Hello Cobra Club Members

Seamus78 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-12-2015, 12:21 AM

Hi All,

First time writing to you all and after reading some of your threads I think I've come to the right place. I'm not ready yet to purchase my first build but I can start researching.
If you see a Cobra on the Gold Coast, 9/10 its made by DRB. Are they still in business, from the look of their factory it looks abandoned ? However I'm curious about Pace427 cobras. How do they rate and has anyone built one ? Feedback on this would be much appreciated.

Cheers

guye · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2015, 02:49 AM

Welcome Seamus.

Yes, you're definitely in the right place. I encourage you to read more thread, especially the build threads. A large percentage of the recent build threads will be Pace 427 builds, but go back a few pages and you will find a number of others, including Classic Revival, Harrison, Factory Five, Kenmar to name a few. If you're more after a turnkey then you won't go past Superformance either.

Tell us more about yourself.
- Queensland based I assuming?
- Have you mechanical or engineering experience, or more of a pen-pusher like me? (Either can build a cobra - but some kits tend to require more fabrication effort which some people prefer).
- Any biases, preconceptions, requirements (about the Cobra mainly

) we should know before offering you advice?

I definitely encourage you to get to your local Cobra Club - all are well represented here in the forum, and many face to face conversations can be had with club members that you can't have on the forum (also many club members aren't on this forum!).

Enjoy your journey...

iva bigan · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2015, 03:09 AM

Far canal

Seamus78 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-12-2015, 11:18 PM

Thanks for the advice Guy.
I'm a Gold Coast boy and I have basic mechanical knowledge and I can work with my hands. My only requirements for my future build is that there is no HOLDEN parts. Ford through and through. I'll look into rolling up to a club meet.

Cheers

Jethrow · #5 (**permalink**) 12-12-2015, 11:58 PM

Glad you specified no Holden parts for us, I guess that means Chev stuff is OK. The LS3 is the ideal engine for these cars - light, compact, powerful, will pass emissions. The right stuff

xb-60 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-13-2015, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamus78

....My only requirements for my future build is that there is no HOLDEN parts. Ford through and through....

Hi Seamus, and welcome.
I like the way you're thinking there.

Here's a link to my AP 289FIA build. The 289FIAs are the ones that won the races

AP2289 build log

Cheers,
Glen

boxhead · #7 (**permalink**) 12-13-2015, 09:45 PM

No Holden Parts.
Just about eliminates all kits apart from Pace and Factory 5, as I dont think Harrison are still producing?
I guess you could be sneaky and find a square tube CR (but call the steering column Suzuki Swift instead of Holden Barina).

Have fun with the research and good luck.

Donunder · #8 (**permalink**) 12-13-2015, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seamus78

My only requirements for my future build is that there is no HOLDEN parts. Ford through and through.

You'll come around ....

Ford's nice (and traditional) but there's just too much good Chevy gear around these days to blithely discount it altogether. Keep an open mind at this stage of your deliberations. Listen to both camps.

deano59 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-13-2015, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xb-60

Hi Seamus, and welcome.
I like the way you're thinking there.

Here's a link to my AP 289FIA build. The 289FIAs are the ones that won the races

AP2289 build log

Cheers,
Glen

oh dear
so no commodore hubs and ve commy diff going into your pace build glen ?

you may have some trouble bolting your wheels on without them

xb-60 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-13-2015, 10:57 PM

Ha ha...but the originals had 'ring in' parts (Jag/Salisbury diffs etc) as well, so the bits that don't motivate it fast towards the horizon don't matter

Excuse us Seamus....just a little bit of blue vs red rivalry. As well, and just co-incidentally, my car will be blue and Dean's is ....red.

Cheers,
Glen

deano59 · #11 (**permalink**) 12-13-2015, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xb-60

Ha ha...but the originals had 'ring in' parts (Jag/Salisbury diffs etc) as well, so the bits that don't motivate it fast towards the horizon don't matter

Excuse us Seamus....just a little bit of blue vs red rivalry. As well, and just co-incidentally, my car will be blue and Dean's is ....red.

Cheers,
Glen

hey i wanted blue but my mrs picked the red lol i had to concede the colour in order to get the rest of the car yes i sold my soul to devil ie the mrs so i thought i may as well go with the chev and go auto to really upset the purist lol

BJ's Snake · #12 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 02:13 AM

Hey Deano
Does the " MRS " have a name, if she is the one that permitted you to do this project, maybe a little more recognition and respect...just sayin'

Dimis · #13 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deano59

hey i wanted blue but my mrs picked the red lol i had to concede the colour in order to get the rest of the car yes i sold my soul to devil ie the mrs so i thought i may as well go with the chev and go auto to really upset the purist lol

Well now I'm p155ed! Chevy and auto!?!?
Yikes, will this abomination be allowed to play in all the other reindeer games?

Just getting in early... Merry Christmas boys!

Glen, make sure when you're out driving with deano through those Adelaide hills, you take it extra easy. We wouldn't want poor deano bouncing off the redline just trying to keep up.

Oh yes... Welcome to the light side dear Seamus. I see the force is strong in you.

deano59 · #14 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dimis

Well now I'm p155ed! Chevy and auto!?!?
Yikes, will this abomination be allowed to play in all the other reindeer games?

Just getting in early... Merry Christmas boys!

Glen, make sure when you're out driving with deano through those Adelaide hills, you take it extra easy. We wouldn't want poor deano bouncing off the redline just trying to keep up.

Oh yes... Welcome to the light side dear Seamus. I see the force is strong in you.

dean has a extra 2 gears on the glenmobile yes i should recognise the mrs so the wonderful wanda who never complains when i need money for the race car or money to build trailers or engines i have her support 100% on all my projects and wheeling and dealing . so if she wants red then red she gets :-) ..

chees fom dean & wanda

xb-60 · #15 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 04:33 AM

I'm smart enough to stay out of this

Krait · #16 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxhead

No Holden Parts.
Just about eliminates all kits apart from Pace and Factory 5, as I dont think Harrison are still producing?
I guess you could be sneaky and find a square tube CR (but call the steering column Suzuki Swift instead of Holden Barina).

Have fun with the research and good luck.

Harrisons use some Holden bits as well.

Gav · #17 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 02:46 PM

Chev and an auto?
It will never be competitive...

Ford and an alloy thing?
It will never get out of the shed...

Aussie Mike · #18 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 03:04 PM

I've tried to build mine without and Ford bits. Alas I have failed. It still has Ford rear hubs and Ford door locks. Grrr... I'll get you yet mr Ford!!!

Hoity · #19 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 03:58 PM

Hey Seamus, I am in a similar position to you and are still researching a suitable platform for my first build. The ford/chev thing is an interesting phenomenon on here, given Shelby went with ford for his powerplants, the chev boys hang on to the fact that Shelby asked and got rejected by chev.
At the end of the day the chev powerplants provide a very economical Engine for a kit car, with a seemingly unlimited array of accessories. There is also the option of a donor commodore which can make things even cheaper again, hopefully in a year or two there will be a some cheaper used coyotes around as the Mustangs cycle thru.
I am a ford boy as well so happy to jump on the blue oval bandwagon, the chev boys are pretty well established now with the majority of cars getting chevs put in them.

I am heading up to the Goldcoast with family in Jan and will pop in to the AP factory and hopefully get a tour, if you get the chance it would come highly recommended as others above have said.

deano59 · #20 (**permalink**) 12-14-2015, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gav

Chev and an auto?
It will never be competitive...

Ford and an alloy thing?
It will never get out of the shed...

nah not building the cobra to be a track car so with my bung leg the auto will suit me fine .. i must say tho the ve Calais that i pulled the motor and trans from was not exactly slow when i took it for a spin around the block one night with the trade plate on it was surprisingly quick now put that running gear into a chassis thats at least 500 kilos lighter i think it may be a tad faster than i think.

.