Ever installed or ran Cobra Power Motors
 

I would love to get some feedback from all of you who have ran, installed Cobra motors. I am considering going with either Cobra 675(540 cubic inch) or 725 (572 cubic inch)motors in place of my 500efi for my 37 Active Thunder. I was looking for some feedback on reilability, engine idle, durability etc... Thanks for the input. ;) :)

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: thunderdan ]

Call me.

hmmmmm. was that a "good" call me
or a "bad" call me..??

Just curious.. :)

should be a good "call me"...COBRA has been around for a while and a lot of the manufacturers seem to be using them.

It was neither. I haven't had any personal experience with Cobra, rather I was just telling Dan to give me a call.

I say tell us all, dont sugarcoat anything, the hell with being discreet :p

cobra has a bad repituation in sfla used parts in "new" motors ,oil leaks,not all parts sent with package,POOR RELIABILITY :eek: :eek:

GOFSTCAT, have you used Cobra motors in your rigging or is this hear say. Have you ever worked for COBRA.

Yea, that makes sense, two guys that sell parts, or rigging, give me something concrete instead of bull****

yea i am a rigger and i worked for the former owner and IHAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLAGE
AND HANDS ON EXPERIANCE

Goodfella - if you ONLY have 10 years, then you're still a young one...some of what you say is true, Churchill and Garciga did split, but your assumption is not. Sounds like you may have the office manager that Garciga let go when he scaled back. If you knew the entire story, you would not have made your remarks. Even MerCruiser lets a bad one out here and there, and so has Eickert, and Sterling, and Pfaff. What should mean more is, Garciga is still in business after all these years, still selling engines to Outerlimits, Hustler, Fountain, and so on, because why? Rumor has it, he DOES stand behind his work! I would suggest that anyone who is considering the COBRA option to contact them directly, see what they have to say and talk to some of the people and/or manufacturers who use them...don't listen to some jealous guy who is clueless and only going on here-say!

Jass & Dan, I don't have first hand knowledge, but I have certainly heard the same things he has said. An engine builder out on the east coast has personally told me that the people from Cobra call him several times throughout the year asking for any used parts. Anyway, it sounds like Goodfella/Gofstcat have first hand knowledge and merrit to what they're saying.

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: KAAMA ]

WHY is it that it is "always" someone heard something from someone else, that sometime ago someones friend heard something else?

Until now, the only reason why I have responded is because of what is being said on this thread relates to what I have heard myself from a reputable engine builder on the east coast. I suppose if a person is really "bent" on having an engine built by someone that he can go buy the parts himself and take it to the engine builder and stand over him and watch him assemble the engine with those parts, but that itsn't going to happend in one day. He can still cannibilize/swap old parts and you may never know it. Or you can pay the engine builder the $$$ for all new parts with the assumption that those "new" parts are going into YOUR "new" engine(s)...and still you may never know. Personally, I prefer to use a local engine builder who has a good reputation that I can walk in on any time.

Well listen you guys, we're all big boys now, you can make your own call on this.

Look, bottom line, Hear say too me is bull****, opinions are like *******s, everyone got one, including myself. What the post should have said was: I would like to hear from the owners of Cobra motors, guys that have the motors in their boats, not riggers, not former employees, and not hear say. I do appreciate your comments, and do not have a beef with you two guys, what ACTIVE THUNDER DAN and I want is the same thing, a reliable motor in an awesome boat, and would like to hear from someone who has them installed in their boat, Thanks again for everyones comments. :)

I agree with you KAAMA, we have an excellent builder around the New Orleans area, I believe his name is Mark Booze, (might have mispelled) I am also looking down that avenue, then again that doesnt help A.T.Dan because he,s in NJ.

I have talked to randy and he seemed to be a stand up person. hanks to those who have responded, but, I would like to hear from people who have installed and used COBRA POWER. I know that Cobra supplies engines to Cigarette, Hustler, Outerlimits and Fountian. Randy also told me he will be happy to give me the names and numbers of as many people who use his power as I want. I appreciate the input, and now would like to hear from those who have it, had it, or installed them. :)

If I were thunderdan and wanted to use an engine builder in my area I would use either
Skip at MRD (Marine Research and Development)
Long island N.Y./ Kurts Competition Marine Brick N.J./ Pro Roc Marine Brick N.J. All are very reputable and honest engine builders in dan's area.

Goodfella & ThunderDan,

I'm not sure on the spelling eithere, But if you didn't already know Tommy Hoffstetter is ( Chief Engine's ). I was at his shop during the World's in November. We picked up a couple of blown 900hp 572's. Awesome work and they run great. Hell of a guy as wellas his whole crew. He is in Ft. Lauderdale.

CougarMan

Just ask Steve at AT. He has known them for years.

Hi Chuck,

Who has Steve at AT known for years ?

Cougarman

Steve knew them I believe back when they were C&G and I have been with Steve with Randy Garciga at Poker Runs 3or4 years ago and I've been to the cobra shop and was impressed. They built some engines for a friends Cafe..The only problem I have seen with custom motors, no matter who they are built by, is if there is a problem they have to go back to their shop. A lot of down time. At least with Merc the problem can be fixed with a phone call and Fed Ex usuallyBut custom motorsd have made friends boats really run, look good and sound great!!!! Just my 2cents!

In my conversations with Randy, he told me the engines do not have to be serviced or repaired back at his shop in Fla. He has shops all around that can do his work. He also said that he will fed ex out any parts that are needed next day if needed. He told me he stands behind his engines and gave me his home number and cell phone number to call with any questions. :)

Hey Cougarman,
Take a look at my profile, I deal with almost every engine builder in South Florida. Tommy is AWESOME! Down to earth and doesn't pull any punches. Builds awesome product for the price!
T-BONE RULES!!!!!!! :D :D :D

I don't claim to know anything about the builders but I did notice a few years back when IN-XS was racing and had C&G's they broke them a lot ! I don't know why ,driver or builder ,who knows .But also noticed several others at that time with motors from C&G had a lot of problems . Again ,I am not blaming the builder .I don't know why they broke .

I have been told to ,and agree with using a local builder . (If you can find one you trust ), THat way if you have problems you can get local help .You don't have to haul the boat to florida every time it needs something . Also if they do screw ya it's easier to hand your hands around their neck !! :mad: I am in the same "boat" . I need motors redone and can't figure out who I trust . I get good reports and bad reports on the same people from every one .And it is all first hand experience . I broke a motor around August and still haven't done anything about it because I don't trust anybody . I have done a lot of motors for race cars and street rods in the past and used a lot of big name people around me and they all sucked ! :mad: MY last street rod had 4 motors in 2500 miles ! Sure he kept fixing it but why ? And of course there was always something I had to pay for !

If anyone knows of a perfect machine shop in the north east ,please tell me !

THanks

Hey Boot,
Look at my previous post you should consider some of those builders in joisy.

I had G&G motors in 2 different Apache's, and loved them. Raced their 572" blower motors in 1990-1, and never broke one.
I did change to Carolina Racing for rebuilds, but only because Smitty was alot less expensive than Randy. Later switched to Merc 1000's, because of a sponsor deal, and blew one in the first race in Key West.
Merc stood behind their product, but so did C&G.

My .02 is look at what is on the race boats and doing well. It is hard to argue with checkered flags and finished races. Zinetex, Drambuie,Virgin,DonQ.

My choice is a merc or if i go for something extra i re-search and choose a custom builder close by as to avoid the down time of shipping motors across the country.

ApachePete - Great to hear from someone with "actual" hands on EXPERIENCE.

Thanks APACHEPETE, anyone else out there with simuliar experiences, apprieciate the info. :D

ThunderDan-
I have to agree with `boot' on the engine builder's proximity to you.
What about Blue Lightning Marine? I've heard they build great engines, stand behind their work, and enjoy a great reliability record.
Plus, they're much closer to you (Cos Cob, CT)
Jim

Jafo,

thought about them, and if it was going to factor in location and proximity I would also look hard at Richie Zul. Lots of research to be done.

Apache pete,

thanks for the hands on insight. :D

I have been monitoring this board from time to time for quite some time and never considered participating until now. I decided to go through the registration process and become an active member and join in on the discussions. I am not interested in the bashing and negative comments that some others seem to enjoy. Instead, I will perticipate in a positive way and give my 2 cents when it seems like it may help. Local builders may seem to be a convenience, but this is only necessary if the engines are not dependable. Is the boat builder local to you? I doubt it. You need to talk to those who are/have actually used the engines. Ask Cobra for a few names of those who are currently using there power, and ask them what their expereinces are. Good luck. :)

AirSpeedEng. cool handle, What do you do? Anything we can use? Welcome to the board.

Airspeedengineering, welcome, and refreshing to have you on the board :D

AirSpeedEng. welcome to the board.

Okay you guys, here are just some thoughts to consider in this discussion...just another way of looking at it:

With all due respect, as we know, engines are filled with a ton of moving parts that are trying to work in harmony and relationship with each other. And I think we can all agree that the chance for error is multiplied because of it. Therefore, there are more failures with engines than there are with boats and the fiberglass they're made out of. Engine failure and hull failure, do not really seem like a fair comparison. The structure of boats shouldn't have moving parts and if they DO move, well...something is surely wrong. Man, there are just too many moving parts in an engine for something to go wrong.

My point being; beyond the relm of MerCruiser, personaly I would rather deal with an engine builder on a local level who I think is reputable with marine hi-perf engines. That way, if there's an oil leak or something that needs adjustment or whatever, it can be delt with by that same local business vs some other engine building business in another state. With them being in another state across the country somewhere...are they really going to come fix it?...especially if the customer has no idea what is going on with the engine(s) even though it may be something very simple? They want you to BRING/SEND your boat and engines to them...don't they? And if they DO have you bring it to someone else they trust who may be close by to do their warranty work for them...and I know you get what you pay for, but would it not just be better to perhaps have the local performance marine business build the engines in the first place? A person may have to do a little digging, but if you live near the water, there are people who are just as intellegent, have experience, and are just as capable with marine performance engines as some of the big name companies across the country. From what I have seen, they usually charge a whole lot more money than the local guy and BIG NAME engine builders charge the BIG $$$ for people who either don't know any better, or have the BIG $$$ themselves and it doesn't really matter to them, they just want to go boating NOW! Look at the cost of some of the Sterling engines...approximately $68,000 for ONE...yes just ONE of their HI-ZOOT engines!...and people are buying them in pairs! Therefore, I am not saying the BIG companies do not have their place in the market...they can expand and market themselves how they want...it's the American way, and if people have the BIG $$$ and can justify spending that kind of money on that kind of power(and they can break as well) then that is their choice.

The marine industry is not a cheap industry as it is...the call of the water is very powerful to people and so is SPEED and the need or addiction to go fast or faster...it just does something to us! It's the final frontier! And I am just trying to look at this performance marine engine building subject from a more practical view point. I am sure there are other view points and opinions that can be shared here. That's what makes it interesting.

Jass & Dan, I apologize if you feel if I had stolen your thread as related to your original question, however it is still somewhat related to the subject. This post of mine is a little more "long winded" than what I had intended...the more I thought about the subject at hand the more I kept typing. If I could I would switch over to a new topic and start a new thread but at this point I don't know how switch it over to a "knew topic" from here...sorry :( Mark

[ 01-13-2002: Message edited by: KAAMA ]

The thought has entered my mind, and I am also exploring that avenue. The resale to me would be better with a more recognizable engine builder like Sterling, K.E., Chief, and Cobra, and bottom line buying 4 is better than two, and I dont have a problem with your posts, I apprieciete the info :D

Thunderdan:
Why not whipple charging your current engines ?????
I think that would be a less expensive and reliable project.
What do you have for drives??

Doc, Thunderdan and Jassman have both ordered 2002 37 stepped-bottom Active Thunders. Both are being built but neither is finished as such, they have no power nor drives at the moment. They are rapidly approaching the drop-dead date for finalizing the drive and power options. They both were originally looking at 500EFIs with Bravo XRs and then Whippling later down the line. However, both are considering getting bigger power now and trying to break 100mph or so. So, they are looking at Cobra in addition to the other custom builders.

You've used some custom power, maybe you could share your personal experience with the different companies you've used?

Kamma,
no worries my friend. You bring up some great points.

Doc,

I was trying to stay with a natural aspirated motor. Miller is correct, I have xr drives already and considering the whipple. But I was thinking of just doing the larger power up front. Still trying to decide.

Miller,

Got your e-mail and will take you up on your offer. :D