Any NAF owners around?

[cavedog57]

Purchased a factory built 1988 NAF 427 a few years ago. Haven't run across any in the real world, but have spotted a few here at CC. Would like to talk, compare modification notes, locate replacement parts...

Anybody out there?

[Karl Bebout]

Hey Dave, Don't know that there are very many NAFs around although there is at least two, in addition to mine, in the Phoenix area. I wrecked my car last February and am currently having a new body built by Jack Kobe. He was the original owner of NAF and now has a small shop in Superior, a very small town about 40 miles from Mesa. He's also making some modifications to my frame and suspension to make the car go in a straight line better. I got a good look at the underside of the new body today and was very impressed by the hefty reinforcing. I'm sure my car will be better than it was, after I get it all back together.

[cavedog57]

Hi Karl,

What kind of frame/suspension mods? I've got the "competition" 4-link rear w/ panhard bar and a real Mustang II front suspension. Don't care for the "look" of the front end, but it goes straight and drives well; more than a little afraid to change it simply because of its looks. ;>)

Wouldn't mind strengthening the frame though.

[Rick Parker]

I had a new front clip made for mine so I would be able to install the FIA Knockoffs on my 289 NAF. Without doing so the tires were outside the fenders by 3inches. As far as I know the chassis's are the same. I also didn't like the way the Mustang II crossmember was attached and butt welded to the frame members. This change was real pricey but it handles excellent and everything fits. It was a custom designed job. It uses a shortened steering rack out of a 63 MGB, the design and ratio are the same as an OEM Cobra. It was necessary to shorten it because the pivot points of the "A" arms dictate the length of the rack for correct geometry and bump steer. The bottom picture shows the sway bar housed in the chassis tube under the Radiator. The diameter can be changed quickly to effect different handling response. Also, no over heating promlems here. Also mine is a 289 Body car, check my gallery.


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[Karl Bebout]

My frame is a home made 2"x4" with 3/16" wall. 9" Ford live axle, 4 link, panhard bar, Mustang II front end. I changed out the upper and lower A arms for tubular and got rid of the strut arms. Still have the MII spindles but used adapters for larger 10.75" Chevelle rotors and calipers and I have the 2 1/2" x 11" drums in the rear. I run a bored and stroked 454 Chevy that's 496 ci that dyno'd at 552 HP and 594#s of torque at the fly wheel. I've been running a Hughes TH400 with a 10" converter for several years and am thinking about going to a 4L80E overdrive. The car is 90% for street with the occasional trip to the drag strip. The best I've done is 11.14 on gasoline and 10.74 with a 100HP shot of NOS. I've had the car 12 years and have put about 30,000 miles on it. Jack Kube is cutting off the rear section of the frame and the four link brackets on the rear end housing to put on a better set up since it had been twisting the car so badly that it would carry the left front tire a foot off the track, clear through 2nd gear, when I was racing. I was getting stress cracks in the fiberglass and the frame is now tweaked to the extent that the right front frame rail is 1" closer to the ground than the left side. Jack will also be correcting that and adding additional gusseting and some more re enforcement to hopefully stop the twisting and to get the car to launch straighter. I'm thinking I should be able to get the car into the 10's on gasoline, if I can get it straightened out and then, and then, and then, the nitrous....

[frdfver]

I have a N.A.F. that I got in 1989 as a body and a frame and have been collecting parts and working on when time alows. I have narrowed tubular upper and lower control arms and a heits tubular strut arms. Adding X bracing to the front crossmember to stiffen it up. Modifying the rear frame to use a Satchell link setup, and to get it to sit lower with a 9" ford. Have coilovers and 11" discs front and rear. Plan on manual steering. Have moved the windshield and rollbar forward to fit an original soft top and side curtains. Not sure of the Manufacture on the wheels but they look like bolt on trigos with mickey thompson tires. Building headers for it now.....

Paul T.

[cavedog57]

Like what you've done with your front end Rick, but considering what I've spent on the engine and drivetrain this year (not to mention the custom built fuel cell I've yet to install and re-plumbing the fuel system cell to carb), don't see it happening anytime soon. Really like it though.

Don't care for the MII x-member (or its attachment to the frame), but it seems solid. The real problem, IMO, is the square tube "spacer" used to attach the upper A-arms to the x-member. Would like to replace the stamped steel upper and lower arms with tubular units and eliminate the strut, like Karl, and replace that mickey mouse spacer with something more substantial. Would also like to replace the stock spring and shock w/ an adjustable coil-over.

Ran the engine through the gears for the first time a couple of days ago. From a 5 mph rolling start, pulled to 6000 rpm (redline) in first, 6500 in second, about 5000 in third. Tires broke loose a bit when I nailed it and on the first to second shift, but otherwise it hooked up and went straight as an arrow. Shut it down just over 100 mph (according to my passenger).

Not making 550+ hp though ;>) -- engine dynoed at 380 HP and 397 ft/lbs TQ with a box stock 650 HP (have since tuned a 650 DP for it and had a Quick Fuel SS-750-AN custom built). Don't guess that'll cause any stress cracks.

[CobraDave]

I've had my factory built 1989 NAF for 13 years. Have made many changes over the years to the car and still get lots of compliments.
By the way, I'm located on the east coast of Florida in Melbourne. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

[SC Cobra]

Originally Posted by cavedog57

Purchased a factory built 1988 NAF 427 a few years ago. Haven't run across any in the real world, but have spotted a few here at CC. Would like to talk, compare modification notes, locate replacement parts...

Anybody out there?

I have one I LOVE

[dblbarrel]

I just came across this thread.
I too have a factory built NAF, bot it about 5.5 years ago.

[coinop101]

Hay Dave
I think there are a lot of us NAF cobra owners . Mine is a 1985 build I picked up 2 years ago . A big block 427 side oiler and webers 5 speed and man does she fly ! Worked on her over the first winted and planning to do this winter . It's nice to see a family of NAF owners out there . As far as I'm conserned , A NAF is as exact to a cobra as they come . With manual steering and brakes you feel the road and the mechanics of driving a truely fast street race car .
Peter

[SC Cobra]

I also have an NAF Cobra and it is much differeent that the others. It is hand layed glass no seams ans is a pleasure to drive. (as they all are). Mine is a 1970 428cj all roller, 28 lbs flywheel, 389 posi, 9 inch with 4 wheel dics. Blue with white strips.
To see it and hear it youtube rodfathersccobra and look at some videos

[mhas2009]

Hi CobraDave, my name is Juan and I have a question for you.



I have a NAF Car cobra 427 with number chassis NAF42700200300J**. I would like to know to that year of manufacture concerns this number. Some instrument exists to know this information of year of manufacture?



I need help, someone might help.



Thank you very much.

[CobraDave]

My number ends with B89 denoting that mine was built in 1989. Sorry but don't know what to make of yours.