What Kit and why

[J. T. Toad]

is there a kit company who isn't willing to sell in stages?
FFR used to.
Classic Roadsters used to.
yadda yadda...

maybe consideration of Curt Scott's book on www.cobracountry.com is appropriate

[M164285]

Joe,

I am in the same decision making process as you. I have visited B&B, Unique and will be going to ERA at the end of the month. I really like Unique and the people there are really nice. I am anxious to see ERA and make a comparison between Unique and ERA. My biggest concern is the car fitting my son who is 6'4". I have compiled a spread sheet comparing 9 manufacturers listing what comes with the kits and what are the options. If you are interested please e-mail me at clyde.a.johnson@boeing.com.

Good luck in your decision.

Clyde

[Joe Wicked]

Now that I have looked at Dangerous Doug's spreadsheet, I better understand what he means by phases. This is kind of what I had in mind as well, but I was wondering about breaking out the Standard Kit to Phases. Chassis assembly, body & electrical, etc...

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by M164285

Joe,

I am in the same decision making process as you. I have visited B&B, Unique and will be going to ERA at the end of the month. I really like Unique and the people there are really nice. I am anxious to see ERA and make a comparison between Unique and ERA. My biggest concern is the car fitting my son who is 6'4". I have compiled a spread sheet comparing 9 manufacturers listing what comes with the kits and what are the options. If you are interested please e-mail me at clyde.a.johnson@boeing.com.

Good luck in your decision.

Clyde

Email Sent. I know Lonestar likes to showcase that the 4" longer wheelbase makes for more legroom for people 6' and taller. I don't know if you have checked them out yet. I will likely make a trip over there in the next couple of months. They are only about 1.5 hours from me depending on traffic through dallas and fort worth (They are west of FTW and I am NE of Dallas).

Edit: I just realized that Shell Valley's headquarters are only a short drive from where I grew up in Nebraska. Looks like that will be another easy visit for me, when I take another vacation up there.

[Dangerous Doug]

The "basic" kit from ERA is very complete. If you get the powder coated frame and bonded body option (strongly recommended) you'll be astounded at how much is done. I don't think ERA just sells a chassis, then a body, then suspension et cetera. The path to competed cars is paved with a very complete "starter" kit, which you can get from ERA---and others, I'm sure.

DD

[Dwight]

I have a Lone Star Cobra and they added 4" to the wheelbase and put that 4" into the driver compartment. My doors are 4" longer than most. Eight years ago when I did a lot of research on Cobras, there were a couple of companies that had 94" plus wheelbase. They did not use the extra inches in the drivers compartment. I think one had most under the hood and 1 1/2" behind the seats. We have a couple of big guys with FFRs and other 90" wheelbase cars and they get in and out with little or no problem. There is an easy way in and out of a Cobra. You just have to practice.
With the drop floor pan it makes it a lot easier to drive. Adjustable seat tract, tilt steering wheel and removable steering wheel are some of the things a big guy can do to make driving a Cobra a better experience. Some times you can get in but have a hard time working the pedals.
I'm only 5' 10" and 170 lbs but I have a few big guy Cobra buddies.
Dwight

[Slick61]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

Thanks again guys.
I would love to drive the different makes around, but going to all of the different manufacturers would be hard for me to do, and I do not like people to ask me to drive my car, so I don't ask. It is a personal pet peeve of mine. If offered, I wouldn't turn it down, but I just don't see myself asking.

Getting a Cobra owner to let you drive their car is hit & miss. I never even asked (tho I had a few offer) when I was looking at Cobras.

But it's surprising how much info you can get from just a ride in one. I think you probably get a more accurate feel for how the car rides & handles from the passenger seat, as you're not preoccupied with clutch, throttle, & steering wheel. Though I would recommend you at least sit in the driver's seat & see how the pedal configuration feels.

I didn't drive my Backdraft til 3 days after it was delivered... wanted to get the insurance & registration all in place before I took it out on the street. I was a nervous wreck backing it out of the driveway, but found it surprisingly easy to drive.

Good luck with your search...

[GlynMeek]

Joe...you and I have chatted on the LoneStar site. I went through the same deliberations as you for 12 months before I bought, and almost EVERYONE on this forum will NOT be objective...lol.

We ALL want to think we are geniuses and made the right decision, and so most of us will say xxxxx is the very best Cobra kit, where xxxxx is whatever we bought ourselves. Go look at the type of car that everyone who has replied drives and you'll see what I mean...

I am no different... I looked at ERA and Unique, dismissed FF for a variety of reasons, and in the end went with Lonestar because a) they are in Texas and in the same time zone for the inevitable phone calls during the build!!!!! b) I visited their shop, liked what I saw AND just liked the people c) at 6'2", I NEEDED/wanted one of the 'stretch' Cobras where the additional length was in the cab. LoneStar might be one of the more expensive kits if you go for every option you can get (which I did...lol) but almost always in life you get what you pay for.

Now, please, FF owners, and everyone else, I am NOT knocking other manufacturers, some of them make superb products, I would just caveat Joe that objectivity is a difficult thing to achieve in recommending a kit to purchase. If I had visited ERA or FF or Unique, I am sure I would have liked their setups and their people equally as much as LS.

Joe, the top 5 or 6 manufacturers ALL make great kits, and they ALL have one drawback or another...tough to go wrong with any of them, and you will have a BLAST building and driving whichever one you choose.

So, with admitted and HUGE bias...buy a Lonestar...ROFL

Glyn

PS good luck out there Joe

[Joe Wicked]

Thanks Glyn, I expected and wanted bias. I wanted to see what were the reasons that different people chose different kits. I was looking for why they chose the particular kit and why they did not choose others. There are 4 kits right now that I like and it really looks like it will come down to which one I chose, as they all offer things I like. Lonestar is not the cheapest, but they are local. Only take me about 1.5 hours to get there. Shell Valley is near where I grew up and most of my family is, so those 2 are leading for convenience to me. I like the Factory Five concept of Mustang parts as replacement parts are cheap and easy to find. The Hurricane seems to be a great value, but it is at the end of the 4 due to the "mismatch" of parts (GM front brakes, SVO rear, etc...) That could become a pain in the but to find parts just trying to remember what is on what area. I don't need one of the "stretch" Cobras as you put it. I am 5' 9". Hell I have so much time to decide (still saving the money for the kit) that this list may change.

[fsstnotch]

Hey Joe, If the GM brakes are the only thing keeping you from hurricane.... You can upgrade to willwoods all the way around and still be under the initial cost of a lonestar. Also, I dunno how much you researched, but MANY of the kits come with the GM brakes in fact.. this is what Era gives for part numbers of the brakes you need to buy

Brakes, Bearings, Front

Brake Rotor/Hub (bolt-on wheels) GM 334348Bendix 141040 GM dealer or many (Front) GM cars 1970-78 (see page 21)
Brake Calipers (Front) GM 18002421, 18003761 Rebuilts: Bendix L55001, L55002 (Includes pads) GM dealerLocal parts place
Pads Semi-metallic for street use

the rear are the Jag brakes which would come with the IRS.

I'm pretty sure shell valley also uses the same brake setup.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by fsstnotch

Hey Joe, If the GM brakes are the only thing keeping you from hurricane.... You can upgrade to willwoods all the way around and still be under the initial cost of a lonestar. Also, I dunno how much you researched, but MANY of the kits come with the GM brakes in fact.. this is what Era gives for part numbers of the brakes you need to buy



the rear are the Jag brakes which would come with the IRS.

I'm pretty sure shell valley also uses the same brake setup.

Thanks. I did not know that. It is not the fact that they are GM brakes, it is is GM up front, SVO in back/Jag in back, etc... If it is a standard brake setup (over the counter) then I would prefer for them to all be GM, Ford, whatever. It just makes it simpler. I realize that this can all be changed, but I am looking for convenience.

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

Thanks. I did not know that. It is not the fact that they are GM brakes, it is is GM up front, SVO in back/Jag in back, etc... If it is a standard brake setup (over the counter) then I would prefer for them to all be GM, Ford, whatever. It just makes it simpler. I realize that this can all be changed, but I am looking for convenience.

Ya, I got ya. Most all the kits come with the GM fronts. Then you add IRS (Jag, BMW, Ford, etc) and you still end up mismatched. Put a solid axle, 8.8 or 9" and guess what... still mismatched! lol It sucks unless you go aftermarket.

What does the lonestar come with in the kit and what is it's price? If it is anything compared to the ERA kit... I was deciding between the Era kit, SV, and hurricane. After taking a real close look at all 3 and crunching the #'s, the Era kit would have cost me almost $10,000 more than the hurricane or SV because there were alot of MAJOR parts not included (rear end, brakes, sidepipes, headers to name a few). I figured at that point, I could buy a turn key minus car from BDR, Hurricane, or SV!

Josh

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by fsstnotch

Ya, I got ya. Most all the kits come with the GM fronts. Then you add IRS (Jag, BMW, Ford, etc) and you still end up mismatched. Put a solid axle, 8.8 or 9" and guess what... still mismatched! lol It sucks unless you go aftermarket.

What does the lonestar come with in the kit and what is it's price? If it is anything compared to the ERA kit... I was deciding between the Era kit, SV, and hurricane. After taking a real close look at all 3 and crunching the #'s, the Era kit would have cost me almost $10,000 more than the hurricane or SV because there were alot of MAJOR parts not included (rear end, brakes, sidepipes, headers to name a few). I figured at that point, I could buy a turn key minus car from BDR, Hurricane, or SV!

Josh

The lonestar also does not have the rear end, and the brakes depends on what kit you buy. If you buy the standard, it does not come included, but you could purchase them. It is still a little less than the ERA, but the convenience of being local is the biggest advantage they have for me.

That is what I liked about the FFR was the the SN95 Mustang setup, which I am already familiar with.

[DTurnbull]

I was sold on FFR from the beginning, but I just had so many projects going on already that I kept the option of buying a completed car open. I shopped and compared over & over again and by luck a nice FFR MKII that was nearby went up for sale & I nabbed it. The builder spent well over what I paid and left enough undone that I could personalize the car for myself. Sooooo, keep the idea of buying a built car open. The Cobra market, like a lot of things, is soft right now and there are some great bargins to be had on basically "new" cars. Ours only had 1700 miles on it and it was 10K cheaper than what it would have cost me to build! I'm not a fan of cobracountry - the cars tend to be way tooooo much, but Ebay, this site, and others like ffcobra.com are excellent resources for buying a completed car.

My two cents,

Dave -

[ICBomber90]

Here's my two cents

Look for a manufacture that is close to you and visit their operation. Is it professional? or fly by night. Things can look real good on a web site and be junk in person. The closer you are to the factory will allow to visit after you have the car. (Open Houses)

Stay within your means, yea Kirkhams look great but can you REALLY afford one? Look at build sites and find out what guys are REALLY building them for. Know what they are actually selling for when complete. I know I have over run my budget but there are some great value kits out there. I'm entering my third year of building but everything is paid for and I will have a great Cobra when I'm done.

If you're up to building one, understand it is not a model it is a car and it DOES NOT build itself.

HIH, Pat

[Joe Wicked]

Thanks Pat.
This is a big part of my debate. The concept I like best is FFR, but I am local to Lonestar here in DFW. I can make time any date to make a trip to see them. I am within 40-50 miles of Shell Valley at least once or twice a year (I grew up around there). Now if FFR were to suddenly decide to move to DFW, I would likely be sold .

I completely understand it is not a model. Once I have all parts, my goal is to have it completed within 2 years. That is after the kit and remaining parts are purchased. The research I have done has shown me that I am not yet financially ready to do the car the way I want to, so there will be at least 1-2 more years before I start I wish I could start tomorrow, but I refuse to compromise on the car. It will be built correctly, I want specifics that are going to cost me more, but I will not be happy without them. When I do this, I will not be cutting corners, or shortcutting anything. I intend to build as much of it myself as I can possibly do.

[fsstnotch]

The "concept" of the FFR is great... but don't get it twisted. That very concept can be used on pretty much any kit out there! However, MANY MANY MANY of the FFR owners are using all new parts and not an old beat up foxbody which is the concept. MOST of the kit manufacters will sell you whatever you are willing to buy. So you can break it down as much as you want.

[tmareina]

Sounds like you have a lot of time...Go to the Cobra Country web site and order the "Complete Guide to COBRA Replicas - 4th edition". It has all of the major MFG. listed with a lot of helpful info. Also tips on what to look for when compairing.

I have a Unique and am VERY happy with the product and the company.

Tom

[HOBIGBLOCK]

I'm in the market for a cobra and decided to go with a Superformance, however, I am perplexed as to which engine to run with (427Fe, 428FE or a 429FE). . I know I want to stay in the big block family, and part of it is nostalgia. Now I know if I go with an original 427FE it will cost more than a 428FE. Can anyone perhaps shed some light when it comes to re-sale value does the 427FE fetch more than a 428FE or about the same?

[fsstnotch]

HOBIGBLOCK,
I'm no expert and don't try to be. But my honest opinion is that you should not worry about resale and just build the car the way YOU envision it to be! If you build the car just for resale, then you may not like it as much as if you had just built it for yourself. After all, if you are like most of us... this is YOUR dream. Build the car for nobody but yourself and you will love it that much more!

This exact advice was given to me when i started inquiring about building. this is the exact reason that I decided on a 351. I plan to drive the car alot! I don't want the maintenance and driveability problems that come with a big block. I want a reliable car that I can drive whenever, wherever (weather permitting! )