Tweaking the Cob
Discussion
Recently purchased a used Cobra, and after a few hours hooning about, I fancy tweaking the car a little.
For little money, and little time spent on car, I'd like to do one/some/all the following:
- make steering changes more direct
- sharper more responsive braking
- noisier exhausts? :evil:
Any help on the above people?!?
ps. Have piccy if anyone could host?!?
For little money, and little time spent on car, I'd like to do one/some/all the following:
- make steering changes more direct
- sharper more responsive braking
- noisier exhausts? :evil:
Any help on the above people?!?
ps. Have piccy if anyone could host?!?
- make steering changes more direct
Do you mean you want turn in to be sharper, that you want to kill some understeer you've got, or that you want smaller movements of the wheel to give bigger effects?
If it's the latter, you might be able to get a quicker version of the steering rack used from a different model of the donor or a competition quick rack. For the other two, geometry changes or different springs could help you set it up as you want it.
- sharper more responsive braking
Again, there might be better brakes from a higher spec donor available, or you could go for AP, Tarox, Brembo, etc. bigger brakes depending on budget and how far you want to go.
- noisier exhausts?
If it's got underslung exhausts, side pipes would definitely help destroy your hearing quicker.
As Incorrigible said, which Cobra is it, I'm sure there will be many people with the same type that will have done all this before to give more specific pointers. (I was just bored so thought I'd ramble on a bit on general ideas).
Do you mean you want turn in to be sharper, that you want to kill some understeer you've got, or that you want smaller movements of the wheel to give bigger effects?
If it's the latter, you might be able to get a quicker version of the steering rack used from a different model of the donor or a competition quick rack. For the other two, geometry changes or different springs could help you set it up as you want it.
- sharper more responsive braking
Again, there might be better brakes from a higher spec donor available, or you could go for AP, Tarox, Brembo, etc. bigger brakes depending on budget and how far you want to go.
- noisier exhausts?
If it's got underslung exhausts, side pipes would definitely help destroy your hearing quicker.
As Incorrigible said, which Cobra is it, I'm sure there will be many people with the same type that will have done all this before to give more specific pointers. (I was just bored so thought I'd ramble on a bit on general ideas).
the rambling helped! 
Cobra is a Pilgrim Sumo (what I think would be a Mk2, 1992)
- small movements, big effects please! have a mota lita steering wheel which i don't think is helping. so i guess i need another rack..
- not sure what the donor vehicle would have been. anyway of checking this, so i can source some bigger donor brakes?
- got side pipes already, but wondering if there is anything MORE loud! lol!
sorry, pressed submit by accident
Cobra is a Pilgrim Sumo (what I think would be a Mk2, 1992)
- small movements, big effects please! have a mota lita steering wheel which i don't think is helping. so i guess i need another rack..
- not sure what the donor vehicle would have been. anyway of checking this, so i can source some bigger donor brakes?
- got side pipes already, but wondering if there is anything MORE loud! lol!
sorry, pressed submit by accident
Mobster Raks said:
- got side pipes already, but wondering if there is anything MORE loud! lol!
Yes - sidepipes with no innards. Or else get plastic surgery so you look like this:
As it's a Sumo it'll be based on Cortina if it's got a live axle and almost certainly Granada if it's IRS. Can't remember if they did Jag version or not.
Doubt there's any chance of getting a quick rack for a Granada, but I think you used to be able to get them for Cortinas, though doesn't mean you still can.
Upgrading to bigger brakes won't be cheap, but just fitting braided brake hoses, higher performance pads and possibly grooved direct replacement discs should help sharpen things up.
think i'll look into the brakes - lines and pads won't be much, and i don't think replacement grooved discs would be too much either...
steering wise, not quite sure - must do more research i think..
noise? un-packed exhausts huh? hmmmm...
bigger engine?!? not yet! just got the damn thing!
steering wise, not quite sure - must do more research i think..
noise? un-packed exhausts huh? hmmmm...
bigger engine?!? not yet! just got the damn thing!
Try going to www.cobraclub.com . All the answers will either already be there ( carry out a search) or simply post the question.
Cheers,
Tony
Cheers,
Tony
eliot, the noise to me is definately bareable!
talking of brakes, if the rears are drums, will it be difficult to swop out for discs?
oh and are there any obvious visual differences, so that i can tell what the donor vehicle was?
Cheers!
>> Edited by Mobster Raks on Thursday 30th June 13:15
talking of brakes, if the rears are drums, will it be difficult to swop out for discs?
oh and are there any obvious visual differences, so that i can tell what the donor vehicle was?
Cheers!
>> Edited by Mobster Raks on Thursday 30th June 13:15
Mobster Raks said:
if the rears are drums
IF? If you've bought the thing how can you not know?
There are people who will convert Ford live axles to disc brakes or sell you kits to do it yourself.
Not sure about Ford IRS. Older Granada models all had drums, later Scorpio had discs, but don't know if the axle is essentially the same or not. If so then could be just matter of swapping parts.
Edited to add if it has a live axle and 4 stud wheels it'll be Cortina base, if it has IRS and 5 stud wheels it'll be Granada base. Unless Pilgrim also did a Jag based version, in which case it'll have a Jag back axle with inboard discs.
>> Edited by grahambell on Thursday 30th June 13:21
grahambell said:That was meant as figure of speech, I KNOW they're rear drums!
if the rears are drums
IF? If you've bought the thing how can you not know?
Sorry for my ignorance, but you speak of 4 and 5 stud wheels. I assume you mean 4 and 5 wheel bolts (method by which they're held on)?
Mobster Raks said:
you speak of 4 and 5 stud wheels. I assume you mean 4 and 5 wheel bolts (method by which they're held on)?
Yes, except on rear wheel drive Fords they're not bolts but studs and nuts. Much easier putting wheels on with those than the bolts used on many front wheel drive cars.
Mobster Raks said:Sorry mate but you no what they say"If you want to make a fast car start with a fast car" Go look at www.gdcars.com and see what you seem to be looking for. PAT
Recently purchased a used Cobra, and after a few hours hooning about, I fancy tweaking the car a little.
For little money, and little time spent on car, I'd like to do one/some/all the following:
- make steering changes more direct
- sharper more responsive braking
- noisier exhausts?
Any help on the above people?!?
ps. Have piccy if anyone could host?!?
Before getting carried away with quick racks & expensive mods, first check the basics - are the suspension bushes in good order? If not, consider replacing them with polyurethane if you can find 'em. Check the rack mounting bushes as well. Basically, anything that is going to allow unwanted movement. And dare I say it...check the chassis isn't cracked and flexing even more than it would normally 
If it is the Granada back end, check the rear toe. If you want rapid turn-in, you could always dial in a wee bit of rear toe-out..but be careful! Again, check all the bushes at the back as well.
FWIW, when I built one many moons ago, I found the brakes to be pretty good - standard Granada but with braided flexibles. Again, check the basics first.
HTH.
If it is the Granada back end, check the rear toe. If you want rapid turn-in, you could always dial in a wee bit of rear toe-out..but be careful! Again, check all the bushes at the back as well.
FWIW, when I built one many moons ago, I found the brakes to be pretty good - standard Granada but with braided flexibles. Again, check the basics first.
HTH.
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