[RedBarchetta]

Paul, congrats on your new acquisition!

The suspensions/shock settings on these cars, like most Cobras, are quite rigid and work really well at the track but can lean toward the harsh side for street driving (especially if the roads are not true). And many use solid motor mounts (or ones based on urethane) to keep the motor mounted firmly. The two combined will induce a lot of shaking as part of normal idling and driving. Which loosens fasteners.

It's hard to come up with an actual list, but many here perform a routine tightness check on pretty much every nut and bolt on their car once/twice a year. Things like header/collector bolts, tranny mounts, re-torqing intake manifold bolts and driveshaft bolts, etc. It also helps to take a paint pen and draw a line from the primary suspension/frame bolts to the frame mounting points. If the lines don't line-up any longer, well then you have a loosening bolt. I've had battery cables loosen themselves, ignition coil mounting brackets...to name a few, so you really need to check the whole car and don't ignore the obvious. Many of the electrical problems that have been diagnosed on CC have been the result of a loose wire or ground.

You should also give the wheel spinners a good whack before going for a spin. I tie the safety wire on them so there is a slight loop/arc in it. If the loop starts to show tautness (getting straight), then I know it's ever so slightly starting to back out. Others prefer the taut wire to begin with, but I like the telltale method personally.

Good luck with your new ride and just consider the bolt tightening maintenance as part of the "tinkering" aspect of these cars.

-Dean #747