AC Cobra by Factory Five Racing
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Today I check out a very nice AC Cobra kit car produced by Factory Five Racing and I'm happy to say its a very nice car !!!!
#hotrod @UncleTonysGarage #streetmachine #utg #classiccarsculture #customcars #protouring #ford #fordcobra #accobra #cobra #427
My neighbour built an Australian made replica, and by the time he'd sorted all of the issues, he became the local Cobra club's expert in problem solving for others. Anything he puts his hands on is done properly.
I can watch hours of videos about this car. Hey, what was the problem with the driver door not closing?
Just a bit of adjustment and lube needed
Nice. The 289 is nifty as well.
The small block in the MK4 was really popular with the road racers, having so much less weight over the front axle.
Yes it is !! Quicker on a tight twisty track
Very nice Cobra built well with a focus on looking original. Those pusher fans in front of the radiator were as the originals were but did barely anything. I noticed a big plastic puller fan behind the radiator which does all the real work. Please change your exit strategy. Never touch the windshield as you can very easily pull it enough to crack it. Instead, twist just a bit and use the functional roll bar to pull yourself up. This one looks really nice with what looks like real center lock wheels just like the originals. If that's the case, they should have safety wire put in place to make sure they don't unscrew themselves. To make the car look even more original and get rid of the typical Factory Five "perky butt", look up the "Fun Ford drop butt mod". I had a Factory Five that I picked up from the factory in Wareham, MA in the fall of 1999 and when "Fun Ford" (his screen name) came out with the mod and showed it, I put it onto my winter list. I dropped the butt the amount of the distance between the rear bumper bolts. This was the easiest thing to do where I only needed to move that down, trim the aluminum upright pieces below the rear quarter panels, open the roll bar holes up a bit more which isn't seen with the trim rings installed. The car then has a somewhat more "droopy butt" look like the originals did. Oh, and another great mod is the trunk hidden hinges. There are kits now. I built my own using my donor Fox body Mustang hood hinges. This eliminates those exterior hinges which are, of course the stock build way to go with the kit. Mine was as you said is typical with an early 96 Explorer 302 which came with the GT-40 (non-P) heads and bigger intake which is easy to adapt if you've got the donor Mustang for some of the conversion parts. With fuel injection, I never had leaks or difficulty driving. No, it wasn't original or look original but that wasn't my goal. I just wanted to bring one of my sons with me to cruise nights, shows and when they started school, drop them off which was always fun as busses arriving had every head at the window looking at the car. Mine was an original Cobra color, Rangoon Red (65) which in 66 became Candy Apple Red. Same exact paint code. The company was founded because the founders were road racing Mustangs and always wanted a Cobra to race but couldn't afford one. They released the first kit in 1995. They're now the biggest Cobra kit company in the world and have always focused on affordable ways to build the cars. Mine was to that end with an 88 Mustang 5.0L as my donor car. I did, of course customize it and in the 11 years I owned it made numerous upgrades as deals came up or the famous "scratch and dent" sale at the Factory Five open house gave me something to upgrade for cheap.
Factory Five with a FE 427 is pretty unusual, most were 302 or 351W. Very cool.
Yes, the 427s were known to snap the axles of the IRS in the video, even if the splines were upgraded.
I worked there at that time as a welder I can't say I welded that chassie but I can say I welded that IRS. At that time a 427 chassie was a special order and there wasn't many of them.
Those cars 🚗
are wicked Awesome
Factor Five is located
up here , in Massachusetts
Funny story, i know a man that has a 66' corba. He said "if you marry my daughter, I'll give you the car". I ask him "would it be in my name or hers". Anyways I turned him down. His daughter wasn't much to look at.
One of my favourite cars to look at in my favourite colour and stripe combination, favourite wheels and favourite engine / box combos. She sounds pretty damn good too, mate - what a chassis on the thing, eh?! Makes the Graham Berry setup look like Meccano by comparison. Love it! So simple, so clean and very well done.
My only criticisms (and they are so very minor and of a personal nature) would be that the seats look a bit too "authentic" (but you could set me straight if they actually WERE more comfortable than they look) and I prefer the dash layout like the '65 Cobra with the gauges laid out in a triangle pattern in the centre, the rev counter in front of the driver and the speedo down and to the left of the steering column......but that's easy enough to change if one really feels like being a pedant, eh. All personal choice in a kit car and what is there is perfectly functional and shows you what you need to see.
I like what you've done with the carbs too - a progressive setup is a way better option for round town and highway cruising...and one can always mash the pedal if there is a need (or want) to do so! One beautiful car. Do you have an idea of what those beasties go for over there, Kiwi? Say, one in that Cobra's condition and one....say...in the 7 out of 10 range? Since the National government has repealed the Clean Car scheme, there's not an additional $8k plus in fees to import a V8, so its looking better on that front at the moment to do so.
The cobras are so cool, and I've always been a fan of the 427
IT'S THE REAL THING, JUST NOT THE ORIGINAL VERSION. IT'S JUST AN IMPROVED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL FROM A MODERN STANDPOINT. IT'S ANOTHER BOBBY DESLER AND IT'S "BOB", NOT "TONY" WHO IS YOUR UNCLE FOE SURE! THE KIWI RULE WHILE THE KANGAROO DROOL!
They don't come any more Bad-Ass than that! Top 3 grail car for me, even as a kit.
Glad you enjoyed😎
Think I saw cobwebs underneath. Love it !!!!! Ford fan here.
You did, she's a 500 miles a year car !
In their ads back then,they fully expected these cars to be at race tracks, not trailer queens. Is everything fiberglass on the body?
Outer body is fibreglass, floor and bulkheads, etc is aluminium panels riveted together. (Aluminium panels are attached to the chassis, then the outer body is draped over the go-kart.)
@@johnbriggs3916 thanks 👍
I remember back in the early 80 when they had a same colour blue Graham Berry ac rep on the cover on NZ hot rod mag i fell in love lol i think i was about 14. Driven a few drive like nothing else didnt like the auto one i drove it just seemed wrong. But a 427 that would be some thing else. I hope you dont let all that tread go to waste lol. Liked the bfs on my coupe back in the day got good milage gripped well but they rot with age so best replaced for sure after a few skids of course. 😁🇬🇸👍
They gotta be manual shift !! Not my tyres to burn to burn sadly😎
I know a fella that hand crafted a cobra body from carbon fibre. I don't believe he has built the car yet. Or if he ever will. Quite a piece of art though.
The original kits, unpainted, you supply the donor car and work, were dirt cheap. Let a lot of Blue Oval guys afford to race at local tracks.
Shes a beauty, gas cap would look better down sized
Agreed but it's a Cobra thing......
Looking at the steering shaft and being 2001 - it's likely a MKII. Very fine, full optioned kit with IRS and a big block 427. At the time, Factory Five Racing was big on the 5.0 Fox Body Mustang door concept, but it looks like this car was built with all new parts. This car was definitely one of the best builds at the time, and it still stands up today.
Ya look good in there Kiwi!
Not the easiest thing to get in and out of. 😁
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 they would have EM SERVICES
FOR THE JAWS OF life to get. Me oouta There !🤣🤣🤣
You do get to tinker with some nice toys in your line of work there Kiwi, and this is one of the nicer ones. Sounding a tad nasally with that freezing air ❄❄❄
It's even colder now. Going to be -17c tonight!
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160 Yeah, you can keep that. -1.7c is about as cold as I get it here, yes, with the decimal 🤣
I seem to remember a magazine article about the cobra had two carburetor options, a single 4 bbl, or the duel quads. In the article they stated the single 4 bbl, was quicker in the quarter mile.
I'd believe that!!
Shelbys fav Cobra had a 289 and a 4 speed . . 427 looks cool but to much power to be fun
The small block makes for a better balanced car..... but.......
I wouldn't go far or fast on those old tires (tyres in your world) tires are much more affordable than body work and insurance claims.
No sir ! Getting new ones
It wasn't to cold to go for a blast LOL
A quick one😁😎
My former dream car then i "grew up". I was always thinking of dropping my built 429 Ford into a Cobra body from a rusty 72 Torino Sport fastback i had but i found another 72 Gran Torino coupe chassis/body that was already pearl white near mint and came with another 429 sitting on the garage floor in pieces and a bunch of parts so i built that instead. My budget was happier too.
72 is my favorite year Torino !!
Kit or not … still one SEXY body style 👌🏼
Glad you enjoyed it😎👍
The kits are actually way better cars than the originals.
Had a Backdraft Racing Cobra in the shop that had not been taking care of. Headers were loose and melted the fiberglass. Had 4 roller lifters fail and sent needle bearings all thru the engine! 🤦🏻🤘🏼🔧👍🏼
Ouch!!
Nice work
What? No test drive, Kiwi? A bit too cold for an open cockpit? 😁
Very short one, fricken cold mate!!!
6:23 #1 header primary tube leak...
6:36 those fans aren't worth a shit...
I'm not seeing what you are in the primary tube but I agree on the fans. A few seconds earlier you can see a nice big puller fan that is doing the lions share of the cooling. Thanks man!
Black soot on the header flange around the primary tube on #1 cylinder. Not sure if it's the header gasket or weld between the flange and the primary tube. at 6:23
@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160
Good call changing the fan to thermostatic. Nothing like 500hp in a go-kart to distract you from remembering to flip a switch.
Those front fairy fans they call them are more for looks and just help a bit in traffic. The 16 inch puller fan does all the cooling .
@@sometimesleela5947 Exactly !!
one of my favorit cars..!..no rust on that one Kiwi..🙂..!..i know its a glass body.(well i would assume) if i were to knit pick...i would think that axel shafts & the cv joints would be a week link in that drive line...IF...there was ever a tire on it(a slick)....BUT....that being said...its a REALY cool car...!...!..thanks 4 show'n us this Kiwi....!..i have never drive'n one or gotten a ride in one....seen a bunch...great tribute to a pice of american built auto history...!🙂🙂
I'd trust Kiwi's opinion on just about any car or kit car!
Thanks man and thanks for watching!!
Hey Kiwi,
Tim here, we had a Kit Cobra come in, a while back, wasnt a Fac. 5, and i cant remember who did it, but it was GORGEOUS!!!......the frame was a work of art, u'd know the co. If i cud remember the name.....a few moons have past......owner is a good guy, we had adress a few things, but all in all, WONDERFUL car, then we had another Cobra kit car, AWFUL!!....done by the dudes that did the MG TD kits, AWFUL!!..we got him goin, but it was night and day between the one Cobra to the other, one was a work of art, the other was a slapped together puece of pooh........and that customer was as AWFUL as the car.....he shudn't own it, while the high end car's owner is a breeze, and trusted us, and we delivered.....NICE Fac 5 you got there, hope the owner is as good as ours was, NOT the dbl turd deal of a hideous build, and a hideous owner.....PEACE to you sir!!..enjoyed it!!
Always appreciate your insight on an Cobra factory five. Show us a review of an updated Sunbeam Tiger please.
After all the crappy rotted out cheater-beaters, its probably a breath of fresh air to get something not someone getting robbed. I especially liked you adjusted the floats instead of rebuilding the carbs! Kiwi you are top shelf Master Mechanic. Anyone else would have charged him for rebuilding, you are class act! Same goes for recomending new shoes, you wantt to trust your life 150 + mph on. 20 year old shoes! I wonder if you can still get them spin balanced on the car? Not many shops doing that anymore...
Given that "AC's" were originally Bristol/Ford 6 cylinder powered does wonder how one of these would go with a Barra with a bit of boost.... 😉
Anything will go good with huffed Barra😎😎
Mid sixty's attended an NHRA drag race held at an old air field in central Fla. Guy brought his real 427 Cobra and paid his entry to race. Je was paired up with some known racer in the has class.
He got off the line well for about 20ft and floored it, car spun line atop for two revolutions before he could shut it off.😮 Guess it scared the fool out of him. A well known drag racer voluteered to drive it gor him the next round a he smked the tires off of it for about a hundred feet the turned it into s rocket for the rest of the 1/4. Fun remorys.
without originality as a concern the FE is probably the worst possible motor for a lightweight roadster. this thing needs a K Swap
Do the guy a big favor and put that 427 in the corner , and install an aluminum headed small block .
Beautiful
Cheers and thanks for watching
That is a cool car but a lot of money for a car you would rarely drive.
That's true. Strictly a fair weather car that you can't lock up!
A chiropractor on retainer need to come with this car.@@kiwiclassicsandcustoms9160
Hello, how are you? Have you been alright?
Now you're talking ❤❤
I love Cobras.
Nice car! Not a whole lot of suspension droop on the lift.
Good Video 👍
Cheers mate!!
That intake is a single plane intake and made for high rpm use . They used to call it a Tunnel wedge manifold not to be con fused with Tunnel port and 3:46.
The drive shaft is so chode
Not a bad way to build a go cart
Loved this episode. I've been checking out the Factory Five kits for years; even took a class at the local community college where a group of about 10 "students" built a Cobra kit. I'll probably never build one of my own, but poking around underneath such a beautiful example with you was great fun.
Glad you enjoyed it man!!
A beautiful to look at!
It must be a real blast to drive.
He can't work on it lmao
??
Nice car! The IRS is probably one of the best modifications to Carrol Shelby's design. That fuel tank really is pretty low.
Take it for a ride kiwi lol 😊
I did, it's fast!!
Had a customer yrs ago paint a Factory 5 Cobra for a client. The car started out having a rough life. The body had blistered due to a bad batch of fiberglass and had to be redone. Someone originally messed up mixing the color on it and I had to do a custom mix to dial it in. A short time later he banged up the nose at the track and I was back tinting the color again. Haven't seen it in 20 yrs--doesn't break my heart!😆
Little 🐍 Cobra getting ready to strike !😮
Indeed!!
That is a really nice car that owner's got to be proud to own that car. It's sharp. Clean everything there. Real nice. 👍👍🙂🇨🇦
That is a good looking FF Cobra replica, especially for a 22 year old car. Nice.
Beautiful car Kiwi 👍👍
Yeah nice combination!
a beautiful car...
Kiwi making me nervous with that big gob of keys hanging on his jeans leaning over that nice paint work 🤣😲
Glad I'm not the next guy .👺 Nice little roadsters .A friend had an original A/C ,427 , same color ,same setup. That thing is stupid fast . They get a little squirrelly if you jump on it . She'll differently wag her tail .LOL. I dig that frame , You always have some kind of car that's bitchen ,of course your the man for repairs on vehicles such as these . Have a great one.🔩🔧👍✌