• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

My Tribute Cobra build

DLN1965

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A little update ....
I stripped the Z3 in just over a day ...
the bonnet is still in as it’s a 2 person job and I’m waiting for my boy to finish cyber college
And put the first part in situ !!!
Lots of work to do before panels go on ... but I reckon by the end of the week they should be in place
They will be coming off several times to add bits or drill holes etc ..... but it’s taking shape !!
 

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DLN1965

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Panels not bolted in place yet ..... it’s raining !!
BUT had to do this .....
It’s the first thing actually bolted into position !

a bit of alignment needed and bolting panels in place but it’s taking shape35C4B0FB-437F-4741-8E03-CCFBF69C52B3.jpegBD2C0AF9-1D4E-465D-853C-7D3452ABDBBC.jpeg
 
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Jaws

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Panels not bolted in place yet ..... it’s raining !!
BUT had to do this .....
It’s the first thing actually bolted into position !

a bit of alignment needed and bolting panels in place but it’s taking shape
Looking bloody good !
 

andyBeaker

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DLN1965 Can't quite get my head round this Darren - I had assumed the new bit was a full body - from the photos am I right in thinking it is grafting a new front and rear end onto a Z3?
 

DLN1965

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DLN1965 Can't quite get my head round this Darren - I had assumed the new bit was a full body - from the photos am I right in thinking it is grafting a new front and rear end onto a Z3?

its a body kit which bolts in place of all the bolt off parts from the Z3 (an 8 mm and 10mm socket removes most things !!)
Keeping the structural integrity and the workings of the original car but replacing the front with a one piece flip unit and the rear (2 piece including boot lid) and the sill covers (there’s a couple of small other bits too..... but it’s basically as I said
It saves 100kg in weight and may need adjustable suspension to sit it low and mean
But it’s fairly simple !
This does not need an IVA test which is notoriously difficult and it keeps the same Reg number (tho mine will have a private plate on it)
To the purist .... it’s not an AC Cobra
But it will have all the niceties of the Z3 inc air con, easy engine access, cheap spare parts, decent heating, electric and heated seats and a roof that doesn’t leak unlike most of the AC Cobra replicas
And a damn site cheaper to run (y)
 

DLN1965

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A little update .....
I spent a couple of days swearing at the fibreglass panels (apparently it helps?) to fit and gap correctly !
Angle grinder isn’t the subtlest thing to use and I will have to ‘glass a thin 5mm edge about 150mm long back on the bonnet edge ...
Couple of days to re-assess and I cut a small bracket off the panel near the door and the whole rear panel sprung into place !!
still got to sort out the missing bit from the bonnet
Today I thought I would put in place lights and nudge bars to help me feel a bit better
The Reg plate is held on with blue tack to give the position ..... but it gives the idea !!F8582FE3-CF1B-4DBF-8F7A-CD4BD047B640.jpegFED75ED7-89DC-411F-924F-7C80FAE3B18B.jpeg
 
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Jaws

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Really starting to come together now.. Considering the outside temperature I must say you are being quite stalwart to say the least !
 

DLN1965

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Really starting to come together now.. Considering the outside temperature I must say you are being quite stalwart to say the least !

It’s definitely a bit chilly, :oops: and apart from the cold, I rely on daylight to work on it..
Also had a couple of days when I was annoyed with the fitting and took a ‘time out’ to get my head around it .... it’s not all plain sailing !!
But quite pleased with progress so far (apart from the initial fitting problem)
I set myself little goals when I am outside working on it and stop after each achieved step ...
Someone with a heated garage, lights etc etc and a bit more mechanical knowledge would probably sort it much quicker ..... but there’s no rush !!


THANKYOU for your encouragement and support
 

DLN1965

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Little update time ..
Tho it’s been a bit too cold until recently so not too much has happened ....

a fuse (front sidelight drivers side) kept blowing, so I dug deeper, after rewiring the headlights again.... I took apart ALL the rear lights as I thought it may be connected (see the pun there) ... I then found out it was !! Registration plate lights are also connected to the front side light drivers side fuse, and there was 1 tiny strand of wire sticking out of the shrink wrap and earthing !
After a few choice words ... it’s sorted !

stripping as much as I can ready for paint, so all the chrome is off (having 2nd thoughts about the sidepipes.... mounting them could be a real pain !)

And I changed ALL the lights to LEDs, as the bulb lights didn’t quite look right
6 ohm resistors on each indicator keeps the flash rate normal (the indicator relay has 7 pins and a LED relay with 7 pins is tricky to source, so I kept it standard)

I used 2 small LED lights for reverse lights, but I MAY have to move these as the rear bumper may be in the way !
 

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DLN1965

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Also trying to decide if the ubiquitous Cobra stripe should be done while in the paint shop ....
I’m NOT putting stickers on !!

so ..... what do you lot think
With stripe ? Or without ?

pics of the car with masking tape on to give an ideaBE31ABF5-52E3-43EA-AC69-06FBF4818BF7.jpeg0E65FB44-F02E-4677-9A42-0C3E4D1167DF.jpeg2181C0A1-9C43-48BF-AE53-BFEEE7A4C6D8.jpeg8E037689-F3A6-41A2-858B-7EBD9F66F6DB.jpegBE31ABF5-52E3-43EA-AC69-06FBF4818BF7.jpeg0E65FB44-F02E-4677-9A42-0C3E4D1167DF.jpeg2181C0A1-9C43-48BF-AE53-BFEEE7A4C6D8.jpeg8E037689-F3A6-41A2-858B-7EBD9F66F6DB.jpeg
 

andyBeaker

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Also trying to decide if the ubiquitous Cobra stripe should be done while in the paint shop ....
I’m NOT putting stickers on !!

so ..... what do you lot think
With stripe ? Or without ?

pics of the car with masking tape on to give an idea
What is the main colour going to be?

personally I’m not a big fan of stripes unless they go over the roof as well which obvious won’t happen in your case.
 

Jaws

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With stripe ? Or without ?
If you are doing it electric blue ( proper colour for a Cobra ) then stripe
Any other colour.. dunno
But remember, Although an instantly recognisable shape, it is the blue with the stripe that really shouts COBRA !!!
 

DLN1965

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What is the main colour going to be?

personally I’m not a big fan of stripes unless they go over the roof as well which obvious won’t happen in your case.

Dont really want to disclose the colour quite yet !
AND I am thinking of getting a hard top for it for winter months ... these are silly money at the moment !!! So soft top for the forseeable future

But its one of the following colours (but with a slight twist)

Dark blue with a white stripe
Dark blue with a silver stripe
Light blue with a white stripe
Light blue with a silver stripe

Dark red with a silver stripe
Dark red with a white stripe
Light red with a silver stripe
Light red with a white stripe
Black with either of the two coloured stripes

Metal flake.... how popular was that in the 70’s and 80’s
Chameleon colour changing paint .... Errr NO that’s just wrong !!
Errrrr. Any other colour with or without the stripe
 

andyBeaker

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Just my opinion.....i think it might be a mistake to paint it to look like an original Cobra. Celebrate it for what it is (which is cool) and do something different like a dark grey metallic or even black if you are brave enough. Much depends on what wheels you are glueing on as well.
 

DLN1965

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Just my opinion.....i think it might be a mistake to paint it to look like an original Cobra. Celebrate it for what it is (which is cool) and do something different like a dark grey metallic or even black if you are brave enough. Much depends on what wheels you are glueing on as well.
5FC2C00A-219C-43C8-9436-905C0F6E77FD.jpeg
 

DLN1965

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Ok a little hint for those with paint experience

House of Kolor paint (y)
 
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