New to GT40.com

[Edward Wenger]

Hey Folks,
Thanks for my access to your forum. Ive built cobra's before, but never took on a GT40 project. Im hoping to start a new project next year and would love some feedback. I was planning on running a 427 Fe I have, aluminum with FI, with a tremor 6 speed. In a perfect world I would like to get a chassis first, body later. My question, what manufacturers are preferred for high quality chassis ? Im not interested in buying a superformace rolling chassis, I want to build my own car. Thanks in advance for any help !!!!!

 

[Brian Kissel]

Welcome to GT40S Edward. RCR offers a aluminum mono chassis. I think there is still a Tornado dealer on the East Coast. And I think Active Power has a new owner. Best bet would be to call each manufacturer and find out what kind of partial kits they offer. Buying in stages sometimes leads to problems because improvements are made at the manufacturer and might not retrofit to what you have. Read through the build threads to get a idea of what is offered.
Enjoy the forum !!
Regards Brian

 

[Neil]

Welcome to GT40S Edward. RCR offers a aluminum mono chassis. I think there is still a Tornado dealer on the East Coast. And I think Active Power has a new owner. Best bet would be to call each manufacturer and find out what kind of partial kits they offer. Buying in stages sometimes leads to problems because improvements are made at the manufacturer and might not retrofit to what you have. Read through the build threads to get a idea of what is offered.
Enjoy the forum !!
Regards Brian

"Buying in stages sometimes leads to problems..." It sure does! I'll copy my earlier post about the hazards of delaying important component buys:

Gathering vital parts for a project before starting work in earnest is a good idea. When I was working at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, WV, we always hired college kids for summer jobs. One fellow, Jim, worked in our receiver lab all summer and he started building a very nice hi-fi (before stereo) amplifier design called "Ultralinear". This was an unusual power amplifier circuit that used taps on its output transformer as feedback to the output vacuum tube's screen grids to improve its linearity. Jim worked on this amplifier all summer- building his aluminum chassis, punching holes for tube sockets, buying tubes and passive components as he went along. NRAO was good about allowing people to work on electronic "home projects" as they felt that a technician would gain knowledge and experience from this. Anyway, Jim finished his amplifier and then mail-ordered the necessary special output transformer from Acrosound. The summer was almost over and two weeks later he received an envelope in the mail with a very short note from a law firm. "This firm is in receivership". That was all. Jim never did finish his amplifier; it was a lesson that many of us never forgot.

 

[Edward Wenger]

Welcome to GT40S Edward. RCR offers a aluminum mono chassis. I think there is still a Tornado dealer on the East Coast. And I think Active Power has a new owner. Best bet would be to call each manufacturer and find out what kind of partial kits they offer. Buying in stages sometimes leads to problems because improvements are made at the manufacturer and might not retrofit to what you have. Read through the build threads to get a idea of what is offered.
Enjoy the forum !!
Regards Brian

Thanks Brian, i see your point.

 

[Edward Wenger]

"Buying in stages sometimes leads to problems..." It sure does! I'll copy my earlier post about the hazards of delaying important component buys:

Gathering vital parts for a project before starting work in earnest is a good idea. When I was working at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) in Green Bank, WV, we always hired college kids for summer jobs. One fellow, Jim, worked in our receiver lab all summer and he started building a very nice hi-fi (before stereo) amplifier design called "Ultralinear". This was an unusual power amplifier circuit that used taps on its output transformer as feedback to the output vacuum tube's screen grids to improve its linearity. Jim worked on this amplifier all summer- building his aluminum chassis, punching holes for tube sockets, buying tubes and passive components as he went along. NRAO was good about allowing people to work on electronic "home projects" as they felt that a technician would gain knowledge and experience from this. Anyway, Jim finished his amplifier and then mail-ordered the necessary special output transformer from Acrosound. The summer was almost over and two weeks later he received an envelope in the mail with a very short note from a law firm. "This firm is in receivership". That was all. Jim never did finish his amplifier; it was a lesson that many of us never forgot.

Makes sence, ill have to just clear some room.
Thanks for the info !!!

 

[Neil]

Makes sence, ill have to just clear some room.
Thanks for the info !!!

Jim's error was a lesson for many folks.