Roadster Newbie looking for information

[MK4_Newbie]

Hi All!

I have decided that I want to build a Roadster with my son and there is so much I don't know and would like to get some thoughts and help from the community.
I recently requested to join the Houston Cobra Club and hope to learn as much as I can in that group.

Basically, I/We would love to have this as a second ride - so reliability and comfort are important - in that order.


Major questions for me include:

1. Budget
2. Donor car
3. Engine

Anybody in the Houston Area that is willing to offer guidance and suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

[68GT500MAN]

First, welcome to the forum. Second, all three of your questions will probably get a lot of different answers. Your budget will depend on your answers to questions 2 and 3. If you get the driveline (engine, transmission, rear end) from the donor it will usually lower your budget. If you use a crate engine, buy a transmission and rear end it will usually increase your budget. Have fun doing your homework and enjoy your build.
Doug

[Cobradavid]

Welcome! As Doug said, you'll probably get a variety of answers.

What area of Houston are you in?

David

[seagull81]

Welcome to the madness!
The Houston group is very active and super friendly. They have many brands of Cobras to see. Watch their Yahoo Group for where they are meeting and show up. They will welcome you car or not.
If you have not found them yet clubcobra.com and ffcars.com are also great sites to get info.

[MK4_Newbie]

Thanks for the welcome.
Budget.....hmmm - if you are asking after the base kit, then I would say maybe another $10k? is that too little?

I am in Southwest Houston - near Galleria.

I have recently joined the Houston Cobra Club. Not sure how much overlap between these two forums there is so I posted in both for help. I know opinions are like .... well you know what I mean. Willing to listen and pick and choose depending on how it fits my plan.

Thanks again for the welcome!

[Cobradavid]

Mk4 Newbie,

I sent you a PM with some budget specifics.

Possible ways to save money:
- Do the body work yourself.
- Buy a donor and pull the parts yourself and sell the left-overs - some people make enough parting out the donor that they get the parts they need for almost no cost.
- Use the tires and wheels from the donor, at least at first.
- Check the latest Texas registration laws. My car is titled as a 1965 (no emissions inspection), so I technically don't need catalytic converters. You might be able to skip the cats. Also, I don't think Texas requires wipers. However, if they are present, they have to work. You might not need to buy wipers.

Donor year/Engine choice points to consider:
The 1994-2004 Mustang (4.6L modular engine) will require installation components kits from FF and those components add about $500 to the kit price (don't know if that's still the case with the Mk 4 - something to ask other builders or Factory Five). The advantage of the 4.6L (and 5.0 Coyote) engines is more stock power and torque than the stock 302 push-rod engine. You can get more power from the 302 by doing various things to it (stroke it, bore it, change the cam, change intake/heads, etc.). All those cost money and time, and might affect driveability. Personally, I love the convenience and reliability of fuel injection - no messing with timing and carbs to get them tuned right. And it always fires up right away and runs great regardless of the weather - no choking, no warm-up period, just turn the key and go. The disadvantage of the fuel injected engines (later 302, 4.6, and 5.0 Coyote) is they don't look as classic as a carbed engine. I addressed that by making a custom "turkey pan" to cover much of the engine.
The Coyote didn't exist at the time, so for me, the 4.6 modular engine was a better choice over a Fox body 302 - better stock power and it was newer (mine came with 46,000 miles) so it didn't need a rebuild, and the reliability and driveability are awesome for my needs.

Comfort:
Get a heater! I have the Factory Five heater (by Vintage Air) and it's perfect for my needs. I've driven 5 hours on the freeway in 40* weather. The heater (and clothing layers) made that possible and bearable. The cold temperature limit for my driving is based on my tires - summertime performance tires don't like temps below 35*.
For hot temps, install footbox blowers. CobraEarl sells a blower kit. I made my own for the drivers footbox, using a boat bilge blower fan and ducting. It has a butterfly valve to close off the vent in the cold months.

Hope this helps.

David

[ClemsonS197]

Hi All!
Basically, I/We would love to have this as a second ride - so reliability and comfort are important - in that order.

Major questions for me include:

1. Budget
2. Donor car
3. Engine

Thanks

I think you could do a 96-98 Cobra with your $10k budget. You'll get 300hp reliable horsepower. You lose some footbox space, but you gain a modern motor. DIY bodywork is going to be needed to keep that budget.

Also, if you want to maintain any type of budget. Stop reading these forums. You'll see upgrades, parts for sale, and specials that will ruin your budget. I don't really need tubular control arms, but they are on sale.... :D

Welcome.