COPO owners/racers
 

I just got selected to purchase a 2018 COPO.

For those that have purchased a COPO in years past and with the honeymoon over, would you do it again, would you chose the same engine package, are you happy with the overall quality of the build and how much did it cost you after the purchase to really be competitive?

What engine would chose today and why?

Thanks in advance for your honest replies.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

I would seriously suggest getting in touch with Daren Poole-Adams or better known as Gump on here. He has several and knows alot about the ins and outs of them. Good luck

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Wow great news Ed , as far as engine combos goes depends on if you want to race the factory shoot out , or just run stock or go big tire superstock .You might call Jack at his dealer ship in Pa .

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

thanks for the replies. Just got off the phone with the program director. Got some calls to make.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

I can be reached at 704-692-0860.

Congratulations on getting "The Call",

Daren

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

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Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Patterson Racing Engines has built some fast COPOs for people.
You might try to call, and ask for Todd @ 316-775-7771.
They can build it for you, or sell you the correct parts. Good people to deal with.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Or if you want to go real fast call Daivd Barton they treat you right!

Love my car and wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

what year and engine?

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

I was selected last year and received my car in July. I went through the same questions as you. I was torn between the 427 and supercharged 350. I reached out to Jim Boburka from Jim Crivelli Chevrolet (he owns and races one with a 427 and sells a lot of COPOs through his dealer). After speaking with him, Dave Barton and a few others I settled on the supercharged 350 as I plan on racing it in stock, but if in a year or so I put some more into it then I could consider the factory stock showdown events if I wanted to.

I've gotten testing runs done with the car over a few different days am very happy with how these cars drive. The only drawbacks to the supercharged 350 that I've found is that you need to bring a lot of ice with you to the track for the intercooler, and that it only comes from the factory with a mechanical water pump, where the NA cars have an electric so you can cool it down faster between runs. The other drawback is that the car comes with an 8.5 second cage and the 350 will run that pretty much out of the box, if you plan on going faster you need to up it to a 25.5 cage.

Barton has been very helpful to us with advice and tips on what we should be thinking about for the future with the car, and we ultimately bought our car from Jim Boburka and Joe Horgan at Jim Crivelli Chevrolet, and they were a big help.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Like Gump said congrads on getting "the call", but that's just the beginning.

Been there done that.

Give me a call at 985-232-0531 and we can go over the "after's".

Jerry

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Just an FYI that you guys disclosing your telephone numbers are exposing yourself to robocalls and other shenanigans. Use characters other than "-" in the number or spell out some of the numbers. Companies have programs that search public forums for telephone numbers and if they can pin that to your name then you'll have two strikes against you.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Thanks for the replies.

Before I ever got selected I knew buying the car was just the beginning LOTS more $ to be competitive in stock, no mind the factory show down class which I will never compete in.

bsimms89, so any regrets going with the SC 350 or would you chose it again? I already spoke to Mike Pustelny amongst others and aware of the 8.50 chassis cert and the cost6 to upgrade which again, I won't need.

Would prefer to speak over the phone with you and those that wouldn't mind PMing your #.


Thanks again, ED

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

302, 427 and SC 350 are the only engines offered for 2018

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

I'm happy with the 350, going to probably buy a large ice maker to keep in our shop though and some coolers to bring to the track rather than having to buy ice to bring every time I go, that's really the only hassle with it. But the icemaker will also be useful to us because our crews could use it for their drinks and lunches before heading to jobs in the summer and for our own use for fishing or bbq's or anything.

All we're really doing to it this winter is installing a 2 step, a racepak system, and a couple minor things on the motor and we should be all set to go next season. I had it down to the 8.6's consistently our first time out just rolling onto the gas since it doesn't come with a 2 step and I hadn't done anything with the tune yet and flooring it would just spin the tires.

One reason we didn't go with the 427 was some people who race it said they got hit a little with the index and was harder this year for that motor to compete and that the 350 was still good. The 2017 had a choice of the SC350, the 427, direct injected 6.2L(376ci), but it is also allowed to run a 409 but that engine wasn't available to be bought with the car so idk where they got the permission to run it but it is in the rulebook.

I'll pm my phone number later.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

thanks

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

X2 on the Pattersons...

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

I just got a 2017 Copo 350 supercharged My question to all you Copo guys what have you found to be the best way to get into it, the space between the door bar and the steering wheel is mighty slim. I am 173 and 6 ft and it really tough getting in. What is the trick?
Fastlane

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

[QUOTE=fastlane;553763]I just got a 2017 Copo 350 supercharged My question to all you Copo guys what have you found to be the best way to get into it, the space between the door bar and the steering wheel is mighty slim. I am 173 and 6 ft and it really tough getting in. What is the trick?
Fastlane[/QUOTE Right foot first then slide in over the side bar. Just remember if something happens your not going through a side window.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

I thought I saw a Copo with tilt steering??? This is always nice in any car.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

We have a 2012 first run COPO. I am 6'2" and 240, I go in head first.

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Same, I'm 6'1" 230lbs with a 2017 and go in head and right foot first, not too tight

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

Put in a removeable steering wheel. Would help gain some room

Re: COPO owners/racers
 

I’m 6’8” 295 and can get in and out of my car with a little squeeze! Head first hands down.