Club Cobra Gas - N Exhaust  

Go Back   Club Cobra > Manufacturers, Engine Builders, tools, and parts. > ERA---Speak with Bob Putnam

MMG Superformance
Nevada Classics
MMG Superformance
Main Menu
Module Jump:
Nevada Classics
Nevada Classics
MMG Superformance
Advertise at CC
Banner Ad Rates
MMG Superformance
MMG Superformance
Keith Craft Racing
October 2024
S M T W T F S
    1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31    

Kirkham Motorsports

Like Tree5Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 10-15-2021, 11:10 AM
Blackbart's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: NORTHVILLE, NY
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #804
Posts: 103
Not Ranked     
Default ERA Brake Master Cylinder adjustment rods

I just changed out the non-functioning hydraulic brake light switch on the master cylinder on #804. The new switch solved the problem of no brake lights . This subject has been covered several times in this forum including a "factory" bulletin on how to replace the switch. While I was under the car I did an inspection of other components of the brake system that is covered by the aluminum box protecting the master cylinders. I found some play in the adjustment rods as shown in the video link below. Just want to verify that this is not something I should be concerned with. Thanks in advance.
Gary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzI7iJP7CR0
__________________
ERA #804 walk around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSt_uMDOurM
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 10-15-2021, 11:42 AM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default

There is wobble built in to the brake balance bar. Seriously though, take a look at the manual and see the instructions on changing front to rear bias. You change fluid pressures by moving the shims around from one side of the bearing to the other.

Blackbart likes this.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 10-15-2021, 04:27 PM
DanEC's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Little Rock area, AR
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31
Posts: 4,518
Not Ranked     
Default

Yes, normal.
Blackbart likes this.
__________________
ERA 782 Running
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfge...b1-77fqwFRu7c]
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 10-16-2021, 10:27 AM
Blackbart's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: NORTHVILLE, NY
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #804
Posts: 103
Not Ranked     
Default

Thank you Patrickt and Dan. She's all buttoned back up and everything is working fine. Patrickt, the brake bias was fine before I installed the new switch so I left that as is.
While the car was up in the air I installed a 180 degree oil cooler thermostat adapter in place of the standard cooler adapter. I wasn't getting sufficient oil temps with no thermostat and now I get consistent 180-200 degrees which is much better for the engine.
The Derale oil thermostat sandwich adapter is plug and play with the correct 3/8" NPT ports.
https://derale.com/product-footer/fi...iameter-detail
__________________
ERA #804 walk around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSt_uMDOurM
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 07:00 AM
t walgamuth's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Lafayette, IN
Cobra Make, Engine: Looking to buy
Posts: 1,295
Not Ranked     
Default

The engine is designed for good hot oil. No stat is not a good idea imho.
Blackbart likes this.
__________________
Cobra loving, autocrossing Grandpa Architect.
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 07:50 AM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by t walgamuth View Post
The engine is designed for good hot oil. No stat is not a good idea imho.
Yep, nothing like good hot brake fluid boiling up and turning to gas just as you near the switchback at a good 110. Wait, that's not right....
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 08:28 AM
Blackbart's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: NORTHVILLE, NY
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #804
Posts: 103
Not Ranked     
Default

It has been my experience that the oil coolers installed on most replica's do not allow the engine oil temps to reach optimum operating temperature. Even on a hot day, prior to installing the oil temp thermostat the oil temps would seldom go above 60 degrees Celsius. Unless you are consistently running at high RPM's such as on a race track, the oil temp just does not get to where it should be. Blocking off the oil cooler just looks goofy IMHO and is nowhere near as effective as doing it the right way. This simple thermostat sandwich adapter is easy to install and works as advertised.
__________________
ERA #804 walk around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSt_uMDOurM
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 08:32 AM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbart View Post
Even on a hot day, prior to installing the oil temp thermostat the oil temps would seldom go above 60 degrees Celsius.
60C is awfully low. And now with the thermostat you're at a nice healthy 85C or so?
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 09:02 AM
twobjshelbys's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Cobra Make, Engine: Shelby CSX4005LA, Roush 427IR
Posts: 5,560
Not Ranked     
Default

I have asserted since I got mine that the Cobra radiator + oil cooler over cools the engine. I messed around with higher thermostat temps but would have put in an oil cooler thermostat had I kept it another year. Since then I've seen some simply disconnect it.
__________________
Cheers,
Tony
CSX4005LA

Last edited by twobjshelbys; 10-22-2021 at 10:51 AM..
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 09:15 AM
Blackbart's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: NORTHVILLE, NY
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #804
Posts: 103
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt View Post
60C is awfully low. And now with the thermostat you're at a nice healthy 85C or so?
Yes Patrickt, had it out yesterday, 52 degrees F outside in upstate NY, oil temp went to 85-90C. Took awhile to get there but once there it stayed very constant. If it cooled down too much I made the sacrifice of pushing on the loud pedal a little harder.
__________________
ERA #804 walk around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSt_uMDOurM
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 10:49 AM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default

You know, I tend to agree with you that my cover could look just a bit more trick. Over the winter I think I might change the front appearance of it to look more like this, instead of flat aluminum. The black holes will not really be holes through to the cooler because the metal sheet behind it will be painted flat black, but you won't be able to tell that when you look at it. I'll have to fab it up and install it though to see if I really like it or not.



Here are two pics of my oil cooler cover as it exists now. It is easily removable by just reaching in through the wheel wells and unhooking the fastening springs, which you can see in the second pic.



Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 12:22 PM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default

Here's a quick photoshop of the idea. So that it kind of matches the fresh air intakes that you can kind of see on the right hand side.

Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 02:30 PM
Blackbart's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: NORTHVILLE, NY
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #804
Posts: 103
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by patrickt View Post
Here's a quick photoshop of the idea. So that it kind of matches the fresh air intakes that you can kind of see on the right hand side.

That definitely looks better Patrickt and inspires hope in your thinking process, but come on, just do it!
(and hurry, there are only six left in stock)
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/d...RoCn1EQAvD_BwE
Disclaimer: No financial interest, that I know of, in any manufacturer or vender....
Gary
__________________
ERA #804 walk around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSt_uMDOurM
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old 10-22-2021, 02:33 PM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default

Or, I could paint the cover to match the black stripe and little stripe in the middle. That might look good too.
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old 10-30-2021, 10:21 AM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default See if this looks better...

Here's the grill piece cut and fabbed in. It's still easily removable by hand and comes right out the front but does look noticeably better. The way it looked before was hard to notice, but did bug me. Here are the before and after pics.

Before:



After:

CJ428CJ and Blackbart like this.
Reply With Quote
  #16 (permalink)  
Old 06-16-2022, 03:49 PM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Baltimore, MD
Cobra Make, Engine: Everett Morrison FE 428
Posts: 150
Not Ranked     
Default

I couldn’t get my oil temp high enough with a cooler so I disconnected it, didn’t seem to change much, but I haven’t had it out on an upper 90s yet. I do have an 7 qt. T pan.
Reply With Quote
  #17 (permalink)  
Old 06-16-2022, 05:10 PM
patrickt's Avatar
Half-Ass Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #732, 428FE (447 CID), TKO600, Solid Flat Tappet Cam, Tons of Aluminum
Posts: 21,992
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cobragene View Post
I couldn’t get my oil temp high enough with a cooler so I disconnected it, didn’t seem to change much, but I haven’t had it out on an upper 90s yet. I do have an 7 qt. T pan.
My cover didn't really end up changing the final oil temp after it had been running for, say, about an hour. Instead my oil just heated up noticeably faster. Which, in turn, heated the engine up faster (not the coolant temperature, but the true temperature of the iron block). The oil temperature, with or without the cover on, will eventually settle in at the upper 80's Celsius, but it takes maybe a half hour longer to get there without the cover. Ehhh, the cover might bump the temperature up a degree or two. The car really runs its best when the entire engine is thoroughly warmed. The harder you run it, the better it runs. Now, with an iron block, aluminum heads, and aluminum roller rockers, you can really tell the disparate heat expansion and its effect on the solid flat tappets. When the car is cold (meaning 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) the lash is .018 and the clatter is almost non existent. After ten or 15 minutes of driving, the aluminum heads and rocker arms have expanded out so if you measured the lash at that point it might be close to .030 and you can clearly hear it. But give it 20 minutes for the iron block to catch up and the lash drops down to about .025 or so and the valve train sounds just right with just the right amount of clatter.
Reply With Quote
  #18 (permalink)  
Old 06-17-2022, 12:49 PM
kevins2's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West Chester, PA
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA #795 427 S/C completed Jan. '14 - '68 FE 427 side oiler
Posts: 1,047
Not Ranked     
Default

I realize the original topic on this thread was from 2021, but thought I'd post something related to the brake bias bar in case it helps anyone else. After I built my car 8 years and just shy of 18,000 miles ago, I followed the instructions to test the brake bias after the brakes were seated. On a damp road, the fronts locked up first, as they should. I've fortunately never had a need to lock up the brakes since and didn't think to recheck the bias at any point. Recently, I discovered that my rear brake pads are very thin (Jag inboard brakes). I tested the bias again on a wet road and the rears locked up first. So, something changed over time. I have the new brake pads to put on, but just thought I'd suggest that it might be a good idea to periodically check the bias. It's also true that I could have done a better job inspecting my brake pads over time - just never thought they'd wear like that. Oh well, not a big deal.

As for the oil cooler, I installed one but didn't connect the hoses, so it's just there to fill the opening. Even on a hot day, the oil stays in the 80 - 90 C. range. Spirited driving may elevate it a bit beyond that but not much and it comes back down quickly.
__________________
"Anyone who drives faster than you is a maniac and anyone who drives slower than you is an idiot" - George Carlin

Last edited by kevins2; 06-17-2022 at 12:51 PM..
Reply With Quote
  #19 (permalink)  
Old 06-23-2022, 06:17 AM
DanEC's Avatar
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Little Rock area, AR
Cobra Make, Engine: ERA Street Roadster #782 with 459 cu in FE KC engine, toploader, 3.31
Posts: 4,518
Not Ranked     
Default

I have the usual 7-1/2 to 8 quart oil pan on mine and no oil cooler and what is probably a too-cool 160 deg thermostat. My coolant runs around 80 C but oil seldom rises much above 70 C - assuming the gages are correct. And as is, it takes awhile for the oil temp to even get to 70. I just can’t see needing a functional oil cooler in one of these for the street.
__________________
ERA 782 Running
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfge...b1-77fqwFRu7c]
Reply With Quote
  #20 (permalink)  
Old 06-23-2022, 11:47 AM
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New Britain, CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Size 10 Feet
Posts: 3,010
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kevins2 View Post
I realize the original topic on this thread was from 2021, but thought I'd post something related to the brake bias bar in case it helps anyone else. After I built my car 8 years and just shy of 18,000 miles ago, I followed the instructions to test the brake bias after the brakes were seated. On a damp road, the fronts locked up first, as they should. I've fortunately never had a need to lock up the brakes since and didn't think to recheck the bias at any point. Recently, I discovered that my rear brake pads are very thin (Jag inboard brakes). I tested the bias again on a wet road and the rears locked up first. So, something changed over time.
I'm really surprised that the rear pads have worn that much. Very unusual.
It may be that the front pads have glazed and they no longer work as original, so you've been overusing the rears with normal light braking. You might try either sanding the front pads or replacing them with new ones.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
The representations expressed are the representations and opinions of the clubcobra.com forum members and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and viewpoints of the site owners, moderators, Shelby American, any other replica manufacturer, Ford Motor Company. This website has been planned and developed by clubcobra.com and its forum members and should not be construed as being endorsed by Ford Motor Company, or Shelby American or any other manufacturer unless expressly noted by that entity. "Cobra" and the Cobra logo are registered trademarks for Ford Motor Co., Inc. clubcobra.com forum members agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). Thank you for visiting clubcobra.com. For full policy documentation refer to the following link: CC Policy
Links monetized by VigLink