27. Gas struts

So what a bitch of a job this was.....

I learnt a few things along the way that I really could have done with knowing a little earlier like there are different sizes of bonnet cams.....mine are the small ones that are difficult to fit...Im sure they meant to tell me that this was the case!

So AK say to pop rivet the bonnet brackets on but then I need these to come off again for paint.  AK did say that they would drill them out and replace them but i didn't fancy the ends rattling around the bonnet so I opted for rivnuts.  These seemed to work quite well but I'm always nervous I will over compress them.  With them in place I measured 10 1/2 inches down the body and mounted the other ends. 

Then to let the gas out....I used the method of connecting only one strut and then letting gas out until its is able to be closed,  then repeated with the other side.  Then with both of them connected assessed how hard it was to close - a little more out of beachside and we were done....

( this section could contain lots of swearing and various other words to explain my extreme dissatisfaction but ill avoid this!!)

When the bonnet closed the cams now hit the body.  The gas struts have pushed the bonnet up in car line slightly and because I only have the short cams (I didn't know you could get fricking longer ones) they need to be so close to the body that there is no room.  

When I fitted the bonnet locks I didn't want the brackets on the engine bay to be visible so I made it all fit very close to the body so its now all a little too close.  I may have to cot the seal and reduce the body a little here but never mind.....hopefully the bonnet will be closed most of the time!

29. Prep for paint...

So with the new year here I decided to give the build a kick in the direction of completion.

Called AK, ordered the side vents; one of the only bits left that I needed to buy. I also booked the car in for exhausts and paint as well and ordered the OMEX ECU and interior.  I am not looking forward to the bill!

Initially it seemed rewarding to strip the windscreen off and mirrors etc as it was getting closer to painting, however as reality dawned that I needed to remove the engine harness (as I am having the engine bay painted), washer bottle, heater matrix, horn, thermostat, handbrake, shifter, transmission wiring, roll bar brackets, seatbelt brackets  and all the bright work.  This, by the end of it, was quite frustrating.

I just have to concentrate on the fact that the next time i touch these components I will be putting them on for the last time - thank god!!!

The car is booked in at 355 Paint right next to AK.  I chose them for a number of reasons, they do a good job and are used to painting Cobras, also I need to get the exhausts made (which with more being an LS3 I need to take it to AK to get this done).  So makes sense to get it all done in the same-ish place.


So off we went to AK - 0 degrees C and snowing just the weather to move a car!

It took us an age to get the bloody car on the trailer as it was so low - it kept hitting the bell housing on the end of the trailer as it went over the brink.....but managed it in the end.

Here we are safe and sound at AK.  Spoke to Darren at 355 and discussed the colours and prices (£££££££££££££!!!!)    building a cobra is NOT CHEAP!

As I have learnt by now nothing is very exact in terms of timing with building a cobra as everyone is rather non precise on timing...sometimes quick (AK generally) sometimes slow (Brasscraft!)

So within a few days Jon said the exhausts etc was done - and some rework on my fuel system as the filter was too close to the exhausts....blimey all seemed very quick  - so car was now with 355 to pint the engine bay with was also done in a few days....

Now to pick the paint - 355 gave me some paper samples (was expecting little jelly moulds but hey!)

I have picked Jag Caldera Jed, Bentley St James Red, Ferrari Rosso Corsa and Scuderia.

The only one I have every actually seen on a car was the Jag red (as I work there) so in the end i picked this one even though it looked quite dark on the cards...think its the second from the left on this pic.

Took about 4 weeks after this to get the call to say it was ready to collect so I asked AK to deliver it as I didn't want to damage the paint.

 and here it was!!!!

OK so WOW I love it - right colour choice and a great job by 355 - they certainly put some effort into the the body work and filling the little areas around the door hinges and boot release etc  - all filled lovely and makes the door look more solid  - happy boy!

Now to get it in the garage - there is a slight slope so want easy - in the end I needed the local window cleaners and post man to give me a hand.....and in it went.