to explain

[@colinmclean2523]

I know nothing about engine rebuilds, and am unlikely to ever do one, but that was fascinating. Thanks and good luck.

[@LonnieKenney]

Love the old school tires/wheels. Carroll would have been proud.

[@zavatone]

Yeah, it's silly trying to go with all rims and no sidewall. As soon as you hit a bump, you find that out.

[@martinehrlich3908]

Very informative video! One thing to keep in mind is the value of your time. When you do that the cost difference between rebuilding a junkyard engine and purchasing the same engine as a crate motor with warranty shrinks considerably.

[@Mr.Robert1]

No matter how much money I have. I can not buy time. As I got older it became more valuable to me. I want to get behind the wheel and drive today. Many ways to go about this project.

[@RobertBeck-pp2ru]

The other side of it is you're learning and doing something you get satisfaction from. Watching that little beast come to life for the first time can be uncontrollable happiness. You can't put a dollar figure on that. It makes life worth living.

[@chuckduzzie8529]

My friend had a kit Cobra, it had a 302 in it. It was burnouts at every stoplight. 🏎

[@TacoJoe]

haha - sounds like fun! :)

[@ManiacalManiac]

You're not living if it's not unsafe!!! I personally love the Cleveland. Have one in my 67 stang and it will take a pounding and not hard to produce 300+ hp with simple bolt on's. Excellent mid range torque on mine, would be great for a cobra on the drag strip.

[@TacoJoe]

Cleveland also a worthy Ford small block for a Cobra with great heritage to match. 67-68 mustangs were the best years too IMHO - body was just right and the car wasn't huge yet. Thanks for the comment!

[@culbycars]

Love the Cleveland in mine it's 408ci now and building a meaner Cleveland now. Not that the car needs it I just really really enjoy a bad mofo of a car

[@tjzulu1]

Excellent video!! Well worth watching as the Cobra is one of my favorites second only to the Ford GT.....

[@TacoJoe]

Love the GT40 too / someday I hope to build one / classic Americana

[@georgejetson6230]

Great video, Joe! Your explanations are well done. I see that already you have some videos on your engine build. I would love to see a comprehensive version or series, where you take the viewer through each detailed step of the process. There are others out there already, but your commentary and tips offer the unique perspective of approaching it from the novice point of view, which would be really helpful! You could include tools needed/created, as well. Thanks for the details so far.

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks for the comment Mr. Jetson- you are in luck my friend / stay tuned

[@georgejetson6230]

@@TacoJoe Sweet! Lookin' forward to it already!! Please keep us posted...

[@orionmott]

You sound like you are from the mid West such as Ann Arbor Michigan. I have family out there so I recognize it

[@stu1944]

I cant wait to build mine.... just hope the motor I want actually fits and that I wont have issues with heat...

[@TacoJoe]

@stu1944 - are you going to keep the mechanical / clutch fan - shroud? If so, I don't think you'll have any issues. There is a lip on the bottom of the front bumper that deflects air in front of the radiator - at high speed. think I can starve the radiator if its missing but other than that, I think the OEM cooling setup is pretty robust / thanks for the comment!

[@Ken-op7sg]

I had a factory mark two I had a call 302 with a 5-speed from Ford racing. My buddy had a cobra also with a big block and I can tell you it didn't handle as well. My factory 5 with a 302 was 2,080 . There was a big difference in the handling and weight distribution 😊

[@stevelee5724]

Wow electrolysis to clean your block is onto it mate. Looked really good 👍. This is a good show, your onto it mate. Keep it up. Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@TacoJoe]

thank you sir / appreciate the kind words :)

[@BlssedToBeFree]

I’ve looked in on your videos for a while. Great job, super informative. I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to share your experience and knowledge. I’ve been getting info from Factory Five since they started and one day, hopefully I will get to build one soon.

[@TacoJoe]

Glad you like them!

[@bobrat]

Best short Cobra replica video on YT 👏👏👏

[@TacoJoe]

thanks of the kind comment bobcat / glad you like them!

[@robertcoates5045]

Hello Taco Joe. Thanks for posting this video. I am in the infancy of starting an FFR MK4 and you have provided great info here and a lot of food for thought. I am thinking this car will be more of a daily driver than a track rocket so I appreciate your perspective of not getting hung up on horse power. Cheers!

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks Robert - enjoy the build journey too myman - it will go fast so make sure you take time to sit back and enjoy the chaos a kit car build brings (lol) - thanks for the comment and good luck with the build!

[@philipmacduffie7612]

The only running ffr I've been in is a car with a stock mustang 302. It's a light car and it doesn't need a lot to be fun. People really do get hung up on making piles of hp and they really don't have any use for it. I have something close to 500hp but I don't need that: I already had this engine so it was essentially free in racer math. A gt40p or gt40 explorer truck motor, a cam, and a t5 is not a bad setup. Get the thing going and if you want more later live on the momentum of getting it done and add to it. Near me half price day t5s are $75 at the junk yard. Engines are more now but can be $200. That is pretty darn small monies.

[@tomnekuda3818]

Great upload with good advise. I've built many engines of different ilks.......foreign and domestic. From the mighty Ford 427 to the lowly 40 hp VW. The engine you select is up to you but the recommendation of a small block Ford is excellent from both the size standpoint to the cost and hp. The fact that they are 'belly button" engines (everybody's got one) is a major plus for cost and availability.....parts are plentiful and hop up parts available at reasonable prices. Add to that the fact that the engines are a known quantity as far as how-to builds go.....many routes to whatever power you seek. I remember building the Ford 427's.....the cost of sodium-filled valves in enough to affect the stock market. Good luck to you all and see you on the flip side.

[@TacoJoe]

Nicely said Tom / thanks for the comment!

[@kiwihame]

Excellent video. I definitely want to know what mistakes you made! I just couldn't do a modern engine in a Cobra. You made a good choice.

[@TacoJoe]

One thing I did't mention in the video when comparing the Coyote to a windsor: a Windsor with a radical cam is one of the most beautiful sounds there is and matches the Cobra's character/heritage well / the Coyote won't have that exhaust note- still a great motor though. Thanks for the comment!

[@michaelthompson3359]

Man! This is a great informative and straightforward honest video! I have a 69 FB with a 351w and love your approach. Thank you for posting,

[@TacoJoe]

Thanks Michael - glad you liked it / 69FB is a national treasure too - drive safe and thanks for the comment!

[@paulwilliams667]

Solid video Joe. I'd love to put a coyote in one of these things but I think you're right about it being too much power to be safe as a regularly used road car. It's easy to forget these things are NA miata light and a lightly built coyote would have a fair bit more power than my C6 which is mildly terrifying to think about.

[@TacoJoe]

C6- sweet car / yeah they coyote is a great motor / what's working against the cobra too is the short wheelbase - so - when you get loose trying to hook all those ponies, it can snap you around pretty quick. Thanks for the comment!

[@jasharnett4240]

These are very good points and suggestions for a novice builder at home. Well Done, and Thanks!

[@icepickhonda33]

Great content and appreciate you putting your experiences out there for us.

[@taduse]

I've watched most of your videos over the years. Great straightforward content. An everyman and DIY point of view. Thanks for you efforts and vids of your awesome F5 Roadster. I grew up on Fox bodies. Im still weighing when to pull a trigger on a F5 roadster. My kids are early teens and want to help build. My concern is giving up a family friendly high performance AWD Subaru. Anyway, love your car and your vids. Keep up the great work!

[@TacoJoe]

AWD Subaru's are cool cars too and their turbo motors are nothing to flinch at. I'm also a fan of Foxes - my wife hates them though (the looks-lol) -I'd grab one of those as a project if I could get a deal. If you go with a FFR build its a life experience- I really enjoyed building mine. Good luck with your decision and thanks for the comment!

[@fishypictures]

I’d put an LS into anything. I’ve had fantastic experiences with the 5.3 in particular….. With regular maintenance I’ve consistently gotten 300,000 to 400,000 miles in my trucks, used not abused. Granted , at 400,000 it’s not very happy but still running. My 60s era Mopars all have the big blocks, the cars have the weight to handle it as well as the performance. One day I hope to have a cobra or a Boss 302 … childhood favorites.

[@Travis8126]

Great video Joe, FWIW I did a 427 stroker (dart block) in my build 500+ HP w/PF4 EFI and after 4800 miles on the road now it has been awesome. Will definitely get your attention! Would also recommend IRS rear end for a much better ride quality. And any engine in these cars is not safe, they are just not safe cars in the first place 🙂

[@TacoJoe]

haha- right you are Travis / sounds like you got a sweet setup there - thanks for the comment!

[@dieselyeti4025]

I'd guess 500+ hp sounds much more 'not safe' than a more reasonable power figure.

[@advicemaster1365]

Travis, I've got the same set up and "sort" of loved it. Yes it's dangerous as hell getting sideways when you floor it through all three gears. After I while, I did 2 things to tone it down a bit. First - I went from an 850 race ready ddbl Holley to a standard 750 ddbl Holley. and, when my tramec 500 transmission went, I got the heavier Tramec tko 600. It got it a little more civilized anyway. Awesome cars!

[@dieselyeti]

@@advicemaster1365 How did the trans change affect drivability?

[@advicemaster1365]

@@dieselyeti weighed it down more .

[@fobbitoperator3620]

This is a sweet hand built car, also a well edited & narrated video!

[@74surfboards]

Great video! I was already thinking of doing a junkyard 351 re-build for budget reasons. Seeing this video and your results is very encouraging. Your engine is beautiful, it looks correct for a Cobra, and a reliable, good compression motor that's not burning or dripping oil with 300 HP is really all you need. Well done, Thank You!

[@TacoJoe]

Glad you liked it and good luck with your 351- solid motor and those benefit from the larger crank journals too. Thanks for the comment!

[@stevepeterson1377]

Great video! An easy upgrade to your 302 is a Edelbrock Pro-Flo. Easy starts hot or cold and diagnostics on a Bluetooth connected Samsung tablet.

[@TacoJoe]

I have a proflo4 in a SBC/C3 corvette I have - great setup - and an iOS app now too!!! / thanks for the comment!

[@jsaindon1]

Quality vid as always K. Good to see you still making content!

[@TacoJoe]

thank you Mr. Saindon :)

[@holgerdanske3960]

There is company in Germany, Bad Gandersheim, which is specialiced in manucfactoring 8 cylinder motor with huge displacement. The also build cobras from 500-1300 hp. Guess driving one of these should be fun.

[@RonsChann]

That is amazing! Ty for the video. Wish I could do all that. But watching it is fun. Back to my 6 speed 2002 Vette lol.

[@scottcarl9206]

I really liked the video. In the past I have had a 90 Mustang LX 5.0 and a 94 Mustang Gt. I like your assessment on the 5.0, my critique on this however is that if the crank was in good shape, I would have reconditioned it, but, I would have spent the money and overbored the engine. I find these engines, like the Chevrolet engines as well, tend to egg shape over time due to the softer castings. A friend of mine overbored his 289 65 Mustang that was inherited from his father due to that very reason. I know that is not specifically in the budget aspect, but to me it is cheap insurance for a long lasting engine.

[@TacoJoe]

Hey Scott / I actually just got back a Windsor block bored .030" over (306) from the machine shop - going to put that together this winter and have a part2 of engine selection in the works. Well said and thanks for the comment!

[@donniehill5688]

Thanks for directing me here, Another great information video. Take Care and Stay Safe.

[@jwint563]

Spectacular video. Thanks for putting the time into making it.

[@jayceecombs6887]

Thank you for introducing another option really to a Cobra Kit build that most I believe do not look to as an option. J

[@JeffWoodwick]

Good information, Joe. Nice work on your Cobra.

[@williamdejeffrio9701]

Sure is fun fantasizing about building and owning one of these things...actually DOING it is another matter...

[@hanshoogendyk2203]

One thing to remember, some of your cobra budget will have to go towards learning high performance driving, the enjoyment of driving a great car "is not around the corner" it "IS THE CORNER"

[@robspotts9821]

My dream is to build a F5 Cobra with my son. Not sure about my skills rebuilding engines, but thanks for sharing.

[@sipzter]

I really enjoy your videos. I don't think I could build an engine by myself, but I appreciate the knowledge and skill of those who can. Very cool. I also really like you commenst re: horsepower to weight ratio and what is wanted v what is safe. My guess is most of those 500 or 600 or 700 H/P cars are not driven much unless it is by a profssional racer. That kind of power is untenable on the street for an untrained person. So thank you and please keep the vids coming!

[@BradThePitts]

A 500-525 horsepower small block 427 stroker is a very popular engine for these cars. These 525hp cars are drive-able on the street IF they have good tires AND if they are set up properly. But you are correct, probably less than 1% of Factory Fives or other Cobras have 600-700 horsepower - that's the point where nothing but drag radials will keep the car straight off the line when hitting it hard, and even then the price to build such an engine goes way up.

[@TacoJoe]

thanks for the comment Sipzter / completely agree!

[@sipzter]

@@BradThePitts Mr. The Pitts :) I would love to have a 427 stroker with the power you're talking about in anything -especially a Cobra! I used to have a 95 Impala SS one of those would have been fine in that beast! As far as setting up a car right - again, I'm too damn ignornat and wouldn't know how to do it, but I could drive it!!

[@advicemaster1365]

Totally happy with my stroker windsor @500+hp, which has that extra power when you need it. Thinking of doing another one. It would either be the drop in coyote, or the big block Godzilla. Either way, you can easily add power at a later date if you wanted. There's just something about that big block gutteral idle sound though!!

[@michaeltruscott9443]

Very good information Taco Joe😊😊😊

[@BulletSpoung]

One other thing to think about is the overall weight of the power train, engine and trans vs power output. You should also think about either building a motor that makes peak horsepower at high RPM or go after brute torque down low. With 500 to 700 ft lbs. of torque, the car will pull hard in any gear, and at any speed on the street. The bulk of people now cold look at any motor and not have a clue of what it is, they can't even change their own tire without help from their mom, so use whatever motor you like. I would use an all aluminum 540ci BB chevy with a turbo 400, 3,500 converter and a 3:50 rear gear. let everyone cry until they were dehydrated, it would be easy to drive and very fast.

[@TacoJoe]

Well said @BulletSpoung - torque RULES on the street and I couldn't agree more. The 350 I put in likely makes 400-450 ft/lbs so its decent, but NO-WHERE near the awesome torqure curve of a chevy big-block / thanks for the comment!

[@TeddyRumble]

Jay Leno had a steam car from 100 years ago that produced 1,000 ponds of torque. Anazing.

[@johnbuckner2200]

Very informative, hope your channel grows to 4million+ thanks for giving me the motivation to build me one.

[@colubrinedeucecreative]

Wow, great advice and knowledge here! I saw that green Corvette and had a bit of a vision. Have you ever seen a green cobra that looks like a snake? Like snake scales? I bet you could base coat a similar green and mask off scales and use some of roth's metal flake and taper it toward the front of the scale heavier and toward the back lighter, I guess you could flake a clear coat to get the effect maybe. Hmmm.....Going to need to see if and how that has been done.

[@tedd7028]

Riveting video. Thanks for the great description of engine options.

[@brand-konto2100]

Hey, I really enjoyed this video. Best regards from Germany.

[@marshallcarter9634]

As always, your videos are very informative and to the point. Thanks, Joe! Love watching these.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

I assume whatever engine you're familiar with would be a good choice. A turbo K-series would be interesting, if only because you'd get questions about why there's only one sidepipe. 😅

[@michaelsmith6156]

Is a “K” car engine out of the possibilities? We had a 289 Cobra for several years. It was incredible, my companion would not drive it, the only reason we sold.

[@leehuntnurse2405]

Good job on the build nice car too I got a 5.0 from explorer in my fox body .

[@timothyclark4722]

Weegee thanks for the info, it makes me feel a little better that I don't have a 427 in it. But I am still stressing that I don't know what I am going to do about the windshield. Nobody wants to touch it. Years ago I could get a inspection sticker in a bar . That being said I can't wait to drive it.

[@TacoJoe]

You can do it!

[@dusty3102]

I’m thinking about a Boss 429 I have one in my 69 Ford F-250 4x4 truck and love it

[@coolruehle]

That rust removal process rocks!!

[@palmeraz73]

Great job thanks for your effort in the video.

[@JohnIn2SonAZ]

Actual calculation is pounds per HP not the reverse. Fantastic content!

[@TacoJoe]

good catch / thanks for the comment @JohnIn2SonAZ :)

[@CPK007]

Excellent video. Very informative and concise. I am now a subscriber.

[@mac8179]

I was just looking at picking one of these up with a Kenne Bell blown 302. Then, I decided I didn’t want to die.

[@TacoJoe]

haha - need some good tires with one of thoes/lol

[@paulbergin7355]

A very informative guide. Thanks heaps for sharing your experience.

[@briancochran8356]

Good advice on horsepower versus safety.

[@alfredoj1349]

amazing video, very informative and a clearly good guide to begin with. Your engine choice makes a lot of sense and considering my budget that's what i would do if i had the chance (some day i will build one with my twin boys and my dad)

[@TacoJoe]

Glad it was helpful! / thanks for the comment!