Roadster rookie with a smile

[Byrdman]

Hello all and proud to be here. My son Zbyrd and I have received our Roadster kit, completed our inventory and are ready to begin our adventure. What is cool, is that we are a family of drag racers and we always raced Chevy's because back in the day my dad said it was less expensive to make horsepower in a Chevy (He was always a Ford guy at heart). So it is going to be fun to build a Ford powered sports car. I have read some of the threads and look forward to interacting with you and learning from you. The thing I am most apprehensive about is these aluminum panels. Tomorrow night we will remove the body and the panels. Any tips before we remove these panels that might help us later? Also, I am thinking about powder coating all panels black. Is this overkill? Thanks in advance for the advice in the coming months!

[blueoval_bowtie_guy]

I found that labeling them with a Sharpie really helped. Every intersection with another panel got a unique letter and and arrow on both panels. Really was worth the time. Make sure you run a file over the edges at about a 45 degree angle (I just used a double-cut ******* file),they can be sharp.

[Bob Cowan]

Tomorrow night we will remove the body and the panels. Any tips before we remove these panels that might help us later? Also, I am thinking about powder coating all panels black. Is this overkill? Thanks in advance for the advice in the coming months!

Take pictures before removing the panels. Digital photography is great for documenting the build and to keep track of what goes where.

Use a write on- wipe off pen to mark the panels so you know which one goes on top of the other.

I considered PC for my panels. But I look the natural alum look. In the long run, I also like the low maintenance of bare aluminum. Nothing is overkill if it makes you happy.

Where are you located?

[Byrdman]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the replies! Bob, we are located in central NC in the small town of Coats. I have had the pleasure to be out your way. A couple of years ago, on the return trip from Sturgis, we rode out to CS and in order to ride to the top of Pikes Peak. What a blast! Also, I am retired Army Reserve and have had the pleasure of training at Carson and Peterson. Love your neck of the woods.

[Bob Cowan]

This is a great place to live. I'm also retired military, and we've been stationed all over the place. When they wanted to move us again, I retired here. I'll never leave.

I was out your way just a few months ago, near Charlotte and Monroe. Beautiful country out that way.

[Presto51]

Welcome and enjoy the fun. Please don't forget rule number two "No Pictures, or Video It Didn't Happen"

Ron

[SStrong]

Keep track of how the panels overlap, will help during re-installation. Get a few Clecos and a tool, not too expensive, if you haven't already. I bought too many, and most are still in the packages. I really like rivet nuts for screwing bolts into the frame and aluminum panels. I recently completed my build, and these really help a lot allowing you to use bolts without nuts to attach parts like the brake reservoirs. Some of my panels are also attached with rivnuts allowing me to remove them for service (transmission cover tunnel). Welcome to the madness and enjoy your build.

[Byrdman]

Ron, I will keep this important rule in mind. This is my first time on a forum ever, so I will have to get my son to help me overcome my aged-ness and post some things. Teddy

[Byrdman]

SStrong, thanks for the tip about the rivet nuts. I have never used them and will check that out!

[David Hodgkins]

Byrdman, we have a gallery where you can create albums and upload picture to. Yours is here:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/album.php?&u=14675

You can also get to it using the "Gallery" menu at the top of the site. Follow the on-screen prompts to create an album and upload pics. Then you will be able to post pics to your build thread. Do you have a build thread yet?

:)

[Byrdman]

Dave, thanks. I do not have a build thread yet.

[David Hodgkins]

Dave, thanks. I do not have a build thread yet.

Let me know via PM if you need any help setting up pics or anything else.

I forgot to say, Welcome to the forum!

:)

[skullandbones]

There are a lot of ways to keep track of the panels but I found that if you put the part number on it as you are removing (best during inventory) you will always have a reference to the description and side of the panel. If you're OCD, it would be fun, I'm guessing. When I took my driver's side foot box apart, I found that the most confounding to imagine where each piece went after a few months. Good luck, WEK.

[Byrdman]

thanks WEK! How did you guess that I am OCD? ZB and I got the body off today and took a few parts to be powder coated. I think we will start our build thread a little later. Thanks again! Byrd