A miracle....Slowy's cobra update

[stephen low]

Further progress and pictures from Saturday just past with the engine oil system now finalised.

I've run a remote filter set up and an oil cooler and made all the connections in -10 braid and nice black fittings as follows:

Nose view of the plumbing finished look



And the oil cooler



And the bulkhead fittings to make the transition on either side past the radiator - engine bay side



And through to nose side exit



Remote filter location is on the passenger footwell wall



And some of the braided snake action in the engine bay



It's taken a while but I have been taking my time trying to get it right. But even so tight clearances have challenged me on a few occasions.

I have to thank Marty for his experience and resourcefulness though with Marty making up a bit of a special tool for me to be able to properly tighten the bulkhead fittings in that cramped space beside the radiator.

I have to also curse whomever it was that first posted the nice photos of their engine bay with black fittings as it was that look that headed me down that track. But it means I will have to later replace some existing red-blue fittings - ah well it's only money!

In further hindsight, I'd have also likely used that nice black material coated hose in place of the braid too but its definitely too late for that change now.

My next adventures will be on trying to get my clutch to work properly. The hydraulic set up we installed has left a clutch pedal that requires the user to be able to leg press 200 kgs I reckon.

I will do a separate thread chasing feedback on this one as it needs to be fixed.

Enjoy the photos above until my next instalment.

Cheers

Slo

[stephen low]

It's been ages since my last update but quite a bit has moved on with the car as follows.

Sorted my clutch woes as per my other post, this has been the major hang up, and I've tinkered with bits whilst Marty has been sorting the things he has needed to do - such as

Finished and fitted narrower seats both on adjustable tracks and nicely low in the cabin now.



The side pipes finally fitted



Have kept my options open about making these live, as there is an inbuilt muffler in the main pipe, and hence the larger gap to the body work.

And a deeper boot care of some fibre glassing work. Just an opportunity I took.



Think I gained about 100mm extra depth to the boot with this cut and shut.

Also finished is the re-installation of the underbody exhaust system.

So there is some minor work needed such as drilling the holes for the bumper arms and such similar things but essentially the car is now free to return home.

Have yet to finish off -

the revised loom alignment
fuel and vapour connections
finalise fitting up the manifold and other engine bits

and then hopefully a "new" engine first start can be on the cards

In reality not a small list of jobs but it is getting closer.

Enjoy

Slo

[sambo]

Good progress Slowy. Should be able to fire it up tomorrow?

[stiffy]

Great work Slowly,

I will have to change your nick name once completed

The car looks to be coming together finally, have you booked in for next

Years Alpine Run

I would love to be there for the first engine start, let me know when you are

Ready and I will bring the video so we can put in on CC.

Stiffy

[sambo]

No pressure Slowy/Fasty!!

[stephen low]

Thanks guys particularly the offer of recording the second engine restart Stiff. Will take you up on that if the timing works out.

Still need Marty's help tomorrow as said for a few small jobs, particularly as he has a jig for one of the jobs but am really hoping I can get it onto the trailer and off home before end of tomorrow.

Haven't said a word to the missus so a bit of a surprise, hopefully a good one, but she repeatedly complains about not getting her car into the garage - ha!!

But I know Annie would prefer the cobra being in there and getting worked on than not.

Oh and Paul you have hit on Annie's nickname in one, which was care of one of my sailing mates who just linked us as Slowy and Fasty!!

Mind you this mate is nicknamed Skylab or Slabba after the failed spaceship all those years ago, though I can no longer recall why, but these monikers seem to always stick.

Cheers

[stephen low]

So a final sign off on this chapter of build as the car safely made it home from Marty's factory and is now safely ensconced in Slowy's shed.





And it all went to plan in terms of surprising the missus so I earned some brownie points there.

Car's already up on stands and I've got started on the myriad of items to tick off.

I'll start a new build thread as I get something significant done on the car on which to report on in the near future.

I'll miss the shed lunch time BBQ's, thanks Doug for those. Maybe I'll just have to fire up our BBQ instead - lol

Cheers

Slo

[stephen low]

A small teaser guys of further limited progress on the car.

All focussed on getting the loom respliced and re-laid out but as usual this involved side steps making bits.

I ended up remanufacturing my reversing light mounts and making up some loom blanking plates to retain wiring grommets but am happy with what little has transpired so far. Seems life continues to get in the way.

Anyway I am now ready to resplice the loom where it was cut near the rear cabin bulkhead as seen in the follows pictures.

Boot loom leading to its exit point



Then one of the loom plates, this at the rear of the boot. I found it easier to mount the wiring grommets into SS plates and simply tap the thick fibreglass and screw the plates into place on the fibreglass.



I did take someone's advice and run the rear loom down the top inside of the transmission tunnel. This is the left wire bundle the, right is the engine spaghetti. This will work well as I have hanger points for fuel down the tunnel and can zip tie the loom here.




A broader view of the wiring arrangements.



Wont get back to this work now for another 10 days after I get our National championships out of the way in WA. But I've a further week off once I get back and I expect to at least have the rear loom fully repaired.

Have a good Boxing day folks and I'll raise a glass to you all twice on NY eve. The first time will be at 9pm to celebrate the real Melbourne NY and then at WA midnight time.

If any of you WA cobraphiles are about and down Melville Water way on the Swan, I'll happily shout you a beer and have a chat at Perth Dinghy sailing club.

I'm not going to be able to stray too much for visits as I'll be without a car and I'll only have NY day off anyway. But I'd love to catch up with anyone that can drop in.

Cheers

Steve

[stephen low]

Despite interruptions and new puppies trying to help (chew) bits on the car, I've earnt my beer today finally finishing the re-splice of my loom to the rear of the car.

The various finished loom segments draped over her rump.




The join segments spread out to keep the loom as small as possible.



The loom will be reinstalled along the inside top of the transmission tunnel once I've tested the various plugs outlets for functionality.



Neither a small nor major piece of work but just another good bit of progress.

Now to the front of the car. Thank goodness for some holidays.

Enjoy

Slo

[letsboogie351]

"I've earnt my beer today"
Slowy, any advancement deserves a beer but, I think you might have to give up sailing so you can get the job done

Doug

[BJ's Snake]

I think it's a comp between Slowy and Aussie Mike to see who can take the longest to build/rebuild a Kit Car......

Any progress is good progress.

Cheers
BJ

[Cobra01]

Originally Posted by letsboogie351

"I've earnt my beer today"
Slowy, any advancement deserves a beer but, I think you might have to give up sailing so you can get the job done

Doug

He is multi tasking so give the man a break

I like the wiring i only wish i was as talented as you

Cheers

Brad

[stephen low]

Happy New Year to you too Dougie!

And what.....give up this.........







My son managed to damage himself after the practice race and I ended up sailing with a WA crew for the last 6 races. Considering this, all up I wasn't too displeased with our 7th place in the end. But it was hard work and no holiday that's for sure.

However during my sojourn over the first race I go a berth on this 57 foot beastie to watch the race. That was fun!

And a bit bigger than our power boats eh Doug!



Tough to take I know but I was there to go sailing.

So yes I'm back and trying to work on the car - give me a break - ha

Enjoy

Slo

[stephen low]

Thanks guys for the encouragement ....of sorts

Any progress has to be good so I'm happy.

BJ - Mike at least decided to deliberately rebuild, though that too was my plan until this forced my hand.....



As they say sh.1.t happens......but Doug is right and my sailing has gotten a lot in the way of re-building. But I want my cake and to eat it too - so there is the rub!

I'll get there eventually.......

Brad

I'll take no credit for the wiring, I'm electrically challenged and the initially wiring job was done by an auto-elec.

However cutting and shutting, soldering and re-routing and running existing wiring is not rocket science and that I am doing - slowly it seems.

Will start to tackle the front of the car tomorrow - until an arvo golf date gets in the way - DoH!!

Still I am on holidays, a far better option than paid work for sure!

Enjoy again chasps.

Steve

[letsboogie351]

Steve
I love the on water pics.
Glad you went well in Perth. Unfortunately since the Cobra became reality my boat has been somewhat neglected. A situation I hope to change later during this week.

Doug

[Aussie Mike]

Originally Posted by BJ's Snake

I think it's a comp between Slowy and Aussie Mike to see who can take the longest to build/rebuild a Kit Car......

Any progress is good progress.

Cheers
BJ

At the rate I'm going I think Slowy will beat me.

[stephen low]

Ha - I am trying to Mike.

In reality I'd just like to get the car going sooner rather than later.

Doug

I'm planning on water play tomorrow arvo off Chelsea Yacht club.

We can set ourselves up on the beach there and use the club's showers and toilets if needed.

I'm also planning to use the club's BBQ for a dinner and drink opportunity when our bar opens.

Just got to make these things happen mate.

Slo

[stiffy]

Slowly,

Did you say the previous work was done by and Auto Elec ??????

I beg to differ ( as you did ) so don't give credit where it is not due.......

It looks like you are going in the right direction and its coming together,

Keep going, re you up for this years Alpine Run? In the Cobra?


Stiffy

[stephen low]

Stiff


Thanks for the vote of confidence but all I am doing really is re-routing the existing loom albeit with a number of deliberate and forced splices to make so that I hide it all the better.


Yes the re-routing is my effort and I am happy how the loom is being better hidden but I am essentially using the original fabricated loom. Anyway it is coming together slowly, but too slowly for the Alpine run in 2014.


Besides which I think it is that long weekend I've been given a V8 supercar drive.


Not making any timing promises on the car that's for sure, each time I do I just blow the schedule.


However I'd be confident in saying Alpine 2015!


Cheers


Steve

[Rossba]

Steve,

Doing great work. Keep it up.

I noticed you change the fuel lines to braided.
I was wondering what fittings you used to connect to the steel fuel lines on the engine as I used the factory ones to mine but have trouble with the o rings and would like to change it to a system that allows connection and disconnection more reliable.
The o rings are fine for a factory connection then left alone but as everyone knows we can't leave them alone. lol

Cheers

Ross