Messages

16

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: Finally....we are rocking and rolling 😀

« on: September 15, 2020, 23:40:38 »

The new dash..with full size 16” Mota Lita wheel. Brake reservoirs in new glovebox. Everything to allow air free passage through the engine bay. Finish is non original black crackle, but people think it’s original. I like it and a lot easier than trimming.
The entire dash can be removed, once you have disconnected all the multi connectors.

17

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Here is the engine bay

« on: September 15, 2020, 23:34:08 »

Here is the engine bay. It was a huge undertaking to remould the footwells and make everything look like it was done by, or better than the factory. In fact the gap between the footwells is 76mm wider, yet the footwells are spacious enough.
I produced a 45 page illustrated journal, on every step of how I modified this car, in case other owners want to consider the same route. I also produced a one off Workshop Manual, in case I forget myself! You can take the gearbox and clutch out without removing the engine, or you can remove the entire engine in one hour or so.
The gearbox is the T-5’s bigger brother the much stronger TKO 600. It’s much bigger, so the entire transmission tunnel was modified 40mm higher, but you’d never know. 5 speeds give a little more flexibility  compared to the original 4speed Toploader. The first four ratios are almost the same. The fifth you can have progressive (.0.82) or overdrive (0.62). Go for 0.82. You didn’t buy this car to save money on fuel....
Cooling system (original Mk IV radiator) holds a staggering 19 litres and fan is so powerful, it can suck your overalls off the bench!

18

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: Finally....we are rocking and rolling 😀

« on: September 15, 2020, 23:26:31 »

1000 miles already! Yes Barry’s book was quite useful and sometimes easier to get the information from than the man himself ! However, it’s a little out of date now.

19

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: Finally....we are rocking and rolling 😀

« on: September 12, 2020, 21:35:01 »

This is the car developed now with no changes envisaged. Exhaust is a bit loud and clutch heavy, but easily manageable. I fortunately got it all right first time, barring the motor fine tuning, which has taken nearly 12 months to understand. I’m pleased I went the more difficult route of staying with the 427 and not the more common 482.

20

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Finally....we are rocking and rolling 😀

« on: September 12, 2020, 17:07:03 »

Endured 300 miles of wind battering on the M1 motorway today, to visit John Sleath Race Cars in Doncaster, UK. He’s an old school knowledgeable engine guy. Has a good rolling road, but it doesn’t offer so called ‘corrected power’ readings, that is rear wheel data converted to flywheel or Dyno equivalents. He says it’s pointless because losses vary between min 20% and 35% and can’t be reliably ascertained. So all his graphs are at the rear wheels. Anyhow, after an afternoon of timing, distributor weight and jet adjustments we improved the low down running and unplugged the power. The new straight through (loud) glasspack exhaust has also made a big contribution. Final figures show car now produces, at the rear wheels, 412ft lbs and 380bhp, which clearly makes Michigan based engine builder and FE guru Barry Rabotnic’s originally dynoed 503 tq /532 hp beyond doubt and pretty good for an OE bore/non stroker, all aluminium 427. Car drove great and has taken me unawares by the seemingly bottomless acceleration into the 6000rpm area. With the old 302 it was all over by 4000. Anyhow, glad I made sure of a long accelerator travel. 😬 😁 😀 Also 17.3 mpg overall on the journey seems pretty amazing for a 7 litre and car ran faultlessly without any dramas. Taken me 3 years to complete the Autokraft Mk IV small to big block metamorphosis, so looking forward to exploring this fabulous combination 😀

PS The new 1/2” higher Blue Thunder air cleaner element gained us 20hp.

Here we are at a theoretical 156mph

21

Recent ACs / Re: Two new models

« on: July 27, 2020, 23:38:08 »

What exactly is the attraction of a electric Cobra? Who would choose it over a modern electric roadster? What’s the point?

22

General Forum / Re: Not so Speedy Cables

« on: July 27, 2020, 23:28:19 »

I’ve found Speedy Cables pretty good and if your ask them kindly, they normally do their best. I think we need to remember that we are in unprecedented times and nothing is completely satisfactory.

23

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: 16" wheels for sale on ebay

« on: July 08, 2020, 23:52:45 »

Beware Bob. These don’t appear a front and rear, car set. Looks like four fronts maybe, but who knows?

24

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: It’s 1970 all over again

« on: June 14, 2020, 23:00:13 »

 As is clear from many peoples experiences, the T5, especially with upgraded internals, is good for more than the 300 bhp declared by TREMEC. If you upgrade to its successor, the TKO, it will not fit under the MkIV front bulkhead and transmission tunnel without significant modifications. Regarding, the cable clutch, if you go hydraulic, you will  obviously need a different pedal actuation, which by the sound of it, our friend Wescott has already solved.
 I’ve prepared and extensive pictorial account of the 18 months of work involved in transforming my MkIV to 427 FE. If any Mk IV owner is interested in reading it and are an ACOC number, PM me with your membership and chassis no and I will email you a copy. Please also state that you undertake not to republish the material.

25

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: It’s 1970 all over again

« on: June 04, 2020, 19:45:36 »

331 will be a vast improvement and has a track record of happy owners. Are you keeping the T5 and cable clutch? Happy to help if you need and all my work is detailed on Facbook’s AC Cobra closed group. Good luck anyhow and keep us posted.

26

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / It’s 1970 all over again

« on: June 02, 2020, 20:54:44 »

7 LTR resting, back home, in our Hertfordshire village, after some unmentionable antics. The big all aluminium 427 is finally rocking and rolling. What an epic piece of automotive legend and a privilege to own in this particular configuration.

27

Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: AC Mk IV 302 to 427 FE downgrade ......

« on: May 27, 2020, 19:16:29 »

Finally we’re dialled in and it was worth the agonising wait. Thanks to the lockdown, I taught myself, everything you need to know about setting the Quick Fuel carburettor, big cams and how to adjust the idle circuit. And guess what, the carb has a special setting specifically to accommodate the type of cam I have installed. So now it’s simply awesome. Everything I hoped for and can’t believe nothing more than careful calibration has turned the car into the epic machine, that at least I, expected. Can’t wait to drive it on a warm evening again!

28

General Forum / Re: So what are you doing down the garage during C-19.

« on: May 04, 2020, 23:27:17 »

Here is the link with the earlier system. Sound is the same, now but much less restrictive.

Tip: Video is only idle, but sounds best with headphones at max volume

https://youtu.be/9fgrY9ocfpI

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General Forum / Re: So what are you doing down the garage during C-19.

« on: April 30, 2020, 17:51:13 »

I’m changing the Mk IV’s 427’s exhausts to a complete straight through system.

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Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum / Re: Sun visors

« on: March 05, 2020, 22:21:20 »

I’m bemused by the lengthy thread here. These sun visors are something that can easily be replicated by any professional car trimmer. Most of us have removed them as many feel they are not in keeping with the Cobra look. Personally, I think sunglasses and a baseball cap, works much better.