Has your Cobra ever left you stranded? - Page 2

HYM810ANCE · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 04:39 PM

My Cobra had been in a guys shop for over three years getting upholstry, a paint job and a tune up

...(Long, horrible story short), the day I finally got to drive it home it ran hot (230 degrees) 6 blocks from the shop and by the time I got within a mile of the house (about a 20 minute drive) the brakes caught on fire

. Luckily, I limped home and parked it without major damage. After another year and a very good auto shop I finally got it back...again. I drove it to our local clubs "Friday Night Eat Out" and it did fine until we got ready to leave...then it wouldn't crank!

The guys were super and stayed to help me jump it off. Bad battery and loose wires were the cause. Thanks to Dwight, Coach and the guys maybe we have it straightened out now....I sure hope so anyway.

Ibr8k4vetts · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 04:57 PM

Had to be towed home after a lock nut on a rocker arm came off at 7000 RPM

fix in 15 minutes at home.

86Sebring · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 06:23 PM

First time it happened ½ a mile from the place where I bougt it from. It just shut off, I called the guy, he asked if I had turned on the fuel pump? AAA, those darned switches on the dashboard without labels...
Twice I got stranded with a sheared dizzy-pin, fixed it right, I put about 6000 miles on it, hasn't let me down since.

Michael C Henry · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 08:19 PM

I always have my eye and ear open for the not so normal. I had a 56 Bristle that broke an axle near to work in 77. That was the end of that car for me, no resources and a young family. A Toyota pickup was a better fit.
When I first bought this replica car I was allways leaving the master switch on , the hot water would collect in the top of the radiator and turn on the electric fans. Draining the small battery and leaving me at the mercy of a hill, incline, a jump, or hand push.
This car stopped at an traffic light about a mile from home. Seemed to be the fuse block had lost contact on ignition circuit fuse.
Head light switch burnt out when leaving my nephews house at 2:30 am. I had to drive the back roads home using the blinking four way lights to see the curb.
I drove the replica up to my wifes work and took her Excursion to a shop. Later she got the replica a few blocks from her work and it died. She didn't turn on the electric fuel pump, I now have indicator lights on fuel pumps, ignition, and fans.
Distribuetor drive gear pin ( spring pin) sheared while in the back yard.
Had a go around with a new Mallory HyFire VI box . It would start crapping out about a mile from home. I thought the engine was about to die when trying to move the car but would idle just fine. Luckily I was able to limp the car home each time I thought I had it fixed and I haddn't. The spark plugs were always fouled. The Mallory HyFire VI box was within the Summits warranty period and I returned that box. Next box was trouble free.
Then there is the clutch twice. One time the through out bearing failed and chewed up the presure plate fingers. Second time turned out to be the clutch slave cylinder was not returning to it's absolute bottom giving the impression that the clutch was wearing and I was loosing my freeplay clearence.
Engine oil foamed on a weekend trip with my wife up around the Olimpic penniuila. I had to add about eight quarts of Mobile 1 and causishly drive the car home. That turned out to be the intake gasket, FelPro Print O Seal gaskets shreded, now Victor intake gaskets.
A cell phone is a great comfort to have in hand.

gt500bill · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 08:33 PM

Lately the car has left me stranded twice this year. Both times it was the MSD 6al that crapped out. This last time I sent it back, they returned it said it was ok, nothing wrong with it . Put it back on and it lasted 15 minutes. While idling in the driveway, dies with no restart. Talked to them today and they promised to replace it this time

undy · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gt500bill

Lately the car has left me stranded twice this year. Both times it was the MSD 6al that crapped out. This last time I sent it back, they returned it said it was ok, nothing wrong with it . Put it back on and it lasted 15 minutes. While idling in the driveway, dies with no restart. Talked to them today and they promised to replace it this time

Since you mentioned the repeated 6AL problems, if you have a MSD distributor too make sure your magnetic pickup's not going bad. Your symptons point in that direction. MSD has a very good diagnostic trouble shooting guide on their web site.

Sorry for the slight off topic.

Dave

gt500bill · #7 (**permalink**) 10-16-2009, 05:19 PM

Running the OEM dist. Plugged in the ford ign box and runs great for 2 weeks now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by undy

Since you mentioned the repeated 6AL problems, if you have a MSD distributor too make sure your magnetic pickup's not going bad. Your symptons point in that direction. MSD has a very good diagnostic trouble shooting guide on their web site.

Sorry for the slight off topic.

Dave

Scufty · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

There's probably already a thread on this, but I couldn't find one, so thought I'd start one.

Happened to me only once. I was returning from a little "outing" and about 3/4 of a mile from home, I decided to give it a last "acceleration" shot. Just as I was about to shift to 3rd, sudden silence. Drive pin in distributor drive gear sheared. I managed to coast it onto a side-road, walk home, return with tools, pull the dist, walk back home, repair the dist, walk back to the car, re-install the dist, and drive home.

There were other "worriesome" moments where the starter would spin, but not engage, so no cranking. Intermittent enough I always got it started though. Turned out to be a bad ground in the starter for the throw-out coil.

One concern I have, is getting a flat tire. I don't carry a spare. A space-saver could work on the front, but it wouldn't do the limited slip much good as a rear replacement. Besides, not sure they even make a pin drive rim for a space-saver tire.

So.....if you have any stories or concerns about break-downs and being stranded, I'd like to hear them.

Thank-you.

Funniest thing is that's exactly what left me stranded ..I look at my gear all the time now

Live and learn

Argess · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2009, 09:08 PM

I'm amazed at the number of distributor drive gear roll-pins shearing.

As a note, I posted a "fix" for the dist gear pin shearing here:

Mallory Distributor Tip

How many of you removed the oil pan to get the bits of the shear pin out?......chuckle

Scufty · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

I'm amazed at the number of distributor drive gear roll-pins shearing.

As a note, I posted a "fix" for the dist gear pin shearing here:

Mallory Distributor Tip

How many of you removed the oil pan to get the bits of the shear pin out?......chuckle

How bout pulling your motor to remove bits of your distributor gear cause the oil pan cant be taken off without do to a crossmember (frame) Frickin pain in the hoop

SKINNEDR · #11 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

I'm amazed at the number of distributor drive gear roll-pins shearing.

As a note, I posted a "fix" for the dist gear pin shearing here:

Mallory Distributor Tip

How many of you removed the oil pan to get the bits of the shear pin out?......chuckle

In previous post above got me confused. I don't understand if you shreaded your distributor gear, how can you just changed it out on the road without being concerned about the little pieces that may have fell into the motor? I'm puzzled by that statement.....
The same thing happened to me and we had to practically rebuild the motor to insure all those little parts were flushed out..
Help me here to understand that?
Dex..

SP01715 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 02:29 PM

Never been left stranded, but I would do everything possible to get home and get my own trailer over a tow truck if it happens.

CSXDreamer · #13 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 02:51 PM

I got stuck a mile from home once when the stud from the Mcleod hydraulic throw-out bearing broke off and jammed between the starter and flywheel gear teeth. Two weeks later, I was in my garage when a washer jammed into the same place. Never did find the nut though, probably because I spaced the bottom of the engine plate away from the bellhousing leaving a 1/4" gap for it to fall out.
Another time I was drivng casually in the country when the engine just plain shut off. The battery cables were tight and the clear fuel filter was full of gas, so it had to be the ignition. I really didn't trust the MSD, even after MSD replaced 3 blown electical components in it for $100+. I mounted a ballast resistor under the coil with a couple jumper wires so I could operate off the points. Engine fired right up, blowing out a little dark smoke from gas that had not been ignited.

So far, so good!

Silverback51 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKINNEDR

In previous post above got me confused. I don't understand if you shreaded your distributor gear, how can you just changed it out on the road without being concerned about the little pieces that may have fell into the motor? I'm puzzled by that statement.....
The same thing happened to me and we had to practically rebuild the motor to insure all those little parts were flushed out..
Help me here to understand that?
Dex..

If you shear a pin, the 3 pieces of the pin should still be in the gear and shaft.

Argess · #15 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverback51

If you shear a pin, the 3 pieces of the pin should still be in the gear and shaft.

No, I don't think it happens that way, although it can. If they were solid pins, it would more likely the pieces will stay with the gear and shaft, but these are split-pins: hollow, spring steel. And on a dist like a Mallory, which has a loose gear-to-shaft fit, the pin doesn't actually shear. It fatigues, then cracks, and when it finally breaks, the "springiness" can frequently drive a piece, or pieces into the engine. A press-fit gear/shaft may do a more traditional shear and the pieces may stay with the shaft.

When it happened to mine, the gear was devoid of pin parts, however the shaft still had a piece in it....naturally, as it can't get out.

86Sebring · #16 (**permalink**) 10-13-2009, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argess

I'm amazed at the number of distributor drive gear roll-pins shearing.

As a note, I posted a "fix" for the dist gear pin shearing here:

Mallory Distributor Tip

How many of you removed the oil pan to get the bits of the shear pin out?......chuckle

I have a magnetic drainplug as well as strong magnets on both oilfilters. When I drained the oil, the pieces were stuck to the drainplug.

VE4MM · #17 (**permalink**) 10-14-2009, 05:39 PM

Yes, in 2000 I was coming home from a show and on a turn the car stalled and would not start.

I got a ride home and went back 2 hours later and the car started.

Still do not know why that happened.

SKINNEDR · #18 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VE4MM

Yes, in 2000 I was coming home from a show and on a turn the car stalled and would not start.

I got a ride home and went back 2 hours later and the car started.

Still do not know why that happened.

You left your car alone for 2 hours?
I assume that was not on the side of the road...
Mannnnnnnnn, I would never do that?
Dex...

khansmith · #19 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VE4MM

Yes, in 2000 I was coming home from a show and on a turn the car stalled and would not start.

I got a ride home and went back 2 hours later and the car started.

Still do not know why that happened.

My old suzuki motorcycle does this when it is hot. Once it cools down starts right up. However, it doesn't stall like you described.

HYM810ANCE · #20 (**permalink**) 10-15-2009, 05:35 PM

I had a '66 Mustang that had an electric fuel pump on it and whenever it overheated it would vapor-lock.