CSX-4000 HST cars-

[PANAVIA]

Met with Gary Patterson today at Shelby -- great guy we have touched on many topics and look forward to great things coming from the LV plant.

I have introduced the idea of the manual and it is up for review.

Ideally it would cover CSX 4000/6000/1000 in the 427 version - then having a CSX 7000/8000 version .

There is want for a 1000-4000-6000 manual as that is probably about 90%+ of the CSXs sold.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by PANAVIA

I have introduced the idea of the manual and it is up for review.

What possible reason could they have for saying "No, we don't want a manual written for these cars." ??? Why would they send somebody to meet with you that didn't have the authority to green light something so obvious?

[cobrajeff]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX
Any pics of CSX3178?

Here are a couple:

SAAC Does Vegas I: January, 1997


SAAC 27: July, 2002


The first time I saw CSX3178, in Shelby's shop in Santa Fe Springs in 1985, it was Guardsman Blue. Next time I saw it in his shop in Vegas (before they moved out to LVMS) it was completely apart, and stripped down to bare aluminum. The next time I saw it, at SAAC 27 in Gardena, it had been repainted Red.

regards,

Jeff

[dcdoug]

You ought to see how hard it is to get something simple like a wiring diagram from them. I don't understand it either.

[damdfw]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

You ought to see how hard it is to get something simple like a wiring diagram from them. I don't understand it either.

Doug,

When I got my car I called SAI and asked for the Cobra Shop and talked to Tony. He send me a copy of the wiring diagram, alignment specs, etc. When I had other questions, Tony has always been fast to answer. What problems are you having?

[damdfw]

Originally Posted by patrickt

What possible reason could they have for saying "No, we don't want a manual written for these cars." ??? Why would they send somebody to meet with you that didn't have the authority to green light something so obvious?

I suspect the reason they may not want a manual written is that it would provide competition to the Shelby dealer network. Up to this point the dealers have somewhat of a lock on finishing these cars. When I first got my roller, I talked to one of the dealers about some guidance on finishing the car/sourcing parts. I was told he would sell me a manual for $12,000 because that is what he charged to finish a car.

I found other resources and really enjoyed finishing the car myself.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by damdfw

When I first got my roller, I talked to one of the dealers about some guidance on finishing the car/sourcing parts. I was told he would sell me a manual for $12,000 because that is what he charged to finish a car.

Dang, I should of thought of that since it makes perfect sense out of a seemingly simple, obvious issue, that for some unknown and mysterious reason, just never gets resolved.

OK, here's a prediction: Panavia writes back after a couple of weeks "the SAI people are reviewing it, and it looks promising." A few weeks later, "I still haven't heard, let me check back with them." A month or two after that, "Well I havent' updated this thread in a while, but the situation is more complicated than it originally appeared." That will be the last posting on the thread.

Bottom line: You will never have access to a quality manual, at a reasonable price, in your lifetime.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by damdfw

Doug,

When I got my car I called SAI and asked for the Cobra Shop and talked to Tony. He send me a copy of the wiring diagram, alignment specs, etc. When I had other questions, Tony has always been fast to answer. What problems are you having?

I ultimately got a wiring diagram, but it was a pain and I got the sense that it was sort of under the table. They really should just put it all up on their website. That would be the customer friendly thing to do. - Just saw your second post, so I guess it is on purpose. I know that my dealer would have been happy to give me the support to finish the car myself, but in the end I decided I would rather drive it sooner rather than later.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Dang, I should of thought of that since it makes perfect sense out of a seemingly simple, obvious issue, that for some unknown and mysterious reason, just never gets resolved.

OK, here's a prediction: Panavia writes back after a couple of weeks "the SAI people are reviewing it, and it looks promising." A few weeks later, "I still haven't heard, let me check back with them." A month or two after that, "Well I havent' updated this thread in a while, but the situation is more complicated than it originally appeared." That will be the last posting on the thread.

Bottom line: You will never have access to a quality manual, at a reasonable price, in your lifetime.

Always the pragmatist. Cheer up, it's Saturday!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Always the pragmatist. Cheer up, it's Saturday!

There's enough trickery and screwing in our hobby as is. It's an absolute outrage that a manual apparently exists and CSX owners can't get it. But that goes back to what I have said before, and that is most CSX owners don't work on their cars -- if CSX owners were like ERA owners they would storm the Bastille and take the goddamm manual.

[damdfw]

Originally Posted by patrickt

There's enough trickery and screwing in our hobby as is. It's an absolute outrage that a manual apparently exists and CSX owners can't get it. But that goes back to what I have said before, and that is most CSX owners don't work on their cars -- if CSX owners were like ERA owners they would storm the Bastille and take the goddamm manual.

I don't think that a manual exists. That particular dealer meant that he would sell me his knowledge and assistance. Whenever I talk to people interested in my car I defiantly do not point them to that dealer. I know of one person who was interested in purchasing an aluminum CSX and I pointed him specifically away from that dealer. There are some very helpful dealers and people at SAI, etc. I will always recommend them.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by damdfw

I don't think that a manual exists. That particular dealer meant that he would sell me his knowledge and assistance. Whenever I talk to people interested in my car I defiantly do not point them to that dealer.

OK, my apologies for jumping to a conclusion -- I've seen more than a few screwings in this hobby so perhaps I've become a bit jaded. Be that as it may, if there is indeed no CSX manual, nor a set of organized "assembly instructions," nor even a codified set of specs, then it's simply a pi$$-poor way to run a business and a basic screwing of your customer base. Now on the other hand, if any of those items do exist, then it's a royal, super-screwing of your customers. Personally, I would bet all of that stuff is out there. There used to be SAI reps on here -- you would think you could at least get an honest answer to a simple question.

[ShreddedTar]

Anyone have an extra HST 'glass body lying around?? Or a schematic? I know a good frien in need of repairs on an '07 CSX.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by ShreddedTar

Anyone have an extra HST 'glass body lying around?? Or a schematic? I know a good frien in need of repairs on an '07 CSX.

I just replied to a PM on this. HST is out of business and all Cobra related stock spares and tools were recovered by Shelby American and brought to Vegas. You'll almost assuredly have to go to Shelby American. Since the body is one piece repair is likely to be the best bet over a rebody. You should check in to sending it to Shelby American for repairs.

Good luck

[csx4017]

I realize this is an old thread, however this subject should not go away. I think any of us that work on our own cars have a fairly good understanding of the components and there assembly. How many have pulled the rear sway bar to find the bar rotates in aluminum retainers with no poly/ rubber bushings?. What are the spring rates of your front and rear springs?. Who's coil overs are they?. What British car did the wiper gear boxes come from? What is the Baer Part Number for the brake assys? Who built the oil cooler? ETC,ETC

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by csx4017

I realize this is an old thread, however this subject should not go away.

If you wanted a Cobra manufacturer that actually cared, you chose the wrong car. I won't beat this dead horse any more -- I've been beating it for going on eight years. You're never, ever, ever, ever going to get a quality manual for your CSX car. Kirkham owners will have to rely on the "we started out strong, and then tuckered out" manual for those cars -- but it's better than nothing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, some guys don't care whether they get a manual or not; but some do. And for those that want them, and considering they're dropping a cool hundred grand on these cars, they should damn well get one. And a finished, quality job at that. But, I don't really give a shi* about this, honestly -- it's one of the reasons I bought an ERA, and if a future purchaser thinks a manual is a big deal, then he is at least forewarned by having this subject come up again, and again, and again.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I won't beat this dead horse any more -- I've been beating it for going on eight years.

Do you promise?

You won't beat it anymore and then you go on and beat it anyway?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

You won't beat it anymore and then you go on and beat it anyway?

No. I have indeed stopped beating it, but I continue to point out that I have stopped beating it, ad nauseam. It is arguable that my beating it, and my subsequent pointing out that I have now stopped beating it, are similar in countenance to the untrained eye.

[RodKnock]

Sure you could argue it, but I think the overwhelming majority of folks that read this forum believe that your "beating the dead horse" known as the manual is, in fact, the same thing as "pointing it out."

There have been about 100,000 Cobras +/- manufactured in the world and only 800 or so (ERA's) of them came with manuals. So, I just want to take the time here to applaud those 99,200 other Cobra owners who somehow make through each day without a manual for their Cobra.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

So, I just want to take the time here to applaud those 99,200 other Cobra owners who somehow make through each day without a manual for their Cobra.

'tis empty solace for CSX4017's cries that, not surprisingly, will continue to fall on deaf ears.