**FLASH**FLASH**FLASH**!
I herd a DJ This morning talking about our highly unusual warm/dry weather we're predicted to have for over a week! Thought he would look ahead in the Farmers Almanac to see what was coming......Just before Thanksgiving 2011, North West Michigan is going to experience the worst winter weather ever recorded :eek: .

Gotta fix the snow plow, gotta fix the snow plow!
DV
PS proper clothing is just about as many layers as you can get on! Car-Harts, flannel, earmuffs, snowmobile gloves, boots, snow shoes :) (from the car to the shop!), etc.

Christmas is just around the corner, time for giving.
What is still needed to get Dougs Cobra finally together?
Any updates?

Several of us have been discussing how to get the car back to Texas so that Doug can be involved in finishing the car. We have yet to decide if we are going to go fetch it with one of our rigs, fly up and rent a UHaul and bring it back, or have a transport bring it. schedule conflicts amongst us Texans and some of Doug's priorities withstanding, we are still trying to make this happen, but it may now hot happen until January. Feel free to PM Doug or me offline.

FELLA'S dont get confused, here! Doug still hasn't been able to ship me the parts for the motor. Between elmariachi, myself and Doug it was felt to get his car home so Doug can at last see/ feel it! elmariachi was kind enough to try an organize the move and to get the car finally finished for Doug!
DV

Correct. We are trying to figure out the best way to do this and we'll update you all as soon as we get that sorted out. Feel free to PM Doug if you have any questions.

Jim

Ed and elmariachi

Great to hear a plan is coming together to move the project along, and to get Doug some 'hands on' involvement as well.

Looking forward to following the progress !

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted. It's long overdue, for sure, and my apologies to all. It's been an "interesting" time health-wise, but I'm hopeful that I've turned the corner finally. What waits around that corner, I guess I'll find out!:LOL:

It's been an "interesting" time with the car, too. DV made an incredibly generous offer to take the car into his shop and finish it up. I was, I am and I always will be grateful to him for his best intentions and generosity. I guess we just got our wires crossed with how the car would proceed. I thought that the car was waiting on the projects in his shop to clear up so that he could have the available time to finish up the roller, then finish and drop in the engine. That was my plan on finishing up the car when I was building it, and it was my understanding that this is how most guys go about finishing their cars up. Instead, however, DV was waiting for me to send the heads and transmission so he could finish up the engine, drop it between the frame rails, then build the roller around the powertrain sitting in the framerails. The bottom line is, we were on different pages, and it got all fouled up. No worries, that's life. NO bad intentions on anyones part, we just weren't on the same page. However, Ed needs to move on, and he needs the space in the shop for other projects, so the car needs to get out of there.

So many of you have taken such a great interest in helping complete the car, and it's heartening to see that interest continue. I can't thank all of you enough. I live in Texas now, and the car has been on a rather nomadic journey, as have I. The car went from NY to New England, then thanks to the yeoman effort of my friend Rick Lake, made a marathon one night journey to the upper reaches of Michigan, where it sits now. Well, the nomadic journey will continue as I now need to get the car down to Texas, where Jim (elmariachi) and some great guys from the Texas Cobra Club have offered to help get the car together. The best part is that I'll once again get to do what I so love to do, which it to turn a wrench on it once again. I know I won't be up to doing so some nights, but when I'm able, there isn't a better therapy in the world. Jim has been amazing, staying on top of this and along with his guys working out ways to get the car down here. A regular transport won't work. There are so many parts that need to come down as well, between what I had for the car, and the large number of parts that you guys have sent along as well. Because of all this, quotes for shipment from Michigan to Houston from the two companies that would even consider it were in the high $3K range. I just can't do that.

Jim has a trailer I can use to go up and get it, but he thinks that my Trailblazer would burn up doing that. Sooooo........... thanks to Jim and his guys we're trying to figure something out. One way or another I'll get it down here, and then the fun begins anew. DV has been great, he's not pushing at all to get it out of there. He's giving me plenty of time.

In the end, what I wanted to do most of all is once again sign on and say hi to you all, wish you all the very best during the Holiday season, and of course, make another feeble attempt to put words together that adequately express my thanks and gratitude to all of you. Thank you all so much - without all if you, there would be no car to try to get down to Texas! Thank you all and Happy Holidays to each of you.

When the car gets down here - whenever that is, and however it gets here, I'll let you guys know. What a great way to spend the winter, turning a wrench once again on the Cobra. Thanks again, and Happy Holidays to you all.

Doug.

Hi Doug and everyone else concerned,

Do you have one-way trailer hire companies that you could rent a trailer from in Michigan, load the car and parts onto it and then arrange a relay with different Cobra Club members to get it down to Texas?

If it could be arranged, one potential issue would be Doug having to entrust his car to a whole bunch of guys he doesn't know from across the country whilst it is en route to Texas.

Happy Christmas and good luck with your endeavours.

Paul

Happy to see some movement on this!

Doug, good news on the health front....enjoy the holidays and let's hope that car gets down your way PDQ with a red bow on it for Christmas!!!!

All the Best!
John

As far as the Uhaul and trailer rental options, we have looked at those and they are not feasible in this situation at this time. Doug and I spoke last night and the plan of action is that a group of 3 of us in Houston (to be determined) plus Doug are going to use one of our rigs to go get the car and parts in one Gumball Rally weekend in mid to late January. If anyone up north might want to help get the car and parts loaded in Pentwater and brought southward some portion of the way towards Texas, shoot me a PM. Otherwise, that is the current plan.

Thanks,

Jim


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I wish I wasn't 823 miles from Pentwater, I'd be there to help.
Good to hear of Jim's and other people's help
Merry Christmas and best wishes

Jim watch the weather real good
 

elmariachi Jim I had to delay the trip from my home to Mi due to bad weather and trailer not allowed on highways due to wind gusts. My trailer was new, make sure the trailer you are using is up to a trip with all the tires in good shape and greased bearings. You Texas guys drive faster than most. Even though the cobra is light and have the other parts, Keep the speeds under 70 mph for safety reasons. Ice on the roads in the great north I found. Driveway has good room to get trailer in and out. There is not a large sign to garage and it is off the street on L/s side. Nice lunch place back in town, good sandwiches. Good luck on the trip, watch for State cops in big brown FORDS. and radar. If you have a chance and can find it cheap, have nitrogen air put in the tires. Controls heat over long runs even with the temps falling. :) Rick L. ps golden pond movie filmed there.

Yes, I can also testify to the road conditions up in the Pentwater area. I got stuck up there for 3 days due to the weather when I went up to inspect Capteddies cobra. Be careful and take it slow. Good luck and God Bless. Merry Christmas to all. Bob Q.

Rick, everything about your post is contrary to how we roll. This group is now infamous for shredding 5 Chinese tires off of a 48' trailer going to and from the Big Bend Race last April, and the year prior to that we perfected the art of "Competitive High Speed Tow Rig & Empty Trailer Racing." Lastly, we don't eat sandwiches, we eat cheeseburgers only, breakfast, lunch and dinner.:D

there is a set of roller rockers for sale in the classified section
PhotoPost Classifieds - FBB Roller Rockers and push rods - Powered by PhotoPost Classifieds

Thanks for the heads up. Russ (SoTxButler) was kind enough to send a set along early in this journey. That's the only box of parts that was sent directly to my home, so it's the only parts that were sent that I'm actually aware of, the rest are at Ed's place in Michigan. Since I've never been there and Ed has never opened the boxes, I have no idea what's up there! As for the rockers that Russ sent, they're all boxed up, ready to go once the car gets down here and it's lazy owner gets to working on it once again!:LOL:

I always feel bad when I log on here and get the message at the top of the screen reminding me that I haven't posted in a while. So, with that in mind, I'll give a quick update for those who may be interested.....

As you've all likely read, for various reasons Ed "DV" Combs needs to move on to other projects, and the car needs to be removed from his shop. Jim (elmariachi) has been incredible - I don't have the words to describe to all of you the force that he's been in getting this car to Texas and completed. The man is a wonder - I can't believe the time and energy he's put into getting this done. Right now the tentative date is to leave Houston with a truck and trailer and head up to Michigan on Feb. 23rd. We'd probably be in Michigan and loading up the car on Friday, Feb. 24th, and heading right back down to the Houston area. Still up in the air is exactly where the car will be going once it gets to Houston. I guess that's the least of the problems right now. Jim has put together a group of great guys, some of who I had the chance to meet over at Jim's beautiful home on his birthday. Jim feels fairly confident that on days or times when I'm not feeling up to par that some of the guys may be willing to help me a bit with wrenching on the car. My goal is to get it completed in some way so that I can at least enjoy it for a while.

That's about it for now. I have a set of heads finally (C4AE-6090 is the number, if I recall correctly) that need to be rebuilt. If anyone knows of a good, reasonably priced shop in the Houston area that can handle this, please let me know! I'll get that done, and that's about the last of the big pieces needed. The biggest question now is if the short block is any good. I'll have to give it a real good inspection, hopefully the rings and bearings are in good shape. If not I'll have to rebuild it. That would add some time and dollars to the equation, if need be, but that's all to be expected. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that it's in solid shape. I'm sure there's tons of little things that are needed for completion, but the major components are all on hand. I think the interior is the biggest single purchase left. The dash is done, so are the seats. Just carpeting and door panels are needed. I'll start looking for a local shop when the time comes for that.

So many of you sent so many things, but I still have no idea what was sent. I don't believe that Ed ever had the chance to open the boxes, as far as I know they're all still in his shop piled up and unopened. It'll be like Christmas in early March when I finally get to open them all up and go through them and inventory what's there.:D I sure hope you guys put names and contact info on the boxes so I can contact you and properly thank you all.

Well, that's about it for now - I hope I haven't bored you all too badly. :)

It'll be really great to have the car here, I haven't laid eyes on it in I'm guessing about two years or so. At least it seems that long. I look back on this whole journey, and so many guys who have been so wonderfully helpful and generous in this whole thing. Through a sequesnce of amazingly generous actions by some amazingly generous people, starting with CobraEd and DCDoug, through Rick Lake, through Jim (elmariachi) and so many, many more, it looks like it's all coming full circle. Although home, health and life as I once knew it have changed entirely, the car is coming home, as home now is. I just look forward to seeing it once again. None of this would have been possible without you guys. Again, words fail me, so please accept my simple yet endlessly heartfelt thank you.

I mentioned a few names above, but there are so, so many more. I hope, once the boxes are all opened and I see the who's and whats, and the car gets completed, to have proper and fitting acknowledgement to each and ever one of you who so amazingly contributed to this project. I'm already, in my mind, planning for the grand finishing party. So far the only thing I've decided upon is that there will be beer - LOT'S of beer, for those who attend! :LOL::D:LOL:

Those may be Dove rockers but those are not Dove stands and Dove uses solid spacers not original springs. PASS

Status
 

Well I got a personal email from Doug (767Jockey). What a great guy! A most thankful individual! From some of the wording he used, it would appear that timing with his car may be an issue. You can all read between the lines here. This has been a great outpouring of support by all of us each in our own way in an effort to get him in his car and motoring down the road. I hope the Texas team can pull together for the final stretch of this effort to use all of the parts and dollars contributed to finalize the actual completion of Dougs car.

I guess this effort has been going on now for a couple of years. (I did not check the date I started this thread) Let's hope the last leg of the build is near and Doug can enjoy his car. It is a testimony to the Cobra family here on CC for all of you who have contributed to this effort in one way or another. I know that Doug cannot believe it!

Doug, please keep us up to date both on the car status as well as your personal status.

Ed


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So is this currently the plan? Quick update on finances: I still have about $1,350 in the paypal account plus $350 in cash. The other funds were sent to 767jockey awhile back for the heads, etc.

Oh, and sorry to be AWOL for so long. Having another kid and moving in the same year pretty much consumed all of my free time. I only drove the Cobra about 3 times this summer.....:(

Congrats on the new baby Doug.

Yes, the plan was actually to go get it this coming weekend (Feb 25) but I have a business commitment Friday that has just popped up. Doug and I are working on alternate dates in early March now. Keep all of you posted.