Allen, looks good. I am considering the same tires, can you give us a profile shot, and a head on rear shot? Looks like 28" diameter fits. Did the tires and wheels balance out OK (in regards to vibration)? Would you say they are noticeably different in ride over the BFG's?

Allen, I wish you were my neighbor. Maybe you could make me a Cammer engine in your garage.

This thread is a great read. Thank you.

Wolf:

Yes, no problem. I'd be happy to get the pictures for you. Bob raised the concern earlier about the rear tire diameter pushing the envelope but I've noticed no ill effects. [Make sure you are running the ERA specified 3.88" backspacing on the FIA's. I found that mine were off by 3/8" in the rear and 3/16" in the front and had them corrected.] The tires/wheels balanced out perfectly with minimal weight.... I was suprised. As far as ride quality goes, I can preceive a difference from the greater sidewall stiffness over expansion joints and through the bends (sets more quickly and assuredly). I won't be returning to BFG's, I can tell you that. As far as tire pressures, I'm running a little high at the moment....(29psi Frt / 30psi Rr)

Edit: Here are the pictures you asked for. Let me know if I can help with anything else:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1188.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1186.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1199.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1185.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1205.jpg


Rod:

It's my pleasure. I enjoy adding posts and hearing back from guys like you who are reading it. I would like all you cobra guys to be my neighbors. Can a cammer be made using tin snips, hand drills, and propane torches? If so, PM me your build plans...LOL. Thanks for the compliment, though. ;)

- Allen.

I'm a fan of the black wheel club and was wondering what percentage satin/semi-gloss did you specify or whatever did you tell them to get the proper shade of black? Do you know if they rough up the entire rim first, then fine sand it before powdercoating? I'm curious about the entire process. Thank you.

Rod:

The process is pretty straight forward. They place the wheel in an automatic (rotary) blast cabinate that totally strips the wheel of surface gunk, which also has the effect of "keying" the surface, then they hand clean, then place the wheel in the oven at semi-elevated temperature for a period of time to "de-gas" the aluminum, then electro-statically powder coat, then bake. Some of these steps may be out of sequence, but in all, that's how my local shop did it.

As far as the coating goes, I just went with the satin black he had in stock. When you go to your local coater, he will have some samples of what to expect...kind of like paint chips. Every shop may follow a little different process, so just give yours a call and see what they say regarding their process. It will probably be pretty close to what I described. There are two coating shops in my local area, and both of them shared similar processes.

- Allen.

Love the new look, can't wait to see it parked next to mine at the Washingtons Crossing picnic this year.


Bill S.

Missed this one...details please..:)

- Allen.

2011 details still being worked out, I will let you know when I do :cool:


Bill S.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1065.jpg

- Allen.[/quote]

Allen - you mentioned before about how narrow the MTs were compared to the BFGs. They look 'appropriate' in your pic above. Any more pics on the way?
The wheel/tyre combo make the car look like you mean business.
So - missing the Elise at all? ;)
Cheers,
Glen

Thinking out loud here - if the rears are 28" dia, that would help me with the 4" minimum ground clearance that I would need for registration....
Cheers,
Glen

Allen,

Great progress :) :)

Any closeup photos of the redesigned and newly installed fuel filler setup?

Will you paint the top to match the car?

- Tim

Good move on the black wheels - I did this about five years ago and notice that it is becoming more and more popular! I was influenced by the Porsche 908 wheels.......

mean and nasty lookin' ,not a "girly/ miata" cobra, get sumbuddy to do a photo chop with a green top before you paint it, me thinks it will look better black, where's Tropical Buzz

Agreement here. Black top. Decision made for you Allen:)
Cheers,
Glen

Glen: I just edited Post #43 with photos that WolfK had asked for. Go back and check that out..;) Missing the elise? Well, funny you should ask that. I was thinking about it at this weekend's auto cross as I saw one being driven very well and getting some very respectible times, but then I beat him....so, not so much. :D

Tim: Well, dispite all the suggestions here to leave it black, I'm thinking I can convince you all that painting it the body color will be the better choice in the end... ;) Give me some time to do that, though.

And here's the finished fuel filler pic you asked for:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1206.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...9/DSCN1203.jpg

Here's a pic of the old one again:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ler_inside.jpg

Mr_Bruce, Glen........ just give me some time to convince you otherwise...;)

- Allen.

1st autocross this past weekend....
 

Saturday was a fantastic day for Autocross in Frederick, MD. I belong to a Washington D.C. - based driving club ( http://www.capitaldrivingclub.com/ ) that holds numerous events throughout the year. It's a very well organized club that utilizes an index-based scoring system that takes into account each car's weight/whp/DOT tire TWR to keep the playing field level. As shown in an earlier series of photos, I sunk a decent percentage of my 5yr olds college fund into a set of 17" vintage wheel 6-pins and some 275/315 Hoosier A6 tires. Well the results proved fantastic and resulted in a 2nd place raw time next to a FFR Cobra and a top 5 index finish. It was a very energizing and encouraging way to start the 2011 season. Here are a few vids:

This one was one of my afternoon runs where I gobbled up a cone or two. I was trying to figure out what happend, and it appears from the video that the rear end got a bit loose and I chickened out a little:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../th_Allen1.jpg

This one is my favorite. My wife and kids came along to spectate and I was able to have my dear wife along for this amusing in-car video. This will likely be the best event of the season because she was there enjoying it right along with me....(try not to get motion sickness watching this one). I'd rather have her holding the camera in the passenger's seat than a rollbar mount any day. :3DSMILE:

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../th_Allen2.jpg

- Allen.

Allen,

I like the new plumbing … it looks great and a lot more 'race car' like and less 'industrial'. For the top, I would lean towards green on the outside and black on the inside … just my .02 :)

Fun video … you mention at the end, that the car is had to drive …what do you find difficult ?

Keep up the good work !!

- Tim

Allen - Is that Ol' Shel waving you on?
Cheers!
Glen

Tim: The A6 Hoosiers up front are 275 in width and I was running 21psi so with no power steering, the car is an absolute handfull! That and I think I'm holding my breath the whole time..:3DSMILE: But it really hooks up, though. That run was probably my smoothest all day despite the reaction my wife gave. Her trouble was while being buckled in, she wasn't holding on to anthing but the camera, so the g-forces had their way with her....:D Better check her over for bruises now that I think about it.....

- Allen.

Side Screen construction:
 

Last week, I spent some late nights constructing side screens in advance of this past weekend's activities. The documentation of that construction I've added to a separate thread in the "tech tips" forum as a "how-to". Here's the link:

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/show...52#post1117852

- Allen.