shelbypruden
05-20-2025, 06:04 PM
Heyo! I am Shelby. I live in Memphis, which is in Shelby County, TN. I was named after a state park here, not Carroll. Always loved Cobra's. When I returned from an Iraq deployment in 2008, I was flush with cash. I was down to buying either an air cooled 911 or FFR Roadster. I picked the 911. Sold my 1980SC a few years later. Here it is 2025, cashed out my TSP(Gov 401k) and dropped it on a Cobra kit. I am an Army National Guard mechanic and truck driver. On the civilian side, I am a Toyota Master Certified Forklift technician.
Ordered 289 FIA kit on 3/16/25
Kit Completion Date on 4/12/25
Stewart Delivery on 5/18/25
Ordered the complete kit (289/302, 8.8 3 link, T5 setup) with wood steering wheel, body cut outs, wind wings, visors, wiper kit, and powder coated frame.
While waiting on the kit, I purchased pretty much all the parts needed for the build. I scoured threads here and on the other 2 forums for the info on the build I wanted. I know that I lack the following: lokar AOD dipstick and tube, torque converter nuts, choke cable, and trans oil cooler.
Engine:
1967 289 Engine rebuilt complete, Edelbrock performer plus cam, 351w heads, Stock displacement (A 289 in my 289!!!)
Racing starter
Hot Rod Polished Alternator
Summit dual plane intake
LMR Stainless shorty headers
Ford Performance rear sump oil pan kit
ARP Oil Pan Bolts
ARP Carb Bolts
Holley 4160 polished manual choke carb
Scott Drake chrome Hi-po air cleaner
Scott Drake gold valve covers w/ black oil caps
Pioneer 28oz flexplate
ATP 28oz harmonic balancer
MSD Plug wires
Summit Standard Distributor
Transmission:
Ford AOD short tail shaft used with torque convertor, came with Lokar shift bracket (Automatic trans, good thing some real 289s had auto trans, plus my wife can drive it!!!)
Lokar TV cable
Sonnax Holley TV cable adapter
Lokar 6" tail mount AOD shifter, chrome lever, black knob
Rear End:
2001 Mustang GT 3.27 traction lock junk yard sourced
Polished silver OE style clone of Ford Performance Diff Cover M-4033-KA
ARP Diff Bolts
Ford OE Axle Breathers
Rear Brakes:
Raybestos Calipers
Raybestos Pads
Raybestos Rotors
Dorman Caliper Bolts
Breeze Stainless lines and banjo bolts
Ford OE Backing Plates
Wheels and Tires:
American Racing Torq Thrust D 15x7
Cooper Cobra 215/70r 15
American Racing Torq Thrust D 15x8
Cooper Cobra 245/60r 15
My research showed current FIA rules allowed tires for real 289s is 215s in front and 245s in rear. The tires I picked have matching overall diameter. The original race wheel sizes were 6.5 and 8.5. My choices were based on getting close to that with available backspacing for my build. I did all the measurements with my wider late SN95 axle. The rear axle is the same overall width as a FFR 10.5 wheel and a fox axle. The Front is 1/4" wider than FFR 9 wheel. I chose Torq thrusts as they were campaigned on 60's road race and Dragon Snake cars. I didn't stress over pin drive. Bolt on geometry is better, plus the Dragon Snakes had dual bolt/ pin rears anyways.
My plan is to build a cool street car my wife can drive. I used to autocross a BMW 318is in DSP, so AX was on the list of my 289's future events. My build is an auto, so I did not consider club racing, since the SCCA only allows a few exempted autos. After I ordered everything, I discovered the SCCA allows automatics and does not require a full cage for Hill Climbs! WTH?! I am soooo stoked about that. THIS IS NOW A HILL CLIMB BUILD! It means I can't use the driver seat or the 289 roll bar, which is a bummer.
Hill Climb Parts List to buy:
Kirkey 55 Seat and Cover (not V)
Kirkey Brackets
Simpson Sub strap
OMP Fire System
Battery Cut Off
OMP tow straps/ quick jack mounted
OMP Steering wheel
NRG Hub Adapter low profile
NRG Quick Release low profile
SCCA Legal Roll bar (I can't find any off the shelf options!!! Maybe FFR will sell me a weld in roll bar from a challenge car?)
I met some cool Memphis FFR owners before I bought my kit. Brian has a sick green FFR with a Blueprint 500hp engine and Andy has killer red FFR with 700hp supercharged engine. My engine should be between 270 and 310, which is perfect for my needs and the AOD's 400hp limit. I had fun riding around and hanging with these guys.
Here are some delivery photos:
214133214134214135214136
Ordered 289 FIA kit on 3/16/25
Kit Completion Date on 4/12/25
Stewart Delivery on 5/18/25
Ordered the complete kit (289/302, 8.8 3 link, T5 setup) with wood steering wheel, body cut outs, wind wings, visors, wiper kit, and powder coated frame.
While waiting on the kit, I purchased pretty much all the parts needed for the build. I scoured threads here and on the other 2 forums for the info on the build I wanted. I know that I lack the following: lokar AOD dipstick and tube, torque converter nuts, choke cable, and trans oil cooler.
Engine:
1967 289 Engine rebuilt complete, Edelbrock performer plus cam, 351w heads, Stock displacement (A 289 in my 289!!!)
Racing starter
Hot Rod Polished Alternator
Summit dual plane intake
LMR Stainless shorty headers
Ford Performance rear sump oil pan kit
ARP Oil Pan Bolts
ARP Carb Bolts
Holley 4160 polished manual choke carb
Scott Drake chrome Hi-po air cleaner
Scott Drake gold valve covers w/ black oil caps
Pioneer 28oz flexplate
ATP 28oz harmonic balancer
MSD Plug wires
Summit Standard Distributor
Transmission:
Ford AOD short tail shaft used with torque convertor, came with Lokar shift bracket (Automatic trans, good thing some real 289s had auto trans, plus my wife can drive it!!!)
Lokar TV cable
Sonnax Holley TV cable adapter
Lokar 6" tail mount AOD shifter, chrome lever, black knob
Rear End:
2001 Mustang GT 3.27 traction lock junk yard sourced
Polished silver OE style clone of Ford Performance Diff Cover M-4033-KA
ARP Diff Bolts
Ford OE Axle Breathers
Rear Brakes:
Raybestos Calipers
Raybestos Pads
Raybestos Rotors
Dorman Caliper Bolts
Breeze Stainless lines and banjo bolts
Ford OE Backing Plates
Wheels and Tires:
American Racing Torq Thrust D 15x7
Cooper Cobra 215/70r 15
American Racing Torq Thrust D 15x8
Cooper Cobra 245/60r 15
My research showed current FIA rules allowed tires for real 289s is 215s in front and 245s in rear. The tires I picked have matching overall diameter. The original race wheel sizes were 6.5 and 8.5. My choices were based on getting close to that with available backspacing for my build. I did all the measurements with my wider late SN95 axle. The rear axle is the same overall width as a FFR 10.5 wheel and a fox axle. The Front is 1/4" wider than FFR 9 wheel. I chose Torq thrusts as they were campaigned on 60's road race and Dragon Snake cars. I didn't stress over pin drive. Bolt on geometry is better, plus the Dragon Snakes had dual bolt/ pin rears anyways.
My plan is to build a cool street car my wife can drive. I used to autocross a BMW 318is in DSP, so AX was on the list of my 289's future events. My build is an auto, so I did not consider club racing, since the SCCA only allows a few exempted autos. After I ordered everything, I discovered the SCCA allows automatics and does not require a full cage for Hill Climbs! WTH?! I am soooo stoked about that. THIS IS NOW A HILL CLIMB BUILD! It means I can't use the driver seat or the 289 roll bar, which is a bummer.
Hill Climb Parts List to buy:
Kirkey 55 Seat and Cover (not V)
Kirkey Brackets
Simpson Sub strap
OMP Fire System
Battery Cut Off
OMP tow straps/ quick jack mounted
OMP Steering wheel
NRG Hub Adapter low profile
NRG Quick Release low profile
SCCA Legal Roll bar (I can't find any off the shelf options!!! Maybe FFR will sell me a weld in roll bar from a challenge car?)
I met some cool Memphis FFR owners before I bought my kit. Brian has a sick green FFR with a Blueprint 500hp engine and Andy has killer red FFR with 700hp supercharged engine. My engine should be between 270 and 310, which is perfect for my needs and the AOD's 400hp limit. I had fun riding around and hanging with these guys.
Here are some delivery photos:
214133214134214135214136