I am finally able to afford a Cobra Replica - Please help me decide on one

[TButtrick]

Given his criteria, I'd wait for the Factory Five Dick Smith clone and have the best of everything he's looking for with change to spare. I can point out inaccuracies with the best of them and if the FFR shape were spot on as is planned for the #198 car, there wouldn't be a better deal out there IMHO.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

...and if the FFR shape were spot on as is planned for the #198 car, there wouldn't be a better deal out there IMHO.

Yeah, yeah, yeah... did they ever get around to cleaning up that rear shock mess? You know, the one that was preceded by the "Danger - Do Not Drive Your Car" announcement.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Yeah, yeah, yeah... did they ever get around to cleaning up that rear shock mess? You know, the one that was preceded by the "Danger - Do Not Drive Your Car" announcement.

It was the front shocks and yes it was cleaned up. I didn't have the poorly-recommended Bilstein shocks myself so I never had an issue. +60,000 plus miles on my FFR and no problems, no squeeks, no rattles to report. I'd buy another in a heartbeat. No regrets and I have two in the garage.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

It was the front shocks and yes it was cleaned up.

Ahhh, memories... like the corners of my mind.

Here's one of the threads, for posterity.... Factory Five Warning!

Originally Posted by jhv48

FACTORYFIVERACING
Senior Charter Member



Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 368 That does it.

To:****** All FFR customers:* If you are driving an FFR chassis kit that uses Bilstein shock absorber part numbers:
*
F4BE3 A273-T0
F4BE3 A273-T1
F4BE3 A273 T0 SR

Stop driving your car immediately.

There is a possibility that the shock absorbers on your car may break/fail and could result in your injury or the injury of others.

These numbers are stamped on the shock body and these shocks were used on the front suspension and the rear independent suspension kits from about 2003 to August 1, 2008. *If you do not know how to determine if your car is affected, please call us at 508-291-3443 and ask for technical support.

There are no further answers for you guys tonight. I will be directing the staff at FFR to communicate this initial message to all affected customers via our website, our mailing list and records, and verbally to our customers, suppliers and clients.

I am truly sorry for this inconvenience and look forward to being able to communicate an action plan to all of you shortly.


Dave Smith
President


This was just posted to the FFR Forum, thought everyone should be aware.

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

Given his criteria, I'd wait for the Factory Five Dick Smith clone and have the best of everything he's looking for with change to spare. I can point out inaccuracies with the best of them and if the FFR shape were spot on as is planned for the #198 car, there wouldn't be a better deal out there IMHO.

Again, it's important for him to have full knowledge of all that is different in these cars that we all enjoy so much. He may not understand yet that with FFR he's going to get a solid rear axle (yes, I know he can get an IRS, but percentage wise few of these are built). He needs to know the difference, and what plusses and minuses these solid axles bring to the table. I'm not knocking FFR's, so any of you FFR guys please don't get your panties in a wad as some are prone to do around here when "their" cars are spoken about. FFR serves a niche in this industry and it serves it well, but at the end of the day, like any other car they have their plusses and they certaily have their minuses. The shape of the body is only one of them. He neeeds to sit back and learn about all the cars and the features that differentiate all of threm. ONly then can he make his choice. We are all too often eager to tell people that "our" brand car is infallible and clearly the choice to those looking, and often this is simply not the best advice. Education without bias is the key. It is often very hard to find around here.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Again, it's important for him to have full knowledge of all that is different in these cars that we all enjoy so much. He may not understand yet that with FFR he's going to get a solid rear axle (yes, I know he can get an IRS, but percentage wise few of these are built). He needs to know the difference, and what plusses and minuses these solid axles bring to the table. I'm not knocking FFR's, so any of you FFR guys please don't get your panties in a wad as some are prone to do around here when "their" cars are spoken about. FFR serves a niche in this industry and it serves it well, but at the end of the day, like any other car they have their plusses and they certaily have their minuses. The shape of the body is only one of them. He neeeds to sit back and learn about all the cars and the features that differentiate all of threm. ONly then can he make his choice. We are all too often eager to tell people that "our" brand car is infallible and clearly the choice to those looking, and often this is simply not the best advice. Education without bias is the key. It is often very hard to find around here.

767Jockey -- obviously you think FFR cars suck.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by 767Jockey

Again, it's important for him to have full knowledge of all that is different in these cars that we all enjoy so much. He may not understand yet that with FFR he's going to get a solid rear axle (yes, I know he can get an IRS, but percentage wise few of these are built). He needs to know the difference, and what plusses and minuses these solid axles bring to the table. I'm not knocking FFR's, so any of you FFR guys please don't get your panties in a wad as some are prone to do around here when "their" cars are spoken about. FFR serves a niche in this industry and it serves it well, but at the end of the day, like any other car they have their plusses and they certaily have their minuses. The shape of the body is only one of them. He neeeds to sit back and learn about all the cars and the features that differentiate all of threm. ONly then can he make his choice. We are all too often eager to tell people that "our" brand car is infallible and clearly the choice to those looking, and often this is simply not the best advice. Education without bias is the key. It is often very hard to find around here.

I couldn't agree with you more...except that you don't GET any rear with FFR so you need to figure that into the equation when comparing apples to apples. FFR gives you a choice and there are many more than a few that are running the T-bird rear. I'm not a kool-aid drinking fool but I do think these cars get a bad rap from a few on this forum. If I went and bought a KMS or ERA tomorrow, I'd still say FFR are the best bang for the buck if you want to build your own and enjoy the experience of doing so. Not the most accurate but if set up correctly, (read.. cheap mustang aftermarket stuff) it will run with the big-dogs.

Originally Posted by patrickt

Remember that the drive shaft in our Cobras is pretty darn short. With a solid rear, the wheel travel becomes a real issue -- you're going to bottom out your shocks with softer springs and you're going to have an uncomfortable ride with springs that are stiff enough to do the job. While it's debatable, this just might be the most sophisticated rear in any of the Cobra cars (it also gives you the beauty of outboard brakes): http://www.erareplicas.com/427/frsusp.htm

Sorry.. but that statement just isn't accurate. Wheel travel is still an "issue" with an independent rear. You just move the "issue" to the half shafts where there are four u joints instead of two. Ridiculous statement.

Originally Posted by patrickt

Unless you're building a pure dragster only, there are no advantages to a solid. Ride, comfort, performance, and control hands-down favor the independent rear. It's not even close; you'll want a limited slip of course as well. There's also a safety issue -- these cars, on occasion will come out from under you on hard acceleration. Some call it "snap-oversteer" and it can be quite dangerous. A quality rear that is properly set-up will help reduce this rather nasty characteristic.

A properly set up three link, solid axle rear gives you close to independent rear performance and ride and adds the reliability of a solid axle car. Go to the strip or go to the track and it will be happy at both. The Shelby 08 GT500 is the same, limitted slip three link rear and they actually race these cars. Never heard of "snap-oversteer" before. Did you make this up? Oversteer is oversteer. The back comes around before the front. If this happens, the car isn't set up correctly. If you're talking about straight line acceleration, either the car has no limited slip or the clutch pack is bad in the limited slip diff. period. BTW... "torque steer" has absolutely nothing to do with a solid axle car. It's a term used to describe the torque of a front wheel drive car under acceleration.

[patrickt]

TButtrick -- Dang, sensitive aren't we? No, I didn't make it up. Read this: http://www.erareplicas.com/427/rsusp.htm

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by patrickt

TButtrick -- Dang, sensitive aren't we? No, I didn't make it up. Read this: http://www.erareplicas.com/427/rsusp.htm

OK then.. I guess we have the Kool-Aid thing under control.

[Redlinne]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

Given his criteria, I'd wait for the Factory Five Dick Smith clone and have the best of everything he's looking for with change to spare. I can point out inaccuracies with the best of them and if the FFR shape were spot on as is planned for the #198 car, there wouldn't be a better deal out there IMHO.

Do you know when they are going to release the Dick Smith car?