Is the build school worth it

[rpurch]

I am contemplating a cobra build and was supposed to attend the build school later this month. Unfortunately it was cancelled because of the pandemic. For those that did the build school, how valuable was it? Keep in mind, I have essentially no real experience with cars and would consider myself more of a poorly (self) trained carpenter type

thanks

[Al_C]

Yes. Worth every penny. You will learn a ton and meet some great people. One way to look at it: between build school and the forum, you have all the resources you need!

Take lots of photos and take lots of notes. Get your fingers into as many parts of the build as you can!

[phileas_fogg]

Absolutely yes! You’ll see first-hand everything involved with building the car. Plus you get to talk with instructors who know the car inside & out. I highly recommend it.


John

[Vspeeds]

I went to the build school mainly to see if the kit was worth it. I wanted to see first hand the kit compondnts and how easy it us to be put together. I bought a kit a week later.
Absolutely the school is worth it. With your "carpenter type" disposition I think this class will give you the confidedence to know that you have the skills to totally build this thing. Take a lot of notes, take a lot of pictures. I ran my brake lines and fuel lines the same way as the school and built the kit in pretty much the same order as the school. Go out to dinner with the guys after the class. I live in California so I made the weekend trip a vacation; hung out in Detroit, went to the Ford Museum and plant, and also Ann Arbor.

[NiceGuyEddie]

For me, it was 15 years ago but build school would have paid for itself 4x over, not to mention saving literally hundreds of hours of work.

I had no prior experience building cars.

[steno]

Simply put... DO IT! And for the reasons already stated! I had a great time and gained a new perspective on the build. You can do it!!

[Caddy Dad]

I attended the school in October '19. It was the last milestone on my timeline prior to ordering my kit. It's definitely worth every penny you invest in it. Ask lots of questions, take lots of notes and pictures. Some things might not make sense during the build but they will once you start and progress on your build. The instructors are extremely experienced and offer lots of tips and tricks to make your build go easier. Plus, if you order your kit within a certain deadline after completing the class, you get a discount from FFR and Blue Print engines. That alone almost pays for the class.

Good luck!

[Ponymedic]

Great time with great people. Just putting hands on was only part of it. You get a ton of 'pearls of wisdom" from the instructors. Take lots of notes and pictures

Enjoy

[toadster]

1000% my son and I attended last August - worth every bit!

https://cobradreams.com/2019/08/15/factory-five-build-school-my-son-and-i-had-a-blast/

[Ed Mc]

My son and I attended in Oct 18 and it was worth every penny. The instructors are great and share ideas not in the manual

[bobm488]

I went last May, it helped to assure me that I could build the car. Kit came in August and was completed last month.

[Elizabeth @ FormaCars]

Yes. At minimum you'll have a helluva lot of fun! You'll meet some fun people too. I attended build school in 2011 and it sounds like its become an even better ROI since. Have fun!

Elizabeth

[rpurch]

Wow. That settles it. I'll find the time to re-schedule. Thanks to everyone for your input.

[Todd Baumann]

Thanks everyone for the kudos.
Like they said come to the class you'll have tons of fun. You will meet tons of people. We will share alot of info to get you thru the build faster and more efficiently.
Not to mention you can put your hands on anything and eliminate any of the build issues that you may have concerns with.
I guarantee you will not be disappointed or I will buy you dinner.
Todd

[rpurch]

Hell, that settles it. I'll do just about anything for a chance at a free dinner.
Rob

[ChasNMe]

I will just add this little tidbit about taking pictures and notes . . . I found that in my class, you could either help build the car or you could take notes and pictures. no way that everyone can do both, there is not a lot of dead time to be doing that and if you want to get the car built, you have to build it. I tried to get pics when I could but I got almost no notes. maybe it was my class but it didn't seem like the 18 people in my class all wanted to actually turn wrenches and pop rivets . . . . id still do it again even knowing I will/have forgotten half of what they told me. having the hands on and doing a good deal of the build made it worth while for me because I know I can do it. that's what I wanted from the course anyway . . .

[Todd Baumann]

Oh believe me Rob I will not be buying dinner because I am that sure.
I may buy you a beer though.
Todd