🔧 BUILD PJ's 2004 Cobra racecar build

[PJx5x]

Tore apart the motor tonight for a few reasons:
1. Want to verify the compression ratio. Cam builder needs it to do his best job

B. Motor was assembled by AES a few years ago and never ran. Their reputation can be sketchy. I want to double check the assembly and have some confidence in it

iii. I found a billet crank for sale in the exact size I need. I am measuring the bob weight of my setup (internally balanced) to see if it's relatively close. If I don't need to spend $800 on mallory heavy metal balancing it, then I will pick it up and sell my forged crank

Dry decked heads. All the coolant ports were welded and decked flat. If I lift a head, I'm not gonna spray coolant or pressurize the coolant system and get water under the tires. Great mod for a filled block

Pulled one piston and rod out. I am bringing it to the machine shop tomorrow to get it weighed. Fancy coatings and gas ports (not sure if they actually help, everyone argues about it)

 

[Terminator-Fux]

How much better is this engine than an Explorer 5.0? I heard that's the hot ticket to make power.

 

[PJx5x]

How much better is this engine than an Explorer 5.0? I heard that's the hot ticket to make power.

Its almost as good as a '98 explorer motor with a letter cam. Unbeatable!

 

[strtcar]

So this is where all the updates are for this car....I'll have to follow now.

 

[PJx5x]

Parts have finally been spec'd and ordered through Lil John Motorsports.

Had to measure everything to figure out the compression ratio of 10.2:1... also had a spark plug thread repaired while it was apart. Measured the valve springs and crap.

John ended up wanting me at like 12.5:1 but I cant afford to drop $2k on pistons lol. So we went down a size in the copper head gaskets and got it at 10.5:1, a little bit closer. He did everything he could to spec out a cam to make the rest of the compression dynamically. We'll see how it works haha.

Parts should be here in a few weeks. Gonna tear apart the rest of the shortblock and clean everything while I wait. I will verify ring gaps and clearances and put it all back together.

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

I heard you acquired a mobile home as well? Updates?

 

[PJx5x]

I heard you acquired a mobile home as well? Updates?

Maybe. Make me a Members ride hauler thread. Kthx

 

[Terminator-Fux]

As long as Fuller House keeps getting made this car will never be done.

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

(pretend I'm PJ for a bit)


Thanks to [MENTION=5363]Blinkstang[/MENTION], Director of Media and [MENTION=8029]BeerOrGasoline[/MENTION], Director of Acquisitions.






So after letting the notch sit & rot in Dan's storage unit on my flat deck trailer for a few months and then subsequently letting the new owner do the same, I started looking for an enclosed to pull with my F150. After a couple weeks of browsing I located a guy down state who just so happened to be looking to trade his 28' enclosed for an open deck and this is my story.


Phase 1 was to get in the storage unit & get the notch chassis off my open deck trailer. Typically this would be easy as you're probably picturing a rolling chassis but that'd be too easy. No wheels, no axles, no problem! With a combination of an engine hoist, furniture dollies, a more-than likely still drunk from last night Shane, a surprisingly not hungover Dan, and Jackson who spent more time snapchatting than helping, we got it done.



Frozen locks call for liberal Torch application...

Buh bye notch!

So much trailer envy

Shane deadlifting notch, 5x for 3 sets.

All tucked away to never be seen again!

What Jackson did in the meantime (relocate all the trucks for a photo shoot)

As this is the last time I'd have my open I decided to part ways with this mint 2004 Cobra I had laying around...

ONE DAY LATER


We set out early in the AM towards some farm town between Springfield and St. Louis. Morning cruise went smoothly despite cold temps & rain that kept threatening sleet & ice. Stopped at a coffee & donuts shop recommended by Shane so Dan could refill his stupid Yeti cup and Jackson could OD on sugar.

Everything was going along nicely until the navigation decided that someone's country driveway was a road. The chickens & dog caused a bit of a traffic jam and we ultimately ended up turning around in a field before a 12ga warning shot was fired in our general direction.

After that nonsense we were back on track where a smooth exchange happened in the rain. I'm now the proud owner of a 28' enclosed car hauler.

Since this, I've ordered a Husky Centerline Weight-Distributing Hitch and a pair of AirLift LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate bags to help control and level everything out for what should be around a 10,000lb load.


Victory Meeting was held at Huddle House over fine, southern Illinois cuisine.

After realizing we got some less-than-stellar MPGeez on the way back with this thing unloaded, I finally caved to Dan's request and obtained a Livernois Motorsports tuner & 160* thermostat. Should be able to drag ugly 7.3 Super Duty's now even with the trailer hooked up and If I have any issues I will blame Dan for the rest of his life so it's really a win/win.


PreTune MPG Report

 

[cap42]

:ttiwwp:

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

fixed img tags. my bad.

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

BONUS DAN & PJ CONTENT

In an effort to protect some of his things from the weather, PJ decided to put the golf cart we obtained & his GSX-R1000 in the trailer as we figured it wouldn't sell until spring. Enjoy the below.

The bike sold less than one week after this event occurred.




But we also got some totes.

 

[RedBeard]

Best part by far is the Cobra remains lol. Where'd that go?

 

[BeerOrGasoline]

Best part by far is the Cobra remains lol. Where'd that go?

Into a larger one of these...

 

[GLADIATOR]

I like the H H's on the waffles. That's a nice touch.

 

[PJx5x]

Best part by far is the Cobra remains lol. Where'd that go?

No. Best part was no craft beer
Second best part was the wild chicken adventure

Cobra was discretely deposited to an after hours metal recycler.

 

[Terminator-Fux]

Just let Dan keep updating this thread. Your story skills suck PJ.

 

[Bub]

all that story and no mention of cats???

 

[Terminator-Fux]

 

[PJx5x]

Tore the engine down this weekend to clean everything out and measure crap. Motor was new, never fired but I didn't get a build sheet with it. So I got all the ring gaps and bearing clearances now.... Also found rtv remnants everywhere cause AES used 3 tubes on this thing including on the copper head gaskets. Ridiculous. Ruined the head gaskets, so I ordered new ones and went thinner for more compression.

Oh well, couple cans of brake clean and it's all good.

All the brake clean ruined some of the paint tho so I masked it off and shoot some high temp black at it.

Not before [MENTION=3064]Terminator-Fox[/MENTION] made a monster tho

All done

Had to order a new piston ring compressor since I've never had a 4.125" bore motah before. Should be here tmrw so I can start putting this turd back together

 

[Terminator-Fux]

I had fun drawing on your LS.

 

[PJx5x]

Here's some pics of the motah resembling a few weeks ago. Was a nice time streaming Lights Out 8. Don't think I ran into any issues....

Bought a mic set and dial bore gauge cause tools are good. Measured all my bearing clearances, ring gaps, etc so I knew what I was dealing with. The ring gaps are all over the place, good job AES lol. I tried to shuffle them around and even them out best I could.

Had to chamfer the brand new ring compressor to fit inside the stainless steel o rings lol

Short block complete.... Time to clean the heads out, and reassemble with new 0.031" copper gaskets. The block is full filled and the heads are welded shut, so I had the gaskets cut without any water holes

Long block is done and taped up for now. Covers and pan are just on there temporarily to seal it.

Looks like the intake gaskets are custom cut. No one makes one for this head. Dammit!

 

[zenriddles]

Pretty.

Is that paint on the main caps?

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

Most Billet mains are black oxide coated

 

[PJx5x]

Started fitting up the motor plate, headers, and oil pan....

First started out by tracing a friend's motah plate onto a chunk of 1/4" aluminum. Drilled the holes out and cut the middle out for the cam belt drive. I'm leaving this plate large so I have room to mount the fuel pump, vacuum pump, etc. I will trim it when it's all done

Went to fit up the headers and the passenger side hits the overly large single sump oil pan. No worries, I'll ghetto clearance it and worry about it later

Cut the motor plate some more.... And more.... And it fits

Now to worry about the oil pan. I decided to trim the hole back another inch and just notch that whole section. I had to relocate some internal bracing and make 2 patch panels. Got to use the tig for the first time in like 8 months. Forgot how fun welding is