97 cobra build thread

apsmith49921 · Feb 23, 2023

Went out to do a data log and didn't quite make it.

Let the car idle for about 10 minutes to get warmed up. Hear a nasty rattle type sound. Immediately shut the car off. Look around see nothing and started it back up. No sound idles normal and even revs with no rattle. I did find a bolt on the ground I was missing. I'm thinking the belt caught it and kicked it around a pulley or something.

Go to get back in the car hit the clutch and let it out to back out. Nothing no movement. Forgot to yank up on the pedal and now it moves. Unfortunately it took up all my time for tonight so no data log until this weekend maybe

apsmith49921 · Feb 23, 2023

Update: picked the bolt up has several deep gash marks. Think I found the culpri. So all clear

apsmith49921 · Mar 9, 2023

Still waiting on my tune revision. Haven't had much get done lately.

Worked on the clutch stuff and I need to add a spacer on the end of the cable to take up a little slack the difference in the hooks is a little too much.

On a side note did some work on the front bumper and it worked out pretty good. First picture is a before

apsmith49921 · Mar 11, 2023

So about that brake issue... bleed every single port known to man on this car even the booster. Yes the booster with ps fluid (it was a mistake lol)

Pedal gets no better. So I start to pump the brakes for a good 30 seconds. Nothing helps. Walking around and decide let's check for a leak somewhere low and behold the driver caliper was leaking. I forgot to loctite the bolts on the caliper after reassembly. So I fixed that and like magic I've got a good brake pedal. Probably do one last good bleed on the whole system since I've got an extra qt of fluid but 1 problem down.

All that's left is tune, alignment, clearance the exhaust from the back tire and finish the clutch cable install.

cobrajeff96 · Mar 11, 2023

Where did you get your Saleen rear bumper?

apsmith49921 · Mar 11, 2023

Came on the car with the kit when I bought it

96blak54 · Mar 11, 2023

Glad you got the brakes figured out!

apsmith49921 · Mar 11, 2023

Me too I was about to be on the anger train lol

apsmith49921 · Mar 14, 2023

New clutch quadrant and adjuster are installed. Everything adjusted feeling pretty good. Another thing off the list

apsmith49921 · Mar 21, 2023

Alright so the car has developed a squeak. It seems to be coming from the valvetrain somewhere.

I removed the cover and did a thorough inspection. No scoring on cams, followers or lash adjusters. Bled down all the adjusters, soaked them in oil and re installed with no luck. It happens when cold and goes away almost as fast as I can get out to look. If you bump the throttle it will chirp once and it's done. Doesn't happen any other time. I held it at 3k, and several revs it's quiet. After looking at everything and seeing no issues deciding to just let it ride for now. Its possible the melling tensioner I got could be doing it. Those bolts are also tight and still torqued to spec.

I don't LOVE the idea of the chirp noise but after finding 0 glitter and everything in its rightful place, I'm not in the mood to rip it all apart again.

Launched some oil everywhere so I've got a mess to clean up all over the fusebox and wires. Also discovered my box is broken. It's missing the tabs that hold it in and is floppy. Any suggestions on that would be helpful.

lwarrior1016 · Mar 21, 2023

Does it squeak every time you start it up? Could it be accessory related? Maybe pull the belt and start it up. Possibly a throw out bearing? Maybe take the clutch cable off and push the fork all the way back, then start it up?

apsmith49921 · Mar 21, 2023

So the clutch cable is off. I'll try pulling the belt I didn't think of that.

It's odd because it does it on start and then again any time I give the throttle a little bump.

ttocs · Mar 21, 2023

I had my pcv slip out just enough that it was whistling when the airflow was just right. It was a pain in the but to track down as it always seemed like it was on the other side of the motor no matter which side I was on.

apsmith49921 · Mar 22, 2023

A friend of mine mentioned that to me. I just got rid of the pcv for testing and it made no difference I have a new one I'll stick in. High hopes for the belt theory. Guess it could be an exhaust gasket leak

apsmith49921 · Mar 28, 2023

So I found out it's not the belt and it's not the pcv. Going to add some assembly lube to the followers and see if that eliminates it. If so I'll just buy new ones. But for now a quick attempt at a fix will have to do.

New tune revision showed up yesterday so I need to get the intake and valve cover back on

apsmith49921 · Apr 6, 2023

Did my 2nd data log tonight. Tuner still working out some bugs but car is doing alright. I haven't figured out the valve train noise. However after the data log noise didn't seem to be audible. Not sure I'll just continue to monitor that.

I did notice a touch of blue smoke on a 6800rpm Rev I did. Feel kinda dumb for not replacing those valve seals lol few of them might have been semi weak. Oh well a project for some other time.

On a side note it ran great. Did a wot pull in first and second. I can really tell the t45 doesn't like the power going into second. I've known this for a while though. It's on the list of things to do. It's really weird being able to stomp the gas and keep the power down. Going from a cheap 255 to a 315 drag radial makes a huge difference

Musturd · Apr 8, 2023

apsmith49921 said:
Did my 2nd data log tonight. Tuner still working out some bugs but car is doing alright. I haven't figured out the valve train noise. However after the data log noise didn't seem to be audible. Not sure I'll just continue to monitor that.

I did notice a touch of blue smoke on a 6800rpm Rev I did. Feel kinda dumb for not replacing those valve seals lol few of them might have been semi weak. Oh well a project for some other time.

On a side note it ran great. Did a wot pull in first and second. I can really tell the t45 doesn't like the power going into second. I've known this for a while though. It's on the list of things to do. It's really weird being able to stomp the gas and keep the power down. Going from a cheap 255 to a 315 drag radial makes a huge difference

The t45 and T5 always start letting you know they don’t like extra power as soon as you start making some . Nice to know the 315’s made a difference . You running the nittos ?

apsmith49921 · Apr 8, 2023

Yeah the 555r2. Seem to do pretty well.

Musturd · Apr 8, 2023

apsmith49921 said:
Yeah the 555r2. Seem to do pretty well.

Yea I have them on my car in a 275/40/17 it was kinda sprinkling on and off yesterday best 60ft I got on my draggy was 2.08 and 12.73 1/4 mile yesterday guess I’m Goona try my Hoosiers when it’s nice out again .