Progress Thread The next "big" project for my Cobra

DadLife0724 · May 6, 2026

The struggle is real with those damned lugs isn't it?

LILCBRA · May 6, 2026

DadLife0724 said:
The struggle is real with those damned lugs isn't it?

You know it! They'll be getting a dab of antiseize this go round - have no desire to play this game again.

Noobz347 · May 6, 2026

idareu said:
I still plan on buying a cobra body kit unless I can find a full set of GT bumper covers and side skirts but that is a long way off.

Double check that before you do it. There are some lug-nut setups that don't take kindly to anti-seize.

If it's corrosion that the PITA, put a little loctite blue on there. It has corrosion [things] in it.

Noobz347 · May 6, 2026

DadLife0724 said:
The struggle is real with those damned lugs isn't it?

I dig you're old-timey man cave.

And it's close enough to the lawn that you can yell at people to get off it!

DadLife0724 · May 6, 2026

Thanks man. That's actually the side of my garage. Used to be a horse stable from late 1800s. Someone tore down the stable and used the wood to make a 2 car garage in 50s I believe. It's coming down next year for a pole building. Saving all of the wood though. Will incorporate it into my new building.

LILCBRA · May 6, 2026

So.... I installed a new fuel filter tonight. Went to check for leaks and found that the pump's not priming. Checked my connections and didn't find anything weird, swapped the relay with another new one "just in case" and checked voltages. My battery is a tad low at 11.8 volts per the handheld and my gauge when checking connections. The pump is getting power when it should (I mean it should be, it ran yesterday!). I believe I have a junk pump on my hands now.... I'm running an Aeromotive Stealth 340, read a bunch of posts here and there of people running into the same issue. If it's not one thing it's another....

But on a positive note, the wheels came off easily with the new socket. Probably because I soaked them with WD40 while I waited. They took almost no effort, especially compared to the other day.

And a comparison between my old tires and the Nittos.

Blackhawkxx · May 6, 2026

The Nittos look like they are going to hook. Nice looking shop foreman.

LILCBRA · May 6, 2026

Blackhawkxx said:
The Nittos look like they are going to hook. Nice looking shop foreman.

He's kinda sore atm. He got into it with another dog last week and broke his lower left canine tooth, so the vet extracted it Monday morning. So he's been laying down on the job quite a bit lately.

Noobz347 · May 6, 2026

I don't even have to read the words. I know where this is going:

Blackhawkxx · May 6, 2026

What size front wheel and tire are you running?

LILCBRA · May 7, 2026

Blackhawkxx said:
What size front wheel and tire are you running?

165/80-15 front, was 265/50-15 in the rear. Front is staying the same, going to 275/50-15 for the rear now.

Wheels are Summit branded knockoffs, 15×4 on the front, 15x8 with 4-1/2 backspacing for the rear.

Here's when I put them all on. They're about 16 years old now. Definitely time to replace them!

LILCBRA said:
Alright-I FINALLY broke down and bought the new wheels and tires, well rear tires as of right now. I don't have the fronts yet, no one has the size in stock (165/80-15's on 15x4's), so they will have to wait until next weekend. But, I have the rears- 15x8 with 265/50-15's. I have to say I love it!! Anyways, since there are only a few pics with this size, I thought I would post the few I took of mine earlier today. Sorry for the relatively crappy quality-I took them with my phone. If anyone is interested, I can take a few more with my actual camera.

LILCBRA · May 7, 2026

Noobz347 said:
I don't even have to read the words. I know where this is going:

"I. Am. Iron. Horse."

LILCBRA · May 7, 2026

Oh, and a new fuel pump is on it's way. Yes, it's advertised for a Firebird, but it appears it should work well for me after doing some research. Was debating between this one and a Walbro 255.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/dwk-9-201-1000

Noobz347 · May 7, 2026

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Blackhawkxx · May 7, 2026

LILCBRA said:
165/80-15 front, was 265/50-15 in the rear. Front is staying the same, going to 275/50-15 for the rear now.

Wheels are Summit branded knockoffs, 15×4 on the front, 15x8 with 4-1/2 backspacing for the rear.

Here's when I put them all on. They're about 16 years old now. Definitely time to replace them!

Thanks. I have 155/80-15 on 4" on front and wouldn't mind getting a little wider tire on it. Per Grok, yours should be 0.39 inches wider than mine and 0.63 inches taller. As a do over I wouldn't have went with the 4" front but they no longer make my wheel in 5.5 or 6" I'd prefer. Wheels cost $$$ these days so I guess what I have is good enough.

LILCBRA · May 7, 2026

Your car is more or less stock height in front, right? Mine is low, I cut about a coil and a quarter to a coil and a half from the springs. Sitting as low as it does required me to eliminate the fender liners and bend the spot welded seam at the firewall otherwise my tires would rub. The fender lip was fine, so I lucked out there. You may be fine if you're sitting about stock height, but if it's lowered you'll definitely want to check clearances.

LILCBRA · May 7, 2026

Blackhawkxx said:
Thanks. I have 155/80-15 on 4" on front and wouldn't mind getting a little wider tire on it. Per Grok, yours should be 0.39 inches wider than mine and 0.63 inches taller. As a do over I wouldn't have went with the 4" front but they no longer make my wheel in 5.5 or 6" I'd prefer. Wheels cost $$$ these days so I guess what I have is good enough.

Well, if you did decide to splurge and pick up new wheels, I think these look good. They're not badly priced individually, but I get it that it's a pricey overall purchase.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vsw-521h5734b0

Blackhawkxx · May 7, 2026

LILCBRA said:
Well, if you did decide to splurge and pick up new wheels, I think these look good. They're not badly priced individually, but I get it that it's a pricey overall purchase.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vsw-521h5734b0

When the Weld RT-S Series S71 first came out, they were really reasonably priced, looked great and they could be had in 4 lug but I just couldn't get pass the weirdness of four lugs on a five star wheel and changing over to five lug would add more money. The Centerlines are the third set of wheels so I will live with them. I still have the 13" slots that I actually liked the looks if they were 15".
BTW- the Welds were under $200 (IIRC) when they came out and the 15 x 4" is now $765!!!

https://www.jegs.com/i/Weld-Racing/927/71LB-504P25C/10002/-1

LILCBRA · May 8, 2026

I get that too. I don't know if I'd like those that you've shared mainly because the lugs are so close to the edge of the outer diameter of the center of the wheel. The other thing, and it may be different in person, is the fact that they're essentially black but the lug holes are bright. They'd definitely stick out like a sore thumb! The others, though, look like they're black all around. Could then get black lug nuts to kind of mask the look of it only being 4 lugs. Going down the path to swap to 5 lugs is even more expensive though, so I understand your dilemma. I've been kind of adamant about not swapping to 5 lugs myself, but it unfortunately doesn't bode well for wheel choices.

LILCBRA · May 12, 2026

I started the night off bleeding the master cylinder, so that's now ready to install. Then it was back to the fuel system. The good news: it runs again! But - I pulled the tank and fuel pump and in the process found that a wire came out of a connector as I went to pull it apart.

That led me to bench test the pump, it's still good. So back in it went with an improved connector. The connector I'm referring to was an automotive weather tight connector that I assembled when I did the swap. The thought was to make dropping the tank easier - I could disconnect the electrical at that connector and all I'd really need to worry about disconnecting was the return line. The wire broke at the terminal and the insulation looked burnt, so I replaced both wires with 10 gauge and reinstalled it all again.

Next up was the passenger side wheel cylinder. That's now been replaced, but not without a fight from the springs....

Progress Thread The next "big" project for my Cobra

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I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Active Member

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

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I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Advanced Member

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Advanced Member

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

Advanced Member

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

I wish I didn't have all of these balls in the air

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