My next car, GT40 Options

[Randal]

We had lunch today at the local Houfbrau in Redwood City.

Right across the street is a new auto dealer that is selling the GT 40's made in South Africa. They had GT 40's, Daytona Cobras as well as normal Cobras in stock.

I went over there with my mechanical genius friend Paul, who really does know what he is doing, and we were both very very impressed.

They had 5 GT 40's in stock. These cars are being build under license from whoever (Ford I guess) using the original designs, but updated for all new things, like brakes, etc.

These SuperPerformance cars are simly beautiful, where ever you look. And at $75,000 for a roller an absoulte steal.

All you have to do is put in a motor and transmission and your away.

After you see one of these cars, you will never use the word "kit car" again.

I got to build one of these with an all aluminum 427 with about 600hp.

Probably a good hillclimb car at only 2200#'s.

Those aluminum 427's weigh less than 400# and can put out 575hp or more.

Big slicks, 2200#, 600HP, mid engine with great brakes and suspension. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[byndbad914]

the kits can be really nice, I rode in one with one of my engines and it was sweet blasting down the 55 fwy in SoCal in a GT40 with around 800HP (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I was surprised to notice how well it sealed up - not really noisy like you would expect from a kit.

you know Randal... if you really want to have some fun you could build my next project engine - a Hemi -headed 572 cube Boss 429 clone! I figure with a solid tappet cam I will easily get 750HP/650-700 ft-lbs with a 7K redline. Will make a nice daily driver (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

I will be parting out the 914 in the next few years minus hitting a lotto (should start buying tickets hahahha) and using the dry sump, cooling system, Mendeola, etc with that motor (and a BIG reason why I went with such a mongo tranny in the teener) - I will build a rear transaxle 1969 or 1970 Boss 572 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) with about an 8-10" engine set back. The trans needs to be good for up to 750 ft-lbs in case I decide to run a street roller. The compression will be around 11.5:1 and run on E85.

I built a 600-inch BBF for a guy (4.5" stroke instead of 4.3" stroke like the 572) and made right at 950HP with a decent but not huge roller and 11.5:1 compression. Not hemi headed tho'... that would have made over 1K.

Biting the $5K bullet just for aftermarket Hemi bare castings is tough but Jon Kaase (big time engine builder - God among men sorta dude) swears the Hemi head is worth around 100HP over many of the big time raised port race heads and pretty much any combo from 600-900HP and has proven it with his own casting.