Your thoughts on this used Cobra

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Now I'm thinking, hmmm, those ERA cobras are sure nice, too...

The sickness has been in remission, but no longer.
:-)

An ERA is quite a bit different than an SPF. Before you make your final decision, you should do the research and learn about the differences. If, after learning about them, they are not important to you, then an SPF is a better deal for you.

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

Check out the ERA for sale today on CC, looks pretty darn good, better car than a SPF in everyway.
My opinion only, Bill

The black #508? Yep, that's a very nice car.

[Flygirl]

Originally Posted by patrickt

An ERA is quite a bit different than an SPF. Before you make your final decision, you should do the research and learn about the differences. If, after learning about them, they are not important to you, then an SPF is a better deal for you.

Now there's a telegraphic statement if I've ever read one.

____________


Seriously, the more I learn, the more I like the ERA. The Jag rear end worries me a little bit, but the inboard discs are something I've always dug. I remain open to a number of different options, so I can find what I want in my price range, and not rule out anything prematurely.

____________

I've seen the blue car with silver stripes already. Not super fond of the Shelby signature on the glove box door. A bit too ostentatious for my tastes, a minus actually. The silver stripes with the blue body don't really float my boat either. And the Roush 402 may be a great engine, but it's not period correct enough for me. That license plate would definitely have to go, and I have questions about the iPhone dock under the dash.

Here's the car I like at the moment, as mentioned previously by Bill and Patrick:

ERA Cobra chassis #508, '65 side oiler, C5AE-F medium riser heads, (SB-100 CA registration), MSD (box hidden under dash), 100 amp alternator, ceramic coated side pipes, Top loader gearbox, close ratio gear set, Jag/Salisbury rear end 3.54, Sierra front brakes, 6 pin knock off wheels, BFG tires, Spax adj coilovers, Smiths gauges (reverse speedo), leather seats, fully sorted, 1,200 miles tonneau and full cover. Spare set of wheels with new GY Blue Streaks. 2nd set of GY Blue Streak rains (new). $50,000 obo.

This is more what I'm looking for. The 427 side oiler and very period correct. SB-100 compliance helps, too. Will be seeing it in person on Monday.

There is also another ERA Cobra which interests me very much. Currently under the care of a highly knowledgeable, skilled and meticulous owner, and is I think is about as nice as any other car out there.

[FUNFER2]

Can you post photo's ?

ERA's are very nice built cobras and love side oilers. Their also very close to the originals.

[FUNFER2]

It just sold this morning.

Originally Posted by funfer2

i agree, i wish we could link cobra country here.

This is one of the best spf's i'e seen. Although i would prefer a fe motor, this roush motor is very nice, the stacked injection would also be better.

the price is too high, like most spf's for sale, so if the seller would work with you, it would be a very nice car to have.

Highlights-

color
quality build
great motor & drive train
(510 horsepower and 489 lbs./ft. Of torque)
original style gauges "reverse speedo ect"
oil cooler
rivits on hood
shelby autograps (if that turns your crank, $100 +)
chrome coolant tank
clean/organized engine bay
aluminum flywheel
tremec 5-speed transmission
wilwood disc brakes
fully independent front & rear suspension
bilstein coil-over shocks
trigo wheels
real leather seats.
Heater
soft-top with side curtains
tonneau cover
car cover

i would be a happy buyer of this cobra. The only change i would make (in the supplied photo) are the side pipes. Looks like the coating is either sprayed bad from the start or has burned off making them dull.


Ad on cobra country-
------------------------------

superformance mkiii
spo#1805, indigo blue/titanium stripes

registered under the coveted "sb-100" (california senate bill 100)—that means
no smog certification, no california registration hassles for the life of the car!

Under the hood
402r-061 roush powerplant

powerplant photo is hotlinked (same view, much larger size).

This solidly-built roush engine puts out 515 horsepower and 489 lbs./ft. Of torque. It's highly reliable and eminently streetable. Fully outfitted with the best of componentry, including msd ignition ensemble, ss braided hoses, ansa fittings, chromed overflow tank, twin electric "puller" cooling fans, much more.
It's highly reliable and eminently streetable.

Geartrain, chassis, brakes

aluminum flywheel
tremec 5-speed transmission
wilwood disc brakes
fully independent front & rear suspension
bilstein coil-over shocks

cockpit

above cockpit shot is hotlinked (alternate view, much larger size).

Cockpit is authentically outfitted with:

Period-correct/original-correct smiths gauges (with correct reverse-winding speedometer) and lucas toggle switches
moto-lita hardwood-rimmed steering wheel
premium german leather seats
dual shoulder harnesses for driver & passenger
rich wool carpeting
heater/defros ter
dual fresh air vents
wind wings & tinted visors
leather map pocket in each door
chromed fire extinguisher in cockpit
cobra floormats and locking glovebox
custom car cover

above: Carroll shelby's personal autograph on the glovebox door... And it's
no doubt one of the best specimens of carroll's autograph you're likely to encounter!

Rolling stock


trigo wheels shod with-brand new bf goodrich with white letters—new rubber to be installed for the new owner (my cost for mounting & balancing included in sale price).


This rearview is hotlinked [alternate view (luggage compartment), much larger size].


You also get:

Original-style convertible soft-top with side curtains
tonneau cover
stainless steel quick-lifts
silver-ceramic*coated sidepipes
electrical (safety) kill switch


this blue beauty has always been kept in a climate-controlled garage, never raced or seen inclement weather, and has been maintained and serviced by the long-reigning cobra expert on the west coast—mike mcclusky. This is a drivin' machine extraordinaire... You'll get no unpleasant surprises.


$52,900 obo

contact (via email, due to my travel schedule):
Michel stern
[remarque: Je peux converser avec vous en anglais et en français!]

email: michel1223@gmail.com
located in los angeles, california

[Flygirl]

Congrats to the owner on the sale. I hope I didn't come across as condescending about the car—just re-reading my remarks and a bit concerned about that.


Apologies if I offended anyone. I didn't mean to.

Natalie

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Seriously, the more I learn, the more I like the ERA. The Jag rear end worries me a little bit, but the inboard discs are something I've always dug.

If that's really a concern, just have the standard Jag rear upgraded to the optional ERA Outboard Braked Rear. Fully adjustable and, frankly, overkill for the street, but it's an absolute work of art -- shots of mine are in my my photo gallery.

[Flygirl]

Well, I figure I'll just run it as is, and then worry about what to do next if and when the time comes.

_______

Made a low offer on the Silver SPF 051, owner did not go for it. Glad.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Well, I figure I'll just run it as is, and then worry about what to do next if and when the time comes.

The outboard braked rear is a few thousand dollars extra. You don't really need it; I dont really need it either -- the only reason I got it was because it makes changing the rear pads out easier, and it looks cool.

[lovehamr]

Have you guys ever seen what happens when a big motor pops a Jag half-shaft in a Cobra? I saw it happen to an ERA at the TX Shelby meet back in 86 or 87. I think the guys name was Stacy. At any rate I swore off Jaf rearends way back then. Keep in mind that was a long time ago and I'm sure some things have gotten better but the half-shaft doing double duty as the upper control arm has just never foated my boat.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Apologies if I offended anyone. I didn't mean to.
Natalie

You won't offend anyone here by choosing not to have things like a signature on the dash. That's what's cool about these cars...each one is different. Now you might offend Pat if you don't have two roll bars, but my belief is if you only motor by yourself (thus reducing the chance for passengers screaming in sheer terror) then you don't need two roll bars.

Good that you are doing your homework and sifting through the feedback. That alone will ensure you find the right car for you.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by elmariachi

You won't offend anyone here by choosing not to have things like a signature on the dash. [/b]

I hate the signature on the dash look. That's why I have mine discretely hidden inside the glove box safely out of sight.

[madmaxx]

I have owned 3 worked on 15? and in the end the engine I was the hapiest with was a run of the mill 302 from stock parts except eddelbrock heads and manifold, about 300 rwhp with a 411? rear end. It was as fast as any other cobra zero to 60 and never once had any concerns about hurting the engine. It cost about $5k, compared to 14K for some of the name brand engines which I always feared about breaking. Last I heard that little 302 had about 35Kmiles and starting to use oil. The one I was least happy was a 460 ford, what a dog, reved slow but had tons of torque.


In the end it will depend on how mechanically inclined you are, something tells me big blocks require more attention if you have a solid cam etc. You go to radical and parts wear out alot faster.

These cars are junk. I broke down for the first time the other day. The terminal did not come off the coil the wire did not pull out of the terminal, the f^&king terminal broke in half!!!!

[Flygirl]

The sig inside the glovebox is sweet. Excellent idea.

So here's a question about 427FEs. Is it really possible to get one of these engines to run well for street use, and have stable temps in traffic? Or is the engine simply generating too much heat, the engine compartment too small, and the physical area available for the radiator insufficient to reliably dissipate that heat, even with all three fans running?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Is it really possible to get one of these engines to run well for street use, and have stable temps in traffic? Or are they just too big, the engine compartment too small, and the area available for the radiator physically insufficient to reliably dissipate that heat, even with all three fans running?

Yes, and yes -- they are not too big, nor is the engine compartment too small. The heat is readily dissipated with the proper radiator, fan, and shroud combination. That said, higher horsepower FEs do tend to produce more heat than lower horsepower FEs -- but really, on the street, there's not much difference between 475HP and 575HP because you can't use either safely for more than a couple of seconds, if that.

[elmariachi]

My side oiler is all cast-iron, 500HP, and it gave me overheating fits until I sorted out that I didn't have enough airflow through the radiator. After installing a high CFM 2-speed fan, all my problems went away. As an example it has been consistently at or above 100F PLUS humidity here in Houston since May and the car has not overheated or even shown the signs of wanting to. Me, on the other hand.....well I do get hot sitting and idling in the car with those ambient temps. The car though idles around 195-200F MAX and as soon as I start moving it drops back to t-stat temps of 180-185F. I ran the Big Bend Open Road Race in April and the temps on race day were 95F. We ran in the not-so-fast 105mph class and the car never got over 195F. Oil temps without a cooler were about 230F.

I have almost 8k miles on my car and its been on the road about 2.5 years. Its very street able and low-maintenance for how powerful it is.

[Flygirl]

Is that the two speed Taurus fan I've read about? I'm in CA and it can get pretty darned hot here, too, depending on the climate.

I'm glad to hear this about the 427. This whole thing began with my interest in a FF MkIV nearly a year ago. I only have experience with the Windsor motors, and that car was in my comfort zone. Then the silver SPF which started this thread, more cubes but still the same architecture.

I've never owned a FE of any size, let alone potentially a 427 s/o. Researching furiously, liking what I'm hearing for the most part but it's all theoretical, I have zero hands on experience with one.

I guess it's like the news, it's primarily the bad stuff which gets the attention. In the case of the 427, it's vapor lock, overheating, and now the occasional intake manifold gasket failure leading to a possible hydrolock condition.

But when I played Patrick's sound files of his engine idling and accelerating, it sure helped!

Good to know that the overheating can be diagnosed and addressed, as opposed to some basic limitation that makes it impossible to fix.

[PANAVIA]

The gauges are the EARLY gauges - before their were good Caerbont reproductions. - , it looks like a clean car. -

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Flygirl

Is that the two speed Taurus fan I've read about? I'm in CA and it can get pretty darned hot here, too, depending on the climate.

Yes. I think I was the first to put one on a Cobra on this forum but several others have followed. User "Undy" has a big honking FE and I think he is enjoying a cool running car with his, as is Havasu Bill. Best $50 I ever spent on the Cobra.

[Flygirl]

Now if I could just figure out why a 427 would blow oil under pressure out of one of the breather caps.

Last time that happened, my Pinto Runabout made it back from Los Angeles on a flatbed.

[YerDugliness]

[quote=Flygirl;1153444]Now if I could just figure out why a 427 would blow oil under pressure out of one of the breather caps.
QUOTE]

Most of us small-block affecionados believe the 427 (hell, ANY FE engine) was made by the Brits....all their automotive gear leaks oil, and if you buy an FE engined Cobra, chances are pretty good yours will, too.

Lots of reasons why an FE would blow oil out the breather....the valvetrain on an FE is pretty tricky to set up, most likely there was some issue with the lash on a solid tappet cam or something like that.

Bottom line, though....FE's just leak oil, whether it comes out the breather or the rear main seal or the intake manifold (yeah, that one was just a joke ), or where-ever, they just leak oil.

Not that our small-blocks don't, but it sure gives us something to razz the FE lovers about (just like we bluegrass musicians make fun of the banjo players....if you're a musician, you'll understand )!!

Cheers, Dugly