New Kit on Order...Help anyone?

[Jason Rowe]

Hello all!! Just finished order form for my base kit. I cant tell you how excited I am. As I start on this journey, I would love to hear any feedback, tips, hints, advice, do's or dont's that anyone has. My father in law is building the car for me (or doing most of the work) while I am stationed in Germany for the U.S. Army. The goal is to have it waiting for me when I get back to the states.

About the only decision I have made so far is engine.

So I would love any information from the people on these posts. I read lots of them, just trying to educate myself on as much as I can.

Thanks in advance everyone!

Cheers!

[max_thompson]

I think that you have to answer two questions first: 1) how do you plan to use the car and 2) how much money are you going to spend? You can set up these cars as dedicated race cars, street rod/show cars, weekend cruisers and everything you can imagine in between, but it is helpful to develop a vision and then to purchase parts that will work together towards that vision.

Looking big picture, I would focus on the brakes, steering, suspension, drivetrain, (and maybe paint) since these will be your primary ways of interacting with the car. Setting up these systems well will make you want to use the car more and allow you to enjoy the car. Often the biggest payoff is in the last work you do to refine your setup.

Hopefully some others can provide more specifics.

Congratulations!

[efnfast]

You can button up the passenger footbox and the inside driver footbox/footbox wall, but I would leave the rest of the aluminum panels un-rivetted until the end of your build - it will just be sooo much easier that way imho.

[Bob Cowan]

Think of the base kit as a blank canvas. You can do anything your mind can imagine - and your wallet can handle. Don't be afraid to do things that are not necessary/needed. Don't be afraid to dream big, go overboard, and make yourself giggle like a school girl.

Do you need a twin turbo 800hp small block spinning at 8,500 rpm's? No. But maybe you just want one. That's good enough for me.

read this forum, and the other two dedicated forums. You'll get a lot of information that can help you with each decision; especially purely subjective things like color and wheel choice.

You said your dad will be building the car. Where is he? Maybe somebody local can help him out.

[wideglidejoe]

Jason,

First, THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!!!

Second, congrats on your order.

Your build: as max said, develop your vision, and go for it. Build it like you want it. There are thousands of ideas to pick from, from others completed builds. Pick what you want/like, and do it. Small block/big block. Carb/EFI. Live axle/IRS. Carpet/no carpet. Single/dbl rollbar.

Have fun!!

[Jason Rowe]

Thanks for the comments already guys. What I have envisioned for the car is a daily driver. What ive been thinking (based on feed back and research) would be a 302 with EFI. I was also considering a turbo (but that might be alot of hassles).

A few people have told me to get parts that are rarely common, such as a 6 speed transmission and things like that. Since I will probably be moving every 3 years for the next 16 (assuming/planning on staying in the Army for the full 20) the more common that i make the parts inside, the easier it will be able to find a mechanic in random places.

As far as the steering and suspension goes, I havent thought about that. What I had been considering was doing most everything that Factory Five comes with as stock. Not a lot of upgrades at first. I can do that as the years progress. I am fairly young, and plan on having this car for decades, so no rush getting it all done at once.

That probably makes alot of people gasp, doing the car kind of bland at first, but I can make cool/fancy/sick upgrades as time goes. Ive been saving my pennies for years for this car....I cant wait much longer.

Haha.

Thanks again guys, for all the responses so far and in the future.

[MPTech]

This might help you envision your plan:
MPTech's Build Plan (http://www.ffcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=264052)

Go through the list and identify what needs to be decided now (when you order your kit) and what can be updated later.
now (before you finalize your order):
IRS or straight axle
Pin-drive or standard
SBF, BBF, Modular, other(?)
single / dual roll-bar


soon (before you assemble):
EFI / Carb
15" / 17" wheels (easy to switch from 15 to 17, but not 17 to 15, depending on brake rotors)
Donor / Wilwood pedal assembly
rear-end gearing (you don't want to pull the IRS out again to change gears! :p)
transmission (can be upgraded, just more expensive)



later (some may be easier to upgrade than others, but the "Now" items are more complicated / costly to update later:

low-back or high-back seats
4-ito-4 headers or J-pipes
manual / power steering
manual / boosted brakes
horsepower (starts off inexpensive to upgrade, but gets costly very quickly, especially if you need to upgrade trans & rear-end)


HTH
take a look at my build plan, at least it will give you ideas and maybe settle on a "theme", street car / race car / period correct / modern version / hot rod / show car

[Steak]

All that has been said above is excellent advice. And then you and your dad just need to hang out on the forum on a regular basis. Ask questions whenever they come up. But watch out for us, we'll try to spend your money for you.