Recent 289 FIA build completed in MA

[rpard508]

Finally getting around to posting some photos of my fairly recently completed 289 FIA.

Project went pretty quickly, picked up the kit with son Dan on Nov. 15 ‘23, built the rolling chassis up over the winter, got the engine/trans from Mike Forte in April, go-karted June 1st ‘24, then off to Mike Everson for body prep, paint, re-assembly and registered legal on the road on Nov. 14 ‘24, exactly one day short of a year since we picked up the kit at FFR.
Many thanks to Mike Forte (Forte Performance Parts) for the turnkey engine/trans package, Mike Everson (Mike’s Replica Parts) for the great job on the body assembly, his skill & expertise and other misc. tasks, Jennings Auto in Fall River for the beautiful paint work, and finally to Factory Five and Dave Smith for producing a quality basic kit. Also big thanks to Zach V and Vince D for the help with the motor install!
We built the car with the pin-drive setup and 3-link Moser 8.8 rear end. Mike Forte built us a strong carbureted 347 stroker up from a 1965 289 block, mated to a TKX 18084. Other parts from Forte were his throttle linkage, hydraulic clutch setup, Harrison tank, hard cooling pipes, BBK shorty headers, seat heaters, all really nice stuff.
Used a bunch of Breeze Engineering parts, all well engineered and quality pieces: Breeze lower trailing arms, fan shroud, battery relocate kit, radiator top cover plate, hood and trunk prop rods, dash support brackets, etc.
Had the side pipes reworked by Tubular Automotive (Rockland MA) to tone them down a bit, also used the Russ Thompson gas pedal from Mountain Metalworks.

Really looking forward to putting some miles on and enjoying the car now that it’s finally warming up a bit,
Cheers,
Rich
212179212180212181212182212183

[JohnnyB]

WOW, That is Beautiful! If I was ever going to build another one it would look like that.
Nicely done!

[Dgc333]

Great looking car. 👍

What are you doing for emissions inspection?

[rpard508]

Nothing. The emissions requirements in Mass started in 1973; my engine is a ‘65 when there were no emissions requirements. This is why I couldn’t use a newer block, like Blueprint, etc. If I had used a post-73 engine, I would’ve had to crush an old pre-73 car with an engine at least as big as mine and the crush car would’ve had to have been registered in Mass for at least a year within the last 5 years. What a state.

[FRM]

Looks spectacular. Great job. Have fun driving it.

[Dgc333]

Nothing. The emissions requirements in Mass started in 1973; my engine is a ‘65 when there were no emissions requirements. This is why I couldn’t use a newer block, like Blueprint, etc. If I had used a post-73 engine, I would’ve had to crush an old pre-73 car with an engine at least as big as mine and the crush car would’ve had to have been registered in Mass for at least a year within the last 5 years. What a state.

The rules for kit cars changed a few years ago in Massachusetts so emissions compliance is based on the year the car was first registered. Your options are meet the emissions requirements, use the entire drivetrain with all emissions components from a doner or crush a 74 or older car with an equivalent or larger motor.

It seems in practice that the state is going back further than the rule change. My son has a customer that built a 56 Porsche Speedster using a VW back in the 90s. He has been coming into his shop for years and was only subjected to safety inspection. This year when my son scanned the existing sticker up came a message telling him to call the Motor Assistance Center. He did and was told to complete the safety inspection and apply the emissions reject sticker and refer the customer to the MAC. The customer was told he had to crush a car.
Ran into a guy a couple of years ago with a FFR 33 hot rod. The car was registered as a 33 Ford replica. For 2 years he just had to pass safety until this year when he went through the same issue as my son's customer.
Another guy I talk to at cruise nights had a 63 Corvette that started life as a race car and does not have a GM issued VIN. It was converted to a street car over 20 years ago and was registered in NY, it was sold to a person in VT and Jay bought it over 5 years ago. He was subjected to safety only until this past year when the same thing happened to him.

When I built my 33 Speedstar I did it with the idea that I was going to be compliant to the emissions requirements. I have a Gen3 5.7 Hemi controlled with a 09 Challenger manual tranny ECU. I have cats, a charcoal canister and a purge solenoid. If you plug into the OBD port there are no codes and the status monitors are set so it meets the Massachusetts emissions test. I have not been able to get an answer from MAC if this car will meet the kit car requirements as an emissions compliant car. So I have chosen not to have the car inspected at all.

I really hope you can get around the emissions requirements because of the age of the engine.

[rpard508]

Already have been approved and granted a lifetime emissions waiver by the state MAC center and passed inspection. They go by the emissions model year of the drivetrain; my emissions model year is 1965 therefore no emissions requirements as there were none back then.

[John289]

Nice job, great to see another 289, Everson’s the best!

[Dgc333]

Already have been approved and granted a lifetime emissions waiver by the state MAC center and passed inspection. They go by the emissions model year of the drivetrain; my emissions model year is 1965 therefore no emissions requirements as there were none back then.

Interesting I was told they stopped doing that. Did you go for inspection and fail then deal with the MAC center or deal with MAC first?

[rpard508]

I was talking to the MAC center before I even bought the kit just to ensure this approach was acceptable to the state. After the car was done and I got plates, I went for inspection, failed, then took it to the MAC center for the drivetrain verification and waiver, then back to inspection and passed.

[Dgc333]

I was talking to the MAC center before I even bought the kit just to ensure this approach was acceptable to the state. After the car was done and I got plates, I went for inspection, failed, then took it to the MAC center for the drivetrain verification and waiver, then back to inspection and passed.

Thanks 😁👍

[cob427sc]

I built a 33 roadster a couple of years ago. Having been through the system on several other cars I expected problems. When I had the RMV inspection the State Cop actually came to my house and did the inspection in my garage! Then when I went to get the final registration the Registry office in Yarmouth couldn't load the car into the system. After almost 3 hours of frustration they gave up and registered the car as a 33 Ford and titled it the same. I sold the car to someone in Michigan{?} a year ago - don't know how he made out.

[Dgc333]

I built a 33 roadster a couple of years ago. Having been through the system on several other cars I expected problems. When I had the RMV inspection the State Cop actually came to my house and did the inspection in my garage! Then when I went to get the final registration the Registry office in Yarmouth couldn't load the car into the system. After almost 3 hours of frustration they gave up and registered the car as a 33 Ford and titled it the same. I sold the car to someone in Michigan{?} a year ago - don't know how he made out.

I finished my 33 Speedstar May 24. Getting the VIN was easy peazy. Brought it to the salvage title center, the trooper reviewed my paperwork, stamped the COO, applied the VIN label and sent me on my way.

Going to the registry was a typical PIMA. In the morning the women that waited on me insisted that the dealer sales tax portion of the registration form needed to be completed by FFR and insisted that the application be "stamped" by the insurance company even though I had the policy showing coverage. FFR, provided me with a Mass sales tax form that they give out of state customers and Grundy helped me out by stamping the form and emailing it back to me. Went back to the registry after lunch and got a different person. He didn't care about the sales tax form and was happy with my insurance info, the "stamp" was just a blue line with authorized signature under it and initials scribbled above. There was some sort of computer glitch that required the registries tech support to sort out. After 20 minutes I walked out with my registration (1933 Factory Five Coupe with a replica brand) and plates.

[Chainsaw]

Very nice. Love it.

[Takis31gk]

Finally getting around to posting some photos of my fairly recently completed 289 FIA.

Project went pretty quickly, picked up the kit with son Dan on Nov. 15 ‘23, built the rolling chassis up over the winter, got the engine/trans from Mike Forte in April, go-karted June 1st ‘24, then off to Mike Everson for body prep, paint, re-assembly and registered legal on the road on Nov. 14 ‘24, exactly one day short of a year since we picked up the kit at FFR.
Many thanks to Mike Forte (Forte Performance Parts) for the turnkey engine/trans package, Mike Everson (Mike’s Replica Parts) for the great job on the body assembly, his skill & expertise and other misc. tasks, Jennings Auto in Fall River for the beautiful paint work, and finally to Factory Five and Dave Smith for producing a quality basic kit. Also big thanks to Zach V and Vince D for the help with the motor install!
We built the car with the pin-drive setup and 3-link Moser 8.8 rear end. Mike Forte built us a strong carbureted 347 stroker up from a 1965 289 block, mated to a TKX 18084. Other parts from Forte were his throttle linkage, hydraulic clutch setup, Harrison tank, hard cooling pipes, BBK shorty headers, seat heaters, all really nice stuff.
Used a bunch of Breeze Engineering parts, all well engineered and quality pieces: Breeze lower trailing arms, fan shroud, battery relocate kit, radiator top cover plate, hood and trunk prop rods, dash support brackets, etc.
Had the side pipes reworked by Tubular Automotive (Rockland MA) to tone them down a bit, also used the Russ Thompson gas pedal from Mountain Metalworks.

Really looking forward to putting some miles on and enjoying the car now that it’s finally warming up a bit,
Cheers,
Rich
212179212180212181212182212183

That is gorgeous! I'm in MA too and building an MK5. Will probably be picking your brain when it comes time to register/inspect the car.

[tonywy]

Great Job ! Looks like one should.

[chuckster]

She’s a beauty, great job. It breaks my heart to be selling mine. I hope you have years of enjoyment.

[chuckster]

Are you planning to bring it to a bass pro shops, Cruisin at patriot place anytime soon? the next one is April first, then every other Thursday thru October.. here’s a picture of Mark Reynolds and me looking at my car at a BPS Cruise in a couple of years ago.

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[Dgc333]

I was there on the 17th with my Barracuda. But I do bring my 33 Speedstar and won an award last August.

212890

[dalves]

Looks great, congratulations! What tires are those and how do they drive? The really fit the look of the car.

[Busydoingnothing]

Are going to go without stripes or did you add them later? Pulling to together my plan for a 289 FIA build.

[Chainsaw]

Looks great. I love it.

[tundra2050]

Beautiful build! Thanks for providing where you sourced your options.