Cobra Build Burnout ?'s

[rbray]

I'm five years into my project and so far I have only driven my car a few miles between breakdowns. At this point I am frustrated to the point of giving up and selling the $%@@@ thing!
Is driving one of these cars really worth all the effort? I am beginning to wonder if I will ever find out.
I'm not really sure what I am asking for here, maybe just a chance to vent is all I need.

Thanks

[gear88]

Roger, 5 years is a long time to wait to enjoy anything. I am hoping to build this winter... and every night when I am up late looking at build sites on the net and on Club Cobra my wife asks me "Why don't you just buy a car? Why dou you have to build it?" My first answer is always "$" then I say cause then its really mine and when people ask "Is it real?" and I say "Nope, I built it!" all of the headaches and time I have invested will be worth it in that simple answer "I BUILT IT"
I can't wait to have my first headache from my kit car "I'll post pictures"

So vent if you must, I usually throw a hammer. It helps, really it does.

Brad

[GeorgiaSnake]

Roger, five years would kill most of us. How come it's taking so much time. I am building a Unique - took delivery in Feb, did all of the body work and paint in my garage, and hope to get the body back on the frame this weekend and fire it up the next one.

I have not worked on the car every day either and missed many weekends. If I reached the point you are facing I would stay away from the car for a month and see how I felt about finishing it.

Hopefully you will decide to complete it - drive it down to Atlanta and show us your handy work.

Randy

[Ron61]

Roger,

Just hang in there. Though 5 years is a long time I think that about every person who ever built a car has at one time or another wondered abut their sanity. Mine took almost a year and that was short for what most of them around here are taking now. I don't think I would ever start another project like that again, but I have been driving mine since 1996 and it has been a lot of fun. I can almost forget some of the frustrations I had until somone posts their frustrations. It will be worth it when yuo are crusing around and all the people are looking at the car.

Ron

[Tongue Pirate]

Breakdowns are very frustrating! Sometimes they are a part of owning a classic or even classic "style" car. Just knowing that you always have a problem waiting to be attended to can really drain your ambition. The best way I have found to deal with this is to buy the best parts, do the job with much patience in hand &/or have the work done by someone who is very reputable. This doensn't always stop things from going wrong but can minimize problems. The last car I built was a late 50' car. I started from scratch. Took everything apart, inspected & replaced or reworked every part that wasn't in tip top shape. I even pulled all of the wiring harnesses out, went over every inch of wiring & re wrapped it. In the end that car had very few problems. In fact Most problems I had were due to modifications I had done to the car. In the end it was really nice to know that I could go out to the garage, turn the key & go just about anywhere I wanted in her.

Good luck on your car & don't give up!

[rdorman]

Five years is a long, long time. But there are others that have taken twice that long!

Chin up guy. If it was easy to build an automobile then lots of people would give it a try. Some people, not saying you, go into this thinking it is a matter of following directions and bolting the thing together. Much like a glorified bicycle. Not so. Much more complex to get it right.

I don't know what your automotive knowledge is nor the type of breakdowns you have been encountering, but a thought might be to have a professionial builder give it the once over and work out the bugs. There is not a part on a car that I can not rebuild or have not rebuilt at one point or another. I have a couple years of professional training and a number of years of hands on racing mechanic experience. Still there are times that I enlist the help of a professional. They have tools and training that I do not.

Once you get it all sorted out, you should expect very good reliability out of your car. And then, the fun really begins!

Keep the faith.

Rick

[Chifo Jr]

You have alot of time to waste to catch up with me my friend. Over twenty years to finish mine properly!

[GeorgiaSnake]

Chifo if your gallery represents what you have gotten done in twenty years you are in deep $hit

Randy

[Keith Lyles]

Well if it is any consolation, it took over 3 years to restore my 67 Shelby GT-350 to Concours condition. It still needs some work and this is a car that rolls on and off a trailer. I don't think you ever get to a point where you completely satisfied or finish a automobile to ultimate satisfaction. There is always one or two more mods in addition to normal repairs. Just MHO. Hang in there.

[rbray]

Thanks for letting me vent. It's the small stuff that's driving me nuts. Not being a car guy trying to figure out what TO bearings, water pumps ect to buy has driven me crazy. And then trying to put everything together with no directions .....
Oh well, I have a free weekend coming up and there is more beer at the store, so I guess I'll take another shot at it.

Thanks again for letting me blow off some steam.

[RallySnake]

Roger,

I'm curious about your breakdowns. What kind of problems are you having?

I spent six years building my car with second hand parts. But, I got it running. I had so many breakdowns, Triple A threatened to cancel me. Since then, I spent 17 years upgrading to the best parts.

Just get it running and drive it some. That will be inspiration to keep going and make it great.

Understand though, it will never be perfect. There is always something that can be better or lighter or stronger. That's why this is a great hobby!

Paul

[Edley Rondinone]

Rbray: These cars are SO well worth it, once they are finished! By all means, get your car finished any way you can! It is just one long never-ending smile from driving them!

[Double Venom]

Louiville...Hmmm about 4 hours from a whole bunch of chocolate chip cookies.
DV..the chocolate chip cookie guy!

[rbray]

Ralley,
Basically everything that can leak has leaked. Fuel , oil , brake fluid coolant. Break downs have all been close the house and relate to the above. Biggest problem recently has been the blowout of the internal TO bearing. I got the stuff in from Enzo today to change to and external slave.
I guess everything will break at least once before I'm on the road for good.
I know what you mean about buying used. Every used part has already been replaced.

Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement.

[Robert T. Faust]

Roger,
I'm the third owner who finally finish putting the car together. Been driving it for over 6 years and I'm still putting it together (yipes). Don't give up. Why not ask for some help? Cobra people (yep, guys and gals) are the best in the world. We are a family, put the word out, you'll see. Plus, you'll have some great new friends.
Bob Faust

[427sharpe]

rbray:
Hang in there! These cars are a real pain in the arse UNTIL you get them all sorted out, then it's a blast. I think you will find that you will ALWAYS be tinkering, adding,modifying or whatever as long as you own the car. It's fun, as long as the car in RUNNING and you can have some fun! I would definitely stay away from 'used' parts, and be a bit leery of rebuilt stuff from parts stores....especially A1 Cardone. Most parts stores now sell all new stuff in the same price range as rebuilt. For example, I wanted to take off a perfectly good big starter and put a small one on....just because. I found that late model 460 vans use a direct drive, small case starter (with more torque spec than the hi-dollar mini starters from Summit!) so I went to find one. I went to O'reillys and they sold me a lifetime warranty 100% NEW unit for 21 bucks more than a rebuilt! I've had my EM a long time, and I can tell you they are worth the wait! Good Luck, and keep on keepin' on!

[CobERA]

Roger,

I don't have five years invested in the car, but I can tell you based upon my brief experience - it is worth it.

I recently titled and registered my car. Driving it is an absolute blast, even in 95 degree Texas heat. Also, the reactions I get are priceless. I had it pulled out of the garage last weekend and a guy drove by the house 8 times in a 10 minute timespan. I don't think his wife and kids appreciated it though.

I'm still waiting for those flashers I've read about in other threads.

Hang in there!

[Jack21]

Kit Manufacturers advise us kit builders to go to salvage yards to buy parts. Don't do it! One does not build aa $40k - $50k sports car with junkyard parts. If you do, you have the aforementioned maintenance problems. Purchase new or rebuilt parts to have a new car when you're finished, not an 80,000 - 180,000 mile maintenance nightmare.

[Excaliber]

,,,sure makes a strong case for having DV build one for you,,,

Oops....sorry, just thinking out loud. Hang in there, all good things come in time!

Ernie

[Chifo Jr]

Originally posted by GeorgiaSnake


Chifo if your gallery represents what you have gotten done in twenty years you are in deep $hit

Randy

Good one! but you cant believe all the $hit I've completed in the last two weeks