cobra, - budget build or buy?

[mattstead]

Hi, I'm lucky to have got my hands on a fantastic V8 engine and gearbox. I intend for this engine to go into a cobra but can't decide which'll be the best value route. The initial prices of budget cobra kits look good, but I suspect they soon add up when you look at all the add ons. What would be an average BUDGET build cost if using the standard donor engine.

Alternatively I could buy a completed car (in winter to get it cheaper), that was only running a standard donor engine and drop the lump into that; a beautifully trimmed and painted car with a pinto would be cheap wouldn't it?....and also avoid the rigours of SVA etc.

I haven't got much money to do the project, although can do everything myself to keep costs down. What are your thoughts??

[Tony427]

Do not buy a cheap Pinto engined Cobra thinking you can easily throw a V8 into the hole vacated by the 4 pot. At the very least you will need to change or upgrade the following :-

Brakes ( uprate at all four corners)
Suspension ( springs and shocks )
Rear Axle/ diff
Exhausts
Engine mountings
Gearbox mountings
Clutch mechanism
Radiator
Fuel supply
Propshaft

This will not be cheap.

The best option would be to get a V12 engined Dax ( going relatively cheap) and so a swap. Brakes, suspension, rear diff and cooling would be up to V8 srequirements and you will only need to change engine and gearbox mountings, propshaft and replace V12 exhaust manifolds with V8 ones.

Check on the Cobra Club website www.cobraclub.com as many guys there have already done what you are proposing.

Cheers,
Tony