PDA

View Full Version : New member from Huntsville, Alabama with questions on 2 kits?



Mirage775
09-24-2016, 09:00 AM
Hey yall, name's Jason, I'm 41, married, no kids and lived in the same county all my life. I've restored several classic muscle cars and always had at one "toy" to play with on the weekends! I've always wanted an FFR Cobra, but was always worried with me being 6'5" and 260lbs. When I almost pulled the trigger on one in the late 90's, I was about 215lbs! Talked to a few tech guys at FFR back then and they said that I may have "comfort" issues... I love classics, muscle and sports cars, but being the height I am, I usually end up having to buy a truck to fit comfortably in it. Seems the older I get, the more I want room, lol! I've had several Pontiac Fiero GT's when I was in my teens and early 20's! I loved those cars and the fact that you could put a Ferrari 308/328 kit on them and drop a 350 in it all for around 10k back then! But, at the time, I was a kid, with little to no money. Now, I'm 41 with little to no money, heh! So, the wife said I can have another toy within the next 5 or less years! :o

I've thrown around the idea several times of just buying an '05-'12 Mustang GT and installing a Cervini's Eleanor kit on it and slapping a turbo or super to it and having a nice, modern Eleanor! Cause, I definitely ain't gonna be able to afford a '67 Fastback Eleanor anymore.... But the thing about a newer car is, they're absolutely everywhere. I live in the heart of the Rocket City, newer sports cars everywhere! As well as tons of Beamers, Benz, Jags, Porsche's, Land Rovers, and several Ferrari's! So, I'd like to sit apart from all these newer cars. The newer Eleanor would be cheaper, in the long run, as '05-'09 GT's around here are about $10k, with 50k miles.

I'd love to have an FFR MK4, but with the comfortably issues, I'm very unsure of doing one. I don't want anything insane, 302 or 351, carbs, preferably with a 5 speed in an MK4.

The only other kit I'd be interested in, is the '33. Prefer a Flat 8 or 302/351, but I'm almost certain, there's less foot room in the '33, than the MK4? That being said, I'd have to have an auto in the '33 :( Muscle and auto's don't mix in my little world!

So, I would like to know straight up, from any of yall out there. Am I truly going to be happy in a car, that's going to be a tight fit, with what I've given you? Some may say yes, some may say no, some my not even say anything and some may say it's my choice? Yes, it is MY choice, but I don't want to waste my time and money, if I'm not happy "fitting" into the car?

Another thing in North Alabama is the heat, mostly the humidity! And unlike most states, we only have 2 seasons, a brief winter and long, hot summers! We have about 3-4 months of winter, (I know it's not as cold as some of yalls states), but for a state that's normally 105 degrees plus 100% humidity throughout the summer, 20 degrees is cold for most of in Northern Alabamians! That being said, I hate the look of the tops for the MK4, but like the optional removable top for the '33. Also, I don't want A/C on either car, nor a radio. I love the sound of a V8 with a great exhaust, not annoying, just a great rumbling melody!

There's a company not far from me, that's been building an almost exact replica of the A/C Cobra for many, many years, Unique Motorsports in Gadsden, Alabama. Prices are about the same. But, unlike using existing Mustang parts, they used custom built parts. I've never been to their facilities, as I've always loved the FFR Cobra much more.

So, once again, should I save up for either a MK4 or '33 Coupe? Or should I just forget the idea of ever owning a Cobra Replica and just go with an '05 Eleanor?

There's a guy down the road from me that has a Yellow/Black FFR Cobra for sale for $31k! He said I can come try it out and see how I "fit" in it! I've been putting it off, as there used to be a company in Jasper, Alabama that used to buy and sell FFR Cobra kits at one time. I went there in '04 and got most of my body in it. Couldn't shut the damn door! My legs were in the dash, my right knee was on the wheel and my left knee wouldn't let the door shut! That's why I never bought one back then.

At a recent car show, there was a fella there that had an FFR '33. He lives in Madison. I've got his name, but not his number? I'd love to try out the fitment of his '33 and see if it's the better kit for me? No clue if he's on this forum or not?

So, thanks for having me and sorry for the all the questions :confused: But, this is a major project and I want to be sure it's worth it for me in the long run!

ben1272
09-24-2016, 09:06 AM
Jason,

Welcome to the forum! I have sat in both the MkIV and 33 and found the 33 to be easier to get in and out (I am 5'11" 215lb) with the MkIV much more of a challenge/technique oriented entry/exit. The 33 had suicide doors and it was super easy to get in and seemed roomy to me.

That said, I bought the 818S, which also had a technique entry, but I have always loved mid/rear engine cars, so decision was easier. I would build a 33 next if I ever have the opportunity. Personally, I think you would be cramped in the MkIV, but I think other larger guys have made it work too!

Good luck, and I hope you are able to pull the trigger.

-Ben

GoDadGo
09-24-2016, 10:06 AM
1. Contact David Hodgkins (Supporting FFR Forum Member)
2. He's a big dude and has not one but two FFR Roadsters that he's modified to fit in.
3. He's selling a MK-3 that he just totally reworked so look this gentleman up.
4. David knows how to make big dudes fit in tiny cars!

Check out this build thread:
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?22147-Stork-is-arriving-tomorrow!-(9-22)

Mirage775
09-24-2016, 10:19 AM
Thanks guys! I actually have been talking to Mr. Hodgkins on another thread. With Ben's reply about the '33, I showed my wife some videos and she likes the '33 best! Wish is completely fine with me! Gotta start saving now and we'll probably take a trip to FF in the next couple of years, hopefully. I would rather drive up there, pay for it with cash, load it on my trailer and head home! Yall know anyone near Alabama, other than this guy near me, that has a '33 that I could sit in?

GoDadGo
09-24-2016, 10:38 AM
Thanks guys! I actually have been talking to Mr. Hodgkins on another thread. With Ben's reply about the '33, I showed my wife some videos and she likes the '33 best! Wish is completely fine with me! Gotta start saving now and we'll probably take a trip to FF in the next couple of years, hopefully. I would rather drive up there, pay for it with cash, load it on my trailer and head home! Yall know anyone near Alabama, other than this guy near me, that has a '33 that I could sit in?

The Factory Five Gang will be down in Panama City Florida in November on their way back from SEMA.
It's the Cruising The Emerald Coast event and is worth making the trek.
Take a day drip down and go see their cars first hand.
You Won't Regret It!

David Hodgkins
09-24-2016, 10:44 AM
Mirage,

First of all, welcome to the forum!

Secondly, I wouldn't bother trying on a roadster unless it belongs to a big guy who has made the minor adjustments needed for us big guys to fit. I was in your shoes back in '05 when I went to a huge event out here in California that had every make and over 100 FFR roadsters. I tried to get in over 20 FFRs and could only work the pedals in ONE! Luckily that owner invited me to Willow Springs Raceway the following fall to see if I could actually drive it. Luckily for my dream I could barely drive it, although my knees were crushed! But just the fact that it was POSSIBLE was enough for me! At the time, only one vendor (Mike Forte) made a bracket that allowed the use of adjustable Wilwood pedals. So my MKIII has those, which add 2" of legroom. Then I took the Kirkey high back Intermediate seats and cut off the top to make low back seats and mounted those on a bracket pushed bac against the rear cockpit wall and I gained ANOTHER 2" as well as lowing my view so I looked through the windshield instead of over it. To accommodate my big size 16's, I cut the crash bar on the left and used the small block footbox metal on the throttle side and pushed it just a bit inward, and used the Russ Thompson gas pedal, with a small "Z" bend in it. I can drive both of the cars I built with running shoes on!

The MKIV kit now comes with the Wilwood pedals and you can get Kirkey "Vintage 48" lowback seats right out of the gate so they are now longer "mods". I had a guy drive both cars on Thursday and he is 6'7"! I swear he is taller than that though. Anyway, he was able to drive both cars without hitting his knee on the dash. Oh, I must also mention that both my cars have custom dashes; not sure if they are shorter or not; but I can measure them if you wish.

Now, about the '33. I've never driven one but I believe with the kirkeys and Wilwood box you would probably be good to go, and the hard top would be a MAJOR convenience for your AL weather!

Bottom line. Don't let the fact that you can't fit in SOME FFRs deter you. You can make it work!

:)

ben1272
09-24-2016, 11:36 AM
The 33 is awesome. Even more awesome in person, which seems to be true for all the cars. I am sure you will love it and you may have to search for the keys in your wife's fists! :) Maybe she is the sharing type....

billjr212
09-24-2016, 12:15 PM
Agree with the above comments that you should be able to make minor tweaks to get a good fit in the mk4. Same with the 33 with one possible exception - the foot box. If I understood correctly, you said you would go auto trans in the 33? Having only 2 pedals would help, but your feet might end up crammed in the foot box no matter what in the 33. Good luck with your search!

Mirage775
09-24-2016, 06:14 PM
The Factory Five Gang will be down in Panama City Florida in November on their way back from SEMA.
It's the Cruising The Emerald Coast event and is worth making the trek.
Take a day drip down and go see their cars first hand.
You Won't Regret It!

I would love to go...., but probably won't be able too

Mirage775
09-24-2016, 06:29 PM
Mirage,

First of all, welcome to the forum!

Secondly, I wouldn't bother trying on a roadster unless it belongs to a big guy who has made the minor adjustments needed for us big guys to fit. I was in your shoes back in '05 when I went to a huge event out here in California that had every make and over 100 FFR roadsters. I tried to get in over 20 FFRs and could only work the pedals in ONE! Luckily that owner invited me to Willow Springs Raceway the following fall to see if I could actually drive it. Luckily for my dream I could barely drive it, although my knees were crushed! But just the fact that it was POSSIBLE was enough for me! At the time, only one vendor (Mike Forte) made a bracket that allowed the use of adjustable Wilwood pedals. So my MKIII has those, which add 2" of legroom. Then I took the Kirkey high back Intermediate seats and cut off the top to make low back seats and mounted those on a bracket pushed bac against the rear cockpit wall and I gained ANOTHER 2" as well as lowing my view so I looked through the windshield instead of over it. To accommodate my big size 16's, I cut the crash bar on the left and used the small block footbox metal on the throttle side and pushed it just a bit inward, and used the Russ Thompson gas pedal, with a small "Z" bend in it. I can drive both of the cars I built with running shoes on!

The MKIV kit now comes with the Wilwood pedals and you can get Kirkey "Vintage 48" lowback seats right out of the gate so they are now longer "mods". I had a guy drive both cars on Thursday and he is 6'7"! I swear he is taller than that though. Anyway, he was able to drive both cars without hitting his knee on the dash. Oh, I must also mention that both my cars have custom dashes; not sure if they are shorter or not; but I can measure them if you wish.

Now, about the '33. I've never driven one but I believe with the kirkeys and Wilwood box you would probably be good to go, and the hard top would be a MAJOR convenience for your AL weather!

Bottom line. Don't let the fact that you can't fit in SOME FFRs deter you. You can make it work!

:)

Thanks sir for the info! I wouldn't mind building an 818 too. I know nothing about Subaru's though and there aren't many Impreza's around here... I read up on the 818 and it said it's actually for us tall guys?

Stork
09-28-2016, 12:46 AM
I'm that tall guy who drove David's Cobras last week. What a blast! I think the main lesson to take from it is that for big men we have to take every opportunity to squeeze every inch we can from the car. Be it engine choices, footwell tweaks, dash height, seat mods, etc. By doing that we end up with a car that is drivable and comfortable. Having not actually started a build myself, that is the key component I will keep in mind as I approach an order sheet and a personalized build process.

6t8dart
09-28-2016, 09:18 AM
Mirage, I'm another "big guy in a little car" I'm 5' 11" and 400+ lbs, and I have a tall upper torso. I was able to do some simple mods to fit in my MKIV, there is plenty of room for you to fit if I can fit. From where I have my seat, i have at least another 7" of foot room in the pedal box in length, and I did tunnel sheet metal mods that gave me another 3" of width at the knee, and I got about 1" of width at the pedals. I have size 13 wide shoes, which fit just fine, although I am running an automatic, so I don't have a clutch pedal to worry about, but I f I did, some smaller sneakers would help. There is a tremendous amount of steering wheel adjustment up/down and forward/aft. You can fit, no doubt.

As far as the 33, i agree that it is easier to get in and out of, however I think the foot room because of the wide tunnel and narrower body is tough for anyone with big feet. Best bet is to sit in both unfinished. If you were in Dallas, I would let you sit in mine and we can play with the seats and adjustments. I have no doubt you will fit in either, as long as you don't have a top on the MKIV.

GoDadGo
09-28-2016, 10:38 AM
Man am I happy that I'm only 5'10" @ 173 with size 9's instead of 6'4" @ 235 with size 15's like my brother because I fit and he doesn't.

I really wish Factory Five would build a MK-5 Big Boy Cobra in addition to the existing MK-4 that is 5-10% bigger in all dimensions. A 94.5-99.0" wheel base isn't period correct, but if every dimension was blown up by the same percentage the car would look just fine and likely sell like hot cakes to those who are far from being vertically challenged. While I know most enthusiasts will say it wouldn't be period correct, the fact of the matter is that Factory Five is losing a Big Segment (Pun Intended) of the purchasing population.

Remember that Ford enlarged the GT over the GT-40 back in the 2005 and those cars just keep appreciating. Dodge Super Sized the Challenger and it is the#1 Domestic Coupe for folks over the age of 40, who have jobs anyway, so why not build a bigger Cobra?

Statistically Taller Fellows Make More Money Too!