An Update!

[Homewrecker]

TURK

All I have is a poster (#9-AQ-0102 Cobra 427) that I got off of ebay. It has the cutaway in the center & six 427 Cobras surrounding it, one of which is CSX 3022. The poster is from Automotive Quarterly Magazine 1 800 523-0236. The poster says that the portraits are from the story: The 427 S/C Cobra: Fords Ultimate Better Idea, Vol XXII, No. 3. You should be able to still get this from them (they have back issues). It says the car is owned by Ron McClure. My poster shows a nice side view of it, but I don't own a digital camera yet, so I can't show it to you. Other than that, I know you already have the poster with the frontal view & it's also shown on the large cutaway poster in the bottom corner (same frontal view).

I hope this helps a little. That's all I got. Maybe someone with the registry could offer more info. Also someone else with the poster & a digital camera, could post it here.

[bryan era327]

great looking car.. I need some help regarding a couple of problems.. # 1 ...what gaskets are being used on the exhaust headers ( I,m replacing them every 1000 miles)? #2..... valve cover gaskets have a tendency to weep oil making a mess of the intake manifold.. can't seem to find quality valve cover gaskets..The engine is a 428...any suggestions are appreciated

[Tom T.]

Turk,

Beautiful. The No. 12 poster hangs on a wall in my home office--a source of constant inspiration, a reminder of what truly matters in life! Keep the shiny side up.

Best,

TT

[Turk]

Thanks guys.
You all shure know how to blow smoke up someone's tail. Strangely enough I am eating it all up. Must be my proximity to San Francisco or something.

oops! I better watch it, Tom T. lives not to far from there either.

Tom T.
I am so glad to hear that you too are smitten by that poster. I have one that is framed in my home office and another at my office at work.
Come to think of it, I posted one as a reference for my painters on the paint booth wall in the body shop. It has been there for 6 months. I don't know aboout them, but I got tired of looking at it as I walked past it for 5 months. I would have bet the guys in the body shop would have set it on fire the day the car got finished. They didn't. They may think it may be some kind a curse. Little do they know, curse or not, poster or not....the #12 is going back at the body shop for the final buffing and taking out the scratches I managed to put on it, during assembly.

bryan era327
Thanks. I can't help you with the exhaust header gaskets. I don't have any experience with them. However about the Valve cover gaskets, what I did was to buy the composite Felpro gaskets. They allow for additional tightening of the valve cover nuts thus giving you a tighter fit. Whereas the cork ones seem to get saturated with oil and act as a wick themselves. I also use the pieces of bars that go over the lips of the valve covers. They go under the nuts and spread the load in a 2-3" area.

homewrecker
Thanks for the info. We got to get you a digital camera.
By the way, did you know they came up with color TV now? What will they think of next?


cobrajeff
I have plenty of carburators.
About the FIA small block? eeeeeeeeee! yuck!
Best part about them little bitty cars is their bg gas tanks. get real Jeff,. Get a real car! What is your other car. A Dodge Neon?

Bud Man
You are right about the day of reckoning. Any time now. I am taking this week off and will be at it all week long and see how close I can come to finishing it off.

JWheaton
You are just jealous. Did they tell you they are going to start on your car on June 28th of next year. Then it takes another 23 months. Best part of waiting is, you will spend all your time in here on the forum. You won't have any friends left. Your family will throw food at you through the crack in the door. You will talk to yourself, beard will grow.You will go into big depreesion seing other people buiding and driving their ERAs while you harrass total strangers. The stranger will be the only people who will talk to you. And pretty soon it will all be worth it, and you will get well again!

TURK

[Bud Man]

Turk:

If you are like me, remember to take a few hours break during that "marathon" finishing session. One tends to lose focus and perspective.........

Repeat after me...

Black fuzzy stuff on floor, black leather stuff on dash.........

Black fuzzy stuff on floor, black leather stuff on dash...

Black leather stuff on floor, black fuzzy stuff on dash.

There you go!!

Bud

[JWheaton]

Turk,

Damn right I am jealous!!

If I was not jealous I would get my deposit back and invest that money where it will do some good.

Your car does look great and I know that when I get mine I will not have the patience to do as good a job as you are doing. I will probably wire the head lights into the dash lights, the wipers into .... is there more electrical stuff than that??

The seats will most definitely be backwards. THey have a rule in CT. that says you have to trailer your car to a specific station for registration. By the time I get to that stage I will have a hitch on the back of the Cobra so I can pull my truck home!

P.S. Will be out in the San Fran area next week. How far are you from San Fran and will you be at the airport to pick me up in that Cobra??

[excelguru]

Turk,

Just wondering... what was the final man-hour count for the paint? (Just trying to figure out what to budget.)

Are you saying that the Goodyear sidewall lettering was done by hand? Stickers? Iron-ons? Tatoos? Seriously, how did you do it?

The car looks awesome, BTW. That's exactly what my engine's gonna look like when it gets finished... someday .

Keith

[Jim Holden]

Turk:

I caution you against MARATHON WORK sessions...

At a certain point (i.e. along about midnight) everything starts turning to scrap... and with a razor blade in your hands it's very tempting (after you've sliced the carpet a half inch too short) to just slash your wrists...

And then there is the incredible feeling of withdrawal that you will go through when everything is done and the motor runs and doesn't leak (too much).

But I warn you, as with any other addiction, you will feel this uncontrollable urge to send off another deposit to the Dewey Street "connection".

Do not fight it... it's a natural thing (we have group counseling sessions to help you deal with your addiction...) and as I and many others will attest, you can treat this sickness, but you'll never cure it.

Mort MacTavish

[ToyCollector]

Turk,

Many congratulations on how much you have accomplished since your car arrived. Amazing and an inspiration to us all. It's amazing what one can accomplish if one stays off this board Stay focused and stay at it.

Hopefully you take some sanity breaks with rides on that fine Harley. What the hell is Raki by the way. It's obviously some fun form of alcohol, but I can't say I know what it is.

[Turk]

Toy Collector
You noticed it also huh?
I bet you could probably pass a hat and get enough of a collection for a FIA. All you got to tell the members is that if we all chip in and buy TURK another car, he'll leave the forum alone.

Today,I went non-stop until all the wiring was finished. Thanks to the fine folks at ERA. Thanks Doug. No sanity breaks for me. A sanity vacation wouldn't help, much less a break.

"Raki" is indeed an alcoholic beverage, consumed mostly by Turks and Greeks. It has a licorice flavor. It is clear, but when you add water or ice, it turns milky. Hence the name "TIGER'S MILK". Nasty stuff. It tastes like a cocktail made out of Antifreeze, and DOT3 brake fluid.

Jim Holden
I don't need to wait until midnight to accomplish such dissasters. I can do it any time of the day.
Don't even mention "carpet" to me. Ever again!! I haven't even started on that project yet. I am scared to.


Excelguru
244 Hours!!
We are not done yet. Painter's will get the car back once more after I am completely finished marring, scratching and damaging it during the assembly process.
I would say a total of 250 hours would have been invested in the paint shop. Thank God, it was our own shop.

Tires came with a very sloppily stencilled lettering. Molded into the side wall of the tires are the indentations for the "GOOD YEAR".
I spent a few hours fillling it in. I used White/Ink based pen auto parts houses seem to carry. It has enough elasticity to be able to cover the surface of the tire, but my first impression is that it will have to be done over and over again.

Jim Wheaton
I just have this strange feeling, 10 months from now Bob and Peter going to wish it was TURK they were still dealing with. I think you have all the necessary ingredients to make a world class *^%^& . You will pick up where I left off, and will carry on the legacy.
Somehow I have this sinking feeling that behind some office door at ERA a picture of Turk with million dart holes in it is being replaced with a picture of you.
Keep up the good work!

Bud Man
I don't need no coaching to talk to myself. I am really good at it.


TURK

[Speedracer]

Turk,

Your car looks absolutely gorgeous! I look forward to hearing how your maiden voyage goes. I am still researching Cobras, and ERA and Superformance are at the top of my list (Kirkham too, but it will take longer for my budget to catch up). Did you consider the SPF? If so, what made you decide on ERA?

Speedracer

[Turk]

Speedracer
Thanks for the kind words.
When I started dreaming about my car, SPF was not around. I had my heart set on an original Cobra, then on an ERA.
When the day of decision came, I also considered the new replicas Shelby is building, but for reasons I don't want to go into I dismissed them and went back to considering ERA and the SPF.

Working at a car dealership and being surrounded by hundreds of new factory cars, I wanted something with a little more character and a little different. SPF is a great car, but for me it was too much like buying a new car. Limited selection on colors, limited in stages of completetion you can buy it at, limited in engine choices etc.

I am not a builder, but I DID want to put the finishing touches on the car myself. Wiring, carpeting etc. ERA roller allowed me all that, and their reputation was second to none.
It was an easy decision for me.
I would not discourage you from considering an SPF, but do NOT rule out ERA either.

TURK

[excelguru]

...250 hours?...

OUCH!!

Well, I apparently need to revisit my paint budget. I better not mention that to the wife, either.

If it's any consolation, the car looks AWESOME in the photos, and I've noticed that even the best photos can't seem to capture the true beauty of a high-quality paint job.

Keith

[Speedracer]

Turk,

Thanks for your thoughts. Until I learned of SPF, ERA pretty much topped my list (along with the Kirkham). The SPF has become the third real contender for me. I agree that buying an SPF is more like buying a "normal" new car -- I'm not sure whether that's good or bad. If I go with SPF, I'd probably follow their recommendation and go with a 351W stroked to 396 -- big power with better handling. The theory is that it's a replica with its own non-original chassis design, so I don't know that I need an "original" big block engine. At the other extreme (for me) is the Kirkham -- this would have to have a 427 or 428 since it's ALMOST like buying a new original -- it really is a clone of the real thing (but more money than ERA or SPF). And then there is ERA, which has some modern "improvements" in design over the original, but is so aesthetically close to the original that I would also use a 427 or 428. And, from reading your posts, it sounds like it is so hard to actually get a car from ERA that I wonder if Bob and Peter would even sell me one if I wanted anything other than a real motor.

I'm so confused . . .

Best of luck with your marathon session -- may you be motoring happily very soon . . .

Speedracer

P.S. Are you sure that installing the carpet is a finishing touch you really wanted to do yourself?

[Les]

Turk,

The car that you on the verge of completing looks AWESOME. I purchased a Johnex "DD" that was already to go so I will not the feeling on accomplishment that you get when you complete something to the very end. I have my car stored in Calif. near Vacaville. The next time I am in town let me know if you want to get together and go for a cruise. Once again it is a beautiful car.

[Turk]

Speed Racer
Oh yes but, It is well worth the wait!
I believe their lead time is somewhere around 9-10 months. You may want to give Peter a call and get acurate information.
I think they'll sell you a car even if you wanted to put a diesel engne in it. They have been very flexible with their customer wants and needs.
Just don't tell them I sent you. That is about one sure way of not getting a car from them.

Les
Thanks. I came close to buying a Johnex during the Run and Gun two years ago. As I was dealing with them, they decided to turn their US distribution exclusively to House of Cobras. Being in the car business, I refused to buy the only Cobra car not available directly from the manufacturer. After all why pay the middle man as well.
Great car, great people and fantactic chassis.

JWheaton
After re reading your post, I realized I had totally blown off your reference to visiting San Francisco.
I am about an hour and a half from San Francisco Airport. Also depends on time of the day and traffic. I would love to pick you up at the airport, however I have dedicated this week to non stop working on the car. No shave, no bath, occasinal food. I look like a rat, and plan on staying like that the rest of the week.

If you are in Vacaville area, you are welcome to stop by. give me a call 707-452-0707

TURK

[creeper]

Turk , you're being a little stingy on the pics aren't you..

[Les]

Turk,
I tried to send you a private message but it said that your mail box was full. I know that this might not be the appropriate forum but I was wondering if you know of a fiberglass body and paint repair shop in your area (i.e. Vacaville, Fairfield, Napa, etc.). I tried to contact Watsons autobody shop in Faifieild and they looked at the vehicle but will not give me a estimate. I have tried numerous times to contact them from where I reside and they never respond. I do not know if they do not care or do not want my business. If you have any other recommendations of body shops please let me know. I know that you are busy getting your vehicle ready but when you get the chance please let me know. I am trying to make arrangements when I fly back out to Calif. in December. Thanks.

[Turk]

Les,
Try emailing me directly and I'll see if I can be of some help.
At the mean time I'll check my mail box.


TURK

[Les]

Turk,

I tired e-mailing you through the club cobra website. Let me know it works.
Thanks for you assistance.
Les