Exhaust System

17 November 2012

Made a start on fitting the exhaust system today

First it was on with the manifold

Stainless Manifold

Then started working backwards - this was a relatively straightforward task but needed some twisting and turning to get the alignment just right.

Used the standard U clamps supplied by GD but don't really like these so will replace later with some Mikalor stainless clamps like Rob has done on his build.

Cant fit the rear section until the body is on so thats about it on the exhaust for now.

Update

Where on Earth Have I Been???

My last blog post was in March and that started by saying "Wow, its been two months since I last updated my blog". Well this time its been 6 months so what, if anything, has been happening...

Well... not a fat lot to be honest, although some more work has been done on the bulkhead and most excitingly the engine has been finished and fitted into the EURO chassis at GD :)

So what's the reason for the delay... I've been very busy at work through the summer months, I've gone through a separation and moved house (not Cobra related) and more recently I dislocated my shoulder so have been out of action for over a month :(

But, at long last, some 12 months after the bodyshell was first collected the build is back on and I am targeting the spring for completion.

I have some photos of the bulkhead progress and also some of the engine and chassis build to upload shortly and I will do my best to put these back into the blog in chronological order.

Also, I have secured a great number plate for the car 'AC 62 COB' the 62 relates to the year of manufacture and interestingly next year from March (when the 13 plate comes in) you will still have the option to register new cars on 62 plates due to concerns in the industry about superstitious buyers being put off the 13 plate!!! The other significance of 62 is that this is the year the Cobra was launched - I will leave you to decide the significance of AC and COB

Back at Base

18 August 2012

Right, the rolling chassis is safely back at base.

Next jobs to be completed are..

1. Fit starter motors and dust shield
2. Fit manifolds and exhaust system
3. Cooling system - fit twin fans to radiator, fit radiator, fit header tank and connect all hoses
4. Attach engine loom to reverse and speedo connectors

Engine and Gearbox Installation

18 August 2012

Today is another big day in the build of my Cobra. The engine and gearbox are to be put together and fitted into the rolling chassis up at GD.

So another early start, another sunny summer morning, a Range Rover with a trailer and two excited car builders in it and its off to GD to we head.

On arrival, Andy had already fitted the clutch. So we set to work attaching the gearbox.

Clutch Fitted

Pairing Engine & Gearbox

Paired and Ready to Install

Fitting into the chassis was fiddly but not overly troublesome. Some bits and bobs had to be removed off the chassis and with some jiggery pokery we got it in place. The engine mounting bolts look a little on the short side to me and I plan to fit longer bolts there at some point.

Left a bit, right a bit!!!

And in she goes

The gearbox mounting plate needed drilling so we also took advantage of Andy's workshop facilities to do this.

Once everything was in place and bolted securely we loaded the rolling chassis on to my trailer for the long journey home.

Electrics

5 August 2012

Started installing the main body loom what seems like a lifetime ago now but only really fitted the rear section and didnt get around to finishing off the terminations.

So time to set about making some progress here...

First things first the connections to the rear lights were terminated

It wasn't clear how the wiring for the reverse and fog lights was meant to work out so we did some testing and established that there is a common earth. The outer casing of the loom was slit open and the relevant live feeds were pulled through in the correct positions rather than having to have them run back and forth inside the boot. The earth wires were also put in place and the whole loom was then taped back up.

These terminations will be covered in shrink-wrap once the car is built but until the whole system is tested I don't want to do this.