Al_C
06-08-2020, 05:08 PM
It’s time to graduate 8650! I believe that this build is a good example that a non-expert can succeed at this effort. I thought I knew what I was getting into and I thought I knew what I was doing. I came up short on both counts! I learned a lot and hope I can share (in fact I hope I have shared) much of what I learned with others.
To start, let’s cover the basics:
Mark IV Roadster, complete kit. Delivered 7-17-15 by Stewart. There was nothing subtle about a 53’ trailer lumbering down my street emblazoned with Factory Five graphics…
IRS (Thunderbird style)
Gen II Ford 5.0 Coyote
Tremec TKO-600
17” Hallibrands
Nitto NT05 tires all around 255/40 front and 315/35 rear
Body cutouts
Two (chromed) roll bars
Chromed side pipes
Shorty headers and J-pipes (I would choose four-into-fours next time)
Wind wings
Sun visors
Big and tall leather seats
Over-riders, no hoops.
Wilwood brakes
Wipers
Heater (probably more trouble than it was worth)
Modifications:
Mid-shift
RT turn signal
FFMetal trunk-mounted battery box
RT drop trunk box
Power steering
Breeze radiator shroud
Metco driveshaft safety hoop
Backup light
Cobra heat seat heaters
Body/paint by Jeff Kleiner
Acknowledgements
Having been a salesperson, I’d say “I built it all by myself!”. But the fact of the matter is that I got a lot of help on this project. In no specific order:
Jeff Kleiner – lots of encouragement and technical support before and after his “official involvement”
Matt S – helped with the IRS center section and inspected my brakes
Dan T – helped install the Coyote and lots of other things
Ted H – (airplane builder) helped with lots of things
Dan B – helped install the Coyote and made a road trip to Bloomington
Dave Hodgkins – early inspiration and excellent BBQ host
Tony Zullo: his advice – “Do the coyote. That’s the best option” or something to that effect
Dan Golub: he learned very quickly how much I didn’t know…
My wife Nancy. Her only requirement: that she be able to keep her car in the garage. Other than maybe three nights, I think I kept that commitment over the 4+ years!
Paul “edwardb” – lots of help, especially with Coyote wiring
Scott “wareagelscott” – always put up with my questions and provided a lot of help
David “ducky2009” – sounding board, parts expert, and answer man
King “2bking” – engineering sounding board, especially on the mid-shift
Chris “gumball” – provided early support and a body buck
Steve “GoDadGo” – how could he NOT be an inspiration?
I probably missed a lot of forum members. Please insert your name here! (and excuse the omission!)
At the outset, I expected this build would take 2 ½ years. I missed that by a little – it took me 4 years and 8 months. Whatever. I feel like I built this car three times – a lot of things got done over, and sometimes over and over. I dealt with leaks in the fuel system, the cooling system and the braking system. I dealt with wiring problems. In fact, you name it, I learned by error. But I got it done.
I drove this car to Jeff Kleiner’s place on November 4, 2019. It was cold and windy and I froze my head and left shoulder. (Butt was fine!) It is 268 miles (according to Google maps) from my place to his. In hindsight, I can say that by no stretch of the imagination was this car road-worthy at that point. Even though it was registered. Considering the problems I have had since the car came home, it is truly a miracle that I made it there in one piece! Once it got home, I had a heater bypass valve go bad, I had a 90 degree quick lok fitting go bad, I had wiring issues with the headlights and signal lights and I had an oil pan fitting that was leaking like a sieve. I think the good Lord wanted me to get there in one piece, which I did. He also aligned everything so I could bring the car home in a trailer!
I have completed every item on my list to be able to say that construction is “complete”. Is it done? Heck no! This will never be done. I have improvements I’d like to make and a few things I’d like to have checked and re-done. Like camber on the rear wheels. Like a shorter PS belt that I have but have been putting off installing. Like a hydraulic arm to hold up the trunk. Whatever. It’s been a wonderful ride, and she is always a wonderful ride. I’m so glad I embarked on this adventure and appreciate the help and friendship of all of you in going down this road. They call academic graduations “commencements” because they signify a new stage. I believe the same holds true here: I’m just commencing a new stage of roadster ownership!
Some photos:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129655&d=1591639723
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129654&d=1591639705
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129653&d=1591639688
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129652&d=1591639658
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129650&d=1591639619
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129649&d=1591639601
To start, let’s cover the basics:
Mark IV Roadster, complete kit. Delivered 7-17-15 by Stewart. There was nothing subtle about a 53’ trailer lumbering down my street emblazoned with Factory Five graphics…
IRS (Thunderbird style)
Gen II Ford 5.0 Coyote
Tremec TKO-600
17” Hallibrands
Nitto NT05 tires all around 255/40 front and 315/35 rear
Body cutouts
Two (chromed) roll bars
Chromed side pipes
Shorty headers and J-pipes (I would choose four-into-fours next time)
Wind wings
Sun visors
Big and tall leather seats
Over-riders, no hoops.
Wilwood brakes
Wipers
Heater (probably more trouble than it was worth)
Modifications:
Mid-shift
RT turn signal
FFMetal trunk-mounted battery box
RT drop trunk box
Power steering
Breeze radiator shroud
Metco driveshaft safety hoop
Backup light
Cobra heat seat heaters
Body/paint by Jeff Kleiner
Acknowledgements
Having been a salesperson, I’d say “I built it all by myself!”. But the fact of the matter is that I got a lot of help on this project. In no specific order:
Jeff Kleiner – lots of encouragement and technical support before and after his “official involvement”
Matt S – helped with the IRS center section and inspected my brakes
Dan T – helped install the Coyote and lots of other things
Ted H – (airplane builder) helped with lots of things
Dan B – helped install the Coyote and made a road trip to Bloomington
Dave Hodgkins – early inspiration and excellent BBQ host
Tony Zullo: his advice – “Do the coyote. That’s the best option” or something to that effect
Dan Golub: he learned very quickly how much I didn’t know…
My wife Nancy. Her only requirement: that she be able to keep her car in the garage. Other than maybe three nights, I think I kept that commitment over the 4+ years!
Paul “edwardb” – lots of help, especially with Coyote wiring
Scott “wareagelscott” – always put up with my questions and provided a lot of help
David “ducky2009” – sounding board, parts expert, and answer man
King “2bking” – engineering sounding board, especially on the mid-shift
Chris “gumball” – provided early support and a body buck
Steve “GoDadGo” – how could he NOT be an inspiration?
I probably missed a lot of forum members. Please insert your name here! (and excuse the omission!)
At the outset, I expected this build would take 2 ½ years. I missed that by a little – it took me 4 years and 8 months. Whatever. I feel like I built this car three times – a lot of things got done over, and sometimes over and over. I dealt with leaks in the fuel system, the cooling system and the braking system. I dealt with wiring problems. In fact, you name it, I learned by error. But I got it done.
I drove this car to Jeff Kleiner’s place on November 4, 2019. It was cold and windy and I froze my head and left shoulder. (Butt was fine!) It is 268 miles (according to Google maps) from my place to his. In hindsight, I can say that by no stretch of the imagination was this car road-worthy at that point. Even though it was registered. Considering the problems I have had since the car came home, it is truly a miracle that I made it there in one piece! Once it got home, I had a heater bypass valve go bad, I had a 90 degree quick lok fitting go bad, I had wiring issues with the headlights and signal lights and I had an oil pan fitting that was leaking like a sieve. I think the good Lord wanted me to get there in one piece, which I did. He also aligned everything so I could bring the car home in a trailer!
I have completed every item on my list to be able to say that construction is “complete”. Is it done? Heck no! This will never be done. I have improvements I’d like to make and a few things I’d like to have checked and re-done. Like camber on the rear wheels. Like a shorter PS belt that I have but have been putting off installing. Like a hydraulic arm to hold up the trunk. Whatever. It’s been a wonderful ride, and she is always a wonderful ride. I’m so glad I embarked on this adventure and appreciate the help and friendship of all of you in going down this road. They call academic graduations “commencements” because they signify a new stage. I believe the same holds true here: I’m just commencing a new stage of roadster ownership!
Some photos:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129655&d=1591639723
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129654&d=1591639705
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129653&d=1591639688
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129652&d=1591639658
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129650&d=1591639619
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=129649&d=1591639601