New SPF owner, questions! - Page 3

rdorman · #41 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 08:51 AM

You remarked about bnewell breaking them loose in third. He is running a 522 cubic inch motor. He breaks them loose when ever he feels like it! Don't ya Brian

Which leads to tires. All the tires available in 15", full tread, SUCK. Basically mud and snow tires with hard tread. Tires do what? Adhere to the pavement..... accelerate, brake, turn. The 15" tires in common Cobra sizes do not do these well. There are options but they have their own compromises. If you want modern performance tires, you will need to go to the 17" rims.

The tires tie into the brake figures and the abillty to easily smoke them at will. Plus, as long as you can lock all four wheels, how fast a car will stop is directly related to the vertical weight applied to the tire and the tires coeficient of friction. Re-read the tires 'SUCK' and understand these are very light cars. Add the two and you get long braking distances. (don't forget most of our braking skills!)

One drilling the fiberglass. Spin the bit back wards so that it does not flake up the gel coat. Locate the center with a hand awl before you drill and make sure the bit it perpendicular to the surface, and DO tape the area.

TAKE A DRIVING SCHOOL IN YOUR CAR. At the very least, make friends at the local SCCA chapter and Solo it.

Have fun and be safe!

Rick

bnewell · #42 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 10:45 AM

Rick ~ I wasn't trying to break'em loose Saturday.........just trying to get rid of a little carbon build-up from "HELL HILL"!!!!

I have ridden in an SPF with a 514 and 17's.....the car hooked up soooo much better and in turn seemed to be alot quicker. I could feel a harsher ride with the 17's but then again we surely don't buy these cars for the ride

.

If it wasn't for the fact that I like the "period correct" look of the 15's I would have purchased the 17's. Still might someday.

Brian

cobish · #43 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 05:46 PM

648 hp how about some dyno trends like torque, rpm ect.

TerrysSPF · #44 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 06:12 PM

Triton: I've driven a car with the 17's also and it does accelerate and handle MUCH better. I too like the look of the 15's, but if you've got the dough, you may want to have an "extra" set of rims!
I don't know who Dean recommended to you (it may be this guy) but there's a shop in St. Charles called St Charles Classic Auto that works on SPF's all the time - great mechanics! The owners name is Alex (tell him I sent you......or Dean). While you're there it's always fun to poke around at the inventory of Ferrari's, Lambo's, Panoz', Porsche's, etc. I picked up my Bimmer from him the other day and he threw me the keys to a SL55 AMG. 493HP of smooooooth class! What a ride. Anyway,..... they do the engine installs for SPF's sold out of D&M Motorsports on rt 64 (just west of 355 exit). They get their chassis from Dean, have Alex install the engine / trans, and sell them (at a high profit!). Great place to go if you can't do the 12-16 week wait from Dynamic Motorsports, (but you'll pay a premium $$) and you can also check out some of the colors these cars come in. They have a Viper color (I think it's Steel Gray) with a silver stripe that looks awsome. There have been only a couple of those made (someone on this forum has one but I can't remember his name).
So, if you can't find a mechanic closer to you, this place is worth the drive; they really know thier stuff.

Great Asp · #45 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 06:18 PM

I believe 650 HP on Brian's Big Block with out question. Here is what my 556 HP (engine dyno) Small Block did at the rear wheels.

Eric

bnewell · #46 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 06:28 PM

Hey Eric, did you receive my email today about the stainless pipes??? Thanks bud!!

Brian

Great Asp · #47 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 06:35 PM

Brian,

Send it again Bud, I do not have it.

ericbrown1@hotmail.com

E

bnewell · #48 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 06:51 PM

Eric ~ I sent it to your other email account.........is the other account still good???

Brian

p.s. you have mail!!!

Tout · #49 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 07:32 PM

I agree that respect of power be your motto,you dont have to prove to anyone how fast you are,they should already know. We have had a few young people killed recently in vipers, thinking they can do anything at will,not so, power is unforgiving when pushed to its limit.Know your car ,check it out befor you drive,do as much of the service work as possible,if you dont know how ,ask,there is usally someone to help . Have a great time ,we all do. Tout

ItsOnlyMoney · #50 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 09:37 PM

Tout,
First, I'm not trying to hi-jack this thread, but, I've got to ask: Please tell us a little more about your Aluminum bodied SPF, with round tube frame.
I knew Superformance offered an aluminum body as a hefty option, but didn't believe they had round tube frames.
Please post pics if you have some.

David 747

Rodney · #51 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 12:06 AM

Tout
Please post some photos of your alloy SPF! Gotta see this thing!

Tout · #52 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 04:48 AM

The car is one of three AL bodied cars superformance had built,the other two are square tube as are all other superformance cobras.Eric has the car in his shop, color is black w white stripes. The car was made several years ago for someone and the deal fell thru, Ron kept the car as his in Ross.Iwas looking to upgrade to AL from my glass car and we reached an agreement, I will post some pix as soon as I can, thanks Tout

TerrysSPF · #53 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 11:05 AM

Tout: I saw your car on the showroom floor @ Dynamic. I was shopping for a solid Black chassis but wondered what stripes would look like on a black car (never saw one up close). They took me in the showroom and took the cover off of what they called "their car". All I could say was "awsome". You can't beat an SPF paint job on an alum. chassis! They gave me the story on the vehicle, but told me it wasn't for sale. You must have twisted Ron's arm pretty good! THAT chassis with the alum engine Eric's putting in it will be one he11 of a Cobra.
Keep the shiney side up, congradulations, and best of luck to you!

cobish · #54 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 05:52 PM

terryspf,
look at my spf that i sold all black, with a 514 stroker by eric,
pictures are in my photo gallery

f4steri · #55 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 06:14 PM

Tritoncobra:;
There is a website entirely devoted to SPF owners-Supreformance Cobra Owners Forum (SCOF) where you will find a wealth of info and experience of (both technical and experiential knowledge) these cars. Ii'm surprised Dean or Ron didn't tell you about it. Go Yahoo Groups, register and you're in!
Frank SPF # 725

bnewell · #56 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 08:32 PM

Frank ~ great to see you and Judy last Saturday......thanks for joining us. Even though you were not in #725, Judy's car looked pretty sweet!!!!

Glad to hear that your shoulder is healing........pay attention to what your thearapist tells you!!!

Brian

iaspf · #57 (**permalink**) 10-14-2003, 09:51 PM

I picked up my spf in sept. Had a hard time finding insuance for daily driving. My corporate carrier would not touch it, had prob's with state farm - make sure you tell them its a replica of a ac cobra. They got all weird when the Shelby name came up. Ended up with Progressive. Also, if you are trying to get coverage before registration your ins agent will have to either register it as a new kit or a 65, and fudge the vin (they can change it after you register)

Matt