[Ryan Paymaster]

It's been a long time and I used to post in the 96-98 forum but over two years of valve work it's just been depressing so I haven't checked the forums often, but alas here I am again at the end of another season.

A few years ago I bought one of my dream cars, an SN-95 Cobra. It was awesome and I vividly remember thinking, "damn, this is fast. I never need to upgrade it!" My daily driver before that was a Cougar so you can understand where the excitement came from.

Unfortunately, she had a problem. The car needed a valve job, common in these vehicles. I ignored it and promptly blew the transmission and rear end up in the process as well. I was raised right, so I raced the car.



It was a great daily driver and with snow tires it drove great in the Chicago winters. She looked nice and I already had quite a bit in modifications done.



However, it went in for a valve job. It wasn't as easy as it looked.



But once Randy did some work over at PER Race Engines in Illinois it started to turn out it needed more than a valve job. It needed a lot of other stuff.

After a really long time being in the hands of multiple people it was completed. My valve problem was fixed.






Through a series of tuners who really had no idea how to tune this new car with its freshened up seals we finally found one per a recommendation on another forum. Tim Barth up at Mr. Norm's Garage worked magic. The car had a TKO-500 in it for about 5 miles but it was decided it wasn't going to do. So a few thousand dollars later J.W. Performance Transmissions hooked it up with a 3-speed Turbo 400. This is about 3 years later.

(Also I cannot recommend Tim, Mickey, and everyone else up there enough. They know what they're doing. Big time. Awesome group.)

Now it's like this:





It used to run a 13.22 at some mph that wasn't really fast or so. Well, today it's doing a lot better.

IAll day after this valve job it was only running 10.25 on average. I opened up the hood to find a piece of tape in front of the ProCharger F1-A intake halving the air amount coming into it. (Oh yeah, this is after the Boost-a-Spark was set to 5 instead of 10 somehow still running 10.40.) I fixed all that though.



My best pass of the day but it's running out of gear.

The new problem is the tire size and gearing. Right now it was running on 28" MT E/T Streets hooking awesome on an unprepped track. I have 28" Goodyear Slicks for next year. However, it's running out around the 1000' mark or a little after if I had to absolutely guess. So on that 9.81 pass I had to shut down way early. a 30" slick will not fit without tubbing the Strange 9" Ford rear end and 4.10 gear.

But, in typical fashion since these tires are for practice that means they need to be used for burnouts!!! The car used to actually run mufflers but the last test n' tune the car launched hard enough where they fell off and were dragged around by the O2 sensor. I said the hell with this and just went open headers. I think it sounds better anyways.

VIDEOS

Burnout:
rpaymaster's Channel - YouTube

Here's the actual video of the 9.81 pass:
rpaymaster's Channel - YouTube

And here's an actual full 1 minute video of an actual run:
rpaymaster's Channel - YouTube

It's not even close to done and believe it or not it's insured, plated, and street legal. Well, you could get really technical on the front tire width and stuff but yeah, it goes to cruise night. With VP C16 117 octane fuel it's not really a viable daily driver though.

The F1-A is only pushing around 20# of actual boost with it being rated good 'til 38 there's no limit at this point. The engine has about the best of everything. Original Tekskid block bored .030 over, stroker, pistons, everything redone. Oh yeah, who actually needs C heads? B heads for life. Also, since I am mad and out of my mind if (I won't) there are still options laying around my house for more insanity.



This winter I'll be installing a fuel cell, Autometer gauge cluster, and it's going back to Tim for another tune and to rework the bend in the pipe before the MAF which is creating wicked stalling issues all around.

The interior is all there minus the rear seats. I refuse to strip it. Also, the exterior is all original minus the hood and spoiler. The actual modification list would probably be a gigabyte text file (somehow).

If I had any advice for people out there it's to check out the actual valve situation in any used car purchase you make because it may be more complicated and costly than you think.

[BMR Tech]

Very nice.

[ChrisJ]

Tim is the man and always has been...

I did alot of business with Tim and Rhonda when he owned ModularPowerhouse...At one time his number was on my speed-dial lol

[Ryan Paymaster]

Originally Posted by ChrisJ Tim is the man and always has been... I did alot of business with Tim and Rhonda when he owned ModularPowerhouse...At one time his number was on my speed-dial lol

Yeah, his ModularPowerhouse trailer is still up there in Rockford. Actually it was at Great Lakes last weekend. Another customer was running an awesome late model Charger up there. For as busy as he is he still takes all the time in the world to make sure your questions are answered and your car is perfect.

As someone from the north I am deeply sorry for your loss that he's no longer there.

[ChrisJ]

I am glad to see Tim doing good...

He still makes the best cams ever I am sure...

[97S281]

Good to see you around man, I remember you. I run MPH stage II blower cams in mine and I have to say that Tim definately knows his shit. I have to say that is the absolute nicest "valve job" I have ever seen.

[zinc-vert02]

NOTHING LIKE DA GROVE

i want to see this car in person lol

and yes i have met Tim he will be tuning my car this spring, he is an AMAZING mod tunner

and you car gives me a boner!

but really you must let me know next your at the track in the spring and ill be there if my junk is running


but i am very happy that he is now at Mr Norms only a 45 min drive from my house

[Ryan Paymaster]

Definitely! I will be back, probably going to make my competition license passes up there. Route 66 is horrible and is only 15 minutes from my door. I really like Great Lakes even if it is nearly 2 hours away.

Good to see you around man, I remember you. I run MPH stage II blower cams in mine and I have to say that Tim definately knows his shit. I have to say that is the absolute nicest "valve job" I have ever seen. __________________

Thanks. I'm running Comp Stage II blower cams right now and they seem to be doing awesome but if it ever needed to be changed I would definitely go with his recommendation. Luckily the engine builder steered everything the right way the entire time.

[99Ls1fever]

Sounds like an amazing car man, great info on a reputable valve shop!