improve cobra

[maia]

Hi all,
I bought a pilgrim cobra here in Portugal. There are only 2 or 3 cobras replicas here... because we pay a lot of taxes to legalize a car that nobody sells (no portuguese dealer more taxes) and have a large engine (bigger engine more taxes..).. so I have a pilgrim sumo with a 2.0l engine ... if I put a larger engine like a 3.5 v8 rover i will need to pay more something like 12.500 pounds and if the engine is bigger much more.. imagine!!!
So I bought this big car with little engine, but i want to improve the performances (speed is not the major thing... stability and better brakes).
It has cortina base, I will put a new dif (autoblock), new suspension, front ventilated disk brake, rear disk brakes, webber carburettor, sierra 2.0 5 speed gearbox, oil coller radiator, and KN air filters and chassis reenforcements.. (and somethings more.. little things)
Am I forgetting any major thing to improve my car??
In future i may put a v8 engine not for the performances but for the sound... but it is not possible now (because the price of the tax here in Portugal).
What do you think about the improvemente that i want to do on my car??
Does it worth? will i notice major diferences?
Regrads,
Maia

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[robert]

Maia

The easiest option to increase the performance is look at some form of forced induction. Or for quick spurts, stick some Nitrous injection in.

Either supercharge or turbocharging.

Robert
UK CRC Forum Admin

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[normanh]

Nice Sumo,

Just one important point, if you fit discs on the back dont forget the bias valve, or the back will pass you when you try to stop as the back wheels will probably lock up first!

Ford part number 6132856

It might be worth comparing the old chassis with the latest sierra version, and check what extra cross members have been added. From memory there are two at the front, two near the battery shelf, and two in the footwells. There is also cros struts underneath the tunnel and either side of the diff.

Your list of improvements seem quite realistic, you should notice improvements in ride by strengthening the chassis, and also better breaking etc..

With carefull tuning and porting the pinto 2.0l can develop around 200bhp, that would give it some ummph compared to the standard 90-100 bhp.

Norm

Oh well, done it again!

[maia]

I don´t want to improve much in top speed (only a bit..), the first thing is to have a car that has good suspension and breaks.. of course speed and aceleration is important but not the most important..
I will preform a tunning on the motor to put it with 170 hp
I will pay atention to the brake sistem..
With this poor breaks i noticed it breaks much more on rear.. I will pay atention to that, thanks..
I still don´t know what kind of exaust i will put.. getting out from behind or from the side ( It is beatiful but much more expensive!!!)

[Dan]

I would only consider the side pipes if you will later see yourself upgrading to a v8. Always thought 2 side pipes with only one in use a bit funny. It's your choice.


Dan ~ http://homepage.ntlworld.com/danny.mann/

[domenico]

hi there,

like normanh said spend you money first on the chassis it really
will make a difference just do all of what he said... those
modification will cost you very little but it will take time.

in terms of brakes...
I do not think you will be able to fit 4 pot calipers on the front
like ones on the ford sierra cosworth because you will have to change
the wheels too.
If you put sierra or granada front hubs with discs od 26 cm instead of
24 cm discs is another improvnment.

discs at the back is another inprovnment... anc can be done.

a limited slip diff at the back .... is expensive and probably not worthy.

last but not least set the sustemsion properly adjust camber
castor etc.etc. (probably this is difficult too)

do not know much about the engine.

ciao
Domenico

[maia]

I have already the brake disks to put..
On the back i will use fiesta sistem...
I think an autoblock diff is very impotant.. because the tyres are too big for this one.. and when I put the power on the car jumps...
Is it possible to put the first and third cilinder connected to one exaust and the others to another??

[normanh]

You can have made headers to connect 1&3 to one pipe and 2&4 to the other, especially if underslung. Harder if sidepipes as the ex ports are all on one side. Not sure about the firing order, seem to recall 1342, and to ease flow, 1&4 and 2&3 would be better...no doubt I will be corrected if i'm wrong on this point.

By upgrading the chassis the jumping effect will be reduced as the chassis will not twist as much, but if you have the diff then why not. It would help to a degree, by spreading the load across two wheels.

Norm

Oh well, done it again!

[maia]

Thanks for all the advices..
I would like put the white stripes...
Is it possible to do it at home?? What kind of material should I buy?
It isn´t painted, is it?
regrads,
Maia (portugal)

[domenico]

quite common that the back of any pilgrim will jump
here and there.

Just try 14 inch wheels with 195/60 tyres and the andling
will be superb ... but the car will look agly.

To avoid jumpings harden your spax and put very low
pressure in the tyre this will help a bit.

ciao
Domenico

>I have already the brake disks to put..
>On the back i will use fiesta sistem...
>I think an autoblock diff is very impotant.. because the tyres
>are too big for this one.. and when I put the power on the car
>jumps...
>Is it possible to put the first and third cilinder connected
>to one exaust and the others to another??
>