mcrumay
01-08-2014, 05:16 PM
MIKE’S BUILD LOG or what am I getting into?
BACKGROUND: Sold racecar (I’m too old, too slow), truck, trailer and Porsche Boxster S. Bought Porsche GT 3. Awesome car but not needy.
Needed a project.
A kit car seemed like the answer. Had been to Carlisle replica show, got brochures and perused the internet.
As interest grew I followed the various marquee forums, spent more time on the FF forum and got hot rod build disc..
EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
Wasn’t sure which car I wanted 33 Hot Rod or 818. Delivery quotes made the selection easy. Hot Rod - 5 weeks, 818 – 15 months. I am 74
July 18 Visited Factory Five. EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
July 22 ordered Hot Rod with: powder coated frame
Manual transmission kit
3 link rear
rear exhaust
tilt steer
bike fenders
8.8 rear axle
11.65 rear brakes
17/18 Bullitt wheels
Acknowledged completion date 8/24
On FF Forum I found an available seat for Aug 9 build school. Grabbed it.
Buiid school was GREAT. I still don’t understand why a burnout is impressive. EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
I learned that I would not get the $500 build school credit as I had received the Spring/Summer/Fall kit discounts.
DID NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS
After the build school I changed order:
Delete manual transmission kit
Added electric steering
Deleted fuel tank (going Boyd)
Deleted seat harnesses
Got negotiated $250 build school credit
Kit was done on time. A buddy picked it up on 8/27. He drove from Vermont to Wareham to Hershey, PA and back to Vermont. I owe him big time.
Inventory: I thought it was going to take time but I underestimated how much.
Perhaps I am too anal.
CHAPTER 1
Now I was faced with decisions: paint vs. powder coat
riveted firewall vs. button heads
Etc., etc.
More time on forum re-read and search.
Started with paint, then stripped it and went with powder coat after backordered items arrived.
Got rear end (complete) and removed upper Mustang ears. Installed aluminum
diff cover after grinding logo smooth. Go figure.
Installed 3-link axle mount.
Assembly hint: Assemble bracket on bench or vise. Install 2 bolts and run drill bit thru remaining holes. Then switch bolts and repeat.
Per the build school, I put radial grease grooves in all the bushings. On
suspension components I ran drill bit thru powder coated holes, not too bad.
I had several sizes of drifts but got 7/16 and ˝ bolts 6 to 8 inches long and ground a rounded point on each. They speeded assembly.
There are a number of the “upset” threads locking nuts. I replaced them with
nylon lock nuts in many places. Replaced many of the washers with AN versions. Often the hardware in the kit is too long and overly economical.
Rear brakes were straight forward until I noted front and rear calipers were two different colors. Eastwood saved the day.
Front rotors didn’t want to go. Got the micrometers and it is tight fit. Finally used physics class lessons – cooled spindles, heated hubs and voila, they fit.
Still have not torqued them as wheels are still backordered and brakes incomplete.
True progress is being made: stacks of empty boxes.
BACKGROUND: Sold racecar (I’m too old, too slow), truck, trailer and Porsche Boxster S. Bought Porsche GT 3. Awesome car but not needy.
Needed a project.
A kit car seemed like the answer. Had been to Carlisle replica show, got brochures and perused the internet.
As interest grew I followed the various marquee forums, spent more time on the FF forum and got hot rod build disc..
EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
Wasn’t sure which car I wanted 33 Hot Rod or 818. Delivery quotes made the selection easy. Hot Rod - 5 weeks, 818 – 15 months. I am 74
July 18 Visited Factory Five. EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
July 22 ordered Hot Rod with: powder coated frame
Manual transmission kit
3 link rear
rear exhaust
tilt steer
bike fenders
8.8 rear axle
11.65 rear brakes
17/18 Bullitt wheels
Acknowledged completion date 8/24
On FF Forum I found an available seat for Aug 9 build school. Grabbed it.
Buiid school was GREAT. I still don’t understand why a burnout is impressive. EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS
I learned that I would not get the $500 build school credit as I had received the Spring/Summer/Fall kit discounts.
DID NOT MEET EXPECTATIONS
After the build school I changed order:
Delete manual transmission kit
Added electric steering
Deleted fuel tank (going Boyd)
Deleted seat harnesses
Got negotiated $250 build school credit
Kit was done on time. A buddy picked it up on 8/27. He drove from Vermont to Wareham to Hershey, PA and back to Vermont. I owe him big time.
Inventory: I thought it was going to take time but I underestimated how much.
Perhaps I am too anal.
CHAPTER 1
Now I was faced with decisions: paint vs. powder coat
riveted firewall vs. button heads
Etc., etc.
More time on forum re-read and search.
Started with paint, then stripped it and went with powder coat after backordered items arrived.
Got rear end (complete) and removed upper Mustang ears. Installed aluminum
diff cover after grinding logo smooth. Go figure.
Installed 3-link axle mount.
Assembly hint: Assemble bracket on bench or vise. Install 2 bolts and run drill bit thru remaining holes. Then switch bolts and repeat.
Per the build school, I put radial grease grooves in all the bushings. On
suspension components I ran drill bit thru powder coated holes, not too bad.
I had several sizes of drifts but got 7/16 and ˝ bolts 6 to 8 inches long and ground a rounded point on each. They speeded assembly.
There are a number of the “upset” threads locking nuts. I replaced them with
nylon lock nuts in many places. Replaced many of the washers with AN versions. Often the hardware in the kit is too long and overly economical.
Rear brakes were straight forward until I noted front and rear calipers were two different colors. Eastwood saved the day.
Front rotors didn’t want to go. Got the micrometers and it is tight fit. Finally used physics class lessons – cooled spindles, heated hubs and voila, they fit.
Still have not torqued them as wheels are still backordered and brakes incomplete.
True progress is being made: stacks of empty boxes.