65 Cobra 427 replica - Page 24 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

barry12345 · #**346** 05-19-2019, 11:20 AM

Sounds good. I was wondering if some form of fore aft balance was even possible with a heavy engine. I have never kept track of all the ford engine versions. The few Cobras I have seen on the highway over the years I had no ideal what engines they used.

I did have a car that under steered once. I finally got some real improvement with a front tire change. When it was slippery out I just really watched what I was doing.

t walgamuth · #**347** 05-19-2019, 03:36 PM

More cobras seem to run ford engines since that is what the originals had. Mine is an aftermarket Chevy 350 based block. the engine sits pretty far back in all cobras for good weight distribution.

I decided to take my chances and went over. I managed to get in 7 or 8 runs before the rain came in. I managed to get a 43.8 which bettered my best time from friday. I had trouble shifting the first three runs and was getting the brake and clutch together until I remembered I forgot to put on my narrow driving shoes.

The smaller steering wheel worked fine but I was still behind on my steering on the slalom.

There were more cars there today including an open wheel F mod which runs a snow mobile engine. I did not see his times but would be surprised if they did not beat me by a lot. There were two new looking Honda Civic Rs. These are seriously quick cars. One beat me by .5 second and the other matched me. Not surprising. There were three Vettes. I beat them by a little though they were fast and well driven.

A good day considering I managed to forget to bring any rain protection. I was out on the course working with a plastic tarp wrapped around me.

t walgamuth · #**348** 05-20-2019, 09:50 AM

The handling is good and predictable. Now that I have raced it I can drive it with comfort. It has a bit of push which I hope to dial back. When I find it pushing I just lift the gas a bit which will transfer weight to the front. That cures the push and changes the angle of the car's trajectory, so that it turns in better. So as I am setting up for a corner a little lift will set the nose and allow me to bring it around. Accelerating hard will bring out the tail a bit too so you end up steering with the gas pedal a lot.

It moves around a lot from bumps and such too, so you just have to look far ahead and not worry about such movements.....let the car work in your hands without moving them too much.

A bit like when I had my BMW bike, taking off hard from a stop on gravel the bike worked around under me. I just let it work without moving my hands too much. It self corrected and the trajectory was straight overall.

I have been having a soft pedal on my brakes. And the rear pads rattle unless i push the pedal. I decided I need a check valve for the rears to keep the fluid in the calipers to push the pads against the rotor.

To combat the push I am contemplating:
1. smaller front sway bar.
2. put on a small bar in rear (I have removed the rear bar)
3. fit my front air dam.
4. add more negative camber on front. I currently have 1 degree.
5, move the battery from the engine compartment to the trunk.

t walgamuth · #**349** 05-30-2019, 10:59 PM

Well I have run out of time between my mechanics being busy and me going up to Michigan city to fix things on my vacation rental home.

Tomorrow I hope to get the check valve installed, the front sway removed and possibly some toe out dialed in to help turn in. Also if time I will get my new quick release full racing harness installed.

t walgamuth · #**350** 06-01-2019, 10:35 PM

I got rid of the understeer by running four pounds less air in the front tires today. It was a lovely day at Grissom, sunny and breezy. Not too hot either. I got beaten solidly by a old guy running a three time driven to national championships fiero. I had to laugh out loud when I found that when running in second gear instead of third I pulled the left front wheel off the ground at the hard left right before the finish. (at least three times) hah!

So I decided to try E mod yesterday. I am clearly outclassed there. Today I am looking at different classes to run in where I might have a chance to contest for a trophy.

I guess I am spoiled by having previously owned two cars which if I drove well enough could win FTD, fast time of the day.

t walgamuth · #**351** 06-04-2019, 10:44 PM

The times came out today from Saturday's event.

I predicted that I would be lucky to come within 2 seconds of a well driven Miata. Turns out one of the best was there with his 99 sport and I came within .9 seconds of him. With some more fine tuning and if I can get my brakes working well, I may be able to beat him and if I do that will be cause for celebration.

Next time I am going to try XPrepared.

Today we put in the check valve which seemed to help some but the brakes are still weak. We also disconnected the front sway bar. I will be interested to see how that works on course. It seemed ok driving on the local roads.

On the way back from my Indies a full grown deer jumped out of the woods in front of me. Thinking it would be bad to hit it or have it jump in the car I stopped. Luckily it jumped back into the woods and not into my Cobra.

t walgamuth · #**352** 06-08-2019, 05:50 PM

I changed the air filter, filled the air tank and loaded up to head out early for an autocross in Crown Point in.

t walgamuth · #**353** 06-09-2019, 06:53 PM

It rained all day. A few patches of sunlight but never enough to clear the track. The surface is old asphalt with a lot of deep cracks. The places where the asphalt is uneven made for a tooth jarring ride. It is the roughest surface which was not actual chuckholes I have ever seen. The handling seemed fine with no sway bars connected. I'll have to try it on the grippy surface at Grissom.

I ran in XP today. There were a couple of hot shoes running a well winged Miata who beat me pretty comprehensively. Miserable day.

MY wipers cleaned to the center of my nose, leaving about 7" of windshield obscured by beads of water, leaving me to look around it or through it. I'll have to see if I can rearrange the wiper arms to clear better in my area of vision.

vwnate1 · #**354** 06-09-2019, 07:53 PM

...Try "RAIN-X" ~ it's incredible stuff, no wipers needed above 30 MPH .

t walgamuth · #**355** 06-09-2019, 10:12 PM

Does it really work? I'll try it. Can I get it at advanced auto, autozone or Pep boys?

Tony H · #**356** 06-09-2019, 10:54 PM

Rain X is really great. I have been using it for many years.

vwnate1 · #**357** 06-09-2019, 11:07 PM

Yes, it really does work and now they've improved it ~ used to be you had to apply it to squeaky clean glass only, wait to dry to a haze then buff it with a clean towel, then re apply every week or so to build up a coating ~ now they have Rain-X window cleaner, same yellow plastic bottles but it works RIGHT NOW and cleans the bugs & road grime off too all in one go , give it a try .

ALL F.L.A.P.S. seem to carry it, IIRC Pep Boys has it on sale a few times a year, I always buy several bottles when I see it for $5 as I use it on all my vehicles .

NOTE : NOT for plastic Motocycle helmet shields !

.

? Guess how I learned this lesson ? .

I had to polish the plastic shield with Meguiar's plastic polish to get it off again .

t walgamuth · #**358** 06-10-2019, 08:08 AM

Thanks guys! Will windshield wipers streak it?

vwnate1 · #**359** 06-10-2019, 09:35 AM

Not at all, in fact it makes the wipers work better .

oldsinner111 · #**360** 06-10-2019, 10:12 AM

I read a thing about wipers,and it works. use alcohol to clean blade first,then soak with armor all.Wipe dry,and clean glass.Makes rubber last longer,and less noise.