914 V8 vs shelby cobra, which one would win? Options

[Andyrew]

Well.. Are they equal in buying price? Equal in parts put into it?


A 60k cobra with lots of $$ in suspension and brakes can put a 5k v8 with stock suspension to shame... Same thing vice versa.

The replica cobra's on mustang chassis are not bad handlers, but I would say the 914 v8 with stock (ish.. there are some things that are manditory for a v8..) suspension would out handle the cobra..

Keep in mind the cobra has the engine in the front, the 914 has it in the middle... Better weight distribution..

I think thats the final factor for equally prepped cars... the 914 will out handle the cobra due to weight distribution.

[So.Cal.914]

Indy, F1, etc have not used front mounted engines in a long time, Why? Because

the handling in a mid mounted is superior. Correct me if I am wrong. If we

were talking a straight line that would be one thing but at the end of the

straights are corners. Are all of these great racecar builders wrong? The Cobra in its

day was a bad mofo but that was then and this is now.

[turboman808]

One of those questions you can't really answer


I have never seen a well prepared cobra. All I ever see them do is spin around. Definetly feel one of the more modern kit cars could be made to compete with a 914. I don't feel an original could without completely reworking the suspension.



I think the better question is which one do people with more track experience tend to lean toward driving and why?

Funny we are comparing a 40 year old car to a thirty year old car and talking about how outdated the cobra is HAHA
I have only had my 914 a little while and I really am impressed with the engineering of it. Been checking out alot of panteras and those are even better. The suspension on those is a work of art. Pretty impressive what happened to automotive engineering in only 10 years I would say.

[drive-ability]

Clearly the winer would be the one that didn't hit anything (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[rktmn247]

I have always liked the cobra and have spent alot of time researching the various kits. I think Factory Five Racings product would be very competitive. Below is the Car & Driver test data for the spec racer model. Check that skidpad number.



Engine

Configuration 8 cylinder iron block

Stock Mustang 87-93

Displacement 302 CID

Compression ratio 9:1

Induction Multi-Port fuel injection

Max Horsepower 225 hp. (stock)

Max Torque 305 ft.lb.

Max Engine Speed 6250 rpm





Drivetrain

Transmission Borg Warner T5 5 Speed

Rear Differential Gear 2:73 : 1

Clutch Stock Mustang 10.5”

Bell-housing Lakewood Scattershield





Suspension

Front Suspension Independent un-equal length
Upper and lower a-arms

Rear Suspension Solid live axle, 4-link**

Shocks-Springs 4 corner aluminum coil-over
w/ ride height adjustment

Steering Manual rack and pinion

Brakes 11” front discs and 10.5” rear disc brakes or 10” rear drums.

Wheels 17” x 9”, 5-spoke wheels

Tires Kumho VictoRacer V700

Dimensions and Weights

Minimum Weight 2450 lbs. (incl. Driver)

Weight Distribution 46/54% (front/rear)

Wheelbase 90 in.

Overall Length 13’6”

Track (front/rear) 56.0/58.5 in.

Overall Height 46.5 in.

Overall Width 72 in.

Ground Clearance 4.0 in.


Construction

Layout Front engine RWD

Frame Tubular space frame

Roll Cage 6-point cage, integral to frame

Sub-structure Aluminum chassis panel, bonded and riveted to frame.

Body Hand-laid vinylester resin composite shell with 3/16” laminate.



Performance

Acceleration

0-60 mph 4.80 sec*

0-100 mph 13.9 sec*

0-120 mph 27.9 sec*

Standing ¼ mi. 13.6 sec @ 99 mph*

Roadholding (lat G) 1.01 g*

Braking, 70-0 mph 181 ft.*

Best ¼ Mile 12.85 sec*

Top Speed (est.) 145 mph


* Performance data is by Car & Driver Magazine, November 2000 issue.

** Car tested with 4-link suspension. Current kit includes 3-link suspension standard


I think it comes down to three things: Track, gearing, and driver ability.

[wbergtho]

I autocrossed against 289 & 427 Cobra Kit cars and I beat them every time without much trouble in my LS6 powered 914. A couple of these cars had so much HP that they couldn't harness it on the AX course! They would do better on a larger roadcourse...but would still lose most matches against a properly prepared V-8 914. I know that you can get a school bus to handle if you put enough "brainmanship" and money into it...so I believe you could actually get a Cobra to handle pretty well. With that said, if you put an equal amount of determination and money into a 914....you'll have a superior roadracing package. There's no amount of money & determination that will cure a front mounted engine against a mid mounted configuration. I just ran numerous 12.10s at the drag strip last weekend in 97 degree heat & humidity on slippery VHT and had burned out Pilot Sports. On a more grippy surface in cooler temps...I have no doubt that my car is at least a "high 11 sec car". I would like to race one with similar HP (500HP) and see what happens. I'm pretty sure the 800 HP Cobras would teach me a lesson in a straight line...But I'd be looking for the first sweeper. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Bill (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Sammy]

beware of factory five cobras.
They are the k-mart of cobra kits. Cheeep, but it shows.
The cobra community looks down on FFR, most won't even talk to you iffn you have one. Now superformance, that's a nice kit.

[neo914-6]

(second hand news) Elmers "ultimate" V8 914 did very well angainst most everything except the Superformance at ThunderHil. Then again his 700hp car is only recently finishing races after the gobs of $$$ "development". (enough to have bought the newest Ferrari or Lambo)

Not a good comparison without knowing how much $ was spent on each car...

[LS6/914]

Interesting debate. Why not take the tube frame Ultimate 914 and put it up against Pete Brocks Cobra Daytona coupe? With Jerry Grant driving the cobra. Say at MidAmerica or LagunaSeca? Please remember the cobra legend was established in the early sixtes. Kind of like comparing a 1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa to a 1999 Corvette ZO6. I will pose the debate to Mr Brock next weekend. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Lar

[Type 4 Unleashed]

How about comparing a V-8 914 to something more equal, a 60's era mid-engine GT-40, take your pick 255 Indy 4 camer, 289, 302 or 427.

[cobra94563]

To me, 914 conversions, with 3-4 conversion companies, is kind of where cobra replicas were 25 years ago - limited options really, some components have to be pieced together, not an engineered solution, some nice cars out there, no doubt, but they're one offs.

Cobras were like that until the late 80's. now they're designed from the ground up -custom frames or space frames. custom suspensions, pick your engine.
A car built for 70k is going to woop on 10-15k in a many conversions.

But 914/4 will probably woop my cobra in an autocross. actually, it has a slight rear weight bias, but not a car set up to autocross. Must be the old school 265's BF goodrich's up front. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[JPB]

Here at the Summit Race Track, the fastest track time was made by a F1 car. The second fastest track time and this is like a ferw seconds slower was a Ford Mustang. When will we have a Teener Kill this record locally?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) I will not stand for this!@!@!!

[Sammy]

A ford mustang was only a few seconds slower than an F-1 car?
Wow, Bizarre.

I love F-1 and absolutely hate mustangs (and anything else from the ford factory) with a passion, so that really strikes a nerve.

EDIT: nothing personal to ford owners, I just had three fords in my life and they were all total POS. I swore I'd never drive or own one ever again.

[JPB]

I feel you bro. I just went to their web page and they had changed it since last time I was there and could not find the exact lap times like before.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) FORD, freekin okay running dumper