There’s a lot that goes into building a replica in addition to the wrench turning. Project background Costs & Budget The hardest part Time and space requirements Kit Info Problems Choosing a vendor Documentation Licensing Mod’s Couple tips – Do a lot of research before (and during) your start andContinue Reading
The body I received was very high quality – on the outside. The inner edges left a lot to be desired. Two issues; 1) voids in gel coat and underlying glass had to be repaired to insure integrity of the finish and 2) I knew that people would be feelingContinue Reading
Fiberglass is Fiberglass The title is mis-leading. Yes, fiberglass is fiberglass but is it poly, vinyl or epoxy? And within a family, are various brands compatible? Fortunately, building two fiberglass cobras prior to tackling the GT40, I had some fiberglass experience. The good part is the GT40 was originally fiberglassContinue Reading
I’ve heard horror stories about registering a kit car. Wanting to head them off at the pass, I visited Troop C in Chesterfield, MO to discuss the requirements. I’ve learned so far: Note: these steps apply to a ground-up build. There are shortcuts available to those using a donorContinue Reading
Spindle Replacement The tapered joints of the balljoint are pulled into the spindle with 100 ft/lbs of torque. These joints are tight! To remove or replace parts, some recommend putting a pickle fork tool between the ball joint and hit it with the biggest hammer you can find. I wasContinue Reading
Wheel alignment “Stringing” a car is the way racer’s do wheel alignment. You don’t need a fancy (expensive) computer aligner if you are willing to do some setup and understand basic measurements. Setup: Prior to starting the alignment process, you need to determine the desired ride height of the vehicle.Continue Reading
FE References As I searched for info on my build, I have come across a number of articles and references for the FE afficianado. I have taken the liberty to combine some of the pages into one downloadable PDF, giving credit where due. Did this, just in case the webserversContinue Reading
How long and do I need a shop? I know people who have assembled a kit in as short as four months while working a normal 8-5 job. It can be done. My build took me three years to complete but I took my time and made a lot ofContinue Reading
When I began the initial investigation into building a replica, I quickly learned the market fell into four tiers; Entry Level / builds that emulate the cobra appearance Mid Tier / builds that replicate the original very faithfully Kirkhams Shelby Continuation series And I was given very astute advice – lookContinue Reading
A young college student picks up a brochure from a nearby car dealership in Champaign, IL. A 1966 Ford Cobra. Man, do I want one of these. But then life surrounds you and the dream gets stored away in the “Book of Don’t Forgets”. The racing and car bug slowlyContinue Reading