New, new and new...

[nickthespud]

Hey all. I'm 21 years old and just got a half built hand-me-down Cobra Kit car. I'm storing it at my friends garage for about $40 a month but I'd like to get it finished within the next year. Work that still needs to be done is to have the brake lines run, the electrical done, the cockpit finished and to have the drivetrain set. I'm looking for a crated re-built big block (or a smallblock if I can't find a big block) but am so new to everything with cars (I don't even change my own oil).

I suppose I have to start somewhere. If there is anyone in the Kent, Washington area who knows a lot about wiring vehicles and would like to mentor me for a couple Saturdays let me know via email. Also, I'm looking to spend about $1,000 (give or take) for the engine, so if anyone knows any dealers in Washington who sell crated or rebuilt engines post that info here and it'll be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all. I look forward to reading all the posts here and getting into the Cobra obssession.

Nick

[BMK]

Would be interested to see what response you get for the $1,000 engine budget... ..or is that $10,000..

Most of the engines that I have seen are in the $6,000 + range for crate motors. No doubt someone will chime in here..

Have seen a few engine co. in Kit Car Magazine who regularly advertise.

Also Gessford - George Anderson on the forum here who crates motors, would be a good starting point.

Good luck with your build. Welcome to the forum.

Bernie

[TonyMadrid]

Welcome to the club site! You have a lot in front of you but don't ne discouraged, it is not so much work as it is an adventure.

For starters, I would suggest getting catalogs from Summit Racing and also from Jegs. In their catalogs you will find many hi-performance items that help you build a great car. Also look up Finishline in Florida. They carry a load of parts for Cobra Kits.

As for the wiring, there are a few companies out there who sell easy to install wiring harness kits. One is Painless.

For an engine in the $1K range, your choices are going to be somewhat limited. For that price you're probably looking at something from a boneyard that will require a rebuild and the addition of some Hi-Perf items , such as heads, cam, manifold and carburetor or injection system.

If you budget is that limited, you might want to try ReCon engines. They supply stores like Autozone with reconditioned engines. I believe that a rebuilt 351Windsor goes for about $1500.00, but it is a stock engine with no Hi-Perf goodies. They also offer souped up engines but for a higher price. The one problem with ReCon is that you'll never know if the cylinders were bored over or by how much, or if the crank journals were ground under or by how much. The only way to tell would be to strip the engine down and mic the cylinders and journals. However, if you're looking to get the car on the road quickly, a stock Reconditioned engine might be an option, you could always go that route, get your car on the road and then look for an engine to build up yourself, or save for a crater.

When I built my Cobra, I found the site and the people here are very friendly and helpful, so don't be afraid to ask away.

Good Luck,

Tony

[Clois Harlan]

Nick,

How would you like to sell your Cobra? I assume you have all the basic parts eg: body, frame, suspension, wheels & tires, windshield, latches etc.?

Clois Harlan

email me if you are interested at: tulsacobra@valornet.com

If not I will be glad to give you as much as I can through this forum as will most everyone else.

[feddersenr]

Keep your eyes open in the classifieds. I picked up a complete 302 with 25k miles on it, including all the front dressings, fuel injection, wiring, etc for $650.00 last summer. After a lot of cleaning and painting, it now looks incredible. Yesterday, I fired it up for the first time and let me tell you, it makes a 2200 lb car move in nothing flat. My little cobra with a stock 302 has some flat-out scary acceleration. These guys that run 351s and bigger are nuts. Of course, I like nuts

Another thing you may want to consider is the cost of insuring these cars. I'm 33 and my insurance is $569 every six months with high limits. At 21, the insurance is going to be murder on your checkbook.

The wiring isn't as bad as it sounds. Pick up a Painless 10102 universal harness. The instructions look a little thin at first, but are actually very good. Send me emails if you get lost, and I'll help as much as I can over the phone or over email.

Good luck

Robert
feddersenr@verizon.net

[nickthespud]

You guys are incredible. In less than 12 hours I have more tips and information concerning getting started than I got in 6 hours of reading through Kit Car magazine and old auto manuals. Thank you all for your replies. Checking out Painless....

Nick

[PSB]

Since your on a tight budget - here's another source for a wiring harness that's as good as Painless, but MUCH cheaper - EZ Wiring .

As was said above - for $1000, you're best bet is a used engine. Get the car on the road with a junkyard motor, and rebuild it later when you have the cash.


Pete

[nickthespud]

So I got some more information about my Cobra. Since I haven't taken delivery of the actual car yet (I do that Saturday morning) I didn't know what type of engine it had. I know a guy at work who said he'd pretty much rebuild it for me so long as I didn't need it right away but needed to know what kind it was. According to my father, who's the one giving me the Cobra, it's a 280, which doesn't really mean much to me. Anyone know about 280's? Specs? BHP?

Also, what is the difference (aside from price) between the Painless and E/Z wire harnesses? I like the E/Z ones because they cost about $300 less than the Painless but I don't know which one of the choices off their website I'd need (plus, I may already have a harness and just don't know it yet).

All your replies are hugely appreciated.

Cheers,

Nick

[Ron61]

Nick,

If the engine is not a brand new one, then I think you mean either a 289 or 260 as Ford never built any 280 CI engines in the 60s that I am aware of. I believe one of their newer Mustand engines is 281 CI.
The 289s came in 3 versions mainly. Stock 2 barell rated at 200 horse, stock 4 barell rated at 225 horse , and the 289 HiPo which was rated at 271 horse. The 260s 2 barell was rated at 164 horse in 1962. Then in 1964 the book shows a 2 barell 260 as being bumped up to 200 horse.
There was a 221CI inch engine that was the predecessor of the 260 and 289s but it wasn't around long. The book only shows it for 1962/63 in a 2 barell version which was rated at 146 horse.

I am getting this information from my Ford Peformance Book by Pat Ganahl. Welcome to the club.

Ron

[feddersenr]

I seriously considered the EZwiring system, too. I ended up with the Painless chassis harness from http://www.tristatemotorsports.com for $255. There's a ton of support at ffcobra.com for the Painless system and http://www.my427sc.com has a ton of diagrams specific to the painless. I figured the wiring was going to be challenging enough without going at it alone.

[HI Cobra]

Welcome to the club Nick,

Maybe I missed it somewhere but do you know who made
your Cobra kit? ie Everett Morrison, ERA, Classic Roadsters, etc.
You might get more info on shortcuts, pitfalls, or things to be
aware of in the build if others knew which kit you were building.
There should be a data plate somewhere or if you have the build
manuals that would give you the info.

As feddersenr mentioned, now would be a good time to research the insurance
costs and availability before you get too far into it. Also any registration
issues, although I don't think WA is too bad about that. (Definately
not California!)

Now the fun begins - good luck!

[Junket]

First welcome to the CC Club you will do just fine you can't screw up any thing that some one on the forum hasn't done before with 7000+ members just get some help with the structural & safety stuff.
You might post all the information you have about the car when your ask ?????

As Flip said the fun begins
Ken

[G.R.]

Nick welcome. There are quite a few owners over in your area. The NWCC is having a get together at Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville about noon on the 19th. If the weather co-operates there will be several of us there with our Cobras .
Nwcc has a lot of good knowledgeable people. Checke out the Local Clubs here on CC
Plus there's good info to be had here on CC. Ask and you will get more info and opinions than you can use sometimes

[nickthespud]

So if I decide to go with a Painless or an E/Z (or even if I have one and don't know about it), do they usually send you EVERYTHING you'll need to wire the car? Are lengths of guaged wire included or do they just give you the connectors, relays, and stuff like that and let you run the main wires yourself? If I can get everything I'll need as far as wiring goes for either $165 or $225 I think that's a pretty sweet deal.

Nick

[G.R.]

Nick they come complete with wire of the proper gauge for each circuit but you may need appropriate fasteners and relays for horn and/or electric fan depending upon the type of horn or fan used. The fasteners supplied are somewhat on the "cheap" side IMO. I prefer Ancor fasteners avalable at most marine supply stores.
Installation is easy and the directions are clear and concise at least with the Painless harness the only one I'm familar with and have used.

Do yourself a favor and buy a quality wire crimper. The cheap hardware store type are just that. It will save you grief in the long run.

[nickthespud]

Awesome. Thanks for the advice!

Nick