Mardave Cobra

[Fast Eddie]

I have just aquired an old Cobra and am getting it ready to race. Keeping it brushed and would be interested to hear any advice on set ups, motors etc and does any one else have one lying about for my lad.
Also I have never skimmed my motors and wondered what this really does and what kit I would need.

Here is a before picture, will take some as I go along.....

[PaulL]

Here's a pic of my cobra, i'm rebuilding mine so my daughter can practice with it without me worrying about my race cars.



They're great cars, and pretty bullet proof (well except the gearbox..)

[Fast Eddie]

I keep getting warned about the gearbox, especially idler gears
They are so cheap to fix tho that I will just get the spares in (97p)
Got a 13x3 on its way so I guess I will find out soon enough

[qatmix]

You should take a read the cobra thread in the mardave forum lots Of info there

http://www.oople.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27465

Add your restore / tuning info to that if possible

[Fast Eddie]

I have had a good read through that and there is loads of useful tips
How did it pan out overall? Do you still have it?

[Miggers]

Is that an undertray I spy there Eddie?

If so,then that's a fairly old Cobra because Chris at Mardave reckons he's
not done undertrays as long as he's owned Mardave.

I asked for one to fit on mine t'other week and that's what he told me.
The new body he supplied me has the old style airscoop on the front
(the moulding isn't that brilliant,but it's useable).

Like the CF bit at the back end too.

BTW,JC Racing are doing those 5 spokes again like the ones on Dan's
slick looking black Lobra.

Mark

[Fast Eddie]

Hi Mark,
Think that was meant for Paul, and I like his cf bit too. I am going to get some of those wheels and a pal with a bodyshop is going to paint them and my shell, think I'm going for black and hot pink..........

Cant wait.... also 13x3 motor to rip the diff apart

Eddie

[PaulL]

I'm not sure who made the CF rear bracket, or the anodised alloy top shock mount (any one else know?)

I fitted Schumacher shocks to it at a later date, the originals leaked badly..

The undertray is original, i think it came with the kit and helped hold the bodyshell more securely, not to mention keeping the gunge out of the electrics.

Paul.

[Fast Eddie]

Ok, I have taken the cobra to pieces and stripped the gritty sounding diff.
This was a nervous affair as I have never done one before but I took my time and it was well worth it!!

Whilst in pieces I gave it a good bath and now it looks loads better and the diff is lovely and smooth.

As you can see from the pics I have removed the electrics and it is now ready for the Checkpoint 13x3 (arriving monday) and LRP quantum 1 comp.

[Miggers]

Originally Posted by Fast Eddie

Hi Mark,
Think that was meant for Paul, and I like his cf bit too. I am going to get some of those wheels and a pal with a bodyshop is going to paint them and my shell, think I'm going for black and hot pink..........

Cant wait.... also 13x3 motor to rip the diff apart

Eddie

You're right Eddie,it was Paul's.

Yours looks pretty good now you've cleaned it up.

Yeah,mine's new body is about 10mm too wide on each side of it,hence the need for the undertray to pull it in.

Mine started out life as a SWB Meteor but it now sits on a Cobra chassis
with a Cobra front end and I have the Cobra shell and wing,hence it's now a Cobeor.
The gearbox and back end is all original Meteor,but the 'box itself is fully ballraced.
I use the Meteor rear suspension arms because I think they're stiffer than the Cobra's.
It still needs the Meteor mod of an aluminium heatsink/motorplate making up
and bolting to the chassis.
That helps get the heat away from the gearbox(it's all plastic)and stiffen up the back end some more.
I have Option House Gold shocks up front and long Traxxas Grey on the rear,this means though
that I've had to cut and modify the Meteor suspension mounting(sacrilidge some will say!!)
to accept a wider,taller upper shock mount otherwise the Traxxas shocks are too long.
A Cobra rear mount will fit but there isn't enough clearance over the motor cover to fit the upper links.

I use Associated silver springs up front and long greens on the back,though I'm thinking of changing to Schumacher yellows and blues to see how that makes it handle(it is pretty good at the moment)

I'm keeping an eye out for a Cobra/B2/Losi gearbox myself,I don't really want to lunch the Meteor box internals(spares are like hen's teeth for 'em),though Terry SC reckons it should handle a 19 turn without much fuss because it's fully ballraced.

Mark

[Fast Eddie]

Just removed a 19t from mine as it was slow but not sure what joy I will have with the 13 triple, not sure if I have the talent for it.

Mardave website has the full diff unit complete for £13 so wont cry too hard if it shreds like a crispy duck

Any advice on what pinion to use? to be honest I dont know what the difference makes

[Fast Eddie]

just had a look at the pinion that was on, its a 21 which would explain its lack of guts?
The motor was a corally 19t so should I get a larger pinion to increase speed?

Help invited, gearing isnt my strong point.....

[Miggers]

I suppose it depends what you want,acceleration?,top speed?...

I prefer(for bashing about anyway)lower gearing for a bit of tail out,breaking
traction at a blip of the throttle so to speak(ex-RWD Escort owner you see)
and these LWB buggies are so much easier to control in a slide than the older
SWB jobs,but you need lower gearing and a fair bit of poke to do it.

At the moment,mine runs an old 27turn Parma Cyclone Stock(I like Parma motors,I always raced with them back in the day)turning a 12t pinion onto
whatever the Meteor g'box's red spur gear is.

It's not silly power,but enough for a giggle whilst fooling about with it.

I always used a lower ratio with hotter motors to allow it to rev out and give you the speed.
All my set up info for my Optima Mid Custom(that's what I raced)went with it when I sold it,so I haven't got a starting point to give you.

As for the Cobra's diff unit,I'd imagine it'll fit the Meteor's gearbox,knowing Mardave,they would have used the same unit in both cars back then.

Mark

[Fast Eddie]

I have now at long last got the LRP Quantum Comp esc set up and await the motor arrival tomorrow.

Need to get some mini pins and a few more spares and then racing Friday

[Fast Eddie]

Has anyone got any thoughts about me putting an 8x2 in the Cobra?

I think it is a risk but would love to see how quick I can get it

[PaulL]

I've a 14x2 in mine, it's an old trinity motor and it's pretty quick.

I also had a 10.5 brushless in it for a short while and personally those are as hot as i would go, but if it's just for bashing i don't see why not (besides melting the idler of course )

Paul.

[Fast Eddie]

There has been some major changes to my cobra, see the pictures below

It now sits on a new purple chassis with 5 spoke wheels and some fantastic Associated shocks

Let me know what you think

[knmtrip3]

Looking really good there,are you planning on running it/any further mods to be made?? I like the 5 spoke wheels,are they from JC Racing?

[Fast Eddie]

Thanks mate, yes the wheels are from jc racing and were about a tenner posted.

I'm planning on running it wherever possible, outdoor during the week would be best as I only get 1 weekend off in 4

Ant Potter set it up properly and he ran it with me last night and it looked awesome in a proper drivers hands. Not sure what to do next but any hints would be good

[qatmix]

Looks great! The transmission in mine is a bit odd... It slips on acceleration I have tightened up the slipper but it seems to be the diff.