Projects DRAG SNAKE "Vintage Terror!"

Well I spent a lot of time scheming this weekend over the front suspension. I think I just about wore out the internet looking for pieces that would work. You know sometimes I find myself just walking around Race Brothers or some other farm and or home supply looking for something that will work. Something that has already been fabricated or engineered etc. I know what I need to accomplish but just not sure how to get it done. I can not tell you how many times I have picked up some implement part, having know idea what it was meant for, but recognizing how I could use it. That is what was going on this weekend looking at every front suspension parts website I could find.

So here is the challenge I have set for myself (in case you have forgotten). I want to run a functional front transverse spring just like the original Cobras. However instead of just running a lower control arm and hooking either side of the spring to the top of the spindle, I want to run an upper "A" arm. I think this will take away a lot of the ill handling issues the original cars had before they converted to coil overs etc. After mostly looking for parts I felt I could modify with the least amount of fabrication something a couple of the contributors here said finally stuck in my brain.

James @saltflats said, "I would think it just depends on what control arm you want to hold up the car."
@anothercarguy said, "Many of the 60's and 70's Fords were sprung off the upper control arms (Mustangs, Falcons etc.).

So with that bit of insight I said forget about Heidts, Mustang II etc. They all have parts that are going to get in the way any how. What I need is someone making custom front end upgrades for the old Mustangs and Falcons etc. This is what I found from CPP.


Heavy duty upper "A" arms designed to carry the weight of the car. They already have bolt in bracket parts for a strut. No issue at all fabricating a bracket to hold my spring shackle etc. from the transverse leaf spring. And the lower has a nice area to bolt a bracket for lower shock mount. Extremely doable in my opinion. And because they are direct "basically" bolt on replacement pieces for early mustang it will be very easy to find a disk brake upgrade for the same car....like this:

As an after thought, how cool is this, the 64 cobra will have 64.5 Mustang inspired front end pieces!

 

We also spent some time leveling the lift in the shop. We are going to use it as a base for the frame jig to keep everything nice true etc.

 

Couple more shots for ideas.

Hans Schmidt's El Cid 289 Cobra was a tough competitor on the drag strip. CSX 2248 took the ASports honors at the 1965 AHRA Winternationals with a 10.86 ET 124.36 MPH




Ed Hedrick campaigned this 289 Cobra, CSX 2093, after purchasing it from Jim Costilow in 1966.

 

As long as your surfing, this should keep you busy for a while.
First the basics.
http://www.susprog.com/index.htm
http://www.carbibles.com/suspension_bible.html

Design it for the car, adapting from other applications usually involves compromise.
Also consider a composite leaf spring.
https://www.google.com/search?q=com...sFQKHRVcBNAQ_AUIEygC&biw=1280&bih=752#imgrc=_

 

Well I guess I am going to just build the stroker myself. You would think I had already learned my lesson about this stuff! But I had thought about farming it out to a pretty well know race engine builder that promised 550 hp on pump gas. After chasing him for a good month, he finally got back with me and said he could knock one out by the end of January but quote: "...cash flow was the big issue and he would need $7,000 up front to cover cost etc." To be honest, I don't care how well known he is, something about that just doesn't feel right.

 

Nathan did that just to be waiting on the rotating assembly for his engine build.

 

RIGHT ON!

 

I mean I am a half down guy for the most part in my business. It certainly separates the "looky loos" from true customers. I get it. But that is almost 90 percent down and he was all about get me the funds ASAP and then we can discuss all the options etc. My immediate gut instinct said I was about to pay to finish up someone else's parts list and then wait until the next guy pays in advance to get my stuff complete. Pass.

 

This looks awesome to me, love the color...... and yes, I love the steelies out back.
now back to your regularly scheduled programming .....

 

Unfortunately this has become SOP in some circles.
Wise choice on your part.

 

Well I have to say Scott is the Man! (Scott from ET Wheels that is...)
After finally getting his hands on one of the FIA wheels he called to say we will not have to go total custom billet wheel up front. He is going to do what ever it is he does to get me at least a 6.5" rim (which is what was on them originally) if not a 6.25" and maybe even a 6.0"! Either way I am good with it especially since it will shave nearly $5K off the price of the front wheels etc.

 

Save $5K

 

I know! I really want those rims and for a while there it looked if we went forward and we wanted to be safe, we would have to start from scratch up front with a one off custom 1 piece milled billet wheel etc. $2500 each! ....crazy nuts!

 

Oh and I hear the few more Cobra pieces have emerged include the top. The nose piece is about to birth...photos coming soon. AND here is the big surprise! (especially for me) but I have secured the talents of a killer hand paint specialist (not sure what else to call him besides a true artist). He will be "hand painting all the graphics on the Cobra (no vinyl)...LOL

Marty Denny from ProLine Design. He is the guy that did the old school T-Shirt art for the Austin if you remember it from the Dragnasty Thread.

 

More inspiration Maybe a big block car?

 

Look what I found this morning on Craigslist...just about 40 minutes away!






The 1964 Ford 600 hauler project above has new motor, rebuilt C6, and all new complete brakes. The other is parts truck and it runs as well. Would make a killer era correct hauler!

 

So do you own it yet? LOL Gary

 

Pretty close, we are headed down Tuesday to have look see....

 

Guess it would give you something to do till you get the cobra stuff lol


Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.

 

That is exactly what I am thinking. I am about to go stir crazy.

Sent from my SM-G930V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

That frame built already?

 

Nope...it is like dominos. I have the 3" tubing and I know they form a ladder frame 17" center to center but that is all I know. Can't build the front or rear suspension until the body gets here. Can't even weld in the tubular cross members cause I don't know where they go with out the engine and trans. Can't order the front transverse I spring until the "A" arms are in place. Can't put the "A" arms on until I know body width and height. Even then can't be for sure on the "A" arms until I have the wheels and know offset etc. Same out back as well.

Sent from my SM-G930V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Cut weld....repeat.

 

James, I do too much of that to begin with, without shooting in the dark from the start....LOL!
You know, I am known for cutting it three times and it still being too short!

 

This bun is still in the oven...LOL

 

I hear you Randall.
I am my own worst enemy.

 

Oh yes please! If you end up with them please share a build thread, even if it's just in the COE social forum

 

Pretty good day on the parts hunting front. I had two great conversations with Spring companies: Flex-Form Composite Springs and Posies! I have been trying to talk to the guys at Eaton (as advised by several folks here on the HAMB and in my neighborhood as well...) but they don't want anything to do with my front suspension design etc. I am not sure if simply assisting with one spring is beneath them or they are worried about liability & litigiousness! But either way they made it clear via email they would not able to assist. To be honest, I really didn't want their old 85 pound steel spring anyway...LOL!

So the guys from Flex-Form were more than happy to discuss my application etc. I was pretty excited after talking with them as they sent me some pretty cool shots and specs of their custom made products. Including this very cool little bushing end that allows for old school shackle style mounting. Take about 4 weeks for custom springs but they said if I was in a hurry they would do what they could to speed the process up a bit. How about 60% weight savings front and rear



Then no more than 5 minutes after hanging up with the Flex Guys, Posies returned my call from an email request I sent late last week. That guy was crazy knowledgeable about what I was trying to do and enthusiastic about the attempt. He said the early Triumph TR series car ran the same kind of set up as the early Cobra (Transverse Leaf Spring right to the upper spindle mount instead of an "A" arm. He said he saw no problem with my design but it would certainly need shackles as the round 1 Triumph and Cobra set up basically used the spindle as a shackle sweeping through the lower "A" arm during spring elongation. I am impressed. He said ods are the whole set up from the Triumph to the cobra was probably exactly the same (as most European sports car of the day tended to share technology. He said probably start with the Triumph spring and go from there!

 

I do not want to dispute Posies
TR2, 3 and 4 front suspension

Tr6