This powerhouse of a car is owned by Allan & Tara Klingler. Like any project car, this has been a work in progress since day one. Unlike the counterfit Cobras that abound the roads of America, this Cobra started as true Cobra, not a conversion Mustang II. This car came stock from the factory with a 302 V-8 rated at 140 HP and a RAD four speed manual transmission.  I have owned this car since 1987 and before that from about 1984 on I had a 1974 model with a similar Cobra body style.

This car is equipped with certain options which distinguish it from other Mustangs including the full length center console, map light, digital dash clock, partially carpeted Cobra II door panels with entry lights, brushed aluminum dash and door panels, louvers on both the side and rear windows, front & rear sway bars, dual vanity mirrors, locking gas cap, hood scoop, front and rear push bars, dual adjustable control mirrors, intermittent delay windshield wipers, front two peice air dam, and rear spoiler. The car is once again running its stock Cobra II rims with center caps and beauty rings. On the original wheels we are running new Sumitomo HTR200 P205/60R13 speed rated performance tires.

The car hooks up really nice with the  Eaton Truetrack Detroit Locker part #912A580 28-spline posi for a Ford 8 differential housings with a 3:55 gears, Safelite Glass Corp. S30BS5-N sunroof, original equipment V8 larger capacity gas tank, and adjustable Monroe adjustable rear air shocks. The car also uses a complementary set of chromed Lockwood traction bars to give us a little thump now and then to keep things on the road.

In 1993 we roughly doubled the car's horsepower to around 400HP with a few subtle engine and exhaust modifications requiring the addition of a set of engine compartment frame support members from a 1978 T-Top Mustang II donor car.  For an intake manifold we have an ever hungry Edelbrock 7121 Performer RPM four barrel intake manifold. This allows us to upgrade from the regular 2V option when it came from the factory. We use a low profile Pro-Flow #1002 Edelbrock triangular shaped air cleaner with a rewashable element. Without it, the air cleaner would be difficult to fit under the hood. We use a Carter 625 CFM Competition Series four barrel carburator model 9637 with an electric choke.

Throughout the engine we have a Felpro Ford 302 gasket set, stock #260-1125. We also have a high volume oil pump. We use Competition Cams #7632 push rods and Competion Cams 1.6 ratio roller tip rocker arms. We find that the  Ford Motorsport Valve Covers part # M6582A with label reading "Cobra Powered by Ford" are a nice touch to dress up the engine compartment.

We have a high performance cam shaft produced by a company called Ultradyne, Inc. It is model 289F 288/296H 1104-289 F2323. Its specifications are given as follows:

The Moog RP8331 rack and pinion power steering unit was replaced in December of 1990, it was a Moog rebuilt version of the original ford rack. In January 1998 we replaced it again, courtesy of Moog's lifetime guarantee and my 8 year old receipt.

In the rebuild we installed Keith Black Signature Series #KB115 Hyperutectic flat top Pistons bored for .030" over the stock cylinder diameter. These pistons are superstrong,lightweight, and silicone impregnated for extra smooth strokes. They have E-251K moly piston rings We are running heart chambered cast iron aftermarket 64cc Dart Windsor cylinder heads #8240's. These have 2.02" intake 1.6" exhaust valves that are swirl polished. Yes, these valves are even larger than what comes on the new Mustang GT's. Racing one its not hard to figure that out. These heads are ported and tuned for high volume airflow. They also are loaded with stiff dual valve springs, chrome moly retainers,rocker arm studs, and push rod guide plates. This combined setup of head and pistons gives me a 9.2 / 1 compression ratio.Between the crank shaft and pistons are Lunati shot-peened and balanced Stage III Connecting Rods, Stock # 93302S3. These are essential for a well balanced high reving engine.     The car also has a set of TRW VL35 hydraulic valve lifters.  We have the several Federal Mogul bearings:FC-65174 for the pilot bearing and 614014 for the clutch throw-out bearing.

For electrical components we use a  Standard LX203 electronic ignition module and a GP Sorenson VR301 voltage regulator.  For plug wires we use an Autolite set of eight plug wires part number #86205 with a hot set of AC-Delco Rapid Fire Spark Plugs.

In June 1999 we installed a Ford Motorsport World Class T-5 Transmission with a B&M "The Ripper" short throw shifter.  To install it we needed to install a stock 1989 Mustang bell housing, starter, and a Ford Motorsports Flywheel.  A new leather shift boot mounted under the console maintained the factory appearance of the vehicle's interior while providing a wider throw to accomate the position of the fifth and reverse gear.

Bolted up to the heads are the customized headers built by Art's Muffler Super-Shop In Idaho Falls, ID.   These replace a set of Super Competion 6120 Hooker Headers exhaust system which do not fit the wider bell housing of the T-5.  Each tube is balanced to the same length and diameter for completely even exhaust flow from cylinder to cylinder.  The car is fitted with dual exhaust and is complete with dual Flowmaster mufflers. Their design reduces backpressure at increased highway speeds & actually get quieter the faster we go.

The fuel mileage on our Cobra is fair for a V-8 sports car. As of 01/10/97 its mileage averages about 9+ MPG around town on the low side and goes up from there depending on how it is driven.

The Vehicle Idenification Number (VIN) reads as follows. f6F03F239550f The VIN # is decoded as follows:

f = Ford,6=1976, F=Dearborn Michigan Production plant, 03= 3 Door Fast Back, f = 302 2V Carb. Engine,239550 = refers to the identifying unit number produced of the many Mustang II's of 1976. 25,259 Cobra II models were made in 1976. Over all years of production Ford manufactured 1,107,718 Mustang II automobiles. In fact, three of he five years in which Mustang IIs were produced are among the top ten annual sales volumes of all Mustangs ever produced. Sadly, due to poor vender support from parts suppliers and wrecking yards carving out the innovative front ends for use in many antique automotive applications, very few are left for us to see today.

In 2008 our baby underwent a complete new paint job and body restoration from the highly acclaimed award-winning muscle car specialty restoration company No Coast Customs. A movie clip will be added soon showcasing the progression of their work. We waited for years to find a shop that would take on the details of doing this car right. We highly recommend their services.

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We purchased a second 1978 Cobra II recently in April 2007, so watch for more updates as it transforms into a Monroe Handler tribute car.

Last Updated August 28, 2008