Original Cobra Engine Swapped for 351W?

[s2ms]

Any of you Cobra gurus know of one that had the original HiPo 289 swapped for a 351W ~30 years ago?

Been in an email conversation with a guy who's helping his dad and is trying to verify the history of some HiPo parts. Story is a Cobra owner brought the car to the dad wanting the original engine swapped for a 351W, dad did the swap and bought the HiPo to put it, or some of the parts, in his 65 Mustang drag car.

Sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks,
Dave

[98SVT - was 06GT]

I can't see someone doing the swap 30 years ago. They were already headed way up in value. I could see it up to 40 years ago. Would it fit without a hammer? The 351 is over 2" wider than the 289.

[Bob Gaines]

Any of you Cobra gurus know of one that had the original HiPo 289 swapped for a 351W ~30 years ago?

Been in an email conversation with a guy who's helping his dad and is trying to verify the history of some HiPo parts. Story is a Cobra owner brought the car to the dad wanting the original engine swapped for a 351W, dad did the swap and bought the HiPo to put it, or some of the parts, in his 65 Mustang drag car.

Sound familiar to anyone?

Thanks,
Dave

I for one have heard any number of similar version of the same story using Cobras and Shelby's as the main character over the years. I don't have any way of knowing if your story is legitimate or not just that it is amusing that are so many stories with similar themes are out there . Maybe there is a similar story out there that turns out to be legitimate. 

[s2ms]

I believe the 30 year part is very flexible, agree Cobras were getting quite expensive then.

If I find out any more details I'll post them, was just hoping it would click with someone...

[CSX2259]

I know of BOSS 302 swaps from a performance angle but the 351W wasn't really the performer that it has achieved in recent years.

[csxsfm]

If my memory serves me right, Mike McCluskey had one in his shop he did the "swap" on for Carroll.  Said the car was great.  That was over 50 years ago.

[Dan Case]

If my memory serves me right, Mike McCluskey had one in his shop he did the "swap" on for Carroll.  Said the car was great.  That was over 50 years ago.

CSX2589 once had a 351C engine and automatic transmission McCluskey conversion with the engine set back some. Pictures were published in something like a magazine year book or something. I think I gave my copy away decades ago.

[S7MS427]

CSX2589 once had a 351C engine and automatic transmission McCluskey conversion with the engine set back some. Pictures were published in something like a magazine year book or something. I think I gave my copy away decades ago.

That was recounted in one of the Peterson's Complete Ford annuals, maybe the second.

[Dan Case]

Petersen's Complete Ford Book 3rd Edition, starting on page 142. CSX2589 with a 1972 351C engine, modified foot boxes, CS Shelby rocker arm covers, COBRA long oval air cleaner, engine moved back 10%, modified 1967 Ford C4 automatic transmission, and mentions an "Autolite Spread Bore" carburetor on a Ford "hi-rise" intake, and custom headers.

[S7MS427]

I'd guess that an "Autolite Spread Bore" carburetor would be an Autolite 4300 unit.  IIRC those were designed by GM (Rochester) as an emissions carb.

[6R07mi]

I'd guess that an "Autolite Spread Bore" carburetor would be an Autolite 4300 unit.  IIRC those were designed by GM (Rochester) as an emissions carb.

I had the Autolite 4300 spread-bore on my 1970 351C 4V, they were also used on the 460's.
The carb and aluminum intake ( Boss 351 C part ) were setup and matched, carb flowed in the Ford dyno lab using a Crane Fireball cam back in 1975.
This involved changing the profile of the secondary metering rods.
I could roll into the throttle beginning @ 2,500 RPM and it never bogged or stumbled, you just would hear a deep rumble thru the shaker hood scoop,
and when the cam came on @ 3,200 RPM the big intake ports of the 4V heads started to pick up velocity the engine wound up quickly to 6,200 RPM.
of course the 4:11 rear helped get going quickly.  I could stay in front of 427 Vett's thru the 1st 3 gears, but cubic inches eventually win!
With the competition suspension, Koni's at all 4 corners and the G60 radial T/A's and manual steering it was a great handling car with plenty of GO.

regards,
jim p

[texas swede]

Hi guys,
In the beginning of the 80's I found an ad in a Swedish Trading Magazine for a Cobra engine for sale.
I called and found it came out of a genuine Cobra, COX 6061. The owners name was Ulf Lydholm and he
wanted to sell the 5-bolt HiPo as he was building a Boss 302 block which he was putting 351 W heads on.
After meeting him at his house and looking at the motor and his green Cobra I persuaded him to keep the original engine.
He put the Boss 302/351W engine into his car and painted it the same way my 67 was painted, i.e. red with white stripes.
He started to race the car in historic racing and did pretty good. After a few years he sold his car tohe His Majesty The King of Sweden who had the original engine rebuilt and the car painted blue. The King is a gear head and owns several cars including a 66 GT350. He was caught speeding with his Porsche  in Denmark. Don't believe he had to pay anf fine though.
Texas Swede

[A-Snake]

Hi guys,
In the beginning of the 80's I found an ad in a Swedish Trading Magazine for a Cobra engine for sale.
I called and found it came out of a genuine Cobra, COX 6061. The owners name was Ulf Lydholm and he
wanted to sell the 5-bolt HiPo as he was building a Boss 302 block which he was putting 351 W heads on.
After meeting him at his house and looking at the motor and his green Cobra I persuaded him to keep the original engine.
He put the Boss 302/351W engine into his car and painted it the same way my 67 was painted, i.e. red with white stripes.
He started to race the car in historic racing and did pretty good. After a few years he sold his car tohe His Majesty The King of Sweden who had the original engine rebuilt and the car painted blue. The King is a gear head and owns several cars including a 66 GT350. He was caught speeding with his Porsche  in Denmark. Don't believe he had to pay anf fine though.
Texas Swede

I have my doubts about it being a 5 bolt. The last assembly date for a 5 bolt HP was August 26, 1964. The engine in COX6061 was assembled on January 22, 1965

[rhjanes]

Remember 30 years ago was 1991.
I'll share my "Cobra motor" story from around that same time.  I was building my 428 Mach and was looking around for parts, swap meets, word of mouth.  I got a line for some parts with "Cobra" being mentioned.  When I got there, sure enough they WERE Cobra parts!  Except off a Mustang II Cobra, circa 1978. 

[honker]

Hi guys,
In the beginning of the 80's I found an ad in a Swedish Trading Magazine for a Cobra engine for sale.
I called and found it came out of a genuine Cobra, COX 6061. The owners name was Ulf Lydholm and he
wanted to sell the 5-bolt HiPo as he was building a Boss 302 block which he was putting 351 W heads on.
After meeting him at his house and looking at the motor and his green Cobra I persuaded him to keep the original engine.
He put the Boss 302/351W engine into his car and painted it the same way my 67 was painted, i.e. red with white stripes.
He started to race the car in historic racing and did pretty good. After a few years he sold his car tohe His Majesty The King of Sweden who had the original engine rebuilt and the car painted blue. The King is a gear head and owns several cars including a 66 GT350. He was caught speeding with his Porsche  in Denmark. Don't believe he had to pay anf fine though.
Texas Swede

Here's a pic of the King of Sweden, with the Cobra COX6061, that Texas Swede taks about above.

Mike