This build has turned out to be a massive challenge.
The Sidchrome Cobra project rolls along, with new challenges at every turn.
Assembled by the good folk at Python Vehicles – Goerge Vidovic and Joe Imperatori – it’s presented some unique problems. While the team is very experienced with Cobras, this is the first time they’ve shoe-horned the giant Coyote engine in one of these diminutive cars, and there’s very little room for error.
The chassis/frame is all custom build, as is the rear driveline set-up.
This time around one of the challenges has been crafting not one but two exhaust systems. One is an under-body set-up to meet regs, while the other is a full side-pipe system which the new owner is pretty certain to prefer.
That’s involved hand-making the entire system, from the headers back. Joe says one side alone took three days to complete, though he reckons the other will be a little quicker.
Then there are a heap of individual little challenges, such as squeezing in ancillaries such as the alternator. Reversing it was no problem, but then they had to work out a way to tension it onto the drive belt.
The car is essentially an old-skool minimalist build, with no power-steering or air-con, though the powerplant and transmission (a Tremec) are very current. There’s no question this will end up a very serious performance car.
Don’t forget that this thing is being given away at the end of the build – see winwithsidchrome.com.au.