Non Cobra build--Cheetah

[john chesnut]

I've been absent from the forum for awhile now. A couple of heart attacks, other health issues, and a knee replacement this spring have had me down and out. But, I'm feeling much better lately and I'm looking forward to working back in my shop.

I know that this is a Cobra forum and I love Cobras. But, I figure that Cobra guys are car guys and might be interested in my build.

I sold the Cobra that I built last summer. It used C5 Corvette suspension and drive train. I've built a few other cars too. They used either C4 or C5 parts. I figured it was about time to put an appropriate body on the chassis that I will build.

I've been working slowly on a frame for a Kellison J5 coupe body that I have. I''m using C4 Corvette suspension. For the Kellison you sit back as far as possible. The one problem with using the C4 suspension is that it's a wider track than the Kellison, or other cars of that era. I am going to have to widen the body or add flares.

When I looked at the frame and sitting position it occurred to me that it would be good for a Cheetah too. I found that MR BRUCE makes a Cheetah body that was set up for the width of the C4 suspension. I like driving roadsters and the simplicity of building them. I've ordered a roadster body from MR BRUCE. I will get in Dec. In the mean time I'll continue working on building the frame.

A roadster Cheetah does have a historic bases. One of the original coupes was converted into a roadster. Here is a picture of my inspiration.

Having fun.

[Mark IV]

John,

Looks like a neat project!

Keep us posted with lots of pictures.....

[*13*]

Good to hear you are feeling well, again! Look forward to the Cheetah project. Sounds like fun!

[rodneym]

That Cheetah roadster is beautiful!
My school bus went by that shop twice a day.
My Hot Wheels came to life!

[1985 CCX]

John

We've missed you!
Looks like a great project.

[Mike I]

Very nice project inspiration John, very nice indeed!

[dcdoug]

Pretty sweet looking car!

[Tommy]

John,
I'm happy to hear about your latest project. I'm working on a Cheetah Evolution replica that uses suspension from a C4 Corvette. Mine will be a coupe. ... I hope you report regularly on your progress. I'm looking forward to it.

[joyridin']

Cool looking car! Good luck with it when you are done. Are you shooting for a LS engine again?

I was trying to figure out a way to narrow a C4. Seems to be somewhat easy if you can find somebody to shorten the aluminum axles.

[john chesnut]

Thank you for the comments.

Jeff, I can't believe that it's been 7 years since I moved from NH to NY. Time is flying by. I hope that all is great with you.

Tommy, The Evolution Cheetah looks like fantastic kit and finished car. Good luck and have fun with the build.

I'm running the C4 parts in their stock width. The body that I'm getting is wider to allow for that. I have a bunch of parts left over from builds over the years. I have a good running SBC engine that I'm going to run in the Cheetah. This build is going to be done on the cheap!

I'm at a large Fair through Sunday selling coin banks that I invented for my kids. This is my 24th year selling them. I can't wait to get home and get to work on the car.

[Mark IV]

John,

So recently my next door neighbor shows me this bank he bought for his grandson and I said "hey, I know the guy who makes those!" BTW, it was the dinosaur version.

Small world..................

[moore_rb]

Originally Posted by john chesnut

I know that this is a Cobra forum and I love Cobras. But, I figure that Cobra guys are car guys and might be interested in my build.

Heck Yeah- Keep posting those progress updates !

[john chesnut]

I've been slowly working on the frame. A friend gave me a C4 Vette roller. I stripped it down and turned it over. Then I tack welded 2 by 2 tubing to the frame rails. Then tacked together jigs for the suspension points.

I had a jig base from an earlier build. I turned it over and tacked the C4 jig to it. The C4 wasn't perfectly square so I'm addressing that in my build.

My idea for this frame is to be able to use it with a few different bodies. One is Lakester style T bucket. I wanted to keep the wide rear to narrow front look for the T bucket so I'm building the frame with that taper. For the Cheetah body I'm planning to weld up body supports that will attach to the frame. I'm not sure if that will work or not. I'll see when I get the Cheetah body. Anyway here is my progress.

[Mark IV]

So you have one of the three Mercury Capris still extant?!?!?

[JBCOBRA]

hehe

[Karl Bebout]

Sure looks stout! Are you going to put a RAT motor in the Cheetah? It'll need all that strength and bracing. Looking forward to your progress.

[era cobra]

That will be a great build when finished. Looking forward to seeing the finished car. Good luck.

[john chesnut]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

So you have one of the three Mercury Capris still extant?!?!?

Yes I do! I have a couple of Miata's too.

It's amazing how many people have my banks. I'm very grateful for every one that has purchased one over the past 24 years.

I believe the frame would handle a Big Block. But, I"m doing this on the cheap. I have a 305 SBC with vortec heads, flat top pistons, a lumpy cam, and an air gap intake. I think that its putting out around 290HP. In a previous version of the frame I had the car together on springs. It weighs, on my race scales, 1498lbs. Even with modest power it should be fun to drive.

I'm leaving for a couple weeks of vacation on Friday. When I get back I'm going to be finishing the Lakester as fast as possible. I'm suppose to get the Cheetah body around Dec 1. Can't wait.

[john chesnut]

Mr Bruce just sent me pictures of the back half of my Cheetah body out of the mold. I'm getting excited!

You can see that the deck between the rear fenders is different than the original Cheetah. I believe that it was molded this way with the intention of being able to create a removable hard top for it. I'll have to decide how to finish that off once I get it. One idea is to mold a drop in insert that has a head rest or two.

Mr Bruce's Cheetah has a 93 inch wheelbase. The frame on my jig has a 103 inch wheelbase. I'll probably build a new frame.

Having fun.

[krausewich]

Hi John,
You are always up to some wild build! Glad you're back at it, I can't wait to see how things turn out.

Mike.