Header issue with csx4788

[csx700?]

shelby racer
your dealer wouldn't happen to have the initials "NSC" or reside in socal would they? as for the dealings of "SAI" i can say i know what your feeling but be advised that you will get substantial flack from some people on this forum if you bash thier god.............we are currently putting together a psych group so that the people that have fallen victim to this kind of financial / mind rape can one day understand that it wasn't our fault that we were so naive and trusting.............I HEAR THE AIR RAID
SIRENS ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. how many ways can one install a engine in a chassis that has only (3) mounting points??

[shelby racer]

Oddly some one Private messaged me regarding a dealer in newport as soon as I stated that I had a problem with my dealer. I have NO experience with any dealer except for mine, but I am beginning to wonder if this is a common problem. I have heard really good things about the dealer in vegas (finishline??). Oddly, when I talked to Shelby about my dealer they said that they had not heard any complaints and that they are the biggest csx4000 dealer that they have. I am wondering if it is that no one is talking to Shelby or that the yare not hearing what is being said.
With regards to your other comment, it is one of the reasons I was so upset. I orderd my car for a top loader and 427 fe (basic - rock solid - I think they have done this before - absolutely NOTHING exotic) and it was still wrong. I had MANY conversations with Shelby about my problems and the attitude was we are trying to help you (but we really think you just don't know what you are doing - fair enough since they don't know me and most people know their wallet better than they know what end of the wrench to use). Finally they said bring it to us and we will look at it and try to help you figure out what is wrong - including whether it is you or the car. The boys in the shop were actually kind of shocked when they climbed on the trailer and looked at the car after I towed it there from northern California. They kind of looked at me and appologized. I am still finding things (some little some not so little) that I am working around, but the important thing was that the guys in the SHOP at Shelby stepped up to the plate and stood behind their product. I really don't think that the COMPANY would have approved of the shop helping a customer, and I pray to GOD that the people at the shop don't get into to trouble for doing what is right. It is like the series 1 failure as descibed in the book "snake bit" (?) and the main reason why Ford is in such trouble right now as descibed by Titus at this years norcal saac mini national convention. The car companies are being run by bean counters who don't get that they are not making toasters and making decsions that are too much based on the bottom line. I have talked many people who love the new mustnag until they see the "cheap" interior.

[shelby racer]

When I found out how busy she is, I have decided to not vigorously pursue communication, but I still stand behind everything I have said.

[bmalone]

Hi SR:

I thought I'd throw my two cents in. Here are the passenger and driver's side shots of my headers lined-up with the sidepipes.





That is my car, CSX4786.

I have been to the HST plant regularly to inspect the Cobras for Gary Davis at Shelby. Of course, the VIN tag, MSO and final inspection are performed at Las Vegas. I started back around 4778 and am still doing it. So, I have seen your car close-up many times--that would have been around September 2005.

I am sorry for all the trouble you have had. But, as you said, there are some real good people working at Shelby.

I started measuring the orientation of the foot boxes right around this time period after Gary told me to take a closer look. I think he said on the previous car he had noticed this. It is not something you would necessarily notice when the engine is missing. There is a fixture at the plant to place the box; if I remember, there was a personnel change and instead of orienting the foot box without the throttle bracket and bolt, the bracket and bolt were in place.

As for the trans mount, right before my car , it was changed to accept the Tremec by default. I know on my car I was concerned I get the 5-speed mount, since that is what I am using.

So, I hope your story has a happy ending and wish you the best getting your car on the road.

BTW, I have a bunch of photos of your car, as it was being built; I'd be happy to send them to you.

[kris-kincaid]

Bill, thats a pretty sweet setup!! You should load your gallery with some photos

[shelby racer]

Hey csx4769,
you sound like you have had it rough. I am VERY concerned that my differential is now going to have the same problem. I have this recurring night mare more things that should have been fixed will keep popping up. As I have said before, the comment given to me when I repicked my car up in vegas was that they had NEVER seen a car THIS badly screwed up. I towed my car home (thank God I own a 1 ton dually crew cab and a 2 axel trailer and am used to towing my road race mustang) thankful that I had gotten some help from some great guys, but still worried that the saga would continue. Well, it has and it has taken a while to convince someone that maybe the # 5 header pipe I got was not right and that it wasn't me - not that I am not "right" . I realize that most people only go to the trouble of saying anything when something is wrong, which is why I try and give feed back to people when some thing goes right or stands out. Unfortunately I don't think what I have been going through with my car is reasonable. Should I have had to bring my car back to vegas at my own expense to have the frame fixed / redone properly - absolutely not, but the alternative was to get my money back on the original purchase price (not to include any of the other expenses or large amount of labor I had incurred) was absolutely not acceptable. I am just trying to fulfil a dream and get my cobra running and on the road. Will I ever sell it - not if I can help it. They better dig a VERY big hole when I die, cause I am getting burried in it. Do I think the boys in the shop went up to and possible beyond what they could do for me under the corporate constraints - absolutely. It just never should have come to this in the first place. MIstakes happen, but when you are aware of them and allow them to continue, it does not speak well of you or your product. It is like the memo that leaked out of ford with the firestone tire problem that they were aware of it, but the accountants ran the numers and it was deemed cheaper to settle law suit than do a recall. As I stated, it just seems like a lot of peopel have had a lot of problems. I get that these are hand built toys, but .....

[shelby racer]

Hey Bill,
I would LOVE to get pitures and doccumentation of my car being built. I am a gashole also (thanks to Morgan). Your headers are VERY different from mine - especially the fact that you have 1 flange per side and every one else has 8 individual ones total. The "template" that Gary Davis made for the foot boxes was made after my car went back to vegas - because my car went back to vegas (or at least that is what he told me). I odered my car for a top loader and the tranny cross member would not fit a tremmac (whic is what I bought after I was told that that was what my car had been built for since I could not get the top loader that I already had bough t for the car to fit). The cross member had to be cut, altered and rewelded to get ANY tranny to fit. I definitely believe that there are MANY VERY good people at Shelby. It is just that some one need to take responsability for the product before it goes out the door.
John(;-)

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by shelby racer

Your headers are VERY different from mine - especially the fact that you have 1 flange per side and every one else has 8 individual ones total.

That's because he is ruinning a 427 cammer SOHC engine, which has different exhaust port configuration than a normal FE.

[Jamo]

Originally Posted by shelby racer

When I found out how busy she is, I have decided to not vigorously pursue communication, but I still stand behind everything I have said.

Your choice...but the concept of this forum is to foster communications between mfgs and customers. You're getting suggestions from others here and a willingness by the mfg to try to help you solve the problem. Hope it works out.

As to whether you're a "gashole" I can't for the life of me recall you ever posting at our site and introducing yourself...at least not under your handle here.

[shelby racer]

Hey Morgan,
after being told for the 10th time that they are not going to fit perfectly out of the box and that they will need to be massaged, I do get it. The pipe that I have for # 5 does not fit by any exhaust port - no matter how much I turn and twist it. The other 7 line up well enough that they need to be massaged and tweaked and welded. My # 5 looks nothing like any one elses # 5 that I have seen. By the way, where is the steering shaft on your driver's side picture?
John(;-)

[shelby racer]

Hey Jammo,
I went over to gasholes and posted something so that you could see me. I have been lurking and working on my cobra. I post more often on corner carvers. As far as contacting Amy B, I was / am hoping for email / pm, but chose not trying to call her since I don't think I would be able to get a hold of her. I was also advised by my guy at Shelby to try and arrange a face to face some time.
Thanks one and all for the adviceand support.
John(;-)