The Striped Foushee

[gasman]

I flew my plane down to Brooksville Florida this morning and saw my car for the first time! Man is this thing nice! Only you guys can appreciate my excitement...:D I cannot believe this car is actually mine. Now the torture sets in :( ....waiting for the transport company to get the car to Augusta, GA. I've emailed pics to the unstriped one...Hey big bro would you please upload my pics, I like many, give up.

Steve Foushee

[Brent]

Congrats Steve!!!!!!!!!!

Brent

[pgermond]

Congrats Steve. This is great.... we have new Unique owners popping up everywhere :D

Except California.... I'm pretty much out here by my lonesome :( Maybe I'll get off this merry-go-around someday and move to Unique Country :D

Phil

427 Roadster, #4279436
Southern Automotive FE
3:31 and Toploader

Roseville (N.Cal)

[bittentoo]

Congrats on The Striped One! And I feel your pain:(

I was finally able to post pics with "Picture It! Express version 7.0

Good luck!

[weaver]

Did you decide to stay with Keven at EVT to have the car delivered? I'm looking foward to seeing all the cars at Homecoming.

Alan

[gasman]

Yes Alan, I am staying with EVT. I'm hoping he can have it here in the next 2-3 weeks.

Steve Foushee

[clayfoushee]

Brother Steve,

Here are your pics, as requested. Nice car!

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/clayfoushee/gasman.front.jpg

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/clayfoushee/gasman.driverside.jpg

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[clayfoushee]

Here are the other two:
http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/clayfoushee/gasman.rear.jpg
http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/clayfoushee/gasman.So.Autom.427.jpg


Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[jhaynie]

Steve,

Awesome looking car. Why is it taking 3 weeks to get it here. We could drive to Tampa this week and I could follow you home. 13 hours max. Don't you hate waiting?

John

[excelguru]

Stunning.

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[bittentoo]

Wow! Very nice Gasman<img src=images/icon_speech_wow.gif border=0 width=23 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: Wow!><img src=images/icon_speech_wow.gif border=0 width=23 height=15 alt=Insert Speech Icon: Wow!>

I'm thinking enclosed trailer and the car is in your garage next weekend:D

[clayfoushee]

Bitten,

Been thinking the same thing too. Had I not been so hung up with the job that pays the bills, I would have driven down with mine and picked it up, but it's at least a 4 day roundtrip from here. My poor little bro is gonna be sleepless for the next 2 weeks!

JH,

That's a very nice offer. But, since the car doesn't have very many miles on it, I was a little concerned that it might still need a little shaking down, before heading out on such a long trip. However, if you're a rolling shop on wheels and a great wrench, he might just jump on that offer!


Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[eliminator]

Those long Interstate Drives are not my idea of FUN, plus they are very hard on the paint job. The Cobra will look like it was sand blasted.

Eliminator

[gasman]

John, I flew down to Brooksville with my partner in the airplane thinking that I might drive it back. Mapquest calls the trip 8 hours and 429 miles. The trip down to Brooksville was IFR most of the way, which means the drive back would have been in the rain. Also, the seller would have cried if I had told him I was going to hit rain on the way back. At 5 miles/gallon which is what I figure this thing will get, the cost of gasoline would be close to $200.00. Enclosed Vehicle Transport is hauling it up here for $600. It won't be easy, but I think using EVT was the way to go.

Clay, Thanks for posting my pics!

Steve Foushee

[clayfoushee]

Little Bro,

You're worried about gas mileage in your Cobra, but it's no problem to fly your airplane down to look at it.....Hmmmmm, what's wrong with this picture?

BTW, your gas mileage will be almost double 5 mpg....almost, not quite:D

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[eliminator]

Steve,

My 427 Sideoiler with single 4 gets about 10-11 MPG on the road at 65 MPH. It is about a 500 HP engine. This is with a 3:31 rear gear. If you ever run a car in the rain one time they are screwed[V]. The dirt, water, grime gets to places you can never clean up:(. I may get caught in the rain but if so I am not going anywhere, the car cover is going over it until dry pavement prevails or the trailer arrives:D:D.

Eliminator

[clayfoushee]

I have to agree with Elim.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[gasman]

Me worry about gas mileage?.......surely you jest! FOR I am....GASMAN!!!! (we need a icon with a cape to insert here) The real reason I didn't drive it back was the known rain that I had already flown through...coupled with a remorseful seller already regreting his decision before I left. He would have died knowing his baby was going to get dirty. The underside of this car is just as clean as the body. And yes Elim, I know all about cleaning up a car exposed to the elements, my Austin Healey hasn't seen rain in the 10 years I've owned it.

Steve Foushee

[gasman]

Update on delivery....It will be in my garage SATURDAY!

Steve Foushee

[weaver]

How many miles do you think you will put on your car this weekend? Hope the weather is nice.

Alan

[gasman]

Hey Alan, I can't wait to answer that question....it will undoubtedly be quite a few. In case you haven't already heard, it did not work out with EVT. Kevin had the same ETA today as he did eleven days ago. Three weeks or more. The delivery situation has caused me to pause and think... hey, somebody could make a pretty darn good living starting a car transport company. Many thanks to my new friend John Haynie for his role in expediting delivery of this beauty.

Steve Foushee

[jhaynie]

I am glad to help. Now dammit, when can I come over Sunday and see it???

[gasman]

Dude, you are coming Saturday to see it, then again on Sunday to rally with it.

Steve Foushee

[jhaynie]

I'm there!!I'll need to wash my Cobra first so you don't embarass me. :D

[clayfoushee]

John,

That's just GREAT!!!! What is it that you did exactly? Whatever it was, thanks for helping out.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[jhaynie]

Clay,

I called the guy who moved mine from Maimi. He happened to have an open schedule, and it worked out for your brother. Can't wait to see it. There is not another Unique in town that I know of (until now anyway).

John

[gasman]

Hey Alan, Between yesterday and today, logged about 125 miles. Temperature in Augusta was about 67 today. Beautiful day to get to know the car. Two things are clear, the neighbors are going to hate me and I doubt I can sneak up on anyone. This beast can be heard for miles. [8D]

Car needs to have a couple of bugs worked out. Alan I would like to discuss some of the apparent problems when you have time.

Steve Foushee

[jhaynie]

Wow, I thought my car was loud. That was the first 427 I have seen up close and driven next to. I can't wait until GASMAN lets me drive it and I can see what my car is like with 200 more horsepower. SCARRY!
Steve, tell them about the key. I think it was just butterflies.

John

[clayfoushee]

OK Brother,

Come clean.....during out lengthy conversation last night, you never said anything about the key.:)

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[gasman]

Thanks John, that could have been our little secret and I would have been fine with it....but no. Okay big bro, coming clean...I was able to start the car using the wrong key...took a little fumbling to get the cylinder to turn but it worked.

I've got some bugs to work out of the car. I was sitting in traffic yesterday afternoon, a 16 year old pulled up beside me in a Mustang....you'll never guess what he wanted to do. Race of all things? Imagine that...about a milisecond later the coolant tank sprung a leak and covered this beautiful motor with coolant. SMOKE EVERYWHERE! Pulling the tank off today and having it brased by a local radiator shop. The overfill tube broke loose below the radiator cap.

Steve Foushee

[eliminator]

Gasman,

I know your going to homecoming are you registered? If so send me the info so I can add you to our list. See thread on Homecoming.

Rick

[gasman]

Elim,

Yes I am registered and you have mail. See you soon!

For all interested, I pulled the remote fill tank today and had it repaired by a local radiator shop for twenty bucks! :) It had two leaks, one at the overflow tube as it made the 90 out of the neck, and another at the bottom of the tank next to the manifold. The leak on the bottom would have been very difficult to see while the tank was on the car. It should be ready to roll tomorrow. I'm wondering how often these things should be removed and inspected just to keep you off the side of the road.

Steve Foushee

[clayfoushee]

Steve,

Glad you got it fixed so easily.....welcome to Cobra ownership....it's always something. And, even when it "ain't broke" people who are passionate about these cars are always still trying to fix something.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Poorboy]

Steve,
Southern Automotive has the over flow tank made out of stainless. It is a very nice peace alot better than an original.

Poorboy

[clayfoushee]

Poorboy,

Steve's tank came from Southern Automotive on his SA-built 427FE.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler, top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Copper01]

I have to agree with Poorboy. I got one of the original style surge tanks from Southern Automotive when they build my 427 side oiler. Sadly, when I was assembling the hoses, I managed to break a weld on it before I ever got the engine fired up. I called Lewis at SA and they switched me out for the stainless steel version for a nominal fee. It bolted right up and has been running ever since.

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/Copper01/P1020038.JPG

Ben
Unique 427
SA 427SO w/ Toploader
Guardsman Blue w/ White Stripes

[eliminator]

The original tanks are nice but the tanks are old and the solder joints are old. I have an original tank that was bead-blasted, pressure tested, and repaired. It may last for years or for months. I am going to invest in the stainless steel tank that Bill has developed at Southern Automotive, seems like it cost 395.00. You can run a higer pound radiator cap and thus develope more pressure and better cooling. If you have the original tank you don't need to have more than a 13# cap. The tank Ben has in his picture is the way to go, long term.

Rick

[jhaynie]

Glad to see your back on the road so fast Gasman. That can be really aggravating with a new toy to have it break so soon. See you around town.

John

[gasman]

Well we figured out why my cooling fans were not turning. Look very closely at the picture on page one. You will notice the previous owner installed prop cones on the motors. The cones shielded the motor from air causing them to overheat and shut down.

Steve Foushee

[jhaynie]

I wasn't going to mention the prop cones. I thought you put them there[:P]. Does anyone here know what they are????

John

[gasman]

John, the prop cones were fabricated by the previous owner. He has an aviation background and from that, thought they looked good. I would agree that they do look good but were not well thought out. It never occured to me, or him, they would obstruct air flow to cool the electric motors. The cones were made from side mirror bases.

Steve Foushee

[excelguru]

I finally found time to read this entire thread. (What a week.)

1. You guys in Augusta are having way too much fun.

2. Now that your engine sprayed itself with coolant and probably isn't as clean as it was in the original picture, you MIGHT be allowed to park next to me with your hood open (pending my final approval after visual inspection). :D

3. I would be very surprised if those fans hold out when the real heat gets in here in a few months. I had to install a 16" high-flow SPAL unit. It moves a TREMENDOUS amount of air and cools the engine exceptionally well. I love the look of the twin pushers, but the cooling issue forced me to change them out.

4. Perhaps you can "stand-off" the prop cones to allow for air to pass around their base? Just a thought. Neat idea.

5. Did I mention you guys were having too much fun over there? I need more Cobra guys in Columbia. (Or maybe I just need to drive to Augusta some weekend.)

Keith :)
Unique Motorcars (http://www.uniquecobrareplicas.com)
Southern Automotive (http://www.southernautomotiveengines.com)
Bruce Bunn (the painter) (http://www.jodecoautobody.com)

My Photo Album (http://members5.clubphoto.com/keith355593/owner-429c-1.phtml)

[jhaynie]

It never ceases to amaze me the ingenuity of some of the car owners. I would have never have thought to use side mirror housings to mount on the front of the cooling fans as prop cones. Born out of neccessity. Are the motors ok? I guess they had some sort of internal overload protection?

[gasman]

Hey John, The fans are fine. I'm rejetting the carb today. The primary jets were 72 and the secondary's were 78, which might explain why your eyes were burning as you followed me. I'm going to try jetting the secondary's to 72, don't want to get too lean.

Steve Foushee

[gasman]

A special thanks go out to Rick Bagley this evening. Rick read what I was about to do to my carb and took time to personally call me and keep me from making unnecessary adjustments. Rick I owe you big! Thanks ;)


Steve Foushee