Considering a Superformance have lots of questions

[Detroit Bill]

Had a great field trip today with my two sons.

We visited the local Superformance dealer
His showroom is located in Ligenfelter Performance
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering | Perfecting the art of performance for over 41 years

We then visited RM Motorsports
RM Motorsports – Wixom Michigan

First the dealer had two rollers for us to look at. The cars looked good, fabrication looked good, glass work was straight. Very sexy car, is it authentic? I am not sure I care that the body lines are "correct", they are in good proportion and look good. I am still seriously considering 17" rims so the authentic part is questionable anyway. I sat in the cockpit and the pedal setup would take some getting used to. Everything is jammed up to the left.
I guess that is the price for cramming a large engine in a small car. I have to say overall it looked like a quality build. I would put two roll bars in. I know this is frowned upon by everyone buy Patrick and I like the look better with one but I think it is prudent to have two (if they mount to the frame).

Two things the ERA web site questioned was where the outboard portion of the roll bar mounted. From an assembled car I could not tell. Second the body side of the door latch is not mounted to the frame but mounted in the fiberglass. I could not confirm either of these. Has anyone had one torn down enough to tell me where the outboard leg of the roll bar mounts? Can anyone confirm what the body side of the door latch is mounted into.

I can say except for those two questions I would be comfortable with a Superformance Chassis.

Lingenfelter was very cool. They have 2 engine dyno's and one chassis Dyno. Lots of Chevy stuff everywhere. There was a 1000 hp Vett on the lift next to the Cobra.

RM motorsports was even more interesting. They do Cobra engine and trans installs for the dealer and are certainly capable of that. Their business is to rebuild old race cars and help people race them at vintage races. It was an awesome operation with older race chassis being rebuilt and prepped.



Overall a very interesting afternoon.

I spoke to ERA and I am getting a quote on a chassis prepared similarly to a Superformance so I can do somewhat of a comparison.

Bill

[patrickt]

Both your questions are answered specifically on this page: ERA vs Superformance FWIW, I'm 6'4" with 12EEE feet. That's one of the reasons I flew up to New Britain and had what they call a "butt in seat" fitment. Suffice to say I fit quite nicely, and they moved the pedals around so my feet fit as well. It is now all second nature and I would say the car fits me like a glove.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Both your questions are answered specifically on this page: ERA vs Superformance FWIW, I'm 6'4" with 12EEE feet. That's one of the reasons I flew up to New Britain and had what they call a "butt in seat" fitment. Suffice to say I fit quite nicely, and they moved the pedals around so my feet fit as well. It is now all second nature and I would say the car fits me like a glove.

Yes, I referenced that is where I got the information. But they are competitors and I wanted to see for myself or get information from someone who tore one apart.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

Yes, I referenced that is where I got the information. But they are competitors and I wanted to see for myself or get information from someone who tore one apart.

I've got pics of every aspect of my car, and have taken most of it apart and put it back together just for fun. I'll see if I can find some pics that show the mounting locations for you but, trust me, the specs on the ERA are as they are stated. Someone like Mark IV can tell you way more on the technical specs of the SPF than I.

[patrickt]

Here's how my roll bars are mounted (passenger side mirrors the driver side). They go straight to the frame.

[patrickt]

And here's a shot of my latch. It has aluminum between it and the frame, but if you go here: FIA Chassis illustration and here: http://www.erareplicas.com/427/chassis.htm you can see how mounts below the aluminum.

[LightNFast]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I can say except for those two questions I would be comfortable with a Superformance Chassis.

Bill

Superformance also has names like Bob Bondurant and Bob Olthoff associated with the development of the MKIII...

Superformance | News

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[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

First the dealer had two rollers for us to look at. The cars looked good, fabrication looked good, glass work was straight. Very sexy car, is it authentic? I am not sure I care that the body lines are "correct", they are in good proportion and look good. I am still seriously considering 17" rims so the authentic part is questionable anyway. I sat in the cockpit and the pedal setup would take some getting used to. Everything is jammed up to the left.
I guess that is the price for cramming a large engine in a small car. I have to say overall it looked like a quality build. I would put two roll bars in. I know this is frowned upon by everyone buy Patrick and I like the look better with one but I think it is prudent to have two (if they mount to the frame).

Two things the ERA web site questioned was where the outboard portion of the roll bar mounted. From an assembled car I could not tell. Second the body side of the door latch is not mounted to the frame but mounted in the fiberglass. I could not confirm either of these. Has anyone had one torn down enough to tell me where the outboard leg of the roll bar mounts? Can anyone confirm what the body side of the door latch is mounted into.

I can say except for those two questions I would be comfortable with a Superformance Chassis.






Bill

The door latch receiver is mounted to a steel plate that is embedded in the fiberglass. Likewise the pins for the top and tonneau are machine threads into an embedded steel piece.

The outboard roll bar mounts to the frame, you do not see the mount as it is behind the bulkhead unlike the inboard downward leg of the bar which is in the cockpit.

Any "Cobra" with an FE will have the pedals offset to the outside. You get used to it quite quickly. When you have a Windsor engine you can have a larger footbox with more room.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

The door latch receiver is mounted to a steel plate that is embedded in the fiberglass. Likewise the pins for the top and tonneau are machine threads into an embedded steel piece.

The outboard roll bar mounts to the frame, you do not see the mount as it is behind the bulkhead unlike the inboard downward leg of the bar which is in the cockpit.

Any "Cobra" with an FE will have the pedals offset to the outside. You get used to it quite quickly. When you have a Windsor engine you can have a larger footbox with more room.

You don't happen to have any photos or drawings of how it mounts?

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

You don't happen to have any photos or drawings of how it mounts?

I assume you are referring to the roll bar mount? I do have photos but will need to dig into my "files" to find them. Be assured despite whatever someone may have told you, the outer bar leg does not mount to "air".

And consider the full width bar as an alternative to the dual bars if you are really concerned with the structural integrity of the bar. It looks the part and is very stout.

[sea2jet]

Are all 3 legs of the Superformance roll bar bolted to the frame? That article suggest that the outboard leg is just slipped over a round metal stub with just a rivet in place to keep it from creaking. That can't be right.

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by sea2jet

Are all 3 legs of the Superformance roll bar bolted to the frame? That article suggest that the outboard leg is just slipped over a round metal stub with just a rivet in place to keep it from creaking. That can't be right.

All of the roll bar legs attach to the frame. The outboard leg does have a rivet to hold it down in the receptacle that it mounts to. We do install a through bolt for anyone that requires it. It is a matter of "upgrade".....all brands have it.

[sea2jet]

I would say that would be a good upgrade. Patrickt, how is the ERA rollbar mounted? I'm a bit worried if it's also a slip fit. If so, I want to modify it to make sure it's properly fastened with good quality hardware.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by Mark IV

I assume you are referring to the roll bar mount? I do have photos but will need to dig into my "files" to find them. Be assured despite whatever someone may have told you, the outer bar leg does not mount to "air".

And consider the full width bar as an alternative to the dual bars if you are really concerned with the structural integrity of the bar. It looks the part and is very stout.

I don't mean to imply is is mounted in air? I just want to know if it is mounted to the main frame rail or something mounted to side of the main frame rail?

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I sat in the cockpit and the pedal setup would take some getting used to. Everything is jammed up to the left.
I guess that is the price for cramming a large engine in a small car.

The pedals are offset to the left slightly in all SPF and CSX Cobras that I've ever seen due to the transmission tunnel, as were the originals. I suppose it might be possible that Backdraft or others have compensated for that. I never noticed it (at least to the degree of making me uncomfortable) when driving it.

The bigger thing is the cramped quarters. Big feet with big shoes don't fit well. I drove mine with sneakers almost all of the time. I never got into the specialized driving shoes.

The other thing is that the horizontal pedal offset of the brake to accelerator make heel-toe throttle blip/braking difficult if not impossible for most people. That's just the way they are!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

The pedals are offset to the left slightly in all SPF and CSX Cobras that I've ever seen due to the transmission tunnel, as were the originals. I suppose it might be possible that Backdraft or others have compensated for that.

Behold... the brake pedal's right edge is straight down from the middle of the seat, and I can heel-and-toe with no difficulty. I can blip the throttle with my right heel, while on a hill at a stoplight, without the slightest trouble. Now, they did do some adjusting on everything so it would be like this. And yes, that's a dead pedal on the left.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Behold... the brake pedal's right edge is straight down from the middle of the seat, and I can heel-and-toe with no difficulty. I can blip the throttle with my right heel, while on a hill at a stoplight, without the slightest trouble. Now, they did do some adjusting on everything so it would be like this. And yes, that's a dead pedal on the left.

Patrick - did you mention the reason the seats line up with the pedals is because the seats are also canted slightly to the outside.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Patrick - did you mention the reason the seats line up with the pedals is because the seats are also canted slightly to the outside.

Mine are not set in the stock holes -- they are back from the original holes and certainly appear to be plum square.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Mine are not set in the stock holes -- they are back from the original holes and certainly appear to be plum square.

Try putting a straightedge across the backrest bolsters. It's probably not more than 4 - 6 degrees per seat with the stock floor plan drillings but it's there. Moving the seats all the way back for your over-height frame might have gained enough room next to the narrowest portion of the transmission tunnel so that they could straighten them out a little.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DanEC

Try putting a straightedge across the backrest bolsters. It's probably not more than 4 - 6 degrees per seat with the stock floor plan drillings but it's there. Moving the seats all the way back for your over-height frame might have gained enough room next to the narrowest portion of the transmission tunnel so that they could straighten them out a little.

I just walked out and did just that... and you are absolutely correct. It's a subtle turn, but it's there alright -- and in eight years I never noticed it.