97 cobra build thread

[apsmith49921]

Guess I'll start one of these especially since it's that time of year when large boxes show up at the house.

From the beginning here's a few pictures of when I bought the car. Car is a 1997 cobra build number in signature. Has rebuilt title someone brought it back to life after it was totaled at 8 months old in 1998

Current mods are:

Suspension and Brakes:
Powerstop drilled and slotted rotors
Tubular control arms with poly bushings
Cheap lowering springs
Upr subframe connectors

Driveline:
4.30 gears
CF clutched diff
Unknown short throw shifter

Exterior:
Urethane saleen kit
S351 spoiler
95 cobra r wheels

Interior:
Led gauge lights
Termi shift knob
01+ console swap
double din radio swap

The good stuff (engine):
90mm lightning maf
39lb injectors
255lph walbro
Custom self made short runner
IMRC delete
March Performance damper and underdrives
Pace setter long tube headers
Bassani X pipe
Flowmaster FlowFX mufflers
Custom tunes for e85 and 93 octane

 

[apsmith49921]

Here's a few pictures of the vc and intake painting I did the first summer I had it

 

[apsmith49921]

Few pictures of longtubes install and some custom adapters I made for the bassani x pipe

 

[apsmith49921]

My short runner intake build and imrc delete plates I made.

 

[apsmith49921]

Mde my own coil on plug harness. Getting away from the coil pack and plug wire set up. Think I've located a set of valve covers just need to get them shipped here

 

[apsmith49921]

Another current project... Big Brakes!!! So everyone knows about using the ATS caliper on the mustang. I recently found out that the 2.0l camaro brakes from like 18+ also work. I secured a set from a friend who tears down and strips junk cars for a reseller.

Recently there is a company that sells a bushing adapter that allows you to not modify the spindle and make them a direct bolt on. A local machinist friend and I are working on trying to market a similar kit but a cheaper price. So this is going to be the science experiment test car.

 

[badass98svt]

Looks like you are off to a good start.

I avoided the longtubes and shortrunner intake when I was working on my build.
Do you plan on staying NA?

 

[apsmith49921]

Looks like you are off to a good start.

I avoided the longtubes and shortrunner intake when I was working on my build.
Do you plan on staying NA?

Yeah I'm gonna stay NA. Got a set of cams to throw into it this winter and that'll probably be it speed wise

 

[joe65]

nice work! If you don't mind me asking what gray is that you used on the intake and the tanks?

 

[apsmith49921]

nice work! If you don't mind me asking what gray is that you used on the intake and the tanks?

the intake and coolant tank i painted black. they were both just originally grey factory finish. to ford's credit thats the toughest paint ive ever come across lol

 

[apsmith49921]

Just got my spoiler in. Took just a minute to install. I'll have to trim a few things to make it fit a little better but i can't determine if I like it yet or not until I can get the car off the jack stands and get a good full profile on it.

 

[badass98svt]

Yeah, gotta see it from the back. I would think the S281 would look great with your Saleen kit. Did you get tired of the S351? I had one on my old 97 GT too.

 

[apsmith49921]

Yeah the s351 wing kind of ran its course for me. The s281 wing was an option but I've always liked the look of this one as well.

I'm really torn I wanted to go back to having all oem cobra bumpers and side skirts. But I wonder how this wing will look with the kit. My front bumper has developed a pretty good sag, I wish I knew how to fix

 

[apsmith49921]

Good shot of the back

 

[apsmith49921]

Working on my cam install today. Got both valve covers off and most of the accessory stuff off too. Power steering pump being a major pain. That last bolt behind the line isn't budging at all. One of the bolts I had to hit with my 1/2 inch impact...... now I'll get a pulley remover and take off the balancer and ps pump pulley. No choice but to pull the line off at this point. I got a wrench on it but not enough swing with a hammer to get it broke free. Oh well gives me an excuse to clean more stuff up out of the car

 

[apsmith49921]

Progress was made today. Got a puller tool from autozone and worked like magic. Those cheap ones aren't worth a damn.

 

[badass98svt]

Oh shit, didn't know that was you, it's P.J. from SVTP (SVT98)

 

[apsmith49921]

haha yeah i put that together i just didn't know which one you were more active one.

 

[badass98svt]

haha yeah i put that together i just didn't know which one you were more active one.

I'm definitely more active on SVTP. I'd recognize that March Damper anywhere though.

 

[apsmith49921]

yeah it was a struggle but i ended up getting it off. i do remember having a hell of a time getting it on too lol. I wish the sn95 community was still as active as it used to be.