This thread will document the build of my 2001 cobra from start to finish. I will be taking a complete terminator drivetrain out of an 04 cobra car and putting it into my 2001 chassis. If you are looking for a high horsepower build with a built motor, trans, rear end and a big blower this is not for you. The goal since I've been 16 with this car was a terminator swap eaton/street car that was show quality and could be driven anywhere. That is exactly what this car will be. Keeping this car as close to "factory" as possible is extremely important to me. This thread will document the process of building my dream car since I've been 16. If you are thinking what a terrible financial mistake I’m about to make, you are absolutely correct but please leave those comments to yourself. I will be dedicated to the build from start to finish and I predict the car will be done over the next 4 months or so. If you don't care to read about the history of this car, you can skip to post 2 and start enjoying content.
My love affair with these cars started when I was 14 after riding in a silver 03 convertible (ironically enough, my donor is also a silver vert). The first time I heard the whine of the eaton at the top of third gear is something I will remember forever. When I was 15, I knew I wanted my first car to be a cobra and knew everything about these cars. A month before my 16th birthday, I took delivery of my first car:
The car was a one owner 55k mile car from Oregon. Lady driven, garage kept, with minor modifications. It was an extremely clean car with tasteful mods done to the suspension and a rebuilt transmission. Furthermore the car was (and still is) extremely tight and drives awesome. The car was never a daily driver which allowed me to keep it in the shape I got it in. Below are some pictures when I was 16/17. I never had big money to spend on mods besides going through a couple sets of wheels and seats. I spent most of the money I had on maintenance and taking care of the car. While I became extremely partial to the car in the back of my mind I knew it was never a terminator. My dream car was always a terminator but at 16 and 17 with $1000 in my savings account buying one was simply never possible.
The dream of terminator swapping the car developed one day when I was at work drooling over a ported eaton terminator video on YouTube on one of my lunch breaks. At this point I knew I needed 10k to buy an 03/04 drivetrain and I had no idea how I could do it given I was working part time making $9.00 an hour. Furthermore, college was less than two years away so it was always something I planned for the car at a later date. When I graduated high school the car was driven about 300 miles a year and otherwise lived on a lift inside. Going away to college and focusing on bigger things than a dumb car became my priorities. I actually posted the car for sale twice and just gave up on the vision I had for it.
I think at some point over the past few years my interest in the car faded but I know for a fact the dream never did. Early April of this year as I was finishing up my senior year of college I paid my friend @CobraTerritory a visit and rode in his 03 with a built motor. Doing a few pulls in that car was all I needed to spark the flame to the dream I had 6 years previous. Seeing his build and what he did was everything I had wanted to do to mine. Thanks again JR for that short drive, I am so happy we did that. Luckily, I had quite a bit more money at 22 than I did at 16. I had already decided to not rush into a career right after school. So with money behind me and no debt, the time to build the car was now. Going home that night I made the decision, it was now or never.
My love affair with these cars started when I was 14 after riding in a silver 03 convertible (ironically enough, my donor is also a silver vert). The first time I heard the whine of the eaton at the top of third gear is something I will remember forever. When I was 15, I knew I wanted my first car to be a cobra and knew everything about these cars. A month before my 16th birthday, I took delivery of my first car:
The car was a one owner 55k mile car from Oregon. Lady driven, garage kept, with minor modifications. It was an extremely clean car with tasteful mods done to the suspension and a rebuilt transmission. Furthermore the car was (and still is) extremely tight and drives awesome. The car was never a daily driver which allowed me to keep it in the shape I got it in. Below are some pictures when I was 16/17. I never had big money to spend on mods besides going through a couple sets of wheels and seats. I spent most of the money I had on maintenance and taking care of the car. While I became extremely partial to the car in the back of my mind I knew it was never a terminator. My dream car was always a terminator but at 16 and 17 with $1000 in my savings account buying one was simply never possible.
The dream of terminator swapping the car developed one day when I was at work drooling over a ported eaton terminator video on YouTube on one of my lunch breaks. At this point I knew I needed 10k to buy an 03/04 drivetrain and I had no idea how I could do it given I was working part time making $9.00 an hour. Furthermore, college was less than two years away so it was always something I planned for the car at a later date. When I graduated high school the car was driven about 300 miles a year and otherwise lived on a lift inside. Going away to college and focusing on bigger things than a dumb car became my priorities. I actually posted the car for sale twice and just gave up on the vision I had for it.
I think at some point over the past few years my interest in the car faded but I know for a fact the dream never did. Early April of this year as I was finishing up my senior year of college I paid my friend @CobraTerritory a visit and rode in his 03 with a built motor. Doing a few pulls in that car was all I needed to spark the flame to the dream I had 6 years previous. Seeing his build and what he did was everything I had wanted to do to mine. Thanks again JR for that short drive, I am so happy we did that. Luckily, I had quite a bit more money at 22 than I did at 16. I had already decided to not rush into a career right after school. So with money behind me and no debt, the time to build the car was now. Going home that night I made the decision, it was now or never.