Messages

31

Build Pictures / Build pictures of HM-2013

« on: November 19, 2022, 11:13:17 AM »

Hello all,
I had every intention of doing a build log as I went along with my build, well I failed. However, I did post some finished photos and had a request for some build photos. Along the way I did take some pictures and tried to keep track of the date, time and what I did on a spreadsheet which took just shy of 2000 hours to complete. Using this forum and guidance from numerous other sources I was able to complete my vision of a cobra. May not be the liked by some due to color or power plant however I did what I could with my abilities. It seems like it's easier to work backwards than to do it as one goes along. And those that post a build log at the same time my hats off to you gentlemen and ladies.

So here goes, I ordered my kit bare frame so that I could clean up any welds and paint it myself trying to save a few pennies. After receiving my kit between Christmas and New Years, I couldn't actually start working on it until like April. It seemed like Mother Nature wanted to deep freeze everything that year and had temperatures on the south side of zero for weeks.

 I took two engine stands and created a small rotisserie to rotate the frame. Couldn't get a full 360 swing but enough each way to get to the bottom really well. Sanded, primed and painted frame.

32

Finished Kit Pictures / Re: Finished photos of HM-2013

« on: November 14, 2022, 12:46:58 PM »

I'll see what I can do with some build pictures in the build section. Anything in particular, let me know and I'll check. Hope this will hold you over until then.

https://youtu.be/zMlMs1wWv_s

Michael-

33

Finished Kit Pictures / Re: Finished photos of HM-2013

« on: November 11, 2022, 09:42:07 PM »

The Clevelands have a slightly different coolant pathway compared to a Windsor or FE where there is a flange on the intakes. Clevelands upper hose mounts to the block. One just needs to take some time and sit down and think about the design. From a design aspect out of the block then a 90* radiator hose to another 90* metal connection on the FE tank(basically cut the intake flange off the tank and connect the hose). Easy peasy, oh and figure out how to mount it securely as well all while making sure there is distributor, air cleaner and hood clearance. So nothing to it…

34

Finished Kit Pictures / Re: Finished photos of HM-2013

« on: November 11, 2022, 05:12:08 PM »

Redstang69,
Funny you should ask. That my friend is a heater flush connection that I used as a fill/vent in order to help purge the air out of the coolant system. The heater is just slightly higher than the in line fill neck in the upper radiator hose. It worked pretty good after I put the front up on jacks to get the heater and the fill neck closer to level and used the flush connection as a vent. One day I’ll figure out how to mount the 427 coolant tank like everyone else has done, until then…

Michael-

35

Finished Kit Pictures / Re: Finished photos of HM-2013

« on: November 08, 2022, 05:37:50 PM »

Thanks guys, means alot. I was worried due to it wasn't the traditional red or blue colors or a Windsor or FE powerplant.

Greg,
I used Russ Rittaman's build log of HM-2005 for the suggestion of door sill. Look at posts #95, #98 and #102. He used 3/4" MDF, however I used 3/4" Advantec flooring which is somewhat water-resistant, after taking a router to relief the areas around the latch and lower body mounting bolts, which went all the way to the down leg of the birdcage. I then painted them to help seal them up. I then wrapped in carpet leaving enough at the top to tuck under the edge of the body lip after installing some pinch on wind lace obtained from National Parts Depot (a Mustang parts supply house) item #WL-A pebble texture. You might be surprised at some of the items I purchased from various Mustang Parts suppliers, owning and restoring my '68 and '69 fastbacks helped in knowing some items could be used on the cobra. In Hindsight the only thing I can say is I wish I would have paid attention to the thickness of the door sill lip all the way around the opening, some areas where a little thick and made it challenging attaching the wind lace, as well as the area around the latch mechanisms/mounting bracket. Like usual one side was ok, but the other side had to be a little creative and some black hot glue helped.

Any other questions feel free to ask, willing to help.

Michael-

36

Finished Kit Pictures / Re: Finished photos of HM-2013

« on: November 08, 2022, 12:06:09 PM »

Was able to attend a local show in late September, 104 cars showed up and they awarded the top 40 cars which I was able to be fortunate enough to be one. Alot of lookers and answering questions, all in all a good day.

Michael-

37

Finished Kit Pictures / Re: Finished photos of HM-2013

« on: November 08, 2022, 11:59:29 AM »

A few more...

38

Finished Kit Pictures / Finished photos of HM-2013

« on: November 08, 2022, 11:57:11 AM »

Received my kit between Christmas and New Years of 2013 and taking until July of 2022, tried to keep track of the time I spent which was just shy of 2000 hours in actual build time, the journey has finally come to an enjoyable end. Along the way I made some new friends that offered their input and advice that will cherish, you know who you are. Bobby, Mark, Aaron, and Russ which unfortunately passed away unexpectedly, as well as this forum along the way. I decided to go non-traditional with a 351 Cleveland and a TKO-600. The paint and bodywork all done by me and the colors I chose were GMC Unripened Green/Corvette Lime Rock Green and Ford Oxford White stripes. I have a few odds and ends that I will work on over the winter months but all in all, it was enjoyable learning process.

39

Build Pictures / Re: HM2017 Build

« on: October 10, 2022, 10:38:27 AM »

Jeff,
I mounted mine to the factory seat mounts much like yours, just drilled different holes to relocate the position. Couple things I see, with the seats being centered as you have the driver's side then do the same to the passenger side will be really close to the tunnel on the inside and create an issue with the emergency brake lever and being able to use it. The slight offset alignment really isn't noticed when driving, the offset might be more noticeable if you center the seat rather than offset the seat. To be honest I don't think the slight offset is as noticeable as one thinks when all done, but may be more noticeable if one centers the seats, The other thing I noticed is that Alec and Jason mentioned to me one time in London Ohio cobra show was they were going to change the way the down leg was made into the cock pit, they found the strap type mount caused a little too much flex and was cracking the factory car windshield. They suggested adding a brace of some sort. This is what I did welding to the leg, see photo attached. Sorry for the dowels in the photo but this is all I have looking over the back into the cockpit and the seat offset alignment. Only noticeable if one knows...


Michael-
HM-2013

40

Build Pictures / Re: HM2017 Build

« on: August 01, 2022, 10:27:43 AM »

Jeff,
Before I forget, over the weekend I was installing the shroud kinda following your idea as a reference. I came across something you may want to think about before you go to far. As I was putting the hardware together to mount the fan similar to your nut and bolt idea and I thought what if the fan needs replaced at some time, how is one to get to the nuts on the back of the shroud between the radiator and the shroud without taking the entire thing out. Unless you have a secret flexible rubber wrench in order to get to those, I used nut-zerts in the shroud to run the bolts into instead of nuts. Just something to consider. Once completed you wouldn’t have to take 10 things apart just to get to the four bolts that hold the radiator in that are also used to attach the shroud. Don’t ask me how I know this to be true at least it was in my case.

Michael

41

Build Pictures / Re: HM2017 Build

« on: July 27, 2022, 08:07:13 AM »

Yeah my bad, after going out and looking I realized error of my ways. Was remembering the size was roughly 26 inches wide BUT that was from the front where there isn’t any upper and lower hose obstacles. The fin section is approximately the 22 inches wide so the smaller one would be a better fit. Got mine on order, every little bit to keep these things cool helps.

Dawger

42

Build Pictures / Re: HM2017 Build

« on: July 27, 2022, 06:47:50 AM »

I saw that summit has this shroud https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-381201?rrec=true which is 19.5 x 26 with a hole for a 16 inch fan that is the same depth. Wouldn’t have to trim the 14 inch hole to 16 inches or is that one too big, length wise?

Dawger

43

General Questions / Re: LCS 2022

« on: July 01, 2022, 08:56:25 AM »

Oh come on Bobby, London isn’t all that bad, one of these times I want to try to make it to the Texas meet.

Michael-

44

Build Pictures / Re: HM2034 build ...another Texas Hurricane

« on: June 30, 2022, 07:44:50 PM »

Out of curiosity I was looking up different seat options for when my fail which hopefully won’t be for a while as I just got it completed and ready for the road. So I went looking at the OPM site which led me to this seat as well as the one you mentioned above. Maybe something worth checking into. https://winecountrymotorsports.com/product_info.php/products_id/334?osCsid=45ad75cf5470f93f17ea1c66203823df And there is also a seating chart for dimensions as well. https://winecountrymotorsports.com/size_charts/cobra_seatchart.pdf

Michael

45

Build Pictures / Re: HM-2030 Build Log - The Storm Ahead

« on: June 08, 2022, 04:42:16 PM »

Have not really gotten the chance to get in and out on a regular basis, but the step in sit on the back and slide in sounds like the thing to do. If one watches Ford vs. Ferrari I don’t think Matt Damon and Christian Bale ever opened the doors. They just step in like getting into a tub and slid down in.

Michael