New Coupe Order Questions and Suggestions

[Power Surge]

I am seriously considering ordering a Type 65 Coupe to build. I would like to list my chosen options from the FFR order site, and get opinions on them from people who have been through building the car.

My plans for the car are just a nice fun street driver, with the vintage look, no racing. I am thinking about a nice high winding 289/302, with aluminum heads, and Webers. 15" pin drive FIA wheels.

Will a T5 be sufficient for a warmed over 289/302? I would think so... considering millions of them were on the back of Fox body Mustangs for decades. Thoughts?

So here's my planned order stuff. Please comment on if you disagree with any of it based on what you've experienced.

Starting with the Coupe "complete" kit.

Powdercoated chassis.

Manual clutch cable, quadrant, etc.

Stainless 4 port headers, and side pipes.

3 Link rear suspension.

FFR supplied Moser complete rear axle, narrow width. Does anyone know what differential they supply with this axle?

Vintage Wheels 15" pin drive conversion FIA wheels, spec'd for the narrow width rear axle.

Manual steering rack.

Coupe GPS vintage look gauges.

Standard Black vinyl seats.

11 inch front brake setup, 11.65 inch rear brake setup.

Body cut outs traced.

Air conditoning. I'm a little confused here. There is an option listed as "A/C – Heater- Defroster for 302/351W" and then under that there is also "Coupe A/C Kit (Does not include compressor)". Are both kits needed?

Windshield wiper kit.

Coupe carpet kit.

Coupe side window kit.

Front sway bar kit.

Aero vent kit.

So that's my initial list. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks all!

[JimStone]

I followed advice from others and went with a different windshield wiper kit that is reportedly more robust while being less expensive:

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Specialty-Power-Windows-WWK-2-Standard-Universal-Wiper-Drive-Kit,5126.html?srsltid=AfmBOooAaub_3eLwjLaJAV9sIeOs Sa4G6EEQJrSzdomPy3MrR9sroIul

Seems to be top notch quality




Your engine may come with an accessory drive system that already has the A/C compressor. So, you would just need the Coupe A/C kit if that's the case. That's what I got. Don't need both

[edwardb]

We are in the fifth driving season with our Gen3/Coyote/IRS Coupe. Love it. Also mainly just a street cruiser. An important point here is don't feel like you have to get the order exactly right when you place it. The main thing when you enter the order is you will get a production completion slot and you can fine tune afterwards. Get the basics right, e.g. engine, trans, rear suspension, etc. But even those can be changed, along with everything else, after the order is placed. You can call any time to change. Factory Five will contact you several weeks before the production date (and when final payment is due) to go through the order with you to make sure everything makes sense, what you want, etc.

My comments about several of your choices:
T5 is probably OK. But the TKX is so much newer and more robust I'd recommend it.
15" wheels give the vintage look which appeals to many. Just be prepared for limited tire and brake options. Discussed a lot so won't any further.
Pin drive is a whole other topic. I know every little about it but suffice it to say Factory Five doesn't directly support.
I'm a big power steering advocate, having had both. Keep in mind it's not about effort. It's about the increased caster you can dial into a PS setup and makes the car drive and track so much better.
The Moser axles all have the standard Ford 8.8 diff with Ford's Traction-Lok clutch plate style limited slip.
Standard black vinyl seats are OK. But for the Coupe with the standard roll cage I always recommend high-back seats. Keeps your head off the roll cage and are all around safer.
For A/C-Heat you only need the 60377 - A/C – Heater- Defroster for 302/351W. Not both you asked about.
I assume you know the 60372 - Aero Vents are plastic blisters that mount on the body but aren't functional. Appearance only.

Answered on the other forum before I saw your post here. Hope this helps a little. Good luck.

[David Williamson]

I would skip the pin drive suspension, I don't think it works with the Gen3 frame and the coupe body is wider so deeper dish wheels than on the Cobra can be used. As Paul noted check on the tire sizes you can get in 15's - they are very limited.
enjoy the process of making your car your way.
David W

[Smith is Retired]

I built a Gen I twenty years ago, also for street use. A mistake I made that I only corrected last year was the manual steering. The car handled like a truck at slow speed. I added power steering last year and I now wish I had included it in the original build.

[Jeff Kleiner]

As Paul (edwardb) said pin drive width with the Gen3 Coupe is not supported by FFR. I've seen a Coupe which the owner ignored that and used Mustang spindles with pin drive spindle adapters and this disaster was the result:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=190299&d=1594730510

The resulting wonky geometry would produce crazy camber changes and bump steer.

A standard T5 will probably live as long as it isn't abused or subjected to high RPM clutch dumps---however on the plus side with 15" tires you won't get enough traction to hurt it!

Trust us, you want power steering. Again, going back to what Paul said it's not about effort it's about being able to set the car up with added caster which will make it drive soooo much better.

Personally I don't object to the roadster seats in a Coupe. They aren't easy to get into or out of and the high back seats exacerbate this but in the end if you don't need the additional lateral support that the high backs provide it comes down to personal preference.

Coupes tend to be hot inside in part because that big rear glass is kind of like a greenhouse! At the very least plan to tint that but you really might want to reconsider the air conditioning.

Good luck,
Jeff

[nuhale]

I am seriously considering ordering a Type 65 Coupe to build. I would like to list my chosen options from the FFR order site, and get opinions on them from people who have been through building the car.

My plans for the car are just a nice fun street driver, with the vintage look, no racing. I am thinking about a nice high winding 289/302, with aluminum heads, and Webers. 15" pin drive FIA wheels.

Will a T5 be sufficient for a warmed over 289/302? I would think so... considering millions of them were on the back of Fox body Mustangs for decades. Thoughts?

So here's my planned order stuff. Please comment on if you disagree with any of it based on what you've experienced.

Starting with the Coupe "complete" kit.

Powdercoated chassis.

Manual clutch cable, quadrant, etc.

Stainless 4 port headers, and side pipes.

3 Link rear suspension.

FFR supplied Moser complete rear axle, narrow width. Does anyone know what differential they supply with this axle?

Vintage Wheels 15" pin drive conversion FIA wheels, spec'd for the narrow width rear axle.

Manual steering rack.

Coupe GPS vintage look gauges.

Standard Black vinyl seats.

11 inch front brake setup, 11.65 inch rear brake setup.

Body cut outs traced.

Air conditoning. I'm a little confused here. There is an option listed as "A/C – Heater- Defroster for 302/351W" and then under that there is also "Coupe A/C Kit (Does not include compressor)". Are both kits needed?

Windshield wiper kit.

Coupe carpet kit.

Coupe side window kit.

Front sway bar kit.

Aero vent kit.

So that's my initial list. Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks all!


Sal, I have some vinyl seats and a manual rack avail for sale if local. I'm in Chicago area. Will be at LCS in a few weeks too. Maybe save you a few bucks.

Agree on TKX over the T5.