Donnies mk4 #8834 build

[Hottrodder427]

Hello all my name is Donnie,I am from Slidell la I am 43 I've dreamed of this car since I was 12.
I'm not sure how to do a build thread but I'm going to try.
First I dropped in to see the forum and I saw a link for the 20th kit, so I was like WOW!!! I talked to the wife and I pushed the button. Later found out those were long gone by the time I saw it, but I got the kit with the upgrades minus the 20th badges,gauges,floor mats,and special powder coating. All is good my dream car completion date is today so now I anxiously await the Stewart phone call. This is my plan so far.
390 Fe bored and stroked to a 416 not sure in the roller can but will be a roller. Tko 500. I purchased the windshield wiper kit. My biggest dilemma now is paint choices.

[2bking]

Hello and welcome to the forum. You are going to have a very nice ride. We like pictures and details so post often. The TKO 500 may be a little light for that big engine so you may want to consider the TKO600. The #112541 is most likely your sales order number and you won't know your frame number until you get the kit but that would be a better number to attach to your build. I'm looking forward to seeing that post with the Stewart Truck in the background.

[Hottrodder427]

It will be there! Lol just can't wait like a kid Christmas Eve. I have restored an '81 c10 step side. I can't wait for this build

[Hottrodder427]

Update, went to an old scrap yard looking for a Fe, came home with three of them. One has a C scratch... I'm hopeful

[Hottrodder427]

C scratch was bogus, but good news Stewart is picking up my kit on Friday the 11th. I'm dropping off my Fe block at the machine shop today

[Hottrodder427]

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[Hottrodder427]

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[Hottrodder427]

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[Hottrodder427]

So.... The crane motor broke on Steve from Stewart, my kit is delayed. Drag....

[RickP]

So.... The crane motor broke on Steve from Stewart, my kit is delayed. Drag....

No way. I'm sorry to hear that. Steve did mention issues with his crane when he delivered to me. I'm sure Stewart will get it rectified quickly.

[Hottrodder427]

Yep no worries! It will get here when it gets here lol

[Hottrodder427]

Woo hoo!!! Looks like Monday delivery I'll know more Sunday evening.

[GoDadGo]

Congratulations on and yes you will feel like you are 6 years old and it is Christmas morning when that truck comes down the street. It's the beginning of an amazing journey. Putting an FE engine in it really will make your car far more authentic than mine will be. Also, I'm glad that another Slidellian will has just joined the Factory Five Family. Hope the Pearl is far away from your home and that you didn't get impacted by our recent weather events. Anyway, Congratulations Again!

PS: My shop is pretty small too so yes you can build our dream car in it.

[GoDadGo]

Hey Donnie,

Let me know if you need any help. I live in Slidell, off Bayou Liberty Road, and am pretty far along with my build so I've learned alot.

Please make sure that you take the time to do a very precise inventory as soon as you can. Consider making an extra copy of your inventory list and attaching each sheet on the box of parts that it corresponds with because it will help you find your parts more easily. Also, I made some killer saw horses that makes life easy to work on the under carriage. It keeps the car roughly 22 inches off of the ground so getting under it is a snap. I'll help you build a set if you if you want a pair.

Regarding where I am on my build, please know that I'm finishing up some loose ends (Dash Wiring) and am about start to assemble my engine in about 30 days so I'm nearing the Go-Kart stage of the process.

Anyway, guess I've got to go to work. Take Care!

Steve >> aka: GoDadGo

[Hottrodder427]

So ordered clekos, they came in today. Not sure what or how to use them, but y'all all have them. When in roam...

[GoDadGo]

You're going to use the heck out of the 1/8" size along with the 3/16". I think I've got 20 of each plus some larger sizes and a few clamps too. Never thought I'd need them as much as I did. Drop by when you get chance to see how they make the rivet work easier. Good Luck & Post Pics On Monday! Don't wait a year like some folks. Steve >> GoDadGo

[Hottrodder427]

Thanks Steve, I used to live in that area also now I'm on the east side of town

[Hottrodder427]

51706 I decided to go ahead and put the rotors together

[Hottrodder427]

I just received the call from Steve looks like tomorrow afternoon

[GoDadGo]

Remember Take Delivery Pics! Also, remember to do a detailed inventory. It's a pain in the, you pick the body part, but it will really be worth it during your build. Good Luck & The Fun Starts Tomorrow!

[carlewms]

Congratulations and I look forward to following your build. The folks on the forum here give excellent advise and will help on many of the issues that come up ...

i am almost to the go kart stage and would not have gotten this far without the assistance of the forum.

Carl

[Hottrodder427]

I wonder how the first ten guys ever made it without the forum lol

[Hottrodder427]

517915179251793 So Steve called me at 2:00, had to pick him up at the corner so he could scout out the neighborhood. Just finished inventory, not a lot missing. I guess I will call ffr tomorrow to talk about it. Stevens which started acting up again. But we figured it out. So tomorrow I start the build!

[GoDadGo]

Welcome To The Family!

[Hottrodder427]

Okay, so. Started the front suspension yesterday, konis on back order. No biggie, the manual is very vague, but since I've worked on cars since I was 16,again no biggie. But why,oh why can't I figure out how to use the album on this site? Lol show me a picture I can build it bring me a box of parts and I'll put it together, ask me to do something Mir than type on a computer and I'm lost. Anyway...51863

[2bking]

Congratulations on the delivery, the fun is just starting. You should have a back order list with the kit for the items missing but in addition to that, you need to do a detail inventory of every item that was supposed to be in what was delivered. I found numerous errors; those are the ones you need to contact FFR about. You will find the manual is vague on a lot of decisions you will have to make. I remember thinking if the picture was from a little different direction, I could see better how the parts are intended to be assembled. In the picture in your last post I think you have the upper A-frame parts that mount to the chassis switched left to right or upside down. The grease zikrs should be on the top side as in this picture.
51865

[GoDadGo]

Congratulations on the delivery, the fun is just starting. You should have a back order list with the kit for the items missing but in addition to that, you need to do a detail inventory of every item that was supposed to be in what was delivered. I found numerous errors; those are the ones you need to contact FFR about. You will find the manual is vague on a lot of decisions you will have to make. I remember thinking if the picture was from a little different direction, I could see better how the parts are intended to be assembled. In the picture in your last post I think you have the upper A-frame parts that mount to the chassis switched left to right or upside down. The grease zikrs should be on the top side as in this picture.
51865

I'm glad you made the suggestion because I too found some issues when we did the Piece-By-Piece inventory. For me the inventory process gave me a lot of insight as to where everything went because I literally touched every piece and part over the course of a 12-14 hour marathon checking each box.

Great Suggestion!

[Hottrodder427]

Congratulations on the delivery, the fun is just starting. You should have a back order list with the kit for the items missing but in addition to that, you need to do a detail inventory of every item that was supposed to be in what was delivered. I found numerous errors; those are the ones you need to contact FFR about. You will find the manual is vague on a lot of decisions you will have to make. I remember thinking if the picture was from a little different direction, I could see better how the parts are intended to be assembled. In the picture in your last post I think you have the upper A-frame parts that mount to the chassis switched left to right or upside down. The grease zikrs should be on the top side as in this picture.
51865
I thought that as well, but if I turned it over the ball joint doesn't angle out? Do I need to take the arm apart?

[Hottrodder427]

I see it now, I put the ball joints in upside down

[Hottrodder427]

One more thing the lower arms aren't tight are they supposed to be?

[David Hodgkins]

Hi Donnie,

Sorry to be so late to this build thread. Take a look at this thread to learn about using the picture gallery to embed pics in your posts:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?18962-How-to-use-the-Image-Gallery-to-embed-pictures-in-posts

You're gonna have a TON of fun with the build! I love your attitude so far. A little bit of "it'll happen when it happens" goes a long way with these cars.

I hope I can be of some help to you as you go along with your build. Congratulations!

:)

PS regarding those upper A arms: The orientation of the ball joint itself is correct but the zirk fittings are wrong. Several sets of A arms were assembled by the manufacturer incorrectly so you will have to take those arms apart and re-assemble them correctly. Use the referenced pic above by King as a guide.

[Hottrodder427]

PS regarding those upper A arms: The orientation of the ball joint itself is correct but the zirk fittings are wrong. Several sets of A arms were assembled by the manufacturer incorrectly so you will have to take those arms apart and re-assemble them correctly. Use the referenced pic above by King as a guide.
What about the lower arms not being tight after I torque them. The manual says hold them parallel to the ground as I torque

[David Hodgkins]

../What about the lower arms not being tight after I torque them. The manual says hold them parallel to the ground as I torque

You want them to be able to swing freely without binding. after the spindle is attached between the upper and lower A-arms you should test again to make sure there is no binding. BTW did you grease them yet?

:)

PS If you know your frame number you might want to update your build thread title. Here's how you do that, along with suggested guidelines:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?19402-Changing-The-Thread-Title-Guidelines

[Hottrodder427]

I have it but I can't tell if it's 8837 or 8857 I think I a check

[Hottrodder427]

It's 8834, I think I have to be on a pc to change the thread. It won't work through my iPhone or I can't do it anyhow lol

[Hottrodder427]

End of tonight's build 51879

[Hottrodder427]

Does anyone have a clear picture of where to cut the rear tab off of the spindles?

[edwardb]

Does anyone have a clear picture of where to cut the rear tab off of the spindles?

Don't you have the new IRS instructions? It shows and explains it pretty well. Also check my build thread, link in the sig line below. I talked about it quite a bit and showed the before and after pics. I cut off a little less than Factory Five said to and it clears fine.

[Hottrodder427]

Don't you have the new IRS instructions? It shows and explains it pretty well. Also check my build thread, link in the sig line below. I talked about it quite a bit and showed the before and after pics. I cut off a little less than Factory Five said to and it clears fine.
Looks like you cut about 3/8 above the holes, perfect

[Hottrodder427]

51975 how's this look edwardb? I have the manual, I just wanted to see someone else's is all.

[edwardb]

51975 how's this look edwardb? I have the manual, I just wanted to see someone else's is all.

That should work. Looks like where I cut mine.

[Hottrodder427]

Here's some update pictures,5208752088520895209052091
Things I've learned... check the size of all the nuts and bolts, clekos are necessity, rivets in the foot box go from inside to the outside on the floor, and this has been the greatest experience in my life

[Hottrodder427]

Are you supposed to use both 5/16 fuel lines to get from the filter to the engine bay

[RickP]

your making some great progress. You got your kit a month after I did and youv'e made much more progress than me.

[Hottrodder427]

your making some great progress. You got your kit a month after I did and youv'e made much more progress than me.

I work on it almost every night, it's my therapy lol