Excalibur Owners: Please Reply!

[cobraduke]

Birdwatcher,
Mine is a '96 with same paint scheme (Red with white stripes). I have the original factory build order for mine which lists the paint code as "FER 136 AUTOCRYL or BASE CLEAR, GM 88;10 BASE CLEAR" The color is called Rosso Cherry with White stripes. I haven't decoded all of this yet, but my understanding is that the red is a 1988 Ferrari paint code. The white is probably a GM white, paint code 10. Not sure what the 88 means, but it is not a GM white paint code as I recall from some looking on the net. I can't say the paint on our cars is the same, but I don't see why they would have changed when they appear the same. Let me know what you find out.

Still need an email address from you to send the info I have on these cars. Don't know how to attach anything to a PM on this site.

Mike

[cobraduke]

Apparently an Excalibur cobra enthusiast borrowed a three ring binder containing all the build info that Alice at Camalot Motors had preserved to make a personal copy and return it to her. It hasn't been returned (for months) and Alice does not know the name of the borrower (only her memory of his face). Probably lives in the area of Milwaukee (a guess). If anyone has or knows who might have this material, please contact her and get it returned as soon as possible. It needs to be accessable for everyone, whether Alice wants to be the contact person or wants to formally entrust it to a designated point of contact who will make it available to all. Here's hoping it turns up and is made public. What a shame for this to have gone missing.

Mike

[tradingup]

As I understand it from reading posts there were 3 configurations for Excal exhaust. First, like my 95 was headers to cats straight down to sidepipes on same side as header. Cobraduke's is like this. Second, like Flyboy's original was header to cats to pipes routed under engine, to resonators (or another cat) then to sidepipes on same side as header. This configuration can be seen in 95 currently for sale at Fastlane. Third had same system as Flyboy's except exhaust crossed under engine to exit sidepipe on opposite side of header. I assume from everybody's complaints that no configuration prevented cracked headers.

Any speculation about why such different systems? Is there any reason to think that straight down configuration (#1) might rob less horsepower than others?

[flyboy1997]

Jim My Guess would be that they really did not care about HP as a Priority, I bet money on just getting by the Feds Emissions. I feel sure Yours had more HP with all the extra plumbing mine had, 215 was the # in my Excalibur Manual.
Wendell

[cobraduke]

Mine (header's directly to one high flow cat to side pipe on same side, straight shot) are after market. Probably done by previous owner as a result of the cracking and needing to pass California smog. As far as I can tell, there were only two factory configurations, one crossing under with the four cats and one looping forward, same side with four cats (?). I believe the four cats (two per side) were Ford parts as used with the 5.0 EFI motors and simplified the emissions certification. The plumping was unique to Excalibur to fit the chassis. I have photos of the cross over system, but none of the same side original system. I'd sure like to get some of those for the record as I think both systems had cracking problems due to the weight of the plumbing and cats hanging between the heads and the side pipes, vibration and solid side pipe mounting. This means as time passes, fewer and fewer will remain in place and the opportunity to document how the original systems looked will diminish.

I had to have the header on one side of mine welded for a crack at the collector between two pipes. It may have been due to vibration caused by the fairly stiff side pipe mounting or a faulty weld on the header. If it cracks again, I'll know.

Mike

[tradingup]

Mike,

This must mean that mine is aftermarket too since headers lead to cats, straight down to sidepipes. Just like pictures of your car.

Just got mine back after significant weld job.

If you want a picture of the looping configuration there is a nice one from the black 95 for sale at Fastlane.

[cobraduke]

Tradingup
I think you are right. I know some of the welding on the four hole flange to the cat on my car is really "after market". Looks like some one in high school shop did it. But it hasn't failed! I may be wrong, but I think both type factory systems uded the Ford 5.0 exhaust headers as part of the system, whereas mine has a a kit car set of tube headers that terminate in the square four hole flange. I have no info on the source of these, but my quess is that they could be Classic Roadster since the two cars are so similar. Perhaps what we both have is CR systems with cats?

Mike

[cobraduke]

The yellow demonstrator Excalibur II shown at Carlisle two years ago is apparently for sale on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=290248918606

The photos show many of the details of this new version. Apparently the plans to produce them as a kit or roller or whatever are no longer being pursued as the listing says the body molds are for sale as well. A business opportunity?

Mike

[tradingup]

Can anybody tell me what the right-most toggle labeled "Auxiliary" is suppose to do?

Do you have a manual switch for the radiator fan on your Excals?

[cobraduke]

Don't think the aux switch is wired to anything. Probably could use it for driving lights or ?

The computer controls the fan based on temp. I had to install a separate fan controller when I found mine had a '93 cobra computer swapped in (with some wiring changes also required). The earlier Ford computers (pre '94) did not control the fan as it was mechanical, not electric.

Mike

[flyboy1997]

CobraDuke, what temps does Your car run & others if You know of? Jim brought his car to show me while I was getting some service work done on my dodge trk. & his temp was " Indicating" 220 & he did have some water spray under bottom side of hood & a full overflow tank. Mine will run 170 most of the time but in town & NOT under any kind of traffic I will see 200, mine has the mass flo computer & Jim has stock ? Wendell

[cobraduke]

I replaced the thermostat with a 180 degree (stock is 193) and it runs at 180 most of the time. I can't remember seeing over 200. I'm not sure when the computer is programmed to turn the fan on, but I have my fan controlled set at 170. Several have indicated the gauge indication higher than desired. One problem that has been found on some cars is the gauge accuracy with reports of 10 to 20 degrees too high compared to actual coolant temp. A couple have gone to an add on computer chip (can't remember the brand, but there are posts in this thread from a few years ago) which improved performance and reduced the overheating. I think part of the chip installation is the lower thermostat and possibly it turns on the fan at a lower temp as well.

If the fan is working, the timing set properly (10 to 12 degrees with the plug in the harness removed) and the gauge working accurately, probably won't see much over 200. I personally like it to run cooler than that.

If Jim is seeing high enough temps to force coolant out under normal driving, it needs some attention. Not normal.

Mike

[cobraduke]

Thanks to older info collected and forwarded by Tom Hekkers and recent finds on the net by several owners who have sent them along, the registry now has 70 confirmed VIN specific Excalibur cobras. This represents slightly over half of the estimated regular production. We have info on about 8 known component Excalibur cobras of an unknown total number that were sold after regular production stopped in 1997. We also have info on about 16 cars with known years but no VIN's (so some might be duplicates of the VIN known cars) and an additional 10 where neither year nor VIN are known (same possibility of duplication). I have collected photos of 43 of these cars.

I am posting this info to encourage more Excalibur cobra owners to submit their car's info so we can fill in the blanks and add to our collective knowledge and appreciation of these great cars. Photos are also greatly appreciated. As stated before, this info is available upon request. All that is asked is that you help by submitting your info and that you forward info on other cars you come across and encourage other owners to join the effort. You can contact me by PM or my new email [Mike Duke]mduke8@gmail.com[/email]

I'd like to archive all this info at some point, but I'm no computer guru. Job one is to update and add to it.

Mike

[Excaliber]

Interesting side note...

Excalibur's are among the few replica Cobras that you can find a NADA book value for. I'v been watching the market price of Excal's in general (all models) for some time and the trend is "up" in value. While the trend for other Cobra replicas is going down. Good news and it exemplifies the Excal's as being 'special' indeed.

I'm still a big fan myself!

By the way, my previously owned Excalibur #33 is currently listed for sale here on Club Cobra, asking price $35K (make an offer). I'm considering buying it back myself, which would be the THIRD time I've owned the car.

[cobraduke]

Earnie,
Please buy it back. I'm convinced that three times is the charm and you can never have too many cobras!

Mike

[ohekk]

Interesting read:

www.hotrodbuilders.com

[MilwDoug]

Ernie,

You really have to buy that car back. And this time you should keep it! You know you love it, I can just tell fom all your posts. Are this fickle with your woman?

Doug

[cobraduke]

The yellow/black Excalibur cobra II demo car introduced two years ago is again on ebay. It has about two days to go. Unlike last time, it will sell as it has apparently cleared reserve, now at $25,000. If someone on this forum buys it or knows who does, please let me know so we can keep track of it in the registry.

Mike

[cobra,dreamer]

I have a 1997 last 8 of the vin is vm123171 i also have some questions this car was in a fire and would like to get info so i can put it back thanks. Aaron

[cobraduke]

Dreamer,
email me at mduke8@gmail.com and I'll try to help. I have many photos of these cars which may help, some parts source info as well. Welcome to the forum.

Mike