Fire Alarm Guy
04-11-2016, 09:49 PM
Hi there everyone, long time lurker, first time poster.
I've been a fan of Factory Five and their cars for a long time. Knowing the quality and reputation of the kits that are produced I have wanted to do a Roadster for many years now, but then I saw the Gears series on the GTM build and switched my ideas on a build. Then Factory Five throws me a curve ball with the 33 hotrod and all that I read in Hot Rod magazine. Finally I read the article in Road & Track (or was it Car & Driver) called Bye, Bye Corvette about the 818. Having a Vette at the time I went "Yeah, Right". But I was impressed, and the more I looked into the 818, the more I liked what I saw. Great design, excellent performance potential and a lot of bang for the buck.
I liked the S but was afraid of no top. Yes I know of the convertible top, but with no real side windows I was hesitant. Lurking the forum I learned about the coupe and that solved a lot of issues. So that is what I have decided to do. Build something different than any other type of project car I have ever had before. This will have to be a multi-purpose car. I have a service van that I drive for work, so it won't be a daily driver and that opens the door for more of a performance build but I still want some 'street' manners for week end drives and date nights with the wife. That will mean I'd like to have a stereo for tunes, nothing fancy but at least a radio. Climate control of heat and a/c, kind of a must in the C. Sound deadening/heat shield mat, think 'dyna-mat' or similar. My plan is to be able to use the car for autocross and open track days more than street use. In that light I would like to see 350 to 400 horsepower, but with reliability being more important than any hp number. This might mean an EZ engine over an EJ... a eco-boost is not out the mix either, that's yet to be determined! One thing I will add is some kind of halo bar and supports tucked in by the windshield pillars. This is a must as there is no structural support with the windshield frame. Weight: has anyone built anything but an R that does come close to 1800lbs? I think it could be done for an S or C, but it would be very bare bones. I'm hoping for 2300lbs, but 2500 might be more realistic and wouldn't make me cry. Now for the 'B' word, budget...I don't have one. Well, that's not true, but it's a monthly one. My personal banker (the wife, lol)has set the limit on spending by the month. That's good and bad both ways. Say I want seats that are a grand apiece, fine. Save until I can afford them and no question asked! That just slows down the build time. As for build time, I would like ASAP!!! I think a year to get it running and driving with the body fitted, and then maybe over what will be time wise the 'next' winter, prep the body for paint or wrap.
So enough for now, thanks for reading, hope you weren't to bored, Jerry
I've been a fan of Factory Five and their cars for a long time. Knowing the quality and reputation of the kits that are produced I have wanted to do a Roadster for many years now, but then I saw the Gears series on the GTM build and switched my ideas on a build. Then Factory Five throws me a curve ball with the 33 hotrod and all that I read in Hot Rod magazine. Finally I read the article in Road & Track (or was it Car & Driver) called Bye, Bye Corvette about the 818. Having a Vette at the time I went "Yeah, Right". But I was impressed, and the more I looked into the 818, the more I liked what I saw. Great design, excellent performance potential and a lot of bang for the buck.
I liked the S but was afraid of no top. Yes I know of the convertible top, but with no real side windows I was hesitant. Lurking the forum I learned about the coupe and that solved a lot of issues. So that is what I have decided to do. Build something different than any other type of project car I have ever had before. This will have to be a multi-purpose car. I have a service van that I drive for work, so it won't be a daily driver and that opens the door for more of a performance build but I still want some 'street' manners for week end drives and date nights with the wife. That will mean I'd like to have a stereo for tunes, nothing fancy but at least a radio. Climate control of heat and a/c, kind of a must in the C. Sound deadening/heat shield mat, think 'dyna-mat' or similar. My plan is to be able to use the car for autocross and open track days more than street use. In that light I would like to see 350 to 400 horsepower, but with reliability being more important than any hp number. This might mean an EZ engine over an EJ... a eco-boost is not out the mix either, that's yet to be determined! One thing I will add is some kind of halo bar and supports tucked in by the windshield pillars. This is a must as there is no structural support with the windshield frame. Weight: has anyone built anything but an R that does come close to 1800lbs? I think it could be done for an S or C, but it would be very bare bones. I'm hoping for 2300lbs, but 2500 might be more realistic and wouldn't make me cry. Now for the 'B' word, budget...I don't have one. Well, that's not true, but it's a monthly one. My personal banker (the wife, lol)has set the limit on spending by the month. That's good and bad both ways. Say I want seats that are a grand apiece, fine. Save until I can afford them and no question asked! That just slows down the build time. As for build time, I would like ASAP!!! I think a year to get it running and driving with the body fitted, and then maybe over what will be time wise the 'next' winter, prep the body for paint or wrap.
So enough for now, thanks for reading, hope you weren't to bored, Jerry