Me... A Texas Hopeful kit builder

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

Ok, thanks for that. Like I said I have contacted ERA, their car does come highly recommended. So that's who's I've decided to give all my available cash to. I got a rough estimate on total cost and time before I get the Kit.

I've purchased a big block 390FE and a Ford Top loader. The Engine will be rebuilt in the next 6 months. I've started, going to send that deposit very soon, and I have sold my Mustang ,because I was told I couldn't have this toy unless I got rid of the other. It's what it is.

What motivates you to a kit? If you are doing it because you're a skilled fabricator and love "some assembly required" and have the tools then by all means have at it. If you are doing it because you think you can save money over buying a used sorted out car or a roller and just adding power train you might want to reconsider. Assembling a "kit" of this magnitude will take tools you probably don't have, can't rent, and will use only once, and the most notable being a lift that makes things much easier and saves time.

In the time it will take you to acquire and build a kit to finish things happen, and your interest will quite possibly wane. If you bought a used already sorted out car you'd have at least a year's worth of enjoyment out of it before the kit arrives.

Good luck no matter what you choose.

[Hntr2506]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

What motivates you to a kit? If you are doing it because you're a skilled fabricator and love "some assembly required" and have the tools then by all means have at it. If you are doing it because you think you can save money over buying a used sorted out car or a roller and just adding power train you might want to reconsider. Assembling a "kit" of this magnitude will take tools you probably don't have, can't rent, and will use only once, and the most notable being a lift that makes things much easier and saves time.

In the time it will take you to acquire and build a kit to finish things happen, and your interest will quite possibly wane. If you bought a used already sorted out car you'd have at least a year's worth of enjoyment out of it before the kit arrives.

Good luck no matter what you choose.

What I want and what my wife will live with are 2 very different things. I'm slow rolling this operation, not for my benefit, but really for my benefit. I'm going to build some of this car, I'm lucky that my brother manages a garage.
Tools for everything I'll have will be at my disposal.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

What I want and what my wife will live with are 2 very different things. I'm slow rolling this operation, not for my benefit, but really for my benefit.

If you are trying to save money, buying a car that's already been built is clearly the way to go, as opposed to building it yourself or having ERA build it to your specifications. The benefit of the latter is that you get the car exactly the way you want, not the way somebody else wanted it. But you will pay a premium for that luxury. On the other hand, the longer you drag out the process lends itself to an appearance that you are not paying as much as you really are. Kind of like the old days when you paid Ma Bell a small monthly fee for your telephone, but you paid it forever. But be cautious on the price of these cars. They are more expensive than you think, they always cost more than the good faith estimate somebody gives you and when you see the good stuff next to the alternative, you will always want the good stuff. And the good stuff always costs more.

[Hntr2506]

Originally Posted by patrickt

If you are trying to save money, buying a car that's already been built is clearly the way to go, as opposed to building it yourself or having ERA build it to your specifications. The benefit of the latter is that you get the car exactly the way you want, not the way somebody else wanted it. But you will pay a premium for that luxury. On the other hand, the longer you drag out the process lends itself to an appearance that you are not paying as much as you really are. Kind of like the old days when you paid Ma Bell a small monthly fee for your telephone, but you paid it forever. But be cautious on the price of these cars. They are more expensive than you think, they always cost more than the good faith estimate somebody gives you and when you see the good stuff next to the alternative, you will always want the good stuff. And the good stuff always costs more.

Seriously, I've been planning this a long time. The cost of these kits has gone way up since I first saw them. I have no illusion on what its going to cost in real dollars. There are things I can save money on that I can live with.

That 390FE will probably be stock, just dressed up. The Top loader was rebuilt and bought them for $1700 combined. That's also why I asked about the 6 pin hubs, quoted $2000 for that over the 5 pin. There's money that can be saved on this build.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

Seriously, I've been planning this a long time. The cost of these kits has gone way up since I first saw them. I have no illusion on what its going to cost in real dollars. There are things I can save money on that I can live with.

Good enough. And a 390FE will do just fine. We had a thread not too long ago where one well respected engine builder was outlining how it can easily put out well over 500HP with reliability. Of course, it'll still drip from time to time, but that's to be expected from an FE.

[Tommy]

Three basic observations from my life experience.
1. Every major car project costs twice as much and takes three times as long as my very best original estimate.
2. Every project is largely an excuse to buy more tools.
3. I've saved enough money by doing jobs myself to pay for all the damage I've done while doing jobs myself.

[patrickt]

Here's a ten year old options list from ERA: http://www.erareplicas.com/427/427options.pdf I'm sure the prices have gone up, but it's handy to at least have a list of some of things you might want to include. Some of the stuff that you don't think about can get kind of pricey, like a custom fit top and side curtains. Other things you can't even see and are pricey, like 6 pin hubs or a big brake upgrade. Other than options that you'd never even think about unless you thought about it for years, like a Quick Release Hub on your steering wheel (which is wonderful to have for a number of reasons), you should try and choose your options now based on how difficult it would be to "upgrade" later, should you choose to. For example, upgrading to the outboard braked rear down the road is a pretty big PITA. If you want it, get it now. Side curtains, not so much of a PITA so long as the ferrule holes are in the door. Point being, you need to think it all through if you want to do it right the first time. Now, one of my favorite things to do with my QR hub is to pull my steering wheel off while driving down the highway and hold it up in the air while screaming. It never fails to elicit a memorable response from my passenger.

[mr bruce]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DReDCMEIJA

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by mr bruce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DReDCMEIJA

I love that.

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by Hntr2506

I'm just starting to research a build and the number 1 company recommended to me was ERA then UNIQUE.

Originally Posted by patrickt

Send him a deposit tomorrow (it's fully refundable). ERA and Unique are not comparable. Not that a Unique is not a nice car, it's just not in the same league as a properly built ERA.

I don't think I have publicly disagreed with Patrick in the entire time we have been on the forum here. He is a wealth of great information, but I have to take exception at this. His statement here is just not accurate. ERA and Unique are quite comparable marques. Both of these manufacturers are outstanding/top-shelf. Both make great cars. They have very similar construction. You won't be sorry with either one. If I had not chosen Unique, I would have gone ERA. In fact, I recall Unique saying something similar to your Superformance connection, who is absolutely correct.

Some advantages can be attributed to each brand. ERA has the bonding process. I think the Unique 427 body version is nicer in shape than the ERA. Some of this is subjective. As you might guess, owners tend to defend their brand to the death. It is part of defending their decision to purchase. Some have gone so far as to end up booted from this site over it!

Do your homework. Go see both, ride in both, examine the construction of both, ask questions of both, check out others, and make an informed choice. It is a decision you get to decide for yourself. Between these two, you really cannot make a mistake!

The Unique owners have their own site at:

www.uniquecobra.com

Check it out for more information. Check out the links Patrick gave you. The ERA site is great, as he mentions.

By the way, the Unique Homecoming is happening on May 7-8 at the factory in Gadsden, AL. If you are available, it would be well worth the trip! See you there if you can make it!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by PDUB

I don't think I have publicly disagreed with Patrick in the entire time we have been on the forum here.

Anyone who hasn't taken issue with Patrickt clearly hasn't listened to him long enough.

[Dwight]

I bought a Lone Star in 2000. It took two years to get in on the road. I was told I could build it for $25,000. I stopped keeping up with it when it went over $35K.
18 years later I had about $65,000 in it. 42,000 miles, lots of fun and I met thousands of great car people!

Since then I have owned two other Cobras. I have worked on about 20 different brands.

I have help sell five or six other Cobras.

Jeff took 18 years to build his. He holds the record.

Paint shops are the black hole for Cobras. Got lots of stories about Cobra paint job.

My advice is to buy a "good" Cobra with the paint and motor you can live with. Change what you want a little at a time. By motor I mean 302 base or 351 base or FE. Exhaust systems are expensive. Heads, cams, intakes not so much.

Buying a running Cobra will cost you haft as much as building your own! And the time thing.
You can spend time driving (enjoying) you new Car and bonding with the kids as you change things on the car.

Remember a lot of Cobras were build by guys that don't know a lot about cars. Lots of problems.

Thousands of unfinished kits out there!!!!!

I've made a lot of money fixing Cobras.

Have fun which ever way you chose

[Dwight]

Ricky Bobby
Gadsden Ala is not that far from Texas. Come join us for the Open House.

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Anyone who hasn't taken issue with Patrickt clearly hasn't listened to him long enough.

Great response, Patrick! Great sense of humor!