Newbie with a GForce Cobra

[AdamF]

Hi Everyone,

I've been reading the board for a while now and after taking the plunge and buying a GForce Cobra roller from Rob, I've realised just how very little I know about kit building.

It's a long way from the old remote control Nitro cars I used to build.

Anyhow, I thought that now would be a nice time to say hello to everyone and ask for a little assistance as I start down the long road (pardon the pun) of building my Cobra.

I've got the Boss configuration chassis on my GForce and I've got a nice reasonably low mileage Boss 290 sitting in my shed.

I've been in touch with a wrecker in the Eastern states called Fern Tree Gulley and have bought various bits and pieces from them including a full wiring loom for a BA Falcon.

Question I've got is... where to start?

I've been doing a lot of reading and searching the net and haven't really found a good source of where to start with a Cobra build (GForce in particular).

Does anyone have any good guides, blogs, diaries, etc that they would be willing to share? I'd be very much in your debt.

All the best and I'll keep you informed with my progress.

Adam.

[BJ's Snake]

Your kit supplier might be a good start.

Surely they supply a build manual

Cheers

[AdamF]

Hiya BJ. Thanks for getting back to me so quick.

GForce have produced a fantastic chassis and body for me but I'm pretty sure that he hasn't got a build manual. I've asked but haven't had a response as yet. I'll give him a ring next week.

He's actually been very helpful and given me some great advice but as a newbie a lot of it goes straight over my head. As an example, one of the first tasks Rob told me to do was to put the handbrake cable in and measure it for length as well as installing the fuel tank. I've been able to tackle the handbrake cable but as for installing the fuel tank? Well, not sure where to start.

Thanks again,

Adam.

[boxhead]

There should be some type of manual, but you say you have a roller, so I would be checking all steering and suspension (make sure all bolts are tensioned to specs).
Then fit driveline (engine, gearbox, diff, tailshaft, drive shafts), then brakes, then body (unless yours is prefixed), then steering system, then fuel system, then wiring, then interior and trim, lastly is body hardware (lights, windscreen etc)

Good luck with the build, and please keep us updated with a build thread (either not many getting built or no one is talking)

[jcraigau]

Hey Adam,

Where is it you live? (nothing in your monica gives you away).

There is such a thing a G-Force build manual. It is a mythical beast that I happen to have a copy of. 8 months after I got my g-force the magic document was uncovered. It gives you an ideas of how it comes together, and apparently in the right order.

Let me know where you are and I can get a version to you...

--JC

[AdamF]

Hi JCraig....

Well, it's a small world. I'm in Perth as well (Seville Grove). Wow.... that's awesome news that you have a manual. My email address is adam.flemmingATiinet.net.au (obviously swap the AT for an @... darn spammers). If you can drop me an email, I'd be more than happy to pick it up or arrange to get a copy made.

I've got pictures of the build so far and will start blogging the build in a new thread... if for no other reason than to give people a laugh and maybe help someone else out.

Just as an aside, I've got to say that, so far, this site has been great for the positive feedback and responses from everyone.

That's awesome news. Thanks again.

Adam.

[jcraigau]

Hey Adam,

Even better news is the Cobra Car Club of WA meets the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Veteran Car Club on Hale Road in Forrestfield. Why don't you come along as a guest and decide if it's worth $50 a year to become a member. They are a great bunch of like minded blokes and there are usually a few cobras in the carpark to admire.

In the meantime I'll get a copy going.

cobracarclubwa.com

--Jamie

[stephen low]

Adam

Would second JC's advice as I too have a GF manual. I've also sourced an RMC manual as the GF was developed from the RMC.

I'll not be capable of doing any copy or scanning for a while so suspect JC will help you first but if not I will be able to get you a copy eventually.

As a roller it has steering rack in place? You could temprarily work on a steering shaft installation. Are you using the sigma column or has Rod modernised this yet? I'd suggest perhaps looking at a more modern steering arrangement if you can to get away from the solid sigma set up for safety reasons.

To do the fitting above needs the frames mounted so temporary work on the pedal box, brake booster and clutch can follow too.

Also a good time to fit your brake lines front to back plus fuel and vapour lines from the tank to motor. Not sure if you have 2 or 3 on the BA.

Let us know more and have fun.

Cheers

Steve

[Merv and Sharon]

Enjoy the process Adam. Go along to some Club meetings and take lots and lots of photos of every conceivable part of the cars. Pictures are so valuable in the build process.

[AdamF]

Thanks to you all. Really looking forward to having a look at the manual for the car and I think you're right... attending the local club sounds like the right way to go as well.

As it happens, I've just uploaded a few pics into my gallery... feel free to comment.

Looks like the blog part of the website isn't working at the moment but I'm keeping notes and will start a new thread and document the build as I go.

Thanks again.

Adam.

[stephen low]

Adam

To gain more boot space I lowered my standard tank fitment. I didn't have to cut a hole in the boot floor for partial tank penetration as the GF manual suggests. Though I did cut a hole for access to service the fuel pump and so forth. I too also had the tank modified for an in tank BA fuel pump somewhat like yours.

My gallery doesn't show the lowering too well but does show the modification to the seat belt post. I wanted twin rollbar hoops and in boot seat belt fitting. This gives more room in the cabin floor for seat positioning which I think is one of the GForces weak design points.

If you want twin hoops you need to add an inner passenger rollbar mount location and for any serious track work a third leg and mount point. All this best done of course whilst the body is off.

After tank and handbrake fitting you will be close to body on for engine install. This then gives you an idea of how little engine bay room you will have left to work in.

Keep sending updates and we can all keep on commenting.

Cheers

Steve

[Aussie Mike]

Welcome to the forum Adam. I've found it a great place to learn and share ideas and meet interesting people. Keep us posted with you build. We love build threads and pictures. The build is more than half the fun of the Cobra in my opinion. Cheers

[Modena]

Welcome Adam. For me the promise of a build was all of the fun, soon the actual build will be the fun, and one day the drive will be the fun (I hope!)

The G-Force is certainly a nice looking Cobra, please be sure to keep the updates flowing, we love information and build-progress posts here!

Ben

[jcraigau]

Hey Adam, good news is I've got a manual for you, but I'm sitting in the Qantas lounge in Melbourne waiting for my flight home so I can't make it along tonight. When I'm home we can link up for the handover!

--JC

[AdamF]

Hi Jamie,

You're a star. I really appreciate that.

In a similar vein, I attended my first meeting of the Cobra Car Club of WA last night. Awesome night. Really nice folks and I probably learned more last night than in all the time that I've had the car so far.

I hit Ron up last night and I'm now a fully paid up member.

Look forward to catching up.

Cheers,

Adam.

[Mando]

Adam that's all very nice but when are we going to see some pic's.
Welcome and enjoy the build!

Regards.

[jcraigau]

Well done Adam, yea they are nice blokes!

You get into town much, the manual awaits...

[AdamF]

G'day Jamie,

Yep, I work in Belmont so I'm pretty much next to the city every day. Let me know where you are and I'll come out and pick it up.

Again, much appreciated.

Adam.

PS - I've put some of the first pics into my gallery. Just got to work out why the Blogs section of the website isn't working for me.

[AdamF]

Hi Jamie,

Let me know when's convenient and I'll swing by to grab that manual.

Adam.

[jcraigau]

Adam, you have a PM.