Cobber's Cobra

[Cobber]

That's probably the kit them. My wife drives an MX5 and I told her the turbo was on it's way out a few weeks ago. She said I had better get some prices for a new one and get it fixed. Should be an interesting project...... Bless her.

Here are a couple more pics of yesterday's efforts of turning the body shell into Swiss cheese and making the brackets for the fuel tank.

I will be in The UK mid next year, It would be good to catch up if possible.

 

[Tonyd]

Hi Cobber,

The kit is looking good. The front arches remind me of a kit here called the Viper, which is a nightmare to put together. The chassis doesn't fit the body and the body is too short for the doors. I kid you not.

It would be great to meet up over here, I live just South of Birmingham, 25 miles away from Stratford and the Cotswolds.

Cheers,

Tony

 

[Drewpee]

Hi Cobber,

Is your kit a MKI or a MKII?

 

[Cobber]

Drewpee,

It's the small block chassis and the new body, they don't sell the old body anymore

Tony,

I will be visiting the family in and around Stroud in the Cotswolds so it's not too far away at all. Great part of the world, I have not been back for 12 years. I suspect there may be a few changes but those beautiful rolling hills of the Cotswold's will always be the same.

Here is a few pictures of the weekends efforts.

All the lights fitted and all the holes cut into the body shell and body dropped on the chassis for a test fit.

Beer stopped play in the afternoon session but the Christmas break may see a bit more completed.

 

[Tonyd]

Hi Cobber,

Drop by when you're over here we should have at least one Cobra road legal and running by then.

Your engine and gearbox seem to be a little further forward in the engine bay than mine, although to get the engine and box sitting back as far as we could we had to sacrifice some width on the footwells.

We got a weight distribution of 46% front and 54% rear using the Beemer lump and we reckon we have the same again with the front of the engine sitting quite a way behind the front wheels. It made for mid engine sports car type handling on the last Cobra which was great fun and very helpful in a 90" wheelbase car with approaching 300bhp per tonne.

Its below freezing here atm so its new kitchen and bathroom time rather than working in the garage, although I did get Friday eving and Saturday off decorating and tiling to go and get another 1UZFE engine as a spare for when I blow mine up. I'll have to start a new thread with the full story.

We've got three now, and thinking about a fourth, I think I need therapy.

Cheers,

Tony

 

[Drewpee]

Wow Cobber thats the lighter chassis. The MkII must be just about over kill. The body looks great, hardly needs paint.

 

[Cobber]

Tony,

I will make a point to meet up, I will be in contact closer to the time.
I moved the engine forward slightly to keep the foot well room and also make it close to 50 50 weight distribution.

Drewpee,

The bigger chassis is only realy required for the big blocks because they are so heavy. Your right the body is so good it only requires minimum work before paint. I will drive it in gel coat for a while mainly because I can't mke up my mind what colour to paint it.


And just to contrast the temperature it's high 30's here with 38c booked in for Christmas day.

Have a good safe Christmas all.

 

[Cobber]

A few more hot days in the shed and the cobra is starting to look a bit more like a car.

The wheels are just to roll it around on and of course to calibrate the rear wheel grip when she's running.

Next jobs are radiator and side pipes.

Hope we all had a good Christmas and are getting ready for a few more drinks tonight for New year uke:

 

[Cobra]

"Calibrate the rear wheel grip"
Love it.

 

[Cobber]

Well after a few weeks hard yakka the cobra is finally registered and on the road.

Can't stop grinning and going to the shops for bread, then back for milk, then back for the paper, then back for etc etc you get the idea.

Thanks to everyone that has helped and advised through the build.
Dave Mr Lextreme himself, John C, Cobra, Peewee, Rod and a whole heap of others. Many thanks.

Still plenty of jobs to do including paint and trim if can find some spare time when I'm not driving it.

The build in pictures
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl0gYCHU_yk

First start with Adaptroninic ecu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CTpYHxOlO4

A run up in the hills, a sedate pull away and run up through the gears.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_0-5lvAo-I

The supercharger will go back on during the winter for a bit more added mumbo.

 

[JBrady]

Beautiful and intoxicating... I love it!

 

[Cobber]

Thanks Mr Brady,

It's taken nearly 4 years to get it to this stage and I would estimate another 2 to get it the way I want it.

Just need to pop back up the shops I forgot to buy some cheese.

 

[cribbj]

Andy, it's always great to reach that point where you fire it up and drive it, isn't it? Especially when it runs right! Congratulations, and well done.

 

[Zuffen]

Andy,

I know just how you feel.

We always seem to need some more milk!

 

[Cobber]

Time for another update.

Over the last 6 months or so I have been busy painting the cobra. I set up my shed as a paint shop complete with a $15 fan in the door and $1.50 plastic drop sheets. This worked amazingly well as the static from the dust sheets also attracted any paint and dust.

I have never painted a car before so it was a fairly long process nights and weekends making sure I got all things right. I would estimate 100 hrs body prep, 4 coats base coat and 6 coats clear. All painted with a $49 Super Cheap spray gun.

The pictures tell the story.

Glasurit Dodge Viper Blue with silver stripes.

Thanks for everyone's advice and help on here over the period of this build.

Specifications.

G Force Cobra Chassis & body
90 inch wheelbase
Jaguar xjs V12 modified front & rear suspension and brakes
QA1 adjustable springs & shocks all round
Jag power lock diff 3.31:1
Std un opened 1UZFE Lexus V8
R 154 Supra twin turbo gearbox
Nissan Skyline heavy duty Cero metallic button race clutch
Harrop TVS 1900 supercharger 75mm pulley (11psi boost)
1 3/4" extractors
Stainless steel side pipes
Twin in tank hi flow Walbro fuel pumps
8 x 7MGTE 440cc injectors
Water methanol injection
Adaptronic 420c ecu
Traction control (user adjustable or off)
Launch control
Flat shift
Dual fuel & timing maps (for water meth injection and tank low level)
17" Pin drive knock on Halibrad wheels
Tyres
315x35x17 rear
245x45x17 front
Weight with driver and 1/2 tank of fuel
1170 kg
49% front
51% rear
Diagonal corner weight 50-50%
0 – 100 kmh 3.9 seconds
Redline 8,000 rpm
299 rear wheel kilowatts or 400hp in old money (≈500 flywheel hp)
Top speed unknown
1/4 mile time unknown

Enjoy, I did and will.

 

[youngcnc]

Wow nice car...

Thanks I really enjoyed the pictures..
A real credit to your skills..

Cheers Craig

 

[JustenGT8]

Nice work mate, looks fantastic. All the more satisfying for having done it yourself too eh

 

[1uzvl]

looks good for a back yard job, i like the pic with no clear on, has that satin finish to it.

 

[cribbj]

Andy it's obviously been very well thought out and executed. You have every reason to be proud. Well done!

 

[Cobber]

Thanks guys,

For me it is a hobby so doing it all myself was the idea, there are so many of these cars built by cheque book builders who then take credit for other peoples work.

It did look good with the satin finish and I did consider swapping to satin clear coat but had already bought the gloss.

Next project................ V12 Jaguar XJS Targa car, Bathurst replica and tribute to Tom. I scored a running registered V12 XJS for $500, rip the interior out, add roll cage, multi throttle body efi or webbers, new exhaust, 5 speed conversion and splash on some green and white paint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9I7GWllPFY

That's a whole new thread and another childhood dream.