View Full Version : just placed mkIV order and i have a few questions...already!
Complete kit IRS, 351 tko 500. I am building a street car for fun. I am in SC. I started looking at other options from site vendors like glove box, fresh air vent. These seem like they have good reviews, are they worth it?
I went with black roll bar and exhaust. My family (especially my son) says we should go with chrome. I was thinking of an under the the side exhaust exiting in front of the rear tire. Mike Forte gave me some pointers for that. Great guy, thank you for the motor and Tranny hookup! I just thought I would have less burns. Then I came across a vendor with heat shields. Do they really work? Are they removable? Is the polished SS worth 599?
I think I can use 15 inch wheels on my brakes, so should I go 15 or 17 inch wheels. I really like the look of the billboard tires and the taller side walls. A vendor has 15×10 for the rear. Car is going to be a driver and I do not see it doing much track time. I love the look of the light blue roadster on the ffr website. Those tires look great. Are they available and worth it? Or are they show and drive like crud?
Thanks for reading, car is to be completed Nov 5!
Ernest
MPTech
10-18-2011, 10:49 PM
I got an idea in my mind what I wanted from viewing pictures, reading TONS of posts, and joining the local Cobra club (Gateway Cobra Club in St. Louis, GREAT group of guys). Then I started writing notes of what I wanted, and justifying why. Then I wrote a Build Plan. I highly recommend it, and even after all of the prep work, I revised it several times, then even changed a couple items after I started my build. I printed it off and kept a copy at my desk at work and wrote notes on it as I thought of something new.
MPTech Build Plan - revision 9 (and counting) (http://www.ffcars.com/forums/17-factory-five-roadsters/264052-mptech-build-plan-revision-9-counting.html)
PM me if you'd like a Word version.
Personally, I like the chrome rollbars, sidepipes, and bumpers, especially with blue. Now if your going silver or black, the black PC looks pretty cool.
Good luck!
jlfernan
10-18-2011, 11:04 PM
The heat shields definately work, mygirlfriend loves them. In hind site I should have gone with ceramic coated pipes. My stainless pipes turned gold at the bend, and I really don't care for that. If you're talking about the freah air vents(don't recall who sells them) that are tubes that run back from the front of the car and enter at the top of the footboxes, I don't belive they'll work with the MK4. The DS footbox is higher then in the 3.1 and won't allow the fitment of the tube. You might want to double check with the vendor first. And don't forget, we're all here to help, anything you need just ask.
http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/9124/jorge.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)
NICK C
10-18-2011, 11:18 PM
The fresh air vents are from Paul Profrock. He can give you all the info and parts available.
Thanks for the comments. Tons of great info on this site. I just keep reading and reading.
Bob Cowan
10-19-2011, 08:53 AM
I just love the look of side pipes. I'm not a fan of the under car exhaust. For me, the look of the side pipes is an important part of the car. But that's just personal preferance.
I started out with silver ceramic, which matched the roll bar. later I painted them black. I like the black a lot better. Makes the car look longer and lower, which surprised me. Again, the color is personal preferance. But, I do recommend some kind of ceramic heat barrier. On the head pipes, it improves efficiency and decreases underhood temps. On the side pipes, it converts a 3rd degree burn to a 2nd degree :) After a street drive, the differance between inside pipe temp and outside pipe temp ant the very tip is about 50*; that's a lot.
Wheel and tire choice is all over the place. Some people like the original looking wheels and 15" tires. Some people like a modern polished alum and 18-20" wheels. Go for the looks that spins your crank. Good 15" tires are getting hard to find, though. And when you do find them, they are pretty expensive. And, big brakes are hard to fit inside a 15" wheel. It can be done, but they won't be as good as big brakes in a 17" wheel. I like big brakes.
skullandbones
10-19-2011, 09:52 AM
Emac,
listen to what MPTech said about the build plan. It really helps to keep you on track and it also helps to force you to think through the process. Sometimes you might be looking at a part or product that looks good. When you have thought it out a little more, you might see that it just isn't for your project, IMHO.
Sounds like you have the basis for a real nice build, especially the IRS. I think heat shields should be standard equipment on all sidepipes. I believe the areas where you get burns around the ankle and lower calf are really bad (very tender meat). Looking forward to hear from you and your project. WEK.
efnfast
10-19-2011, 12:19 PM
I think chrome roll bars look better - from what I've heard the ffr chrome job can be crap, plus there's a good chance you'll mung up the roll bars as you're installing them. I would just take them in black and later chrome them.
Ceramic coat the exhaust (inside and outside) and you should be fine - I can drive around for 1/2hr. stop, get out, and immediately touch the pipe and keep my hand on it for several seconds w/o being burned......i've brushed my legs against the pipes dozens of times and have never once been burned.
I can understand how people get burned though - I've stood like 10+feet away form roadsters w/ chrome and powdercoated pipes and the heat just BOILS right off of them.
I like the ceramic coating idea. I will look into it for sure. I appreciate the advice, as I know these questions are probably very repetitive to some of the more experienced folks. Thanks.
cobradawg
10-19-2011, 03:45 PM
There are plenty of FFR's in S.C. if we knew where you are I'm sure some owners in your ares would be glad to show you their's and answer questions. Looking at other cars closely, and asking questions was a big help to me. Also there is more traffic on the FFcars site than here and thus more info.
I am located in greenwood/abbeville . I have spoken with a guy in abbeville that has built six cars. He gave me some good pointers, including this forum. Not sure what his handle is.
Ernest
cobradawg
10-20-2011, 01:53 PM
yeah I know who you are talking about, I can't remember hid name either, but he was very helpful to me too. I saw his black one and I knew what color mine was going to be!
Bob Pedley
10-21-2011, 01:35 PM
Nice to have another FFR roadster in SC. I have my anniversery edition and I am ready to start. I am attending the build school in November.
I am in AIken, SC
mike forte
10-22-2011, 08:22 AM
Hi emac,
Welcome to the forum. I've collected a pile of parts for your FFR. I can see you're excited.... This will be fun to build with your son.
Mike
riptide motorsport
10-22-2011, 07:48 PM
Welcome....Jorge Fernandez has it summed up correctly for you
cobradawg
10-23-2011, 05:44 PM
Ah Greenwood, Home of the Swinging Medallions. Brent Fortson use to sit next to me in Zoology class at U. of Georgia! Keep ue posted on how your build goes.
timp2
10-23-2011, 05:57 PM
Your build sounds similar to mine. 351W, TKO 500, Black accents, Black ceramic side pipes.
5473
5474
5475
Hope this helps
Bob, Take good notes at the build school! Looks like we will be bulding together, lets keep in touch. I still haven't decided on a color, but I am leaning towards British racing green without stripes.
CobraDawg, I grew up with the Medallions. Lots of great memories with those guys. They are still going strong.....well a second generation!