Best non-authentic changes for your Cobra?

[Snake2998]

Mine is high backed "racing" seats - adds hugely to reducing wind buffeting at speed and hence comfort on a long drive. Have kept my "retro" seats for if I ever sell the car.

[750hp]

5 speed trans, because doing 3000+rpm at highway cruising speed is just not necessary any more.

[Ron61]

Changing the exhaust pipes to larger more free flowing ones. I gained almost 30 horsepower over the stock ones.

Ron

[joyridin']

It is not in the car yet, but soon to be installed electric power steering. Cheap, fast, and nothing to carve up.

[Shootnride]

Originally Posted by joyridin'

It is not in the car yet, but soon to be installed electric power steering. Cheap, fast, and nothing to carve up.

Would love to see you do a build/project thread on the forum when you do this.

Ted

[Tom Wells]

Originally Posted by Shootnride

Would love to see you do a build/project thread on the forum when you do this.

Ted

Just for you, Ted: new Project. Electric P/S - FirstCoastCobraClub

Enjoy,

Tom

[RallySnake]

Over 32 years, I have changed many things. The best thing was adding gussets to the Jaguar lower suspension arms so they would not try to kill me again.

Next, was going from a high RPM drag racing cam to a milder hydraulic roller that make much more low and mid range torque. Other than that:

Backup electric fuel pump.
Comfortable seats from Classic Cobra.
Tremec TKO 5 speed trans.
3.73 gears in the Jaguar rear with limited slip.
Wilwood brakes all around.
A security system that communicates with my cell phone and tells me the car's status and exactly where it is.
Acrylic polyurethane paint (Ferrari red).
Front suspension by Classic Conversions.
Micky Thompson Sportsman S/T tires.
AFR Cylinder heads.
Classic Chambered mufflers.
Distributorless EDIS ignition from '90's Ford with Megaspark controller.

RS

[Rawkkrawler]

Originally Posted by RallySnake

Backup electric fuel pump.RS

This has me thinking, since i've had this failure berore, is your bachup installed or in the toolbox just in case?

I'd like to do this, but mount permanently. I'm carbureted and run a basic inline electric fuel pump close to the tank. Can two be wired in series with a DPDT toggle to go between the two if needed? I know some MG's have done this. My need for permanent is that i won't have access for a swap out if i'm on the side of the road. I believe the pumps have basic check valves that allow the disabled pump to be a "pass through". Anyone have a best practice that can be shared? Seems like cheap insurance.

Thanks!

[Shootnride]

Originally Posted by Tom Wells

Just for you, Ted: new Project. Electric P/S - FirstCoastCobraClub

Enjoy,

Tom

Thanks Tom,

This is definitely a project high on my list.

Ted

[lovehamr]

In the order of "makingitbetterformeness"

#1 5 speed overdrive, TKO600RR. Doing the same to my Boss302 now.
#2 Fuel injection, took me a while to get it dialed in but once I had it I'd never go back.
#3 Power steering, just make sure it's not over boosted and it's awesome.

[Karl Bebout]

The 600hp, 496 CHEVY engine, in my first Cobra replica.

[olddog]

Personally, I would limit my list to things that make it safer, which would include handle better. Creature comforts is Ok if you can put it back to original. This is assuming we are talking about people who are interested in originality.

No offense, but if you desire a Chevy engine, originality is not on your list, so why not do anything anywhere on the car? Feel free to do anything you want.

[ACHiPo]

Mirrors mounted on the wind wings. They work great, and greatly increase my confidence driving in traffic.
STORE

[DanEC]

My ERA - it's a replica - virtually everything is non-authentic when you get down to it. But I know the urethane paint sure beats the crappy old lacquer they used to use.

[pormgb]

Originally Posted by DanEC

My ERA - it's a replica - virtually everything is non-authentic when you get down to it. But I know the urethane paint sure beats the crappy old lacquer they used to use.

I just painted (DIY) my car with single stage urethane and three coats of clear, I didn't intend to clear the urethane but it came out awesome. Since the car is not authentic, I added a ton of modern mods to make it handle better and more reliable.

[tortuga]

Originally Posted by ACHiPo

Mirrors mounted on the wind wings. They work great, and greatly increase my confidence driving in traffic.
STORE

AMEN to that! It's really really nice to actually have functioning rear view mirrors!

[PHMCobra]

For added comfort and street performance, my Backdraft Cobra has extra legroom and a 6-speed Tremec (T56) tranny. Also, the car is sterling grey and hides the dirt/dust so much better than my previous Backdraft Cobra that was black.

[undy]

My Accusump... It allows me to pressurize the oil system upon startup after the car sat for 6 months. It helps protect my Pond blocked 482" sideoiler!

[MOTORHEAD]

The Ford "Taurus" fan/shroud . No more o'heating while stopped at intersections in Fl heat !

[dallas_]

In addition to several already mentioned here, my tilt front has been one of my most practical modifications since it makes ease of access so much better.

Although technically I guess it could be considered 'original' since CSX 2196 had a tilt front.