Wind Wings on 427 Cobras

[Dons427]

Hello to all:
I own an ERA 427 Cobra and I noticed that the wind wings made by the after-market do not mount, or function properly. The lower mounting blocks are the same length as the upper ones, but they should not be.
The windshield frame is wider at the bottom, and the centerline for the four holes to secure the glass is parallel to the front of the frame. Two of those holes are used to mount the blocks.
The result of having the same length for the upper and lower blocks is there is a 1/4" gap between the wind wing glass and the windshield frame at the top, but a 1/4" over-lap at the bottom. If you move the wing inwards; it will strike the frame at the bottom and break.
I found a pic of a original Gulf race car, and zoomed in to see a proper gap all the way down, and the lower block is longer.
I made new lower blocks .510" longer, with the hinge pivot hole .510 longer also.
The result is; it looks and functions like the car in my photo, with a parallel gap.
It would appear that the designer of the after market mounting kits made all four blocks the same length of .970", but maybe should have made the lower blocks 1.480".
If this is true; almost every replica has the issue, no matter what make of replica it is.
Do any of you agree with me?
My car now looks and works much better.

Don Cyr

[carmine]

looked at my superformance and it dosnt have this problem.

[Dons427]

Thanks for looking.
It is funny; I have seen hundreds of cobra replicas over the years, and I never saw this looking correct, as mine is now.
I actually made the four blocks so I could make them out of polished Stainless Steel and avoid needing to chrome plate. Now they match, and they match the mating SS hinges.
if I was to make a production lot; I would make them out of brass, and chrome plate. Now; the user would only need two blocks to replace the lower ones.

Don

[Large Arbor]

Can you share some pics?

Phil

[patrickt]

I don't understand the problem. Do they not look like this?

[Dons427]

Hi, Phil;
I can't send pics right now.
I can tell you that after my modification, you can imagine that the clearance gap between the glass wing and the windshield frame is 1/4" top to bottom.
It used to be 1/4" gap at the top, but the wing was sitting on the frame by 1/4" at the bottom.
After my custom blocks were made; the wing can now be moved inwards to be parallel to the side of the car now, without striking the frame at the bottom because the 1/4" gap is constant top to bottom.
I did find the pic of one of the Gulf race cars and it appears to have a longer bottom mounting block and a parallel gap.
If I am correct; you should be able to look at your ERA and see a proper gap at the top of the wind wing, but this gap is not parallel to the frame all the way down.
If the lower block was 1/2" longer, and the hinge pivot point was moved by 1/2" the gap would be parallel, and the wing would operate properly.
I hope this helps everyone understand until I can get photos.

Don

[Dons427]

Yes; I can see a space between the wing and the frame at the top, just below the top mounting block.
In your photo; the gap appears to go away as you sight down to the lower mounting block.
If you were to move the wing inwards, towards the driver, it would pinch at the frame at the bottom because the gap is not even top to bottom.
I never saw the fancy bracket that uses the two small holes above the upper block. what is that for, and where did you find it?

Thanks

Don

[Dons427]

Oh: I just figured it out.
It is for the convertible top.
to cinch it tight.

Don

[patrickt]

Well, when you get a chance, post some shots.

[Dons427]

Ok, will do.

[Phill Pollard]

Originally Posted by Dons427

I own an ERA 427 Cobra and I noticed that the wind wings made by the after-market do not mount, or function properly. The lower mounting blocks are the same length as the upper ones, but they should not be.

I also have a ERA Cobra 427 S/C (chassis #446) and mine are the same, equal length.

I don't have any problem with mine. Would you like a picture?

If you do, e-mail me at phill.pollard@comcast.net so I can send you the pic.


Phill

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Dons427

Hello to all:
I own an ERA 427 Cobra and I noticed that the wind wings made by the after-market do not mount, or function properly. The lower mounting blocks are the same length as the upper ones, but they should not be.
The windshield frame is wider at the bottom, and the centerline for the four holes to secure the glass is parallel to the front of the frame. Two of those holes are used to mount the blocks.
The result of having the same length for the upper and lower blocks is there is a 1/4" gap between the wind wing glass and the windshield frame at the top, but a 1/4" over-lap at the bottom. If you move the wing inwards; it will strike the frame at the bottom and break.
I found a pic of a original Gulf race car, and zoomed in to see a proper gap all the way down, and the lower block is longer.
I made new lower blocks .510" longer, with the hinge pivot hole .510 longer also.
The result is; it looks and functions like the car in my photo, with a parallel gap.
It would appear that the designer of the after market mounting kits made all four blocks the same length of .970", but maybe should have made the lower blocks 1.480".
If this is true; almost every replica has the issue, no matter what make of replica it is.
Do any of you agree with me?
My car now looks and works much better.

Don Cyr

The blocks should be the same size. The front edge of each block is about even with the leading edge of the windshield frame. The screw hole that holds the block to the frame is set back from the leading edge by the same distance. I'm going to take a WAG and say the holes in the frame were drilled incorrectly or one of your blocks is mounted in reverse to the windwing hinge.

[FatBoy]

The UK made wind wings have a longer block at the bottom to make the glass edge parallel with the rear edge of the screen post as you describe.

I've just checked my Kirkham and they're the same i.e. longer at the bottom:





Paul

[Large Arbor]

My ERA has the mirrors right on the sides of the windhshield that restrict the movement and make them for the most part useless. I listened to Patrick and got the LED lights on the rear so the soccer moms in the mini vans see the lights clearly so they don't rearend me! This way I only worry about what is in front of me now. I did see an aftermarket mount that pushed them out, but it did not look just right.

Phil

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by FatBoy

The UK made wind wings have a longer block at the bottom to make the glass edge parallel with the rear edge of the screen post as you describe.

Ehhhh, most things from the UK tend to look a little cockeyed.

[CHANMADD]

[FatBoy]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Ehhhh, most things from the UK tend to look a little cockeyed.

Although I said that my Kirkham ones are the same, I think I sourced them over here. I assume the originals were also made over here, probably by the original screen manufacturer.

Paul

[Dons427]

Thanks for all of the feedback, guys.
Since the centerline for the four holes to secure the windshield is parallel to the front face of the windshield bracket, yet the bracket is much wider at the bottom; the lower blocks need to be longer to position the two hinge points for each wing parallel to the inside edge. The windshield frame is wider at the bottom when viewed from the side of the car.
Given what was found on Fatboy's Kirkham, and my photo of the original Gulf race car; I firmly believe that the original cars must have had longer lower blocks.
I say this because the wings were an after thought and therefore they used two of the four holes which were originally intended to secure the windshield. So; they couldn't and didn't move the lower hole towards the interior of the car to create the parallel gap for the wings. They probably just made the lower block longer. Sorry for the long winded explanation. Either way; I am much happier with the appearance and the function of the glass wings now that I have a 1/4" gap between the wing and the frame from top to bottom.

Thanks to all.

Don

[Dons427]

To; A-Snake
Your photo seems to show a windshield frame which is not wider at the bottom.
If the frame, when viewed form the side is the same width all the way down, then; that would explain why the blocks are the same length on this car.
Maybe; it is a image issue, and your windshield frame is tapered, just not visible in the pic.
Bottom line; my windshield frame is tapered, and is much wider at the bottom, and this is why the lower wing mounting blocks need to be longer to position the hinge points parallel to the inside edge of the frame so the lower part of the wing glass doesn't smack into the frame when you move them towards the driver or passenger.

Don

[A-Snake]

Originally Posted by Dons427

To; A-Snake
Your photo seems to show a windshield frame which is not wider at the bottom.
If the frame, when viewed form the side is the same width all the way down, then; that would explain why the blocks are the same length on this car.
Maybe; it is a image issue, and your windshield frame is tapered, just not visible in the pic.
Bottom line; my windshield frame is tapered, and is much wider at the bottom, and this is why the lower wing mounting blocks need to be longer to position the hinge points parallel to the inside edge of the frame so the lower part of the wing glass doesn't smack into the frame when you move them towards the driver or passenger.

Don

Don,
The following photos are of the left side of CSX2321.
1. The windshield frame is wider at the bottom.
2. The holes for the mounting blocks are equally distance from the leading edge of the windshield frame.
3. The mounting blocks are the same size.
4. Yes, the lower corner/edge of the windwing is closer to the windshield frame than the top. It would make contact first with the frame but they are not designed to be pulled in that far.

As a side note the windwings and visors were produced by Amco for Shelby American.









A photo of CSX3246 is also attached for reference