A miracle....Slowy's cobra update

[sambo]

Check out the product info on that link Slowy, the chemical composition of the red stuff won't harm your aluminium radiator. Around $50 a bottle and you mix it 50/50 with water.

[stiffy]

Slowly,

Maybe check with engine builder regarding what oil is required.

So I should recharge the video camera in preparation !!!!!!!!

Not long now......


Stiffy

[stephen low]

Stiff

It's closer than its ever been, that's for sure.

Given I've got to put my battery for the cobra on charge yes prepare your video camera mate!! - lol

The mate buying his keelboat has probably been the best outcome for me as it forced the professional back into the process - not that I was really adverse to this but the mate had offered his help.

Still it's a way to go yet.

I'll keep on batting away.

Cheers and thanks for the supporting information guys.

[stephen low]

As an old Trekkie - in the immortal words of Dr McCoy........"its life Jim but not as we know it".

Had my sparky around for half a day and seem to have all the electric bells and whistles working - I am stoked.

I've still got quite a bit of work to do tidying up and finishing off bits and bobs before I can crank the motor in earnest and see what happens.

But at least it all seems to work, including a half crank of the motor off the starter.

Was happy to try this as I'd pre-lubed the system yesterday remotely driving the pump so even the starter turning the motor is a huge step.

I tried to return the cam sensor as found but I guess l'll discover whether it is out a tooth or not at the real start.

Is it all that difficult to check that the cam sensor is in fact properly aligned?

I'd be happy to check to eliminate this as a potential non starting issue come engine start attempt.

Anyway a couple of photos of lights in action - headlights and indicators.






Enjoy - I sure have.

Cheers

Steve

[Dimis]

Thanks for sharing.
Ticking all the boxes off one at a time.

The way it's eyes (headlights) are hanging out it looks like its had a rough rectal examination.

Nice work...

[guye]

Originally Posted by Dimis

...
The way it's eyes (headlights) are hanging out it looks like its had a rough rectal examination.

And the doctor left his cup of tea behind too...

[stephen low]

Ha that was for him to warm his finger between examinations - lol

He lives in Sunbury and was in my shed by 7.30am so had to keep him ticking over with tea and coffee!

I didn't have a plug to match up with the TKO mechanical speedo sensor or a reversing plug to suit the box and we were a bit confused by the Tremec instructions. I called Mal Woods and in talking to Mal realised the bluddy US-Mexicana instructions talking about driver's side fittings mean passenger side for us - DoH

Anyway am just chasing the reverse boot from Mal as my sparky recognised the sensor plug as one on about an XF or younger falcon. He knows his stuff as a trip to the pick-a-part and pocket yard yielded the right fitting.

Sparky left me the right cable connections to match up to the two TKO plugs when I get around to fitting these up along with a heap of final taping to be done.

One question I have in relation to the upper manifold gasket when I come to refit the manifold. Does the gasket go on clean or am I meant to apply some form of gasket sealant as well?

Anyway am coming off my weekend high - cobra electrics done Saturday and I went on to take out my yacht class State titles on the Sunday. This pissed off my youngest son who was sailing on the opposition boat, that up to the Sunday' had been in first place. Nothing like family rivalry as I sail with my eldest boy too.

Work continues to wind up for me so progress forward is likely to be slow but steady.

Cheers folks.

Slo

[stephen low]

Oh meant to also re-prompt about the process to check the cam sensor alignment. Can anyone shed some light on this exercise please?

Thanks

Steve

[pigsear]

"One question I have in relation to the upper manifold gasket when I come to refit the manifold. Does the gasket go on clean or am I meant to apply some form of gasket sealant as well?"

I believe Page 12 of Ford's Racing Installation Instruction Manual says yes. This is an all Aluminium 427 motor but should apply to your case.


http://fordracingparts.com/download/...427AFT_ART.pdf

[stephen low]

Been a bit start and stop getting to the cobra but managed to finish wrapping the main parts of the engine loom today.

Need to still tackle the short runs off to plugs and the like.

Thankfully though I've finished wrapping from the rear of the engine back into the transmission tunnel where the loom appears behind the dash.

A couple of photos of all this below.

Engine looms running either side of upper manifold location.



Rear of engine where the loom dives into the tranny tunnel.



I want to encase the loom into plastic sleeve for protection so still some work to do in this regard but getting closer.

Have not unexpectedly realised my battery is a throw away. Sort of good for slow cranking but that's all. It's an Odyssey 925 model 380 CCR non-spill battery. To fit my layout it seems I'll have to go source a new one.

Anyone got a battery contact?

Cheers

Slo

[Modena]

Get an Optima Red Top, I have bought in the past from Every Battery in Ashburton, but I notice Autobahn is selling them now also.

[stephen low]

Did a very quick bit of research and can't see too much difference between the battery options between brands. Know I could get even higher cold crank output optionsand know the Odessey will work in any orientation but I need to fit the space in the boot I'd already set up to.

Both are good quality options so am going to stick with the Oddity as the same replacement type will just slot back in to what I have set up for. And importantly a supplier operates very near by that sells at a price ($317) I haven't seen as low anywhere else.

Can anyone help with advice on my question two posts back about checking the cam sensor set up??


Cheers guys

Slo

[stiffy]

Slowly,

So I should get the camera ready

I'm away over Easter but most other weekends I'm OK to use my tripod


Keep going


Stiffy

[stephen low]

Certainly not stopping Stiff.

Despite picking up a minor head/chest cold I'm hopeful of some further movement forward on the car over this long weekend.

Got the new battery and even bought a C-Tek charger so will have the right power boost when the time comes.

Mal Woods has posted my reverse sensor plug so it's coming together.

Will post some pics after this weekend.

Slo

[stephen low]

Had a good day today on the car and have finished wrapping the engine loom including a wrap using protective plastic sleeving over all the loom and extensions for protection.

Three photos of the results.

Driver's side engine run



Passenger's side run




And an overall shot down the length of the motor



This means I can now work towards refitting the manifold as the next stage and most of the manifold connections are already done so that should be a quick fit.

Know I need to go gently gently on the manifold bolts though.

If I am luck I'll post a finished engine bay photo tomorrow.

Gotta love a four day holiday.

Enjoy

Slowy

[stephen low]

Despite numerous distractions, another good day was spent in the shed on the car with visible results.

After finding a few errant upper manifold bolts in my rats nest, the manifold is now bolted in place. Had read off the ford forum the two outer edge short bolt locations pose some risk of cracking the manifold.

I torqued the four main bolts and then hand tightened the last two without any drama. When I got the manifold polished initially I did in fact note a crack into cylinder 5. Testament to the advice I guess.



Had torqued up the exhaust bolts yesterday whilst till easier to access (HA HA) and set up the ignition leads to suit the new coil pack location.

A question though on the lead location. In the photo above and below No. 8 lead has been run amongst the normal loom. Is the spark pulse likely to cause some issue through the normal wiring? In other words should I run all the leads around the outside?

The shift in coil pack location means I've re-arranged leads to be able to reach cylinders for now. I might work towards getting a set made to suit as an improvement down the track.



I've now found a couple of my braid lines could do with shortening to improve their layout too.

It's now also apparent that the rear of the manifold is now quite a hectic area with coils, leads, braid lines and loom all interspersed. This is evident in the photo below. Still better at the rear of the motor than up front.



The other interesting result I managed today was to install LED globes into my reverse lights. Am running ancient VW reverse lights for the old style look as per below.





But was never happy with the crappy pale yellow light output from the traditional globes used in the lights.

They weren't cheap but I bought LED replacements and the LED output is great as seen below.



Will have to go out to the shed later in the dark and really see how well they light up behind.

Anyway have another shopping list of bits to get and I'll be ready to tackle the next bits of the car over the next long weekend.

Enjoy and cheers

Steve

[guye]

Nice slowy.

I like the additional reversing lights idea under the body. Looks trad.

[sambo]

Coming along nicely Slowy. Hey those reverse lamps look a lot like the one I just bought from Europa, below. Are they the same?

Buy Stainless Steel Lamps Online | Europa Specialist Spares

[stephen low]

Thanks Guys

Yes I err towards a more traditional look where I can.

And yes Paul I reckon you've got shiny new repro examples of my s-hand original Hella VW beetle reverse lights I got out of fleabay UK or US I think.

Don't think I had them when I went through my original engineering but then they are standard items so I don't think there should be any concern for their use.

Cheers

[stephen low]

A further sizeable update on the car, though probably the last of any rapid changes for a while as I go into parts fabrication mode.

Fitted up the throttle body and the last of the intake pipework which then allowed me to fit the vapour transfer line between driver's rocker cover and throttle body as braid.

Then shortened the other braid lines to get a better fit and connected up the various sensor plugs.

The engine bay as it now stands -







I now need to make up a carrier for the main loom plug at the rear of the engine. I am also buying a few more braid line connectors to help locate and stabilise the line runs but am likely to link at least one set to a support carrier off the engine.

Also received my reverse plug tonight from Mal Woods so need to make that final electrical connection to the gearbox and I'm still to wrap the loom under each guard area.

Need to revisit my accelerator pedal assembly, refit exhaust and so on...........

You can no doubt guess where I will be spending my time on the coming short long weekend. But all for a good cause.

Enjoy - I certainly am!!

Steve