DRB, Problems with build??

[302cobra]

I thought I'd ask if any other DRB owners are having (or had) trouble when they built their Cobra?? If so, what kinds of problems. I want to make sure I am not the only one. These may have only started since they upgraded their chassis to be able to fit the deep V, 4.6l Mustang engines, and I may have got one of the first of the new, updated cars./

[400TT]

Maybe you should list what problems your having.

DRB have been doing that wide engine bay for a while now...or have you had your chassis for a while. Currently at their workshop they have chassis fitted with 4.6 modular & a very recent looking 1UZ-FE...a lot newer looking than 1UZ-FE we dropped into the Harrison.

They stopped production for 6 weeks to change that engine bay...now that's a big investment.

The main thing I would check is that you have the updated manual if you have the first of the chassis. You can check by looking at details for steering column location, it will be obvious if it is right or not...the change is most noticable there.

One thing for sure with DRB is build quality...it's very good and they are most consistent of Cobra builders here I reckon. The owner Peter Ransome can tell you exactly how much glass & resin goes into each body...it's exactly(well close to) the same for each one. They even use templates for cutting out the glass sheets to ensure consistency.

If I remember I'll ask the builder there if there is anything to watch with fitting modular.

[302cobra]

I have had my chassis since september last year.

Problems I had include:

Engine moun towers. They have a piece of steel tube that goes through them. They were different lengths.

DRB did not tell me that you must modify your sump to clear the chassis cross member. Subsequently I modified the chassis (moved the cross member forward about 2").

Brackets for front overriders/bumpers, welded on backwards.

Frount mount plate for rear suspension was 5mm out of square.

This is not really a problem but it is an issue. A lot of pages in the build manual were incorrect. It was supposed to be updated.

Left hand steering arm was machined incorrectly.

[Blair]

Dear 302 Cobra, I also received my chassis around the same time as yours! I think mine is Chassis number 283? However you forget to mention what Chassis you have. Has your Cobra got jag or holden based suspension?

I have a Holden based DRB with a 4.6 Quad Cam Engine. I had to change/modify the DRB engine mounts because my motor was touching the chassis rails on each side. I can now fit a piece of paper inbetween my cam covers and the chassis rail. Whilst doing this my engine is now higher and therefore rendering the bonnet useless without modification. I did ring Peter and he did do his best to help.

After fitting the motor properly, I suddenly find that my gearbox mount holes within the chassis are around (from memory) 45 cms
out, even if I kept the original DRB Engine mounts! The gear stick would not go through into the cockpit because it was fowling on a cross-member. I rang Peter and he gave me an explanation (my gearbox a T56 is from America because it came with a 4.6 Quad Cam) my American T56 gearbox is shorter then an Australian T56, cut the cross-member out re-weld it into a different position and make a different gearbox mount.

Then I realise my oil catch pan is way to low and that is after I have lifted the motor with my new engine mounts. I ring Peter and tells me I have to cut and modify the oil pan. It wasn't in my assembly manual but Peter faxes me the instructions. I wonder if a new manual may be needed?

The reason I bought from DRB, apart from Peter being a very nice man and giving a young 22 year old the time of day (other Cobra shops palmed me off after travelling 3000kms and he must get 100's of fellas wasting his time and not buying his products) was that the main parts of the Cobra would go together easily. So far I have worked around these 'little' problems at my expense. I mean Engineers are not cheap. Peter has always helped and I think his product on a whole is top notch. However I have had to pay for things and have had trouble building my car for the exact reasons why in the first place I didn't shop elsewhere. If that makes sense.

Now don't get me wrong I am not angry with DRB, actually I am HAPPY with them because now Peter tells new customers that if you want a Cobra with a 4.6 use the Jag suspension kit because for one thing there are no high chassis rails to fowl with the engine. I was just unlucky enough to be the first DRB Cobra with a 4.6 engine and ran into trouble with 'little' problems.

Now I am just waiting for my custom headers that were supposed to be ready on the 28th of March.

Blair

[302cobra]

I have a DRB 2000. Having only been in contact with Peter by email, and occasionaly by phone, I found him hard to talk to, and sometimes I got the feeling he didn't really know what he was talking about. Example, I rang him when I discovered I could not get my engine in because the sump was hitting on the cross member. He said, "oh, you've got your sump on backwards". But it can only go on one way!!

I am relatively happy with the way things have turned out, but to me, its not perfect. We paid a lot of money for our cars, expecting it to go together with not too many issues. But instead we had to modify a few things here and there, which should be standard in the first place.

I know that if I was build another Cobra (and I hope to someday) that I could build another DRB with ease, only because I know what I know now. But these little problems have somewhat put me off buying another one. I dont want to resort to buying one any further afield from Australia, as it would be more expense to ship here. But if I have to do that to get the quality I want, then I might do it.

In some ways, I wish I had bought an Almac Cobra, from here in NZ. I know three people with these Cobras, and they did not have any of these sort of problems during their build. I chose between Almac and DRB for my car. DRB was better for me, because it has extra legroom, I liked the donor parts mainly coming from all one car (suspension etc), and I liked the the steel floorpan and bulkheads, and the overall structural design of the chassis. Also, the finish of the body was better by far. But now, it seem that everything has been made to within 2 or 3mm of what it actully should be, and thats not good enough. I also dont like the fuel filler being on the left, and the fact that the recess where it mounts is not perfectly round. If other manufacturers can do it, why can't DRB.

Maybe DRB can produce more cars this way, after all they are the biggest Cobra manufacturer in Australia.

When considering Almac, I thought they were a bit of a patchwork quilt. With donor parts coming from here and there. But now I see they have far more options and are far more adaptable for parts, being able to take just about any engine and tranny combo. Sure, the shape may be a little off, but with the right colour, you dont even notice. I like the ladder frame chassis better than DRB's. It may not be as safe, but sometimes (most of the time actually) simple is better. It allows the 4 into one sidepipe setup. The fibreglass floorpan is'nt as sturdy, but it's is strengthened by the chassis.

Over all I think Almac is the better package. Check out their website, www.almac.co.nz

[PCC]

302,

I think you've got to remember that every one of these cars are different and I'm convinced that if you had bought another kit you would also run into problems.

This is probably why people move on from their first build to a second and third - experience counts.

Peter Ransom is a gentleman and is sincere in trying to help, but at the end of the day he runs a pretty big unique car business. May be he should'nt get into too much detail and pass you on to a "specialist" to answer specific queries. May be its his good nature to try and help.

You'll get there mate and look back and think the experience was worth it.

If I was in the market for another Cobra (which I'm not) I would definitely approach a Harrison, but that's just my personal preference. Having been out for a spin and a stella today, a DRB just brings as much respect as another manufacturer. At the end of a day people love them.

Good luck!

[302cobra]

Dont get me wrong, I love my car, but I'm a perfectionist, and I know it could be better. I mean, modifying the sump to clear the chassis is just stupid. If your running a Hi-performance engine, such as a 427, you'll want all the oil you can get, and cutting a hunk out of the sump wont help. Thats why I moved the cross member forward, because I didn't like the sump mods. I have changed many other things to, like steering column, and I am possibly considering a Hydraulic Clutch (DRB recommend cable).

Harrison Cobras look good. I heard a rumour that they are a copy of DRB, but looking at the photos on the website tells a different stroy. I can only see a few minor places in the chassis where Harrison and DRB are similar

Like I said, knowing what I know now, I could easily build another DRB, they do have so many great points. But I still think simple is better, like Almac. I think they are so much more versatile. I know 3 guys, who own Almacs, and they had now trouble, Although 2 of them are engineers. They took risks and made stuff that might not have worked, but the simplicity of the almac allowed them to do whatever they wanted. I like the fact that you can remove the body on an Almac, it makes the engine easy to install, my mates with Almacs all have a different type of engine, on 460 Ford, one 390 Ford, and one Big Block Chev

They were all first time builders of Cobras (as am I)and theirs have turned out great, although, there are places where they are a little rough around the edges. If I had to grade the manufacturer of my cobra and their cobra out of 10, By looking at a bare shell, DRB would win for Better body accuracy, safety, body finish, in most areas. But they'd fail in workmanship, and I'd still pick Almac.

[Rebel1]

Originally posted by 302cobra


Harrison Cobras look good. I heard a rumour that they are a copy of DRB,

DRB would win for Better body accuracy, safety, body finish, in most areas.

Wrong on both counts.

[302cobra]

I mean better accuracy than ALMAC. Why wrong on other things, you do know I am comparing to ALMAC, right???

[Rebel1]

The Harrison was flopped from another well known body and put on a purpose designed chassis.

The DRB is no more accurate to an original than the Almac...ie. They are both fairly well off the mark.

[Cameron Parsons]

Of course Les you can always go the SPF route... not only is it a reasonable replica of the original .... It bears a closer resemblance to the current price

Just kidding of course, I thought this thread needed some levity...

Cameron

[Rebel1]

Levity Cameron?. hehehehe

Not this lil fella. Well, not today anyways.

Woke up this morning and the same bluddy woman I married some 20 odd years ago was still here.

I knew things would improve as the day went on, just couldn't get any worse.

Only kiddin, I'm full of levity.

[302cobra]

I agree Almac and DRB are both off original. Have you seen an Almac. I dont know how to explain it but the front area where the indicators mount seems flat, and does not have a lot of definition. Whereas DRB is CLOSER (not right on the money, but still CLOSER) to an original thn Almac.

[Rebel1]

Yes, I have seen an almac. Unfortunately, I get over to the land of the long white cloud occasionally.

I think where it is difficult for replica builders is that whilst it is easy to scale a body up from photos etc., it is difficult to get a photo of an original cob from directly above. ie. plan view. The shape ( looking from above) of the front and rear is really what makes an original " stand out ". leastwise to me.

Also very difficult to imitate the vertical curves of the side panels between the front and rear wheel openings. Some replicas are almost flat in these areas.

It is these subtle differences which make a huge difference to the " persona" of a cobra.

[Aussie Mike]

All of our "kits" have their quirks and things that need improvement. It's all part of the fun of building one of these cars. it also lets you put your own personal stamp on the car. However parts supplied by the manufacturer that are machined incorrectly or chassis and brackets not welded square in my mind is just not on. The kit and parts aren't cheap and I think we need to se a lot better quality control coming from these companies.

As for body shape, I'm not putting the DRB down as they are a nice car but there's no way a DRB body flopped any where near a real Cobra. The shape off in a lot of areas. Check out the flange along the edge of the sills for a start. Also have a look at the curve across the body, The DRB is almost flat where the originals had a much higher crown. Most of the kits out there are off in some way, you just have to pick one with the shape that appeals to you.

I think the original Almac body was flopped off an Arntz. I've got a couple of NZ HotRod mags from back in 1985 with articles on the early ones. I'll try to scan the articles and post them.

Cheers

[Rebel1]

Originally posted by Aussie Mike


I think the original Almac body was flopped off an Arntz. I've got a couple of NZ HotRod mags from back in 1985 with articles on the early ones. I'll try to scan the articles and post them.

Cheers

Off the Almac website:

"The beach buggy craze was over and although Alex did not know it, the Cobra craze was about to start. Using a plastic kitset model and turning some photographs, with the help of George Ulyate, into scale drawings work started on a 427 Cobra."

There ya go.....originated from a toy.

[Aussie Mike]

Cool!

That's the kind of engineering I like

[Rebel1]

No doubt about them New Zealanders hey?.

First blowup toy sheep, then toy footballers, ....now toy cobras.

What'll come next?

[Rebel1]

Mind you, I've been for a drive in one of those NZ sprint jet boats. That was no toy.

Scared the livin bejesus outta me.

[302cobra]

No one in the world has engenuity like us Kiwis!!!!