UK Based BackDraft 153 Revival.

[Waitey]

Hello Everyone!

(Sorry this post is made up of a series of other posts on a different forum)

I was looking at all sorts, Caterham's, Atoms, Cayman GT4's, GT3's and even a Macca 570s in one of my weaker moments.

None of them though really got me going. The Caterhams were too samey when compared to what I had before and the Porkers were too much like 'normal' cars.

Then the Mrs chimed in with why don't you get something you've always though was cool, and literally the first thing that came to mind was a Cobra.

I've always loved them since been little. I've been around kit cars since I was 16 so know them inside out, whats good, what isn't, whats correct etc.

So I set about looking, with my criteria list:

As close to period correct visibly as possible
Flat dash
Offset shifter
Open inner doors
15's with bubble tyres
Correct riveted bonnet and hood scoop
Correct body shape at the rear and front
Side pipes
And most importantly a Ford derived 400ci + motor

Annoyingly wanting all of the above basically throws out all the UK made reps, bar the £125k ali bodied ones. Even AC's own repos all use LS motors now.

The likes of Dax, AK and Pilgrim all have a design at the rear where it falls away too quickly compared to the real car, and the Pilgrim especially has an difficult front end.

The UK ones also have really odd interiors with the dash and trans tunnel merging. They also generally have chevy 305ci's in them, as they are cheap and plentiful. As well as hateful 17" wheels! (Sorry owners with these!)

So I was only really left with the American made reps (well the shells are done in South Africa). The two companies making the majority of these been Superformance and Backdraft.

Now the search was a tough one, very few of these cars are in the UK, and when they get offered through a dealer, they end up being a huge price. Then you can add in the fact its impossible to see one atm and it made it stressful.

Then I randomly found on on car and classic, which was local but had no price. Spoke to the owner, he said all the right things (sadly he got clobbered by Covid), so I've bought it unseen. Hopefully collect it this week!

Short spec:
Backdraft Cobra 427 SC
Imported 2017
5000 miles since it was built
Period correct bright work
Extra passenger roll hoop
Painted stripes
Stainless side pipers
15" wheels
Smeding Performance 418 V8.
500bhp/500lbft
Built T500 gearbox
LSD

Collected it,......


8 Weeks Ago.....



The paperwork is mental. Even have the copies of the payments cheques for the body ex engine from the USA.




First job was getting all those stickers off:






CO2 aware in this household....




Well... I’ve still not driven it and I’ve broken it...

Was going through all the boring check stuff to make sure it wouldn’t fall apart when I first take it out.

When checking the clutch range of movement the slave cylinder s**t it’s self. Only a £30 part though so no biggie. Better then it happening when I’m out and about!

Also look at the harness’s, they are from a 1971 aircraft. I'm not using those!!



Week 2.............


TRS harnesses ordered.

As well as what I assume to be the correct slave cylinder too. The broken one is still on the car and I can’t be bothered to take it off atm.

Hopefully have the first drive next weekend, weather dependant.


Engine shots.... its a bit bling for me. Wi'll be making it look more original in the future.






Photo of the car from when it lived in California!




Some parts have come!

New clutch slave cylinder
Bonnet gas strut
Steering wheel frameless button holder
Brass adapter for the vac gauge

Still awaiting:

High temp clutch fluid
Funk motorsport clutch and brake line heat protection
TRS Harness'

Also ordered:

Classic switch label set
1960 Lucas single push switches


Clutch slave cylinder done!



As you can see it was a right t**t to bleed.

I’m glad my guess at a 1991 Landrover Defender slave cylinder was right though!

Clutch all re set and it nice to use!


Rolled out of the garage for its maiden drive.





Well.....

Bad points:
It runs lean on acceleration
The near side front break squeals all the time
The tyres had 16 psi in them
It’s too low on the front and the tyres rub
Steering is a proper effort at low speed

Good points:
LHD is fun!
It’s sounds biblical
It’s actually nice to drive
The Mrs loves it
It’s a f**king Cobra
It shakes like a badass at idle
All the little fixes I’ve done have make it better

All in all I’m calling it a great success!!



Neighbour update:

3rd noise complaint today...



So after much reading I set about re setting the carb....


Carb update:

Took the jets, metering rods and springs out.

Found it was set to:
12% Lean cruise
15%!!!!!! Lean throttle

No wonder I had issues.

Now set to:

4% Lean cruise
6% Rich throttle

So hopefully that helps.

If not, I can go to:
0% Cruise
15% Rich throttle

The current 21% swing in rich fuelling should sort me.

Some photo's of how it stands now.










Oh yeah, also fitted all the funk motorsport heat proofing to my clutch and brake lines that pass the manifold.


The lean saga continues.

Carb all set up, idles fine, drives on light throttle fine. Lean as hell with any proper throttle.

So popped round the parents in it, Dad wanted to see it running.

Had the bonnet open, started it, running happily but....

Fuel pressure was through the floor, knocked the engine off and its back up to where it should be. The bloody fuel pump is on its way out!



So to distract me from making this thing fuel injected.... I finished the interior.


When I got it, I didn’t really show the interior. It had a Nismo wheel FFS....

So here are some before:







And now, with new wheel, switch gear, labels and the daft carbon fibre panel painted black:









Week 3............


I caved.....

Holley Sniper EFI unit



Just ordered an 044 pump which will 'just' about keep up with the fuel needs of 7000cc at full chat.


Sniper on and half the wiring done.




This is going to be an adventure....


This weekend


So today was eventful.

First off my new pump and filter sit very low! Low enough that I think they need a shield making.

Other than that, got it all plumbed up. Ran the pump and fuel every where. The one bit of hose I hadn’t changed was leaking. Typical.

Sorted that.

Finished the wiring off for the sniper. Do all the settings, set the wizard off to make a map and..... all it’ll do is crank, no rpm signal.

Test everything no issues, odd.

Have a route for a better tach signal under the dash and what’s that? A bloody MSD programmable ignition unit. Who knew. Took the tach signal off that.

Boom she starts, straight into a happy idle. Within 2 mins the guy from 6 doors down was on the drive, I told him to sod off and checked for any more leaks.

All been well, time for a test drive. Within a mile I nearly lost a wheel. The cap nuts had bottomed out on the studs, so they could wind them selves out. Mrs came to my aid and I swapped the cap nuts for some open ones, sorted.

By now the car was in warm and was idling at 2000 with the idle valve closed, checked for air leaks, none. Weird. Quick google and I hadn’t adjusted the hot idle screw. Idiot. Quickly sorted that and off I went for it to self tune.

After 20 mins or random driving, for the first time ever I gave it all it had...

HOLY f**king s**t

This thing is fast.

Did a bit more driving, got cold, went home.


LOVE IT.