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that's great Tim, looking good, please keep the pics coming!
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So fuel in, now exhaust out.
The F5R kit came with some nice SS sidepipes and cat converters so I mocked thes up to see how it looked. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr060.jpg Seems OK, tho the pipe runs very close to the alternator. From here I sent the car down to my local exhaust shop to get some custom headers made, and also to hopefully improve the alternator clearance issue. I organised a tilt truck to come collect my car, a good day because this was the first time I had seen my car outside. Makes you want to go for a drive! http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr061.jpg Work underway so I dropped in to take a couple of work-in-progress pics. Bruce was doing a great job. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr062.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr063.jpg And here it is all finished. I am very happy with how this turned out. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr064.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr065.jpg http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr066.jpg |
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By now I was nearing the end of the mechanical installation work and was starting to think about electrical. Which lead me to look at the dash and consider different dash layouts. And if I am completely honest I did not really like either of the standard cobra street dash or competition dash layouts. This because I think the way the gauges are either masked by the steering wheel or how the switches are randomly located did not really cut it.
I hoped to do better. But of course, before I could do this, I had to install the drivers seat. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr070.jpg I decided to use the lowback Kirkey seats as these are light and thin, again to help maximise cockpit space. I know I need to have headrests and I will add these at a later date, possibly mounted off the body behind the seats. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr071.jpg The seat is on tracks so I have some degree of seat adjustment. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr072.jpg I did need to add some underfloor reinforcement. Feels very stiff so should be good. The seat belt attachments are separate and part of the welded chassis. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr073.jpg |
So with the seat squared away, back to the dash. Now I could sit in the seat and move the gauge and switches around till I was happy. Main goals here were to have minimal gauge/steering wheel overlap, switches located logically and such that you did not have to cover one switch with your hand whilst you activated another, and also located items like horns and indicators close to hand.
An early layout version is below http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr080.jpg Then I decided to ditch the radio and the clock because I felt they cluttered the dash too much. Plus, do I really need another clock? Anyway, more fiddling, plotting out fullsize ACAD drawings etc, I settled on this. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr081.jpg That's an indicator switch on the very right. Not self-cancelling, so I will add a buzzer (as required). A close up on the switches below, red switch is to crank the starter motor. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr082.jpg And installed with the steering wheel. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr083.jpg Overall, pretty happy. I think it meets my goals and is not so different from original to look in-keeping with the Cobra's heritage. |
OK, so mostly caught up now - it's time for some serious wiring. I admit this is my least favourite bit, so I tend to stumble along a fair bit here. I do have the engine harness mostly installed and am now trying to hook up the body harness and wire up all the gauges. Yikes - it sounds easy if you say it quick!
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Great to see your FFR is progressing. Looking forward to reading the next updates. All the best for 2013.
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Dash looks great Tim. Couple of questions, can you activate high/low beam with hands on the wheel, I think that is an ADR requirement? How did you make the labelled switch panels, are they printed?
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Great progress and update, thanks Tim.
Re: the high beam switch question Ben, I've always lamented that none of my cars since the first car I owned (XW Wagon) had a foot switch for high/low beam. So I salvaged one from a Kombi we were wrecking years ago for buggy parts, and have it saved away for my cobra (whenever THAT gets started). Is there a reason we don't have foot switches anymore? Is it illegal now? Tell me it isn't, please! |
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And the switch labels I had made locally.. They are laser etched on black anodised aluminium. Was about $60 for the pair. I just provided an ACAD drg of exactly what I wanted. |
I love the flat dash on Cobras. Looks great Tim. I found the wiring a real struggle at times trying to match a Ford harness and the Painless loom, but I DO know where everything is. Looks a great kit.
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Dash layout looks great Tim, as does everything else to date.
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Very Clever
Tim
Very nice work. I really like your dash layout idea. I tired something similar in Photoshop but this is simpler and considerably better. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/data/500/ffr080.jpg Geof |
Looks good Geof. Having a clear view of the tach is critical.
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d.../IMG_03901.JPG |
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Nice kit.. like to see the buidl progress...
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Fantastic thread Jethrow, thanks for taking the time.
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It lives
Wow - has it been this long?
Crikey, cannot believe this next phase took me this much time!! Anyway - time for some great news - IT LIVES :):):):):):):) Yup. First start this arvo (22JUL2013) and it started like a champ. Hit the key and it fired right up, oil pressure on the gauge within 3 seconds I reckon. Not too bad I think seeing as the motor has sat around for near on 18 months. But wow - can't believe it happened that easy after all this time playing with the various systems - water, exhaust, fuel, electrical - generally just stumbling along on my own - and then put in fuel, hit they key, and vroooooom. Just wow. Anyway, a couple photos of how the car looks just now, just after the start. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ium/ffr084.jpg Engine bay - starting to get a bit crowded in there! http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ium/ffr085.jpg Cockpit side - looks a bit calmer from here. Oil pressure gauge still reading about 60 psi. http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ium/ffr086.jpg How the whole car looks now! So only dramas following the start are a small oil leak around the 45 degree adapter between the pressure sender and the block. Should not be too bad to fix. And the MIL light on the ECU stayed red (ON). Not sure what that means at this stage. Will have to look into it. But yay me - IT LIVES!! |
Great news Tim, it's coming along nicely. Who makes those brake reservoirs?
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CNC 1483 TRIPLE MASTER ALUMINUM REMOTE RESEVOIR $147.95 BUY ONLINE HTH |
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