Building a cobra

[mongrel cobra]

Hi all,

new to this site so will tell a little about myself i am mid 30s recently seperated with i young car nut son. I have always wanted to build a cobra and now is the time to do it or it will never happen.The question i have got and you have all probably heard it a thousand times before but how cheap can you build one. I have heard storys of people building them for not not more than 20g is this possible or is it a pipe dream. I dont want to build a piece of crap but i have not got a bottom less pit of money. I would like a nice kit and possibly use a EB falcon 5.0ltr as a doner car. Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards

Mongrel

[750hp]

Mate - Welcome to ClubCobra !

I'm afraid that 20 gorillas is a bit short of a Cobra. I've seen the work that Scott from Venom Custom Fabrications (A Cobra builder in Brisbane) puts into his cars. With all his experience / MIG / TIG / lathe / hoist etc, he can't get one done for anywhere near that, and that's not taking into account all his labour costs.

The money pit that a Cobra build represents is relentless.....
Figure $10K for a bare body/chassis
$1.5K just for a windscreen and surround
$4K (?) for a late-model EFI V8 and trans
$2K for wheels / tyres
$1K for fuel system (including filler cap)
$2K for electrical
$3K for interior
$3K for paint
$1K for engineer
$1K for stamp duty etc
$1K for lights, trim, mirrors etc
$1K for rego/insurance


Already up to $30ish, and what have I forgotten...... gauges, roll bar, driveshaft, suspension, brakes, radiator, all hoses/clips/custom brackets, labour charges....

Oh yeah - I did up a budget for my car. On the most part, I ended up spending about 50% more than I budgeted. It was stressful to realise how far over budget I was heading, but I grew to accept that I'd never again have spare money. After I came to that realisation, I just rolled along with the punches. If it wasn't for guys like Scott , and other friends in the trade to keep things on track, I wouldn't have ever finished the car.

[foothills gary]

Many guys have built the Factory Five Cobras for under $25k,and have done it well.They have an excellent kit for around $12k,that uses a Mustang(1987-1993)5.0/T5,and about all you need is paint and a few details to finish it.I hope to do one of these with my Daughter in the near future,maybe a spec racer.There are many fine examples of FFR Cobras in the gallery section of this site.Also check out www.ffcobra.com for more details on the build experiences of owners .Good luck,and welcome to Club Cobra!

Gary

PS.Sometimes Factory Five runs specials as well-it may help defer some of the shipping costs.

[boxhead]

I dont think the Factory Five cars would pass Australian testing standards regarding rego, and in any case by the time you factor in the conversion rate it works out expansive anyway.

I am trying to build mine on a budget but I have alot of people in the trade that I can ask for favours from.

[NASSTY]

G'day Mongrel,

I would agree with Craig, 35-40K is about the cheapest you could do it for. ADR's have recently changed so you can only use late model engines such as Boss V8 or Gen3. So EB donor won't do.
Welcome aboard & good luck with your build.

Cheers,

[cameron02]

Hi Mongrel,

I met a guy who said he built a cobra for $25k and sold it for $45k two years later.

Thats what got me interested. However he was pretty handy and did everything himself. Also he did not reco anything. Just banged in the donnor parts as is.

I budgeted $35k but now realise its going to be more like $45k. Although I could have done it a bit cheaper (maybe $3k) by using cheaper parts. Then again could have spent a hell of a lot more.

Regarding Gary's comments about factory five....... I'm not sure Gary realizes that we are talking Australian dollars here. You can probably build one in the USA for 25k USD.

I suggest you take your time and do lots of research. Good luck.

Regards

Cameron

[Tony Cram]

Mongrel,

Welcome to the Forum. You might want to consider buying a cobra on the road as I did and then make your own changes or rebuilds as you like. It also means there are no ADR's to meet. I bought a car that didn't have all the fancy bits but was built extremely well. Some club members have got some fantastic deals by just haggling on price!!. I have now put my own individual touches on the car for minimal of cost.

I bought mine in WA (1991 RMC) for a very reasonable price and shipped it over here as part of the deal. Cost me $180 for an new windscreen, $50 for a roadworthy and transferred the car to Victoria (Rego + insurance $1000) absolutely no hassles and I can drive it now. All up around $35K. Shop around and do your homework on the different kits and if you see one on the road to buy call someone in your state cobra club to come and have a look at it with you.

Check out www.carpoint.com.au in the used car section for AC Cobra, Cobra, and Replica. One of the dealers (ALL American) in WA has a couple of cars for sale that look OK. Good Luck!!!

Tony
Cobra Club of Victoria

[REPTYL]

Dug this up from the archives.
I've spent a **** load since. But it was on the road for around $30k


02-May-97 427 Cobra body / Chassis $6,400.00 NEW
11-May-97 Rear end (diff) 3.07:1 $800.00 Series 3 Jag.
11-May-97 Front end $500.00 LH Torana
15-May-97 Steering Column $50.00 TF Gemini
03-Jun-97 front ball joints $94.64 NEW
03-Jun-97 wishbone bushes $103.37 NEW
06-Jun-97 Tie Rod Ends $23.60 NEW
06-Jun-97 Steering Rack Mount Bush kit $19.98 NEW
11-Jun-97 Front Wheel Bearing kit $23.04 NEW
12-Jun-97 2 packs of HQ Wheel nuts $7.58 NEW
14-Jun-97 2 Stub Axels $20.00 HQ Holden
14-Jun-97 Lower control arm $30.00 LH Torana
26-Jun-97 2 Steering arms $20.00 LJ Torana
04-Aug-97 2 Head light bowls $20.00 Mini minor
04-Aug-97 2 Wiper Arms $0.00 Mini minor
09-Oct-97 Body & Chasse work for gas tank $550.00 Labor
23-Oct-97 Rear Engine Mount $9.58 NEW
23-Oct-97 Drive Shaft $150.00 Jag/Ford
24-Oct-97 work on radiator mounts $20.00 Labor
03-Nov-97 1 Panard rod $15.00 Gemini
17-Nov-97 Surface cylinder heads $80.00 Labor
17-Nov-97 Deck engine block $90.00 Labor
17-Nov-97 fit cam bearings $90.00 Labor
17-Nov-97 linnish crank $28.00 Labor
17-Nov-97 Stage 4 blueprint billet cam $190.00 NEW
17-Nov-97 Acid dip engine block $50.00 Labor
17-Nov-97 labor on engine rebuild $108.00 Labor
28-Nov-97 Full engine gasket set $117.22 NEW
28-Nov-97 Bearing set $40.04 NEW
28-Nov-97 Compound p/tex lock stud $5.95 NEW
28-Nov-97 Inertia set belts X2 $92.00 NEW
01-Dec-97 Hand Brake cable $35.00 XJS Jaguar
09-Jan-98 2 Rear Discs $60.00 XJS Jaguar
09-Jan-98 Labor on chassis/exhaust holes $384.00 Labor
19-Jan-98 High vol. sump $210.00 NEW
19-Jan-98 Powder Coating (chassis) $200.00 Labor
22-Jan-98 Sand blasting/p.coating front end $60.00 Labor
22-Jan-98 Hand brake disk pads $62.53 Series1 Jag
22-Jan-98 Front brake pads) $42.96 HQ Holden
22-Jan-98 Timing Chain set $76.69 351 Ford
22-Jan-98 Bundy Brake tube (3/16 4.75 mm) $3.69 NEW
22-Jan-98 Bundy tube retaining clips $12.75 NEW
22-Jan-98 2 x Brake caliper kit $25.22 Series1 Jag
22-Jan-98 Edelbrock inlet manifold $279.00 NEW
22-Jan-98 6 hours labor (assemble engine) $300.00 Labor
22-Jan-98 3 hours labor (recondition brakes) $101.25 Labor
22-Jan-98 2 front brake calipers + lower con/arm $95.00 HQ / LH
22-Jan-98 2 x Brake caliper kit $13.96 HQ Holden
23-Jan-98 Harmonic balancer $60.00 NEW
25-Jan-98 machine rear discs $20.00 Labor
27-Jan-98 Bolts/nuts $4.20 NEW
27-Jan-98 500ml BMW met. blue paint $27.90 BMW
27-Jan-98 Enamel Thinners $10.10 NEW
27-Jan-98 351 Cleveland roller valve covers $180.00 NEW
28-Jan-98 High ten. bolts $7.40 NEW
28-Jan-98 front coil springs $98.00 SLR5000
29-Jan-98 Steering rack boot $5.29 NEW
01-Feb-98 Hand brake turnbuckle $2.90 NEW
05-Feb-98 Hand brake retaining 'P' clips $2.55 NEW
13-Feb-98 3/4 inch flex gas line $47.00 NEW
13-Feb-98 Battery cable retaining 'P' claps x4 $3.40 NEW
13-Feb-98 Top Radiator flex hose X2 $27.08 NEW
13-Feb-98 3X 50mm hose clamps $2.19 NEW
13-Feb-98 Convert radiator to V8 style $45.00 Commodore
13-Feb-98 Bottom Radiator hose (M22) $7.48 HQ 350
16-Feb-98 225w 390mm Thermo-Fan $130.00 NEW
16-Feb-98 Extractors $300.00 NEW
25-Feb-98 Ignition Coil Bosch (MEC717) $33.39 NEW
01-Mar-98 Chrome thermostat housing $32.00 NEW
05-Mar-98 Engine Mount Bolts $10.00 NEW
06-Mar-98 Rear shocker mount bolts $17.00 NEW
08-Apr-98 Failsafe Radiator-Thermostat (FS1 190) $23.28 NEW
22-Apr-98 Recon. C10 Auto Transmission $735.00 Ford
23-Apr-98 Stage 2 Engineers report $340.00 Labor
23-Apr-98 Stall Converter $250.00 Ford
24-Apr-98 C10 Inspection cover $15.00 Ford
24-Apr-98 Rear Engine Mount $9.72 NEW
27-Apr-98 Transmission Bundy tube 5/16 $7.08 NEW
27-Apr-98 Transmission Oil Cooler $58.72 NEW
01-May-98 S/Steel Roll over bar $183.00 NEW
07-May-98 Chrome oil filler cap $19.95 NEW
11-May-98 Transmission dipstick & filler tube $10.00 Ford C10
11-May-98 Brake Master cylinder $10.00 XD Falcon
15-May-98 Windscreen $900.00 AC Cobra
18-May-98 Engine oil/Diff oil $55.00 NEW
18-May-98 Front Shockers (Peders b/bore s/stroke) $140.00 LH Torana
18-May-98 2 X Gas Converters $254.00 NEW
18-May-98 Brake booster $148.40 XD Falcon
25-May-98 Ceramic coat Extractors + courier $285.00 Labor
30-May-98 Body Deadener (Worth) $70.00 NEW
15-Jun-98 Pinion Seal (diff >1974) $10.00 Jaguar ser.2
15-Jun-98 400mm 4in stainless tube (header tank) $14.00 NEW
16-Jun-98 Heater Hose 16mmX2m $7.99 NEW
17-Jun-98 4Lt Regent Blue 2pac + clear + reducer $350.00 Ford Taurus
17-Jun-98 3.5 Mt. 4in Dia exhaust pipe + 2 Bends $120.00 NEW
24-Jun-98 Trailing Arms- Modified for adjustment $120.00 Labor
01-Jul-98 2X4" Collectors + 4X 2" Mandrel Bends $85.00 NEW
02-Jul-98 2 mtr. 3" poly underlay matting $29.95 NEW
03-Jul-98 Powder coat Trailing Arms $10.00 Labor
05-Jul-98 5 Cans Body Deadener $25.50 NEW
15-Jul-98 Registration Number Plate $295.00 NEW
16-Jul-98 Bolts an nuts for Doors $20.00 NEW
20-Jul-98 Wiper Motor $55.00 Leyland Marina
20-Jul-98 3 X Wiper boxes and cable $105.00 Leyland Marina
23-Jul-98 Bundy tube 2Mtrs $5.00 NEW
28-Jul-98 2 X Bullet Mirrors $128.00 NEW
30-Jul-98 2 X Red and 2 X Orange Tail Lights $150.00 Austin Healy
30-Jul-98 2 X Clear front indicators $70.00 Austin Healy
30-Jul-98 2 X Chrome Head light surrounds $40.00 Austin Healy
09-Aug-98 Radiator Thermo Fan Switch $26.50 NEW
10-Aug-98 Chrome Boot Handle $20.00 Mini Minor
12-Aug-98 Adjustable Thermo-fan switch $27.60 NEW
14-Aug-98 Radiator Reconditioned + Modified $280.00 Commodore
14-Aug-98 Steering Column wiring $25.00 JB Camira
18-Aug-98 Steering Knuckle $20.00 LH Torana
19-Aug-98 Fibre Glass Filler (glove box) $22.85 NEW
19-Aug-98 Resizing steering coupling $20.00 Gemini
20-Aug-98 Wiring loom (make and fit) $909.00 Labor
20-Aug-98 2 X Headlight bowl rubber seals $20.00 MGB
20-Aug-98 Soft top Bows $80.00 MGB
21-Aug-98 ICE Electronic Distributor $300.00 Ford 351
21-Aug-98 2 Cotter pins (steering) X2 $14.40 Torana
22-Aug-98 Electronic Ignit. Rotor Button $5.00 NEW
22-Aug-98 2 90deg bends + labor $15.00 Labor
25-Aug-98 3 X Air Horns $33.43 NEW
25-Aug-98 Turn buckle plus nuts & bolts $15.00 NEW
26-Aug-98 Transmission connecting rod X3 $15.00 Commodore
26-Aug-98 Cotter pins for steering knuckles X4 $31.32 Torana
27-Aug-98 5/8 Rod end (steering) $27.97 NEW
28-Aug-98 Transmission Cooler Mount $10.00 Labor
28-Aug-98 Shorten Peddle Box $10.00 Labor
28-Aug-98 Steering Linkage $20.00 Labor
04-Sep-98 Steering Wheel Boss Kit (boss-507) $69.25 Camira
08-Sep-98 2X 25mm Gann Hose $46.00 NEW
08-Sep-98 2X Gann Plugs $6.00 NEW
08-Sep-98 Primer kit for GRA-B2 $28.00 NEW
08-Sep-98 brake vac hose $12.00 NEW
11-Sep-98 Saas Seats $543.40 NEW
11-Sep-98 28 Day Permit $58.00 Permit
13-Sep-98 Dashboard switches $127.00 NEW
15-Sep-98 Instrumentation $916.00 NEW
18-Sep-98 Straighten soft top bows $80.00 Labor
21-Sep-98 Wire up instrumentation, horn, t.switch $90.00 Labor
01-Oct-98 Boot striker $5.00 Laser
08-Oct-98 2 X Front interior Door handles $92.00 ED Fairmont
09-Oct-98 Exhaust system (for registration only) $140.00 NEW
18-Oct-98 2 X Kelly 255X50X16 Tyres (back) $460.00 NEW
18-Oct-98 Duralite Pistons, Bearings, Gaskets $586.00 NEW
21-Oct-98 Inlet valves 2.04 $122.00 NEW
21-Oct-98 Exhaust Valves 1.71 $151.20 NEW
21-Oct-98 Valve Spring set $115.35 NEW
21-Oct-98 Valve retainers $128.19 NEW
21-Oct-98 Valve stem collets $85.88 NEW
22-Oct-98 Yella-Terra ST2035 Rolla rocker set $520.00 NEW
22-Oct-98 2X9" & 2X7" B45 Polished Simmons $1,950.00 HQ / JAG
23-Oct-98 Machine heads and block $600.00 Labor
12-Nov-98 2 cans Blue engine paint $36.00 NEW
13-Nov-98 Inlet manifold gasket 60" $41.00 NEW
25-Nov-98 Air-cleaner box top/bot + 2 X adaptors $63.00 VN Commodore
25-Nov-98 Gilmer pulley drive set and belt $325.00
25-Nov-98 Chrome dipstick and tube $10.50 NEW
25-Nov-98 2 metres 70mm black tufflex $62.00 NEW
25-Nov-98 Chrome oil cap $7.50 NEW
27-Nov-98 DBA014X Disc Rotor (sports series) $234.54 HQ
30-Nov-98 lift steering column $130.00 Labor
29-Nov-98 header tank $100.00 Labor
30-Nov-98 realign windscreen $120.00 Labor
30-Nov-98 rear vision mirror $10.00 XF Falcon
01-Dec-98 cold air intake $60.00 NEW
02-Dec-98 Rod Hatfield conversion stub axles $200.00 NEW
03-Dec-98 Fibre Glass repair kit (dashboard) $15.00 NEW
03-Dec-98 Side repeater Lamps X2 $21.40 EL Fairlane Gia
03-Dec-98 Weld steering eye bolts $8.00 Labor
09-Dec-98 Carpet $230.00 Labor
09-Dec-98 Boot panel (gas tank) $20.00 Labor
15-Dec-98 boot gas cover $40.00 Labor
17-Dec-98 rear pinion seal $15.00 Series 3 Jag
19-Dec-98 rear brake light / reverse lamp $25.00 NEW
05-Jan-99 wipers and blades $70.00 Mini Minor
14-Jan-99 Modifications for engineering $80.00 Labor
18-Jan-99 Engineering report $200.00 Labor
20-Jan-99 Head rests for engineering $20.00 Labor
21-Jan-99 dash pad/Gear boot/Handbrake boot $50.00 Labor
23-Jan-99 Amber Front indicators $10.00 Healy
27-Jan-99 Brake master cylinder $120.00 Falcon V8
01-Feb-99 Flat glass replacement for mirror $10.00 NEW
02-Feb-99 Fix exhaust for engineering > 90db $150.00 Custom
02-Feb-99 Tonneau cover $200.00 Custom
07-Feb-99 Bonnet strut $4.00 Nissan
04-Feb-99 Seat belt to replace failed ADR stork $70.00 NEW
05-Feb-99 Ignition lock $10.00 Gemini
05-Feb-99 Fix Steering lock $10.00 Labor
09-Feb-99 Final engineering certificate $770.00 Labor
09-Feb-99 Registration/Stamp duty $780.00 Rego.
12-Feb-99 Side pipes and exhaust $200.00 Labor
13-Feb-99 Paint boot baby blue $30.00 Labor

COBRA ON THE ROAD ENGINEERED AND REGISTERED - 9TH FEBRUARY 1999 TOTAL $ $31,374.80


This photo was taken in March 1999.

[foothills gary]

Gentlemen,just out of curiosity,what is the approx. exchange rate between your currency and US dollars.I pop in on some of the threads sometimes,and didn't realize there was a significant difference.Thanks!

Gary

[BMK]

Hi all



Well I beat you al - l my Cobra cost only $14,000 to build.



Well thats what I tell Anne...

Hope she keeps off this Forum for a while. I spent more than that on the motor.

Actually I don't think she gives a damn.

She lost her credit card once I didn't report it as the person who took it was spending less than her.



Gary at the momment your dollar costs us about $1.40. Our dollar is up and down in the high 70 cent range.

I found that our dollar whilst in the States in October was at a mid 70's figure but many of your clothing and foot wear costs are low compared to us here.

So it was good value. Additionally buying things for the Cobra via credit card with air postage added is still cheaper in the States than buying here.

The danger with buying big ticket/price items is the Customs Duty attached etc. I considered buying a body whilst in the States but found that even though it was a replica of a 1965/6 car it was considred a 2003 build and it attracted full duty etc. Nearly doubled the cost.

A 20' shipping container and costs there are still reasonable at approximately $3,500 plus truck hire, beer for the wharfies/longshoremans kickback etc. etc. So in one area its good value and in others not so good.

Soi dollar for dollar we are close but its the added costs that make import hard. I don't know what others think or have experienced.

Cheers

Bernie

Bernie Knight
Mt. Gambier South Australia

Cruising in the sun - it is summer ?

[750hp]

Reptyl - "25-Aug-98 3 X Air Horns $33.43 NEW"

Jeez, do you think you're driving a Big Rig or something !!!
Nice list ! I started on a similar list, but it became all too daunting to continue with it...

[cameron02]

Hey Jason,

Could you provide more detail.

Cameron

[Adrian S]

Don't know about you guys, but I started keeping a list like Jason but then I found out my wife was occasionally monitoring it so I stopped. I now have two bags of receipts - one that she knows about and the other which is stashed safely in the garage

[Aussie Mike]

Originally posted by 750hp


Reptyl - "25-Aug-98 3 X Air Horns $33.43 NEW"

Jeez, do you think you're driving a Big Rig or something !!!

That'll be those musical "Dixie" air horns just like the General Lee had in the Dukes of Hazzard. Jason's always wanted a set of those. I'm surprised the Cobra isn't painted orange with the doors welded shut.

Click here to have a listen to him: Jason

Cheers

[REPTYL]

I tried Mike..

But the weld just wouldn't take to the fibreglass

[Rebel1]

Gawd!!...there has to something seriously amiss for one to keep a list as comprehensive as Jasons above post.

I think it's a fake list cuz I dont see any PVC sewage pipe costs for the Cold air intake.

Maybe that's covered in the " I've spent a **** load since." list. But having spend a very sheltered childhood, I dont know what "****" means.

[REPTYL]

**** is what runs down the PVC sewage pipe

[mongrel cobra]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replys. I think by using 9inch/borg warner cheap wheels not Halibrands and doing other things like these on the cheap i am hopeing that it would be possible to build one around the 30g mark. I am capable of doing most of, if not all the build myself. am i dreaming or is this possible. Also i would like to no how long it has taken you people to build your cars.
And thanks again for your posts.

Cheers,

Mongrel

[foothills gary]

Mongrel,my last car took me about 1.5years to complete from bare frame,without too many all-nighters.It was so much fun that I was almost disappointed when it was finished.It's real easy to get swept up in it to where it's a sickness(or an addiction)-it's all you want to do!The first time you fire her up,you'll feel like DR. Frankenstein-"It's alive!"

Gary

[TampaFla]

Don't forget that "cost" includes what it's worth when finished. The recent Barrett auction had good examples (one truck which was $80,000 to build, sold for $32,000). Cobras seem to hold their value more than other cars, but "well-done" Cobras keep their value longer.