I am finally doing it!

[DanQ]

I placed my order for my 33 Hot Rod a week ago, set up for LS and automatic transmission, 4 link rear, electric power steering, rear exhaust, full fenders, running boards, hood, and side covers, chrome tilt column, and EFI fuel system. I will be purchasing a low mile 5.3 and a 4L60 transmission. This will be delivered by Stewart transportation.
I have already started by purchasing a used 8.8 axle and am in the process of getting it cleaned up, painted, and converted to 5 lugs and disc brakes.
This is not my first car build, but my first Factory Five project, and am really looking forward to it.
I have built a few nice toys in the last few decades, including a frame off Jeep CJ7, a 1953 Ford F100 pickup, a 1923 T-Bucket, a 1967 Chevy Nova SS, a 1979 Ford F150 pickup, and a few more. Most of these cars were trophy winning vehicles when completed.
I was a HD truck and forklift mechanic for 38 years, and then a fleet manager for a large company in Minnesota for seven years now. I have been looking at the Factory Five catalog for over a decade, I figured it is time to see if this is what I want to do for my retirement past time "job".
Wish me luck, but I really think it will be no problem having fun and hopefully getting to know a few people on this site along the way.

[Jeff33Ford]

Welcome aboard. I have done a few restorations as well and to me anyway this is so much more fun and easier. I am really enjoying the build. Maybe because it seems there are less surprises. Or maybe because it is a lot cleaner to work on as well.

[narly1]

Congrats on starting your new adventure.

Did they give you an expected build/delivery date yet?

Earl

[narly1]

Did they give you an expected build/delivery date yet?

Nevermind, I saw in your other post where you mentioned May. I get mine in March.

Earl

[Jrmotorsports55]

Congrats!

[Mastertech5]

Congratulations. I had a similar path to my build. I'm having a blast and I'm sure you will too. Questions are always welcome. Many knowledgeable people here to help spend your money!

[JimLev]

Congrats on ordering a hotrod. I finished and registered mine last week, got the title today.

[DanQ]

Exactly my reasons too.

[DanQ]

I wonder why the Canadian kit is so much less than the American kit. Would that be from the exchange rate, or is it a different kit?

[DanQ]

OK, question #1. My kit arrives in May/June 2023, so I am now getting my 8.8 rear axle, engine, and transmission ready. I bought a 1990 8.8 Mustang 4 lug, drum brake axle, and am in the process of cleaning it up, new seals, checking for wear, etc. I ordered 5 lug axles, disc brake conversion brackets, and all new rotors and calipers. Everything is lining up nicely, but all the photos of the disc brake placement shows them on the front of the axle, not at the rear, as originally located on the mustangs. I can just flip flop the brackets and calipers to the front, but then the parking brake cables would be 180 degrees off, the cables would have to make a U-turn to hook up. This seems very odd, and not likely to operate nearly as nice. Is there a reason the disc cannot be kept at the rear of the axle? The only thing that looks close is the calipers may interfere with the rear mounted coil overs. 178265178264178263

[Mastertech5]

You might want to start your own build thread for progress and questions. I have the same setup and I put my calipers on the back side. You can do it either way.

[narly1]

I wonder why the Canadian kit is so much less than the American kit. Would that be from the exchange rate, or is it a different kit?

It's a different kit in that it is incomplete as compared to the American one.

It's a workaround to satisfy the importation rules set out by Transport Canada. They take a dim view on you importing a "kit car" but have no issues on you importing a "heap of parts" so to speak. In order to qualify as a "heap of parts" they have to leave out the brakes, suspension and the drive shaft, which you have to then buy separately from a Canadian 3rd party supplier who works closely with FFR in a separate shipment.

The short answer is that in the end it costs more for a Canadian to buy a kit.

Earl