Just got the specs on my new car ............ 12 qt pan. OUCH!

 

Does the Cobra require synthetic oil?

 

Sounds like you need to do a weight reduction mod on that pan.

 

No but it is a good idea. My V8 takes one more quart than the V6 did.

 

I was talking to my mechanic today and he said this, If you drive it weekly, don't let it sit, change it at 3000 miles regular oil should be fine, that's what was in it. If you plan on let it sit for long periods of time synthetic is advised. As for the big oil pan he seems to think the engine was set up for road racing but he said this car has probably not seen a track much less much on the road time. It's basically a new car in his opinion. What do you think about his oil advise?

 

I think you should think about the type of driving you will do. My Cobra sat all week long and went to a lot of local shows and cruises on the weekends. The weekend driving was mostly in the general area with lots of stop lights. Sitting and a lot of stop and go driving can cause sludge build up with dino oil. I would put in synthetic and and run it for up to 8,000 miles. It could take you years to drive that far in a Cobra so the oil changes aren't that expensive over time.

 

I have a friend owns several Lamborghinis & Ferraris. Every time someone touches one of those cars it's going to be over $1,000. We get off cheap by comparison.

 

There is a reason for large oil sumps. The oil stays cooler and cleaner. Mercedes has used big ones forever. Gary

 

Thanks guys for the advice. Lantana I was thinking the same thing. Even If I dump it once a year its still less than $100. So I think I'll be switching it for synthetic.

 

Pat, smart move my friend. You know, if you aren't racing it, you could go back to a stock pan. That's for cooling reasons. But, it's only once a year, so it probably isn't worth it. Can't wait to see her done. I want side pipes...lol

 

I really think the Crossfire would look great with side pipes. I just got the car back this morning. I got to spend some time under it while it was on the lift and boy, its a new car under there. No more leaks. Mechanic showed me the crimped intake gasket, also explained why those chrome thermostat housings don't work. So This morning I had a 30 minute ride home, uneventful and fun. Next up is remount what used to be my rear view mirror on the passenger side of the car. I'm gonna drive it a bit this week, tomorrow is in the mid 50's, next weekend is supposed to be like spring then I'll send the pipes out. I changed out the steering wheel hub which was a kinda funky looking cobra logo to the standard Factory 5 center piece which sits in a nice polished billet piece. So little by little its coming together. A few pics attached.

 

What a beauty. You will have a great summer and spring. Good luck!

 

Pat, this is just my opinion, so take it for what ever it's worth. (You already know how I feel about Cobras).
Personally, I think your car would look even MORE period correct, if you left off the passenger side mirror.
Back then, (mid 60's) dual mirrors (for the most part) were rare.
I was going over a lot of old photographs of Cobras on line, and in some old magazines BKC (before kit cars), and most every photo (especially for the 427 model) had a single drivers mirror.
With no top, ya really don't need one for visibility anyway.
What ever you decide, it's going to look fantastic.
By the way, are you considering stripes?
Oh, and tell your Son, I like his Genesis, looks real nice sitting next to his Dads reptile.

 

Pat:

I'll chime in and support the above advice. I probably drive my Crossfire only about 3500 miles a year. So I do the oil changes every 2 years on the car because it sits alot. Synthetic oil is really marketed to extend oil changes and still provide the required protection of today's engines. This really holds true with industrual applications. Any maintenance or plant engineer today knows that using a synthetic will actually reduce costs over time due to superior performance and extended oil changes. If you're planning to perform your oil changes every 3000 miles, the dino oil available today is more than adequate in providing the required protection and at a lower cost. That especially holds true for the typical Detroit V8 designs used in these Cobra applications.

It has always amazed me why folks use synthetic oil and still peform changes every 3000 miles as if it was dino oil being used. I understand the need to do this in cars that are used only for track racing, drag racing, or any other forms of performance driving. But for most of us, that don't buy our cars for that sole purpose, oil changes can be extended to 7500 -10,000 miles with synthetics without suffering any consequences. Even the engine designs from OEM's over the past 10 years, which are becoming more exotic every year, nearly always recommend extended oil change intervals with synthetics.

Enjoy the upcoming warm weather!! Wish I could ride along!!

 

Thanks guys. Mike - after I posted that I pulled out my "First 40 Years Of Cobra" book my brother sent me for Christmas and you are 100% correct and I noticed none of them had two mirrors, in fact quite a few had none at all. I'l be sticking with one. I didn't really want to drill a hole into that pretty finish anyway.
dedwards and Lantana - definitely will be switching to synthetic. I usually do my yearly oil change in July so I'll swap it out then. Thanks for the suggestions and encouragement.
Gonna take Jake80 for a ride Saturday morning and then pull the pipes for ceramic coating.

Mike - I forgot - Yes stripes are definitely going on the car but they are down the list a ways, after wheels and pipes will be a tonneau and maybe a heater. I also have to get the battery moved from under the car to the trunk and the battery shut off switch moved to the trunk. The car actually has a locking trunk and hood so I will get a bit of security being able to turn off the battery and have that switch locked in the trunk. As for the stripes, white, off white or silver? What do you think?
Pat

 

Pat, I think you already know my vote.

http://www.fantasycars.com/derek/car...odge/gts_5.jpg

 

White for sure. Paint the pipes and wheels silver and the white stripes on that blue Cobra will make it really stand out!

 

This company in Delaware, Powder Barrons, has a really cool Silver/Chrome Ceramic coating. the pipes will go out next week to have that done. While I can drive it I have to measure the offsets on the existing wheels. I like the stance, just don't care for those wheels. Once I get the offsets I can order the American Racing Shelby Cobra Wheels. They will have a polished finish.

 

Well the pipes got pulled last night. A bigger job than I expected. We managed to snap off one of the body mounting bolts on the drivers side pipe so Sean is having a new one welded on for me. I also found someone local to do the Creramic Coating. This is gonna look almost like chrome and it also acts as a heat protector. In other words you are less likely to burn your legs getting out of the car. I really don't care for the sidepipe covers. Good up to 1700 degrees. No discoloration like chrome. Should be all set in 2 or 3 weeks, more pics when we get them back on. In the mean time I still have some tweaking to do. I noticed over the weekend that the guy who built the car used different bolts to mount the body in places. Some are whats supposed to be there a flat headed bolt with an allen head, some he just used plain old bolts so I called Factory 5 this morning and they are sending me the proper mounting bolts.
I also washed the car for the first time yesterday. Lots of fun, especially keeping the water out of the interior but I managed to only miss with the hose once. I threw a plastic cover over the engine and plugged up the hood scoop with a towel. There are a lot of electronics that are right out in the open on this car, I didn't want to chance getting something wet. I do have to get the tonneau for it. Somebody buy my exhaust (stock) and my luggage ! I also have the stock engine cover which is nicely painted and detailed and well as a stock non nav radio.
Jim (Jake 80) got his ride Saturday and I think he was impressed with the car. I think he was surprised how smooth it rode. It was a windy cold day so we only took a short ride.

 

There was a cobra at a World of Wheels show here in Indianapolis last weekend and it had a nice engine turned dash in it, made me think of you, Pat