Still need to add a few details, but here she is! Still need to have the interior done, but that's going to wait until after my wallet cools off a little. John
Decided to upgrade the brakes. Wilwood 6 piston in the front, and 4 piston in the rear. The spot caliper on the rear is the parking brake. The body is finished, but I can't install it until April 5. My job keeps getting in the way! I'll have the car at the Knott's Berry Farm show in Anaheim on April 28 and 29. If you are in the area, stop by. John
The body's all mounted, it went on the chassis without any major issues. The shop that is doing the body work and paint is about 150 miles from where I live, but he does awesome work, Usually takes "Best Paint" at the Knotts Berry farm shows. I'm using two of the backup lamps from a late model Mini, they usually use one lamp, but some of the California inspectors require two. It's going to take them about two months to complete the body and paint work. I'm going to have to make some small changes to the chassis befor the body goes on for the final time. I have to re mount the brake and clutch reservoirs, and a couple of other small things. It's going to be Ford Redfire pearl with metallic gray stripes, and the interior will be medium gray leather, with dove gray carpet.
I've only driven the chassis up and down my street a couple of times, it's actually pretty docile, as long as I keep it under 3500 RPM. As for rides, you get a ride if you look good in a short skirt:ies:
Those are some nice numbers. That torque curve is nice and flat, gotta love that Comp cam! That thing is a beast! Got that body out for paint yet?
Hay! how's my old 'TBird doing? The dyno operator couldn't believe the torque curve, said it was more of a "torque line" and not a curve. He said it's common to see that on a larger motor, at a lower RPM, but usually small blocks producing this much power tend to be peaky. This thing is unbeliveably loud at 6000, he said it was starting to hurt his ears. This engine shows that you don't need high compressiion and race gas to get good numbers. I've been completing some of the things I needed to do before I send the body out. Finished up the electrical stuff, insulating the pen 15pit, installing sound deadner (Dynamat) and getting it aligned. I'm shooting for sometime next month for getting the body out for the body work and paint. John
Took the Cobra to the dyno last Monday, here are the results. The amazing thing about these numbers is that they were made on 87 octane California pump gas. Right out of the box with no tune, the 331 produced 356 HP @ 5955 RPM, and 328 ft lbs Tq. @ 5517 RPM. Went up from 73's on the secondary to 76's and it produced 372.8 HP @ 6156, and 340.5 ft lbs torque @ 5262 RPM. These are rear wheel HP numbers, corrected with a standard correction factor. This is a low compression, 9.25 to 1 motor, Holley 650 DP, Stock Edelbrock Victor Jr manifold, Edelbrock Performer RPM heads with 2.02 intake valves, and a CompCams 280 dur, .560 lift cam. The only changes made to the Holley other than the secondary jet changes was to go to a slightly larger pump shooter on the primary side. here's the chart from run #3. This thing is gonna be crazy! 372 HP and a curb weight of 2300 lbs! John
hows the progress on this? i was thinking about it the other day. im thinking about going down to factory five and tour the shop as they are in massachusettes. im trying to get my dad to buy one
Haven't done much lately, been bogged down with work. I did fab up some pusher fans and a rock guard for the front of the rad, finished up the wiring, and ordered new seats. The seats that come with the car leave alot to be desired. I hope to get the suspension aligned this week. Here's a photo of the pusher fans I built. They are available as a kit from a couple of different vendors- for a price. I built my own for about 1/3 what the fan kit costs.
I didn't mean to step on anyones toes, The brackets are made for shocks that have a rod end on them. I got the shocks from Griggs racing, and I think they came with both the rod end and a stud mount. It's been a couple of years or so since I put it all together. I just saw this post and remembered what I had done. Don't try to raise the attachment point at the axle to use shorter shocks, The rear end will get squarely. It somehow screws up th geometry of the rear suspension.
These brackets are already available. I had a set installed on my TBird, (now Dogcharmer's TBird) so I could use Mustang type shocks and coilovers. I can't remember who makes them, but I can find out in a couple of weeks. Here's a photo.
What made you decide to use the MN12 IRS and not the Cobra IRS?
The chassis is set up for the TBird outer bearing carriers, The Factory Five lower A arms and the upper camber links will bolt directly to the TBird bearing carrier. There is no real world advantage to using the Mustang Cobra parts, the Cobra center section is aluminum and will bolt in, but is not quite as strong as the TBird iron unit, and requires special tools to change gears. The complete TBird IRS only cost me $300.00 plus the 3.55 gear set and about $150 to get rebuilt. Here's a photo of the fabricated A Aam and upper camber link. I'm also using the FMS Cobra R brakes.
I noticed in the first picture the car is sitting on the right side of the driveway. does that mean you've sent the body off for paint?
I wish! No it's not painted yet, but I did drive the chassis up and down the street a couple of times. Glad to hear she's doing Ok, I already miss that car..
The Cobra is a Factory Five replica. The kit is designed to use a 87 to 93 Mustang as a donor. I'm not doing that since I didn't have one. I'm using all new parts, except the gas tank, and the 89 TBird S/C rear center section, and that was rebuilt with new bearings, gears and clutck packs. There is no requirement to use a used chassis or anything like that. I applied for and received a smog exemption because it is a reproduction of a '65 model car, and only has to meet '65 smog requirements. Only 500 exemptions are allowed per year. This is for California, other states have their own unique rules. When you receive your chassis, you will also receive paperwork certifing where the kit came from. That paperwork is used to generate a title. I've had the car about a year and a half. I think I've made some good progress, even with being gone for two to three weeks at a time with my job. John
