Project 78 Cobra

[cobragt]

Been on here for a while I'm finally able to get back to work on my 78 Cobra. I bought the car in 88 for $900. Originally a 302 automatic with a 2.59 rear gear, a/c and power steering. When I got it the a/c unit and bracket were missing so the power steering pump bounced around. It also had a set of worn out 3.08 gears in the rear and 175,000 on the clock. First things to get changed were the rear gears. a friend had a 3.40 single side gear set out of a Maverick. Got rid of the factory 13" steel wheels for a set of factory 13" aluminum wheels of a 79 Pinto ( yah I know not a big improvement) They would latter be changed to 15x8 with 225/50/15's on them. And front fender bumper and header panel. Most of this wouldn't happen til I got the car back from my wife whom I was separated from. Currently the car is in primer but still needs more body work. 302 and 5spd out of an 85 GT, engine had 50,000 on it in 94 when i put it in and the car has seen less than 1,000 a year since then. Springs in the front are out of my 87 GT, KYB shocks, 3.55 posi. I've got a brand new world class 5sd waiting to go in, Plans are for 4 wheel disc and 5 lug conversion, tubular control arms Motorsport C kit front springs (650lb rating) Not sure on shocks yet. Traction master bars ( they are willing to do a custom set) I'm going to see if a panhard bar for a 79 to 93 will fit. Also trying to figure out headers, no one makes headers for this car with the wider 5sp bell housing. Also not sure about mods to the engine at this point other than the 670 Holley that's on it now otherwise it's pretty much a stock engine. The guy I bought it from said the heads were shaved but not really sure what difference that made. Color plan is GM Dark Polo Green. Wheels and tires are also up in the air. I'm leaning towards the torque thrusts but not bigger than 16" or 17". Note the 2nd Gen Camaro in line in front of my car at autocross.

[cobragt]

More pics to come

[Swiftandswank]

Sweet, Mustang II's never get enough love

[cobragt]

I converted the taillights to all red and a friends father threw together a box to make them sequential. I had to do a lot of rewiring and run an extra power wire to the back off an auxiliary fuse box

I purchased front springs from Racer Walsh that were suppose to lower the front an inch. the car dropped 3 inches because the springs were for 4 or 6 cylinder cars. I even told them it had a 302 in it when I ordered them. Sent them back and used the front springs out of my 87 GT that only had 18 thousand miles on them. Had to cut a few coils but otherwise they slide right in.

[cobragt]

[cobragt]

When I had the bright idea of painting it pearl white with gold stripes

[cobragt]

Here are some pics with the 15's on it.





At autocross with 86 GT 10 hole wheels with racing tires



way too much body roll!



King Cobra air dam and 87 GT driving lights. Also note in the other pics the Shelby style side scoops. Plans are to make them functional.

[cobragt]

battery tray repair









Note how close the exhaust manifold is to the frame

Finished with POR15

[cobragt]

Quarter panel rust repair

[cobragt]

Patches

[cobragt]

Patch for the bottom of the quarter.





This is just some of the pics for patching the quarter panel, total was a couple pieces of scrap metal cut into 18 pieces, shaped and welded back together.

[cobragt]

This is the 3rd hatch that has been on this car, I'm hoping it will be the last. The inside of this one has Zeibart or Rusty Jones or something in it. So maybe it won't rot away like the other 2.



Welded up the emblem holes and drilled out the holes for the spoiler and way more bondo work than I wanted. I think the media blaster may have warped it.

[cobragt]

This I put off for a while. But wasn't as hard to repair as I thought.





New pieces that I made.







after bondo work and stripping the old seam sealer and paint I got it in primer. Still not sure why that side rusted but the other side didn't. Next step will be sanding seam sealing and getting the hatch and jamb painted so I can glue the new weather strip in and install the hatch and glass.

[cobragt]

[cobragt]

Holley 670 carb. I'm probably going to change the intake. I think the stock aluminum Ford intake is a bit restrictive.

[mrbigblock]

nice project,have 78 king cobra coming next after my chevelle,keep pics coming

[chaz75]

I'm on the look out for one of these, been on my mind for over a year, will be watching this, thanks.

[Kenova]

Since I own a Vega, let me be the first to welcome you to the world of red headed step children.
Cudos for jumping into the deep end and taking care of a car that, in the past, was treated with the respect of a disposable razor.
As that Kermit fella says, "It ain't easy........"

Ken

[cobragt]

Since I own a Vega, let me be the first to welcome you to the world of red headed step children.
Cudos for jumping into the deep end and taking care of a car that, in the past, was treated with the respect of a disposable razor.
As that Kermit fella says, "It ain't easy........"

Ken

My dad had a 76 Mach 1 when I was growing up and I drove it to school for a while before he got rid of it. When I found this one I had to get it. Funny thing is that I saw it on a car carrier about a month before I found it at the used car lot. I guess it was heading towards the auction at the time. I had also told my brother at the time that I wished I knew where it was heading. Weird that I found it again. My neighbor in IL had a Vega GT in a lime green met. that they would pay me to wash when I was a kid. I always thought they were cool. Is yours a V8?

[Kenova]

Is yours a V8?

Sadly no. It still has the original 2.3 (auto tranny). I bought it from a friend of mine. He had the engine torn down and sleeved as soon as he bought it. Between that and the overall excellent condition of the car I'm having trouble bringing myself to modify it. Of course, being somewhat lazy might have something to do with it too.
Cool story about finding your MII. They are harder to find around here than the Vegas.

Ken