Details of my car...
 

hey, Texas group. you know 'my' car better than I do.... I've been asked a few questions, that I don't know the answer. Gary is really swamped right now, so I hate to call him and bug him. Several friends are coming over Saturday, and I need answers by then! :JEKYLHYDE

1. what does 'stroked' mean?
2. solid lifters, roller lifters, and what do they do?
3. gear ratio? what is it, what does it do?
4. differential?? what is that?
5. pin drive. what is that?
6. what is a cam, what kind do I have, and details please!

Any other mechanical details you think I need to know, pass them on. :) After 18 months, the learning curve is ready for more.... ;)

:LOL: :LOL:
K
I know some of this, but need explanations!

thanks!!!

Stroked is making the engine bigger in cubic inches ie your 427
has a 428 crankshaft that makes your engine a 454. I think those were the numbers Gary told me once. Now you are going to ask what does the crankshaft do? That's that big piece of iron in the bottom of the engine the rods and pistons are connect too.
Buy a basic engine book at your local book store to see how it all is put together and works.

You have solid lifters and cam I think. They push the push rods up and down which open the valves in the heads and let air and gas into the engine from the carburetor. There is also hydralic and hydralic roller.......

Gear ratio is ratio of the gears in the differental which is that pumpkin in the middle of your rear wheels. Engine connected to the transmissions which is connected to drive shaft which is connected to the differental which has gears in it to turn the back wheels. Ratio is amount of time the drive shaft turns to the rear ring gear . I think yours is 3:54 to 1

Just a quick lesson in easy terms but again pic up and engine book or go online and search engine componets etc and see for yourself. Go over to Keith Craft and Rob could show you most all of these parts!!!

good, thanks, Gary. I went online to 'howstuffworks.com' and typed in engine. A hefty manual printed out.... ugh. So, I wanted quick answers to commonly asked questions. Thank you!!!!!
I'll read the manual some dark, cold, night..... ;)
K

HLC,
Didn't Bernie show you any of his parts in Ohio?! I thought Bernie was more giving than that!;)

Doug

Don't feel bad. When KCM first opened up I used it as my personal classroom. That's back before they were so busy they had to use the showroom for car storage. So I'd walk around with Alan and make him explain each piece in sequential order and how it fit with the last thing because they had eveything all displayed. I'm pretty good with the big stuff now. I can't do the detail stuff or know why anything is better than anything else, but I can at least point to a lot of stuff now. :)

Pin drive, thats a BIG one, as I'll bet NO ONE coming over has one of those!

Most wheels are held on with lug nuts, 5 or 6 more or less. On original Cobras they used that "spinner" you see in the middle of the wheel. The wheel has holes that much up with "pins", 5 or 6 usually, and these pins are what drive the wheel. The "spinner" is just there to hold the wheel tight against those pins (which act the same way lug nuts would, they drive the wheel).

I have lug nuts with a pretty trick wheel cover and spinner that makes it look like the "real deal". I prefer lug nuts over pin drive myself as it's much cheaper to buy a second set of wheels\tires for racing. Pin drive\spinners combo are BIG money!

So WHY did they run spinners (and still do on many race cars)? ONE "bolt" (the spinner) for a quicker change of tires during the race!

The bad news? ONE bolt, the spinner. That gets loose and your toast!

thanks, guys! (and gal ;) ) I know I HAVE some of these things, but not sure of them.... like I can point out the distributor, I know what the 'pulley' is, the transmission, what a side oiler is..... I know I have pin drive, but not sure what they are.... :)

The lifter question was asked a couple of weeks ago, and I just hate looking dumb.... also, the ratio several times....

ok, here's another one... what about the steering? rack and pinion??? what is that??? do I have it???? :LOL: :LOL:

glad to see you posting lately, Colleen!:)

Pin Drive wheels---are held to the brake rotor by the big spinner in the center of the wheel. There are holes machined into the backs of the wheels. These holes match up with the "pins" protruding from the brake rotor. Once tightened with the lead hammer, the spinner is commonly wired to the wheels with a fine, piano-type wire, to keep the spinners from loosening up and falling off, which would then let your wheel separate itself from your Cobra. NOT a good thing!

A 3.00 gear ratio is a HIGH ratio, better for top-end speeds. A 4.11 gear ratio is a LOW ratio, better for quick acceleration.
A 3.54 ratio is a good "best of both worlds" ratio.
Your rear axles connect to the differential (center section) of your car's rear end.
A "Detroit Locker" is a top-notch, ratcheting 'pos-a-traction' add-on for your Ford 9-inch rear end.

The Camshaft is driven off the crankshaft, usually by a timing chain (but somtimes by a noisier gear-drive!) The lifters ride on the camshaft; roller rockers cut down power-robbing friction, allowing smoother operation. Camshafts use a number-of-degrees of duration, such as a 260*/260* intake/exhaust measurement, AND use an amount of lift, in inches, measured to the thousandth of an inch, such as .572 of lift. Generally speaking, the higher the numbers of the camshaft, the more power it makes at certain RPM ranges, and the higher numbers usually mean a "lumpier" idle. Think "potato-potato-potato"!!

The pushrods ride on the lifters, and activate the rocker arms in the heads, which make the valves open and close, allowing the fuel/air mixture to enter the heads, allowing the combustion.

You "stroke" an engine by changing/regrinding (making longer) the connecting rod journals on the crankshaft. Sometimes it is cheaper/easier to swap in a crank with longer "throws" on the rod journals.

I'm surfing while faxing requests for the silent auction. I find it's easier to not run into busy signals at this time of night.

I'm hoping to come by your house tomorrow night. Maybe I'll still be there when you get there. ;)

Colleen

Ok the girls have a night out.

Kristen has a new hair cut and style.

They want to know all about cars.....

:confused:.......

Seriously Kristen, ask one of the guys to lift your Cobra up and walk you through it. You will soon pick it all up.

I'm not sure, but isn't Gary the one she purchased the car from??

It's the other Gary.

Gary S has in fact sold a Cobra or two (or three), but just not to Kristen.

2 gary's. Gary Morris, and Gary Sharapata. They all know each other's cars' like the back of their hands..... :LOL:

Yeah, I'll have Rob put it on a lift, and I'll take a look. Colleen- I'm hoping to be back home by 10. bummer. Church function for #2. %/

girls night, new 'do, learning about cars- yeah Bernie, we're gonna open an all chick car garage!!! Colleen and Me will do all the work. Susan will be the service advisor..... ;)

Edley- that started to get complicated! hmmm. I need to re-read it- slower! :LOL:

Hey,Little Cobra
Any time you want to come over and get some real time on what ever mech,paint ,elect,or Fabrication you are more than Welcome and Wyatt would love for you to come by anyway :D
By the way I am building a 460 for my Cougar I have bought a piece here and there over the last year and its time to put it together. The Cobra should be back from a floor make over so there is lots of fabrication left on the frame and lines ,elect . There is always plenty to do around here .
Big T

hey,littlecobra, Let's fill that gallery up with pics!:cool: