WARNING: Check your bolts
 

Wednesday I was getting the Cobra all ready to go road racing again. I changed the tires and wheels, added a new driveline safety loop, a dash grab handle for passengers, and did a few more odds and ends. In the process I had moved both the Cobra as well as my Shelby and my wife's Crossfire Convertible out of the garage a fews times. When I was all done I noticed a NEW BOLT laying on the ground at the end of the driveway.

I picked up the bolt and thought to myself, "Boy that sure looks familiar" it's just about the size and length of some from one of my cars. It was a new Cadmium plated hardened steel bolt and had fresh oil on it as well.

I showed the bolt to my friend Frank who had been assisting me all afternoon and said, "Before I go 120+ mph in the Cobra on Friday I better check to make sure this isn't one of mine. Or maybe it's from my Shelby. I better check it too since I am drag racing it on Dec. 3rd."

Yesterday while the Turkey was cooking waiting for 2 pm to arrive, I backed the Cobra up on my car ramps and crawled underneath with a flashlight. Checked everywhere and couldn't find any missing bolts in the rear or trany area.

I then put the frontend up on the ramps and again looked all over with the flashlight for the missing bolt hole. WALLA I found it!
One of the engine mount bolts was GONE. I took the 5/8 bolt I had found and again WALLA it fit in the engine mount hole. After reinstalling it I tighened all 3 of the remaining bolts and found that they too were loose as well. Good thing I looked!

I guess it's 430 horses during the runs at Las Vegas were trying so hard to tear themselves out of the car that it just losened up all the engine mounting bolts.

WARNING: before you go out on any races or big fast runs in your car make sure to check all the main bolts extremely well! A lose motor flopping around inside the car might be a handful to control.

Doc

To all,

Speaking of broken bolts, I have had my Cobra on Jack Stands for a few days and found several things broken.

1. My tranny mount was broke, it was weak at best from parts store. installed energy suspension in place of broken one.
2. The rear clevis connection on my IRS was snapped and its a 12mm grade 8 bolt, thats the rear link on a 8.8 Ford IRS you have to feel for it and work by briall to install new one.

All superformance owns should check that clevis bolt in the back of the Differential, could cause damage if not detected.

Yes a bolt hunt every so offten could prevent disaster, I have checked every nut and bolt now and glad i did.


GWC

Speaking of bolts, I did my trans just this last summer and pulled the flywheel off.

I noticed the ARP flywheel bolts had strtched and in fact, one was cracked. I replaced them with Ford bolts and torqued as required.

Just because they are ARP, does not mean they are superior. This was the first time I ever had seen a stretched and cracked set of flywheel bolts.

In conjunction with this thread, know the fastners you are using.