Show Posts
46
428 Frua Forum / AC 428 owners experience?
« on: November 10, 2007, 21:30:21 »quote:It is my finite understanding that top speed is mainly an equation of RPM's, Gearing and enough Horsepower to overcome resistance [both mechanical and aerodynamic] at the highest end speed. As long as acceleration time to that top speed isn't a major concern the engine size or mechanical details are not as vital to the situation.
Originally posted by Emmanueld
A Frua with proper gearing and a decent cross bolted 427 side oiler motor should out speed a 427 Cobra (in the straight of course). The MKIII would not go above 185 mph no matter the gears, and that's without the windscreen, it's a brick! The 428 coupe, with 6" longer chassis and much better aero, should be much faster than that despite the extra 500lbs. It should go like a Daytona probably or better (Daytona has only 350hp). With 5 speed and lets say .86 fifth and 3.31 rear, if the engine can spin around 6 to 6500 RPM you would be going about 200MPH!
quote:I'd also think that the 6" longer wheelbase would allow for more overall cornering ability/power [albeit with a bit of a responsiveness penalty] than the shorter wheelbased Cobra's because of it's longer stance... But that may just be misinformation or misunderstanding on my part of the physics of that situation.
Originally posted by Emmanueld
Ask Andy about his racing 428. AC used a pickup truck engine in the car with no cam and a tiny carb, the C6 box is very heavy and rubs much power, probably 30bhp. Since I converted mine to 4 speed, the car drives like a Cobra, it has a whole new personality. I think I will install a TKO with .86 5th for better highway cruising.
Emmanuel
I can't profess to speak for anyone other than myself. So with that in mind, my vision for a Mark II would be to retain as much of the advantageous traits of the "Mark I" while addressing the most glaring of it's issues while keeping the end result in a similar flavor as the original.
I know Emmanuel you're an advocate of the 427 side oiler... I personally consider it the finest engine Ford ever made. But I personally would be hesitant to swap out the amicable 428 with it's admirable all-situations manners for the far more racing oriented [Get there first-est with the most-est [to paraphrase a American civil war general]] 427 . Actually, the past twenty years, I've logged more miles in cars with 427 powerplants than with 428's. Yes, I love the snappy-ness of the 427, but they are a handful in real-world situations in my experience. For me the 428 has the advantage in worry free fast all day driving/touring. I mean if all I was after was an acceleration, braking, cornering platform, I'd go the modern Cobra 427 Kit Car Route with no apologies or afterthoughts.
To me the first "problem" area needing improvement is the engine compartment heat issue. I'd think for me, second would be to try do some enhancements to the engine with an idea of reducing weight over the front suspension and perhaps enhancing performance. What you say about the Autolite Carb not being the optimal choice is TRVTH! I'm pretty sure that CF 7 sports it's original Autolite carb, and I remember vividly that the CFX AC I saw with my folks in Oakville, Ontario Canada in the 1977 timeframe had a Holley on it and it was the general consensus among my folks and I that so equipped it would have paddled CF 7's tail in a one on one contest. It'd seem like the carb used on the CobraJet 428's would be a good choice. The Third area would be addressing the AC428's somewhat lacking top end. While I'm sure a Manual equipped AC 428 would have a higher top end than a C6 automatic there probably are better options for both manual and automatic transmissions.
Less needing of attention [and hence optional in my opinion] would be wish list items like flush mount side glass and headlamp covers. I personally probably wouldn't want to add perspex covers to a Mark II of mine, but perhaps a way could be engineered where they could be easily be "dropped in" when desirable.
I guess though, in the end, when it comes to a Mark II AC 428 Frua, if it's done as a stretched Cobra 427 Frame with a Fibreglass replica body, the details would really be up to each individual "assembler" as to fitting out details. One person may choose to make their Mark II as close to the original as possible. Another might choose to squeeze in a SOHC Cammer 427 with a High-Perf manual transmission to make a Ford GT hunter. A third person may go with Chevy or Viper mechanicals. It'd be up to each person to fit 'em out to their own personal tastes.
-- Chuck
]
] [8D]
