Build pictures of HM-2013

[dawger]

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.

[dawger]

Starting to look like something.. had to add the seat mounting points supplied from Hurricane, my frame went out with the idea of using washers and such under the fiberglass. NOT going to happen, contacted Hurricane and they supplied the new set up along with some measurements to aid in adding mounts.

[dawger]

After setting the tub on and affixing the side pipes and headers to the mock up motor, I noticed the motor mounts where too high for some odd reason. Out they came and installed the new ones Hurricane was using on kits after mine. Old ones had like the pedestal look and the new ones wrapped around the edge of the frame. While at one London Cobra show Alec and Jason mentioned to do something with the strap leg of the birdcage due to it was flexing too much causing their factory car to crack windshields. Since then, they redesigned the down leg of the birdcage. So out came the welder, grinder and some channel iron

[dawger]

During the build I had contacted Alex Denysenko (of MoneyMaker Racing a NHRA and IHRA Stock and Super stock drag racer champ) for guidance of building my Cleveland. During the time he passed away leaving me in the middle of an engine build. Between his son getting the items back from the machine shop and a big help from Brent Lykins (of a 351C forum and numerous other forums) were a big help in completing the build. Learned a lot along the way matching rings to get the best sets for each cylinder, short of file fitting them to measuring for pushrod lengths and degreeing the cam to mention a few newly learned abilities.

[dawger]

I went overboard with the heat insulation, after researching the forums about heat transfer into the cockpits, I added Lizard skin insulation as well as some sound deadner heat shield from Eastwood. After getting all that completed I added the dash and gauges to its location. Once that was done then out came the mock up engine and in went the freshened up Cleveland with some extra goodies. Then the body back on as well.

[dawger]

Then started all not so fun process that some people dislike. BODYWORK... For me it was another step towards the finish line of I built this myself. It didn't hurt that I had some past experience with the subject at hand a couple of mustangs and an egg, 57 oval window VW bug.

Sanded the entire body down with 80 grit to scuff up after cleaning numerous times with acetone and soap and water. Oh word to the wise, don't by more than one gallon of acetone from Walmart at the same time. Something about using Acetone and cooking meth I was told. Flattened the body seams and worked the filler in areas needed. I totally TOTALLY get why the cost of doing these cars are in the high $$$$ range after completing mine. It's all the work in the preparation. All tapped off in the makeshift spray booth for slicksand, sanded with 120, 180, 220 grit then added primer on top, sanded with 320, 400 and 600 to get ready for sealer.

[dawger]

Then the truly fun part began. Spraying the white, laying out the stripes, masking off the stripes, spraying the green, unmasking the stripes and then spraying the clear coat whaaaaaat a looooooong day. It truly is a help to have a second even a third set of eyes help laying out the stripes. As the optical illusion effect starts to kick in due to the shape of the car if it's your first rodeo laying out the stripes. Basically, make it look good and use measurements as a starting point.

[dawger]

Starting to come together, adding weatherstrip, creating the nose pieces and a radiator shroud, which I made out of a screen door grille for storm doors from Lowe's or Menard's. After a little cutting and forming, should work. Went and got some skins, Cooper Cobra 245/60/15 front and 295/50/15 for the rear. Oh and 15's do fit around the 12.19 Wilwood brake kit, they are tight need to watch where they put the weights if they are stick on. One wheel they had to peel all the weight off, dismount the tire and rotate it 180* to hopefully reduce the amount of weight needed, once I saw the amount of weight and how far the weights came out. Sad thing is it was getting wintertime again and have to wait another year. So, over the winter-2021 worked on finishing up the interior with the carpet kit supplied from Hurricane. Getting really really close.

[dawger]

All finished for now winter of 2021 spring of 2022, waiting for nicer weather to fire up and start driving. May do something else for the trunk panel. Have a piece of decorative panel what we called black glass (which was an acrylic panel) when I worked at Whirlpool for use on refrigerators that I might cut and form for a divider trunk panel.

Sorry that I did this backwards and not doing it on the front end and gave an overview of my build. More finished photos and a short first start/running video link is in finished kit section. If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me.

Just hope someone buys the brand and keeps it going.

Michael
HM-2013

[Redstang69]

Michael, thanks for putting this together. It's always cool to see other's process and customizations.
Did you do a "hidden fasteners" dash? I can't really see any screws in the pics.
Do you have any pictures of the heater box installed? Yours is probably different than mine because I have a glove box.
How is the heat in your cockpit? Do you get a lot from the engine? Do you find the heater worth it?

[dawger]

Redstang69,
The dash is kind of a press/snap fit around the dash framework, so no fasteners of any. When I pre-fit the dash once I had it assembled it was pretty tight fit around the framework with all the material wrapped around the edges. I may regret later down the road. If I where to do it over again I would cut the top lip off like many have done and have fasteners of some sort. As for the heater, well I really don’t think I can tell you much about it. I really didn’t have an honest chance to use it. I made a wall from the lip of the cockpit floor to the top lined with heat shield to finish off the sides to help prevent any heat coming in between the body side and the side of the foot box. I also used some air conditioner foam to stuff between the down leg and the body to help close that off. So I really don’t get alot of heat from the engine. The few times the kid and I took it out we where back just before needing the heater, sorry. However, it did seem to be comfortable and about the time we would have turn the heater on we where pulling into the garage. A friend of mine has a F5 and really encouraged me to install a heater. Best to have and not need than need and not have he told me. I will look through my collection of photos to see if there is anything heater shots that my help you. The only suggestion I would say is make sure you can get the left side of the heater box as close to the center support as you can. I noticed there was a design change in the way the center support for the dash was constructed. Reasoning is it will aid in the installation of the wiper gearboxes if you have wipers. I thought mine was over far enough but the 1” or so I could possibly moved it over towards center would have made things a little easier. Take a look at Paul Profrock’s build page/forum on the heater for a good description.Only other suggestion I can give is depending on your location and if you do any early spring morning or late fall drives a heater may be worth it just to aid in the defrosting of the windshield and taking that little chill out.

Michael

[Redstang69]

Very good info and thanks for taking the time write that up. I'll go back and look at Paul's build, I looked at it a while ago. I do know that my entire box will have to go to the left of the center support due to the glove box (the way I see it at least). I'll post up some mock up pictures of what I'm thinking.
Yes I'm planning to have wipers and most of my driving opportunities will be driving to work so I'll have early morning drives.

[dawger]

Redstang69,
Here is about I have for dash/heater shots. I wrapped it in heat shield mat as well to help keep the heat in the box, the tubes are regular heater duct/hoses. I did take a short piece of PVC pipe and heated the end to create a flare or a funnel and glued it in from the inside out so there is a short stub or nipple to attach the hose to with a clamp. I also fabricated a little lever that I attached to each door or flap in order to open. I also added weatherstrip around the doors to help seal them. Hence the handle in order to ease in opening.  In one photo you can kind of see the silver clamp. The brown paper was used just to cover the heater, to help keep any dust or debris out of the heater core. I believe Paul put a glovebox in his with a heater, can't remember. I am sure you have but may want to do a search for glove box as well I think there was a couple others that put in a glove box for alternate ideas. Let me know if you have any other requests or questions.

Michael-

[Redstang69]

Great pictures. Definitely puts into perspective everything in that area with the wiring being there. I think I looked at Paul's build a while back. I'll have to revisit it. I'm sure modifications are doing to be needed on something, probably the glove box.
But my center support might be a good bit closer to the passenger side.