Well let's put some closure on what I have or don't have and move on from there.

With all the mistakes I made during the build buying the wrong parts, or buying stuff like pipe benders and plasma cutters. Add that to paying someone here in Illinois to do the body prep work, only to be told they didn't do it right and it had to be done over.

Now add that to stuff like.... Your transmission is bad and after $4k for a new one to be told ... well maybe its not bad after all. The list goes on and on and on...

With all that. I've spent well north of 80k for something that still isn't street-able. The new 4000 dollar transmission doesn't shift out of first, so the car will be headed to a shop by me to get that sorted out and also correct anything that needs to be done to my 12K dollar motor after all the trial and error to work through starting problems, fueling problem, electrical problems, transmission problems.... get what I'm saying yet? :JEKYLHYDE

So unless your me or my bank account, you can't really say what I should be settling for or not settling for.

I have come to the rationalization that this will probably always be a work in progress.... Thats were the tattoo comes into play. I have 3 now. My first is from the pathfinder unit I was assigned to when I went to the 101st. The second is from my first Harley, which was a pain in the ass the first 3 or 4 years I had it. (BTW I bought my HD in 77 when I was 17 and got the tattoo a week later) I still have that Harley. Now the car. I could sell it and take my losses (a lot of losses) or I can push forward and try to make it what I had envisioned in my head 4 years ago when I got the idea to do this.

Ok... I'm done with the rant. The thread will hopefully go on with whatever stupid mistakes I make from here on out and maybe it will still have benefit to others.

So for now... its time to un-ass this AO :3DSMILE:

CaptEddie,
I get it now. I had no idea. I feel thay way too sometimes. I thought it was just me that kind of stuff happened too.

John

Thanks John! I kinda hate to say, It's nice to know its not just me. I think my problem is I'm a really big dreamer and when I get something in my minds eye. If it doesn't come out exactly like that then....

Live and learn :o Now I'll see where this phase of the trip takes me. Hopefully I'll be on the road in the spring and more than happy with what I have and still looking to make changes or improvements.

Thanks again!!!

Capteddie, I had a couple of problems within 2 months after I bought the car. At that time the build was 4 years done. I was wondering if I had bought a lemon and it diminished (for awhile) my good feelings about finally having my dream come true. Once I worked through the problems things got to be a little better. I've had my car for close to 2 years now. Little niggly things come up but the good times now outweigh the bad and a 2 to 3 hour drive sure does wonders for my state of mind. Sorry for the rambling. Get it running take it for a drive and you will stop grinning by the following Tuesday.

Hmmmmmmmmmm,

Now I've got to figure out how to put "all" of this stuff in the manual ;) ! Addendum #1, it may not work, it may not be pretty, it may not be done on your schedule, it may break early or not work at all...Unfortunately it IS normal! :eek:
DV

Winter blows! :( !

Well with the temps dropping faster than a rock off the Sears tower and my heater for the garage not getting hooked up till next weekend. I tucked the car away. Was suppose to get the transmission fixed and the engine dialed in. Looks like that'll wait till spring. I think once the heater gets installed in the garage. I'm going to pull the drivers seat and see if I can make the Kirkey I originally wanted to use fit.

http://www.kirkeyracing.com/index.ph...code=Series41V

Even though it would be less comfortable. I think it would give me some extra leg room. We'll see %/

I ran the car pretty much empty and then mixed a couple gallons of gas with some stabilizer and put it in the tank. I then ran the car for a minute or 2, to get the fuel mixture in the lines and carb. I hooked my battery tender up and put the cover on the car. Should I need to do anything else for the winter, storage wise?

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ar_cover_3.jpg

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ar_cover_2.jpg

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ar_cover_1.jpg

2"S ON THE GROUND-6" More by midnight! 6"s by tomorrow by midnight-----then 6"s from "LAKE EFFECT"---then per the invisible guy on the radio, get ready for a real blast!

Winter Blows! :(

Gotta get Mrs. DV a new shovel.......:rolleyes:
DV

CaptEddie,
Living in SoCal I have never had to store something through the winter. But, I always thought a full tank of gas would keep any moisture from kreeping in. I also heard to pump the tires with xtra air to keep from flat spotting. I know condensation can be an issue along with small rodents.

There were about 20 of us out early yesterday morning for a toy drive, we caravaned together to the event which had atleast a 1000 or more (they were expecting 3000+, but I don't know what that looks like) cars of all flavors. But it was cold...SoCal cold...low 40's. Raining today which is good.

John

Well, it snowed on me this morning on the way to work. I am at 35FT above sea level.

CaptEddie,

I agree with above about filling up the fuel tank to reduce the moisture then add the Stabil. Never had a problem, but maybe I never would have anyway.

Other things I've done in the past include:

Vapor barrier on cement under car

I use to up the tire pressure a bit, but I also parked it on heavy (dense) foam to try to distribute the load a bit (probably a waste of time, but made me feel better).

Obvious antifreeze check

I've heard of people scattering moth balls to help keep any varmits out, but I never had an issue with the little critters.

Regards,

MC

Great info!!! Thanks everybody!

I'll top the tank off this weekend when I'm back in town. Don't have a critter problem, so I'm ok there. I was thinking about getting the car up on jack stands on the Kwik Lift and taking the tires off all together, so I'll see how that works out. Need to do an antifreeze check. Not sure whats in the car now. I know its not straight H2O.

Thanks again!

CAPTEDDIE AND DV,

What a beautiful car. I have made pictures of you guys with car and hung on wall next to build I am about to start. I was laughing about your cold weather and now we are in BLIZZARD conditions here. I take it as a good sign. Just finished reading ALL the threads and as always God has found a way to answer all the questions I have, thanks to you and everyone out there. I've decided two things for sure, keep it really simple and no deadlines.
Here in Okla I put chains on my car and ski with a tow rope when it gets like this. You should see the people laughing when we ski up to the store, throw an eighteen pack of Bud into the trunk and ski off. Life is good.

Merry Christmas and God Bless

SUNMAN

Well..... I'm coming out of hibernation. Just started the car for the first time since I covered her up in November. Working on a list of stuff that still needs to be done, redone, finished or changed.

1) Need to get the car over to a shop by me that will dial in the motor and get the transmission shifting correctly. (he also has a chassis dyno and I'll get some real numbers from that)

2) Have to get someone to finish buffing the body. Some places were missed. Also want them to detail the motor and engine compartment. Also need the wheels redone, dried on buffing compound on the wheels.

3) I really need some more leg room. Going to cut the dead mans peddle out and then pull the drivers seat out and try to get my Kirkey seat installed. Might give me the extra room I need. If not, I think I'll have to redo the dash. My left knee hits the switches and I end up turning on the wipers, turning off the light.

4) Need to get the gauges working. The gas gauge is not reading right. Need to swap out the oil pressure sending unit. Also a little worried that the water temp is not reading right.

5) Going to pull the puke tank off and go back to my regular overflow tank. I just don't like the look, plus it hides the nice march pulley setup I have on the motor.

6) I think I have found a really nice door lever. It would get mounted on the tranny tunnel which makes it easier to reach, than down by my left leg. (stay tuned. these are really nice high quality levers and cables)

7) Thinking about pulling the hood latches off and replacing them with hood pins.

Well that is the major hit list right now... :JEKYLHYDE

Oh.... 1 more thing :eek:

I bought this a month ago and have to make a road trip to Kansas in a couple weeks to trailer it back. I'm a sucker for punishment %/ :eek:

Here comes project number two!

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d..._Galaxie_1.jpg

FELLA,
Nice ride! Don't worry about your dash, one more trip to get it all done? PSS.. Kirkey seats are wider than you inner frame rails, that is why you decided to go with the ones you have....unless of course they now have newer versions? If your dash is cut with care you should be able to save the leather and re-glue.
Nice garage by the way!

Real PS... did you get your street rod?

Kirkey makes 4 widths. I have the widest for my fat a$$. Might be able to go one size down, but then again we never tried the Kirkey after we put the steel in to raise the seat I have now. That might bring the Kirkey above the frame rails. I really don't want to cut the dash. I would prefer to move all the switches to the center of the dash and just recover it.

I'm going to have the guy by me get the motor and trans right. If you think you have time, I'd let you finish the buffing and trim work. I can't have the car sitting over there for more than 3 weeks or so. Its your call.

I did pick up the frame and rear end for my 33 3 window, but the 67 galaxie caught my eye. So the street rod has been moved to car #3 and the galaxie will get turned into a really nice full comfort cruiser. Painted to match the cobra :3DSMILE:

Need Wide seats?

Excalibur Cobras ( Classic Roadster's cousin) had 3 different style seats.

Early seats with attached head rest

Late seats with integrated head rest

Late seats with integrated headrest "WIDE"

I have a pair of fiberglass shells for the late "WIDE" seats.

These seats are approx 1 1/2" wider and offer more seating comfort.

PM me if interested

Wide seats are not the issue, thanks anyway. I need more leg room.

"I have the widest for my fat a$$."

I guess I misunderstood :D

Cpt eddie,
Sent you a PM on how to adjust the fuel gauge and the temperature gauge. Forgot about the riser I welded in for the seat! That KIRKEY may fit? ???
DV