The Virginia Muscle Car

George's FF Daytona FY2023 First Quarter Progress







Induction System Upgrade


A carburetor and manifold upgrade was done. because original Cobra coupes had four Weber carbs, The present setup was: Edlebrock 650 cfm four bbl and Performer RPM manifold. Also there was Snow Performance (www.snowperformance.eu/en) (www.snowperformance.eu/en) methanol-water system for octane boost. The upgrade was a complete, ready to install induction system that included four Weber carburetors, intake manifold, linkage, fuel lines and pressure regulator. This system was designed and assembled by Jim Inglese (jiminglese.com) Carbs are Weber IDF 48 with 40 chokes. (His web site jiminglese.com says he “ ...tuned three of the original Daytona Coupes over the years at various times and in different places, ...” )



New Weber carburetors in place and intake manifold torque sequence on paper.


Distributor Upgrade



A smaller Pertronix “stock look distributor” was used to get better clearance to carbs. The previous distributor was a Pertronix billet unit with Ignitor II module. As an upgrade, the new distributor has the Ignitor III dual spark module with internal rev limiter and uses a higher current coil. Now going with stock look black color cap and Pertronix 7MM “Stock Look” black plug wires. In addition, the Pertronix distributor gear was replaced with a Melonized gear from COMP Cams(as seen below), Without question, this gear is compatible with Comp Cams hydraulic roller camshafts material. Gear installation followed the very good on-line instructions found at https://www.craigscobras.com/tips/distgear/


COMP Cams Melonized Distributor Gears 431M


Plug Wire Upgrade



New stock look distributor with new black wires.

Fuel Change

Because alcohol/water injection system (for octane boost) was removed, will try Torco octane boost fuel tank additive; CR is 10.8:1)


First Firing with new Webers

Started car for the first time with the new Webers. Started in one second; never done that before. Just depressed gas pedal once to prime. Followed the excellent carb adjustment instructions that were included with carburetor system along with some road tests for further adjustments. Engine really runs great and performance has definitely increased.


Crank Case Breather System Upgrade

Because PCV (was part of old carb, manifold and valve cover breathers) is gone, a new crankcase breather system with breather caps, hoses, breather catch can with air filter was constructed and installed. A typical off-the-shelf valve cover breather (below) has a small 3/8” barb hose fitting for 3/8” hose.





In order to use larger diam. hose, two similar style, billet aluminum breathers (speedwaymotors.com) (pic below) were modified (hole drilled and tapped) to use AN fittings and -8 AN 1/2” hose and. (see pics). The 8 small holes were blocked with silicon caulk. One breather and hose are used for each valve cover. The two hoses connect to breather catch can and its air filter.





Breather catch can from Summit Racing. Billet breather is from Speedway Motors; very good quality.






More later. ~George



TheVAmusclecar Home Page