How many people work on their own Cobra?

[twobjshelbys]

I worked on my engine and other stuff on my CSX. It reminded me of the stuff from the 60s and 50s Ford tractors. Not a frame/body guy. I don't do drywall any more either.

[bwcobra15]

I started with this... yeah, I'd say i've been hands-on. The only nuts I haven't turned so far are on the engine build.

[Dominik]

I built a few when I was younger. From scratch, but I would rather order the chassis then build another. Takes too much time if you don't have a fully equipped metal fabricator workshop. Even if your chassis brackets are all laser cut, the tubing takes a while.

I also used to build my own engines, until I found a shop who can do it much more efficient than I. Being self employed my own hours are not free anymore.

[Paintwerks]

I built mine. It came to me as a roller because the factory offered that as a way of saying sorry because they blew out the delivery estimate, but I was fully prepared to, and was capable of building the roller.

I built everything on mine including installing the drive line except for the cabin wiring, the upholstery and the exhaust system. I did the bodywork and paint myself (I'm a qualified vehicle spray painter). It won't be finished for about a month, but here is how she currently stands:



My 9yo son Liam pretending to be dad!

[michu]

Does gas count?

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by michu

Does gas count?

No but oil, transmission fluid, brake and clutch fluids do

Cosby couldn't figure it out, he just poured it on and it found its way in

[G-Pete]

Originally Posted by michu

Does gas count?

Passing gas? No, don't count at all....

[michu]

Originally Posted by G-Pete

Passing gas? No, don't count at all....

Well, there goes half of your bragging rights!

[Luke427]

I do things myself even if sometimes it can end-up being a painful learning experience, as long as it doesn't require too specific tooling (such as replacing bearings).
So far on my Cobra:
- replaced front dampers
- replaced rear wheel bearings (after investigations and diagnostics)
- installed original ignition distributor with MSD box
- rebuilt fuel line, adding a regulator.
- installed original Ford riser with twin 4-barrel carbs (still problematic)
- fluid changes

I agree with what some mentioned, to own a Cobra is the opportunity to work on a high performance, yet simple machine with little or no electronics to get in our way

[Snake2998]

Yes - also wife and I built it starting some 30 years ago - finished it after 5 years.

[Tommy]

I prefer not to do body work (too tedious), paint (too important to leave to an inexperienced amateur like me) and engine block internals (the Butcher's story showed me there were too many ways for an amateur to get it wrong). But I did everything else when I disassembled my Cobra and rebuilt it about ten years ago. It took me about eight months and my goal was to have it back together in time for a three day track event. One of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of my life was when I finished it five days before the event and it ran flawlessly for all three days.

In addition to the Cobra, I did a body-off restoration of my 1963 Corvette in my garage, and I'm currently building a Cheetah replica starting from a partially completed tube frame and raw fiberglass body pieces. I've also restored/rebuilt two boats and the old, derelict school building I now call home.

[dallas_]

I built my FFR including the paint and body work and am working on a SL-C now.

I admire the scratch build guys. That's impressive.

[lnfletcher]

The only work done on mine other than me was the front end alignment and mounting and balancing tires. I didn't build the frame but did weld the roll bar and a few mounts onto it.
The first response I get when people look at the car is how cool it looks, the second best response it when I tell them I built it myself!

Not perfect, but wouldn't trade the experience for the world!

[mdross1]

Have done near a dozen muscle car body off restorations, built my Cobra originally for racing now strictly street. My passion for over 10 yrs now has been restoring antique John Deere tractors and implements.

[Bartruff1]

And I mean nothing....I don't even wash it.....when it gets dirty or about once a week I have " The Naked College Girls" come up and wash and wax it.

Their motto is " We will do it at your place."....it only costs about $300 and sometimes my neighbors will even chip it.

We do what we can to encourage young girls to pursue a college education.

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by Bartruff1

And I mean nothing....I don't even wash it.....when it gets dirty or about once a week I have " The Naked College Girls" come up and wash and wax it.

Their motto is " We will do it at your place."....it only costs about $300 and sometimes my neighbors will even chip it.

We do what we can to encourage young girls to pursue a college education.

What part of Washington are you in?

[Three Peaks]

Yeah, I've done a few things on my car, too.... in fact, it seems like everything I did had to be redone at least 3 times so I feel like I've built at least 3 cars....

Bob

[Luke427]

Originally Posted by mdross1

Have done near a dozen muscle car body off restorations, built my Cobra originally for racing now strictly street. My passion for over 10 yrs now has been restoring antique John Deere tractors and implements.

Nice. I'm also sharing time between high performance cars and old timers.
I'm just done with a WWII Willys and have started the saving of a 1929 Allis Chalmers orchard crawler. These are cool toys too

[Snake2998]

Originally Posted by Luke427

Nice. I'm also sharing time between high performance cars and old timers.
I'm just done with a WWII Willys and have started the saving of a 1929 Allis Chalmers orchard crawler. These are cool toys too

That brings back early teenage memories of helping my Dad in the early 1960's rebuild the Willys Side valve motor of his Jeep. I learnt to drive in the dunes of the Cape (Cape Town) in that car. He would throw me the keys to have fun whilst my mom & he were fishing. The worst damage I did was break a rear spring. I guess I was 13 at the time. One certainly learnt all about double declutching in that car.

[keezling]

I'd say no other hands have touched my car but mine, but the number of fingerprints I'm endlessly cleaning off the body prove otherwise...