What changes/replacements have you made?

[jdean]

I was thinking about what all I have done to my Cobra in the 4 years it has been on the road. I built it, but it seems that I have replaced or upgraded over half of it since then. Some changes were of necessity, and some were just things I wanted to do different, sometimes based on how much I was able to spend at the time. Here is a rundown on what I have done....Tell us what you have done to your car.......

1. Rebuilt the new engine - I had a newly built 460 with 1,000 miles on it when copper particles started showing up in the oil. Since I had to pull it to check it out (or so I thought) I decided to go ahead with a 521 stroker kit. Turns out one rod bearing had grit in it, crank was fine. Could have replaced the bearing without pulling the engine....but what fun is that?
2. Changed cam to more aggressive grind for 521.
3. Replaced Carb - swapped Edelbrock 800 with Holley type (Proform) 950 HP.
4. Rebuilt the tranny. I abused the first one to death.
5. Replaced seats with more Cobra correct type, but very comfy Sube Cobra SS.
6. Replaced carpet - what came with the kit was kinda cheap and did not fit real well. Had professional install better carpet.
7. Replaced wheels with Team IIIs.
8. Replaced seat belts.
9. Added roll bar seat belt clamps.
10. Replaced faulty distributor (twice).
11. Changed type of air cleaner.
12. Replaced battery twice...Optima (one was free due to defect)
13. Replaced voltage regulator....first one ruined battery.
14. Replaced radiator - brass one started leaking, replaced with aluminum
13. Replaced water pump - stock iron removed, aluminum Edelbrock installed.
15. Replaced drive shaft - rebuilt tranny had shorter tail shaft.
16. Replaced roller rockers - 3 times from Crane (460) to Harland Sharp (521) to Miller Racing 1.8 ratio for more valve lift.

Ok so what have you done for changes?

[Madmiles442]

Great thread John!
There are things I've done that I've HAD to do due to failure and things I've done because I WANTED to. I'll only list those.
Things I've done to "upgrade" since my purchase 2 years ago this week:

1. Wheels/tires - went to 17"
2. Went to larger rear sway bar
3. Went to all polyurethane bushings
4. Rejetted carb
5. Added pusher fans (for looks)
6. Added anti-submarine belts
7. Went to 100amp alternator
8. Replaced oil cooler for larger Setrab (not totally by choice, it was due to off-roading at Hallett, I should have bought a Jeep)
9. Replaced horn with a louder one.
10. Changed to black finned Cobra valve covers
11. Added spacer under driver's seat to raise front
12. Replaced puke tank for a chrome one.
13. Replaced battery (went to Optima too)
14. Replaced oil cooler fitting to silver from black from red/blue (if I could make up my damn mind, I'd save thousands)
15. Replaced front brake pads with more aggressive compound

Okay, now for the Wish List (again, upgrades, not repairs)
1. Aluminum paneling around pedals in lieu of carpet
2. Small shift light in dash near turn signal indicator
3. Bilstein (or similar) shocks
4. I could put cylinder heads or other engine mods, but that list never stops
5. Add roll bar seat clamps

[jdean]

Miles, I think any day now your list will easily surpass mine!

[SSSammy]

My 390 had a persistent rear main seal leak. So I sent it to Keith to fix. He CNC'd the heads to Stage II, put in bigger valves, changed to a roller cam, swapped the block for an alum Pond, stroked to 482, replaced and balanced the rotating assembly, put it all back together, sealed it up, and dyno'd it.

By god it doesn't leak any more! Keith's the man!

Sam

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by SSSammy

...CNC'd the heads... bigger valves... roller cam... swapped the block for an alum Pond... stroked to 482... rotating assembly....

Nothing like a "light, over the Winter tweak or two." I upgraded my fire extinguisher to a Halotron unit. Not an on-board system mind you, just the extinguisher that I have mounted between the seats. Oh, and I put the old ABC extinguisher in the trunk. How's that for a heavy-duty upgrade?

[RedBarchetta]

In no particular order (over the last 4 years):

1. Added Steeda differential brace
2. Modified driveshaft safety hoop for more strength (using Summit pieces)
3. Different air filter
4. Different valve covers and breather
5. Different surge tank
6. Added brake vacuum canister
7. Changed out -10AN oil cooler lines and fittings
8. Added oil thermostat (with new lines and fittings) while performing #7 above
9. Replaced fuel line from mechanical pump to carb with -8AN
10. Replaced cheap Wilwood remote clutch reservoir with billet piece
11. Added high vibration MSD coil
12. Changed plug wires
13. Added Pro 5.0 billet shifter to the TKO
14. Urethane sway bar bushings front and rear
15. Upgraded factory AVO coilovers to Bilsteins
16. Changed crank and rod bearings
17. New oil pump with #16 above
18. 3" Stainless Specialties mufflers and fresh Jet Hot coat
19. Removed drivers seat track and fabbed bracket for more leg room
20. Added MT Drag Radials on all four corners
21. Added inner wheelwell protection (foam padding and bed liner spray)
22. Added chromed harness bar to rollbar with Deist harnesses
23. Replaced faulty Smiths oil pressure gauge
24. Sent out tach to have diagnostic work completed/repairs
25. Sent out MSD box to have diagnostic check (ended up being bad ground)
26. Replaced left rear half-shaft boot seal
27. Had the Canton oil pan powder coated while I had it out for #16 above
28. Added polished aluminum fan covers
29. Added Jordan shifter when I did #13 above
30. Added Optima red top battery
31. New clutch and McLeod scattershield

With the exception of #18 (welding) and #31 (labor), I pretty much did all the work myself. And I haven't done hardly any of this during the last 10-12 months, so I've cooled down.

Damn, I've done WAY too much stuff to this car. But it's my therapy and it sure beats paying a shrink the same money.

-Dean

[undy]

New KC POnd 482
new TKO 600
Lakewood blow-proof bell housin
Ram long style sintered iron clutch
accusump
140 amp alternator and supportive wiring
M/T ET Street Drag Radials
Speedway sawy bars, fore and aft
new 4" side pipes
new 2" primary headers
return styly fuel system w/ a 950 ProForm carb
CVR reduction starter
carbon fiber fender spats
fixed Halon fire supression system
stereo system
new car cover
Wilwood 4 piton 12.19" front brakes
new clutch slave cylinder and linkage
new clutch/brake master cylinders (changed sizes to improve braking)
resealed rear end
new drive shaft
new holley black fuel pump and filter
new 8an fuel piping
Pro-5O shifter
K&N large oval air filter
new surge tank, hoses and stainless steel upper hose elbow
new electric cooling fan, thermostat and wiring
new cooling fan inlet and outlet shrouds
Canton baffled road race oil pan and pick up
msd coil
ford motorsport plug wires
new engine oil temp matching gauge
new "non-under drive" pullies
new udjustable upper control arms
etc.. etc..

Dave

[JBCOBRA]

During the driving season I have had to replace the gas frequently! LOL

[jdean]

Reading some of these lists jogged my memory about some items I forgot to list....
- Replaced valve covers from "Ford Racing" polished to "Cobra" sand cast.
- Replaced original restrictive mufflers with straight through type...you can roll a baseball through them now.
- Replaced stock steel oil pan with aluminum one from Stefs.

Yes Sammy, you made a MAJOR upgrade in the engine/tranny department....must have set a record for least amount of time someone ran their first engine!!

[thudmaster]

Hmm..........I replaced the whole car.........
My avitar for a new one.

[Silverback51]

Bought my car in late August, so my list is not that long.

1. Replaced the 1848 (465 cfm) carbs with 4160 (660 cfm) carbs.
2. Replaced the rear tires.
3. Swapped out the bumper overriders for quickjacks.
4. Replaced the plugs.
5. Replaced the plug wires
6. Replaced the distributer cap
7. Replaced the rotor
8. Replaced the distributer
9. Replaced the MSD 6AL box
10 Replaced the MSD tach adapter
11. Replaced the coil
12. Replaced the alternator
13. Replaced the voltage regulator
14. Replaced the air cleaners
15. Removed the CD player and speakers

Notice a trend with numbers 4 through 13? Had a miss I could not find. Ended up being the voltage regulator. Learned something new with that one.

Still to do.
Replace header gaskets
Replace drivers side inboard CV boot.
Add protection to the inside of the wheel wells (not sure what yet)
Buy gas. Lots, and lots of gas.

[jdean]

Silverback...you should not replace the header gaskets...instead try some high temp RTV. Put a bead around each header opening at the flange, let it set up and get tacky, then clamp them back on. In fact you dont really need to use high temp RTV but might as well. This works a lot better than gaskets for sealing headers. I give credit to Ed Combs (Double Venom) for telling me about this trick a few years ago

[jdean]

Thudmaster, thank you for not listing every part you replaced ;-)

[Tom Wells]

Holy Cow,

No way could I even remember what I've replaced

Not even omitting the rollover repair which was extensive: a new body etc etc

Four transmissions, two sets of headers/headpipes, two complete power steering systems (courtesy of road racing), alternator, steering shaft, voltmeter, brake pads, tires, wiring, coil, rebuilt shocks, air filter, valve cover gaskets, intake manifold gasket, distributor, PS cooler, trans coolers....

I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of stuff

I guess this must be a result of deciding to "own" the car and fix, modify, repair and upgrade as needed to make it work as a street/track car.

Would I do it again? Resoundingly YES!

Tom

[SF_SN888KE]

Although not as expensive as Thudmaster .... it's still painful,

in 2 years and 4500 miles:
frabricated value covers with breather overflow catch can (was spitting our oil from the breathers)
new speedo cable and speedo gear
Dynotuned original 408w
Serpentine pulley/belts
LED tail lights
replaced toggle switch panel
new fuel tank vent (vapor lock - cavitation)
Custom floor mats
Custom billet pedals
Custom shifter lever (Chromed)
Chromed steering shaft
Added remote filter and oil cooler
New 427w for crapped out 408w (at 3500 miles)
Dynotuned again
replaced melted blastgate and hose (during dynotuning) for Cobra Earl vent
upgraded light weight flywheel and new clutch with engine swap
replaced clutch after 500 miles
changed Woodward steering rack ratio to slower 2.09 from 2.36
CermaKrome headers again (lean mixture burned off coating)
Shift light
Changed mirrors - twice
Plastic wing windows for Glass wing windows
Aeromotive fuel filters every year
more?

Cobra is now in the $hop for upgraded custom 8212 Koni coilovers, (from Ultimate Aldan Eagles/Hypercoils) evaluation, re-set ride height, alignment (picking up on Tuesday) getting ready for the Cobra Ba$h in May!

still repairing, replacing, and tinkering ....

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by jdean

Silverback...you should not replace the header gaskets...instead try some high temp RTV. Put a bead around each header opening at the flange, let it set up and get tacky, then clamp them back on. In fact you dont really need to use high temp RTV but might as well. This works a lot better than gaskets for sealing headers. I give credit to Ed Combs (Double Venom) for telling me about this trick a few years ago

Thanks for the advice. I will probably do just that.

The new header gaskets can just hang ont he garage wall.

[jdean]

Ron, I know the feeling on some of your list. I scorched off my ceramic coating too, by running for about 15 minutes with the timing too retarded. Thats all it took.

My valve cover breathers were kicking out oil until two things happened...1) is I went to upgraded roller rockers that limited the deluge of oil to the top of the engine and 2), I changed valve covers to ones that happened to have the oil breather located more in the middle of the cover vs. the rear....where all the oil runs to when you accelerate.

[jdean]

Tom W.
You mean to say you rolled over in that beautiful EM? Hope no one was hurt.
John

[jdean]

Undy, how is the 950 Proform working out....I really like mine. Ran great out of the box.

[stefanog]

Before


and after


Now we're talking!