West Coast Cobra Owner Build Chassis # 3299

[kitcarbp]

Fall 2010
So now that I have an expensive WCC go-kart and another unfinished WCC I picked up on eBay, my plan was to sell the extra unfinished chassis to help offset the costs invested on the eBay purchase. My wife just rolled her eyes but was a trooper when I explained the plan. So I advertised the unfinished rolling chassis in late summer and a few months later I sold it for the asking price. It was priced to sell! The dude that bought it wanted to build an armored vehicle with the WCC chassis Lol. Good luck buddy. No joke. You cant make this stuff up!

Now with the spare chassis gone and remonetized, it was time to hoist up the body and hang it from the rafters above where the chassis was parked. Now I would look for a body shop to take on the body work.
This is where the story turns sad and dark and I almost gave up my project. Read the next post to see what happened.

[kitcarbp]

2012
After procuring the body, the project sat in my garage in literally “ suspended animation”. For nearly 2 years from 2010-2012. Family commitments , youth sports coaching and life was busy. Those that remember the great recession and the impact it had on alot of people it even impacted us white collar folks in the auto industry. The lucky ones like myself were able to keep their jobs but salary reductions were the norm and bonuses eliminated. There was no extra cash to finish my Cobra project which is by nature cash intensive. It appeared I was heading down the infamous path of yet another unfinished Cobra project of which there are hundreds out there even today! I have read reports that Cobra Projects rank 1st in unfinished projects in the car hobby world. Someone should fact check that!

2013
WCC project for sale on Ebay! By 2013 I had lost all hope in completing the project due to continued financial troubles at work and sinking salaries. Auto industry recovery was steady but slow. So I gathered the courage to photograph everything and post it on eBay. The response was enormous. The very next day I was showing potential bidders the kit in the garage ready for body work but no interior yet. I had priced it to sell. It broke my heart to do this. Here are some of the pics from the eBay posting of my project. Including the WCC list of hardware supplied in Phase 1 of my kit. I was physically sick to my stomach having to sell a project I already had well over 800 hours expended over an 8 year period. Ive never been sadder.

[kitcarbp]

2013
The second night into the eBay listing I broke the news to the extended family that I put the Cobra project up for auction. That day was a complete embarrassment because I have never quit anything. The family was shocked and couldn't believe it. They knew the blood sweat and cursing I had already invested was profound on the project. That night at dinner we found a way forward that would allow me to continue the project. I’ll leave it that. Enough said. I love my family!
2014
In the Spring with my project having a new start again I finished up a few odds and ends and found a body shop that specialized in Corvettes. They had experience restoring and customizing Vettes of all Years. Ive seen their craftsmanship on cars near me. Why was that important? I wanted a very experienced fiberglass man and painter. While my Cobra was there they even repowered a 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt Clone. That was cool to see! Same motor as by Cobra. 385 Series big block. Of course they were all Vette guys and they swore they would never tackle a Thunderbolt project ever again. One and done! They were happy to see the Thunderbolt Clone leave their shop

[kitcarbp]

Summer 2014
It took a while to agree a start date with the body shop because they were slammed with Vette work. I was patient. I waited this long, whats another few months? In July 2014 I rolled the Cobra out to the street with the body in place but not yet fastened with rivets permanently.
Called AAA and they took it to the body shop. Now the progress really begins! The body man would be the only other person that worked on my car. Up to this point I was the only wrench. Notice the chalk drawing on the driveway. I guess earlier in that day it was playdate at my house

[kitcarbp]

September 2014

Here are pics from the first week. Let the fabrication begin! I dropped the car off in July and the guys didnt start on it until Sept. imagine a sought after bodyshop running behind plan!
Remember my eBay purchased WCC kit included a very rough Vern special WCC hardtop. The word rough is quite kind! But I had one. The pictures here of the hard top are after a week of cutting and glassing to get the fit right to the body. Way more labor than I planned for.

[kitcarbp]

Oct-Nov 2014

Changes! Redesign topics. So as with most projects, there is scope creep. I wanted to add a few safety features for seatbelt harness mounting. I selected Schroth Racing 4 point harness out of Germany because they had undergone DOT testing their belts for selling in the USA many years ago. They are well engineered and good quality. Seat belts are pretty important. Today watching the 12 hours of Sebring the LMP class prototypes were also using Schroth belts. I trust them. I had the body shop weld up a harness bar that mounts in the trunk in place of where the traditional WCC fuel tank is fitted. My body has a fuel filler in the rear fender that I like which meant the fuel tank is in the floor of the trunk. We welded in a fuel tank support bar into the frame to support the fuel tank weight beneath the fiberglass floor. Here is a pic of the assembled PE plastic tank and my pressure test on the bench to check for leaks before installing. Note the Schwin bike pump used to pressurize the tank a few psi. I used these fuel compatible sealing washers shown for every fastener on the fuel tank you must use shoulder bolts to ensure they seal correctly. Also note the GM Group 78 battery with vent tube assembly from a GM car that used trunk mounted battery. Keeping the acid vapor outside! Oem look!

[kitcarbp]

December 2014.

By mid December the mods I requested were done and the body entered a guide coat stage for a little bit and more sanding of course