THE SPECIALIST: Diagnostic Specialists, McAllen Texas

September 18th:
Car was delivered to Diagnostic Specialists. There was quite a bit of work ahead of my vehicle so it'll be a while before mine is looked at.

Pete found some scratches...great.

September 21st:
Pete informed me that he cleared out an area in his shop to do work. He didn't want to start on it until he could work on it in a good, clean environment. I can get down with that.

September 24th:
Pete sent me a picture of some of the work that Boggus (Dealership, remember?). While it was there I had a friend (Thanks Jay & Ira!!) go out and snap some pics. Here's one that concerned me:

It turns out they tried to remove my lower pulley (crank pulley) with a 3ft pry-bar. Nice huh? I'd love to see that in Ford's disassembly instructions. Here is a picture that Pete took of the damage done:

The damage is mostly cosmetic, but still, in the disassembly of a vehicle, you'd expect that the dealership would take better steps to perform the work given that they have access to things (diagrams, tools, etc...) that most do not.

Pete has bought bins for all my parts to be sure that everything stays together and clean. Top notch I tell you!!

September 26th
Pete emailed me a couple of pictures of my block. He has been disassembling things and everything (other than the pistons) look good. Heads are in great shape and same with the block. I should be putting in my order for my stuff either later today or tomorrow. Pics of my stuff:

Damaged Piston | Drivers Side of Block | Heads

I also gave him my TACH. I'll also be sending in my A/F gauge, Water Temp & Oil Pressure gauges for warranty work. The faces on the water & oil don't light up right away, they're kinda blotchy (see here) and a couple of the LED's on the A/F gauge are out.

September 27th
Pete had the heads taken to a machine shop for work. The machinist went over to the shop to look at the block and he decided that since there was play with the cylinders (even the ones that weren't scorched), he decided that the cylinders should be bored out (.020 over). I also got my quotes back from the different shops I sent emails out to. Pete took a few more pics of the block:

Juan & his "shop adjuster"

Juan + Hammer + Chisel = work!

The pictures of juan with his "tools" were sent as a joke. I got kind of scared until Pete messaged me laughing his butt off....hahah
September 28th
Pete called to let me know that he found a scratch on the back-side of my hood (nearest windshield). I DID NOT have a scratch there before! He promised a picture as soon as he had time to take it. Looks like Boggus shit-the-stick again. Here is how my hood was when a couple of friends visited the shop:

Notice the battery keeping the hood from sliding on the floor. Also, take note of the corners of the hood not being protected from scratching on the shop floor!! They WILL be getting a call from me very soon.

October 2nd
Called Leathal Performance out of Florida to get my parts ordered. Everything is set in motion and should be here in a week and a half or so...

Pete snapped a pic of the scratches that I mentioned in my latest update. Here it is:

Time to call Boggus and bitch up a storm...

October 5th:
Boggus dealt with. Thank the Maker.
Pete sent me some new pics. One of the rods and one of the crank. Very cool. You don't get to see this every day. I like how the logo is etched into the rod. They would make some pretty damn nice souvineers for ebay :)

October 9th:
Pete TXT'ed me to let me know some parts came in:

It's a SPEC Stage 2+. Here's a bit of info on it:

The all new Stage 2+ is another killer clutch designed for those guys out there making some good power but don't need a 800hp clutch. The Stage 2+ Kit is rated at 635rwtq. We recommend this clutch to our customers running in the 600rwhp/tq range. The Stage 2+ was deisnged to maintain stage 2 feel for good daily drivability and offers very good wear characteristics. It also provides a higher torque capacity than the regular stage 2 so you can throw a little more at it.

The other stuff should be trickling in soon...

October 12th:
Pete sent me pics of my old clutch setup:

October 15th:
My tach-bracket came in. I can finally use my monster-tach again! I had originally purchased it for my 2005 Mustang GT. Before I traded it in on the Cobra, I sold it to a friend. He only used it for a while and put it on the market. I had the chance to buy it back. Unlike the 2005 Mustang GT, there's no real "good" place to mount it without a bracket, so I finally got around to ordering the stupid thing from UPR. NO ONE else makes one that I could find.

During the day in the sold 05

At night in my sold 05

In Mike's 04 Cobra (Same model)

October 19th:
It looks like all but my head-studs came in. I also decided to paint the blower and valve covers. Should look pretty good. Finally on the home-stretch it looks like...

Pistons, Rings, Input-Shaft & TOB Sleeve

Huge Intercooler tank!

Piston Underside

Piston

Valve Cover

Blower

I'm hoping to get some pictures of the engine work being done at the machine shop. That will come later.

October 26th:
Engine work is done. Heads were milled, the block was completely disassembeled and cleaned. Essentially, I have a new motor minus the valve train & crank. Just waiting to put it in!

November 1:
Pete began assembling the engine. Stayed til 12am.

November 2:
Pete continues to assemble engine and finishes up the main block.

Tranny was mated to engine and was finally stabbed into car. We find that there are MORE parts missing, mostly nuts & bolts (motor mount nuts, AC Compressor bolts, power steering bolts, various litlte bolts that go on engine...etc)

Sinister takes her first breath:

CLICK HERE for the gallery of the engine rebuild

November 3rd:
Everything else was buttoned up. Gauges were put in, tach, & Pete made sure to monitor diagnostic stuff with his wonder-laptop tools. All is well.

November 4th:
Just made it to the Mustang Roundup in Mission - Sinister takes 1st place in the "Cobra - ALL years" division!!

Job well done. I have an all new-found respect for Pete and the work he does. Just watching what he did and how he did it amazed me. I would recommend him to anyone. If he can handle a Cobra - he can handle a lot.

Thanks Pete...

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