Bodywork Process - Lots of Questions

[Mister Val]

I recently decided to have a pro do my bodywork and paint. I pick up my kit in about two weeks, so now I'm trying to figure out the details. A couple of questions have come up:

- The Factory Five videos recommend doing initial bodywork yourself, and then sending it to the body shop before building the rest of the car. This makes sense to me from a timing perspective, but won't the body need to be mounted to the car to make all of the adjustments before painting? How's that supposed to work?

- I'm planning to install two Breeze roll bars. My understanding is that the roll bar holes are cut out of the body fairly late in the build process. Assuming I do have the body painted at the beginning of the process: Would I cut them out of the painted body, or cut them before any other assembly? Same question for anything else that might require cutting the body (windshield?).

- I would love to blend the scoop into the hood, and do away with exposed rivets/nuts. Haven't found any really good advice on either forum for doing that. Any tips?

- I'm in Rhode Island, about 40 mins from Factory Five. Does anyone have a body shop / painter recommendation in my area?

Thanks in advance! I cannot wait to get started!

[rich grsc]

Your choice, but I would not paint the car till it was finished and on the road. Drive in gel-coat till all the bugs are worked out, then send it for paint in the off season for paint.

[Peter Ross]

I recently decided to have a pro do my bodywork and paint. I pick up my kit in about two weeks, so now I'm trying to figure out the details. A couple of questions have come up:

- The Factory Five videos recommend doing initial bodywork yourself, and then sending it to the body shop before building the rest of the car. This makes sense to me from a timing perspective, but won't the body need to be mounted to the car to make all of the adjustments before painting? How's that supposed to work?

- I'm planning to install two Breeze roll bars. My understanding is that the roll bar holes are cut out of the body fairly late in the build process. Assuming I do have the body painted at the beginning of the process: Would I cut them out of the painted body, or cut them before any other assembly? Same question for anything else that might require cutting the body (windshield?).

- I would love to blend the scoop into the hood, and do away with exposed rivets/nuts. Haven't found any really good advice on either forum for doing that. Any tips?

- I'm in Rhode Island, about 40 mins from Factory Five. Does anyone have a body shop / painter recommendation in my area?

Thanks in advance! I cannot wait to get started!

Greetings and congrats Mister Val. I'm in Exeter, picked up my kit end of January. I'm currently completing (among too many other projects) a Coupe re body with many secondary bonded parts including an integrated scoop. I prefer not to discuss materials/technique, at this point, but you are welcome to visit any time and get some ideas first hand. The shop is across the road from Yawgoo Valley Tubing entrance. 60 miles from FFR.
This is not a solicitation, just an offer to share exactly what you are asking about.

[Windsor]

The Factory Five videos recommend doing initial bodywork yourself, and then sending it to the body shop before building the rest of the car. This makes sense to me from a timing perspective, but won't the body need to be mounted to the car to make all of the adjustments before painting? How's that supposed to work?

The body shop is going to want the chassis at least at the beginning for fit and shaping, exactly as you mention.

Depending on the shop, some will let you run off with the rolling chassis to a) get it out of their way (less for them to mask off, too), and b) let you do some final touches on the mechanical components.

https://www.youtube.com/@i.e.427garage9/videos -- Frank (i.e.427) youtube "channel." Scroll down to about 4 months ago with "Pauline Has a Date" video, he explains it well. It's a good idea to go through his videos, he points out quite a few tips and tricks in them.


I'm planning to install two Breeze roll bars. My understanding is that the roll bar holes are cut out of the body fairly late in the build process. Assuming I do have the body painted at the beginning of the process: Would I cut them out of the painted body, or cut them before any other assembly? Same question for anything else that might require cutting the body (windshield?).

You should fit everything that's going to require drilling/cutting before paint. ^^^rich said it best, which is "plan on driving it in gel-coat" but paraphrased. :)

[Mister Val]

Your choice, but I would not paint the car till it was finished and on the road. Drive in gel-coat till all the bugs are worked out, then send it for paint in the off season for paint.

That's good advice, and sounds much more reasonable to me. Thanks!

[Mister Val]

Greetings and congrats Mister Val. I'm in Exeter, picked up my kit end of January. I'm currently completing (among too many other projects) a Coupe re body with many secondary bonded parts including an integrated scoop. I prefer not to discuss materials/technique, at this point, but you are welcome to visit any time and get some ideas first hand. The shop is across the road from Yawgoo Valley Tubing entrance. 60 miles from FFR.
This is not a solicitation, just an offer to share exactly what you are asking about.

Peter, that's a very generous offer and I'll definitely take you up on it. My schedule's pretty crazy this month and next, but I will send you a PM in the future and hope to come see what you're working on.

[GFX2043mtu]

Make sure the body shop either has lots of fiberglass experience or has done FFR cobras. I grew up in body shops and I can tell you todays body guys (95% of guys 40 and younger guys) just replace panels and their real body work is questionable at most places. Many moons ago they worked panels and repaired them on about every thing. A real body guy is very hard to come by as most are retired now. And trust me you want that guy as he will know what to do and can do it fast with and it will look good for years to come. They can provide you with a better car faster and and a good price. Not so scare you but be prepared for $10k to $15k quotes and some may be higher. One of our local guys here had Jeff do a car and his price was crazy good. Not sure if he is still doing cars but it may be worth a call as I know he has done tons of them. I do agree finish the car unpainted and put a couple hundred miles on it to find the flaws and fix them. At that point paint it. Oh and be careful trimming panel gaps. To much gap is a lot of work to fix.