B & B Project Cobra

[Dan Brobst]

I have just purchased a rolling chassis Cobra that someone started 10 years ago. It has the stock Mustang front and the 8.8 rear. I also have a T-5 trans.
I have to decide what engine to use; either the 302 or a 351 Windsor. The T-5 has a maximum torque rating of around 350 ft-lbs. so I am not looking for a lot of horsepower. Any suggestions?

[TMark390]

Dan, check out this months issue of Hot Rod, it has a couple articles that compare the two. IMO the 302 is a little eaiser to build with all the 5.0 stuff out there. Besides the T-5 will not handle much more.

Mark

[Dwight]

A friend bought a 10 year old B&B with 351W and a T-5 Z last summer and brought it to me for repairs. He wanted new seat belts, shock, fuel sending unit, thrown out bearing replace. He wanted me to replace the brake fluid, anti-freeze, oil, tune up motor, adjust windshield wipers, padding in the seats, tighten steering,etc.

The motor smoked sometimes, turn out to be dry valve stem seals. Easy fix.

As I fixed or replaced thing I found a few other small problems. The worst was the front end. The upper control arms have bushings that had froze (rusted) to the arm. This allow the upper control arms to move forward and rearward about 1/2' inch. I replaced the bushing, I had to turn them down in size and added washers to keep them in place.

In my opinion the control arms need to be about an inch shorter. I understand this is a common problem with older B&B.
I have a friend in Ca. with an older B&B and he replaced his front end with the Heidts parts.

Heidts Heidts Hot Rod & Muscle Car Parts - Suspension Systems, Camaro, Chevy, Ford, Disc Brakes, Superide sell everything needed for about $600. With the wide front end you will have to buy rims with odd back spacing. If you have not bought the rims now is the time to correct that problem. Mike did not want to change them at this time so I fixed the problems with the bushing replacement.

After I got it ready and drove it Thanksgiving Day 150 miles for a shake down cruise Mike asked about the power. I told him I was not a dyno but felt like he had 280 - 300 at the wheels. He did not like the answer and I could not convince him to drive the car now and replace the motor later. He had me to buy a Keith Craft 408 with 530 hp & 540 tq. We also replaced the T-5 Z with a new 3550. New Classic Chamber pipes, ceramic coated the whole exhaust system, new radiator. We have a radiator factory in Alabama that made me a drop in aluminum radiator for $325.
I have put 350 miles on the car and next week Mike will pick it up.

This Cobra rides great, fantastic brakes, I never did get the parking brake to work. Older Mustang 8.8 rear end with 3:55 gears. Bad parking brake design is what I have heard.

This thing is fast. I have not put it to the floor test but I think this Cobra would do 11's at the strip. Oh yes, I put BFG Drag Radial on the rear, best money he spend!

Now I have to buy a pair for my Cobra.

This is the first time I have worked on a B&B and I am very impressed with it. This car ride great, has low end power, can cruise at 1400 rpms, handle good, soft smooth ride. Just a very impressive car. I think the tires size, trannie, rear end, motor all work very well together. I have driven 10 to 15 Cobra thru the years and this one has to be the best or close to the best I have driven.

Well, now Mike has what he wanted, a loud Cobra with lots of hp. A car he can take long trips in. He is going to drive it to Florida in the spring and to the London Cobra Show with us in June.


I have a couple of hundred pictures and several videos.
I had to keep Mike updated because I had his new toy for seven months. He retired Wed. and want to drive his Toy.

Enjoy your build, you have a lot of great parts to start with.

If you have any questions that I can help with just email me at algunruner@aol.com.
Dwight Frye
Florence, Al

[Dan Brobst]

Dwight,

I am still trying to navigate through the forums and will try to touch base through e-mail.

Dan

[lnfletcher]

Great to see another compliment about a B&B.
I agree that these are very well built cars, drive good and look even better!

Dan, I'm running a built 302 with ~ 300 RWH and it has more power than I need, but not as much as I desire!
But then, I may never have as much as I desire!

[dls141]

Dan,
We're kind of in the same boat but my 2000 B&B came finished with a '68 427 side oiler and a cobrajet 4-speed toploader. Hadn't run in 8 years - leaking oil everywhere, carb was shot, interior was a mess and instrumentation was merely for appearance. Not to mention it hadn't seen daylight or a bath. You can imagine the mess under the hood. But I couldn't pass up the price!
Body's great, paint is good with some minor chips on the front and it runs like a scalded dog - now. But the suspension was shot. Making my way through it. I went with dual adjustable QA1 coil overs on the front and new Heidts tubular upper/lower arms. They look good and were a very simple remove and replace operation. The only change I had to make was I needed to have the strut rods cut and extended 5/8" to match up with the wider control arms.
I'm about to start on the rear end suspension rebuild. I'll be replacing the shocks, springs and all the bushings next weekend. Probably throw in new bars to beat.

The car is built like a tank with the tubular steel box frame. Can't wait to get it back on the street!

[cgwitt]

I have a LA Exotic (B&B) built in 1995. Built like a tank but the steering configuration needed a major rework as does the suspension. It is always a good idea to have an “expert” look at the steering configuration and suspension on your Cobra. Sometimes these builders get in a hurry to meet schedule or have a few too many part time helpers and certain bad things can happen. My steering system was in need of a major rework – lucky I found Dando’s Automotive in Fremont, CA to do the job.

[Dwight]

Dan
Have you picked a motor?

If you do not have the headers I would suggest the 351W. Great base for more horsepower later at a lower cost.

Dwight

[jbmatth]

I have a pretty stock 351w in mine for now, and if you think you might want to put more power to it you might as well have a larger displacement platform to begin with. That is unless you want to go to a big block, then go for it. I'll stick with 351 for now.

[william22]

I have just purchased a rolling chassis Cobra that someone started 10 years ago. It has the stock Mustang front and the 8.8 rear.

[la cobra]

I have a b&b thatwas completed in 2010 and the main reason i purchased the car was the body and frame. The power is a ford racing 306 that puts out 350h.p. And 350 lbs. Of torqe. The long block sells for 3700. I have 4000 miles on it with no problems. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.