Owner built on a budget;

[James Stern]

Ray, You are either the luckiest or the best prepared person in the world. either way, Congratulations!!!! Driving these things are a helluva lot more fun than showing them. Drivng them to shows might be the funnest thing.

Jim

[Hray]

OFM: he did give me the choice to place the tag on the firewall, or door jamb, or the frame. I decided the firewall since I think that is where they will place the sb100 sticker next to the vin plate. He did add the rivets to finalize the install.

JAMES. Today was partly being prepared, and also a stroke of luck that I have the laptop with me, or I would have been going back for another appointment most likely.

Either way it was a win, and I will take a win anyway I can.

Ray

[Hray]

Progress report update:

yesterday morning had about 15 cobras sitting in my driveway. sure was a sight to see. they got me inspired again.

I took car for pretty much first real drive yesterday. discovered the rear shocks were bottoming out. Tried to find shorter ones, but all were too short. So this morning I made a bracket to attache to frame at top, extended the shock mounting up almost 2 inches. Reinstalled the KYB gas-a-matics which were for the other cobra. Took for a 8 mile test drive. Seems to be just about perfect now. running about 1300 rpm at 50mph. The ride is very very acceptable now, soft but not too soft. I could have screwed down the threaded rods but did not want to raise the ride heighth so I raised the shock mounting location.

Gonna try to get to the BAR this week, or else get to dmv for temp sticker.

Also noticed the upper radiator hoses were colapsing, so took them off and installed the coil spring stuff inside hoses to prevent collapsing. Seems to be just fine now.

FYI the monroe shock number that OFM gave me was 32207, in my shock catalogue I was possibly looking at 555002 as an alternate shock, or 5752

Here are the measurements and uses just in case someone else is looking
all monroe numbers below.
5752 shock travel is 8.625 to 12.727 and came off of many early 50.s cars
555003 shock and the travel is exactly same as 5752 and is for travel trailers
32207 shock travel is 11.25 to 17.8 and fits about 100 different cars from many years. seems to be identical as the 5876 that was delivered with my car in 1991.

I wanted something about 10.5 to 16.5 but that would have been special order. So raising the top meant I could use one of the most common shocks made therefore usually a little cheaper since they make thousands of these.

FYI: Monroe makes a shock cataloge that specifies the mounting ends, and then lengths. then you can cross reference the shock number to see all the types of vehicles that uses that shock. This is invaluable booklet when fabing up suspension for street rods.

later, gotta go fix a small gas line leak on the cobra, and mow the law, take down christmas lights, (wife does not think we will need them for easter, just do not know why).

laterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.... Ray