quick prep pics
Oh here are a couple of pics of the Kobra in prep stage. Of course there were quite a few improvements needed to my gapping and panel fit.
Kobra in prep by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra rear in filler by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Onto pics of the painted car
Kobra in paint - it is not purple!
So in the end i decided to go with a different colour. I wanted to keep the kobra looking a older style so chose flat paint.
I could not go blue with a white stripe as it's not 427 style.
I fancied a silver or gun-metal but had seen quite a few that colour.
There is a nice white (with blue stripe) already about and pure black was asking for trouble in the long run.
So red it is. The shade is mid-life-crisis red.
Kobra by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra rear by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra front top by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra front straight on by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra side on by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra rear quarters by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
moody shots and a b-w to finish off.
The build is complete (?) for now. I would like to tweak the interior a little.
I have already changed the back luggage area to a non roll-hoop one and intend to swap the seats for something with removable head rests later on.
Its taken me a year to complete since buying the kit. That said I think if I had been more efficient that could be turned into 3-4 months.
I am pleased with what I have and that is pretty much all that counts.
Dave
Kobra front quarters by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra Rear moody by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Front B/w by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
cheers gents. good feedback is always welcome.
I sort of miss the matt black but it was a temporary thing.
The seats I choose might not be cobra-esque as i want head-rests so will probably be stealing some leathers out of another two-seater (just need to fnd ones that fit).
I could go aftermarket and may do so. Some real leather would be nice though
@Lucky thanks - I wanted to make mine individual to me and when looking at the development thread a few years back always liked it before the front splitter was introduced. I prefer the 289 / ACE feel so this gets me closer to it. The bandeds were on my wish list after seeing the dunlops look-a-likes on a couple of the 250SWBs here. So steels it was - but just had to work out the offsets and rims to begin with as a starting point. They were cheaper than alloys but after the banding process not by a huge margin. There are no spacers though which is pleasing.
Are they ever finished though ?
I fancy the mgf / mgtf seats as long as they are not too deep in the buttocks area.
They are full leather and as they are for a small car should fit. Wish I knew someone with a set to try out for size. Ideally I’d want them to fit on the Z3 runners to keep all the necessary electrickery in place.
So if you can talk nicely to an owner Ian that would be grand. Perhaps loan some dirty old cloth seats if such things exist.
Dave
Thanks very much for the positive feedback.
I like it too
Thanks gents again.
Paul L I know it never went purple but hey. Perhaps the next one
The Kobra is what I needed. I have neither the funds, skill, space and tools for a full on kit. This gets me as close to the car I want at the level I am happy with.
I love all the other threads and cars being built on here.
Merry Xmas to all of you. Here’s to lots of IVA/SVA/MOT passes in 2019.
Dave
MOT year 2 pass
So the Kobra passed its 2nd MOT (eventually). Had checked everything over and over and the bloody front indicators didn’t work when tested first time.
Bloody cheap landrover plastic lights the cause as they made up of plastic interior which is shite quality. I really like the shape of them too which is annoying. Anyway passed after a tweak and now passed again for more fettling.
Will be sourcing new lights and looking for better quality metal bodied ones. I don’t like the Lucas L691/2 or those with the little fins (forgotten the Lxxx code) shape though so considering the L488 or even the BMC ones.
For the rears I love the rectangular old Lucas ones on the originals but with new lighting regs there is always a compromise regarding the combination of stop/tail and indicator. Someone does a special unit where they put an Led yellow light behind the original reflector but they are so bloody expensive
We are never finished are we ....
Scott thanks as I may just do that. Will look at cheapest source of the Lucas rectangular lights and see what I can do with them. Need to double check the removal of the round lights doesn’t give me a problem with screw holes etc before I proceed too.
Thanks again
Dave
Thanks all for the confirmation of these lights being pants.
It is a shame because I like how they look on the Kobra.
Craig thanks for the positive about the car. I’m still pleased with how it has turned out.
Steve (jag) I have gone through a few sets too. Buying cheap and buying twice is the std with them but bloody shouldn’t be.
Kon I have considered LED bulbs but it’s the light fittings fault that the connection gets lost when the car goes over a bump and loses the earth (cheap plastic fitting).
So my plan now is in action to replace the landie lights with Lucas L488 copies. Nice metal fittings and glass lenses. I’m not so keen on the lamps’ shape compared to what I have but have looked at the alternatives and for my build are the favoured model. They are not std figment on the Cobra but hey, my build isn’t one. It’s a tribute.
I’ll take before and after pics for completeness. I will be flogging chrome rings that bling up the landie lights when all is done.
Dave
Witch tit is a good description of them. They look great on an old mini of course. I’m going L488s for now and see how I go.
A reversing light Ian ? That’s a bit posh ...
That’s a nice butt though
So finally changed the indicators and stop tails to L488 style lamps.
Also changed the headlamps to wipac quadoptics. I liked the crystal ones in place but they looked a bit modern. Didn’t go P700 style as I always have to be a little different.
Kobra rear view Lucas l488 lights by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra full rear with Lucas l488 lights by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra full front new lucas l488 and wipac quadoptics by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
The keen eyed among you might notice the stop tails are different shades of red. Bloody eBay seller... anyway new lens coming this week.
Not sure on the downsides to the headlamps yet. Time will tell. That said I rarely drive the car unless it’s daytime and the sun is out
The exhaust is made up of a cat back stainless that takes the two outputs from the cats and feed them into a back box at the rear left with a single outlet at the back you see in the pic. There is a second tail pipe that comes back out the back box facing forward and that it routed under the car to appear on the right.
It is quieter then the stock by a little which suits me. If I did it again I would be more direct with the exhaust fitters and have two runs from the cat going to two smaller back boxes one each side. I’m happy with it though. Went to a place in Basingstoke that use a well known industry std stainless (forgotten the name right now though)
Dave
No worries Chris,
I went to a Longlife dealer in Basingstoke and was happy with their service. Again if I did it again I’d help design the layout but we all learn each time we do something.
Closest to you there is one in Westbury or Thornberry.
Dave
Today lifted the Kobra by inch and a bit as Reading roads a nightmare.
Kobra raised by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Kobra mid raise by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Also changed to Lucas L488 repros. Happy with them
Kobra rear view Lucas l488 lights by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Thanks Gents.
I only seem to drive between two locations so don’t have much in the way of an on the road diary
Dave
So what’s the interior like ?
I am very very impressed by those who have changed the interiors of their builds. I don’t have the space, skills, tools, nerve and patience.
So mine is pretty stock with the exception of a Momo steering wheel and gear knob (in red).
I still have some mgf seats to fit but not got around to that yet. Am rather enjoying driving the thing to be honest.
Kobra interior from afar by
Muddy_B, on Flickr
Also you will see that I went easy peasy filler for the fuel. This was agreed as part of my special build with Chris and he glassed in one I sent over. I like the simple styling and it was easiest route of course.
Thanks for the encouraging words as ever. Understated is sort of what I went with in the end. Original plans was for a metallic purple custom thing. How things change when everybody around you says that’s a bad idea. Now if I made another well .......
The seats are plain black mgtf. I saw some red and black which might have looked good but the CIC rightly said if the shade of red is wrong it will annoy me. She was as right as ever !
New dash in the Kobra
I wanted a new dash for the Kobra so went to ClassicCoachWorks who have recently developed one. It is on their website if you need details on cocts etc. I bought ETB instruments to go in the dash as they work well but just need a bit of wiring up at the appropriate sensors or OEM loom.
I covered it in vinyl rather than pay a professional as I like the learning curve in all of this work. Can say I did it too - whether it be v average quality or not.
Some pics attached to show layout etc.
Dave
Just checking in here for the first time in ages!
Hope everyone is well.
Latest on my kobra is that still have it but don't drive it enough. Have moved to Dorset during 2023 so need to get around the purbecks in the open air this year.
Dave