welcomed uncertainty

June 8, 2008September 20, 2008

Only 105 Day's separate those two milestones but it is so much more than a number to everyone involved with this project and everyone that cared enough to keep up with the blog. These two photo's have a much deeper meaning behind them then most people would think.

The semi truck, arriving with its hulking presence, brought welcomed uncertainty and sustenance to a project that in the past, existed only in our minds and on paper. I would compare it to the birth of my children but since that hasn't occurred yet (and would be very cliche nonetheless) , lets equate it to the earliest Christmas morning you can remember, wondering what presents Santa will bring for you all night then sprinting to the tree in the morning with welcomed uncertainty for what awaited your arrival under the tree. Then there is the second photo, capturing the flatbed truck eagerly awaiting its honored cargo, whom the owners hesitate to part with. I would compare it to your son/daughter leaving for college but since I haven't experienced that (from the parental perspective) yet either, lets equate it watching your cottonball snowman hanging on the wall in kindergarten be thrown away by the teacher because its June and its time for new decorations, but you still eagerly await with welcomed uncertainty for the next craft project that will soon replace that spot on the wall. Our new craft project will be the cobra returning home wearing a brilliant shade of blue accompanied by 2 white racing stripes.

Welcome back Its been a while!

So much has happened since my last update, the great depression of 2008, a new president, cobra body work... (in order of increasing importance of course).

Since I haven't updated in a VERY long time this is going to be a long post with alot of pictures and info so stick with me it will be worth it!!

Let me take you back in time a bit. The day before I departed for Ohio State we mounted the body on the chassis with a couple bolts mainly just for transport purposes and boy did it look incredible, even in its bare fiberglass form. (!Cation! GearHead content ahead)- The lines on this body are truly something you have to experience in person, but the photos will have to suffice for those of you who couldn't be with us. We all agreed that the stance and the fenders hugging around those tires is just pure beauty.



So, the cobra took a ride down to a body shop in Kentucky that has experience in fiberglass and was confident they could deliver a quality paint job. Frankly, we aren't looking for a show quality finish because from the moment you step in this beast you known that this car wants to be ravaged, but we want it to "look 10 from 10".


Now, a bit of a story. A few weeks before she went off to paint, Just when we thought 99% if the mechanical work was over we were contacted by ford racing, who informed us that a bad batch of crate engines had been discovered and that they were failing after less than 4000 miles due to vibration of the crankshaft. They had us send the oil filter on our engine so they could examine it for metal particles. After a couple of teeth grinding weeks we were contacted through series if emails and phone calls and the final call we made was the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was still under warranty of course and ford offered to replace it with a fully working one for no cost (But not pay for any labor to actually install it). Well, after some more contact with ford they weren't feeling too confident giving us an identical engine that could still be prone to issues, so they offered to upgrade us to a stronger, slightly more powerful Boss 302 racing engine for no extra cost. Duh, needless to say, we took the offer.

Fast forward a couple months. Currently, we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new engine as there is already a depressing cavity that a defective heart once called home in the cobra. One good thing about this is my conscience is finally cleared, I don't feel as bad about slamming the throttle in first gear on "light test runs" and for dropping that bolt into the carburetor ( just kidding).

The bodywork is progressing, well, as fast as body work usually progresses. Good preparation is a car-painting-must, it can turn otherwise OK paint job to show quality with just a few more hours spent on detail. Unfortunately, bodywork isn't the most instantly satisfying or jaw dropping thing in the world to see but it has to be done ( thankfully not by inexperienced busy 18 year olds).



We eagerly await the cobra's instinctive return to its birthplace (Cincinnati) (Ok thats the end of the snake analogy's I swear). As soon as its back in our hands we plan to tackle the interior, button up the wiring, exterior trim and finally the "fun" test and fix session that will follow.

The end, Wasn't that worth it? I told you...
-Andrew

Calling all body shops!

We are on the hunt for a good body shop to prep, fit, and paint the cobra body. If anyone knows any good shops or individuals in the greater cincinnati area please post in the comments below or email us at Queencityperformance@gmail.com. Thanks!

Day 32- Work

I am now working solo as of yesterday, so if anyone wants to stop by to save me from depression and boredom feel free. I finally finished the dash layout like I wanted it. There's no pre-drilled holes for the switches at all so you pretty much have a blank canvas to work from. I have come to appreciate the ergonomics experts at car companies for how much thinking they have to do to get to a "comfortable" and "efficient" interior. One has to run through questions like: How often am i going to use this switch?, Do i want to push it with my right hand or left hand? Is there enough room to flip the switch without my hand hitting something, Will this location make the dash look weird? Is the horn button close enough? and on...

Also the roll bar has now been drilled and bolted in with socket thru bolts. It took forever to drill the holes but It damn should if its protecting my head heh.

Lets go for a ride

I finally made a go kart video (I remembered my camera) today after 3 days of go-karting awesomeness. I figured anything less than a video would be a dire injustice to the pure, raw muscle that is the cobra. Here you see the snake in its fresh-off- the-bone rawest form, simply existing in its natural habitat with no fancy do-daads like power brakes or windshields , just the bare necessitates needed to drive ( Read: no seatbelts, body, turn signals, bolted down seats, lights, bumpers, etc..).

Enjoy. (Turn up the volume!!!) Now Enjoy.

Day 29- Glorified clock

Today started with many visitors over at the shop checking out the new progress. They were treated to the sight of the transition from the 1992 bent crown vic junkyard wheels to factory fresh brand spankin' new wheels from Factory Five and Goodyear. Man these things things look good. We realized a minor inconvenience with the inner stick-on wheels weights contacting the calipers so we have to return them to Tire Discounters and have the weights mounted on the outside old-school style.

Following the wheels and tires we did some eyeball adjusting of the base alignment (kind of a stand-back-one-eye-open-squint kind of deal). We also finally ran the engine long enough it to reach operating temperature which allowed for the thermostat to open and circulate coolant. Of course along with this came the discovery of leaks which we promptly dealt with and are ready to check again tomorrow. We came to the conclusion today, after checking the time using the clock on the dash several times, that if nothing else we have built a glorified clock housing.

Day 28- White-out for sure

With the engine up and running we have migrated to the cockpit and rear of the car, focusing on installing more sheet metal and completing the gauge wiring. Right now all gauges are fully functional besides the water temp who's sensor was broken ( I dont wanna talk about it). Also we riveted in the 2 big panels making up the err-trunk space in the back.

Our tires also came in today so we drove up to Tire Discounters and they mounted them up, white-out of course. ( White letters facing outwards on the tires). We chose the Goodyear Eagle Gt II's and went with monster 275/60's in the back and a little less monster 255/60's in the front. The little prickly things on these tires don't even have a chance with this engine.

The moment speaks for itself...

Day 25 -" I wouldn't do it"

Check out those headers!!! The To-do list I posted previously is now completely crossed out (minus filling engine with oil) after we filled the tranny with fluid today and completed the cooling system hoses and overflow tank. Before we start the engine we have to prime the oil pump and the fuel pump which will be tomorrows task. Folks we are getting very very close to turning the key (Read: the next couple days).

Day 24- "Inches make champions." - Vince Lombardi

Boy was Vince smart, We are truly getting down to the nitty gritty. As you can see from our to-do list ( ignore pictures on left) we are making progress. Yesterday we installed our temporary header that we "retrieved" from our local U-Pull-And-Pay off a '92 Ford thunder bird. Yes, we know, we know, the headers are installed on the opposite sides and upside down, Truthfully one could not install them more wrong. Fortunately for us they are a perfect temp solution while we wait for the real headers in come in form back order( the only part we do not have). Also installed yesterday was the belt, plug wires and positive battery cable.

Today we custom fit the radiator fan shroud to our electric fan and mounted it on the radiator, then the whole assembly in the car. Tomorrow we will be running the coolant hoses and over flow tank. We also extended the headers with some extra exhaust pipe so the flames dont shoot towards us when we fire the engine. (not pictured)

We hope to have the engine make its first revolution by the end of the week*


* Note: Little worthless miscellaneous part will most likely delay engine start-up to be honest

DAY 23- So close but so far

We are getting very close to our first fire. We installed the battery tray and battery today and all the grounding straps for the engine, and also remounted the transmission with some spacers to give us the correct pinion angle. I noticed I haven't been giving any whole car shots lately so I am adding some so you can see the complete (unfinished) project to conceptualize our project in its entirety.

Day 21 & 22 - GETTIN THERE

Engine accessories are piling on with the addition of all the pulleys, distributor, throttle cable. All of the engine wiring is practically done with the msd ignition box. The brake reservoirs have been moved and put on a custom bracket, Fuel lines are 80 % done, Radiator and cooling system is next..

Day 20??

We have definitely been making progress lately with the engine in. We have started to become "list people" as it has all come down to the little task and chores around the cobra. Don't take "little" to literally, I will be the first to tell you that many little things add up into a heap of work. In the shop we have a list of 25 or so items that are getting checked off every day with extra satisfaction as they get a line through them.

We were also visted by the owner of Coat- It™ ceramic coating today to pick up our side pipes and begin working on them. His ceramic finish is almost identical to chrome plating, having a very bright luster and shine.

The engine is coming together with the installation of the (3rd) water pump, starter, alternator, carburetor, fuel filter and lines, PCV valve. The wiring has also started with the installation of the fuse block and dash harnesses layed out and run in a rough state and the MSD ignition system. Also the braking system is almost complete with the reseviors mounted and just needing a few flex lines and we'll be ready for some fluid.

A case of the mondays

Some people might call it a case of the Mondays but those who maintain a more realist view may explain the reason we had to remove the engine and tranny today using the words "poor documentation" or " there was none at all". After our celebration Friday night we reconvened monday morning and realized the transmission was making contact with the frame. After to a call to factory five questioning this issue a response followed " Oh yeah you didnt cut off the torsion bar mount at the back of the transmission?, It says so in the appendix under the big block section". Well it might as well have not been there because we're not even using a big block.... thus it never occured to us to check it out. Anyways we pulled the engine and tranny today, sawed the offending alumium off the back of the transmission, slid it back in, tightened everything down, fixed the e brake braket, and made some alumiuim spacers, got a new waterpump.

Day 16- ITS IN!!!

The engine is now in its final resting place between the frame rails! It was dropped in late last night under the cover of darkness with the help of the moonlight. The saga came to an abrupt end as Steven and I in a last ditch effort found ourselves atop the drivers side valve cover desperately attempting to seat the dowel pins in the motor mount and in the last heave of all our weight....SNAP. ITS IN!!!. It was truly one of the most beautiful sounds I've ever heard.

ON a much less dramatic note we spent the daylight hours of the day greasing all the grease fittings, fabing up an bracket to make the e - brake function correctly, piloting the rolling chassis around the driveway with Fred Flintstone power, installing the intake manifold, the bellhousing, the clutch fork, throwout bearing, clutch assembly and finally the entire transmission on to the back of the engine.

How it all went ( minus time, labor and 4 trips to hardware store):

How it came to us

Intake manifold, clutch, bellhousing, and transmission installed

On Engine Hoist moving it into place

IN
IN

Day 14 & 15 - "theres not a car under a buck 20 in his shop"

Yesterday we finally completed the plumbing of the entire brake after countless trips across the norwood lateral to pick up tiny brake fittings that we needed, but I guess its something you want to do right cause your life is kind of on the line.We also wrestled with the fuel tank and finally got it strapped up to the frame and the correct pick up and sender units installed inside.



This morning we figured out how we were going to plumb the rest of the fuel lines (from the gas tank to the mechanical fuel pump in the front). Then we took a company field trip out to a secret custom car cove located just inside Ross township. We visited Dynamic motorsports, performance engineering, rossien motorsports, and silver stone auto all within 50 yards of each other. The purpose of this trip was to exaimne some ceramic coatings of a company (we now have concluded) to coat our sidepipes. We also checked out some rim and tire sizes on actual superperformence cobras.

When we got back home we bolted on the transmission mount and installed the e brake handle and cables.
Then we cleaned the table so we could find things more easily -- this is post-cleaning

Day 13 - We have a rolling chassis

Today we upgraded our build to the rolling chassis qualification after completing the rear end brakes and panhard bar. We still have some work to do on the plumbing of the brake and fuel lines but as soon as those are buttoned up we will be ready to accept the engine and transmission.
Pep boys trips today: 3
NAPA: 1
Smyth: 1

Day 11 & 12 - Rear end work

More rear end work today. After wrestling with the upper link bracket for 5 hours and after some cutting, grinding, and chasing it finally went into its location along with the adjustable upper link tube. Then our long awaited caliper brackets came from back order so we were then able to slide the axles in, attach the c clips and button everything up in the diff. So tomorrow we'll slap the calipers and panhard bar on and the rear end will be complete.

Day 10- Rolling chassis ( 70%)

Rear end is here!! IT finally came from ups freight, more about that later. Today we started out finishing up the front end buy attaching the flex lines to the calipers and then to the frame where they will eventually mate up with the hard lines. After a few practice bends on some spare brake line we ran our first line from the FRONT master cylinder to the driver side tee fitting ( Attaching to the flex line). So the line is tee'd off so we can continue across the frame to the passenger side flexline.


The rear end came in full force at 235 pm today after a long wait on backorder. Now the instructions for the rear end are worded as follows "Step 1: Put the bracket on the rear end", you can imagine how vague that is when you have literally boxes full of parts which are full of unnamed brackets. So after a " Clarification" call to factory five we worked it out, attached the lower control arms to the axle and the frame, assembled the coil over assemblies and called it a day.

Day 9 - Molecular Structure

On today's agenda was installing the front hubs, calipers, and rotors. On the first line item, Hubs, we had issues with sliding them on the spindles . The first couple times the hub would slide on maybe a millimeter and instantly bind up and then we would have to use a hammer to get it back off. We decided there had to be a smarter way of doing this, so after some thinking ( and calls to facotry five) We wrapped the spindles in ice packs and heated the hub with a torch unitl it was black. Then they slid on smooth as glass. It was truly an awesome example of scientific fact. Cold : Contracts, Hot: Expands. After our trip back to chemistry class the rotors and calipers went on without problems. Will post a pic tomm! Rear end comes in monday!

~Spy Shots~

While me and Steven are out doing the college orientation thing we received a few goodies. I'm not going to give details just yet, all I'm including is some cell phone spy/paparazzi pictures of our recent deliveries. Ill give you a hint: the two boxes contain parts that each require the other to function correctly and the huge box is on a pallet and was delivered freight is approx 450lbs, and is brandishing a silverish color. Begin the pondering (I know, I know its pretty obvious if you have a pulse of any kind...).

Well 0-60 should only take one shift...

Just relaxing today getting some housekeeping stuff done and was wondering what the top speed of our cobra would be based on the tire size, final drive ratio, transmission ratios and engine rev. I used a handy little online calculator and this is what it produced. If wind resistance and rolling resistance don't prevail, then, Damn.