65 Cobra 427 replica - Page 14 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Dubyagee · #**196** 07-27-2018, 11:51 AM

Make sure the HEI has the same drive gear as the maggy. If its bronze on the maggy it needs to be on the HEI. To protect the camshaft.

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/2009/07/properly-matching-your-camshaft-and-distributor-gear/

t walgamuth · #**197** 07-27-2018, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

wow I'm surprised it had a magneto -- that build isn't very old is it? HEI will be a nice upgrade, might give a bit more power too. Did you consider distributorless at all?

I believe the mag was used because with the four webers there was not room for a conventional distributor. I have not considered distributorless.

My goal has been to get the car running and driving so I can have some fun with it. With 427 CI, more power is not a desire, but drivability is.

I have put in a much more mild cam to achieve a flat torque curve to facilitate driver control over a max. horsepower situation.

t walgamuth · #**198** 07-27-2018, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubyagee

Make sure the HEI has the same drive gear as the maggy. If its bronze on the maggy it needs to be on the HEI. To protect the camshaft.

Properly Matching Your Camshaft and Distributor Gear - Engine Builder Magazine

It is bronze as required to work with the cam.

panZZer · #**199** 07-27-2018, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Its a lot cheaper to buy large chunks of steel.

If I decide to run E mod then I'll want to be lighter. Lighter always seems better in a race car.

a chunk of rail road track

t walgamuth · #**200** 07-27-2018, 07:42 PM

I don't know where I'd bolt that on without destroying the car.

t walgamuth · #**201** 08-01-2018, 06:47 PM

So far I have adjusted the placement front to rear of the brake, reinstalled the clutch spacer, cut a half inch off the right side of the brake pedal, had a 2'" spacer welded to the gas pedal and then cut a half inch off the left side of the gas pedal. Gaining room to get the steering wheel away from my chest I then had a spacer made to move the wheel 3/4" to the rear and reinstalled the lovely 14" diameter leather covered moto lite wheel using the accumulated distance. And today sat in the car reaching the pedals perfectly and the steering wheel far enough forward to steer with comfort while allowing my knuckles to live freely without hitting the cowl edge.

Shoujld have the DEI distributor installed tomorrow in time to go to Winchester speedway on Saturday.

Woooo Hooooo!

t walgamuth · #**202** 08-02-2018, 08:08 PM

Got it running today with the hew HEI. Also did some brake work. Tomorrow will bleed brakes and perhaps get an alignment if I can get in somewhere.

t walgamuth · #**203** 08-03-2018, 04:09 PM

Brakes bled, running well, tank full, washed and waxed.

Winchester here we come!

t walgamuth · #**204** 08-04-2018, 07:48 PM

Just got back from Winchester Speedway. This was oldtimers day. The track was built in 1914. I believe the banking is 39 degrees. I did not go up in the high groove for fear of blowing a tire or making a mistake in the still unfamiliar Cobra. It is now paved with very rough asphalt. Up near the wall are some areas about 2' wide where the track sort of levels off.

We had a ball looking at old sprints and midgets and running on the track. I let the guys who are completely familiar with their Cobras take the fast lane. I did discover though that it will accelerate fiercely in fourth gear from about 50 to 80+ on the straights...especially when you kick in the secondary venturis on the carb.

The Cobra hugged the road and felt very very stable on the track. Also nothing fell off or needed even an adjustment excepting the inside rear view mirror which needed its fasteners tightened.

One guy claimed his car has 600 hp. He passed me in the corners and I could stick with him on the straights so I must have 600 hp too!

t walgamuth · #**205** 08-05-2018, 07:46 AM

It was about 95 degrees and quite humid. I went through three shirts in all. Drank lots of water and used an umbrella for shade while sitting. The car never missed a beat and held steady at 190 degrees.

We talked to a small man about his 1948 offie midget. He is 85 years old and still racing! He found the midget in a garage where it had been sitting since 1955. He remembered seeing it as a young man and went to the house fifty years later and asked about it. It was still sitting there. He was able to buy it. He then restored it himself. It is a lovely car.

Wooo Hoooo!

There were five other cobras. All were looking excellent. There was one with a coyote engine, the rest had 351 based engines of varying displacements up to 427.

Frank X. Morris · #**206** 08-05-2018, 02:40 PM

Howdy Tom,
Now that you know it goes good in mild weather, strap that thing to a trailer and bring it out to Willow Springs raceway near Rosamond where they have some real heat;-) And all of us out here can see you in action:-)

t walgamuth · #**207** 08-05-2018, 03:52 PM

Sounds fun but a long way! Thanks for the thought though!

t walgamuth · #**208** 08-08-2018, 10:29 PM

Today I added stick on padding to the kirkey racing seats. Tomorrow i'm driving over to a nearby town for a picnic with a bunch of old friends. We eat steak and drink some, I'll not be drinking anything except maybe one light beer.

t walgamuth · #**209** 08-09-2018, 04:12 PM

Filled up before heading out. 86 miles, 9 mpg....about 9 mpg?

Made the trip in fine fettle, nothing fell off or broke, and did not scare myself too much.

P.C. · #**210** 08-09-2018, 05:56 PM

9 MPG? What is the final drive ratio? Is the highest gear of the transmission an overdrive?