If I didn't laugh, I would cry
 

Hey Bob,
I am used to it (unfortunately). Seriously - my luck with cars is unbelievable - and no it is not my fault and it does not spread to cars that I have worked on or ones that belong to other people (although I have made my share of dumb or ignorant mistakes). It is my lot in my so I can either accept it and work harder (kind of like the fact that I am dyslexic) or curse the universe. Unfortunately My name is John and I have a problem. I have a car addiction and it truly fits the criteria of an addiction - I know it is bad for me but I can not help myself :).

as far as driving a cobra -they look like sex on wheels. Are they all that (+/- a bag of chips) - not even close. Of all the cars I have driven and gotten rides in (including Carroll and Cleo's series 1 with a vortech and alcons) there are betetr rides (pick any criteria - faster, more comfortable, handle better.... although they are sexy and cool and fun). they are kind of like going out with a buxom bikini model. She looks great and can be a lot of fun but is high maintence, you gotta worry about when you take here out and leave her alone, she may not be a real conversationalist, sometimes attracts too much (and sometimes not the right kind of) attention.....I think you get the idea.

As far as the wilwoods are concerned - the way it was explained to me by an engineer (who had great credentials for hi po cars) who was the head driving instructor for Nor Cal SAAC, who wrote a dissertation on building race / track mustangs (that had to be pulled from public circulation due to concerns over legal liability in this wonderfully litigenous society) - has to do with the way wilwood (as opposed to coleman) casts their rotors and the warping that results from this technique. but you are correct that that is another topic for another thread.

John (SR),

Good to hear that you're nearly on the road again. After some shakedown runs (and inspections) on the streets of Santa Cruz, you'll have flight clearance for a good run over 17 or up Hwy 1 to Alice's for breakfast. :3DSMILE:

These cars are beautiful to look at, but try to get out put some serious miles on the odo. I don't care what brand you're running, it takes some miles to shake everything down and work out the kinks.

See you on the road sometime. :)

Wow, that was quite a read. A lot to digest as a perspective new Cobra buyer. Hopefully you will get to enjoy some trouble free miles now. Good luck!

What was the cause of the sqeak in the rear and the sound of the driveshaft hitting? I think you said that was one of the initial problems.

It's Alive
 

I got it all back together and took it for a little test cruise (~5 miles) on Hwy 17 (Mt Hermon Rd to the next exit Granite Creek / Scotts Valley Dr). Everything seems okay but I will put it on the lift and check it once it has cooled off.

It still squeeks but that is most likely rubber suspension parts that just need to be lubricated. The "drive shaft" noise is gone and I don't actually think it was ever the drive shaft since there was never any evidence when I put it on a lift and looked that it was hitting anything. My mechanic found a whole bunch of loose things in the rear suspension and tightened most of them when he was giving it the once over. I still have to get him to finish looking at it. Not cheap, but a trained eye is worth its weight in gold.

Doe any one know what the torque on the big nut on the back of the up right is supposed to be. We preloaded it to what specs we could find (which put the nut about where it was on the driver's side and a little past where it was on the passenger side) but the bearing still seem to have a little play when you garb the tire top and botton and try to move it in and out relative to each other.

Welcome to Club Cobra Balance_Point. They don't call it the largest unbiased source of cobra info for nothing. Every one has an opinion and you get a lot of knowledge fast.

I will take some more (longer and longer) trips and then re-inspect everything and hopefully call it good.

Glad you got it all squared away John. I was going to suggest you have the two alloy parts welded together before putting them back on but I didn't catch you in time.

Thanks
 

Thanks Sal,
used to be able to do a decent job sticking things together with a mig welder. Not sure if sticking the billet aluminum upright to the steel ball joint mounts would work. I also know so little about welding that do you have to worry about changing the temper when you are welding? It is back together for now but it will be a while before I trust it. Sad, but after being betrayed a couple of times, it hurts. Thanks again
John(;-)

Oh, didn't realize the upper mount was steel, thought both parts were alloy.

John,

Great to hear you're out doing some short test runs. I'm taking a little sabbatical right now (;)), so I'm open for a mid-week drive.

After all you've been through with your car lately, lunch is on me in Davenport one day. :D

Email me when you're free.

no worries
 

I thought they were both billet when I looked at it the first time (which scarred me because in my little brain I thought that aluminum trying to hold a threaded fastener under that kind of load would be bad).

How is next tuesday / wed?
 

Thanks Doug
I am actually working today and tommorrow, have an interview monday, so if you are free , lets try to go to Davenport next tues or wed?
John(;-)

John,

Did you isolate the CSX group of cars with this issue? Some folks that don't drive their "babies" (planters) may not know of the safety problems associated with the uprights. One would think a safety bulletin would be beneficial in preventing a serious accident for the affected cars.
Sal, "keeper of the marque" Menella, may be able to help in this area.
JMHO,
Bret.

Wednesday 4/1 works for me. Maybe I'll start a new thread to see if anyone else wants to come out for a mid-week drive and lunch.

no way for me to tell
 

I have no way to tell what cars got what. I think that the original CAV design got a recall (that I never heard about) and were replaced. I think what my car has is what is current. Some 4700 series owners seemed to say that theirs just pulled off from the front. I think everyone should take a look, but I think the fasteners are loctited in so if you try and torque them too much you will HAVE to retorque them all. All of my fasteners were loose (some much worse than others andthe left side was not as bad as the right). I have to say that it really might be just my car that has had this particular problem based on my and its history. Still, better safe than sorry.

Excellent!
 

:cool: An Excellent idea. I doubt many people will be able to play hookey or get a hall pass, but it is worth a shot. We can finalize times and where to meet for the drive later. Go ahead and start a thread and let me know when you do.

Ya know, my neighbor has a cobra that I have never seen him drive in the two years I have lived here, maybe I can twist his arm

I think you're right. Maybe the nice weather will lure some people out of the office for a quick run up the Coast and through the mountains. :)

Just commenting on another CC post relating to CSX4785 -w- front upright problems.

John,

Don't know if you remember me, but we met at the CC tour of Canepa car 'museum' in Scotts Valley last January. I remember looking at your car as we were leaving. Hopefully you can get it to run and drive as good as it looks and it sounds like you are at least making progress towards that end.

- Tim

memory is the second thing to go, and I can't remember the first
 

It seems like people are trying to hang out tommorrow. Keep an eye peeled. I am sorry I don't remember, but always glad to talk cars.
John(;-)

To who ever suggested that Shelby has no obligation to fix/pay/satisfy SR's problem; you are absolutely correct that if it is out of warranty they may have no legal obligation to do so assuming normal ordinary course malfunctions.

However, it is bad business. IMO, SAI could have saved themselves more $$$ than they spent fixed SR's problem in terms of new sales and resale value if SAI provided this story with a happy ending. Speaking as someone who is currently shopping for a Cobra, it is a black mark against SAI (fairly or unfairly). These are one-off, hand made, specialty toys - if you don't get adequate support from the dealer/manufacturer, why bother with SAI when you have a David Kirkham? or an ERA? Other?

This is not a bash and I have no axe to grind, but reputation still counts for a lot in the Cobra market especially.