my 79 cobra build thread

[dk5_cobra]

To start, I made this thread with the intention of making information on restoring/modifying these cars more available. Over the last 5 years I spent countless hours searching the internet, and scratching my head over how to complete certain tasks. This thread serves as a testament to all of that time figuring things out and learning certain processes. So I wanted to share that with the community. I started this thread when I was 16 and am now 21, with a long future of enjoying this car ahead. I hope you enjoy the read. I know I enjoyed the journey.

This was my build log tracing progress on my 1979 mustang cobra restomod project. My dad purchased it in 1985 as a running, driving car (though it had a blown head gasket). He drove it for a few years during which he installed an 8.8 rear axle with 3.73 gears and built the motor somewhat until he tore it down to restore around 1990 but ran out of money/time to continue and it was put in a storage unit as a shell in epoxy primer until 2011 when I originally started this thread.

My original goal was to get the car running, paint it, and drive it (remember..I was 16) but that spiraled out of control once I started to learn more about what I wanted the car to be in the end. In 2013 I realized that I wanted a car that would feel just as home on curvy mountain roads as it would cruising through town on a friday night. I still consider this a "budget" build because I had to piecemeal everything. I learned to become excruciatingly resourceful in my use of classifieds pages, facebook groups, ebay, and craigslist in my continuous search for parts, finding deals here and there, and driving hours through the night because there were things that I just couldn't pass up.

Nothing was left untouched on this car and that's the only way I'd have it.

So basically here's there nuts and bolts of this car:

Front end:
Mm K-member
MM reverse offset control arms (poly bushings)
Koni/MM coilovers 375in/lbs
MM caster/camber plates
2001 spindles
MM sway bar

Rear:
99 Cobra IRS cradle (no mods except mathis brace welded to rear mounting bracket)
31 spline center section W/ Torsen T2R diff/3.73 gears/Ford Racing Cover
03 Cobra half shafts
Delrin control arm bushings and poly diff/cradle bushings
MM cross axis joints
Bilstein/MM coilovers 475in/lbs

Drivetrain:
308 W/ 69 302 milled/ported heads
Edelbrock Vic Jr. intake
Holley 650DP carb
Comp 292h cam/lifters/valve springs/push rods
comp roller rocker arms
hedman ceramic coated long tubes (which mate up to a 2.5" H-pipe, then to an SLP lm2 IRS catback)
sn95 t5 transmision/hurst shifter

Brakes:
complete setup removed from a 2001 cobra
Hawk HPS pads
Front lines are modified stainless lines originally meant for fox calipers
Rear lines are MM stainless lines for IRS
M-2809-A Parking brake cables designed for 93 cobra rear disks

Exterior:
Shaved and wire tucked engine bay
Rolled fenders
oem rear window louvers
Fully restored body molding
NOS tail lights

Interior:
Hurst shift boot/plate
Recaro seats
Kenwood head unit
Fully restored/dyed interior panels/dash/console

Wheels/Tires:
03/04 SVT Cobra Wheels W/ 4mm milled off of the back pad
255/40/17 BFGoodrich Rivals

The car is on the road now but I'm working on ironing out the last 5% of the build...But let's flash back to 2011 when I didn't know how to link pictures and my dad was teaching me about working on cars....