Upgrades and Modifications – ERA 308 Shelby Cobra 427 

Here is now a page that informs you about the quality of the parts already installed and those that will be fitted to the AC Cobra 427 ERA, in order to optimize the car as a whole. Many of these components come from the USA, thanks to the virtually unlimited choice offered by specialized dealers.

👉 THE ORIGIN…

▪ FORD V8 427 FE Side Oiler 7.0L engine, period-correct NASCAR preparation from the Shelby era, the most sought-after and most expensive version (casting code C5AE-H 1965/66), used in the real Shelby Cobra and GT40 cars worth several million dollars, including Le Mans ’66 winners. Exceptional!

▪ FORD Top Loader 4-speed manual gearbox, close ratio

▪ Specific E.R.A chassis: 37% greater rigidity compared to the original cars

▪ Jaguar IRS rear axle, Salisbury differential with 3.31 ratio

▪ 2 adjustable SPAX front shock absorbers with “coil-over” setup + EIBACH springs

▪ “4 into 1” side pipes (x2). Divine sound… freshly painted

▪ Central aluminum wheel hubs with 6 knock-off pins (USD 5,000 option)

▪ 4 HALIBRAND 15” wheels

▪ Aluminum “Le Mans” fuel filler cap

▪ SMITHS instrumentation identical to the original cars (USD 1,200 option)

▪ Pyrotech harnesses x2

▪ Adjustable bucket seats in Connolly leather

▪ Hand-built bodywork, 100% identical to the original SHELBY

▪ Stickers can be removed

▪ Smoked wind deflectors and sun visors x2

▪ Premium quick-lift jack pads x4 (new)

▪ Wilton wool carpeting + immaculate E.R.A logo floor mats

▪ Tonneau cover

▪ Front and rear bumpers available

👉 ENGINE PREPARATION by DANBURY COMPETITION ENGINES (Connecticut, USA)

▪ HOLLEY 750 cfm double-pumper 4-barrel carburetor + HOLLEY phenolic spacer

▪ Aggressive Crane Cam 238 camshaft (track-oriented)

▪ Cobra 427 aluminum valve covers

▪ Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads

▪ Aluminum roller rocker arms

▪ Cobra XL cast aluminum “T-shaped” oil pan

▪ Holley Medium Riser aluminum intake manifold

▪ Hurst Competition Plus shifter

▪ Lakewood bellhousing

▪ Reinforced clutch housing, etc.

👉 OPTIMIZATION & RELIABILITY

Using 100% performance-grade, brand-new parts – May 2025 to March 2026

▪ POWERMASTER Ultra Torque 9406 starter motor

▪ Power steering. Mandatory! A must-have!

▪ Moto Lita 14’’ steering wheel (original 15’’ wood/steel wheel available)

▪ Wilwood / AP Racing big brake kit, new master cylinder

▪ Complete engine rebuild (8-cylinder reboring, sleeves, DIAMOND pistons, EAGLE connecting rods, bearings, valve springs, retainers, locks, resurfacing, gaskets, pushrods, valves, etc.)

▪ McLeod Racing aluminum flywheel

▪ McLeod RST Street Twin Clutch Kit

▪ Comp Cams Xtreme Energy 274H camshaft (strong low-end torque)

RPM range: 1,800 to 6,000

▪ MSD Digital 6AL ignition controller

▪ MSD 8594 distributor

▪ MSD 8202 Blaster 2 ignition coil

▪ MELLING racing oil pump

▪ FLOWKOOLER high-flow water pump

▪ EDELBROCK Performer fuel pump

▪ Fuel, oil, and cooling circuits 100% new

▪ FLUIDYNE PRO SHELBY radiator, 82°C

▪ Oil cooler kit with thermostatic sandwich plate (71°C / 82°C)

▪ SUPER FLOW 14x3 air filter or Turkey Pan available

▪ NGK Racing spark plugs

▪ 110 Amp TSP alternator

▪ Racing battery

▪ Complete rebuild of front and rear suspension + new bushings

▪ 4 high-performance adjustable GAZ SHOCKS rear dampers

▪ Full refurbishment of dashboard instruments

▪ 4 Cooper Cobra GT tires (Goodyear Billboard tires are not road-legal)

▪ RRS competition fire extinguishers: engine bay (remote-controlled) + cockpit

▪ Magnetic master cut-off switch + battery cut-off

▪ Etc.

Results for this configuration

With this setup, we are clearly no longer dealing with a “standard” Cobra, but with a full-performance 427 FE Side Oiler, built for both reliability and sheer brutality. The engine is completely rebuilt, balanced, lightened, and able to breathe freely thanks to:

▪ Edelbrock aluminum cylinder heads + Comp Cams Xtreme Energy 274H camshaft → very strong low- and mid-range torque (1,800–6,000 rpm).

▪ Holley 750 CFM carburetor + Medium Riser intake → massive and consistent airflow.

▪ “4 into 1” side-pipe exhaust → immediate evacuation and a legendary sound.

▪ MSD 6AL + MSD distributor + Blaster 2 coil → ultra-stable ignition and sharp revving.

▪ Racing-grade cooling and lubrication → sustained performance on track.

On this basis, the engine delivers between 520 and 550 real SAE horsepower, with 660 to 700 Nm of torque from as low as 3,500 rpm, pulling hard like a true competition Big Block V8.

👉 Here is a realistic estimate (post-Danbury + Comp 274H):

▪ Max torque: ~680 Nm at 3,700 rpm

▪ Max power: ~410–420 kW (550–570 hp) at 5,800 rpm

▪ Usable rev range: 1,800–6,000 rpm

▪ Maximum revs without valve float: 6,500 rpm

If you want to push the build even further for track use:

1️⃣ Oil pressure accumulator (TOP PRIORITY)

👉 Canton Racing Products Accusump – 3 quarts

Why?

Even with an XL T-pan oil sump, the FE engine can suffer from oil starvation in long, high-G corners.

The 427 Side Oiler deserves full protection.

Benefits:

• Smoothed and stabilized oil pressure

• Protection of bearings and crankshaft

• Absolute confidence in fast corners

👉 This is THE single most important missing part.

2️⃣ Racing baffled oil pan (or upgrade of the existing one)

The XL oil pan is good, but not optimized for modern track use.

To add:

• Internal baffles

• Trap doors

• Scraper + windage tray

Benefits:

• Constant oil pickup

• Reduced oil sloshing

• More stable oil pressure even before adding an Accusump

3️⃣ High-flow remote oil filter

The oil system is brand new, which makes this the perfect time to add it.

Benefits:

• Reduced pressure losses

• Cooler oil temperatures

• Easier maintenance

• Better control of oil pressure and temperature delta (ΔT)

👉 Combined with the oil cooler, this setup is extremely coherent.

4️⃣ “Track-grade” engine instrumentation

At the moment, the ERA 308 is very well equipped, but it lacks fine-grained visibility.

To add:

• Oil pressure at pump outlet

• Oil pressure after the filter

• Oil temperature before / after the cooler

• Permanent wideband AFR

Benefits:

• Precise engine tuning

• Early detection of issues before failure

• More aggressive yet safer engine exploitation

5️⃣ Crankcase ventilation + dual-chamber catch can

Very important on a high-torque FE engine.

Effects:

• Reduced internal crankcase pressure

• Better piston ring sealing

• Cleaner oil return

• Indirectly stabilized oil pressure

👉 An invisible upgrade, but clearly race-level.

6️⃣ Finer carburetion tuning (OPTIONAL)

The Holley 750 is a solid choice, but if you want the last 5%:

• Upgrade to a Holley Ultra HP

• Machined spacer (tapered open)

• Turkey Pan mandatory

Benefits:

• Sharper throttle response

• Better fuel atomization

• Cleaner mid-range torque

7️⃣ ULTIMATE OPTION (for intensive track use)

👉 4-stage dry sump system

This moves the car into another league:

• ZERO oil pressure fluctuation

• Crankcase vacuum

• Total endurance

But it is a major undertaking and not essential at the current level.

🏆 CLEAR SUMMARY

The Cobra ERA 308 is:

• ✅ Very well prepared

• ✅ Reliable

• ✅ High-performing

• ❌ Not yet “zero-compromise track”

The 5 smartest additions:

1. Accusump

2. Oil pan baffling

3. Remote oil filter

4. Full oil instrumentation

5. Racing crankcase ventilation

👉 With these upgrades, you get a Cobra that can be pushed hard without second-guessing, which is rare.