81 Cobra

[riccs49]

hi guys ,new to the site name is mike .Picked up an 81 cobra t-top cant wait for spring to get going on it.Has gt 40 5 sp, 9 inch 4.11s needs a little body work,little interior work but not bad. here are some new pics, the car is almost done[ATTACH=CONFIG]71969

[mustangxtreme]

Lookin good. Welcome to FEP.

[FoxChassis]

Welcome to FEP. Your Cobra looks to be in nice shape. Was it originally a 2.3T/manual or 4.2L V8/auto?

Would like to add it to the 1979-1981 Cobra Registry: http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...Cobra-Registry

[riccs49]

Hi vin says car was 6 cyl. ,stick car was bought new in N.C. Have to look for buck tag,i know it was hit in rear according to car fax ,hence newer spoiler .Has dash emblem,fog light switch ,may be clone wont know until I find buck tag.Thanks for the interest will keep you posted. Mike.

[FoxChassis]

Ohhh...forgot about the six-cylinder engine in 1981. Only a couple, so far, in the registry have that engine. Also one non-turbo four-cylinder.

[mustang4life1985]

Welcome to FEP and that is a nice Cobra. Thanks for sharing pics with us. I never knew they made the Cobra in the six-cylinder in 81.

[FoxChassis]

Yes, it seems the 1981 Cobra package could have any engine available that year: non-turbo 2.3L, 2.3T (Canada only), 3.3L I-6, or 4.2L V8. Most have the 4.2L but so far in the database and registry I do have one with the non-turbo 2.3L, one with the 2.3T, and two with the 3.3L.

[mustang4life1985]

Yes, it seems the 1981 Cobra package could have any engine available that year: non-turbo 2.3L, 2.3T (Canada only), 3.3L I-6, or 4.2L V8. Most seem to have the 2.3T or 4.2L but so far I do have one with the non-turbo 2.3L and two with the 3.3L I6 in the database and registry.

That is really interesting to me. Nice to learn something new.

[riccs49]

Thanks,still want to find tag to know for sure,nasty weather here will slow things down ,cant wait to get going on it while helping my son with his 79 notch.

[79mustangcobra]

Welcome! Glad you are here!

[bull-vette]

Welcome aboard! Is that the factory color? Car looks good.

[dburdyshaw]

Looks really good.

[82GTforME]

Welcome to the site! I really would love a Cobra! Nice purchase! I agree about the weather, it is slowing my progress down too!

[riccs49]

Thanks for the welcome guys,the original color looks to be bright red pretty sure it was repainted.Has original red interior but other owner started to change over to black.

[riccs49]

Found the buck tag on rad support reads like this ,vin#,61r,b,tr,0317,1cc,tt,df st,cbr,ac,04,mbw,07,d . So it is a cobra with a 6 cyl. How do you decode what everything is on the tag,would like to find out what it came with,thanks for any help.

[FoxChassis]

Can you post a pic of the tag? I would like to have the VIN and a pic of the tag so I can add it to the database and the registry. Also, this is the first I have heard of the 3.3L having that trans code, so I would like to verify.

The trans code you typed says 5-speed (not T-5) but the 3.3L was supposed to have a 4-speed (SROD) or an auto (C4). The 5-speed was supposed to be reserved for the non-turbo 4-cyl, and maybe the turbo 4-cyl but I haven't seen proof yet.

[riccs49]

Hey,i will try to get a pic up soon ,thanks

[riccs49]

Here are a couple of pics.

[FoxChassis]

Well this tag proves I was mistaken on the trans codes and availability behind the 3.3L I6 engine. However, this is the first 1981 3.3L door tag and buck that I have seen with code 6/MBW. The other manual trans code that I have seen for the 3.3L - and there are not many, most were auto - was code 4/MOD

The five speed that year (not T-5) was code 5. Both the code 5 and code 6 transmissions happened to be made by Borg Warner so the "MBW" code threw me off.

VIN
1FA = Ford vehicle manufactured in USA
B = active belts, no airbags
P = passenger car
15 = Mustang 3-dr hatchback
B = 3.3L I6 engine
8 = VIN check digit
B = 1981 model year
F = Dearborn Assembly
209125 = 109,125th 1981 Ford scheduled for production at Dearborn Assembly

Door Tag
Date - 05/81 = May 1981 scheduled build
F1660 = 1660 lbs front accessory reserve load
R1252 = 1252 lbs rear accessory reserve load
Exterior Paint Colors - 1C 1C = Black upper, Black lower (tu-tone paint)
DSO - 22 = Charlotte district sales office
Body - 61R = Mustang 3-dr hatchback
Int Trim - ADD = vinyl seating, high-back front buckets (A), Medium Red interior color (1st D), interior trim deviation D (2nd D)
A = manual air conditioner
R - 5 = AM/FM stereo 8-track
S - D = T-roof
Ax - B = 2.47:1 axle ratio, non-locking differential
Tr - 6 = manual Borg Warner transmission (4-speed)
NN = front springs
MM = rear springs

Buck Tag
MUSTANG = Mustang model line
209125 = 109,125th 1981 Ford scheduled for production at Dearborn Assembly
61R = Mustang 3-dr hatchback
B = 3.3L I6 engine
TR = T-roof
031_ = body & paint rotations #031_
1CC = Black exterior paint color
TT = tu-tone paint (Black lower)
DF
ST
AC = manual air conditioner
04 = rear glass without defrost, hatchback with spoiler, without louvers and washer/wiper
CBR = Cobra package
MBW = manual Borg Warner transmission (4-speed)
07 = hood with forward facing scoop
-D = Medium Red interior trim color

[riccs49]

Thanks for the help and registering it good to know all about the car,clears a lot of questions up.Thanks again Mike.