enigne offered need info

[Richard]

I have been offered an aluminium block "Cobra" engine for my build. I know nothing about these motors. The bolt pattern for the bellhousing/adapter plate is unknown. I already have a sb302 and the correct adapter plate to an Audi 016.

So the question is... is the bolt pattern the same as the 302? Is it worth buying another adapter plate?

 

[Mark R]

A "Cobra" engine could describe several different things. Depending on exactly what this motor is, and asking price, this could be a great deal or a total dud.

The only true factory aluminum "Cobra" motor I am aware of would be from a '99-'01 SVT Cobra with the 4.6 Aluminum 'Teksid' block.

 

[Doug S.]

Ford changed from a 5-bolt pattern where the bellhousing attaches to the engine to a 6 bolt pattern sometime around late 1964 or early 1965, IIRC. That could make a difference. However, depending on what size the "Cobra" engine is (meaning the 289CID/5.0 302CID or the 5.7/351CID), there may or may not be issues...although, IIRC (and I hope if I'm wrong someone will correct me) all Ford Small Blocks (the later 6-bolt 289, the 302, the 351W and the 351C) use the same bellhousing pattern. Can you find out when the engine was produced? You don't need to know the bellhousing pattern, just how many bolts hold the bellhousing to the back of the engine).

If it is a "5-bolt" block...all bets are off. I have no idea if there is any adapter plate for attaching an Audi 016 to a 5-bolt engine.

Hope this has been of some help. There was another "351" engine, referred to as the 351M and later enlarged to 400 CID, and referred to as the 400M, that shared a bolt pattern with the 385 series engines (the 429/460 family). I don't recall there ever being any form of "Cobra" engine that was based on the 385 engine family...but if somebody put one into a Cobra replica and is calling it a "Cobra engine", it might be one of those 385 series engines. They were at one time viewed as only good for boat anchors, but the recent Engine Master competitions have shown them to be quite capable of high horsepower and torque numbers, so someone might have decided to put one into a Cobra replica.

I have a Cobra replica...and my valve covers say "Cobra"...I think it is a box-stock engine out of a 1989 Ford Mustang GT, a very capable engine on its own in a lightweight Cobra replica, but definitely NOT an engine out of an original Cobra...it just has some valve covers on it that say "Cobra". Don't let the name fool you, do some more research and/or insist on some more information before you put any money on the table. If it is a motor from an original Cobra, it could be a great find, those 271HP 289 HiPo engines had a different crankshaft than the 195(?)HP 289 2-V and the 225HP 289 4-V engines...but it could be just an aftermarket SBF engine with Cobra valve-covers/intake on it, too.

Good luck...please let us know what more you find out about the engine, it could be a good find! I dream of being offered an aluminum small block ford engine...think that the weight savings would be worth their weight in gold when talking about the mid-engined GT40 design!

Cheers!

Doug

 

[Terry Oxandale]

You'd need to get more information to be of help. "Aluminum Cobra" could indicate (as Mark noted) it is the modular block...or it could be an aftermarket 289-302 based aluminum block from a kit car Cobra...or...on and on.

 

[Richard]

Thanks for all the info. I'm not a real engine guy, mostly marine engines and farm equipment and that was long ago. Looking back in our E mails he says it is a Mustang "Cobra" 1996 if that helps... i'll ask about the cubes and number of bolts tomorrow when I call.

 

[Darrin]

That's the 4.6 liter modular engine alright.

You will need a special adapter and the chassis will need to be altered to fit it.

If it were me, I'd stick with the 302 or go with a 5.0 Coyote if you want to go to the trouble of converting your chassis and getting a special adapter.

 

[Richard]

Darrin, I think you are right. Given the additional costs I would not be gaining much for the money. My 40 is ment to be a driver and after reflection the 302 will give me all the horsepower I will need to get enjoyment out of it.

Thanks to all for the info. At least, I learned a bit more about engines. Thanks to all

Richard

 

[Doug S.]

That's the 4.6 liter modular engine alright.

I thought so when I read 1996...mod motors are capable of great power numbers, but they are huge dimensionally considering their displacement. Less than 5.0 litres displacement and almost as wide as a 7.0 litre (427 CID) SOHC FE engine.

Not the best of choices for a 40, IMHO...but somebody will want it for a Cobra replica, they work pretty good in that application.

Cheers!

Doug

 

[Dean Lampe]

I might have an extra Coyote already sitting at RCR if your interested?

 

[Mark R]

..Not the best of choices for a 40, IMHO...but somebody will want it for a Cobra replica, they work pretty good in that application.

Cheers!

Doug

That is a nice motor. Like I said, it should be a 'Teksid' block that came in 96-99 Cobras and Lincoln Mk VIIIs. It is pretty sought after by 03/04 cobra owners. The 'Terminator' cars came with a heavy cast iron block because of a contract/suppy issue with the Italian company that sourced the nicer/lighter Teksid blocks. They are lighter than the 03/04 blocks and have the cross bolted mains. An optimal setup would be the alum block with the 2nd gen 04 cobra heads and the crank/rods from that same 03/04 platform. There are tons of guys making well over 600hp on that stock 03/04 cobra motor. Its only downfall is that heavy block.