Rear View Mirror

John-Tucson · #1 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 06:01 PM

Hey Arthur, Both Dwight and I have the windshield center rod also. The purpose in mine is to keep the top and bottom frames of the windshield together. Mine is not attached to the body. There are about three makers of that rod, I'd suggest that you attend a few Cobra get togethers and look for that rod and see how they are attached. Some are attached to the dash frame underneath the body, some are either screwed into the fiberglass or bolted from underneath. If you look at the bottom center of your windshield frame you'll see two very small holes, some makers use those holes to mount a piece of flat stock to the frame there and attach the rod to that flat stock. It can be a difficult project to do after you have the body on and painted.

lal Naja · #2 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John-Tucson

Hey Arthur, Both Dwight and I have the windshield center rod also. The purpose in mine is to keep the top and bottom frames of the windshield together. Mine is not attached to the body. There are about three makers of that rod, I'd suggest that you attend a few Cobra get togethers and look for that rod and see how they are attached. Some are attached to the dash frame underneath the body, some are either screwed into the fiberglass or bolted from underneath. If you look at the bottom center of your windshield frame you'll see two very small holes, some makers use those holes to mount a piece of flat stock to the frame there and attach the rod to that flat stock. It can be a difficult project to do after you have the body on and painted.

I'm thinking about making a center rod for the windshield. The rod will be 1/2" aluminum round shaft attached to the center top of the windscreen via a bracket. At the dashboard cowl it will fasten where the stock mirror attaches, also with a custom bracket. Then a custom fitted mirror will fasten anywhere along the length of the 1/2" aluminum shaft. Infinite adjustment along the 18 or so inches of travel.

My windshield has a center bracket that attaches at the bottom of the windshield frame to the cowl. So by adding the center rod I'll triangulate the structure and reduce vibration too, to some degree.

The 1/4" center rod that I have seen seems only to hold the frame in some compression and I believe really needed if you have a soft top. I had this problem when I installed my soft top. It just pulled the top of the frame away from the glass. That prompted me to silicon the glass into the frame. Now it is solid and rigid.

John-Tucson · #3 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 09:46 PM

Just a quick comment, the 1/2 " might be rather large. 1/4 stainless steel is suggested. You can buy the SS round and flatten the top end with a BIG hammer or press and bend it about 160 degrees so that it fits into the notch in the top of the windshield. What I am missing is what company built your Cobra ? The triangulation is perfect. So many of the guys that comment here have really good intentions, but, they have never drive their Cobras. That is why I suggest that you see and speak with other Cobra owners at car shows, those are the guys with first hand knowledge about the real life of driving their Cobras. Of course you will always find someone who walks to a different drummer and leans to the far left or right. There is where you'll have to drive your Cobra and make the decisions youself. Good luck. PS. Dwight is on of the GOOD guys. Listen to him.

lal Naja · #4 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 10:09 PM

1/4" rod may be fine to hold the windscreen in compression, but it would not be great for the triangulation that I want to do. I'm starting with 1/2" as the test. Later I'll machine the shaft down after I've located the mirror at the optimum height for me. Then I can see what minimum diameter shaft will finally work. For now the plan in in the works.

I don't think that a 1/2" shaft will block the visuals too much. But we'll see.

Arthur

lal Naja · #5 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 10:14 PM

My Cobra is a Butler Racing kit by Ron Butler, ex Shelby guy, Goleta, CA.

http://www.photoshow.com/watch/Aj2Jh9eZ See photos of my build.

John-Tucson · #6 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 10:04 PM

Just a quick comment, the 1/2 " might be rather large. 1/4 stainless steel is suggested. You can buy the SS round and flatten the top end with a BIG hammer or press and bend it about 160 degrees so that it fits into the notch in the top of the windshield. What I am missing is what company built your Cobra ? The triangulation is perfect. So many of the guys that comment here have really good intentions, but, they have never drive their Cobras. That is why I suggest that you see and speak with other Cobra owners at car shows, those are the guys with first hand knowledge about the real life of driving their Cobras. Of course you will always find someone who walks to a different drummer and leans to the far left or right. There is where you'll have to drive your Cobra and make the decisions youself. Good luck. PS. Dwight is on of the GOOD guys. Listen to him.