Enough of thinking!!!

[Pike]

Hello,

My name is Ivan and I've got a plan. I'm 51 and I need to do this before it's too late. I've been perusing this board and at ffcars for some time now and I've read almost all posts for coupes if not the whole forum. I need a life...hence the "plan". I plan on ordering sometime this summer for a fall or late fall delivery, build over the winter and hopefully have something on the road by spring/early summer 2015. I'm not a man of many words but one can only read so much when some questions are still not too clear.

My project: Coupe
Engine: 351W
Injection: ?
Transmission: ?
Rear Suspension: IRS
The Rest: Some fabrication but mostly to keep the feel of what the car was meant to be.
Use: No track except for jaunts at Mosport here and there. I want reliability from 1500 to 5500. I'm not race driver but I do know the limits of a vehicle and I'm just looking for something that will thrill me enough. I've driven some nasty setups (guys I know who think they know stuff) and I laugh all the time when they think they have the meanest thing out there but in fact, they are the actual scariest things to drive. Now I don't profess to know more than they do, but I recognize a bad thing when I see and feel it.

I had the opportunity to see several cobras over the years at shows and although they are enticing there is nothing like the coupe for style, beauty and overall wow factor. A 351W is a choice due to the strength of the block over a 302. Also, displacement speak volumes. Haven't decided to stroke it or not.

My questions are noted above. Although I love the mystique of Webers, a form of stack injection is still the way to go for me. Inglese EZ-EFI has been budgeted in my price range but I can go with others if the performance is still reliable (I emphasize the word reliable). This is my first question. Who here has injection, which brand and type and your overall opinion of your setup.

Second question. I have to admit I'm no genius when it comes to transmissions. I've rebuild a old muncie M22 once but that seems like a lifetime ago. After looking at TKO, I'd like to go with them and it appears to be one of choice of many builders. Base on the vague use and powerplant description, what would you recommended?

My third question is fairly simple. I don't have much room in my garage since the wife currently occupies it with her gardening stuff. I'm building her a shed this spring for space for my plan! All I have is 14'x23'. I know it's not a lot but it's all I have. I have tools, compressor and lots of overhead. Already have a come-a-long on the ceiling that can handle at least 400lbs. Is the body shell in total heavier than that? Can I hang it while doing the bulk of the work below without thinking about it?

Ok, it's taken me more time to write this than design a road network for a subdivision on CAD.

I promise to ask "not" too many more questions. Like I said before...not a man of many words :)

Thank you,

Ivan

[68GT500MAN]

Many kits have been built in spaces smaller than what you have available (I know of one in a carport). The body does not weigh much at all (from memory less than 200 pounds), there have been many ideas on body storage over the years. Some hang it from the ceiling, some build a raised body buck that roles out of the way when working on the project and some have stored the body in their backyard (like I did). Your project sounds great and I wish you the best.
Doug

[Pike]

Guess that solves my issue of where to put the body shell. Next on my list is what is the best way to get a kit up here. Hello Canada Customs!!! More reading coming :)

[WIS89]

Ivan-

Welcome and nice introduction. As Doug said, your space for your build should be fine. It is very easy to keep the body stored in the overhead if you wish, or the back yard if the wife allows it. ;-o)

As far as engine and tranny questions, the forum vendors here are a wonderful resource for you. They are great resources and seem to possess an endless amount of patience when people like me ask too many dumb questions. I would not be afraid to call them and go through your entire powertrain ideas, and spitball various ideas until you settle on your ideal. I don't think you will be disappointed.

As far as getting the kit to Canada, I urge you to reach out to the fellow builders from that wonderful country. They can fill you in on all the idiosyncrasies that exist up there. I know there are some challenges, but I would be doing a disservice trying to provide advice. I will leave that to the right folks.

Best of luck as you move forward. Please keep us updated!

Regards,

Steve

[Gordon Levy]

You will have a great time. We are currently building a couple coupes. I send a lot up engines and gearboxes up there. Let me know if I can help.

[Pike]

Thanks for the input guys

My biggest concern at the moment is MTO. I know there are lots of hoops to go through from what I've read so far. I plan on getting in touch with my fellow canucks in Ontario to see what process needs to be done. But first, I need get my space ready before August at least.

Gordon, as much as admire your engine builds, I may stay local or even undertake that step myself. The only foreseeable difficulty will be the stack system as that would be a first for me but I can't wait to dig into it :)

[riptide motorsport]

Welcome to the madness!!!