Barn find - Need some help from you experts!

[dls141]

First post for the board and I'm looking for information.

I just "found" an "LA COBRA INC" 1965 that hasn't been driven in 5 years. The glass is spotless with no damage and the maroon/silver paint is "good" but needs some spot touch up.

It has a Ford 427 side oiler bolted to a 4-speed trans with a Holley 650 carb.

Titled as a 1965 Cobra.

The wheels are Hallibrand style Compomotive 3-piece 20-bolt with gray centers.

Is $25K too high for this toy?

A couple of notes. The current owner has a makeshift aluminum frame situated in the cockpit to hold up the cover he's using. The aluminum poles are visible in the pictures.



Sorry for the blurr. The lens had a foggy spot on it for this pic.


The car is dirty and needs a wash. But this pic shows the shine that is under the dust. The body glass is clean, straight and smooth. Very nice paint except for a couple chips near the bottom of the front lower intake


It appears to be a real 427 SO. Working on closer up pics when we get it out into the sun or into the shop where we can get better lights on it. I'll post pics when I can. Shining up the chrome on the walls of the engine compartment won't hurt either!

[tcrist]

You might be able to get new bolts from Compomotive. Not sure if they are anything special or not.

I am sure that pictures would be needed (we like pictures) to evaluate for price.

Also things like "does it run?", ect.

[elmariachi]

I'd be more worried about whether or not the engine is sound than a few rusty bolts.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by dls141

First post for the board and I'm looking for information.

I just "found" an "LA COBRA INC" 1965 that hasn't been driven in 5 years. The glass is spotless with no damage and the maroon/silver paint is "good" but needs some spot touch up.

It has a Ford 427 side oiler bolted to a 4-speed trans with a Holley 650 carb.

Titled as a 1965 Cobra.

The wheels are Hallibrand style Compomotive 3-piece 20-bolt with gray centers.

Is $25K too high for this toy? Anyone know where I can find new bolts for the 20-bolt rims? They are showing some rust.

Are you sure what motor is in the car? Can you see the main cap cross bolts through the side of the block? Do you have the casting numbers? Does it run? Interior condition, exterior condition, mileage, pictures? All these things are needed before we can tell you anything in regards to a value of what you found.

Bill S.

[dls141]

Engine will turn but I don't want to fire it up until we change all the fluids. It's a documented engine and he has all the build specs. I've got a motorhead friend who's been giving it the lookover pretty good. He says we'll have it running in about two hours and we'll swap out the carb with a Holley 850cfm Ultra HP.

I'll round up some pics - and thanks!

[ENTDOC]

18K would the the limit on that car(assuming it has a real 427so in it, that can be made to run)

[elmariachi]

Beware of your "motorhead friend"....a documented engine shouldn't need a cursory 200+ cfm carb change without some consideration and tuning analysis. Also beware that a lot of people dress 390s, 406s and 428s up to look like 427s. You need to confirm its a 427 side oiler first because the price delta could be $10k between a 427 and something else.

[mickmate]

As Bill said looks for cross bolts on the mains, screw in frost plugs and get some numbers off it.

[Ken Oikawa]

Note:
Ford 406 has crossbolted maincaps. Some HP 390 and 428 could have lower skirk drilled to accept aftermarket maincaps. Only way to determine if its a 427 is to measure the bore.

[dls141]

Originally Posted by Ken Oikawa

Note:
Ford 406 has crossbolted maincaps. Some HP 390 and 428 could have lower skirk drilled to accept aftermarket maincaps. Only way to determine if its a 427 is to measure the bore.

I actually found this today. But it actuall said match the casting number with the stroke. Unless the pistons/rods have been changed.

[flipscobra]

I went an looked at a Cobra in Michigan an the fellow told me he had it drilled to look like it was crossbolted, so do not go by that. check numbers or the bore, stroke is the same for 352 390 406 427, good luck. Flip

[mr0077]

Another easy external check for a 427 is to look for the screw-in plug at the front of the motor that plugs the sideoiler oil galley and the bump for the galley on the left side of the motor near the oil pan flange. The plug is a hex-head machin thread item, located down low on the left front, by the oil pan flange, near the oil filter adapter. Could still be a fake but not likely with the plug and the bump for the galley.

[dls141]

Thanks to all. I'll be taking another hard look at it this weekend. I've got the Ford casting number codes so that will help narrow things down a bit. I'll post some pics when I get back.

[meat]

It might be a good deal, it also might be an SEP. Make sure you get pix of the front, sides, trunk and dashboard, too.

[dls141]

Originally Posted by meat

It might be a good deal, it also might be an SEP. Make sure you get pix of the front, sides, trunk and dashboard, too.

I will - thanks.

...but what's an SEP?

[dls141]

Originally Posted by mr0077

Another easy external check for a 427 is to look for the screw-in plug at the front of the motor that plugs the sideoiler oil galley and the bump for the galley on the left side of the motor near the oil pan flange. The plug is a hex-head machin thread item, located down low on the left front, by the oil pan flange, near the oil filter adapter. Could still be a fake but not likely with the plug and the bump for the galley.

I've seen an article on this with photo examples. Thanks for all the help here - I'll be looking for all the indicators including the hex head machine bolt on the front of the block.

[meat]

Originally Posted by dls141

I will - thanks.

...but what's an SEP?

SEP = "Somebody Else's Problem." The quintessential 'barn find' of a kit car that's been sitting - either completed or mostly completed - in someone's garage or on the side of their house.

Not to be confused by an issue covered by an SEP Field, which was originally created by Douglas Adams.

[dls141]

Originally Posted by meat

SEP = "Somebody Else's Problem." The quintessential 'barn find' of a kit car that's been sitting - either completed or mostly completed - in someone's garage or on the side of their house.

Not to be confused by an issue covered by an SEP Field, which was originally created by Douglas Adams.

SEP - got it. You're right. All the car needs is a bath inside and out BUT wrong motor = no deal as far as I'm concerned.

From everything I've found so far though it seems legit. So I'm keeping the old fingers crossed.

One good thing is the guy doesn't want to sell the car. He's broke and doesn't have the money to fix it or keep it up. His wife is demanding he sell it now.

[tcrist]

I'd say, get rid of the wife. But that's just me.

[dls141]

OK I've got some of the pics posted. I need better ones of the engine and I'll have them next week.

Upon further review the motor looks legit. It will turn but I don't want to crank it until we get all the lines flushed and fluids replaced.

Overall it looks like $1,000 to get it running right, $500-$600 on mechanical, $1,000 on cleaning and dress up and a couple hundred on paint touch up and it will be in great shape. Of course the labor cost is zero as I'll be doing it all myself.