I used to love these cars

I can't stand them now



Spent two years building it, hand popped over 2000 rivets, spent weeks on the bodywork, Powdercoated parts, installed and setup the driveline, actually even got to drive it in the shop once. It took me a week to custom machine the billet rear view mirror mount alone. Took three tries before he was happy with it. Custom machined all the dash knobs, aircleaner nut, fuel injector covers, fuel pump brackets, fuel vent can, and chin spoiler mounts.

Powered by a crate 302 bored and stroked to 348 CI, has a race prepped 5 speed, removable windshield,
Race prepped Jag IRS, Custom fron IFS, fully electronic, computerized electrical sytem, custom one off fuel injection etc. Set up for autocross.

I wish I'd never seen it. The owner (our former General Manager) and the shop foreman lost their jobs the day it went for inspection, I lost mine but was rehired a few days later, and given the foremans job.

I was originally hired to start an electrician apprenticeship, but soon as the GM found out about my bikes, I got stuck on the car. Pretty much killed my apprenticeship.

Three weeks later, he exploded the transmission on a dyno run. apparently he slammed the trans case on the ground while he was ripping around, it failed under extreme load.

DAMN! I take it thats modeled after a shelby Cobra 4/27 SC? Holy crap...if I new You made those things...I'd ask for your adress and sent you my Vette for one.

I don't build cars, I got shanghai'ed into it. We actually build high voltage high amperage multiphase electrical equipment.

The car was the GM's hobby.

I build/ repair bikes and tractors, and other power toys. I have enough to do with 2 quads, three tractors, a boat, Seadoo, Chopper, and 4 dirtbikes. Not all are mine, but I have to maintain and tune them. I can usually fit in a quad or mower afew time a year for friends and family, but thats about it.

I don't like working on cars and my van has had a broken front sway bear for going on two years.

I haven't got around to fixing the temperature controls yet either. The fuel sender quit a week after I put the new fuel pump in it, it has a rattle when stopped in drive that will drive u crazy, but i'kll drive it till the wheels fall off, and go get another one.

BTW. The oringinal 427 Cobraspowered were by the "side oiler" Ford 427 engine (7.0 L) rated at 425 bhp (317 kW),

There where 260 small block and a 289 small block versions as well.

This one wieghs 600 pounds less and puts out 40 hp more than the original 427

Has modern brakes and suspension too.

Its a factory five kit.

Tell GM they can have their Vette back, send me that.

That is alot of work! The biggest project ive ever helped with is making an 80,000lbs cap. Silage Wagon. i know i wouldn't take on a project like that but i guess its sort of hard to refuse it from your point.

would love to get behind the wheel of that with a full tank of gas lol cause i know the cops around here would be on me like crazy

@Chopperhed wrote:

BTW. The oringinal 427 Cobraspowered were by the "side oiler" Ford 427 engine (7.0 L) rated at 425 bhp (317 kW),

There where 260 small block and a 289 small block versions as well.

This one wieghs 600 pounds less and puts out 40 hp more than the original 427

Has modern brakes and suspension too.

Its a factory five kit.

I know where ther's two 427 side oilers at right now for sale. I think one has a 2x3 setup and the other is a longblock. The guy that owned them just passed away and the wife is selling everything.

It is a nice ride. I've ridden in one before, the HP/weight ratio is great. You should read the autobiography of Carol Shelby sometime, its a good read. I remmber part of it talks about when they were racing in Europe and were about to run out of gas on a long road corcse that went through the country side. they stopped at a regular gas station and dropped two fuel lines in, filled the car and left. I think that was when Carol Shelby installed a 42 galon tank later in his own personal 427 A/C later on.

Chopperhead, what kind of van do you have.

its a 1999 GMC Safari. Its my truck, my camper, my portable shop, my toy hauler and trailer puller.

I can haul up to a 48" wide tractor, a 9' Seadoo, my street bike, my quad, and even my dirt bike if I strap the forks down some. Of course its not all at the same time.

It can pull my boat @ 75 mph too, and gets 25 to the gallon.

Its the only rear drive mid size van I could get.

I used to have a Chevy Astro, which is the sister to the Safari... It was amazing the amount of stuff you could put in it. I embarrassed pickup truck owners when helping friends move.

My last one was an ex-RCMP 91 Chev Astro. Drove the wheels off it for ten years.

those older chevy vans seem to run forever