New MKIII builder in Central Pennsylvania

[FF6602]

Hello! I just bought an unfinished MKIII (#6602) and am looking forward to completing it. It's a running, driveable roller with most parts included to finish the project (I do need a drivers side black roll bar brace if anyone has one -- just the rear brace, not the hoop). Bought it in CT and moved it to State College PA where I hope to finish it by next September so I can take it to the US Vintage Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. I've owned two 1966 GT-350s (SFM 6S300 and 6S1404) but always lusted after a Cobra. Now's my chance after my wonderful wife bought this car as a surprise for my birthday! Will start a build thread as soon as possible.

Here are the specs:

Engine: Ford 302, bored .040 over, stroked to 347 cu in. new rods, pistons, new roller cam, new push rods, new aluminum roller rockers, new valve covers, aluminum intake manifold, new Holley 650, new headers, new Canton oil pan, new electronic distributor, new aluminum water pump, new aluminum radiator w/ electric fan

Transmission: Ford T5 5-speed, new “shorty” drive shaft

Wheels: Bullit 17x9 front / 17x10.5 rear / P275/40x17 tires

Body: new hood hinges, new Nisonger Smith gauges with GPS speedometer. FF side pipes, roll bar, new gas tank, new fuel pump & regulator, new seats and Simpson safety harnesses, new Lucas wiper motor

[BadAsp427]

Congratulations, and welcome to the fun! What a Wife, she's a keeper...

[CVOBill]

Congrats on the Birthday present.

[RickP]

Welcome and congratulations on your Roadster. Looks like your well on your way.

[R. Button]

I'll be over to the Glen for the event! If you come up will try and meet up with you!

[KDubU]

Congrats and welcome. Looks like only a little left to do but those details do take time and patience.

[gtaroger]

Welcome and congrats. Roger

[David Hodgkins]

What an awesome wife!

Congratulations on your purchase! Make sure you do a thorough bolt check on the whole build! Buying a build-in-progress saves a ton of money (and potentially, time) but you've got to be sure of what is "done-done" and what is only mocked up.

Good luck with the rest of your build process; we're here to help!

Here's some MKIII inspiration for ya!:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=92406&d=1535841298

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=92414&d=1535841454

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=91937&d=1535261969

I'm partial to the classic Guardsman Blue. What color(s) will yours be?

:)

[Toy4me]

That's about the stage where I bought mine. I ended up taking it pretty much completely apart and redoing some of the issues I was not satisfied with. My wife also was the main reason I got it. I have always lusted for one also and she said go get one. You will never regret it. Took me about a year to get it on the road but worth every single hour and dime I spent. Good luck and post pictures of your progress.

[Eastern approved Builder]

Happy Birthday and Congrats... If you need help. Let me know

[FF6602]

I'll be over to the Glen for the event! If you come up will try and meet up with you!

That would be great, Ralph! Hope to meet you that weekend. Just renewed my camping spot so I'm definitely going to be there.

[FF6602]

What an awesome wife!

Congratulations on your purchase! Make sure you do a thorough bolt check on the whole build! Buying a build-in-progress saves a ton of money (and potentially, time) but you've got to be sure of what is "done-done" and what is only mocked up.

Good luck with the rest of your build process; we're here to help!

Here's some MKIII inspiration for ya!:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=92406&d=1535841298

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=92414&d=1535841454

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=91937&d=1535261969

I'm partial to the classic Guardsman Blue. What color(s) will yours be?

:)

I had two 1966 Shelby GT-350s (6S300 and 6S1404) and both were Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes so i love those colors. But, like you, I've always been enamored with the opposite combo -- so the plan is Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes. I thought I was going to do a black roll bar and ceramic-coated white sidepipes (to match the stripes in a Daytona-coupe kind of look) but then my wife chimed in that she likes the chrome roll bar and chrome pipes, so we may go that direction.

Thanks for sharing the "eye candy" -- I'm intrigued by the painted & striped underside of your hood. Food for thought!

I'm getting ready to retire and am somewhat leery about spending big $$ on a paint job right away. I may drive it in black gel-coat for the first summer...work out the bugs and paint it next winter. The cool part with these cars is that, because they are always a "work in progress", as builders we can always change direction or re-do some things. I just want to start driving it and having some fun with it!