Commissioning a Turn Key ERA 427 Cobra

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by B.M.B.C

Flygirl
SSBC front calipers and Std Jag rear, and maybe some upgraded pads all round. Most Jaguar shops can fit rear pads in 1 hour, even pads/calipers are seized when fitted in there natural 2 ton surroundings.......

Somewhere around here there's a pic of the trapdoor that is behind the seats that you use to get to the inboard brakes. It might be in Ernie's photos (Excaliber). If they've indeed figured a way to squeeze the ERA rear in to a street, under-car exhaust, car then before deciding on the Jag rear she needs to find out whether the hand brake on the Jag-rear ERA cars really works or not.

[B.M.B.C]

Patrick
I have a `84 Xjs and a `65 xke , both handbrakes work exceptionally well.The Jaguar handbrake calipers are prone poor performance because of years of poor maintence while fitted in the big heavy sedans they was designed for. Regular application of grease and lube to prevent this certainly helps even in a car as light as a Cobra, where the holding loads are significantly lower.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by B.M.B.C

I have a `84 Xjs and a `65 xke , both handbrakes work exceptionally well.The Jaguar handbrake calipers are prone poor performance because of years of poor maintence while fitted in the big heavy sedans they was designed for. Regular application of grease and lube to prevent this certainly helps even in a car as light as a Cobra, where the holding loads are significantly lower.

That makes sense. The poor reports I remember from years ago were probably the result of using older units that had not been thoroughly rebuilt properly. For what it's worth, the ERA page Jaguuar caliper service

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

As far as the front GM brakes that are standard for ERA, You can buy single-piston aftermarket (several manufacturers make them) Stock Car Racing aluminum calipers that fit the stock mounting locations and Impala rotors to comply with track rules. Also, Hawk make several grades of high performance and racing pads that will fit these calipers. These calipers and pads stop/slow 3500 lb race cars running at race speeds without fading. The good news is they only cost about 100-150 bucks each. The may not be as pretty as the big buck set, but work almost as well as they do.
As for the Jag rear brakes, the rebuild kit and piston costs are cheap, and if you want, you can get vented rotors for the Jags (but need different calipers). Once again, if you don't intend to race your ERA, this stock setup is more than adequate.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

And with my handbrake set, the car won't move under power.

[Flygirl]

Thanks, guys. I'm 5'11" and fairly strong I suppose, so I'm not too worried about the physical location of the parking brake handle, although to be honest I haven't really fully considered that question.

The good/bad news (I say it with very mixed feelings) is that I no longer live in SF proper, and would do my best to avoid at least some/most areas of the City for potential carjacking issues as much as anything.

I just don't think I'd feel safe sitting in such a completely open car, a single woman in such an attention magnet of a machine. On more open roads I feel like I control my destiny to some degree; stuck in traffic or creeping along in a very congested area, not so much.

Also, I want the car to have a bit of dropped front rake and sit as low as is reasonably possible, so yes, avoiding opportunities to high center it would be good.

Considering the build of a new car, I'd really do my best to avoid mission creep. Although I'm a perfectionist, I've also spent a lot of years driving beat up older cars and am still relatively adaptable to mechanical imperfections, although obviously I'd like to minimize them wherever possible. If the brakes have good pedal feel and stop the car reliably in 8/10ths driving, maximum, that's fine with me.

I just don't feel like this would be a good car to crash. Not only would it break my heart, but it might break the rest of me, too.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

I just don't feel like this would be a good car to crash. Not only would it break my heart, but it might break the rest of me, too.

IMO, these cars are best viewed as fun toys that you take out and play with when the mood strikes you. I would not want my Cobra as a daily driver (there are exceptions to that on this forum, though). As to safety, if you get hit in any way other than a light "fender bender" tap, you're going to get hurt or killed.

There's still time to back out.

[xb-60]

I sense there are some male egos feeling slightly threatened here. Is it a 'two-roll-bar' vs. 'no-roll-bar' thing, Pat?

Originally Posted by patrickt

....There's still time to back out.

Cheers,
Glen

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by xb-60

I sense there are some male egos feeling slightly threatened here. Is it a 'two-roll-bar' vs. 'no-roll-bar' thing, Pat?

Hmmm, I'd never thought of that. Maybe cscobra Era 774 could give us some insight there....

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Hmmm, I'd never thought of that. Maybe cscobra Era 774 could give us some insight there....

Humour is important. And so is that Gulf vacation

[Flygirl]

Originally Posted by patrickt

IMO, these cars are best viewed as fun toys that you take out and play with when the mood strikes you. I would not want my Cobra as a daily driver (there are exceptions to that on this forum, though). As to safety, if you get hit in any way other than a light "fender bender" tap, you're going to get hurt or killed.

There's still time to back out.

Until I learned that you drive one, I wasn't sure I could handle it.
:-)

________

As far as the woman in the Cobra, that had disaster written all over it. She was clearly in over her head; the unlatched passenger door was the cherry on top of the sundae. That was just awful, she should have known better than to drive the car, but I still feel really badly for her.

[mreid]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Until I learned that you drive one, I wasn't sure I could handle it.
:-)

Oh snap! Natalie, you fit right in and I now have to agree with Rodnock. So when are we getting our cobra?

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Thanks, guys. I'm 5'11" and fairly strong I suppose, so I'm not too worried about the physical location of the parking brake handle, although to be honest I haven't really fully considered that question.

The good/bad news (I say it with very mixed feelings) is that I no longer live in SF proper, and would do my best to avoid at least some/most areas of the City for potential carjacking issues as much as anything.

I just don't think I'd feel safe sitting in such a completely open car, a single woman in such an attention magnet of a machine. On more open roads I feel like I control my destiny to some degree; stuck in traffic or creeping along in a very congested area, not so much.

Also, I want the car to have a bit of dropped front rake and sit as low as is reasonably possible, so yes, avoiding opportunities to high center it would be good.

Considering the build of a new car, I'd really do my best to avoid mission creep. Although I'm a perfectionist, I've also spent a lot of years driving beat up older cars and am still relatively adaptable to mechanical imperfections, although obviously I'd like to minimize them wherever possible. If the brakes have good pedal feel and stop the car reliably in 8/10ths driving, maximum, that's fine with me.

I just don't feel like this would be a good car to crash. Not only would it break my heart, but it might break the rest of me, too.

Just respect the car for what it is and you'll be fine. Don't let the naysayers talk you out of a dream.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

Don't let the naysayers talk you out of a dream.

Didn't we used to have a rule that when someone knocked on the door looking to enter we had to turn them away at least three times? If they came back again after that, then, and only then, did we let them come in to learn more?

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Yes, you would want to be careful driving your Cobra, much the same as you would any small sports car. As for security, a Doberman or German Shepherd would be a fine bodyguard. I don't think many carjack-types would even be able to drive it with a toploader and no power anything. They wouldn't even be able to start it (I use a dash button), much less steer it. I, too, stay away from inner city driving just because city driving behavior is likened to Day-after-Thankgiving shopping at Walmart. Good luck with your project.
PS. The front is low enough not to want to drop it any more than stock.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

Also, sidepipes are a good alternative, burning the legs of anyone not aware of them trying to get in or out.

[B.M.B.C]

Anybody remember this.......

Cobra Wipeout - YouTube

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by B.M.B.C

Anybody remember this.......

Cobra Wipeout - YouTube

See previous post re- male egos
We should lighten up here a little, yes?
Cheers,
Glen

[DonC]

What ami I, Chopped liver? I'm a retired pilot and fly fixed wing AND helicopters, own an ERA and have lived in Monterey and Carmel and no one's asked ME to marry them.
DonC

The fact that I'm 4 1/2 months older than dirt shouldn't have any bearing on it.

[RodKnock]

What am I missing here?

She's 5'11", she flies airplanes for a living (think free travel), she's buying a Cobra and chose an ERA street model, one of the greatest automobiles of all time and she lives in the SF Bay Area, the geographical center of great taste, technology, venture capital and great food. And she's single.

I say "Hubba, Hubba."