Hardest part of the build for me so far....

[nucjd19]

Hey guys.
I am about 3 weeks into my build and things are cruising along. Sort of working from back to front though As so many back ordered parts are missing to even start extensively on the front end or steering. I am having a great time and this thing is coming together way faster than I thought.

So here is my issue I am dealing with..... getting hung up on decisions that will take my build one direction versus another. It almost feels like stage fright a little. I get to a point where I can make a decision ( i.e. powder coat panels vs brushing them and finishing them, do I want to add air vents?, drop trunk or not, down the road .....What paint color???? sort of know that one). You guys seem to have clear goals and directions and I am trying to do the same and stick to my original plan but there are so many directions to go. These little things are giving me anxiety LOL!! I know that sounds silly but I am trying to keep from wishing I had done x,y or z at the end of the day. I know it will always have little quirks that make it special and mine but man it gives me consternation. I guess too much time staring at it LOL!

Anyway, any advice is appreciated or experience coming to grips with certain decisions throughout the build process when you could have made a choice and did or didn't and how you felt later on.

Pics for your time.....
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=139697&d=1608684904
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=139696&d=1608684893

[rich grsc]

Analysis paralysis

[TMartinLVNV]

Much of this is personal preference of course. Here is my advise after driving one for 4600 miles.

i.e. powder coat panels vs brushing them and finishing them

I used rattle can spray on bed liner. I would not do that again. It is cheap, but also fragile. It scrapes off easily on the aluminum panels. It works very well on the steel bumpers and sliders on my Jeep though. If I were to do it over, I would brush and clear coat the panels. Powder coat looks nice too and can be done in many colors if you want.

do I want to add air vents?

I live in Las Vegas and drove mine starting in July here. I do not feel they are necessary. However, many others swear by them.

drop trunk or not,

This one is a no question in my mind. YES! There is precious little space in the trunk. Anything to add more can only help. Consider the rear compartment storage option too. I wish I had put it in mine.

down the road .....What paint color????

Look at lots of threads. Try to go to a meet if we ever have one again. I looked and looked and looked. Then I saw one and immediately said "That one! That is what I want!"

You guys seem to have clear goals and directions and I am trying to do the same and stick to my original plan but there are so many directions to go. These little things are giving me anxiety LOL!! I know that sounds silly but I am trying to keep from wishing I had done x,y or z at the end of the day. I know it will always have little quirks that make it special and mine but man it gives me consternation. I guess too much time staring at it LOL!

Yep, it is difficult. It is never easier to make changes than it is right now. However, every change is additional time, money, and complexity. There is so much information to absorb that it is overwhelming. I had my car finished, legal, and on the road in less than a year. I fully immersed myself in the project with reading, researching, and wrenching in the garage (my cat does not seem to mind me spending 8 hrs in the garage, no wife around anymore to complain :cool:). I really wish that I could do another one. Although the forum is a fantastic resource, nothing beats talking to someone who has built one in person. Perhaps meeting and looking at their car. The more you see the more you will start to identify the subtle differences.

If you don't have anyone in your immediate area, consider connecting with someone and making a trip to their place just to chat and view for a few hours.

[Norm B]

What’s your intended use of the car. Are you building a racer, cruiser, show car, etc. As an example, if you are planning longer trips or overnights the drop trunk will be really handy otherwise nice to have but not necessary. Use that thinking to help drive your decisions and don’t worry about what if’s. The great thing about these cars is you can change your mind about some of these things years down the road and it gives you a reason to work on the car.

HTH

Norm

[TMartinLVNV]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?33080-Terry-in-Las-Vegas-Build-graduated&p=432824&viewfull=1#post432824

Here is some info for you to read. It may help.

[GoDadGo]

The O.C.D. Gene Runs Strong In Us All!

[Traveller]

drop trunk or not,

This one is a no question in my mind. YES! There is precious little space in the trunk. Anything to add more can only help. Consider the rear compartment storage option too. I wish I had put it in mine.

+100 Space is at a premium in these, it's relatively cheap and easy, you won't regret it.

[toadster]

you're not alone - I've experience/vented the same issues - and take a step back, and re-evaluate!

I've got a ways to go, but changing decisions along the way will happen, just pray they don't impact the existing build (much) :cool:

[JohnK]

There have definitely been times where I've had to take a pause to clear my head, do some research, and then make a decision that I'm going to feel comfortable with. I've found that most of the time, if there's consensus on something on the forum it's best to go with it. For example, the overwhelming consensus is that the drop trunk mod is a good idea. Other decisions like bare aluminum vs. powder coat vs. some other coating come down to either what aesthetic you're going for or what budget you're trying to work with, so there are no right or wrong answers there. Just take your time and don't feel rushed to make a decision. Also, get comfortable with the idea that you'll make some decisions that you'll question later. It's all part of the process, because we're all learning as we go along. The build will still come out awesome, regardless. You can then channel all those new great ideas into the next build. :p

[cv2065]

I wish I would have done the drop trunk. Doesn't keep me up at night or anything, but would have been a nice option. Can't remember my reasoning to not do it at the time. Maybe I was worried about a budget or something ridiculous like that. Also, if I had to powder coat my panels all over, I would have went with a more mottled type of powder coat, as those seem to be the most durable and don't show fingerprints, etc. Satin black is nice, but you just have to be mindful when cleaning it.

[nucjd19]

I would like to say a heart felt thank you to everyone taking the time to chime in. Your responses are helping more than you know. I think Rich grsc summed it up for me pretty well... LOL! Yea the drop trunk is starting to look like a go and also the drop battery in the trunk as well. I went ahead and brushed my aluminum and sealed with sharkhide as you can see in the pictures so I am making these decisions but it locks me up for a minute or two LOL!

[Norm B]

If you want to do something with the battery, look at the Breeze front battery mount. Many benefits.
Be careful asking for advice here, we are great at spending your money.

[nucjd19]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?33080-Terry-in-Las-Vegas-Build-graduated&p=432824&viewfull=1#post432824

Here is some info for you to read. It may help.
Appreciate your write up TMartin. I am visiting the breeze automotive website quite a bit.

[Gumball]

Sit back, close your eyes, and think of what your Cobra looks like and how you're going to use it. That sort of visualization really helped me during my build, with everything from overall vibe, to specific features, and even color.

I saw this.........

[Papa]

Sit back, close your eyes, and think of what your Cobra looks like and how you're going to use it. That sort of visualization really helped me during my build, with everything from overall vibe, to specific features, and even color.

I saw this.........

This is about the best advice you can hope for. In the end, you want the car you envisioned when you decided to build one. Now, for the things that you can't see in your vision, ask yourself why you are contemplating the decision? If you can answer that question, you should be able to settle on what you really want and move on. Keep in mind that every extra thing you want will likely cost more and can delay your build. Don't let that drive you to a different decision. If you want powder coated panels, but you're telling yourself that it will cost more and take a week or two longer to complete that part of the build, but that little voice in your head keeps asking you if you still want it, step back and settle it before moving on. Once all those panels are in place, it's too late.

Interestingly, two of your questions are two of my regrets! First, I settled on spraying my aluminum with rattle can bed liner instead of getting them powder coated. Second, I didn't do the drop trunk in spite of that nagging concern about having very little trunk space.

Dave

[Mark Eaton]

Buy an old oven and a powder coat gun from Eastwood and powder coat everything you can. Whatever won't fit it the oven you can cook it with a propane heater (just keep a fire extinguisher handy). Powder coating is very satisfying, instant gratification. It will also give you time to think through your build some more. Below are my favorite powder coat websites. Not all powders are created equal, you want the purest you can get...

https://www.prismaticpowders.com

https://thepowdercoatstore.com


https://www.eastwood.com/dual-voltage-hotcoat-powder-gun.html

[GTBradley]

I broke it down like this:
Intended use - longer trips. This means maximizing comfort and convenience - drop trunk, cubby, full glove box, door pockets, lighting, etc.
Performance - high level but dependable and efficient as possible. This helped me chose drivetrain and suspension and reminded me to keep an eye on the weight of everything I added.
Looks and impression I wanted to project - replica, at least as much as possible considering the previous items.

Those three things will interfere with each other, like IRS not allowing for 15” wheels, but comprising and keeping all three in mind will keep you on a path and moving forward.

Bradley

[Mark Eaton]

One other thing about powder coating. For prep just rub the item down with scotch brite pad and then wipe off with this


https://smile.amazon.com/VHT-CM541-Grease-Wax-Remover/dp/B00QSP0PDI/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=duplicolor+degreaser&qid=1608700848&sr=8-2

[Jacob McCrea]

This won't help your decision making, but it will avoid waste: if you aren't 100% sure of what you want, don't buy parts until you are ready to install them. I learned this the hard way, although thankfully I didn't waste more than a few hundred dollars.

Also, is that a Serotta next to the Y-bike?

[CraigS]

What’s your intended use of the car. Are you building a racer, cruiser, show car, etc. As an example, if you are planning longer trips or overnights the drop trunk will be really handy otherwise nice to have but not necessary. Use that thinking to help drive your decisions and don’t worry about what if’s. The great thing about these cars is you can change your mind about some of these things years down the road and it gives you a reason to work on the car.

HTH

Norm
This is gold here. Basically, make your decision and then don't worry about it again. In 15 years the one thing I didn't re-do was painting the engine area aluminum. The panels were left uncoated and I wished I had done something. When I did the new engine I gave serious thought to fixing that. But about 5 minutes of looking at everything that would need to be removed to do it right convinced me to spend some time wiping it all down w/ a solvent and leave it as is. Other than that everything else on the car can be changed later if you really change your mind. Some things will take longer on a complete car but everything can be changed if wanted.

[FLPBFoot]

I would like to say a heart felt thank you to everyone taking the time to chime in. Your responses are helping more than you know. I think Rich grsc summed it up for me pretty well... LOL! Yea the drop trunk is starting to look like a go and also the drop battery in the trunk as well. I went ahead and brushed my aluminum and sealed with sharkhide as you can see in the pictures so I am making these decisions but it locks me up for a minute or two LOL!

I went the path as you are starting down. Sharkhide on the AL. Once you get the body on you see very little of the AL panels so to me all the powder coat is a waste of $. The drop trunk is a great add. I also did the drop battery box but use it for road emergency items like mini air compressor, tire repair kit, tool pouch, etc. I put the battery up in the front with the Breeze tray mount. This makes the battery cables short and gives the added storage space in the drop battery box.

Steve

[John Ibele]

Great post, OP, and you've gotten a lot of great advice already. I definitely remember the decision fatigue. It comes up a lot in the beginning, I think, but gets better as you go along. Particularly in terms of things like build order. Its easy to say, sometimes hard to do: don't commit to things or make decisions before you need to, but don't make them too late either. You won't be perfect ... everyone has had to drill out rivets at some point in the build, and the car looks just the same when you're done. (If that's the worst do-over you have, by the way, you're a really, really gifted builder :p)

Sometimes the most satisfying way to move forward is to pick something you know needs to be done that doesn't involve major decisions, and do that. It might be out of order in the manual, but there are a lot of ways to go at building the car without getting in trouble. One example: I got the wiring harness laying in place, and gradually, painfully faced the fact that before I was done I was going to know about the start point, end point, and function of every single wire in the harness. For two nights in a row I went out to the garage and headed back to the house within 30 minutes, deflated.

I decided to get the start and end points for the harness defined as much as possible before coming back to the wiring. I'm now in the middle of doing the dash and couldn't be happier with just building. And in the back of my head I'm getting ready to face the wiring, knowing that I'll know a lot more about what the harness is actually supposed to be doing when I get back to it.

You got great advice about thinking realistically about how you will use your car. I'm glad I toned down my cam and have a very streetable engine as a result of my decision-making, which is not precisely where I started. I would apply the same thinking to the build - decide what makes you happy, and use that to decide how many custom touches you want on the car. I'm doing the dash from a blank sheet of aluminum, but that's not the fastest way to get to first start or a finished car. There are many choices like that, and custom touches can be very time consuming, particularly if you choose to do something that hasn't been well documented and debugged by someone else on the forum.

As you go along, you'll begin to take pride in the parts that are complete. Do-overs, decisions you might make differently in hindsight, 'mistakes' you know about but no one else will ever see ... it all fades when you've got this amazing machine that you get to drive, and say you built it.

[BradCraig]

You'll be surprised how little of the aluminum you actually see once buttoned up. I just scotchbrite'd and a coat of clear.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Lots of stuff that you don't like later on can be changed after the build with a bit of work. Always like the look of classic gauges but neglected to order them initially.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=116423&d=1571680123

So 5 years on had some custom ones made up on a holiday sale.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/acurazine.com-vbulletin/580x435/80-90__61ce2cf663c9ad2c8cf3762ec956ce9922031fa7.jpg

Recovered the console & tunnel top to match the dash covering.

Think what most have the biggest issue with is color. As for the alloy, with a Coyote their is not much to see. Did all surfaces that are exposed to the weather with black truck bed liner rest was just cleaned & installed. All surfaces exposed to heat covered with Thermo-Tec.

[ggunter]

Wow there's a lot of information here. I researched this car for five years before I bought one. Before I left FFR i spent another 8K on upgrades on things that would make the car better for me. I wish..... I knew about this forum first. There are many talented people on here and I got a bunch of good ideas and great build tips from here. I wish... I knew about the cottage industries before hand, Breeze, FF metals, Forte, etc. They have a lot of cool products that I could have researched before I bought the car. I did a lot of changes from these vendors to make the car better, for me, but knowing about them before hand would have made some decisions easier. Drop trunk, Cubby behind the seat, battery up front, breeze radiator lower support and fan shroud, Forte trans mount spacers, Breeze adjustable lower rear torque arms, FF metals trans tunnel and fire wall,. These are all things I did to my car and really am glad I made these choices. Raw aluminum has a nice industrial look but quickly deteriorates with road grime and a pain to keep clean after that so I went with black powder coat even though you can't see 95% of the aluminum in the car. There again its all about the car YOU want. Anyway you look at it it's going to be one cool car. When you get done just make the choices that makes your car better for you.

[nucjd19]

This won't help your decision making, but it will avoid waste: if you aren't 100% sure of what you want, don't buy parts until you are ready to install them. I learned this the hard way, although thankfully I didn't waste more than a few hundred dollars.

Also, is that a Serotta next to the Y-bike?

HA!!! Good eye. No it is my Cannondale Team Saeco CAD3 bike I raced back in the mid 90s. I have kept it over the years along with my Y bike ( I raced a little mountain bike but road racing was my jam). It is so sluggish now when I compare to my bikes I ride now ( Canyon Aeroad and Pinarello Dogma ).

I have already bought parts I did not need or changed in direction. Yep learning the hard way.

[nucjd19]

Everyone. Thank you again. you have definitely helped me on multiple fronts....
1s.t I need to refer to initial vision..... Weekend back road sporting machine on pretty days in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Maybe an occasional track day but not the main purpose.
2nd. make mission critical decisions now before getting too far along BUT nothing is really permanent on these rigs and things can be done later but more difficult.
3rd. Make your decision and be confident with it knowing it will be fine either way.
4th. I just purchased the drop trunk kit from Russ... LOL!

Thanks again!

[TMartinLVNV]

Everyone. Thank you again. you have definitely helped me on multiple fronts....
1s.t I need to refer to initial vision..... Weekend back road sporting machine on pretty days in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. Maybe an occasional track day but not the main purpose.
2nd. make mission critical decisions now before getting too far along BUT nothing is really permanent on these rigs and things can be done later but more difficult.
3rd. Make your decision and be confident with it knowing it will be fine either way.
4th. I just purchased the drop trunk kit from Russ... LOL!

Thanks again!

I have never heard another Cobra owner say "I have too much space in my trunk!" :rolleyes:

Seriously, I have my roadside emergency stuff in this space. Jack, flat tire repair kit (to get me to a tire store), two cans of fix-a-flat. 19mm tire iron, tarp if I need to lay on the ground, quality (Viair) air compressor.

[Nigel Allen]

I feel a little underequipped. All I can fit in my trunk is a cheese sandwich and a banana.

So envious of those with the drop trunk.

[Tbev]

I feel a little underequipped. All I can fit in my trunk is a cheese sandwich and a banana.

So envious of those with the drop trunk.

It’s 6am and I just laughed out loud. Thanks for that Nigel. It’s great to start my day with a laugh. And after reading over and over again about how much people don’t regret doing the drop trunk, I’ve made up my mind and will be ordering it.

[ggunter]

It's never too late to put in a drop trunk. Two straps on the gas tank and a couple fuel lines, peel up the carpet, and your there. You won't regret the extra time it takes now.

[Fman]

There are a few other mods to consider as well...some can be added after your build but some will be much easier doing it while you build the car.

Disclaimer: I have zero drive time on my car other than 6 miles of go-kart so take it for what its worth...I also only offer tail light warranties on my advice:cool:

Russ Thompson turn signal w/IDIDIT high beam relay - looks nice and is exceptionally functional (otherwise you have a toggle switch on your dash for a turn signal). The IDIDIT relay allows the turn signal lever button to toggle high/low beams. Also check out his adjustable throttle pedal.
FF Metals - Extra thick firewall and trans tunnel cover
Mike Forte - Hydraulic clutch, if running a pushrod V8 his throttle linkage is a sweet setup
Upgraded cooling fan - 3000 CFM Flex a lite low boy, the FFR china fan only puts out 2170 CFM. The Flex lite also draws same amps (18.5), is also quieter... IMO go with a more powerful fan regardless of engine it can only help
Canton - 2qt overflow tank
Breeze - Shroud (a must), radiator mounting kit, battery box in front of engine, seat brackets (changes angle of seats)
Mustang GT brake upgrade - Power stop rotors/pad upgrade

If you decide to go with powder coating your panels HIGHLY recommend taking everything at one batch to your powdercoater, you will get the best bang for your buck.... I did my entire car for $600 IMO well worth the cost, it is extremely durable and will last forever.

Have fun with your build, looks like you are cruising along...

[capt1black]

As many have stated, this forum is good at spending money. Just ordered trunk mod.

[Norm B]

You can spend money, time or, like me, a fair bit of both. Remember it is your car and you can modify many things without adversely changing any safety related items. As an example, I did my own drop trunk mod. Here are a few pictures.
139825139826139827139828

The little cubby in front of the drop trunk is where I store my tools, tire repair stuff, air compressor, spare belts and a quart of oil.
Mods like this are what I found to be most rewarding part of the build short of driving the completed car.

HTH

Norm

[nucjd19]

There are a few other mods to consider as well...some can be added after your build but some will be much easier doing it while you build the car.

Disclaimer: I have zero drive time on my car other than 6 miles of go-kart so take it for what its worth...I also only offer tail light warranties on my advice:cool:



Russ Thompson turn signal w/IDIDIT high beam relay - looks nice and is exceptionally functional (otherwise you have a toggle switch on your dash for a turn signal). The IDIDIT relay allows the turn signal lever button to toggle high/low beams. Also check out his adjustable throttle pedal.
FF Metals - Extra thick firewall and trans tunnel cover
Mike Forte - Hydraulic clutch, if running a pushrod V8 his throttle linkage is a sweet setup
Upgraded cooling fan - 3000 CFM Flex a lite low boy, the FFR china fan only puts out 2170 CFM. The Flex lite also draws same amps (18.5), is also quieter... IMO go with a more powerful fan regardless of engine it can only help
Canton - 2qt overflow tank
Breeze - Shroud (a must), radiator mounting kit, battery box in front of engine, seat brackets (changes angle of seats)
Mustang GT brake upgrade - Power stop rotors/pad upgrade

If you decide to go with powder coating your panels HIGHLY recommend taking everything at one batch to your powdercoater, you will get the best bang for your buck.... I did my entire car for $600 IMO well worth the cost, it is extremely durable and will last forever.

Have fun with your build, looks like you are cruising along...

I have made some decisions with no problems LOL! I have picked up the Breeze shroud and lower radiator mounting kit, Forte throttle linkage, Breeze dead pedal, Breeze dash braces, Breeze steering rack adjustable mounts. I would have had no clue about any of this without this forum :)

[skullandbones]

Hey,

i thought i would suggest something that will not cost you anything except for some small hardware but might save you a ton of time in the future. When it came time to install my windscreen frame, I could not believe how hard it was for me. I had trouble getting my hands in the tight spots and arranging my body comfortably. So after doing the installation, I went back and made some modifications. First I installed some hinges with brackets to the two inch crossbar and this let me fit the dash but allowed me to push down and lay the dash out horizontally in the cockpit. So this gave me easy access to the drivers side and I think I still had to access passenger side from the hood area. Then I marked the frames and drilled pilot holes on both sides thru the frame rails and the chassis flange and then removed the frame. Next I drilled the frame rails for a three quarter inch bolt. Then I tapped the chassis flanges for a fine thread bolt. Long story short, it is the best mod I have done! I can remove the windscreen in minutes without straining or cutting up my hands. Even better, I do not ancks about doing it anymore. Being able to drop the dash forward is great for computer and wiring stuff. I have a Stinger aftermarket PCU that I have upgraded now and then. Credit for this idea belongs, I think, to Edward B if I am not mistaken. You may have already seen this but was not sure. Good luck.

WEK

[nucjd19]

Hey,

i thought i would suggest something that will not cost you anything except for some small hardware but might save you a ton of time in the future. When it came time to install my windscreen frame, I could not believe how hard it was for me. I had trouble getting my hands in the tight spots and arranging my body comfortably. So after doing the installation, I went back and made some modifications. First I installed some hinges with brackets to the two inch crossbar and this let me fit the dash but allowed me to push down and lay the dash out horizontally in the cockpit. So this gave me easy access to the drivers side and I think I still had to access passenger side from the hood area. Then I marked the frames and drilled pilot holes on both sides thru the frame rails and the chassis flange and then removed the frame. Next I drilled the frame rails for a three quarter inch bolt. Then I tapped the chassis flanges for a fine thread bolt. Long story short, it is the best mod I have done! I can remove the windscreen in minutes without straining or cutting up my hands. Even better, I do not ancks about doing it anymore. Being able to drop the dash forward is great for computer and wiring stuff. I have a Stinger aftermarket PCU that I have upgraded now and then. Credit for this idea belongs, I think, to Edward B if I am not mistaken. You may have already seen this but was not sure. Good luck.

WEK

That sounds like a great mod! do you happen to have a picture? If not I will do some searches to try and find one. Thanks!

[RaserX]

Seems we all have the same issue, freezing up on when to "stop" thinking, I know I do. I am not sure if the forum helps or hurts that process. So many good ideas...What is the number to the Cobra builders paralysis hotline? Looking for local help

[skullandbones]

Sorry but I do not have a build thread per se. I know I have pictures but not in a single cronilogical order. I will search. As I remember it is difficult to do a pic of the area near the frames otherwise it would be easy to get to and install bolts and nuts. But the solution of starting a large bolt in a threaded hole is so much easier than starting and wrenching a bolt/nut combo with two wrenches or wrench and ratchet, it's unreal! Since the operation is mostly done blindly, this aggravates the whole thing. I don't think you are close to doing this anyway so I will check for visual aid.

[skullandbones]

Took a couple of pics of the passenger side. Hope that helps. Remembered that there are already holes in frame maybe 1/2 inch but I enlarged to 3/4 and used either fine or metric to increase thread count and holding power (working in brass) On the hinges could not find a presentable pic but flat stock was cut to length (getting perfect length was tricky). Then I used a stainless steel cabinet hinge on the end and bolted to the lower lip of the dash in 3 places. I did not stabilize with any retaining screws on the front of dash but it can be done if you think it needs it. Good luck.

WEK:cool::cool::cool:

[Cutter 54]

Analysis paralysis

Ingenious! That is a new expression for me. Perfect!

[nucjd19]

Took a couple of pics of the passenger side. Hope that helps. Remembered that there are already holes in frame maybe 1/2 inch but I enlarged to 3/4 and used either fine or metric to increase thread count and holding power (working in brass) On the hinges could not find a presentable pic but flat stock was cut to length (getting perfect length was tricky). Then I used a stainless steel cabinet hinge on the end and bolted to the lower lip of the dash in 3 places. I did not stabilize with any retaining screws on the front of dash but it can be done if you think it needs it. Good luck.

WEK:cool::cool::cool:

Wonderful!!!!! Thank you!!!