71,250 miles and she BROKE!

A Cobra guy · #1 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 07:59 PM

On Saturday I drove my Cobra from Nashua, NH to Conway to work on my wife’s place. It was a great ride complete with a stop in Concord to have breakfast with 5 other Cobra owners. By 7 that night I was hungery so I drove about 10 miles north to a pub for a beer and a light supper. Traffic on the main road into Conway is still bad at that hour so I headed another 4 mile north-west to pick up a back road. By this point it’s dark, VERY dark. As I turned off the main road onto the back road something in the car went ‘bang” but she kept going. Did I mention it was VERY dark and this was a VERY secluded back road? I did what any red blooded American male would do, I kept going. 3rd gear on theA/T was gone, but the car was fine in 2nd. The car brought me back to the house in Conway with no other drama. Just a bit more noise than usual being in 2nd gear In the light of the day the A/T is not leaking but only has 2nd gear and reverse. Pam came to rescue me on Sunday. My son and I will be going back to Conway with a uhaul trailer to get the car.

The engine needs to come out to get the trans out. While the engine is out I will do a few things to it and the car that I have been putting off. Being that I do have a life other than playing with the car this could well put the car in the cellar for the season. Such is life.

I am still amazed at how reliable this car has been. This A/T break is the first time anything major has happened. It is a “Hot Rod” A/T that is meant for drag racers to use. It has lasted well over 60,000 miles and nine years. It owes me nothing. Evan with this, I have never been stranded with so much as a flat tire. Over 71,000 miles of fun and looking forward to more.

Harvey

tcrist · #2 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Darn, They just don't build things like they used to

.

Terry

A Cobra guy · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 06:20 PM

Brought the car home today on a Uhaul trailer. No drama. Now the tare down begins.

1985 CCX · #4 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 10:55 AM

Harvey

Say it's not so!
Will you retain the AT or go manual?

Clois Harlan · #5 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009, 11:54 AM

Just out of curriosity is your transmission a C-4 or C-6? I know most small blocks came wtih the C-4. By the way congratulations on you 9 + years of trouble free service in you Cobra. Most of my problems were self inflicted but I wouldn't change a thing.

Clois

A Cobra guy · #6 (**permalink**) 08-17-2009, 07:16 PM

Clois,
It is a re-worked AOD. The one that died had an electric lockout for the OD which i really never used. I have ordered a new 1 from an outfit in FL called "Monster Transmissions". It had been leaking for the last several years. I put in 2 quarts of a seal refreshener a couple of weeks ago. (did you say something about self inflicted problems????) I'm not sure if the death of the trans is related to the additive but it sure is a coincidence.

Also going to upgrade the intake to a better breathing upper & lower from BBK while I have things apart.

doleauto · #7 (**permalink**) 08-18-2009, 06:31 AM

Harvey
The next time you go to breakfast with us, you need to eat a little less. See what the extra weight did to your car? Good luck putting your car back together. Too bad you are not a little closer to me, I have an excellent transmission specialist in the next town, Barrington. He walks on water as far as my customers and myself are concerned.
I know the auto industry has all kinds of "solutions" for your car today, belt dressing, motor flush, seal conditioner, etc. It is mostly all smoke and mirrors. Too bad you found out the hard way. Get that thing back together for the next breakfast. We will see you there.

Tom