2003 Cobra - New restoration/project

[hatchke]

Few little updates-

- Definitely a small oil drip that seems like it's from the oil cooler assembly. Going to just rebuild the whole thing and see how that goes.

- Ticking noise is still going obviously and haven't had time to really to pinpoint. Totally goes away when the car starts to get warm and/or the trans warms up, can't tell which it is yet. Sounds more underneath the car/transmission area than engine bay, but could also just be echoing from the last cylinder presumably.

- I only hear it when i'm accelerating lightly, engine HAS to be under load and is in that 1500-2500 mark. I think the exhaust may drone out anything above that. If I let off the noise stops. That's what makes me feel like it's transmission/clutch related. One of those annoying things that I almost need for it to get worse so I can find it easier.

Ordered:
-MM Camber plates
-Eibach Pro-kit springs
-Koni SA
- New wheels (I'm super excited but know they'll be kind of polarizing). 18x9.5 fronts and 18x10.5 rears.

Received:
-New 3rd brake light
-Oil cooler rebuild kit - OIL COOLER O-RING GASKETS & HEX TOOL REBUILD KIT 1996-2004 COBRA & MUSTANGS | Speed Concepts

 

[hatchke]

Few "small" updates and one surprise!

First, I had to replace the cracked 3rd brake light - was driving me crazy being all broken on both ends.

Also, lol, yes I AM going to get the car registered. I'm just waiting for emissions testing to 'officially' end in my county on Feb 5th. I'm not sure that i'd pass even with the high-flow cats and readiness codes.

Surprise! Kind of a polarizing choice, I realize. I'm a JDM kid at heart with TE37 on my M4, so it made sense to go to Japan for my wheels.

18x9.5 +15 fronts and 18x10.5 +15 rears. Going to run some MPSS 295/35 rears and maybe some 275/40 up front.

Rear install in-progress

Rear lowered (hard to tell)

Left the top ISO in, might so no ISO up front but not sure yet.

So far I think i'm happy with the drop. Wasn't trying to be absolutely slammed around here, but also chasing more look than anything else here since this is the "sensible" car.

 

[muscleatsrice]

This thing is coming along great!


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[CobraBob]

Nice drop. Can't wait to see the new Enkei wheels installed.

 

[hatchke]

Well, I think thinks turned out pretty well. VERY happy with the drop and how it rides/handles so far. Desperately needs an alignment but otherwise I think we're moving along.

Got all the wheels in - waiting on tires and then i'll do the alignment, tire swap, mount/balance and all that.

 

[Roots-type]

I bet a black top would look killer with that parchment interior. Might even make it a 1 of 1! Lol

If you haven't ordered those tires yet, think about 275/35 fronts and 305/35 rears. The 275/40 fronts would have a taller sidewall than the 295/35 rears. A slightly taller rear sidewall is better than the other way around. The 305 will fit just right, the 295 will be more stretched (unless that's what you're after). Good work so far bringing the car back!

 

[hatchke]

I bet a black top would look killer with that parchment interior. Might even make it a 1 of 1! Lol

If you haven't ordered those tires yet, think about 275/35 fronts and 305/35 rears. The 275/40 fronts would have a taller sidewall than the 295/35 rears. A slightly taller rear sidewall is better than the other way around. The 305 will fit just right, the 295 will be more stretched (unless that's what you're after). Good work so far bringing the car back!

If this top wasn't in SUCH good shape i'd really consider doing a black top sooner. Honestly part of my longterm plans though because I think the contrast would be really nice. I haven't ordered any fronts because I couldn't make up my mind, but I did get the 295/35's already.

I don't love mismatching tires and the MPSS only comes in some weird sizes in 18's now. I could do a 265/40 that's much closer to a 295/35 in height, or I could get a 285/35 front. I just don't want to deal with a ton of potential rubbing

 

[FleeMan]

Glad the springs made it over to you. Stance looks great!

 

[hatchke]

Glad the springs made it over to you. Stance looks great!

Thanks man! They came WAY faster than I expected and hadn't even considered doing the work until next weekend. Super super happy with the drop.

 

[muscleatsrice]

Thanks man! They came WAY faster than I expected and hadn't even considered doing the work until next weekend. Super super happy with the drop.

When I lowered mine, it was night and day difference. Looks soooooo much better


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[hatchke]

When I lowered mine, it was night and day difference. Looks soooooo much better


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Seriously, it's a totally new car now. Turns out that Eibach spring and Koni SA dampers seem to outperform 18yr old OEM components lol.

I saw a bunch of bushings that could really use a replacement too, but first things first.

 

[hatchke]

Quick little exhaust video.
and also prior to lowering is a video of the ticking that i'm trying to track down:

It's loudest under the car and ONLY when the motor/driveline is cold. Totally goes away when warm and subsequent starts after that. Doesn't seem to be related to clutch modulation either.

 

[TerminatoRS]

I can't watch the vids thanks to work firewall, but my gut tells me exhaust leak...?

 

[geoffmt]

Great looking car, I actually love the parchment top too with white! That ticking sounds like an exhaust leak, once the manifold warms up and expands it goes away. Beautiful car and I enjoy watching the progress


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[muscleatsrice]

Great looking car, I actually love the parchment top too with white! That ticking sounds like an exhaust leak, once the manifold warms up and expands it goes away. Beautiful car and I enjoy watching the progress


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+1


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[hatchke]

Well since it's SUCH a nice day here I dropped the top and while in the carport on start I gave it a few revs to see how the noise reacts and interestingly it's NOT fully-dependent or aligned to engine speed or RPM.

To me that starts to point to something more like a throw-out/clutch fork rattle and maybe I'll adjust it a bit and see how the noise reacts. I also have a MM clutch pedal adjuster to install too. Might as well set that, pull the clutch cable to the last adjustment slot on the quadrant and see where we get. The clutch releases pretty close to the top right now and I don't love it.

 

[hatchke]

Wheels are on! Car was too low to get on the alignment rack so off to a performance shop it goes next.

 

[hatchke]

Quick wash and minor detail. This thing needs a FULL paint restoration and cleaning. It's going to be a lot of work tbh.

Looks good in the shots but it's rough around the edges. Have at least one oil leak pinned down to being the oil cooler adapter, but looks like maybe the front timing case cover is seeping a bit. I have some pretty major work to do here and there. Basically the whole bottom of the motor is wet, from the alternator across.

The car continues to confuse me with modifications. I found that it has a GT500 intercooler pump on it. I mean, cool, but what's next? Such an odd grouping of things to be done to the vehicle.

I need to simple green the whole bottom of the motor after I do the adapter fix and see where it's leaking from next.

 

[hatchke]

Also got learned a little bit from this site: Castings

I saw blue paint on the back of both heads and was like "wtffff is this" but in reading more and seeing the head stamps it looks like I have the DA heads. Still only 4-thread heads but presumably the tick may not be an issue for me in this car *knocks on wood*

 

[MG0h3]

Blue paint isn’t a rule.

Only way to know is to use a mirror and read the casting numbers


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