Hey,
Still researching things and realized I have a few more questions.
Now I imagine the original Shelby Cobra's where manual steering, is that how a lot of you guys are running them or are you using power steering? I read that the Hurricane uses a Mustang II steering rack but I don't know if those are power or manual? Or do you pick either or?
Also what rearend gears are most guys on the street using? I know when I first built my v8 Ranger I went with 3.73s only to find it was way to much gear for my setup. I'd be in 5th gear around 45mph and driving on the highway at 70 sucked, the engine was revving way to high. I switched to 3.27s and it's about perfect. I had to rebuild the rearend twice, don't want to repeat that mistake if I can avoid it.
Oh and something else comes to mind... do these cars have heat in them? Probably sounds silly but I'm thinking in KC winters most of the days are snow free, just cold, but a great day to go for a ride as long as you don't freeze to death. Some heat would be nice and I imagine not very hard to do.
A/C on the other hand would be a bit more of a challenge, do any of you run A/C? Is it even an option?
Also why does it look like there are three brake fluid reservoirs under the hood? Is that just to replicate the racing days? One for each front wheel and one for the rear?
Hey Malcomb,
The Hurricane's come with manual steering and to my knowledge, I don't think PS is even an option. As I don't have mine on the road yet, I can't comment on steering effort. However, I haven't heard of any complaints and I'll be running fat 17s on mine.
As you know, the choice in gear ratios is driven by several factors. A high revving small block would dictate taller gears than a big block tork monster. Personally, I'm running 3.55 gears with a TKO 600 w/.82 5th and 427W puttin out 550 hp/ft lbs. It was a close call for me between 3.55s and 3.27s. Time will tell if I made the right choice. Here is a good gearing calculator that can help:
http://www.secondstrike.com/Technical/GearCalc.asp//
Heaters are available. In my climate (Los Angeles), I didn't bother with it. I've heard of AC being available through other kit manufacturers and after market suppliers, but don't think it's an option from Hurricane.
The 3 reservoirs: 1 for front brakes, 1 for rears and one for clutch.
Take care
Matt
Malcolm,
I only have 000000.2 miles on mine, but I put plenty of miles on my last one. I think power steering is a waste on these cars. It WILL make parking maneuvers a one-finger affair, but they're really not very hard to steer at low speed anyway.
You certainly can put heat or AC in these cars. I'm not sure if Hurricane offers it as an option, but a place like Vintage Air can supply you with everything you need and there's plenty of room for it.
Gear ratio I chose was 3.55, but I seriously think I'm going to with I'd stuck with something on the order of 3.25, but time will tell. My last one had 4.57's with a high-winding smallblock and that was actually okay with the .68 OD 3550.
Manual steering sounds fine for me. Was just checking what everyone else was using. Iv'e had a pick up truck with fat tires with manual steering and it wasn't to bad, parking was a little tough but that's just half the fun of a hot rod ;)
Jim, not sure where you are in the country but heated seats alone in kansas city won't make it. We winter as cold as -20 but the common is around the teens, 20s, and 30. Heck even when it's just below 50 I think it will be very cold. So my thought was to have a soft top and heat for the winter. It sucks because our weather has a very short term in the year where you can enjoy a drive with no heat or a/c. The other 9 ~ 10 months you need something. I'm probably not going to mess with A/C because I want to keep it as clean and complication free as I can. Heat though I'll do.
What's the size on the tires you guys are running? I'm wanting something that looks original. Seems like it's a 15" rim with a 60 profile, uhhh 295/60/15 or so? I'd like to get the diameter so I can compare to what's on my v8 Ranger. It has a 302 and a T5 and based on how it runs with the 3:27s I can try and gauge what ratio I want for my Cobra.
Thanks guys
Malcolm
Malcolm, There are serveral sights that will give you tire measurements. I've used www.1010tires.com you can compare several different sizes at the same time. Dan # 1011
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Jim, not sure where you are in the country but heated seats alone in kansas city won't make it.
Welcome Doug!
I don't post much about heating as I live in AZ and we drive year around here. (I think it's cold when it's 70! ;D)
That said, I don't see why a suit like that wouldn't work. All you would have to do is add a plug in or under the dash and your set.
Good idea.
Later,
Larry
Hey Doug,
Cool idea with the heated suit. Do you have any experience with them? I was wondering how well they worked. I've driven my 31 Ford roadster during the winter with no heat what so ever and except for the very coldest days it isn't too bad as long as I dressed appropriately. Of course NC winters aren't too terribly cold. My wife on the other hand is cold when its 70 degrees. I was going to get the seat heaters for my car, but something like the heated clothing might get my wife out in the car a little more during the colder weather.
Mike
QuoteHey Doug,
Cool idea with the heated suit. Do you have any experience with them? I was wondering how well they worked. I've driven my 31 Ford roadster during the winter with no heat what so ever and except for the very coldest days it isn't too bad as long as I dressed appropriately.