Authentic components for a period-correct replica ...or a 100-point restoration.
Over the years, I've restored countless Weber carburetion systems, many of which were on original Cobras and race cars. In the old days, I even tweaked the Webers on two of the original Cobra Daytona Coupes.
Rebuilding so many of those original carburetion units gave me an opportunity to see how they really came from Shelby's race shop. The funny thing was that at the time, I never thought too much about it. Being around those cars and tuning their carburetion was simply "what I did". It proved to be a valuable history lesson because now, authenticity is important to many customers.
The Weber-carbureted Cobras, Daytona Coupes, and GT40's used a lot of special components, some of which were handmade as needed. Today, with the advent of the replica car business, there is a renewed demand for some of these parts, which I now manufacture ...thanks to water jet cutting and other modern technologies that allow us to duplicate them without making them all by hand each time.
I'm very proud to be the only supplier of exact reproductions of the original parts and components that these Weber-carbureted cars used, just as they were, the way the factory and Ford parts departments offered them. We specialize in Cobra and GT40 carburetion and fuel injection systems with the details and authenticity of the originals. Our GT40 assemblies can also be ordered with the distinct "turkey pan" that sets them apart.
Shown below are some of the special components that will make your restoration or period-correct replica more accurate.
Weber carburetion system for 289 Cobra
The replica COBRA units are available in 2 styles: opposed or non-opposed carburetor layout. Many of the Cobra factory race cars had "opposed" carburetors (arranged back-to-back). Others were equipped with non-opposed manifolds, so either is correct. Non-opposed manifolds appeared on the following Cobra race cars: CSX2385; Ken Miles' CSX2431 #98; factory team car CSX 2121; and the 1964 Willment Daytona Coupe, SC2131. Waternecks can be ordered with right or left exit (left exit shown). Early-style clamps are included. Billet aluminum inline thermostat housing is supplied in natural aluminum, can be painted black, and accepts a GM thermostat. The one-piece, machine-crimped fuel harness with special brass fittings is just like the one supplied in the 60's before the advent of braided stainless hose and -AN fittings.
The photo below shows our 289 FIA Cobra induction unit with competition fuel lines and throttle linkage on Blake Olsen's Cobra. We also sell the valve covers and breathers you see here.
Factory-style linkage kit from carburetion to gas pedal
Connecting linkage kit
Turkey pans
All Ford inductions can be ordered with a turkey pan. Below is our GT40 pan that looks just like an original 1965 GT40 race car setup. These are available for GT40's and Daytona Coupes with any induction unit.
Just in case you missed it on the EFI 8-stack page, our GT40 turkey pan is shown here. The top plate can be added as an option. This one is fitted to our EFI that looks just like Weber carburetors. GT40 8-stack induction systems are our specialty here.
Fuel System Options: Competition and Street
The 289 Cobra FIA competition cars had a very unique waterneck that was hand-fabricated entirely from steel tubing with a fuel log mounted on top. This waterneck was exclusive to the competition cars, which all ran Weber carburetion. The fuel lines went to all 4 carburetors individually from the fuel log, rather than in a wrap-around harness, as seen on the street cars. This is sometimes referred to as the "octopus" fuel line setup. I now offer a 100% accurate reproduction of this unique waterneck, and the cost is $595. This is a 100-point, historically-correct item made from an original part (special thanks to Cobra Automotive, Wallingford, CT). Drawings for this piece are now stored in AutoCad to ensure a perfect reproduction each time. To the best of my knowledge, there is no other source on the planet for this part.
Special banjo fittings are required on each carburetor for 3/8" I.D. hose (see photo below left). These fittings are not available anywhere, so I now have them fabricated and yellow cad plated; cost is $28 each. The parts for a real FIA fuel system are labor-intensive to make, and are a work of art. The FIA fuel line option isn't for everyone, but it's a must-have for anyone wanting a perfect FIA reproduction, and these parts are dead-on correct.
Fuel line details
Here's a testimonial sent to me by customer John Andrews. He included a short video to let me hear the engine in his Mustang. It sounds just the soundtrack from the chase scene in Bullit.
Jim,
I wanted to share a video of the car running. The system you sent me works great! I am so happy with it. My buddy shot this quick 8 second video of a normal drive around town. Once we finish the side window install on the car I’ll send you pictures of the car with your system installed. My wife loves it!
--John Andrews