KM647 is here! (lots of pics)

[RodKnock]

I would have called the police because you were driving to slow.

Were those your neighborhood roads or the Yellow Brick Road? Clean bucolic neighborhood you got there. Almost no traffic.

Your car looks great. Best of luck.

[Avmaviator]

Thanks everybody for all the nice words! It has definitely been an awesome project. Lots of fun working on it, as well as frustrating at times, with a dash of "i have no freaking idea what is going", and some day-dreaming of one day driving it

I'm going to send in all the registration paperwork and wait the 1-2 months it takes to get plates . In the meantime, I'll going to redo the side pipes because of the sand in there, work on cleaning/tidying up the engine bay, check everything over again, and piss off the neighbors a few more times

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Were those your neighborhood roads or the Yellow Brick Road? Clean bucolic neighborhood you got there. Almost no traffic.

Your car looks great. Best of luck.

I have to say our neighborhood is really nice. It is a small village and most people are nice. I've never had any problems before, even when I run my shifter kart down the same road, and most of those times, I'm really speeding .
Some people are just killjoys. But that's alright, once the plates are here, I'll be driving down that road, at the speed limit, and reving the engine And my neighbor who has a 68 Fastback "Eleanor" wants to join in on the fun.

[big-boss]

Man, I love the interior colors. Great job.

[elmariachi]

If you had told me in advance you were putting that color interior in that car I would have been nauseous. But man, you had great vision and it looks very nice. The car has a vintage patina but still looks new and crisp. I feel sorry for your neighbor with the Eleanor....he'll be looking at your tail lights a lot. Congrats and excellent work.

[Avmaviator]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Your one of the fist Kirkhams Iv'e seen with the quick jacks turn with bolts on outside not on the inside.

Hah, I didn't even pay attention to that. I was in a semi daze and hurry to put those back on. I thought it looked alright
I'm not sure which way I like best now...

Originally Posted by elmariachi

If you had told me in advance you were putting that color interior in that car I would have been nauseous. But man, you had great vision and it looks very nice. The car has a vintage patina but still looks new and crisp. I feel sorry for your neighbor with the Eleanor....he'll be looking at your tail lights a lot. Congrats and excellent work.

Thanks! We wanted to go for the whole "patina-ed bomber jacket next to a shiny mustang (plane)" look. That aluminum is super pretty but it can be a bit "cold" so it needs a "warm" tone to go with.

[fordracing65]

Every CSX car I have ever seen has the quick jacks on like yours, it's for when they raced it was easier to get to the bolts if they needed to do any quick jack work, leave them how you have them, I might do the same.

[bret a ewing]

Any more updates? Luv this build!!

[Avmaviator]

Originally Posted by bret a ewing

Any more updates? Luv this build!!

Thanks, but unfortunately no real updates for you. I actually haven't taken the cover off the car in a week and a half This has been mostly due to work, vacation, finishing other projects, etc...

I got the replacement Classic Chambere exhaust sections (26", packed). I need to cut up the previous pipes, and reweld them with the new sections. Should be a days worth of work to do that and to make them look nice after. Afterward, they will be re-ceramic coated.

I think I might have found a small vacuum leak but from the information I got from FAST (in relation to the engine running rough down low), the engine needs to tune itself more.... We'll see.

I should have everything needed to send in my registration package this week to the State, and then we wait and let the inefficient, clueless, slow, Illinois registreting machine do the work...

[bret a ewing]

No worries, you are doing a great job.

[mreid]

Great update, Arnaud! They say it's for an inspection, but they really just want to come admire the car. Post some pictures of your beauty out in the sun. I think your interior choice with the aluminum body will look awesome.

[Avmaviator]

That's wild Kevin! The paperwork was pretty basic. I got a package with instructions from the state which contained: a normal title/registration application, an affidavit describing the components used and how I build it, copies of bills of sales and other sheets like the Certificate of origin, and that was about it.
The guy at the state reviewed it (called me about a couple of things), then passed it to the State Police, who then called me to inspect the car, then the inspection. The officer actually finished the "paperwork" in his car, on his laptop, and sent the approval notice from my driveway, it was pretty neat.

[Avmaviator]

Hey everybody,

It's been too long without an update for you guys do here it is

The car has been at my friend's shop, Perfect Power in Buffalo Grove IL (Perfect Power). He did the alignment, weight balance, and general look over the car to check my work. The main issue right now is a serious rich spot from 2000-2500 rpm... I have to look into deeper this week. It runs well at any rpm besides the ones I just mentioned. Weird stuff, but we're getting close.

It is all aligned. I'll post the alignment sheet when I get home next week. The car came in just shy of 2200 lbs. Not bad but I was hoping for a little less It has a balance of 51% front and 49% rear.

Otherwise I have to make a mounting bracket for the MAP sensor, get the speedo fixed (never worked..), adjust the pedals a bit (move them to the right more), and it should be "done" for now.

Lastly, the steering is pretty stiff, to the point where it is doesn't want to come back to center on it's own, which is kind of an important issue. What has you guys's experience with your steering? Does it loosen up after some driving? I'm sure all the components have to break in a bit but I'm not sure if there is something I can do to help the process.

Have a good one,

A

[FatBoy]

Originally Posted by Avmaviator

Lastly, the steering is pretty stiff, to the point where it is doesn't want to come back to center on it's own, which is kind of an important issue. What has you guys's experience with your steering? Does it loosen up after some driving? I'm sure all the components have to break in a bit but I'm not sure if there is something I can do to help the process.

That isn't something that I recall on mine. Maybe the rack adjustment has been tightened up too much.

Paul

[ItBites]

FUNFER2

That is strange. My Midstates was finished in 1992 and was easily titled in Nebraska back then. It was titled as an assembled vehicle (ASVE) and the process was really easy.

The title said 1966 Cobra for the model and the manufacturer was ASVE. No hassles at all. Strange to hear your troubles. Mine was titled in Lincoln at the DMV. What town were you in with this difficulty?

[FUNFER2]

Originally Posted by ItBites

FUNFER2

That is strange. My Midstates was finished in 1992 and was easily titled in Nebraska back then. It was titled as an assembled vehicle (ASVE) and the process was really easy.

The title said 1966 Cobra for the model and the manufacturer was ASVE. No hassles at all. Strange to hear your troubles. Mine was titled in Lincoln at the DMV. What town were you in with this difficulty?

I'm in Eagle, 10 miles east of Lincoln in Cass County. I know a established Hot Rod builder in Lincoln (Roger Nunn) said at the time that he's always had problems with the DMV for titles. He and his gang would go down to the legislator to have them listen to what we need to license home built custom cars, but said they did not have the time. Even the Lancaster Sheriff told me at the time, that I could not get a title without a previous title. I think,...it was around 2005 that they finally made provisions for Hot Rods, kit cars, home made trailers etc. The state lost a lot,......of money since the late 60's of not allowing people to license their cars.

I don't know what you did different back then, but all the power to you !

[BMK]

Arnuad,

Hey this Cobra looks like mine but with brown interior did you copy my car..

Looks fantastic. Love the photos outside the garage. It is great that your partner there maintains all the grass and the garden whilst you play with the Cobra..

Good to hear the plates are on the way.

Bernie

[Avmaviator]

Originally Posted by BMK

Arnuad,

Hey this Cobra looks like mine but with brown interior did you copy my car..

Looks fantastic. Love the photos outside the garage. It is great that your partner there maintains all the grass and the garden whilst you play with the Cobra..

Good to hear the plates are on the way.

Bernie

Better not copy our brown interior! I forgot to ask you, is yours right hand drive?
My cobra partner definitely does not do the yard, I don't know if he can use a screw driver! I'm being mean now, haha. That's my yard, and i have the honor of taking care of the yard...

I *might* take it out tomorrow to go fill up the tank, but I still don't have my plates and was thinking of using my other car's plates... But these cars get a lot of attention so I don't know if I want to risk it.

In any case, I'll be making noise tomorrow.

Arnaud

[BMK]

Avmaviator

Arnuad,

I have purchased left hand drive. I wanted to keep the period correct look.

[bret a ewing]

Is there a rear sway bar on your car?

[RedSnake351]

WOW, after just reading 17 pages of a very informative build thread and anticipating more news, it suddenly stops.
It's over a year since the last entry, which dealt with a stiff steering problem. Don't keep us in suspense and let us know if you're stuck on the side of the road between Rolling Meadows and Sleepy Hollow. It wouldn't be the first time I've used my trailer to haul a members Cobra back to his house.
Ralph