new member! my new 79 cobra!!

[cobracomander]

new member 1st post.. just got a 1979 cobra, needs some work, not running now, but fires with gas poured in carb, no exhaust, 109,000 mi v8 302. white with green decals. still has original tires hoses etc... this is my second project car i have a 68 mustang conv eleanor project also.

[Hissing Cobra]

Welcome to the board! We love Cobras around here and you'll fit in just fine. The White/Green color combo will looks awesome when it's restored. What color is the interior?

[cobracomander]

black, 4 speed, i will get the plate info asap. better pics also.

[tman1257]

Welcome. Always good to see another one surface. Was this one on Ebay?

[cobracomander]

CRAIGSLIST

[gdniel]

Good score.

[93-331-29PSI]

Looks like a nice ride, but we really want huge pictures to drool over! Welcome.

[89 AZ SSP]

Welcome!! We definately need bigger pictures!

[mustang4life1985]

Nice find and welcome aboard! Can't wait to see some bigger pics.

[riffenfool]

Welcome to FEP. You will find loads of informative people here that are always willing to share. Look around, lots of great pics, and even greater rides here.

[cobracomander]

update my 79 white cobra.. i got a set of 10 hole wheels to get the car mobile.( $40 for set ) the old tires are dry rotted. i polished them up, with a buffer and mothers polish... also picked up used a 3 row radiator $40. both from craigs list. i also got a pace type rear wing $30 and some slotted drilled brake rotars $60. hope to get the car running in next 2-3 weeks. still need exhaust. its cut at the y. i have to drain tank and get a new fuel pump and filter. may need new gas tank? old gas smells like varnish.

[Blainer]

Welcome to the board!...I though Pete would be on this like wild fire...:lol:

[89 AZ SSP]

Nice looking 10 holes.

[cobracomander]

did the 79 v8 cobra have 5.0 emblems? my 1979 v8 cobra has them and i have sen another. just wondering.
jim

[Sellis1012]

Welcome! I would like to encourage you to keep your Cobra looking as stock as possible. Of course it's your preference but the stock ones are few and far between. The rear spoiler was not an option in 79 except for the Pace-car, but it seems like that is the first mod people do. A stock 79 Cobra is a very rare commodity. Just do a search on e-bay for a Cobra versus a Pace-car. There are always at least 3 pace cars (usually claiming "low miles") but only every once in a great while 1 ragged out Cobra will pop up, and it's usually questionable whether or not it is even a Cobra.

[Sellis1012]

did the 79 v8 cobra have 5.0 emblems? my 1979 v8 cobra has them and i have sen another. just wondering.
jim


It was hit and miss. Some did and some didn't. When was yours built?

[cobracomander]

i have been busy buyng parts, i got it running! but it needs a new fuel tank, very rusty when i droped it to look inside...so i ordered one from parts train, $80 shipped, i need to get a fuel sender, i got a carb rebuild kit and a new fuel pump. i found a parts car local craigslist. got a posi rear- front pace nose - black int- rear rust free hatch & spoiler- pas side cobra dash trim with emblem. & more for $145. so making progress!! here is a pic of parts car.

[mustang4life1985]

Nice find with that parts car. You got an awesome deal with that! Good luck with everything.

[shovelhead 93]

I had a chance to buy a 1980 cobra but passed on it because I was ignorant of its true collector value,I didn't know about this site then(wish I did)and I asked for info on another site nobody had much positive to say,if only I could go back in time!! Good luck with the Cobra looks lke a nice ride.

[johnmlebel]

how come nobody post pics as images much. im lazy

[cobracomander]

my tank was rusty to rusty to fix, i got a 86 tank to fit and work, i had to cut out the factory strap hanger and make a bracket for the strap, in a new location, cut wire harnes and replace end for newer style plug. the pick up inside tank needs some work i have a rubber hose inside for temp us, gonna replace with a copper tube and a screen. new tank sit level and its tight, i finaly drove the car!! here are afew pics.
jim

[anthonydalrymple]

Great news! Keep it up! Oh..... and a big welcome since I'm a little late to this post :rolleyes: <at me.

[cobracomander]

got more work done to my 79 cobra, i put a new fuel pump and filter on it and new radiator, runin ok now, this car sat for 10 years, i got to drive it around the block ran supriziling good, i need to install the dual exhaust i got for it inc/ double hump crossmember and new tranny mount someone cut exh off at the y i have an old mufffler stuck on there for now it exits out at drivers side mirror... need to fix all the vacum leaks, i washed it it was real dirty. i need to tune it up also rough idol. think i may get a new intake and edelbrock carb. sure in nice to drive it! i hope to have exh done by next week.

[yodaddyz82gt]

i have been busy buyng parts, i got it running! but it needs a new fuel tank, very rusty when i droped it to look inside...so i ordered one from parts train, $80 shipped, i need to get a fuel sender, i got a carb rebuild kit and a new fuel pump. i found a parts car local craigslist. got a posi rear- front pace nose - black int- rear rust free hatch & spoiler- pas side cobra dash trim with emblem. & more for $145. so making progress!! here is a pic of parts car.

80 bucks shipped for the fuel tank? this is what i found at that site, i need a new tank myself. hope that deal is still available somehow...
http://www2.partstrain.com/store/?N=10331+1616+4294966725+11921+9295

[cobracomander]

parts train fuel tank for my 79, was the wrong one! waste of time and money, still waiting for my money back. i ordered the 82 tank and they sent me a tank i belive was for a fairmount.big kidney bean shaped thing. i had to ship it back to them and fight for reimbersment. $65.00 return shipping. they say they are working on my refund.... go and find a 86 or so parts car on craigs list or j-yard and get a tank from there. i paid 5 bucks at a swap meet for my 86 tank. had to remove fuel pump and add a rubber hose and sock to the sender to get it to work.

[86GT2go]

Nice Cobra.......if I could see the pics without magnification!! Welcome to FEP; you'll find that there are some great people here and they are willing to share (sometimes even when you DON'T want them to!).

[cobracomander]

took my exhaust manifolds off my 79 cobra 302 goin w/ bbk headers jet coat. i had to remove the stock exh manifolds the bolts were rounded and rusted. i got them off ok, but my 86 h- pipe is a bigger diamater than the stock, so i odered a set of bbk jet coated f/ cj pony parts. while i am at it also ordered motor mounts and a smog eliminator (billit aluim) gonna get the double hump cross member & new trans mount installed this week. also there is a pic of the 2 - 82 gt front nose/ bumpers i got.

[MEstang]

nice looking ride, i'm hoping to find one myself

[Black 79 Cobra]

Looks nice !!! We found ours on craigslist as well.

[cobracomander]

i got jet coat bbk headers & stage 8 locks & copper gaskets instaled, not easy, also took of the smog pump & installed the eliminator pulley. i put new motor mounts in to, they were fun, mount bolts thicker than the originals had to ream all mounting points... now i am installing double hump crossmember, the 79 mount brakets are smaller than the 86 d-hump crossmember. so i cut the xmember mounts off to my bracket size, now i need new bushings on order from cj pony parts. here is a pic of the headers. also had to weld a plug in my h-pipe for smog tube, & installed pipe plugs in 02 sensors holes. also i got some tires for my 10 holes, took off the dry rotted trx wheels. also painted the engine while it is apart some. ordered ford 9m spark wires also.

[MEstang]

good work. are there pics of the motor parts you painted? the headers are really nice looking compared to the rest.

also, what happened to the h pipe? looks like a nasty bang on one side.

[cobracomander]

h-pipe is a swap meet find its got a dinger on one side. the motor is painted on the bottom from heads down to oil pan, i have new valve covers, and i intend to do a intake & carb swap.

[cobracomander]

been busy got the new 9m ford wires on & entire dual exhaust installed! sounds great... i did this on the ground in my garage, the double hump cross member & new trans mount was fun, inst new bushings & i needed a come-along to get it the bolts to line up. i needed to make hangers for my flowmaster mufflers. i used 1/4 rod and bent with my torch to hold muffs up. i used coat hanges as templates. one side rear hanger i need a hole in rear frame but i used the rear bumper shock bolt to mount top hanger. i took it around the block for a spin, its got a accelerator pump leak. and bogs a bit. i have a carb rebuild kit a buddy is gonna handle the job. i still wish to change to a 4b intake & carb.

[Black 79 Cobra]

We'll be doing exhaust somewhat soon, should be interesting...

[cobracomander]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zwfFfzYxuk
hope this works, video of my 79 with new duals instaled

[Black 79 Cobra]

Nice car, video has some background noise but it works.

[cobracomander]

video was taken with my cell phone

[Black 79 Cobra]

That explains it :P

[cobracomander]

i have done some more to my 79 cobra i purchased edelbrock 289 performer intake and a new edelbrock 1406 carb, also i removed the rear cross over tube for the air pump on rear of heads. i am gonna cut the ends off and either weld or crimp the tube to reinstall.
an intake bolt broke in the back of the head, i drilled it out and was on last turn of the brand new craftsman tap, when the tap broke in the head #@&! this sucks... i may have to send the head out for service to remove it. i drilled into the tap to remove it but i broke 25 or so drill bits. any ideas on removing one of these? i drilled for prob 4hrs total on that head in one day. with only a small hole to show for it. frustating job. but i have had worse things happen.

[cobracomander]

here is a couple pics of intake and broken rear bolt in head.

[cobracomander]

i almost got it out with chisals and new gold strong drill bits

[Sellis1012]

i have done some more to my 79 cobra i purchased edelbrock 289 performer intake and a new edelbrock 1406 carb, also i removed the rear cross over tube for the air pump on rear of heads. i am gonna cut the ends off and either weld or crimp the tube to reinstall.
an intake bolt broke in the back of the head, i drilled it out and was on last turn of the brand new craftsman tap, when the tap broke in the head #@&! this sucks... i may have to send the head out for service to remove it. i drilled into the tap to remove it but i broke 25 or so drill bits. any ideas on removing one of these? i drilled for prob 4hrs total on that head in one day. with only a small hole to show for it. frustating job. but i have had worse things happen.

Simple fix here with the crossover tube. Cut off the tube, and flip the piece that bolts to the head over and bolt on to the other head. That means you will put the right on the left and visa-versa. You might want to use some rtv.

[cobracomander]

removed the dr side head for machine shop! bolt broken in rear of head, drilled it out then tap broke, i drilled for hours, i gave in gonna let the machine shop drill and tap it. here are a few pics, gives me a chance to detail the engine and brackets, while they are off.

[cobracomander]

while the head is out for drill & tapping broken bolt i cleaned and detailed the engine. spent 10hrs degreasing sand blasting & painting pulleys /engine / brakets/ frame rails etc. the battery area had surface rust i sanded it and sprayed some rust converter and painted just the lower frame rail areas, i will do the rest during body painting process. here are a few pics!

[cobracomander]

missed 2 pics

[sunsport186]

WOW!! looks great keep up the good work.

[cobracomander]

head is back on, edelbrock intake on i put my new ford valve covers on, heater hoses carb linkage wires cap and belt back on.
need vacum line connected, change oil, electr choke connected then start time!!

[cobracomander]

brown wire coming from alt question, i have a wire that is, cut i dont know where it goes, it is light brown tan color, comes out of altenator harnes, can anybody help me, find out where it goes? car is a 1979 302 4 spd cobra. thanks

[cobracomander]

got it running, well almost! had the timing a tooth or 2 off got the car started and let it warm up and took it for a spin, 100yds away it came to a stop, the power steering pump seized! had to push it a block back to garage to find that out. new pump ordered, should be running again mid week. i have a dual snorkel air cleaner, pic shows old one.... the brown wire was for the elect choke.