DaveP Kobra build
Right. Time for an average joe’s build.
My name is Dave and I’ve been a regular here for a couple of years. Time, I think, to post a build thread as they are few and far between. I am building what I want to drive so it will be a mix of contrasting styles. Bear with me as the purists among you may not approve, the 'do what you likes' won't care. But it’s a kit car right ! We do what we like. Wheels we like. Colour we like. Style and finish to match my skill (I have none)... Off we go ! |
Original car
The kit is based on a Y reg 2.2 non sport model. On 98k miles in scruffy black.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4776/...15402b1152.jpgBMW Z3 Front b no plate by Muddy_B, on Flickr Hope I can remember how to post pics |
Stripped of panels.
So with lots of stop start work on stripping body I have ended up with a sorry looking Zed.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/813/2...41b3ccd51c.jpgKobra strip front g by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4784/...78a44ee0a1.jpgKobra strip front f by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/821/4...49a2d87df1.jpgKobra strip front e by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4781/...f9f719e670.jpgKobra strip rear d by Muddy_B, on Flickr Poor old thing looks nekkid (oh and I forgot to take the cills off dammit) Dave |
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Mine? Green car going to be white!!! |
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my colour will be dark - but not black :) Dave |
I am looking forward to this, like you say, there is a dearth of build threads, despite Chris being so busy churning out kits.
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Good evening Dave be good to see another build thread , good engine choice much better than the 2.8 :icon_smile: Geoff .
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Dave - Great to see your build thread starting. :cool:
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Good luck, Paul. :) |
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I went for the 2.2 because it was right car at what I thought was right price. It sounds cool even with stock exhaust at the moment. Dave |
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My car is going to be a bit confused. Sort of cobra custom jobbie in weird colour choice. But born in the sign of Aquarius means I like to be a bit different. Also if I eff it up I can say I meant that Dave |
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Dave |
progress before easter
So tried to make progress before Easter. Great weather this week - not !
So first of all I needed to do some side wing changes. I didn't want the usual grills in the side wings so decided to cut them out and place the back of the aperture level with the wing. I might regret this but we will see. Here is the wing with the glassed aperture in place. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/797/2...f2fd73cbc6.jpgSide wing before 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr Then I cut out the pieces and placed good old duck-tape across the front to hold the piece in position and allow the resin into the groove. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/873/4...6f8d238cf9.jpgSide wing during 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr Here is where the pic of the glassed in back is going to go ..... https://farm1.staticflickr.com/954/2...5eb90f390b.jpginner wing glassed by Muddy_B, on Flickr Then trial fitted wings to the Zed and sanded down at the front after using glass-fibre filler to get the wing level and relatively straight and smooth. Will do a bit more before giving the whole car to the paint-shop. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/884/2...7f9e854eba.jpgside view with wing 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr Next post talks about the rear. |
Rear lights first fix.
Cut holes after measuring too many times and fitted rear lights temporarily. Needed to see something good.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/899/4...23f4f9951b.jpgrear with lights 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr I need to fill the join lines across the rear wings before over sanding them with amateur flat spots. Will be fitting the rear clam on my next build session - I hope ! Next post talks about the boot. |
Boot suits you sir
So as it was peeing down and the area I was working in had cover I decided to fit the boot furniture. As I purchased TR4 boot hinges, as suggested by Tribute and Nubodi chaps, the holes marked on the boot lid were in the same place as the bolt holes !!!!
Also fitted a nice number plate lamp. It wanted to be bolted right at the top of the flat spot within the boot so needed persuading. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/894/2...ea43809e91.jpgboot hinges by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/793/2...a68f86a234.jpgboot lid 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/872/4...399084105d.jpgboot lid 2 by Muddy_B, on Flickr I'll get into the boot lock detail next. |
Boot lock detail
Now all of you that have built the Kobra will have had fun fitting the boot lock and bear-claw..... both bit of kit are attached to the outside of the boot and inner skin. There is a moulded area for this but you have to get a spanner in there to fix them. Form both sides - easy ! :icon_eek:
There are a few different ways. Mine was to cut a small access hole on the underside of the moulded area. This let me get spanners in and nip them up to the torque setting QT. They have to come off again for paint etc so that will do. Details are as shown in the pics. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/4...e5fa9d40a7.jpgboot lock detail 3 by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/822/2...e66b8919c5.jpgboot lock detail 2 by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/818/2...1aba3212a5.jpgboot lock detail 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr I considered glassing back over the top but we need access holes for mtce purposes after all. Therefore I am going to fit a piece of either black plastic or stainless over with low profile screws. |
Just had to trial fit
So spent a lot of time on the cold damp ground as had to adjust the coilovers as slammed too low (it might go back down a bit though).
I had run out of steam and felt a little despondent - wanted to get further along this week. But as everyone knows - it takes ages to do anything ! I am building the Kobra at the very helpful and supportive Richard Bird's place. He could see my mood so persuaded me to trial fit the rear clam and bonnet. This gave us clues as to what needed to be gapped next time I am there. I placed the boot in place too just to cheer myself up even more. Oh and I got Chris to lay mine up in black gel-coat. The donor was black so I am already getting a ratty look. Not what I am going to finish up with of course ! Next installment in a while. I've got to go do some 'real' work next week. Dave https://farm1.staticflickr.com/881/4...587b58e598.jpgbonnet trial fit 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/800/2...176d43c6b8.jpgrear view trial fit 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/889/4...cee74f7acc.jpgside view trial fit by Muddy_B, on Flickr |
So wheel details so far: I wanted to go steels as I originally wanted to go with a set of Dunlop type copies. But now that has changed to something a bit more roddy.
I spent a bit of time working out what sizes of steels were available for BMW’s and had two things I wanted to keep the back space matching the Z3 std wheels and go for 16 inch wheels. I knew I was going to band wheels so chose 6.5 width to I could band them by 1 inch front and 2 inch rear. That gives me the staggered sizes that match the Z3 sports option (although std staggered are 17”). So long story over. I bought bmw F20/21 6.5J 16 wheels with std offset 33. They were £120 incl postage from Poland. I had them delivered straight Banded Steels Essex and had a 1” and 2” band put in place then sent to me. I went searching for tyres to fit. Finding the right widths and profiles to match the rolling circumference of standard wheels. The only two manufacturers I could find that did 245/45 16 were continental and Toyo. So looking at reviews and Prices I went Toyos. Details of what I bought are : BMW 1 series F20/21 6.5J x 16 ET33 £120 Banded 1inch fronts and 2inch rears £50 wheel 2 x Toyo Proxes T1-R 225/50 16 and 2 x Toyo Proxes T1-R 245/45 16 £390 Hope this helps (sorry about the wordy post) |
So trial fitted the banded steels and pleased with the results.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/953/4...0194262144.jpgbanded wheels trial fit overview by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/907/4...63f7254842.jpgbanded wheels trial fit 2 by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/964/2...47cd3e619c.jpgbanded wheels trial fit 3 by Muddy_B, on Flickr I needed to drop the coilovers quite a bit which i have done - but may have gone too far so will get it on concrete have a few minutes drive and check. |
Dave - It might be a problem at my end, but I just see three "X"s in your last post.
It does sound like the very rough mock up helped lift your spirits. :cool: Good luck, Paul. :) |
rear bonded on
what a faff :0)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/826/4...aaf693d7d9.jpgRear bonding 3 by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/823/4...26e4087978.jpgrear bonding 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr Rear on now need to re-wire up rear lights. |
rear lights
wired up rear lights and need to re-test them. I used the same fog repeaters that Paul L used - seem to be just right.
Also dropped the rear which you can see in this pic. I need to double check heights - the gravel is on a small slope so its misleading. It will need lifting and balancing up for sure. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/953/2...16ddd96f53.jpgRear view fog lights by Muddy_B, on Flickr Next up is my saga on how I can add Empi spinners in a cheap as chips way (its all about solving problems) .... |
wheel centres
So anyone that knows me knows that I am fixated by using the Empi spinners I bought for the car - now they are by far the diameter at the screw fixing and I have had a few goes at finding a way to fix them.
Edit deleted as not relevant Dave |
Keep plugging away Dave, you will work out the wheels issues no doubt.
You can always leave wheels for a few weeks, focus on the other stuff and the answer will usually creep up and tap you on the shoulder! Watching with interest, good progress so far tho! |
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Dave |
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I see you are going for the Rover style continental boot mounted spare:eyebrows: |
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You can never have too much rubber on the rear of your car... |
Dave – Looks like you are making good progress and I’m glad the LED fog/reflectors were useful. :cool:
I actually quite like the plain steel wheels look, especially with the black gel coat, very Mad Max. But I know you are going ‘purple’ so I’m sure whatever you think looks best will work. Good luck, Paul. :) |
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I have rather taken the mad max look on now. So the Kobra might stay black. At least through the summer while it is getting baked and settled. I may even call the car Max. It didn’t get a name before now. Dave |
headlights and washers
headlights wired up using 7 core trailer wire
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/963/4...2e10d2a175.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/952/4...d43783eeb4.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr As were windscreen washers... https://farm1.staticflickr.com/962/4...eba0d05bab.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr |
inner arches
fitted inner arches on fronts using 2mm polypropelene. Rears were the OEMS with a bit of cut and shutting
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/901/2...68ae8bf220.jpgInner Arch 1 by Muddy_B, on Flickr |
stance adjustment
Took some pics as I was going to get the stance right on the coilovers
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/973/4...1f89bb5df5.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/953/2...c1222d05bc.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/970/4...b31bc415f3.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr As you can see - I have embraced the ratty matt black look for the summer at least |
plates on for now
Rear plates where I want them. Front plates I have attached to the front scuttle until I decide upon best grill.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/830/4...10d59b9d12.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/981/2...1942e3b982.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/903/4...54346d4b9f.jpgUntitled by Muddy_B, on Flickr I have purchased a new reg - that will get fitted once I have MOT - re-registered and re-insured Dave |
Looking good.
Add a few badges and it could be mistaken for "finished"... |
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There's the rub as I don't want to badge it. So it will always look unfinished :( Considering my skills that's a theme I am going for. That said I should have something on the bonnet that isn't just a terrible paint job ! Dave |
The car brings a smile. Well done.
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Dave – Your car looks great. :cool:
Is there much more to do before the MOT? Good luck, Paul. :) |
Paul thanks !
I have a list that may take 1-2 days. Booked in Monday ! Excited |
Anyone having problems making a reply on the threads at the moment ??
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