Progress Thread Lets Frankenstein a 1998 Cobra into a 1968 Coupe!

Seems like a lot of work for a coilover solid-axle rear end with all the bolt-on kits around. I have played with the idea of IRS myself using a Ford 8.8 that I have mounted in a Miata cradle....the Miata IRS cradle and control arms are fairly compact(and the track width between it an a 66 are almost identical). The only reason I didn't tackle that one was because when I measured it I would have had to change the shock and spring angle to clear the frame rails and I wasn't sure how that would affect things.
The work involved is probably a wash compared to something like TCP rear cradle n' coilover kit. Once I removed the shock brace, the cradle has 4 bolts and 2 mount points to fix it in. All told, probably 20 hours to get it installed. The real boon is it allowed me to use so many parts from the Cobra saving me thousands :nice: The IRS sounds pretty cool! If you do that, be sure to share pics. That would be neat to see.

2Blue2, no burnouts yet. Once I get a full mile on it, maybe, hehehe :rock:
 
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Finally getting around to making the intake for this. I chose the "make a block of foam and carve something out method" :banana:

I made a quick paper template to get the turn out of the throttle body close to where I needed it to be. Traced that out onto my block of hobby foam. Some quick hacksaw blade work and viola! I had my 2d intake. Some trimming, adding, cutting, turning, rasp work...3d intake! I'm using light weight wall compound the fair it all in. I'm thinking I'll skim coat the entire thing, fair it out, then glass over it. I'll scoop/rinse out the mold and add the IAC, IAT, and valve cover nipples.
 

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I really like your work ethic. You do like I do...and make what you need to make sht work. All of the pics where you’ve had to fab stuff are all something to take pride in..Great work. From one guy that “builds instead of buys“ a lot of the stuff I do, my hats off to you.
 
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I really like your work ethic. You do like I do...and make what you need to make sht work. All of the pics where you’ve had to fab stuff are all something to take pride in..Great work. From one guy that “builds instead of buys“ a lot of the stuff I do, my hats off to you.
Really appreciate the compliment! "Built with Pride, not Bought :rock: "
 
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Couple of updates, I had a few minutes this weekend to work on the intake. West System epoxy, 2 layers of 2" fiberglass tape (4 on the ends). Scooped the foam out, cleaned it up, I think we have a winner! It's a bit rough inside and out. Some clean up, nipples, fill & fair, 1 more layer of glass for reinforcement, and a clean layer of Carbon Fiber to finish it off :cool: Probably in the next couple weekends...oh yeah, need to trim the inner hood structure some :chin
 

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Excellent project! I'm seriously starting to consider using the AJE-style front suspension instead of going with a full IFS. It looks like a good way to keep costs down while gaining a lot of room even with just a partial removal of the shock towers.
 
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So I've just piddled with this off and on when I had a few minutes. I bought a $10 carbon fiber paint kit off Amazon instead of real carbon fiber. Feeling cheap and lazy. Actually turned out pretty nice! Intake tube is done, just needs to dry. Working on the filter adapter still.
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Ran by the garage to dry fit everything, and I must say, I think I have a winner! Just need to finish the elbow...maybe this weekend if I can find the time.
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Looking good...have you heard about the hydro-printing process? Evidently you just dip whatever part you are trying to print into a bucket with the print/pattern/image you are looking for and the print transfers to the part...seems like it could be interesting, worth a try some day.

P.S. I ended up ordering an aftermarket aluminum radiator, fan, and shroud combo meant for a 96-04 Mustang myself, but I plan on tucking it up further under the support(theoretically possible based on the overall dimesnions if I cut off the SN95 style mounting studs)...I figured, I could cut the radiator support and upgrade to a 67-68 style radiator...or I could cut the support and upgrade to a SN95 radiator which has the advantage of being crossflow and a larger surface area...it wasn't much of a choice. Anyway, I would be interested to see more details on your radiator mounting for the bottom if you can get a picture. Does your radiator give you any cooling issues being so far away from the support?
 
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Never heard of that, but might look better than my $10 job. The bottom looks like crap since that where all the overlapping cloth ended up. No cooling issues yet, but it's also winter and I've finally put ALMOST 4 miles on the car. Took it to my dads today. If I can't dig up a picture, I'll post a sketch. It's really simple.
 
Big progress made this weekend! Put the girlfriend on the back burner and spent all Saturday tucking my exhaust and hanging some Flowmaster Super 40's. Today I put the final touches on some safety items and took the car for a spin! It's first in almost 2 years. Drives nice, very smooth ride. No speedo, so I used a GPS app on my phone. 3.95 miles total, 36 mph max speed. Also the first manual transmission car I've driven in 17 years :banana:
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Couple of updates, I had a few minutes this weekend to work on the intake. West System epoxy, 2 layers of 2" fiberglass tape (4 on the ends). Scooped the foam out, cleaned it up, I think we have a winner! It's a bit rough inside and out. Some clean up, nipples, fill & fair, 1 more layer of glass for reinforcement, and a clean layer of Carbon Fiber to finish it off :cool: Probably in the next couple weekends...oh yeah, need to trim the inner hood structure some :chin
The stock intake tube on my Grand Marquis has a goofy growth and bellows. I’ve thought about doing this. How much of a pita was it to dig out the foam? I have heard of melting white packing foam with Acetone, but what kind of foam did you use?
 
I think you may have as little ground clearance with your exhaust as I do with mine...about 3 inches or so? Hard to tell with mine since I hacked 2.5 coils out of the stock 6 cylinder springs just to get the car back on the ground rolling on the temporary OEM 6 cylinder suspension(was too lazy to go home and get my spring compressors, so hacking some coils out was easy)