Still looking
 

Hi Cobra fans:

I have never built a Cobra before but it looks like a fun project and from the pictures that I have seen it looks like the cars are fantastic. I am leaning toward the Coupe, mainly because Ii don't like the sun beating down on me. I see that there are hard tops available but I wonder how much room is in the roadster when the top is on. I am 5'8" tall and about 170lbs. So far I think I am down to two kits, mainly because these are the two that offer the Coupe to build in phases. These are the Shell Valley and Factory Five. I rode in a factory 5 coupe it is nice but I bang my head on the roll bar getting in, but I guess its something I can get use too.

Has anyone had any experience with the Coupe? How hard is it to put together and how much welding is involved with the kit. Do you think I should try the roadster first since this is my first attempt at building a cobra.

I see the cons of Factory Five as using all the donor parts. I have also heard that they break axels and shocks, and also there are some issues with the setup and handling, and with the body fit. any comments?

Jim

Hi Jim,
I'm 6'1" and 210 lbs. I have driven a Shell valley and I fit in without any problems. They make a great car. I have never sat in a FFR. I know the guys from Shell Valley and I have the highest regards for them and their cars. Good luck in your search. The final outcome will depend on how much effort you put into building it. Take your time and do it right the first time.
Mike

Thanks Mike:

I am leaning towards the SV Coupe and am taking a trip out to Nebraska in Sept. to check out their operation and meet some of the guys and take a tour.

Wish me luck
Jim

Hi Jim-- I think you are making a good choice -- and good luck --I know you will have fun -- they are a blast to drive.
Mike

There are 11 Daytona Coupe manufacturers on my list .....

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/suggestions/69551-list-manufacturers.html

I have an FFR roadster and am helping a friend build a coupe. Both of our cars have very few donor parts. Specifically, my buddy used a donor emergency brake handle and pedal box. Everything else is brand-new. In fact, he used a Breeze Automotive EZ-pack to build his car:

http://www.breezeautomotive.com/deta...=546&cat_id=37

FFR has recently addressed the shock issue and discovered that the Bilstein coilover coils were binding under full compression causing lateral stress on the shock rod. They have corrected it with fewer coils spread farther apart.

FFR had one batch of bad axles they sent out with their IRS a few years ago. I have not heard of an axle breaking in quite some time. There are plenty of guys who run big-blocks with IRS and really hammer those axles.

All FFR bodies require some work to get right. If you plan to have it professionally painted, the painter will work out all those details.

Finally, FFR designed the coupe to use manual brakes. Personally, I can't stand having to use both feet and full leg pressure to get a car to stop. On both my roadster and my friends coupe we've added a brake booster which requires cutting one of the 3/4" tubes and welding a u-shaped tubing support around the booster. If you are not comfortable welding, there is a vendor the sells a bolt-on booster frame mod that looks nice.

I haven't seen the shell valley coupe, so I can't comment on it. I will say there are a lot of mis-conceptions about FFR that fly around, from "it's a rebodied Mustang" (funny since Mustangs are unibodies) to "it must be built with 20 year old parts." Although FFR started out their business advertising the donor idea, most guys have stopped using donors and use new parts.

Good luck with your build. The coupes get a lot of stares out on the road and are a blast to build.

we used all new exept for rear axle [one on hand] im 6 ,2 and its is tight around the entry and exit. i use willwood masters and brake pedals on ours no factory stuff no booster ours stop great without a bunch of peddle pressure.we did our own mounts for it no biggy.whatever u get have funwith it ...WB