#775 update - Page 2

patrickt · #1 (**permalink**) 06-12-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaplin

...with a 3.54, you will run out of 1st gear very quickly) and in 5th you can do 75 or 80 and be turning about 2700 (if my memory is correct).

I went with the 3.54 and the .64 Tremec and absolutely love it. I wouldn't change it. First gear lets you go slow with out hiccupping and 5th gear lets you do 68MPH at 2000RPM. If your engine is well-mannered at the low two thousands, then it's a wonderful combination.

WarrenG · #2 (**permalink**) 06-12-2009, 04:00 PM

As noted before, I went with the 3.54 and the TKO 600 0.64 and have been happy with it even here on the DC beltway but then my engine was built to be content in the lower RPM range. As for running out of "room" in first, first carries me well past 40mph if I want which is plenty for me.

The riveted hood scoop is more "original" for the 427 but can't fault you if you prefer the integral one. The outboard brakes are not original! That said, I got the outboard brakes as a personal preference.

Get the tonneau cover and have ERA fit it. For anybody who does not do roof/tonneau work regularly, fitting either can be a royal PITA. I use mine all the time. Keeps the interior warmer when I don't have a passenger and it keeps the interior clean (not to mention the sun off the seats) when parked.It only takes 1-2 minutes to take off or put on and takes virtually no room to speak of in the trunk. In fact properly folded, it will fit behind the seat.

I would get the adjustable seats and the removable steering wheel. Makes it much easier to get in and out and the removable wheel adds a little bit of peace of mind for security when you're not with the car.

If you have alot of speed bumps where you live, you might want to consider the powdercoated/painted sidepipes. Much easier and cheaper to recoat than rechrome.

Chaplin · #3 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 08:57 AM

I forgot the new TKOs have the 2.87 1st instead of the 3.27 1st that my TKO has- that will give you more room with the 3.54s in 1st.

However, for ordinary street cruising I still don't think you need 3.54s in light of the amount of torque theses car make and how light they are. I went for a ride this morning and checked my rpm at 65 and 70 (3.31s with .82 5th). At 65 I was turning 2350 and at 70 was at about 2500, which is very comfortable. With 3.54s and the .64 5th @ 65 you would be turning apx. 1900 and at 70 you would be apx. 2100.

Either one if probably is probably fine, the real question is what are the specs on the cam Ray is going to be using and where will the engine run most efficiently at, in the 1900-2100 range or at 2300-2500 range? I would make the gear selection based on the cam.

Ray- for your information, here is a link to a gear ratio calculator. You can plug in different combos and see where they come out.

http://www.richmondgear.com/101032.html

Also, here is a link to TKO's website that lists all of the gear ratios

http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English/products/TKO.asp

RAO-3 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 06:27 AM

Chaplin and patrickt - I appreciate your insights into making the proper selection of transmission/rear end gears. I'm going to call Joe today and confirm the cam I am getting. I want the car to be a street car; my plan is to have it be more comfortable in the low rpms.

WarrenG - Good to get your input, you seem to have gone in the same direction as patrickt with the gear ratios. I knew that the riveted scoop was more 'original' - back when I was younger, I had a car with a riveted scoop, and I remember always wishing it was integral with the hood, so that memory also helped me to decide. And from a practical perspective, how does one get all the wax out from the rivets? Warren, the outboard brakes was an easy decision, based on the reading of all the old threads. Thank you for your thoughts on the tonneau cover, I do think I will be adding that to my list. I already do have the adjustable seat racks on my list, but am concerned about getting the removable wheel through inspection. I will talk to Peter about it when I visit.
Speedbumps are nasty things; there is one town not too far from me that has several on one road, but even now I avoid the road, so I don't anticipate them being a problem for me.

-Ray

patrickt · #5 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 12:39 PM

I didn't buy a Tonneau, and I've yet to have an occasion where I said to myself "sure wish I had a Tonneau." But, I don't drive the Cobra in the Winter and I don't drive the Cobra if there's a strong chance of rain. Along with the soft top (which I keep in the trunk) I also keep a new painter's tarp from Home Depot that takes up almost no room. If I found myself out somewhere and a storm caught me by surprise I would just throw that tarp over the open part of the car and wait the storm out. That hasn't happened yet. The soft top takes me about 15 minutes to put up and the last time I did it was in December and the top was cold -- my thumbs ached for a week.

RAO-3 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 12:48 PM

Hi patrickt -
I too don't plan on driving the Cobra in the winter nor the rain if it can be avoided. Good idea about the tarp. I guess I was also thinking that it's a little 'extra' to keep people out of the car if I were to park it some place as well.

Tony just called and said he's finishing up my car now and depending on the weather (it's been raining in the northeast a lot lately), he will be taking it back to Peter either Wednesday or Thursday.

So, depending on Peter's schedule, it looks like I will be taking that ride up to ERA either this weekend or next...

If anyone has their car up there and they want pictures, let me know. I'm sure I will be taking some anyway and posting them.

-Ray

patrickt · #7 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 12:57 PM

Yeah, an ERA Tonneau is only $350. That's really not a big deal in the scheme of the the car. I doubt you'll be leaving it anywhere that somebody's going to mess with it anyway. Actually, unless it's three in the morning on a back street somewhere, people seem to keep their distance... like it's going to bite them or something. But if you do take it on a trip where you're not sure where you're going to be parking, the best defense is to carry the plastic coated heavy gauge cables and chain your car to a fixed object and then put a car cover over it. Most of us here could hotwire your car just as fast as you can start it (even if you have a kill switch for the MSD box hidden somewhere) and even the ones that can't handle a wire and alligator clip can push your car away and work on it at their leisure.

patrickt · #8 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 01:13 PM

On the few times that my car may need "extra security," I run these cables through the wheels and frame and loop it around a telephone pole or the like. I know you're concerned about getting through inspection, but a QR steering column is great security as well. You just pull the wheel and take it in the restaurant with you (seriously).

WarrenG · #9 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

On the few times that my car may need "extra security," I run these cables through the wheels and frame and loop it around a telephone pole or the like. I know you're concerned about getting through inspection, but a QR steering column is great security as well. You just pull the wheel and take it in the restaurant with you (seriously).

Looks effective, as long as you don't forget it's there when you leave!

patrickt · #10 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenG

Looks effective, as long as you don't forget it's there when you leave!

It would be like the scene out of American Graffiti.

Seriously though, I chock the wheels just in case I forget.

ZOERA-SC7XX · #11 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 03:40 PM

With a quick-release steering wheel you GOTTA take the wheel with you every time you leave the car, or somebody else will. I say forget the quick-release and bolt the wheel down and secure the car in a normal way.

patrickt · #12 (**permalink**) 06-15-2009, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

With a quick-release steering wheel you GOTTA take the wheel with you every time you leave the car, or somebody else will. I say forget the quick-release and bolt the wheel down and secure the car in a normal way.

Funny. You can not tell the QR is there, unless you know it's there. It's virtually invisible. Another benefit of the QR is that it lets you easily adjust the orientation of your wheel so you can see the gauges the way you want to (and not have them blocked by the steering wheel arms). I won't even mention how much easier it is to work under the dash with the wheel off. At $850 it's a bargain IMHO and if I was worried about passing inspection I'd just have Bob P. whip me up a little "jacket" that would bolt around the steering column to hide the QR until after inspection.

WarrenG · #13 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

With a quick-release steering wheel you GOTTA take the wheel with you every time you leave the car, or somebody else will. I say forget the quick-release and bolt the wheel down and secure the car in a normal way.

Unless you know the QR is there, you don't see it. I rarely park mine where I can't see it so I've never been too worried about that. You can also lock it in the trunk out of sight. Patrick is right most people don't mess with the car anyway.

The tonneau is also nice for the occassion when mindless parents come along and think that the open car makes a nice photo op for their kid! Happened at a car show at the NHRA museum. We left the cars and went in to the museum. Mine, the one with the tonneau was unmolested. My friend's, without, had a kid jumping up and down in the driver's seat and his parents taking photos!

I thought my friend was going to launch them all into the next county!

RAO-3 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-17-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenG

The tonneau is also nice for the occassion when mindless parents come along and think that the open car makes a nice photo op for their kid! Happened at a car show at the NHRA museum. We left the cars and went in to the museum. Mine, the one with the tonneau was unmolested. My friend's, without, had a kid jumping up and down in the driver's seat and his parents taking photos!

I thought my friend was going to launch them all into the next county!

I never cease to be amazed at how people behave with other people's property. I bet that they didn't even think they were doing anything wrong, and couldn't understand why your friend was upset.

-Ray

tboneheller · #15 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 06:15 AM

I use me tonneau cover all of the time. It works good to keep the water out when washing the car. It also makes a nice hammock for my cat to sleep on.

RAO-3 · #16 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 09:43 AM

patrickt, I like the picture of your cobra with the cable and lock. I have seen them on motorcycles, but never saw one on a car before. Good thinking though. I will talk to Peter about the removable steering wheel and what can be done to try to get me through inspection.

tboneheller, good idea of using the tonneau cover for washing the car!

-Ray

marcalan · #17 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 05:14 PM

looking good...how much longer does Peter think it will be before you can take it home?

ZOERA-SC7XX · #18 (**permalink**) 07-12-2009, 07:14 PM

Nice color combo. It's all downhill from here.

RAO-3 · #19 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 07:18 AM

patrickt - thanks for the all the help and the "good choice". I'm sure most of us went through many a restless time agonizing over trying to pick the 'right' colors. I really didn't plan going with blue in the beginning but found myself always comparing the color of the moment to this blue, so that's how I came to select this color.

marcalan - thanks for your thoughts - I thought I would let Peter have the car for a couple of weeks before I asked him when it would be done. Maybe someone that has been down this path can estimate?

ZOERA-SC7XX - Thanks, yes it does look like I'm on the home stretch at this point, and with most all the options settled on, just a matter of waiting a little longer...

Ray

patrickt · #20 (**permalink**) 07-13-2009, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAO-3

marcalan - thanks for your thoughts - I thought I would let Peter have the car for a couple of weeks before I asked him when it would be done. Maybe someone that has been down this path can estimate?

A lot of it is "luck-based." Meaning there isn't an unusual hold-up on a part you want (even small ones, like TP headlamps) or in building the rear end, or somebody comes down with the flu, or their father-in-law gets sick, etc. Seriously, it's those type of things that extend out what is probably a pretty normal build.