cmc kit est. build time

m-tek · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2003, 01:32 AM

Hi all...newbie here.

Can anyone give me a rough est. of actual build time it will take to assemble a cmc kit using a 302 eng, auto trans and 8.8" rear, assuming all the parts are in front of me?

I've got over 20 years experience as an auto tech., but this is a first for me.

The kit belongs to my boss. I'll be building it in our shop, so I'll have pretty much everything I need.

By the way, this is a great site, i'm glad I stumbled upon it.

I'm sure i'll be visiting on a regular basis.

Thank's!

Al

B L & sons · #2 (**permalink**) 02-11-2003, 11:43 AM

Hello AL
Welcome to the club
Your question is one that is hard to estimate.
Do you have all the parts to complete?
What things are you going to upgrade?
Upgrades will cost money,thats a question for the boss.
There are just so many things to decide if you are going to build per the owners manual or build BETTER than the manual recommends.
I am in the process of building a CMC myself,the owners manual at best can be used for a guide.
There are 20 or so owners of CMC,streatbeast,fiberfab here in the club.We get a bad rap from some of the members because of the repartion CMC has,but the members here can answer all the questions you may have.
The CMC kit is not a bad kit.
Good luck Al,ask the questions here.
The members here know cobras and will help.
Ragards
Bill

DENNIS K&D · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2003, 03:43 PM

HI AL I HAVE A CMC AND IM STILL WORKING ON IT. I WORK ABOUT 20 HOURS A WEEK ON IT. I BOUGHT IT 1\4 PUT TOGETHER ON OCT 29 2002. YOU NEED TO READ BOOK ABOUT 200 TIMES. BE FORE YOU START. AND THEN THROW IT OUT THE DOOR. HA HA. THERE IS ALOT THAT IS NOT IN THE BOOK SO YOU GO TWO STEPS FOWARD AND TEN BACK. BUT I'M VERY HAPPY SO FAR. JUST PUT MY WHEELS ON TODAY AND RAN INTO PROBLEMS. I ORDED MY TEAM 3 WITH 1\4 TO MUCH SET BACK NOW HITTING MY QUAD SHOCK . IT TOOK 90 DAYS FOR MY RIMS TO COME. SO THINK ABOUT THOSE EARLY
GOOD LUCK DENNIS

racer24 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2003, 06:01 PM

AL

I BOUGHT MINE IN NOV. OF 99. WORKED ON IT WITH A FRIEND THAT OWNS A GARAGE AND WAS AND IS A chevy man (sorry for the bad word). WORKED ON IT ON MONDAY AND THURS. NIGHTS 6:30 TO ABOUT 9:00 OR 10 IF WE HAD ENOUGH ENERGY. tOOK TO THE BODY SHOP FOR SOME FINISHIG BODY WORK FOR THAT SUMMER ( THIS WAS A PART TIME JOB FOR THE BODY SHOP OWNERS AND HIS GRANDSON). GOT IT BACK THAT FALL AND STARTED ALL INTERIOR , TRANNY WORK ECT. 2001 MAY THEN MORE WORK FINALLY ON ROAD JULY 2001. PULLED ENGINE THIS WINTER AND WILL BE BACK IN BY SPRING. THE HOURS I HAVE NO IDEA ---THEIR MANUAL SUCKED . HAVE A PATIENT WIFE , WE HAD TWO OF THEM AND IT GOT TRYING AT TIMES . MY WIFE WAS MORE ENCOURAGEDTHAN I WAS AT TIMES. THERE WERE EVEINGS SPENT JUST TRYING TO COME UP WITH RIGHT ANSWERS. IF YOU ARE ON A TIGHT SCHEDULE GOOD LUCK. MY CMC CAME AS A ROLLING CHASSIS WHERE SOME ONE GAVE UP AFTER 3 YEARS.

I SHOW MINE AND HAVE TAKEN HOME MANY TROPHIES THE PAST YEAR. IF YOU RUN INTO TROUBLE THERE ARE ENOUGH OF US CMC OWNERS TO HELP YOU OUT.

GOOD LUCK

RICH

kountzecobra · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2003, 06:21 PM

I have a CMC that took me 8 years to build. Actually I changed a whole lot from the original kit and just worked on it from time to time. The manual is only a general guide and a lot has to be worked out as the build goes. If everything is there, you could probably complete a CMC cobra in abouit 250 or 300 hours. This is only a guess as I like to take my time and try to think what changes I want to make as I go. These are not as bad a kit as a lot of folks say, they just need some changes made to make them nice cars. There are better kits out there, and worse ones too! I am always ready to help and answer questions if I can help. I am very happy with my finished car.

m-tek · #6 (**permalink**) 02-11-2003, 06:51 PM

Thank you all for your input.

I have read through the manual and kinda got the impression it was going to be more of a general guide than anything.

I wanted to give my boss as close an est. as possible, as far as hours, so he knows what we're up against. Your input will be very usefull.

Again, thank's.

Al

decobraman · #7 (**permalink**) 06-19-2003, 05:14 PM

A little late but.........

Me and my dad built a CMC cobra with a 5.0 HO. Took 2 years to complete, working every week night. And my dad's a mechanic. He didn't get alot of parts from them (why they had the lawsuit). For example, it's all Mustang running gear. But they never gave us a steering column. We had to use a Chevy Corvette one. The fiberglass body didn't have any cutouts, we had to cut out everthing, doors, headlights, rollbar holes, etc. It was a CHORE.

But the 340 horsepower is worth it.