Typical Newbie Questions

[rickmoss]

Just got bitten by the building bug and I'm interested in a Cobra Roadster. I just finished building my last project -- a two-seater airplane -- and have a garage full of cool power tools collecting dust.

So -- as a complete virgin to car kit building -- I have a couple of dumb questions.

1. Are there any legal problems that would prevent me from building and DRIVING my kit car in Oz?

2. Any familiar with the Factory Five Racing kit being sent to Australia and any associate difficulties (besides the cost of shipping and left-hand drive)?

3. Any opinons on the availbility of crate engines (302 or 351) and transmissions in Australia?

4. Any general opinions.

Thanks!

[alffie]

There reasonbly easy to register if you go through the process from the start. Talk to an engineer he will be the one who sets out what you can and cant get through rego.
your engine choice is limited to LS2/7 L76 chevs or Boss 260/290. straight LPG in some states will mean any engine can be used. Depending on how much HP you want will determine the Trans, Id go for the T56 seeing most v8 new cars run them and easy to get parts, and there strong.
What aircraft did you build?

[Beejay]

Welcome,

Whilst you could import a kit from overseas, there are lots of kits over here that are good quality and are designed to meet our ADR laws.

Depending on your state it is unlikely you can still use an old 302, these things are registered as new cars and therefore have to meet current emmissions levels.

I would contact the car club in your state and check out what others have done.

Ben

[rickmoss]

Thanks for the quick responses, guys

Just a few clarifications are required, if you don't mind.

The Cobra kits seem to use -- mostly -- Ford small block engines -- 302 or 351. Are these not an option for new cars in Victoria? Would the car require a catalytic converter? A car that looks like a Cobra with a sewing machine engine wouldn't be an attractive proposition.

Also, the previous posts says I need to consult an engineer on what can be rego'd in Victoria -- where would I find such an engineer? Through a club? Can anyone recommend a club in Victoria?

Also, the reason I was leaning towards Factory Five is that they sell a "complete" kit that come with everything except tyres, wheels and engine -- no donor car is required.

Is there a similar kit in Australia that would be complete and not require a donor car?

[rickmoss]

Oh -- my kit plane was a Van's RV-7A (tricycle wheel) with a Superior XP-360 (lycoming clone) fuel-injected engine with combination LSE electronic ignition and Magneto and a three-bladed carbon composite MT prop.

I'm hoping to make something that makes me as happy driving as this thing does flying.

[Philm]

HI Rickmoss,


"A car that looks like a Cobra with a sewing machine engine wouldn't be an attractive proposition. "


Could not be put in a better way

Phil

[boxhead]

Hmmm I can see some new fender badges.

Singer
Powered by Chev

[stephen low]

Rickmoss

The engineers mentioned are the VicRoads VASS engineers that do the ADR approvals and sign of on cars. Go to the Vicroads web site to see the list of engineers currently approved, where they are based and contact numbers.

Can certainly recommend Enkelmans in Braeside, as can a few others here. Someone like that could give you advice.

If what we have heard right recently is correct AU Windsors are still compliant to the end of this year but that makes for a very short build period. Otherwise the Boss series motors are the current Ford power option.

And obviously worth a visit to the next club meeting to meet a few cobra types. 1st Wednesday in the month at the Malvern RSL? I think. Just check the club web site that will confirm.

Cheers

[Blair]

Rickmoss must be Rebel1s long lost brother!

3 posts and he is into it!!!!

[LSC]

Rickmoss,

Lone Star Classics offers Australian ready kits through it's Australian dealer. Here is their contact email address: kenbb@paradise.net.nz Their demo should be back from paint soon.

New for 2008! Lone Star Classics now offers Complete Kit packages that are competitive to the FFR parts list.

[boxhead]

That is new news to me, Are the Lone Star cars approved for chassis torsional and side impact?

[sambo]

That email address is on a NZ domain... so we have a Kiwi selling American kits to Australians?

[LoBelly]

I think that Aust & NZ co-operate on a lot of compliance/standards based rules etc (helps with trade and makes it cheaper for both countries) so I wouldn't be surprised if the NZ rules were generally in line with Aus.

Also, notwithstanding things like current Euro IV(or whatever we're up to)/Seats/Belts etc equivalant standards have generally applied to most of the bits from (new/standard) US autos.

Looking at the LoneStar site makes for interesting reading and (to me) would make the kits well worth considering.

But More Importantly
Come to the Club Meetings rickmoss - talk & learn - its the best start to a cobra build

LoBelly

[alffie]

Every kit maker does just about every stage of build. It price that will decide how finished you will get the kit. Theres a lot of Classic Revivels on here as well as DRB and Harrisons. Other than the alloy Kirkhams every kit has pros and cons so the quaility and support are much the same from the bigger kit makers.

[LSC]

My dealer in NZ has reviewed all of the safety rules & regulations for New Zealand & Australia and found that they are almost identical. I shipped him a kit which his team assembled with minor changes to comply with these regulations. With this information I can now manufacture to comply.

Based on the information I was given the LS chassis did not require changing and that the dual door beams & Ford DOT door latches were adequate. Our dealer there will make sure everything is in order prior to a customer taking delivery.

Brian
LSC

[rickmoss]

There are a lot of good suggestions and good information -- but, I'm hindered in my immediate start by the fact that I'm currently on extended assignment to Singapore and will only be getting back to Oz intermittantly this year. I don't have the room here in Singapore to start anything but data gathering at this point (anything fun is illegal in Singapore anyway) and get ready to write some big cheques when I return. A completion date of 2008 doesn't seem practical.

But -- I just wanted to get some verification on something.

The Chev L76 or the beefier LS2 are(in my opinion) modern, UGLY engines that look like they come out of a Saturn or a Hyundai and seem to be quite expensive to boot (compared to comparable complete, drop-in Ford crate engines).

Will these modern technical marvels deliver a throaty, head-turning, envy-inspiring, testosterone induced roar from the side exhaust?

Will they require access to NASA computers to tune and keep running? Unlike the FORD engines that can be timed with a slightly modified flashlight.

What are the chances of getting a street-legal classic looking engine with a serpentine belt system and the airfilter sitting like a chromium crown on top of the carb?

[Aussie Mike]

Here's some pics of my ugly modern engine







Cheers

[Aussie Mike]

And yes this modern technical marvel delivers a reasonably throaty roar from the side exhaust.



Cheers

[rickmoss]

My most profuse and sincere apologies for the slight -- yours is a truly impressive looking engine.

Significantly cooler than the stock engine pictures I was seeing on Wikipedia

Maybe just a bit less classic than what I would expect to drop into a Cobra-replica (with the anodized aluminum couplings and a couple of compenents I can't even identify).

Can you tell me the model and displacement and perhaps tell me where you got it? Or did you build it from a block?

Thanks!

[Beejay]

Rick,

The LS Chevy engines are popular because they are cheap for the power they make, and there is huge support over here when it comes to modifications and tuning.

My LS1 was about $4000 with under 20,000 Kms, I expect to get about 250 KW at the wheels stock with just a tune, cold airbox and side pipes.

Ben