New to the forum!just asking questions

[onefast5.0]

I am doing some research and planning a build in the future.I have been checking out the different options and reading different posts from other members.
I was looking at a base kit,that pretty much means that I supply everything,I think.
My thing is I want to go with a 351 motor,not sure of trans.As fas as rear end,could I just pick up a mustang rearend?
I am trying to plan things out as I said before and I want to see what my best options are and keep to a budget.I would like to build a motor,never actually built one before though.This would be a first.I have more questions,as I go along I will ask or see the answers as I go through the forum.Thanks for everything in advance

I am definitely open to any and all opinions on everything though.

[Seagull81]

You have come to the right site to get your questions answered. There are many people here that will help you in all aspects of your build.
There are many companies that you can choose from and some are supporters of this site.
My Cobra is a Factory Five Racing (http://www.factoryfive.com/) that used a Mustang donor for the suspension and drive train. They also have a kit that gives you all the parts except the engine, transmission, wheels and tires. Just depends on how much you want to spend in dollars vs. sweat.
I am sure many will follow with other choices for your education.
Have fun with your build and send us lots of progress pictures!
Steve

[RicManSr]

I too have a Factory Five Racing (http://www.factoryfive.com/) Kit. Do your research on what manufacture you want to go with also. There are many to choose from. I went with a FFR because of the ease of assembly, and for the sheer fack there are 6-7 thousand of them sold so far. That many people can't all be wrong. Dependeing on what money you throw at it & how much time you spend on it, I've seen many factory five roadsters that are as nicely built as a turn-key minus cars.

[onefast5.0]

Thanks.I would to save my money and put the sweat into it.I dont mind hard work and also the feeling that I did it on my own is nice too.
So the base kit is basically just the car and I use evrything off the donor car? the complete kit comes with everything I just put it all together?
Ok.
I happen to own a mustang,but she is my pride and joy,so I would have to find something else to part out.
Thanks I hope to get some more answers and opinions as well. I have been reading through past posts and I found some one who says that they basically went and picked up the complete mustang front end and rearend.that would get me on a rolling chasis I guess.
I also seen a place called pacific roadsters which I had seen on Speed channel as well.They were reasonable and the kits looked good.

[xlr8or]

Read, read, read. There are lots of options out there with cars available in different formats. Learn the differences and decide what works best for you. Most all will support any Ford small or big block engines.

Some require you do lots, some medium, some just a little or nothing at all.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

If you want to do the grunt work, the Pacific kit looks pretty good also. It may be important to search for a company somewhat close to you if at all possible to save on shipping charges, which can be steep if they have to ship your kit across the country. You also want to develop a relationship/dialog with the manufacturer, so as to get the utmost from them as to what your needs are. I was impressed with both the owners of Pacific and FFR (both have been on TV series), and B&B roadsters in MO, who also does Cobras (and street rods) and is the latest KIT series on SPEED TV. Good luck and welcome to the asylum.

[DocDirk]

Onefast, there's a private message for you from me. To access it you click on the Private Messages area in the blue box surrounding your Welcome in the upper R hand corner of the page here. I believe you can keep 200 of them before your account is full of them.

You have a PM (Private Message)

Dirk

[CHRIS DAMSCH]

Check out your local Cobra Club and talk with all the owners, hang out with them, ask for opinions, go for rides, help with builds and upgrades. That is the place I would advise starting with.

Where do you live?

[olddog]

onefast - if you fill out where live it will help. There is a big kit car show in Carlisle (SP?) Pen. A car show in London, Ohio, and other things around the country. You never know several members may live within 20 miles of you.

[Frank Messina]

Research, research and research. Look at all the kits out there, what they come with and what you have to provide in terms of parts, sweat and $$$$. One of them will resonate with you and you will be drawn to it. That's the one for you. Be honest with yourself about your ambition, and goals. What are you going to do with the finished car, assuming you finish (many don't), keep it forever or sell it after two laps around the block? If you're thinking of building your own motor, it's better if you plan to keep the finished car for the longer term. Be careful trying to build your own motor, they make it look so easy in the magazines but it can easily turn out to be a nightmare. IMHO you will have a much better resale experience if you have a product from Ford Racing, Roush, Keith Craft or one of the other well established engine builders between the fenders. HTH Good luck.
Frank

[onefast5.0]

Thanks so much to all the responses.Everyone on this forum is great.I live in Greer,SC.I would love to check out some cars up close and personal.I have always been a Ford fan,due to my love for the Mustang.I always thought that a Shelby was out of reach,really it is,but a cobra roadster is the closest thing to it.

There is truly a great group of people here,oh by the way is there any books I could pick up or catalogs,just to give me some ideas?I have checked into the search option on the computer,but I guess I am not typing in the right words b/c it doesnt seem to pull too much up and I would like to see more.

[olddog]

Some one on here gave me a copy of a spread sheet with most of the manufactures. I just pasted it below.

Cobra Manufacturers

Manufacturer Website Wheelbase (in)
Antique & Collectable (AC) http://www.acautos.com/
B&B Manufacturing http://www.bandbroadster.com/
BackDraft http://www.backdraftracing.com/home.htm 92
Backlaw Cobras http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/factory/4541/
Carcepts http://www.carcepts.com/
C-F Enterprises — AC Ace replicas http://www.calace.com/
CJE Motorsports http://cjemotorsports.com/index.html
Classic Roadsters http://www.classicroadsters.com/index.html 94.5
Cobra Cars http://www.cobracars.com/
Cobra Restorers Ltd http://www.cobrarestorers.com/
Cobray C-3 http://www.cobrasnvettes.com/ 98
Dayan House of Cobras http://www.dayan.com/
DRB Sports Cars http://www.gt40australia.com/
Emerson Motorsports http://www.cobracountry.com/emerson/ 94.5
ERA Replica Automobiles http://www.erareplicas.com/
Everett-Morrison http://www.everett-morrison.com/index.html 93
Excalibur Motorcars http://www.excaliburclassics.com/index.html
Factory Five Racing http://www.factoryfive.com/
G&K Classics http://www.cobracountry.com/gk/
Gardner Douglas Sportscars http://www.gdcars.com/
Goben Cobras http://www.gobencobras.com/
Group Five Ltd Cobrette http://www.vipercarparts.com/group/cobrette.html
Hawk Cars http://www.hawkcars.co.uk/
HDR (Highland Daytona Racing) http://www.hdrcoupe.com/about.html
Holden Motorsports http://www.holdenmotorsports.com/
Hunters Kit Car http://www.hunterscobrakits.com/ 95
Hurricane Motorsports http://www.hurricane-motorsports.com/index.jsp
JBL Motorsports http://www.jblmotor.com/ 95
Johnex3 Motorsports http://www.johnex3motorsports.com/ 94
Kirkham Engineering http://www.kirkhammotorsports.com/
LA Exotics
LK Motorsports http://www.lkmotorsports.com/
Lone Star Classics, Inc. http://www.lonestarclassics.com/ 94
MidStates Classic Cars & Parts, Inc. http://www.midstatesclassics.com/
Pegasus Performance http://www.cobracountry.com/pegasus/home.html
Pigeon Performance http://pages.infinit.net/accobra/pigeon-an.html
Premier Motorsports http://www.premiercobras.com/
Renegade Roadsters http://www.renegaderoadster.com/
RU Car Crafters, Inc. http://rawilson.net/
S&S Automotive http://www.coloradocobras.com/cobra.html
Shamrock Autocraft http://www.shamrockautocraft.com/ 92
Shelby American http://www.shelbyamerican.com/
Shell Valley http://www.shellvalley.com/
Stirling Replicas http://www.sterlingreplicars.com/
Street Beast http://www.streetbeasts.com/
Superformance http://www.superformance.com/
T-3 http://www.t-3cobra.com/
Team-C-Racing http://www.team-c-racing.com/
Thunder Carriages http://www.thundercarriages.com/
Turn Ten Racing http://www.turntenracing.com/
Unique Motorcars http://www.uniquemotorcars.com/
Upstate Super Replicars, Inc. http://www.daytona-coupe.com/aboutus.html
West Coast http://www.cobrakit.com/
XKs Unlimited Motorsport http://www.cobrasbyxks.com/

[Seagull81]

WOW! That ought to keep him busy for awhile.

[onefast5.0]

Thanks man that is a huge list!!

[olddog]

Originally Posted by onefast5.0

Thanks man that is a huge list!!

It is not up to date.

Some may be gone and some may be missing.

[Ron61]

I may have a more up to date one but it is still not the latest as Warren who was doing the list passed away last month. If you are interested I can look at mine and see if it has any listed that aren't on this one.

Ron

[Dwight]

I think you can remove

Shamrock Autocraft http://www.shamrockautocraft.com/ 92


Dwight

[elmariachi]

And Hurricane Motorsports has a new website here.

[tcrist]

You can take Classic Roadsters off of that list also.

[Maurice Johnson]

The Unique Homecoming May 1st in Gadsden Alabama will allow you to see a broad range of car finishes and details.