First Cobra.

[UK RUSS]

I'm very excited to announce I have bought the 427 SO from aeon. I am picking it up tomorrow morning. This is my first Cobra and I can't wait to start cruising. I need to get an appraisal for my insurance company, They have given me some #'s but would love to know if there is an appraiser that knows Cobra's in my area ??
Thanks, Russell.

[Ibr8k4vetts]

try this we meet about every two months http://www.tricountycobras.com/
Mike

[aeon]

Good luck Bro with the car. I have to tell ya i am sadder then i thought i would be. As i look into my garage and see nothing but the leftovers from my cobra. The oil spot on the concrete the broken parts that i always kept for some reason. I am super happy such a great guy got her!!!!!!!!! BUT DAMNIT it hurts. I think ill be grumpy for a few days then its time to think about the next project.



Bill
X cobra owner and now just one of the many dreamers ..............

[UK RUSS]

Wow, What a day I've had.
First of all let me say what a GREAT guy Bill is ,he has been super helpful in shareing all the info about the car, me being a newbie and all I need all the help I can get .
That said, Have I had a fun day or what .
Not two minutes after leaving Bill's I pull up at a red light behind a new Ferrari (Bill's in a nice neighborhood). As we make the turn to head towards the freeway I step on it a little to ride up alongside it. The Ferrari's driver didn't think much of this and floored it, I hung back, taking Bill's advise from my Cobra driving lesson just 5 mins. eairler.
During the 100 mile trek home on the 5 N we turned dozens of heads, and got numerous "thums up". I even cruised with a Saleen Mustang for some of the way. You couldn't wipe the "****eatingrin" off my face with a squeegee .
After taking my girlfriend Tiffany for a cheeseburger & fries at lunch time (very California), I cruised over to my Brother James' to take his Two boy's, Daniel & Brandon, & his girlfriend Amy out for a spin. I also took another friend of ours, Andy, for a quick whip around the block.
Then it was James' turn for a ride, I swear up & down the following is ALL 100% TRUE.
We went to the local NAPA to let our buddy there check out the car. As we left a cop was across the first light we got to. I made a right and just cruised. Sure enough the cop started to follow. As we cruised along at 40 together I said to James "he's going to pull us over as I already knew I had a brake light out. Bill had also kept his 427 SO vanity plates so I had no license plate either. Sure enough after about a mile the dreded red & blue lights came on behind us (thoughts of "I can hear them all now" went through my mind). I pulled into a side street and turned off the car.
The first odd thing to happen was a Lexus pulled up behind the cop. I heard someone yell "great car". As the cop walked up my side of the car a nice looking 40 something jumped out of the Lexus wearing jeans & a bikini top she said to the cop I just want to look at the car !!!!!
As she started to ask James about the car the cop informed me he had pulled me over for the brake light. He then said "It's nice to have an excuse though, do you mind if I check out the car?!?!.
Turns out this guy is just about ready to start building his own FFR and was really impressed with how clean my new purchase was. As the 40 something left the cop asked if he could take a few pictures, "sure" I said, and he went and got the police issue digital camera out of the trunk. He took a few shots then I told him to sit in it and I would take his picture, which he DID !! (bulletproof vest and all).
After all that excitement I went over and picked up my 4yr old son Oliver for the weekend, needless to say he enjoyed his first ride in a Cobra as much as I did .
I'm back home now and I must say I'm tending to some pretty bad sunburn right now (especially on my left arm !!) .
Sorry I made you cry Bill , but thanks a lot, I'm over the moon.
Gotta go now I need to call my Mum I England & tell her what I've done .
Russell.

[aeon]

i am done crying ..time to be a man! if i say this i think it will feel better. anyways here is my idea i am going to send 1 dollar to Kirkham as my deposit on lets say KMP#???? something way out so i can get all my ducks in row in a few years and get one! That way i can change my user name to say KMP#8432 on the way and it won't feel so bad to be without a car! What do you guys think? . David can i have a car that far out put in my name?


happy ya had a great first day lol sorry about the cop in two years i never got pulled over. Not even one time!!!!!!!!



Bill

[UK RUSS]

It's cool man, Don't worry about the pull, He just wanted to check out the car. He didn't even ask to see my license, insurance, or anything.

[casaleenie]

[i]Originally
After all that excitement I went over and picked up my 4yr old son Oliver for the weekend, needless to say he enjoyed his first ride in a Cobra as much as I did .
Russell. [/b]

Russell,

I'm probably making the wrong assumption but it sounds like you were picking up your son from your ex-wifes home for the weekend...
That's kinda like showing up for an IRS audit in a Ferrari. She may want to revisit the alimony settlement

Congrats on the new car... Sounds like a beauty... Where do we find pics?

[Back in Black]

Than just about any other ride could give you. In my 3,000 miles last year I had a blast.. and lots of funny stories to tell ! This summer is gonna be just as hot !

~~~~~~~~~
Cassaleenie: Look in Aeon's gallery!
~~~~~~~~~

[UK RUSS]

I Don't believe it
After all the fun we had yesterday, Oliver & I went out this morning to take the car to a few friends to see. after strapping him in I thought I would check out the motor before starting.
When I pulled out the dipstick my heart sank , the oil looked like a chocolate milkshake.
I figure I've blown the head gasket (hopefully nothing worse).
Does anyone have anything to say about pulling the heads off a 427 side oiler ?
Does anyone have any practical ideas about keeping this baby cooler in the future (perhaps a 4 core rad or better fan?).
Any coments are appreciated, I ran the car all day yesterday, for the 100 mile trek from OC the water temp. stayed around 175 - 200. Once we were home I was cruising all around town at around 225 - 235. I had no idea anything was wrong until I pulled that stick this morning. I bought this car to be a daily driver and have to get this temp. problem under control, Thanks in anticipation.
Russell.

Iwill post pictures once I'm up & running again, your right, she is a beauty.

[aeon]

lol i give you the car for a day and you break her .... the gasket is no problem and getting the heads off her should be no worries. did you drain the oil out and see how bad it realy is? Let me know and ill be up to help ya get them off...
I will give you a ring on the phone tomorrow mid day sometime. its 1am and i just got off work ..


Bill

[Back in Black]

Immediately drain the milkshake and remove the oil pan... remove several crank/rod bearing caps and look for any wear.. if there's any scratches or damage you are looking at overhaul If they are OK then you must properly re-torque the bolts and re-install the pan of course.

This is what happened to my motor due to incompetent intake installation by my manufacturer (Vern Redel) If you catch it early (assuming there is damage) the cheaper it will be !

Another problem I had was that Vern used the threaded metal rods to mount the radiator fan, and NO lock nuts! So the bottom two fell out and I ended up with a "swing-away fan". It looked good upon inspection but under acceleration the fan became useless! Not likely that's your problem but it's something to look for.. fan not doing it's job somehow.. or bad thermostat, etc..

I am also going with the Evan's cooling non-antifreeze liquid upon startup.. this seems to be great stuff and I'll give a report on what results I get !

Before you mess with the cooling system consider an oil cooler with manual electric fan.. I mounted mine in the nose and it will give me optional cooling..she's not used for commuting or really cold weather unless it's dry and she is warmed up well first.

[Turk]

Now that you know why the cops turn their red lights on when you are driving the Cobra, (to look at it and take pictures and stuff like that) next time you are in a hurry and don't have the time, just wave at them and keep going. Especially CHP, they are all over the place. It is not safe to pull over the Intersate, just wave. They don't mind, you can always catch them on the way back when you are not so busy.

TURK

[UK RUSS]

Originally posted by Back in Black


Immediately drain the milkshake and remove the oil pan... remove several crank/rod bearing caps and look for any wear.. if there's any scratches or damage you are looking at overhaul If they are OK then you must properly re-torque the bolts and re-install the pan of course.

This is what happened to my motor due to incompetent intake installation by my manufacturer (Vern Redel) If you catch it early (assuming there is damage) the cheaper it will be !

Another problem I had was that Vern used the threaded metal rods to mount the radiator fan, and NO lock nuts! So the bottom two fell out and I ended up with a "swing-away fan". It looked good upon inspection but under acceleration the fan became useless! Not likely that's your problem but it's something to look for.. fan not doing it's job somehow.. or bad thermostat, etc..

I am also going with the Evan's cooling non-antifreeze liquid upon startup.. this seems to be great stuff and I'll give a report on what results I get !

Before you mess with the cooling system consider an oil cooler with manual electric fan.. I mounted mine in the nose and it will give me optional cooling..she's not used for commuting or really cold weather unless it's dry and she is warmed up well first.

Thank you back in black, I'll heed your advice & let you know how I get on,
Russell.