Introduction

[Shoeless]

Well...here we go. I have had my eye on a FFR 33 Ford Kit for some time now. I am actually in process of setting up the garage to make it worthy of this build. I figure if I'm going to drop the time and money into this project the garage better be up to par as well.

I guess I can throw out some minor qualifications and a few questions to get this going and help my build plans.

I started working with my father (lifetime mechanic and owner of his own shop his whole life) when I was about 10. I helped rebuild my first motor at 14 and was always there after school when I could be to learn. Unfortunately my father passed away from cancer when I was 18 and the goal of building a hot rod with him stopped dead in its tracks. Well, here I am and I want to go forward. I am mechanically inclined, but will rely on the expertise of others for help when my skills lack.

Here are my first thoughts.
-Prep the garage, order Stage 1 Kit, and go to the build school.
-Finalize either the Boss 302 Crate motor with or without supercharger. I would love to get over 600+ hp just because I can, but I realize once I get that high, the entire drive train needs beefed up.
-Purchase Engine and all drive train.
-Switch out the ISIS wiring and look for some other goodies along the way.
-Stage 2 order and finish off the build.

I am here to ask questions, learn A LOT, and hopefully be a contributing member to the community. My other hobbies are avid offshore fishing and am currently going back to school to get my MBA.

Many thanks early on for all the help everyone will throw in.

[myjones]

Welcome
Storage aside unless you live close to FF you will be better off buying the whole kit at once. The overall shipping costs rise quite a lot when it's not all shipped in one load. I have seen posts where builders say they needed parts from stage two to confirm or mock up things on stage one. The build school is well worth the money and helps build confidence in the idea that I can do this myself. Adding your location will help you meet people in your area that are a great resource during your build.
DB
Hemi33

[Shoeless]

myjones,

I have a fairly nice two car garage that the wife has pretty much conceded is all mine, except for a small closet for her stuff :). With ample shelving for parts and storage from the kit, do you think this will be enough room for storage of the body sections while I work on the frame and undercarriage? I don't mind saving up the extra cash to get the whole kit at once, if it truly will make this a great build. I am seeing all great things on the build school, but no dates posted for next year just yet on the 33 build. My vacation from work this year is all spoken for.

O yea, can't do many changes to my profile until I meet the 20 post newbie requirement. I'll be asking a lot of questions up front to get the ball rolling. In the mean time I live in Stuart FL.

[tommydorsey]

Shoeless - I can't speak from experience (yet), but I just visited a member who is building a '33, and actually started it in a one-car garage. He's now in a very narrow two-car garage, that isn't all 'his'. You should be fine.

Jim

[myjones]

myjones,
I have a fairly nice two car garage that the wife has pretty much conceded is all mine, except for a small closet for her stuff :). With ample shelving for parts and storage from the kit, do you think this will be enough room for storage of the body sections while I work on the frame and undercarriage? I don't mind saving up the extra cash to get the whole kit at once, if it truly will make this a great build. I am seeing all great things on the build school, but no dates posted for next year just yet on the 33 build. My vacation from work this year is all spoken for.
O yea, can't do many changes to my profile until I meet the 20 post newbie requirement. I'll be asking a lot of questions up front to get the ball rolling. In the mean time I live in Stuart FL.

I also put in a "small cabinet" in our garage when we built this house and that's her space. If it doesn't fit in there it goes to the basement storeroom.:D

One friend put his body on the patio and one put it on the roof of the shed, they both wanted it to cure in the sun a bit. Others have built a tall body buck in the garage and assembled the
car under it. I have seen a few that made a sling and hung it from the garage ceiling as well. High shelves all around the edge of the garage help store all the boxes.

I ask a lot of questions too and even the dumb questions often start a thread that ends up teaching me something that I will use later in the build. You should join both forums because while there is overlap there is also some members with a lot of talent that stick to one or the other board exclusively. Do the build school when you can fit it in and don't be afraid to call now and tell them you want a slot for next year, they are very helpful in the scheduling department.
DB

[erlihemi]

Shoeless

I went to the build school and purchased just the stage 1 Kit, however, I live close enough to pick the stage 2 kit up myself. I also planned on doing significant modifications before I was ready for the body and have considered different bodies along the way. I highly recommend getting the entire kit after going to the build school or working with someone on their kit. I put much of the Stage 1 kit on a big 3 tier 8' X 2' shelf and am only using one bay of the garage. Storage is more a factor of how much detail you intend to execute and how many times you want to "mock up" parts. In Florida you can store the body out side and do work on it as long as it can't blow away:eek:
Good luck!!

[Shoeless]

All great advice I am getting there. Many thanks everyone so far for all the good tips. It looks like I'll hold off on ordering until I can get the entire kit with all the extras I am looking for.

I have picked up on the other forum as well, but have yet to do any introductions.

What I am doing so far with my engineering background is creating a detailed Bill of Materials with all the goodies so I can truly see what I'm getting into before I start pulling the trigger on orders.