I figured that since I've been a lurker for so long that I should swing in to introduce myself, and my baby/addiction/financial blackhole.
As my screen name kind of denotes, I do have a 98 Steeda Cobra. Sadly though mine wasn't one of the lucky 15 in 98 to be done as a serialized car. But rather 1 of 2 known post title conversions. Here she was the day I picked her up:
At a distance she didnt look bad. Not bad at all. Clearcoat was peeling off the A pillars. Bubbling off the Rear quarters too. Sadly the girl had sat for 3 years in a tiny town of 700 right outside of a gun shop. We noticed it and talked to the owner. He admittedly didn't know much about the car, just that it was a cobra, and that when he bought it, it had a folder full of paperwork from day one. It took a little convincing but we eventually settled for 2700 dollars. Which Ill admit was a steal but heck I didn't quite know what I was getting into at the time!
We winched on the trailer and brought her home. Once there I went through the folder and just about crapped myself. Everything, and I mean everything that had been done to the car was documented. From the full suspension and undercarriage conversion that Dario's guys had carried out. To each oil change, tire rotation, hell the alignments and new tires that were bought! Also included was a well faded and worn dyno sheet for the car done in Texas claiming 343 rwhp. Which coupled with the stack of 11 second timeslips I kind of had to believe!
Unfortunately after the first owner let the car go for sale (ironic he was a highway patrolman from Florida), the second owner started using up the warranty to have things fixed. Well the Stealership robbed the rear Upper and Lower control arms. Stating they were causing noise and vibration. Replaced the front control arms because "the wrong balljoints and control arms were installed." And just nitpicked the car to death over the minor things. The third owner just simply drove the car. Well until it developed a noise in the engine. Which I found out what happened there:
The number 6 cylinder decided that it had lived long enough. So I sourced a temporary engine to get the car back up and running at least to a level where I could enjoy it. After talking to Frank at Steeda I was able to track down and install all the period correct parts that were used initially.
As of now, the original engine is getting a make over at SHM. The heads were already machined and different cams were installed prior so Hyland only has to make the block solid again!
Ill be updating this thread as progress is made with the engine. Hopefully by the end of spring here in Kansas, the old girl should see another dyno, a few more road courses courtesy of SCCA. And possibly a new trip down the strip to see if I can match if not beat the mark set all those years ago!
As my screen name kind of denotes, I do have a 98 Steeda Cobra. Sadly though mine wasn't one of the lucky 15 in 98 to be done as a serialized car. But rather 1 of 2 known post title conversions. Here she was the day I picked her up:
At a distance she didnt look bad. Not bad at all. Clearcoat was peeling off the A pillars. Bubbling off the Rear quarters too. Sadly the girl had sat for 3 years in a tiny town of 700 right outside of a gun shop. We noticed it and talked to the owner. He admittedly didn't know much about the car, just that it was a cobra, and that when he bought it, it had a folder full of paperwork from day one. It took a little convincing but we eventually settled for 2700 dollars. Which Ill admit was a steal but heck I didn't quite know what I was getting into at the time!
We winched on the trailer and brought her home. Once there I went through the folder and just about crapped myself. Everything, and I mean everything that had been done to the car was documented. From the full suspension and undercarriage conversion that Dario's guys had carried out. To each oil change, tire rotation, hell the alignments and new tires that were bought! Also included was a well faded and worn dyno sheet for the car done in Texas claiming 343 rwhp. Which coupled with the stack of 11 second timeslips I kind of had to believe!
Unfortunately after the first owner let the car go for sale (ironic he was a highway patrolman from Florida), the second owner started using up the warranty to have things fixed. Well the Stealership robbed the rear Upper and Lower control arms. Stating they were causing noise and vibration. Replaced the front control arms because "the wrong balljoints and control arms were installed." And just nitpicked the car to death over the minor things. The third owner just simply drove the car. Well until it developed a noise in the engine. Which I found out what happened there:
The number 6 cylinder decided that it had lived long enough. So I sourced a temporary engine to get the car back up and running at least to a level where I could enjoy it. After talking to Frank at Steeda I was able to track down and install all the period correct parts that were used initially.
As of now, the original engine is getting a make over at SHM. The heads were already machined and different cams were installed prior so Hyland only has to make the block solid again!
Ill be updating this thread as progress is made with the engine. Hopefully by the end of spring here in Kansas, the old girl should see another dyno, a few more road courses courtesy of SCCA. And possibly a new trip down the strip to see if I can match if not beat the mark set all those years ago!
