Issues with early Superformance???
 

So I found an early 1996 Superformance, undercar exhaust, no roll bar. Also remember an issue with the early cars and the rear ends breaking lose.......So, how hard is it to retro fit the rollbar, and the side exhaust? Costs? What about the rear end?

Cobraless in NJ, but on the hunt,


Bill S.

PS: Just as a point of order, I would have liked to have asked these questions on the Superformance forum, but seeing that you have to own one first before you can be let in to ask questions, that is a moot point.................

Bill, the earlier cars have all the usual, expected SPF quality. But there are differences as time has passed. Dropped footbox, Wilwoods, and a few other things.

I personally think that at some point, doing too much to change any used car is not worth the money, and that it is better to just get one closer to what you personally want anyway. I have added a lot of changes to my car, but it has always been just to make it more mine.

Like wanting a car, but thinking about painting it a different color, the cost of doing it right is not worth it.

I have no doubt you could "update" it to S/C appearance, but why spend the money and time; i have to believe it would be cheaper and quicker to just get what you want in the first place. As for the rear end "breaking loose", they all have a Ford 8.8 IRS, with custom halfshafts and such. So any problem with "breaking loose" is just due to the power such small cars have. Any of these replicas's are prone to do this with such power. It is a driver issue, not a car issue, with SPF or other replica's.

I personally think the "roadster" version by SPF is a very handsome car in its own right. The rollbar would not difficult to do, Dennis Olthoff put a four point full-width rollbar on my car, replacing the "paperclip" rollbar. It would be the only substantial modification i personally would make were i to come upon a good deal on an SPF roadster.

Hal,

I heard recently about the half shafts or the mountings of the IRS to the frame had issues on a few cars...

Also, what did you get charged for the rollbar. 30K is a great deal, I don't want to pass up. if there was a 32-34K small block Superformance, with the proper rollbar and the side pipes, hell, I would conssider buying that one as well.


Bill S.

The only issue with the rear end is on a few mega torque BB cars, the front passs side diff mounting ear would sometimes tear (a little), then the CV would rattle on the frame. I have replaced a few of the diff mounts due to that, but it is nothing to worry about. Doesn't happen frequently, doesn't cause any safety issues. As for converting a roadster to SC, new" headers, sidepipes, rollbar, grommets, and labor to install. I actually prefer the roadster over the SC myself, that makes me unusual.

We all get a secret decoder ring in the glovebox when our cars are delivered too! :) :p

Bill S.

Did you mention to Hal that the car only cost $2,500.?

Mr. Fixit...and Hal

I agree....the Roadster, Definitely a great look.

There was a recall on some of the earlier cars to update the bushings in the rear A-Frame. A dealer could tell you if this work has been performed on the S/N of the car in question.

Bill A.

I've had SPF #243 for almost six years and 18,000 (...ahem - spirited) miles & just recently ripped the frame loose at the differential. House of Cobras did the repair - I can't remember how much it cost, but not bad - and said it was a fairly common problem. I'm just glad I didn't decorate the front straight at Willow with the coconut. The CV boots on the half shafts have ripped a few times - another common headache.
Other than that, I haven't had a lot of problems that spring to mind. A short in the cooling fan switch, speedometer - little stuff.
All in all, a pretty darned solid car (knock wood.)
Durt

casaleenie,

The car in questions (25,000 not 2,500)was on Ebay this morning, but someone used the buy it now feature before I could get back to the computer. The url is as follows:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2432074845


Moot point seeing someone else wanted the car more than me....I still want folks to keep their eyes open for a 351W/385hp crate engine powered beast...be it SPF, FFR, or ?????? in my price range...............


Bill S.

Nice car for under $30K. Someone will enjoy this car.

$29k for a SPF?, looks like the dominos are begining to fall!