Victor's 289 Build Thread

[OttawaFFRer]

Pickup Aug 28th if Covid permits...or there abouts as I attempt to coordinate a weekend away without the kids.

The trials have begun as TD didn't perform my wire properly which has me out of pocket $700 at this time and I'm trying to argue for that back and then need to resend the wire without paying conversion again.

Ever have a successful arguement with a bank...not looking good. Might be a $1400 neg for me.

Rebuilding a 289, porting heads prior to sending them off for new rocker studs. Hoping for a reasonably mild 300 ish ponies.

[cnutting]

Hope you get your money back.

My 289 ended up at just over 340. Good all around driver,fun on the twisty back roads.

[OttawaFFRer]

I've looked over your build quite a bit, I'm also trying to go for a bit more of a period correct look, my last 2 engine builds were all chrome, which heads are you using? I am attempting a set of original 289 heads with oversized valves and some porting, I'll likely end up well below your hp numbers. I am using a cam to help clear exhaust and make power a little into the 6k rpm but the results remain to be seen.

Bank didn't call back today as they promised they would, tomorrow is another day.

[cnutting]

Think positive!

I have Edelbrock Performer heads on it.

Looking forward to following along with your build! Any ideas on color or other customizations?

[OttawaFFRer]

I am torn between the exact same paint scheme as the FFR FIA car and the BF Goodrich poster model. Light blue with team colors either way although I never did get around to painting my last FF.

I would like to attempt a period correct underhood 'look'. I've talked myself out of an 8 pack for a 650 QF over a airgap. I know I can tear apart a carb in my sleep.
The performer heads flow MUCH better than ported 289 heads!

I am leaning hard towards a 427 type dash layout, I want a glove box this time around.

[OttawaFFRer]

Today marked a week since I sent my first wire.

I sent another today. I once again paid the exchange and once again Factory Five's wire bank, PNC returned the money less $700.

I now have paid a 20% premium on my kit and still haven't even successfully sent a wire.

Deflated.....

[OttawaFFRer]

Dave Smith is going to split the fees with me and I'm going to send the funds in some form other than wire on Monday morning. I have never hated to see extra money in my bank account more than I have the past couple of weekends. :)

I have 2 sets of 289 heads, one has oversized valves, both have hardened exhaust seats. Having a bit of trouble lapping the valves in the keeper set (oversized valves), I've only spent 2 beers worth of time working on them so hopefully today I can get a few more to seal. Otherwise I'll have the machine shop work them over when they install the screw in rocker studs. Just waiting on the springs to arrive as I want the heads to be ready for assembly, get the machine shop to complete that so I know they are clear of filings.
Initially I had planned on keeping the car under 350 hp so the factory heads would do the job and look the part. Now that I have time and money into them maybe the AFR's would have been better. I also have money into a cam specificly for the factory heads so I have too much money into them to back out...

Sitting in the garage I also have a fresh short block, 20 over. I have the cam to swap then complete assembly of the engine once the heads are complete.

This will be my first assembly. I figured I would give it a shot. I had $15000 into the 408 I put into my last FFR and $23k into the 461 I had build for the 68 firebird convertible that followed the FFR. All figures in CAD.
Now that I have put together the bits to complete this engine I look fondly at the blueprint offering. For a thousand or 2 more I could have had an engine with a warranty.
That considered this will be worth the experience if it runs.

I have a line on an 8.8, a t5 and a pedal box. I will need a few suspension tidbits and gauges and various other small parts...

Not sure how late August pickup is looking with the Covid but the world has 2 months to figure that out.

[OttawaFFRer]

Made the round trip to Toronto yesterday for an 8.8, t5 and pedal box. Managed to steal it for 250 Canadian pesos. Will need a clean up, a 5 lug and gear swap in the rear end and a bellhousing and spacer for the t5.
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I have an s10 tail housing for the swap.
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289 almost ready for complete assembly, waiting on valve springs then the heads are off to the machine shop for screw in rocker studs.
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They have oversized valves which will help the poor old 289 heads a bit. I've ported the exhaust hump out.
Various other parts ready to go, new cam specd to help the 289 heads, intake, lifters...almost all the goodies (the GF has no idea how much these boxes in the garage are worth).
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A manual rack courtesy of johnnybgoode, just needs a bit of paint...
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And I really must wash this garage floor!

[japollon]

Ottawa! Best of luck with you on your build. Like you I did the best I could to get the period correct look. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.
Joel.....Petaluma, CA

[OttawaFFRer]

Thanks Joel.

I have a lot of reading to do!

[OttawaFFRer]

Buddy of mine took the 8.8 housing in for a steam and a coat of paint. I might have painted it a tiny bit better but as long as its clean I'm happy.

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I'm hoping this weekend I can get the gears changed, new axles in and brakes set and then this can get stored out of the way.

Still need to change the input shaft on the t5, maybe that also if the beer doesn't get in the way!

[OttawaFFRer]

Have been working on swapping the dif gears to 3.55
I dont have the pinion depth tool so I've had to mock the setup in order to figure out the pinion shim, it's time consuming but time well spent.
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I'm 14 days out from kit pickup but unsure they will allow me to cross the border with my truck, I am investigating flying into Boston and renting a truck and trailer.

Do any of you know if any of the international rental companies down there rent trucks with a trailer hitch?

[Vspeeds]

I just came upon this thread. Looking forward to following your build. Hopefully you've already received your kit.

[OttawaFFRer]

I just came upon this thread. Looking forward to following your build. Hopefully you've already received your kit.

Hopeful that the border will allow me to pick it up sometime in the new year. I'm not against paying a shipper but for me part of the experience is getting to the factory and so much has changed there since my last kit pickup.

Looks like the 289 is out the door and I'm going to attempt to put together a 347. One of the local cobra guys (johnnybgoode) will be over to ensure my patience is kept in check. He has helped me spend piles of money over the years while offering plenty of hand me down parts and advice.

So I may have to rethink my t5 with mid-shift for the new tkx.

Will have the 347 to build over the cold winter and hopefully get the kit before/at spring. Gives a Canadian time to compile all the parts needed to make a complete kit and get right to work on building

[OttawaFFRer]

Where did the time go?
Oh right, lockdown...

So. Updates.

The 289. No. After buying a the cam, lifters, working the heads, etc. I put it all together and while I was cranking it by hand in the garage a noticed a "scratch" in one of the cylinders. That ended up being deep enough to catch a nail, the thing was already bored .030 so, OUT.

The 8.8 rear? While installing the gears the 245 pound gorilla for some reason did not crush the sleeve, instead he pulled all the thread out. I know something is wrong when I'm using 2-4 foot extensions and I'm grunting. I may be 50 but I'm still bench pressing with 120 pound dumbbells. Wait...who is the dumbbell?

Anyway...moving right along, deeper into my wallet.

FFR let my first kit go to another lucky winner and the second attempt is due to be completed on the 5th of June, yet to be confirmed by Nate but the email has been sent. A shipper is organized to get it to this side of the border although the guys ability to communicate isn't everything dreams are made of. I'm scheduled for my second shot of life potion June 11 and if FFR has another delay I may end up making the trip myself. I have a suspicion that the powers of the US government will open up the CAN-US border for July 4th to those that can prove vaccination.

Wishful thinking.

Anyway. When you want to build a conservative 289 the fairer in the house might be able to drive what better to replace a beat-up old 289 than this:

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A Keith Craft 347

I had a number of bits organized for the 289 build so I didn't have to start entirely over.
I'm not trying to make unimaginable HP on this so I simply went with the cheapo AFR's. They are the same heads that blueprint is using to get 400ish hp at the fw and that is fine with me. My compression will be on the higher end so I might squeeze one or 2 more or...less.
I went with the thumper cam. Again, I rather the sound than the ponies.

-->I've done the 408 in the cobra and although having the ability to smoke the tires at 60mph on the highway is fun and all 1. I'm not getting any younger 2. Due to Covid adult XL diapers are hard to come by 3. I'm not smart enough even at this age not to keep my foot out of it.

I'm pretty much at this point right now, awaiting the final few shipments from summit to close this thing up. I'm trying to go for more of a retro look so less sparkle and more old school.

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I still need to rebuild the 8.8 with 3.55 gears (yet to buy round 2 on those).
Sent an email to see what stock levels are like on front upper and lowers, need those.

I'm hoping to have this thing on 4 wheels in my garage by August. Maybe I can make a roller out of it before the snow flies if supply shortages don't make that impossible.
Winters here are cold and long but I keep the garage warm. Maybe read some bodywork threads and get back into it with the bodywork pros. :)

[OttawaFFRer]

Wait...what?

Ok, pickup is scheduled for Next Wednesday, December 1st. The stars aligned as Dave posted a video last week with my Aug 2020 pickup front and center the same day the Canadian Gov declared they would drop covid testing for USA trips under 72 hours.

Gordon Levy is making front control arms again, check.
The supply chain seems to be improving a bit.

Hopefully photos of the car in my garage next week.
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[johnnybgoode]

An early Christmas present! Congrats Vic!

[cnutting]

Congratulations!

[Chainsaw]

Congrats.

[OttawaFFRer]

Car is home. A quick photo outside of the FFR headquarters.
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She now sits in the garage on a few castors and some 2x4s for easy mobility while I figure out how to prep the garage. Photos of that to follow.

I'm considering this dash layout from csx 2557. I know it was a USRRC car and I went with the FIA trunk but...I want a glove box...and the fia suitcase bumps.
Hopefully that's acceptable to most of you.
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I've ordered a 3 3/8 speed, GPS as I did an s10 tailhousing swap on a t5, for now, we will see how that swap works out.
a 4" tach. Both of the above from speedhut with stewart warner type logos.
4- 2 5/8 gauges and a 2 1/8 fuel gauge, all SW. One of which is an ammeter which I will likely have for show rather than hooked up.

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Awaiting a few goodies from Gord Levy to complete the suspension. I'll start inventory this week and get this underway.

[Vspeeds]

Exciting!

[OttawaFFRer]

It looks like a good day to swap in the 3.55 gear.

The trials and tribulations of the rear. This isn't my first attempt, a year ago I tried to push a set of yukons into it and stripped the pinion threads. How many foot pounds can a 240 pound gorilla come up with?

This time I've gone with a set of Ford Racing gears and they make it easy, they mark on the pinion how much to shim +- .03. In this case .003 over, so a .033 shim and away to the races.
Or one hopes.

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I'm hoping to have Gord Levy's control arms by/around the new year...need rims...
Anyone have a set of 15" rims they want to give up?

[OttawaFFRer]

That all went together nicely but I've come to realize I have the rear brake caliper brackets for the 11.65" rotor and need the one for the 10.6" as I'm running 15's (And have already purchased the GT calipers and rotors)
So I sideline buttoning that up until I track down the proper caliper bracket.

Time to call on a neighbor to help get this body off.

[OttawaFFRer]

Ok, all done the build threads, some 2 and 3 times.
2Fast4U....if you write the book I'll buy a copy.

I'm considering painting the car a solid color and going with the RaceLine digital kit
https://www.racelinedigital.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6_54&products_id=2812

thoughts?

A couple of questions, what is the best way to mount the fuel filler? It appears that the mold changed at some point, Scott's build thread shows the area indented while my body has no specific place built into the body.

Also, is trimming aluminum a thing? I have read in a post by Kleiner that he has never trimmed alum/body other than at the rear.

Body off this week for sure, brake caliper mounting brackets are in the country!

[OttawaFFRer]

Body is off, will build a body buck of sorts this week, currently and likely to remain the over/under on the lift until spring.
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Next up:
remove the aluminum
Weld the bracket on the rear
install rear brakes

Those 3 tasks...I'm hoping that Levy is able to complete the run of upper/lowers so that I can get this car some feet. 15" replica halibrands are on the list but when I did my kit pickup they told me those were deep on the backorder.

[OttawaFFRer]

For those that have more than one build, am I weird for looking forward to clecos?
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the camera makes the garage look slightly busier than it is.

[Jimtmich]

Looks like a great garage setup! Enjoy your build.

[OttawaFFRer]

Getting closer. Gordon's control arms are on the way!

So many parts have been accumulated, once the arms arrive I'll take a round of photos and then the build begins.

I bought the rims from my long ago sold FFR7502. It's odd to pay for things twice but nice to have them back!

My first attempt at printing a glove box:
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And now to recreate this glovebox knob:
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[OttawaFFRer]

The finished knob is close enough I think. Might give it a polish but looks like a bit of patina as is.

$10 CAD for the tumbler and 30 minutes on the lathe.
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[OttawaFFRer]

Does it seem like I've been at this for years and done nothing?

Today was the second best delivery after my FFR kit, Gordon Levy's Control arms.
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Absolutely a thing of beauty! So light. Before the end of the week, I will have a roller.

A few shots of some progress. The dash and glovebox.
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I plan on lucas switches for headlight, hi/lo, fan, and wipers. I believe. No knobs. Will see.
I also plan on putting a stopwatch under the 5 gauge cluster, see holes in dash. It is from the right timeline and looks cool, IMO. I really like what FFR did with the 289 in the showroom.


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my 3d printed glovebox from the back.
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I used Alex's glovebox shape but made it bigger, still not as big as I believe the original was169569 but closer than Alex's.

I also picked up one of the Ken Miles racing seats.
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I have started a bit of wiring and received a great shipment of parts from **********, all the way from Cali or Ontario, patience is the key, the parts will arrive when they can.
I finally can really get rolling on the build.

Thanks to Gordon for great parts and service and thanks to Taylor at ********** for getting me hard-to-find trinkets at great prices.

[OttawaFFRer]

I'm going to attempt a first start tomorrow. All wired up, less a backup light, fluids in, cranks oil pressure.

I put the body on, a serious struggle. I'm running 15-inch tires. What are you guys running for ride height, I have zero clearance body to rubber with 4.5-5" of height.

[cnutting]

I'm running about the same ride height and have good fitment on the tires. Do you have all your bulb seal on? Body sitting without any interference with the fiberglass?

Might want to ping Mr. Kleiner...

[Zach Bohn]

what brand of headers did you go with?

[OttawaFFRer]

what brand of headers did you go with?

If memory serves they are just procomps.

[OttawaFFRer]

Ok...First start and a gocart yesterday.

This is my second FFR, 10 years ago I build a roadster and put a well-built 408 into it.
In between a had a 68 firebird with a 460.

This 347 with the 289 pipes LOUD. LOUD LOUD. I will have to figure something out, every cop in the city will have seen my drivers license by the end of the summer.



https://youtu.be/MoX54YFBAPo

[cnutting]

LoL, yes they are loud! About 90dB at idle was what Bob Boig and I measured. Not sure if the new owner still supplies 289 pipes, worth a check.

[OttawaFFRer]

LoL, yes they are loud! About 90dB at idle was what Bob Boig and I measured. Not sure if the new owner still supplies 289 pipes, worth a check.

I don't see it listed but surely they would build a set. That would be about $1200 CAD pesos. I'm considering attempting to modify them myself.

First, I may swap out the Thumpr cam. I'm too old. Not to make mistakes, which wanting that thumper sound may have been.
EDIT: maybe not swap the cam, it's not the lump that is killing me, it's the exhaust. I'm going to review my options for a quieter exhaust.

[SteveWorth]

The Quiet pipes are still listed for 289’s on Boigs site for $825.
https://boigmotorsports.com/product/bms-021-new-item-quiet-pipes-for-fia-usrrc-ffr-roadster/

I have also looked at them for my 289 build.
Steve

[OttawaFFRer]

I've ordered Car Chemistry 3 disk inserts and some packing. Will do a before and after test.

[lasse2]

I'm curious how the Car Chemistry inserts work. I ordered the Dynatech auger inserts that should be delivered today. I'm in the middle of body work so I probably won't get to installing them for a little while.

[Chainsaw]

I've ordered Car Chemistry 3 disk inserts and some packing. Will do a before and after test.

Very interested in seeing how those work out. The Boig price is a bit steep. Mrs. Chainsaw has made a firm request for quieter pipes even though she hasn't even heard the car run yet.

[OttawaFFRer]

I'm curious how the Car Chemistry inserts work. I ordered the Dynatech auger inserts that should be delivered today. I'm in the middle of body work so I probably won't get to installing them for a little while.

I've considered doing both.

I've built a fairly healthy engine and am now willing to give up HP. I do not remember my last 408 powered cobra being this loud. I have only been idling around the street, at WOT I'll be blowing out windows. :)

Parts are shipped, I hope to have them by the end of the week. I think they will drop db's more than augers, not sure what it will cost me in HP.

[OttawaFFRer]

Very interested in seeing how those work out. The Boig price is a bit steep. Mrs. Chainsaw has made a firm request for quieter pipes even though she hasn't even heard the car run yet.

Have her stand a block away for the first start, and she still won't be impressed. I'm peaking at 105 dB at idle. When the parts arrive I will test them thoroughly with video and post here.

I brought the car in and out of the garage twice today, my ears hurt.

[OttawaFFRer]

I intend to use the provided caps and pack both chambers with steel wool, I'm chasing max quiet with these.

[OttawaFFRer]

A yearly update and a question.

I'm back at it after considering giving up on this project several times
A couple of photos of my progress and a question regarding door latches.

I have the new style door latch but I believe I am missing a part that belongs in the red circle. Might one of you upload a photo of what I am looking for?

Thanks
202625202626202627.

[Grubester]

Loud, ugh. Even the different '65 Gt350s I owned in the late sixties and seventies were loud.
They all had side exhaust with glass packs -- and roll-up windows. They still wear on you after awhile.
I'm a few weeks into a F5 Mk IV ("289 Cobra") build and will go out of my way designing rear-exhaust.
It's heretical, I know, but have to give it a try. It will have a BP 347.

[OttawaFFRer]

The number of times I've considered giving up, but I'm getting close.

Sanding. Apply rage, sand. Apply rage, sand. Think you're getting close, apply rage, sand.

The body is very close, working on doors, and then dealing with the inside of the hood and trunk.

I have 2 gallons of FF, a gallon of primer/sealer, a gallon of 8V7, and a gallon of clear.

The only thing between me and being done is 100+ hours of sanding.

Will add some photos tomorrow.

[OttawaFFRer]

Featherfill round 1215976
Blocked the rear quarter.
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[johnnybgoode]

Featherfill round 1215976
Blocked the rear quarter.
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Looks good Vic!

[OttawaFFRer]

Featherfill round 2.
I really enjoy sanding FF! Much better than rage.216795216795

[OttawaFFRer]

What is said in my last post regarding the joy of sanding featherfill is false.

As I near the end of getting it to 320 I have had my full. Paint within 2 weeks.

While the body is off I need to finish a few items