The Cobra Adventure

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Discussion

Waitey

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

227 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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samoht said:
Very cool, the depth of your knowledge shows through, clearly a Cobra Connoisseur.

The quote about Backdraft taking the geometry from the E36 M3 is interesting - presumably this has double wishbones upfront though, rather than the E36's McPherson struts? Or not?

Will be interested to hear your driving impressions once you get more miles in it.

anonymous said:
[redacted]
https://www.mickeythompsontires.com/drag-tires
Might not be overly clear but yes, its running a McPherson strut at the front.



The rear uses all E36 pars, inc the Diff, diff cradle, trailing arms, spring mounts and lower arms.


Edited by Waitey on Tuesday 21st February 09:38

Waitey

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

227 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
quotequote all
B'stard Child said:
If the OP still has them please feel free to take "first place" - your need would be far greater than mine (70's Opel)
Very gracious. PH can be a bit of a st show sometimes, good to see there are still some good forum go'ers.

Resolutionary

1,290 posts

176 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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The stuff of dreams. Love the wood wheel too, perfect addition.

I live on a road absolutely crammed with shopping dross and warm hatches; there is a very small consortium of residents who own something more unique, or have a weekend toy tucked away - we've a chap up the road with a garaged / seldom seen C3 Corvette which I can hear from about 10 houses down every now and then when the sun is out, and I always make a point of thumbs-up or similar to let him know that I, for one, wholly approve.

Everyone else can just lump it laugh

Muzzer79

10,811 posts

192 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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That's really cool OP.

Awesome thumbup

samoht

6,086 posts

151 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Waitey said:
Might not be overly clear but yes, its running a McPherson strut at the front.

The rear uses all E36 pars, inc the Diff, diff cradle, trailing arms, spring mounts and lower arms.
Interesting, as you say it makes sense to take something that's known to work fairly well.

Resolutionary said:
Love the wood wheel too, perfect addition.
Indeed - the Nismo wheel would have me anticipating seeing an SR20DET under the bonnet wink

rev-erend

21,510 posts

289 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Can an E36 diff handle the power of a 427 Ford lump?

Waitey

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

227 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
quotequote all
rev-erend said:
Can an E36 diff handle the power of a 427 Ford lump?
Yeah they are good for 600bhp - 600lb/ft.

B'stard Child

29,031 posts

251 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Waitey said:
B'stard Child said:
If the OP still has them please feel free to take "first place" - your need would be far greater than mine (70's Opel)
Very gracious. PH can be a bit of a st show sometimes, good to see there are still some good forum go'ers.
Well I sort of saw it as "everyone could get a result" - I only really need one for my track car project/rebuild - if Jon needs a pair and only has one in his Lotus currently we could all be sorted with a little coin changing hands all round.

Daft plan or genius I have no idea biggrin

Paul S4

1,200 posts

215 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Really like your Cobra.

A few years ago I recall watching a series with that vet chap (Mark Evans ?) who built a replica. He fitted the side pipes mainly for ground clearance....apparently he wanted to use it for farm visits (!!)

It's only my opinion....but weren't the early Cobra fitted with the rear pipes...?

And as far as the sound issue, I once had a 1970 Elan S4SE that I fitted a stainless steel twin pipe rear box to....it looked OEM but against all advice from a classic Lotus mechanic pal, it was too loud and caused a few neighbour issues. Also it was too loud for my long road trips up to Scotland....
so in the end I reverted to a standard Sprint rear box which was much better and kept everyone happy.....!!

Waitey

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

227 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
quotequote all
Paul S4 said:
Really like your Cobra.

A few years ago I recall watching a series with that vet chap (Mark Evans ?) who built a replica. He fitted the side pipes mainly for ground clearance....apparently he wanted to use it for farm visits (!!)

It's only my opinion....but weren't the early Cobra fitted with the rear pipes...?

And as far as the sound issue, I once had a 1970 Elan S4SE that I fitted a stainless steel twin pipe rear box to....it looked OEM but against all advice from a classic Lotus mechanic pal, it was too loud and caused a few neighbour issues. Also it was too loud for my long road trips up to Scotland....
so in the end I reverted to a standard Sprint rear box which was much better and kept everyone happy.....!!
Yes the early cars, with the smaller V8's ran the pipes under the cars.

The 427's esp the race ones carried side pipes.

InitialDave

12,163 posts

124 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Nice project, 3 series based, never heard of that before.

Interesting you mention the bodies being from South Africa, seems to be a lot of experience with GRP there, Noble had their stuff made out there too, IIRC.

seefarr

1,521 posts

191 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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What a wonderful thing. I've been a passenger in one with a warm Chev 350 that would also happily light up the tyres at seemingly any speed / gear even on a warm day. I think it's a feature.

Waitey said:
When I got it, I didn’t really show the interior. It had a Nismo wheel FFS....
What were they thinking with the 1400 stickers on the side and the wheel? Presumably the next step was a massive hydro handbrake for sick drifting action? Good job on rescuing it!

Sammo123

2,123 posts

186 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Absolutely love this! I've always admired the various Cobras and yours looks amazing!

What the hell was the deal with the Nismo steering wheel?! Why on earth would someone fit that to something like this?

rev-erend

21,510 posts

289 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Waitey said:
rev-erend said:
Can an E36 diff handle the power of a 427 Ford lump?
Yeah they are good for 600bhp - 600lb/ft.
Tough little diff then.


biggrin

Waitey

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

227 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
quotequote all
InitialDave said:
Nice project, 3 series based, never heard of that before.

Interesting you mention the bodies being from South Africa, seems to be a lot of experience with GRP there, Noble had their stuff made out there too, IIRC.
Only 3 series parts are the suspension, brakes and diff. Good idea really.

Volvolover

2,036 posts

46 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
quotequote all
Lovely car, really love what you've done so far too. Excellent taste


Please please please please leave some 11's outside the 6 doors down neighbours house on a regular basis and update the thread tongue out

Waitey

Original Poster:

1,008 posts

227 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
quotequote all
seefarr said:
What a wonderful thing. I've been a passenger in one with a warm Chev 350 that would also happily light up the tyres at seemingly any speed / gear even on a warm day. I think it's a feature.

Waitey said:
When I got it, I didn’t really show the interior. It had a Nismo wheel FFS....
What were they thinking with the 1400 stickers on the side and the wheel? Presumably the next step was a massive hydro handbrake for sick drifting action? Good job on rescuing it!
One sticker was covering a mark in the paint.... (I knew that'd be the case)... the other 50 were just there for fun.

The last owner said the wood wheel was slippery. Which they are but you get used to it.

It did come with a fake wooden wheel. I wasn't using that!

InitialDave

12,163 posts

124 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
quotequote all
Waitey said:
Only 3 series parts are the suspension, brakes and diff. Good idea really.
Still a new one to me, certainly not what I'd expect from an American design.

anonymous-user

59 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Awesome, I’d love a cobra, I actually liked the stickers too. And please do keep us updated with the neighbours!

MrBig

3,046 posts

134 months

Wednesday 28th April 2021
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Waitey said:
In the USA you can apply for a historic title. The Ford Windsor Engine in this is a 1964. So it got awarded 1964 US Title.

When it was imported, the DVLA would only go off its official South Carolina title which was a 1964 Ford based Historic vehicle title.
Bit of a result. So many similar cars have the shine taken off them for me when they are wearing a 'modern' plate, whether that's from the year it was built or an 80's reg from the sierra the running gear came from!

Again, stunning car and thanks for sharing!