New here and need help
 

Hi Guys

I looking to purchase a Johnex Cobra. I'm have trouble sourcing parts.
I'm still negotiating on the car and need to know if they are still in business.
I will need to purchase almost a complete kit as the car was damaged badly in a garage fire.

The story I have been told is that the car is registerd in Canada and was in Ontario (Cambridge area).
Car was completed and on the road up until the fire.
It was silver with gold Bullit style wheels.
Any info on the car would be great as I'm really considering this as my next project.

If you recognize the cars description or know anything about Johnex please reply.

Also if you are familiar with Johnex cars and know of an avalible body that will fit on the CSC racing frame that may also be of great help.

Thanks for any info you can give me
Jeremy

Jeremy,

I'd be worried about the damage heat from the fire caused to more than just the body and interior

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=130351073333



Bill S.

I seems to me that restoring a Cobra replica after being "damaged badly" in a struture fire wouldn't be nearly as cost efficient as buying a used one, even if the used one needed a new body and suspension. If it had been wrapped around a tree, or otherwise compromised in the main frame members, I would pass on that, too.

Conversely, if I had some kind of emotional connection with the car (Dad's car, brother's car, etc...) I'd try to get back on the road, regardless of cost, if it were possible. In your case, I've never heard of Johnex before. Try this: http://contact.johnex3motorsports.com/


Best of luck to you, whichever way you decide.

Eric

As I understand it Johnex has been in and out of business three times under different owners, so if this is a 1978 car (the original company) you should find out how much the design and major components have changed from then to now. Johnex is currently operating out of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Contact Tony at www.johnexcobras.com.

Thanks

I spoke to Tony today. He doesn't have any bodies ready to go but he does have the mould and will build me a body.
I have taken another look at the car today and we are going to get it.
The fire was not under the car it was around the car. The engine bay and under the body the damage is quite a bit less. Little things like zip ties and labels on parts are still there.
It will def need a complete re wire and interior.
I moved the throttle just to see if it would move and it squirted fuel through the carb. lol I was supprised:D
3 of the tires are still holding air.

Next week we are going to start to dissmantle the car to see what is there and see how bad it is.
Wish me luck
I will take lots of pictures

I have spoke with Tony and he will build me a new body if needed. It will definatly be needed. Now to figure out what else id damaged.
The car was delivered today.
The car was not the cause of the fire the car was in the fire. A close look under the car has revealed that the small plastic zip ties and other parts are for the most part intact. That would indicate to me that the frame should be good to go. Of course I will know mare as I get it apart.

I will start a build thread soon.

Jeremy

Jeremy

If you want to obtain any info or parts at fair prices call Ralph @ CSC
905-954-0520.
He is the original builder of all the Johnex frames & is currently set up to supply all required for a complete build or restoration @ reasonable prices.
He always has a couple of bodys & frames in stock whenever I have been in the shop.
"TONY" (Anthony) buys most everthing from Ralph, so you may as well go direct to the source.
May or may not be less money, but dealing with Ralph you will get treated fairly & with integrity.

If you need more info P/M me.

Craig

I don't think I would trust a frame or any major components (suspension, brakes) that had been exposed to a fire like that. My honest opin, all $0.02 worth, is that this car should be stripped of usable parts and crushed rather than kill someone financially trying to put it back on the road or literally kill someone through a damaged component. It's no classic, worth restoring for the VIN plate; it's junk in the shape of a Cobra. Very, very dangerous junk because only someone utterly without a clue would try and fix it up.

Gunner
That is a gross overstatement. you obviously did not look at the photos very closely.

Look at the underside photos again--even the ny-ties are still intact on the frame.
A bick lighter would easily melt them, the tires are still intake--not flattened, the headlight wiring hanging out the front not melted, the fire was external, causing exterior damage only.
Not that I would attempt a reconstruction of this car--just too much work for me, but I am sure if the O/P does it correctly with a new body it will end up just fine.

JMO

Craig

Geez Gunner. Little harsh aren't ya. I've seen the car. Car turns over & wants to run. Battery & cables from rear still intact. No frame damage. Rubber mounts on coilovers still there. You should stay out of the lemon orchard. It's making you pretty sour. Think these guys will do just fine.

If you have the time and shop space to do it , you could.

if the price is right ( only you can determine that ) i would only spend about 1K.

Bills and Gunners asessment are worthy of note. However, the fact that the tires are still holding air, plastic parts are still there, rubber mounts haven't burned are note worthy. I'd go for it, if the price was right and I was sufficiently motivated.

Body, interior, rewire, careful inspection of suspension components, BRAKES and such I'd go over with a fine tooth comb. Certainly some risk as to cost/benefit analysis. Could end up eating far more than the final car is worth. If insurance paid out $60K for it there's a good chance a salvage title issue may come up in the future, further depleting the value of finished product.

Sorry, I don't think I'm being a lemon; it's just that there are project cars and there are projects resembling cars - ask Peter Egan.

If there was enough heat damage to melt the hood, break the glass and destroy the interior, I wouldn't trust any mechanical component from this wreck without treating it like any other junkyard pick. Taking every piece of this car and blasting it (look at the rust on the suspension and undercarriage from heat and water damage), fluxing or otherwise testing it, and then coating it is likely to add up to a lot more than just buying the part new or getting a good used car to refurbish.

That's just mechanical; I doubt the body will have any longevity after such heat exposure no matter what's done to it. I'd hate to see hundreds of hours of prep and repair and $2k or up in paint just crumble at the first hard bump or ess curve. Look closely at the depth and type of damage to the glass. A new body would take care of that but then you have all the problems of new glass, hung over a questionable chassis and running gear.

And in the end, it's not a car that's worth very much - just an older middle-grade Cobra kit. Were it a Q or K code Mustang, or a T-series MG, or whatever... maybe. But this think is a financial heartbreak that can only lead to a real heartbreak when it breaks due to some overlooked damage. And once the parts are repainted etc. it will be hard to spot any problems or potential failures.

Strip it, scrap it, and start from a new bare kit. IMVVHO.

New body for sure, now way I'd attempt to save the existing body. Gunner's opinion on that issue is spot on.

I think Gunner is just being a drama queen about the condition of the car & trying to justify his first very negative post. IMVVHO
The O/P stated early on that he fully recognized the extent of the body damage & was trying to source out a replacement body, he wasn't considering re-using the original body.
Leave the guy alone if you can't help, it's his money & if he chooses to end up smelling like a fire pit while he gets the mess stripped down & cleaned up that's his choice.

JMO

Craig

Gunner

I do think you have some good points. But you would need to see the car first hand to really see what hapened to it.
The car was in a garage that caught fire the car was not on fire. Fire burns up for the most part. The fire has damaged the body and interior and the glass was smashed out after. For the most part the wires are barely melted it rolled over on its own when we hooked up the bat. Mind you it had no spark. We plan to replace all brakes, lines, shock and suspension parts. The main thing we are after is the drive train and misc parts. This car is going to be a better donor than an 88 5.0 with 280,000KM.
The chasis builder is less than a half hour from here and the body came from an hour away nice and local for parts. Yes its a dirty job but there are some tricks to the trade. Stuff is cleaning up very well and there looks to be a lot of good parts on this car.
We have yet to find any and I mean any burnt powder coat on the frame or any steal part of the car. Even the body put up more of a fight than I would have thought. If we so much as find burnt paint on the frame we will not be using it. Gunner is right the risk is too high.

The glass is half full and just keep geting fuller.:D

Jeremy

i thoght I would post uop some pics so you guys can see how great the frame really is.
Shock brakes, all that type stuff is going. Ball joint and bushings are being replaced aswell.
This photo will show the foam still behind the body.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...braJan1013.jpg
Here it is after a wash. We have not painted a thing.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...braJan1055.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...braJan1052.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...braJan1043.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...braJan1054.jpg
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/l...braJan1053.jpg

Not bad eh.

We still have alot of work and $$$ to go before it will be done.
The fun is in the build right.

And yes that is snow all over the car.
Yes it was cold, dirty and smelly couple of days. But it should get better from here. The car is inside with the heat on now.

Looking good
accomplished a lot in a few days considering you were hung over for at least 1 day after new years.

You guys deserve a medal for working outside lately.
0-deg, F. today with about 50-kph wind gusts, for all you southerners.

Craig

A pressure washer and an industrial sand blaster, along with a forgiving drain would be in order.