Cobrastang

[GPR]

 
   
I bought Ken McLellan's Cobrastang 1969 SS/G factory backed Mustang in 1973 on the way home from the Winternationals in Pomona. Ken got out of Drag Racing when he lost his Ford sponsorship. Ken set the SS/G record many times, the record was 11.09 when I got it. In 1971 Ken won Super Stock at the World Finals in Texas. In 1973 I took the car to the Gatornationals because I broke a converter in my car. I had not driven a 4 speed car in 4 years. With no practice the first time run was 11.11. Broke an axle during qualifying. I raced it only a few times because it was breaking a lot of parts; axles, wheel studs, clutch, etc. I used the engine as a spare for my SS/GA and set the record in 1974 with parts from it. In the early 80's we backed halfed the car, put a roll cage in and stripped it to race brackets (what a mistake). It has been in storage for over 20 years. Only has 21 miles on it.





This is how it looked in 2005



It is finally time to get the Cobrastang out of storage and start the restoration. It has been in storage a long time 









It is in the shop. It looks good in the photo but there is a lot of work to do. This will be a long term restoration because we have to repair it in our spare time. We have a lot of customer cars to work on.

[cjshaker]

That is some darn good company he had in Fords program back then. I like the crazy '70s paint jobs that SS cars had back then. Too bad it was back halved. Are you going to keep it that way, or put it back to original race trim? The tubbed version should certainly get TommyT's attention..lol

[GPR]

It will be restored as close as I can as race by Ken McLellan.

[GPR]

Today the windshield and back glass was removed.

[GPR]

Today I removed the rear bumper, end caps and deck lid. The deck lid was sanded to bare metal and the back side still has the original black paint.

[WConley]

That will be very cool to see come back to life!  Keep us posted.

- Bill

[fekbmax]

Did the rear quarter's get changed to 70's ? Filled in the side scoops maybe ? Picts of the race car shots show the 69 side scoops, not seeing them on the red car.

[machoneman]

Did the rear quarter's get changed to 70's ? Filled in the side scoops maybe ? Picts of the race car shots show the 69 side scoops, not seeing them on the red car.

Yea, were the quarters replaced with '70 panels? Sure looks like it........

[Heo]

In the pic from the side through the back window
you see where the side scoop is filled in

[GPR]

This is the Cobrastang before it was painted.



After it was painted candy blue, magenta, green, and red.



I wasn't sure what color the base was under the candy. I thought it was white and when I sanded the fiberglass end cap you can see magenta, white and black.



I sprayed three coats of SPI black epoxy on the deck lid.

[Cobrajet2]

Great pictures, Rusty. Keep them coming. I think its great that you are putting it back to the way Ken had it and you bought it.

When Dallas Kelley's "Wrecking Crew"  Fairlane got restored, I felt it was a little "wrong" that the car got put back to stock and not the crazy paint it had for so long when it was a race car. But, I understand that not a lot of people will pay big $ for a car done in race car trim.

Congrats to you for restoring the car AND the History of the car.


Mike

[lowriser]

For those interested in Ken's history:

http://www.division4halloffame.com/hall-of-famers/alphabetical/ken-mclellan/

[GPR]

I sanded the fenders down to bare metal





I sprayed two coats of SPI black epoxy primer

[Heo]

Hey Rusty those fenders dont live up to your name

[GPR]

Hey Rusty those fenders dont live up to your name

There is a little surface rust on the back side!!

[machoneman]

Nice fenders for sure!

[GPR]

I sandblasted the front fender extension and epoxy primed





I block sanded and epoxy primed again





Deck lid was block sanded and epoxy primed





Stone guard sandblasted and epoxy primed







End caps were sanded and epoxy primed

[FElony]

Should I azzume that you are using black primer because it shows imperfections better than the typical gray stuff?

[GPR]

Should I azzume that you are using black primer because it shows imperfections better than the typical gray stuff?

Yes

[FElony]

Should I azzume that you are using black primer because it shows imperfections better than the typical gray stuff?

Yes

And when shooting a light color over black primer, do you put lighter primer on to help coverage?

[GPR]

Should I azzume that you are using black primer because it shows imperfections better than the typical gray stuff?

Yes

And when shooting a light color over black primer, do you put lighter primer on to help coverage?

The top coat color determines the final epoxy sealer color. Red, yellow, orange or white I would use white epoxy, blue, green, maroon and other light colors gray.

[FElony]

Should I azzume that you are using black primer because it shows imperfections better than the typical gray stuff?

Yes

And when shooting a light color over black primer, do you put lighter primer on to help coverage?

The top coat color determines the final epoxy sealer color. Red, yellow, orange or white I would use white epoxy, blue, green, maroon and other light colors gray.

Does SPI have these tinted Primers?

[GPR]

Does SPI have these tinted Primers?
[/quote]

Epoxy colors: Black, red oxide, white and gray. I use there Turbo urethane primer: gray, black and white.

[FElony]

Does SPI have these tinted Primers?

Epoxy colors: Black, red oxide, white and gray. I use there Turbo urethane primer: gray, black and white.
[/quote]

Thanks! Can you recommend a particular forum for a beginner?

[GPR]

Does SPI have these tinted Primers?

Epoxy colors: Black, red oxide, white and gray. I use there Turbo urethane primer: gray, black and white.

Thanks! Can you recommend a particular forum for a beginner?
[/quote]

http://www.spiuserforum.com/index.php

I have been using SPI products in my shop since 2005 when I used their clear on my race car. The only thing I get somewhere else is the base colors. If you have a question they have a tech line and you are talking to Barry the owner of the company it's his cell phone.

[FElony]

Does SPI have these tinted Primers?

Epoxy colors: Black, red oxide, white and gray. I use there Turbo urethane primer: gray, black and white.

Thanks! Can you recommend a particular forum for a beginner?

http://www.spiuserforum.com/index.php

I have been using SPI products in my shop since 2005 when I used their clear on my race car. The only thing I get somewhere else is the base colors. If you have a question they have a tech line and you are talking to Barry the owner of the company it's his cell phone.
[/quote]

Thanks, Rusty. I'm adding a vent in the ceiling and fan in the "attic" of the garage to make an updraft situation. Maybe get my first car shot by the end of the year.

[Heo]

The Garage i have at my house is my grandfathers old cow barn
I left the ventilation tunnel,its like a chimney or how i should describe it
And i put a electric fan from a car at the end of it so when i paint i just start
the fan it does a decent job keeping the paint mist out if i open a window slightly