Finally did it

[John248]

Well it took two years, but I finally pulled the trigger and ordered a Shell Valley Cobra. Talked with Dana and the build started October 31st. As of two weeks ago the car was done, but finding a transport going to the west coast during Christmas/New Years holidays was difficult from what I was told. I’m hoping to get that email or phone call letting me know it’s on it’s way next week. I’d call Dana and ask (again) but I believe he could be getting tired of my weekly calls.

Here is my starting point and I hope to have it completed by next spring (2021).

Complete Cobra kit for 351W (blueprint 408W/Tremec transmission)
Hydraulic clutch upgrade kit
Wilwood 12 inch brakes
Upholstered door panels
Driver side seat track
Heater/defroster kit
Weatherstripping kit
Vinyl dash upgrade
Team III 17 inch wheel/tire combo

[snakeeyes]

Congrats! Finally ordering a kit is an exciting moment.

[Anthony]

yes, congratulations !!!

[John248]

Well the car finally arrived February 13th. Took the day off work and paced like an expectant father (although my wife was just as excited). Plycar transport arrived and the driver actually let me slowly roll it out under his guidance. Once in the driveway, my wife helped with the inventory, photos and general excitement.

Since then it’s been a slow process. Little things here and there but with a purpose. Trial fitted the seats and found I didn’t really like mounting them to the fiberglass/Kevlar floor. Began designing and mocking up seat mounts that bolt to and thru the main and side farm rails. Final fitting/mounting would occur when the body came off.

Wilwood brakes went on pretty much without a hitch and look sweet. Mocked up the 5 pt seatbelts including cutting the slots in the rear fiberglass bulkhead for the shoulder belts. I took and retook and retook so many measurements my wife asked me why there was red, black, blue and green sharpie x’s, ovals and arrows all over the floors and bulkhead. Yes I was very afraid of cutting those holes ! But they got cut and sit exactly where I wanted them.

Then Covid19 hit. Although I’m retired law enforcement, I still work a the local Federal Courthouse providing security for the courts....and since courts stopped, so did my job temporarily. Bonus was it gave me time now to work on the car....time to through $100 bills into the hood scoop.

Got the body off in April and up onto its raised dolly. The chassis sits on its own dolly. With the obstructions out the way, I was able to run the brake and fuel lines, mount the seat brackets to the frame rails and begin the process of figuring out the wiring.

At this point the dash has been wired, the individual wiring harness systems ran to the front and rear of the car, heater and wipers installed and minor body work started. I ordered my Blueprint 408/TKO combo from Dana and hope to have it by the end of June since I’m now at that point of my build.

I will try and get some pics up as soon as I can.

Thanks all for your input and guidance during the build.

JW

[John248]

[Chicagowil]

[quote=John248;1478147]Attachment 34787

Attachment 34788

I like your choice of stable mates!

Thom

[snakeeyes]

You're on your way--congrats again. Enjoy the journey!

[BigGuy]

Welcome to the addiction!!!

[Michael C Henry]

I like a lot of your choices. The shoulder belts coming through the rear bulk head wall are too low. On my car and I think you'll come to your own conclusion. After all the warnings I'm moving my shoulder strap anchor points to a spreader bar mounted to the roll bar. Like your set up I was warned that if I ever actually needed them, in a wreck, the lower than your shoulders anchor point will cause the harness to try to compress your in your seat, compressing your spine. You have dual roll bars , I wish I had that option. Not to rain on your parade but that is what I'm battling now on a 36 year-old car. I like your dual roll bars, engine, and trans choices, and the big disc brakes I'm really in envy of. What was the choice for the rear end? You will get the car to a livable point but these cars are never really done. I sold my 56 AC Bristle 43 years ago. Joe is still changing things and has second thoughts about all most all choices he's made.

[John248]

Thanks for the support all. I’ll need it.

Mike - the shoulder belts are still under review. I may end up going with the bar between the roll bars as you suggested. Once I got them mounted and actually sat in the seats i noticed exactly what you said....too low. Fortunately I can always move them up and plug the holes before final assembly. The rear end is a Ford 9 inch with posi and 3.50 gears.

Talked with Dana today, sounds like Blue Print is way behind on motors and the timeframe for delivery is unknown. Ugh....good news is the waiting is giving me chance to do a some body work (Fiberglass and body fill dust are so enjoyable on 100 degree days) and Little things that will make final assembly a bit easier.

Cheers all

[John248]

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/atta...1&d=1591851028

[Hoodabest]

Great progress! I see the windshield wiper mechanism looks to be in place. I'm really impressed with the appearance of the Shell Valley body in its raw form. How is it in person? Also curious about your choice of color. You got me fired up to get busy on my Hurricane. Thanks!

[John248]

Chicagowil- Thank you. The 67 mustang belongs to my wife. It was her actual car in HS in 1978, and she manage to hold onto it all this time. It’s next on the list to be redone, although she really wants a 67 Camero. I told her they wouldn’t get along in the same garage. LOL

Hoodabest - I was really surprised how smooth the body was from SV. Most of the fill you see are along the body seam line which was raised when I got it. There are a few pin holes here and there, mostly around the fender lips, but the car body for the most part is straight and smooth. With the body up on the jig, it has a very slight bow which is causing the doors to not align, so I will have to smooth and fit them when the body gets mounted back on the frame. I hope to get as much body work done as possible before sending it off to a professional for paint. I’m going with Ford Rangoon Red, no stripes. My wife’s mustang was Medium Red and seemed it was a shade lighter in red. Both colors were offered in ‘67 as option colors I believe.

Good luck on your Hurricane

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/atta...12d=1591913712

[Michael C Henry]

I'm sorry if I said any thing that might be taken badly. but I have a older car that suffers from a lot of these problems. The original seats are for nostalgia ,ease getting in and out. The original style seats don't give much support side ways, head and neck. The way these cars accelerate and stop. They made custom seats for racer back then and the seats available now , way better. To get the right angle on the shoulder straps I recommend the bolted on spreader bars with the eyes for anchors or a race seat where the belts come through the back of the seat.
Did I mention I envy the dual roll bars and your large front brakes. I actually checked and the progress had already gone too far to stop work on the new soft top being made. I was intending on making another roll bar for my passenger side and then have the top fitting over both roll bars. I have a heavy walled black roll bar on my drivers' side It would not fi under a normal soft top with out some modifications . My top roll bar hoop is taller and the rears rear brace goes out in to the rear deck out side the normal soft top line of hold downs. The new soft top is supposed to be modified to work over everything. I'm sorry if I hadn't gone onto explain my views, as these issue are my problems that I'm trying to overcome.s

[Michael C Henry]

What I used was from Finishline accessories under' seat belt and floor mats'. Is referred to as a roll bar cross member. they are $95 I used polished thick wall SS from Everett Morrison that they used for the front and rear bumpers to the chassis I was able to buy a longer chunk and cut the lengths I needed to organize it to work and look good. I also bought really strong 1/2" all thread to hold everything together.

[John248]

Mike - I value any input from all on this form. Nothing you said or suggested has been taken badly. In fact you confirmed what I was already thinking but I had pretty committed to citing the holes in the back wall. This car is a work in progress and I’m absolutely positive I will be asking advice from all of you, changing things for the better as I go and learning from those who have gone this route before.

Trust me when I say tips, hints, cheats and “Lessons learned” will always be gladly accepted.

Thanks for the advice and please don’t stop.

John

[Michael C Henry]

Think before you buy because I bought a lot of stuff I didn't use and the flack I get is not pleasant. Most of the life of the car will be on highway that is where most accidents happen so safety is a very big concern. Remember it's not a half million dollar original, you do not have to be all original. Make it the way you want and not something that can pass for an original. Other than Cobra fanatics most strangers that you'll meet don't know any thing , I'll bet the first year out someone will ask you what kind of Corvette it is. Nostalgic isn't always the best. These cars evolved with better seats and so on. A radio isn't much use, a cell phone charger hook up may be a great need as if something happens you pretty much have to stay with the car and call for help. A space saver spare tire is a practical thing to have. Leave enough room for that. My car was built for hill climb competition. It had the smallest battery that would just crank the engine over, if it were charged. I forgot a lot of times to turn off the battery master switch when stopping and had a problem because the heated coolant would rise to top of radiator, turn on the fans and drain the battery. The" I'll just be a minute " got me more times so I added another master switch in series with the other master switch the original builder had high on the fire wall, to the center of the instrument panel which isn't original but it has worked well for me. Oh! I installed an Optima yellow top battery.

[Michael C Henry]

In your list of options "drivers side seat track" tell me about that. My seats were bolted to a flat floor with wood wedges lifting the front up a bit. I tried adjustable slides and decided I needed to get the seat lower so the adjustable slides came out. I did build aluminum wedges to go between seat and floor. I have the fiberglass framed nostalgic seats. but wish I had different seats

What are you planning on for induction the 351-408 Windsor engine? Remember the engine will be sitting almost level in the Cobra and production manifolds have an incline to make a carb sit level on a production car. My car came with a Dove 2-4 tunnel wedge intake manifold for 2 Holley 4150 carbs. Looks great but it's mostly nostalgic. the carbs are on a slant , you can't get a great air cleaner past the linkage and it's up against the inside of the hood. . I've seen a local guy with Webbers and 8 stack EFI look a likes are available and look great once dialed they can adjust with conditions.

[John248]

Michael:
The adjustable seat track is on the driver side only. Ordered it thru shell valley and it’s very similar to other seat tracks offered from other companies. I originally mounted it direct to the fiberglass/Kevlar floor pan, but I didn’t like how low it sat and didn’t like the lack of support. I made 12 inch long risers out of 1 inch square steel tube And mounted the track to those. I added 1 1/2 inch tall risers from 1/2 inch round steel tube to lift the front of the seat up. That made it more comfortable for me. Did the same for the passenger side except without the sliding seat track.

Still didn’t like mounting the seats direct to the floor, so I made my own under body seat mounts out of flat steel stock welded to the frame. Now the seats bolt through the floor pan and direct to the new tabs on the frame.

Shell Valley already has tabs welded to the frame for the lap and shoulder belts and those sit perfect for the seats.

The engine/transmission combo is being purchased thru SV. 408 w/ tremec T600 5 speed.

The engine is coming from Blueprint Engines via Shell Valley. Dana said they order the engine from BP and then put their own goodies on it (mounts, water pump, pulleys, belts, alternator, valve covers, air cleaner, etc) to fit the specific car. It’s a single holly 4bbl sitting on a low rise manifold so it should fit under the hood. BP is currently backlogged so I’m still waiting for the engine to be built and shipped to SV for final assembly.

The build has come to almost a stand still until the engine comes in. Fuel and brake lines are temporarily in, but can’t be finalized until the trans mount (and engine) gets bolted in.

So it’s hurry up and wait for now....which is fine with my wife because now I can handle some of the honey do’s that have magically appeared. ��

Hope this helps
John

[John248]

Well here’s an update on my build. Since COVID kept me home and away from work, I utilized the time to work on my car. These last 9 months went by slow but in build time, things just flew together. Once the body was off, the brake and gas lines went in. That was followed by the motor/trans, driveshaft, safety hoop and finally a test run of the engine. Body went on, electrical ran and tested, interior.....all in a blink of an eye. On 12-12-20, I took the car out for its first shake down....and other than little adjustments to alignment, clutch and headlights....she ran beautifully. Still unpainted and will probably stay that way until spring. Waiting for a couple of things from Finishline and Cobra Restorers (apparently quick shipping and customer service are not their best attributes. Been waiting since 12-01 for parts). In the mean time State Farm insurance gave me a great deal for full coverage so I can begin the registration process here on January 4.

Thanks to all those that provided assistance either thru answering my questions or from your prior posts.

JW