5 Brothers MK4 Build

[audi0adict]

I’m Brian. Welcome to the 5 Brothers MK4 build thread. Let the madness begin…

Throughout my life, I have always been curious to learn how things work. My grandfather and father were always tinkering and building. I inherited their DIY attitude. I became an engineer, got married, and had kids. Now I’m the father who is always tinkering and building.

My wife and I have five sons, age 8 to 16. We constantly look for ways to teach them life skills: independence, problem solving, responsibility, etc. As they grow, we involve them in progressively more complex DIY projects around the house. Now that our oldest is driving, we are spending more time in the garage. Time for the ultimate DIY project!

I ordered an MK4 complete kit on my 40th birthday in August. Our completion date was listed as 3/5/20222. We should have our kit from Stewart by the end of March.

From FFR:

MK4 complete kit
Powder coated chassis
Stainless headers
Vinyl seats
3-link suspension
Vintage gauges
Wind wings
Sun visors
Chrome roll bar upgrade
Body cut-outs
Vinyl dash with glovebox
15” Halibrands
Regular kit brakes

From Forte:

Boss 302 – dyno tested at 347 Hp and 340 Ft-lb
Edelbrock Intake
Quick Fuel Slayer 600 CFM Carburetor
Tremec T-5
Moser 8.8” 3.55 rear end
Power steering
Mechanical throttle linkage
Clutch effort reducer
Clutch cable firewall adjuster

From Gas-n:

Polished stainless touring side pipes

From Breeze:

Radiator fan shroud
Lower radiator support kit
Lower radiator hose kit
Radiator cowl cover
Radiator mounting hinge
Coolant “T” kit
Hood prop rod
Power steering hose kit
Billet aluminum side-view mirror set
Engine compartment battery mounting kit
Tapered seat platforms

[egchewy79]

Sounds like an awesome bonding experience with your boys. Sounds like you have a solid plan in place. This forum and the other has been a reliable source of knowledge for a first time builder like me.

[audi0adict]

Here's the pit crew:

Homeschooling at the dining room table
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163626&d=1646779011

In the cab of my oldest son's truck
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163625&d=1646779011

My two youngest boys wanted separate bedrooms. I told them they could, if they built a wall themselves. A couple weeks later... they had their own bedrooms.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163624&d=1646779011
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163623&d=1646779011
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163622&d=1646779011

[edwardb]

Congrats on your kit purchase and upcoming delivery. It's awesome you could do it now while your kids are still around and can be involved. I wasn't so lucky. Mine were grown and gone before it was possible for me to take on this hobby.

You didn't ask for feedback, but two comments based on your configuration: Minor point, but why the hood prop rod? The kit comes with gas shocks for the hood and they work great. Some will say they push on the hood when closed. But the hinge geometry prevents that. Just have to make sure the attachment on the hood is located properly. Also, not a fan of vacuum secondary carbs on these cars. And I'm not alone. Many will tell you the same thing. Lots of thread bandwidth on this topic before EFI became more common. Mike sells them because he says they're easy to set up. That's what he told me when I bought one from him for my first build. I never could get it to run right though. A double pumper lit up the car.

Good luck with your build.

[audi0adict]

To prepare for the real thing, they built a model of a Ford 289.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163631&d=1646779084

Then, we got the real thing from Mike Forte.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163628&d=1646779084
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163627&d=1646779084

It's a bit bigger than the model.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163630&d=1646779084

Getting the garage ready for the Cobra.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163629&d=1646779084

[audi0adict]

Thanks for the feedback, Paul.

I guess the hood prop rod was a mistake. I didn't realize the kit came with gas shocks. I only ordered it because it was on Mark Reynold's list of recommended upgrades. Mark will need to update his list.

Mike sold me on the vacuum secondary using the same argument that he gave you - that it's the easiest option for setup. If I can't get it to run right, maybe I'll end up switching to a double pumper.

[hineas]

Looks like a great build!

Doing this with your sons will be a great experience.

[WIS89]

Brian-

Congratulations on the purchase, and what looks like is going to be a wonderful build! Congratulations also on raising five sons!! I raised two, which means my wife and I could play man-to-man defense. You are stuck in a zone D, which makes coverage much more difficult!

The best part of my build has been the time I have spent in the garage with my boys. There is something about that time together, where we could cover a wide range of topics, including some that we only seemed to share in that setting. To me, it was that time together that was the absolute best part of my build. I am not done yet, but my boys are now doing their own thing, and I am by myself. I admire the fact that you are starting when they can help you see the project through! I wish you all the best, and I hope you have some of the same kind of moments I had with my boys -- you will cherish them always!

Good luck Brian, and please keep us posted on your progress! All the best!

Regards,

Steve

[John Ibele]

Hey, welcome to the fun, and yep ... you and the boys are gonna be just fine with this project. I really admire how you let them take the lead in projects while you handle the camera. My two boys joined me in build school and the early part of the build, and while they're now off on their own, they happily join in when I ask for help. And having the oldest become a machinist hasn't hurt in the least! Enjoy the adventure and time with the boys. Cheers, John

[Jeff Kleiner]

This should be a fun built to watch! I look forward to following along with you and your sons :)

Jeff

[Chainsaw]

What Jeff said. Great family project.

[audi0adict]

Thanks for the encouragement, guys.

Chainsaw - I see that your production completion date was 2/5/2022, but you're still awaiting shipment. Has Stewart given you a delivery date?

My completion date was quoted as 3/5/2022, but I haven't heard from FFR or Stewart.

[Fman]

So nice to see your kids in your garage with tools in there hands rather than playing video games or on cell phones. I feel like blue collar work/projects is something kids have no interest in these days. What a great experience for all of them building the roadster, I am subscribed and look forward to watching your build come together.

BTW Maybe your kids can teach me sometime how to frame a wall I always wanted to learn how to do that :D

[cob427sc]

I built my first roadster in 1998 along with my 14 year old son and it was a rewarding experience. He also learned to drive and shift a standard transmission on that car, an exciting and also rewarding experience! Good luck and I look forward to following your progress.

[Springsyeti]

Awesome! I am getting ready to start one with my wife and step-son when it gets delivered next month.

[ggunter]

Looks like you have Jacks of all trades. Which one does sheet rock I probably have a side job for him? That build is something they will remember for forever. I wish my dad would have done something like that when I was a kid. The only thing he ever said to me was "stop that or you'll get hurt".

[460.465USMC]

Welcome aboard, Audio! Congrats on kicking off a huge adventure! So cool you have five sons! What a fantastic looking family! (I have four sons, and a daughter. I remember years of wrestle-mania-meyhem at our house. For years my wife said she was always outnumbered...then we eventually adopted our daughter :p).

Thanks for starting a build thread. I look forward to following along, as I'm always learning from other builders.

[audi0adict]

Eric from Stewart arrived three hours early on Good Friday (April 15). My boys were all still asleep. I got three of them up to help.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165722&d=1650393946

We have a long uphill driveway. I operated the camera while Eric and my boys did all the work.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165723&d=1650393946

We used my oldest boy's truck for the boxes.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165724&d=1650393946

My youngest is definitely the most excited to help.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165725&d=1650393946

[audi0adict]

My POL isn't too bad. For a variety of reasons, my kit sat at FFR for a month after my completion date. So, they ended up being able to ship most of the POL items along with the kit.

Missing the front upper control arms is a bummer. I guess I'll start with aluminum panels or work on the rear axle and suspension.

I see a Certificate of Origin number (10759) and a Chassis Serial Number Plate (13858) on the POL. These don't match the number stamped on the chassis (F5R1010304RD). Which number should I use when referring to my MK4?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165726&d=1650394768
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165727&d=1650394768

[egchewy79]

#10304.

[Windsor]

I see a Certificate of Origin number (10759) and a Chassis Serial Number Plate (13858) on the POL. These don't match the number stamped on the chassis (F5R1010304RD). Which number should I use when referring to my MK4?

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=165726&d=1650394768

Looking at this, I believe 10759 and 13858 are just the part numbers for the Certificate of Origin and Chassis Serial Number Plate (respectively).

[audi0adict]

Thanks, Chewy and Windsor. That makes sense.

[JB in NOVA]

Just catching up on your build. I love when builders involve the whole family -- so cool! Your sons will remember this for the rest of their lives. I laughed when I saw your pooch -- he looks just like ours:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=127670&d=1588539800

He loves riding in the Roadster, by the way. I'm looking forward to following your build!

[steno]

Welcome to the family. I’m looking forward to seeing the build come along!