ERA 753 - Final Assembly in Progress - Page 3

fkemmerer · #1 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Fred, was there any way to kind of test it out a little bit there at ERA? It sounds fantastic (I'm tempted to have one put on myself when my car heads back up there

)

You might want to talk with Doug about this. I know that ERA has done EFI setups before but I'm probably on the edge as far as what they've done with Electronic Traction Control and so on.

Where's home for you? If you're close enough, you are welcome to come take a look at my car when its done. If you're interested in this, send me some private email.

- Fred

RAO-3 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 05:46 AM

Fred,

Wow, I bet you're not getting much sleep at this point, waiting for it to get to you.

Are you picking it up or having it shipped? If you're using a shipper, who are you using?

I too would take the week off to finish it - the engine is a looker, and I'm sure will perform for you as good as it looks.

What do you have to do as far as inspection/registration to get it on the road in NH?

All the best on getting your ride on the road!

Ray

fkemmerer · #3 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 02:07 PM

Well ERA #753 is finally in my garage! Here is a picture of the car. Apparently ERA is having trouble getting pin drive wheels which is why my car was delivered with the front wheels only. Hopefully the rear rims will be here soon.

Now all I gotta do is to get these two together!

- Fred

WarrenG · #4 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 02:40 PM

Fred,
The issue with the pin drive wheels seems to be an ongoing one. I bought the Trigo wheels in Dec05/Jan06 when nobody seemed to be able to get PS pin drives. Pretty much throughout 06 and 07, everybody I knew was having trouble getting the Trigo wheels and at times the PS wheels. Must be the way they do their production runs. Don't personally know anybody who has used the Vintage wheels so not sure how easy it is to get hold of those.

RedBarchetta · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 04:05 PM

A really nice (and sophisticated) high-end build. I suppose if you're going to take the time and expense to have an ERA built, this example is a first class way to go.

-Dean

cscobra · #6 (**permalink**) 07-25-2008, 06:24 PM

I had no problems obtaining Vintage wheels last Christmas.

fkemmerer · #7 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 07:36 AM

Progress on ERA 753 continues. We were delayed somewhat by transmission modifications for the installation of a McLeod dual-disc clutch. We had to take the input shaft carrier off the transmission and have it shortened by a machinist to account for the higher pressure plate dimension on the dual disc clutch that I'm using. Those changes were completed yesterday and we installed the engine and transmission in the car last night. The FE engine was a tight fit going into the car. I got around this by removing the bell housing and all of the accessories (alternator, water pump, pulley, etc. in the front on the engine. Here's a picture of the engine going into the car.

Once the motor was in the car, there is a reasonable amount of clearance all around (although installation of the driver's side headers will be tight).

Here's a picture of the engine after the installation was completed. Note that we had to remove two sets of the injector stacks to create clearance for the engine hoist chains.

ERA's design really makes engine and transmission installation simple. The tunnel and carpets are easily removed which allows the bellhousing and transmission (its a TKO600) to be installed from the inside of the car. Here's a picture of the inside of the car showing the installed transmisson with the tunnel removed.

So today we're going to put the stacks and all of the accessories back on the motor and start installation of the clutch and throttle linkage as well as the fuel and oil lines. I'll post some more pictures when we get done with those steps.

- Fred

ZOERA-SC7XX · #8 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 03:34 PM

Keep the pix coming. It's always great to see the building process and the stories behind it. Good luck.

madmaxx · #9 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 07:05 PM

Keeps the pics comming, incredible looking car.

RAO-3 · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 07:23 AM

Great to see the progress being made!

sgianino · #11 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 09:22 AM

Wow! Cant wait to see this car in person.Fred , i like the contrast with the Valve Cover Change, have you decided to use the Black Shelby covers or they temporary?

fkemmerer · #12 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgianino

Wow! Cant wait to see this car in person.Fred , i like the contrast with the Valve Cover Change, have you decided to use the Black Shelby covers or they temporary?

Hi Sal,

Good to hear from you. The valve covers are a permanent change - I feel they look better than the polished set also.

- Fred

fkemmerer · #13 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 03:54 PM

We made lots of progress on our ERA today. Got the following completed:

1) Installed the driveshaft, driveshaft speed sensor (see picture below) and reinstalled the driveshaft safety loop and handbrake mechanism.
2) Installed the speedometer cable
3) Installed all of the grounds on the motor and transmission
4) Installed the throttle cable and adjusted the throttle linkage
5) Installed the MAP sensor and connected it to the TWM intake
6) Made all of the fuel lines and connected them (see picture below)
7) Hooked up the oil pressure, oil temperature and water temperature gauges
8) Reinstalled EFI stacks that were removed for installation of the motor.
9) Reinstalled all of the EFI sensors that were removed for installation of the motor.

Here's a picture of the completed trans and driveshaft - note the driveshaft speed sensor on the differental yoke.

Here's a picture of the reassemble and plumbed TWM intake on the motor in the car.

A shot of the fuel lines and throttle cable assembly. ERA made the throttle cable easy for me my providing all of the hookups to their linkage. All I had to do was to connect the cable to the bellcrank in the middle of the TWM intake.

Tomorrow we'll do the water pump, alternator, oil filter, oil lines, prime the oiling system, and set the distributor timing for the EFI system. If it goes well, we may get the cooling system installed also. We're getting close to the point where its time to start building the EFI wiring harness.

Bill Bess · #14 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 04:46 PM

It's easy to see why ERA is on the "top of the heap" as far as Cobra's go...super quality.
I love your FE....should go very fast, and you will win a lots recognition....very cool.

Best Regards, Bill

fkemmerer · #15 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

It's easy to see why ERA is on the "top of the heap" as far as Cobra's go...super quality.
I love your FE....should go very fast, and you will win a lots recognition....very cool.

Best Regards, Bill

Thanks Bill. ERA does build a very nice car!

RICK LAKE · #16 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 03:44 AM

Fkemmerer Realy looks great Fred. Where did you get the throttle linkage from? That is better than what I was looking at. You have private mail also. Rick L.

fkemmerer · #17 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RICK LAKE

Fkemmerer Realy looks great Fred. Where did you get the throttle linkage from? That is better than what I was looking at. You have private mail also. Rick L.

Thanks Rick. The bracket and linkage on the footbox are ERA standard items. The cable is a Lokar 36" Hi-Tech throttle cable kit. The end for the TWM bellcrank had to be ordered from TWM.

- Fred

jagxjr5012 · #18 (**permalink**) 08-02-2008, 01:24 PM

Fred
The car looks really fantastic !!! Keep posting the updates !! Conratulations !!
Mike

fkemmerer · #19 (**permalink**) 08-03-2008, 07:38 PM

Well my wife and I just completed 9 straight days of work on on ERA Cobra. At this point, the engine and trans are fully installed and everything is hooked up except for the cooling system, alternator, and the EFI wiring. We did alot of odds and ends today including testing the fuel system (and fixing a few leaks), removing the distributor to prime the oil system and reinstalling it, wiring the starter and fully testing the electrical system, bled the hydraulic clutch system and adjusted the clutch, and did a little bit of wiring work on the EFI system. Here's a few pictures of the mostly complete engine:

We'll be working weekends now to finish up our project. The electrical work on the EFI harness will take some time. We are going to build that from scratch.

- Fred

fkemmerer · #20 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 03:49 PM

We spent the day getting our alternator and explansion tank on our ERA. After getting ERA's offset alternator bracket setup, I was able to adapt my 100A 1-wire Powermaster alternator to the car. I have a Shelby aluminum water pump which forced me to fabricate custom spacers and brace bars to get everything to fit properly with my water pump. I used a March 2V (dual grove) pulley set with an overdrive water pump pulley. I had a local machinist remove the rear groove on the water pump pulley to improve the appearance of the final setup. I have about 1/2" of cleareance at the back of my alternator with this setup and after a trip to the local auto parts store to find an appropriate length belt, I am in business.

I am going to remove all of the parts tomorrow to machine some custom length aluminum spaces and have all of the support brackets chrome plated. Should look pretty nice when its all done.

- Fred