CSX2085 Engine and transmission up for auction

[2112]

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/cobra-engine-and-transmission-2/

This Ford 289ci Hi-Po V8 and Borg-Warner T10 four-speed transmission were removed from a 1963 Shelby Cobra, chassis CSX2085. The seller sold CSX2085 a few years ago with a race-spec engine and gearbox installed, and this drivetrain has resided in his private collection since. Savannah Race Engineering rebuilt the engine to street specifications at a cost of $29k in 2016, at which point a set of Italian-made Weber carburetors were installed along with a matching Cobra intake manifold and an aluminum oil sump. The included Borg-Warner transmission was also pulled from CSX2085 and retains a Cobra bellhousing. This Shelby Cobra engine and gearbox are now being offered in Solebury, Pennsylvania.

The block wears a C40E casting number and a pair of 1964 cylinder heads. A new reproduction Hi-Po camshaft and flat-tappet lifters were installed during the rebuild, along with an original-stroke crankshaft, forged connecting rods, and forged pistons. The engine reportedly produced 350 horsepower on Savannah Race Engineering's dyno following break-in.

Four Italian-made Weber 48IDA were sourced in 2016 and are mounted atop a Cobra intake manifold. A Cobra cast aluminum water neck, MSD distributor, and alternator are also included. Oil is held in an eight-quart Aviaid aluminum sump.

The included Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed gearbox, shift linkage, and Cobra bellhousing were also removed from CSX2085.

[A-Snake]

This engine may have been installed in CSX2085 at sometime in its life BUT CSX2085 was not delivered with that engine.

[pbf777]

       MSD distributor?         

       Scott.

[billmunny]

So it's 289/4sp that spent time in an original Cobra but it wasn't an original 289 installed at the factory in LA by Ole Shel?

[Dan Case]

The rare part in that collection is the 1963 Cobra gear shift lever. (The knob is a 1964 model year and later design.)  Made for CSX2001 through CSX2200 cars; a few very early Sunbeam Tigers also used them before the Rootes Group came up with their own supply train.


The next rare goodie is the bell housing as I have not seen many of that particular version that haven't had a failure inside that distorted them beyond the point most would use them anymore. (In my data collection it is the third of three versions available during Cobra production. There was also three later versions sold as accessories for any Ford five bolt 260/289 engine.)


I didn't see anything in the listing to indicated if the long block assembly started off as a Ford built HP289.  The casting number was something later than one the car would have had new. And what does 1964 heads mean? During the 1964 model year HP289s used the same 1963 prefix castings as 1963½ model year HP289s until about mid April 1964 when Ford introduced a new C4OE prefix cylinder head casting to finish to some of 1964 model year production.


The transmission and shift linkage might be handy for some early Cobra restoration but neither is particularly rare. Everything else looks like aftermarket pretty parts.

[Bobby Crumpley]

I noticed on the $26,000(!!!) receipt for the engine rebuild that one of the line items is to install HiPo main caps.  Makes you wonder if it was even born as a HiPo engine.

[JohnHouston]

I noticed on the $26,000(!!!) receipt for the engine rebuild that one of the line items is to install HiPo main caps.  Makes you wonder if it was even born as a HiPo engine.

Good eye!  Seems like you answered your own question . . ..

John

[427heaven]

A street spec small block ford typically would be in the 3-5k range for a finished engine. He might as well had someone right up a receipt for 59k. Its time to put down the BONG.