OrangeMonkey's Type 65 Coupe Build

[orangemonkey65]

Well, here we are, a build thread begins!

I've got a lot to say, and a lot to be excited about, but let me first acknowledge some thanks and gratitude:

First, I'd like to personally thank the incredible community of builders here (and beyond the FF forum in other FB groups, etc.). I've been watching, reading, and observing for a long time. Over the years and months, I've constantly witnessed what can only be described as a pure love and passion for cars/family/fellowship among men helping men with zero obligation or expectation of "repayment" of any kind. It's an odd thing to see in this world and feels "lost" in today's culture, but I hope to pay it forward with my build thread and contributions to the community today and in the future.

Second, I'd like to personally thank those who spend so much time writing, documenting, and/or recording videos of their builds. All the little details, pictures, "gotchas", wins/failures, etc have been and continue to be incredibly helpful. I've got more bookmarks, notes, and links saved than I'd care to share but I have 100% confidence that if I run into issues at any point in this build (as I already have), then there's someone else who has "been there, done that" that I can reference and learn from. In particular, these guys have been the most influential for me and a big heartfelt thanks goes out to each of them from me:

Edwardb (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?26630-Edwardb%92s-Gen-3-Type-65-Coyote-Coupe-59-Build-Complete-and-Graduated&p=405315&viewfull=1#post405315)
Wedel456 (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?48937-Wedel456-s-Build-Thread-Gen3-Coupe-North-Carolina)
P100DHG (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?29393-P100DHG-Build-Thread-Gen-3-Coupe-138)
Papa (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?51489-Papa-s-Retirement-Type-65-Coupe-Build-Index-in-first-post&highlight=coupe+dash)
PNWTim (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?49893-Tim-s-Type-65-Build-One-Year-Update)
JimStone (https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?48924-Project-Deimos-An-LS-65-Coupe-Build-A-bit-quot-too-much-quot)
Cobra Daytona Build (https://www.youtube.com/@cobradaytonabuild1671)
Oak Hollow Garage (https://www.youtube.com/@OakHollowGarage)

Are there others I missed? Definitely! But these are the guys I've come back to over and over (and over) again. Point blank - I wouldn't be on this journey without them and their earlier contributions.

[Also, you'll likely notice in my build as it progresses, I've taken ideas and setups from all of them and other builders at various points. If I ever don't directly attribute the idea or suggestion to them in the future, let this serve as a broad statement of my attribution of ideas to them and not my own.]

A Little Background

I questioned adding this part, but I thought it might help others in the future who read this and find themselves in a similar situation. I'm a father of 3 amazing kiddos (as seen in my profile picture) and a beautiful and supportive wife of 15+ years. My kids are young (8, 10, 12) and for YEARS I've told myself that, "one day... I'll build a car with my kids." Why do this? To be honest, a good friend of mine passed away a few years back at 40 to cancer. Great person, great father, just a good dude. He never said he wished he had or hadn't done something, but watching someone so close go through that experience shook me. And he left behind two boys almost identical in age to some of my kids. I realized I didn't want to wait (if I had the opportunity) to do things now and, god willing, with my kids if I can keep them engaged and interested. So, I watched from afar builders here and there on FF cars in videos and blog posts (never inside the forum like I am now) and knew that FF was the route I wanted to go - just needed the "time" to free up. Well, life kept getting in the way (still does, of course), and eventually I hit a point where I knew I had to take massive action or it wasn't going to happen.

Now, just for additional background, my father was a mechanic for many years and an avid "car guy" through and through. He was always (still is probably right now) in the garage tinkering on something, and whenever I got the chance, I was right by his side. We've done a lot together over the years (mostly him and me as support), working on his cars: 86 Grand National, 68 Camaro Drag Car, 81 Camaro, etc, and everything you can imagine EXCEPT a full build from start to finish (see why I'm here now lol). When I was old enough and had enough money saved up, I bought an older GTO that we fixed up together. It was a very memorable process, and I loved it and still think fondly of that time in my life.

Fast-forward to the present day. I still had my beloved GTO. It was mostly in storage, and I'd take it out here and there. Always a fun car and the kids LOVED it - loud, cool color, different, 4-55 AC. But...(I can feel the pressure of those reading this lol) it was time for a change. Trust me, I loved my GTO, but it just "was" and didn't need anything. Thank goodness it ran like a dream and rarely needed work after our rebuild, but it just ended up existing in the same state for 20+ years. I had no desire to "redo" it or change or modify it - it was too nice as it was and needed nothing. Likewise, it didn't give me a chance to work on a car, and moreover, work on a car with my kids. So, I decided last year to sell it and use some of the funds to embark on a Type 65 Coupe build. Thankfully, I sold it to a GTO collector in the next state over who loved it and drives his collection often - a wonderful home for it. The kids were not happy about it (some cried, if I was included or not in the definition of "some", I'll let you be the judge), but I'm not sure they fully understood my plan for them just yet.

Why Build a Daytona Coupe?

A few reasons for me personally. First, there's no doubt that I personally want to build a car. It's something my father and I never did from start to finish. I've always wanted to do it, and I know he'll drive up and visit and help out here and there, which is great. Second, the Type 65 Coupe is such a bada** looking car, and since I probably first saw it, I wanted to build/own one. Don't get me wrong, I love Camaros, Novas, Chevelles, Mustangs, etc., but there's nothing like a Daytona Coupe. Finally, and most importantly, I want my kids to be part of the process with me and for them to get something out of this world that seems to be fading and that isn't found inside a screen (said as I type on a screen right now). But all joking aside my wife and I are very strict about screentime (like we get made fun of in our parent group for how crazy we are about it or the lack thereof) but even with this strict attempt to raise our kids different, I feel that a component of raising kids that seems lost in today's world is some sort of hands-on aspect. The learning, problem-solving, enjoyment, frustration, and every other emotion that they will get to experience during this build, I believe, will serve them well in their future. I also get a chance to learn along with them and teach as I go - lord knows they will teach me many lessons in this build. Plus, what dad doesn't want to spend an insane amount of time in the garage with their kids, building memories!?

It's important to me that I invest in them via this project, and as such, I know that it might move a little slower than expected because I want them (and they want) to contribute and build "for real," they tell me. Not to get too far ahead of myself on this first intro, but they already have been a huge help, and my two daughters and I installed the rear diff all by ourselves this past weekend - it was very fun - pictures coming! But yeah, I know that sometimes I might have to pause or rest in the build until they have more energy to jump into it between all their other activities. I get that, and I'm okay with it. But whenever they say, "Hey, Dad, can we go work on the car in the garage?" I'm going to do everything I can to never pass on that moment and say, "Yep! (Let me ask your mother first...)." At the end of the whole process, I hope we can all stand together and say, "We did that - together."

[orangemonkey65]

=== Couldn't post the full text I guess so had to split it up ===

My Build Plan

Alright, enough rambling. Hope it helped. Onto the build plan, roughly.

Type 65 Coupe, Gen 3
Blueprint Engine 302 EFI w/ AC & PS Fully Dressed
TKX 5-speed transmission (did go with the 0.68:1 Fifth Gear Ratio)
Purchased nearly* all the R additional items from FFR

R-style coupe. Again, this is all personal preference, but I'll just add my thoughts. I love the look of the R coupe, and since there was a 50% off sale on most extra items last year, I decided to go for it! I think it'll be a lot of extra work, but my goal is to build a street height car with the R components. While I don't plan on building this as a full track-only car. I do plan on taking it local road tracks in the future and doing some racing. I used to drag race with my dad (that was his thing for sure), but I'm more interested in road-track racing. Plus, it gives the kids and me something different to do AFTER the car is built, which is important.

Engine-wise, I did go with the 302, which I think will be more than enough power. I'm also partial to the older-school engines, though I think EFI is a must, and feel like this is a "happy medium" compared to many other builders going with the Coyote route. I thought about doing a Coyote and I get all the reasons why, but for me it came down to something I felt more comfortable doing, something I could fix myself if problems came up, and something that my kids could learn and understand. Blueprint was the best choice here, and the engine was ordered in December, so it should be in sometime later this month, they told me recently.

Colors, design, style, preferences. I'm not going classic at all, but I'm not going heavily modern and modified either. I think there will be some areas that I want different and others I don't mind keeping original to the kit. Time will tell, and I'll share those as I go through the build. I'm absolutely in the camp of rejecting the "it's not a show car" mentality and want to do things right each step along the way. I'm going to take my time, not rush, and if something needs to come off and be redone, then I'll do it. It's something I discussed with my kids prior to starting, and I shared the need to do things right from the start. Now, this doesn't mean things won't happen, and things won't get scratched/broken (they will), it just means that we'll try to get it corrected and fixed. We won't leave things 90% done and say, "Well... it's good enough." Color, I'm leaning towards a very light blue or orange with white stripes. There are a few mustang-style colors I like, but nothing is set in stone yet. Interior black. Roll cage I plan to paint white along with the suspension (really liked how Cobra Daytona Build did his so this comes mainly from his build).

Permission for Feedback/Suggestions

If you're reading this or any portion of my build thread, I give you 100% permission to offer feedback/suggestions or constructive criticism and corrections that you see. I'm NOT a master builder. This is my first build, and if you see something off or weird or have a better way of doing something, say something. I know it's not personal, and I won't take it as such, so fire away!

Build Thread Goals

I'm just going to come right out and say it: my goal is to create a build thread on par with the top builders I mentioned above. They created very high expectations, and I'm glad they did because it's giving me something to aspire to as I start my own build thread. This isn't a knock to say, "I can do it better..." it's me saying, "I want to do it like those guys..." and create yet another resource for the community and future builders to use as a reference. They have some big shoes to fill, and I'm gonna try my best to be worthy of filling them. Secondary to this, I'm doing this to help document my journey, which can also act as a resource for me in the future if needed.

How I'm Using AI

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere (that I can find), but I just thought it would be helpful to know how I'm using AI during my build. I've had a project in ChatGPT for many months, which has served as my repository for documents and reference material. Basically, what I did is upload the coupe manual and additional instructions, and I printed to PDF many of the top build threads and dozens and dozens of other threads I've read over the months into a project file. This becomes the project context file that ChatGPT uses to reference first. Then I have a long list of instructions when replying to me that it can reference or use. Things like: search FF Forums first, don't guess, always quote or verify by multiple sources, etc. Next, I keep many different chats open in the project, each for a specific topic or question, and I just leave them open without deleting them. So, for example, right now there's a chat for "throttle cable routing," "battery relocation info," and "power steering cooling kit," and each has ideas or pictures or discussions I've dumped in there I can reference later or ask to reference later. Then, when I ask it a question, it can quickly reference the project files and point to links and sources, i.e., "Edwardb said this..." or "Papa used this in his build...". I also have it tracking everything I order so that I can ask at any point, "Hey, where did I get XYZ from again? What size was that? Why did I need this?" I can't tell you how helpful it has already been for quickly referencing things in the first few weeks. Does it make mistakes - yep 100%. But is it good enough to use as a resource - you bet! Hope this helps if you are interested.

Thank You

Thanks for taking the time to read this and look forward to meeting some of you along this journey!

PS - The screename OrangeMonkey is a bit of fun with my kids. My youngest daughter loves (like LOVES) Monkeys and my son's favorite color is Orange so here we are. My oldest daughter (12) didn't care for anything at the time (Pre-teen lol) so we just went with OrangeMonkey65 for Type 65 coupe.

Index

I'll start putting an index of the build posts as I go, and once I figure out how to better use the forum - it's a bit clunky lol, but I'll get there!

[Jeff Kleiner]

I look forward to following along...have fun! :)

Jeff

[Papa]

Congratulations! I'll be watching your build with interest. I was also looking at the Coupe-R but decided adding more difficulty getting in/out of the car would probably not make my wife happy. Enjoy the build with your kids ... they will remember it for the rest of their lives.

Dave

[JTG]

Welcome and congratulations!! I'm in complete agreement about following along with all the great ideas set down by other builders on this forum.

We're right there with you trying to get kids off screens and out into the garage to build something as a family. Our kids are 13 and 16, and it's a fine line of engaging them with the build but giving them the freedom to do their own thing. But yes, anytime they ask, we all head out to the garage to turn a wrench or debate certain design aspects of our build.

I'm really looking forward to following along!

Jon

[JimStone]

OrangeMonkey65 (I like the name - as you can see I was incredibly unimaginative with mine...),

I really enjoyed reading your introduction. I read the forums for technical content, obviously, but also the human part. Funny, but I feel more human connection on the Forum than I do in much of today's detached society.

Congrats with you new build! I look forward to your updates.

Having an 8 and 4 year old, I try to involve them as much as possible. Those moments are forever-memories. The beginning of the build (with chassis set up, aluminum panels, etc) is a great time for kids input. Lots of bolts to torque, big chunks to install, and holes to drill.

I use ChatGPT all the time, but what you're doing is next level. It is a very powerful tool


Good luck with your build and like Jeff said, have fun!

[Sea Hut]

Awesome intro! You’ve captured the appreciation that forum members have for those who take the extra time to teach others (like me!) about the complexities and rewards of the build. Like you, I am just beginning my coupe build, albeit with even less mechanical experience. I’ve jumped into the deep end but one can’t learn to swim in the shallows. (Cue Lady Gaga - yes bad joke)
I look forward to your build!

[orangemonkey65]

Delivery

I guess the first place to start is delivery. Obligatory photo of the car coming off the trailer. It was delivered about 3 days before the recent massive snowstorm that dumped 3 feet of snow here - thank goodness! The guys from Stewart Transport were amazing to work with. Great communication and delivery was easy. It was negative degrees that morning and the winds were blowing hard - definitely very cold but we got it down and on the trailer.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225143&d=1770254293

I ended up NOT delivering it to my house because they couldn't get a truck that big up my driveway, which is off a busy highway. So, I had it delivered at my in-laws' house, and we couldn't roll anything on the snowy ground. So, I had to build a little dolly jig out of spare wood, an old steel frame from a fence project, and some wheels. I strapped that to the trailer and then the car to the dolly. Once I got it home, I parked it in the garage for a while until help arrived to roll it off the trailer. Thankfully, it worked out well, and we got it jacked into place in the garage. Here's a picture of the car off and on jacks and the dolly next to it. I might use it again to move the body later on and roll it outside for sanding and primer.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225140&d=1770253443

Full body and frame in her resting place for the foreseeable future.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225139&d=1770253443

Overall the delivery process was stressful getting it home from a remote drop location but the planning in advance and prep helped out a ton. I felt good that nothing broke or was damaged.

[orangemonkey65]

Inventory

This process was actually rather fun with the kids - they enjoyed it a lot. It was like Christmas in January, and since we had been talking about the car for a long time, it felt more "real" to see the parts and frame finally in the garage.

We took our time and went box by box over the course of two days (not full days, just in the evenings) and got through all of the inventory easily. It sounded more daunting in some posts and threads than it ended up being, and I rather enjoyed getting familiar with all the parts and boxes. I wouldn't say there was an insane amount of boxes that couldn't be stored in the garage. We had some more around the front of the car under the cover and under the frame, but it was manageable for sure.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225136&d=1770253332

Process-wise, we went box by box in order and checked off nearly every item on the POL (Parts Order List). Sometimes it would just say "Parts for XYZ" and then include a small box with a bunch of things, but otherwise I thought it was very well organized and documented by the FF team. I also took the opportunity to pull out any brackets or metal that I would be taking to powder coating in my first round. This included the battery tray, door frames and hinges, rear deck glass hardware, rear mount hardware under the body, and various other items I wouldn't need immediately. I also put things that I won't be using or have upgraded to other parts in a pile to sell.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225137&d=1770253332

Something I've found helpful is writing all over the boxes to tell me what's inside (if I don't remove the contents, discussed next). So I'll write all the major part groups on the boxes, and rewrite the box numbers all around so I can reference them later quickly from the wall or shelf they're on. This, for me, has made it easier already in the first couple of steps I've worked on. PS notice I also had the kids helping, and so the spelling is questionable on some boxes lol.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225133&d=1770253332

Another thing I found to help is to reuse and get extra-large bags and write on those. I have done this a lot now, and I love it. I can see inside the bag easily (more so than a box), and I know what grouping the bag contains, like the examples below. Definitely something that not only reduces space by removing boxes, but also makes it super easy to dig through bags quickly and find the items I need.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225134&d=1770253332

Missing items from the POL were many, unfortunately, and important items for early steps in the build. Since I have the full list, I sent them here it is:

Box 4 - 10.50" Bulb on side push on tr (1 ea)
Box 5 - Coupe black headliner (1 ea)
Box 6 - Nose hinge brak assem (2 total needed)
Box 6 - Tail light mounting ring (4 ea)
Box 6 - Polished sideview mirror (2 total needed)
Box 14 - 302 Headers with parts (1 total needed)
Box 18 - Front wilwood brakes red (2 total needed)
Box 23 - 31 Spline IRS 10.50" Driveshaft (1 ea)
Box 26 - Front lower control arms (2 total needed)
Box 27 - Chassis wiring harness (1 ea)
Box 28 - 302 Poly Eng/Trans mounts (1 set)
Box 32 - Windshield wiper parts (1 set)
Box 34 - Heat AC main unit
Box 34 - AC wiring harness
Box 34 - Defroster grill (2 ea)
Box 34 - Louver spacer (4 ea)
Box 34 - Dash vent assembly (2 ea)
Box 42 - Str wide road race spoiler
Box 42 - Wing mount base (4 ea)
Box 42 - Wing mount (2 ea)
Box 45 - Power IRS toe arm (2 ea)
Box 45 - IRS left upper arm, complete (1 ea)
Box 45 - IRS right upper arm, complete (1 ea)
Box 45 - Complete left IRS lower arm (1 ea)
Box 45 - Complete right IRS lower arm (1 ea)

Notice that the vast majority of the suspension parts were not delivered. So far the only response I've gotten from FFR is, "I hope its not months..." and still waiting for a reply back. Not encouraging, but we'll keep moving forward with what we can get done. Either way, I'm going to be checking in with FFR frequently for updates.

[burchfieldb]

Welcome, looking forward to following along with another coupe build.

-Brent

[PNWTim]

Welcome and thanks for all the great information. I think you are really going to enjoy your build and engaging family members is a number one bonus. After reading your intro I was surprised by two things. I received my kit just over a year ago and my POL was incredibly short. I think I was missing the headliner and some really small bits and pieces. With the reorg at F5 over the past year I would've thought they would have tightened up the process but maybe not yet?

The other surprising item is how red your coupe is! Maybe it's just the pictures but your body appears much more red and shiny than mine is. Maybe an improvement in the mold process? Don't know but either way, it's in your garage and ready to go!

[edwardb]

Welcome. Love your back story. Will enjoy following your build. Will be interested to see your use of AI. I've seen my name come up on ChatGPT a few times. Interesting. Too bad about the number of POL items. My Mk5 kit in June of last year had a short list and except for a couple of items was quickly filled. Looks like things have gone the wrong direction since then.

[Namrups]

Welcome to the "family"! My coupe was registered in 2023 but like others I check out the forum everyday to "pay it forward" by helping new builders in any way I can. The forum was such a great help to me during my build.

Scott

[JTG]

Regarding your POL list, I called last week regarding an item that was marked as Missing after inventory in October. The gentleman I spoke with (Nick Raffa) admitted that I should have received that months ago since it was such a simple item, and it was most likely due to the untimely departure of Brent Mello. He promised to get that item shipped out ASAP. Other than that, they sent all the back ordered parts in a reasonable time frame.

[orangemonkey65]

Painting Parts

Trying to catch up here and there on things I've already done before I get too far behind...

After the inventory, I decided to start tackling a bit of the paint work on suspension parts and extra brackets I would use earlier in the build, vs. the pile that is going to powder coating. Paint/body (and wiring) are definitely the areas I'm the least confident about (yet!). I researched a lot about parts being painted, prep work, etc., and took my time. First up was sanding the parts with various grits. The kids thought it was "so fun!" to sand parts... until they realized how long it actually took, and so they fizzled out quickly. No worries, I finished it up for this round early one morning.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225188&d=1770322533

My oldest was tasked with building this jig to hang things in the garage paint tent.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225190&d=1770322596

She also built this stand for the rear diff that kept it upside down and off the floor. It looked risky at first, but it was sold as a rock and worked very well using a bunch of extra scrap 2x4s.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225189&d=1770322596

For some of these suspension parts that will be white, I decided to go with 2K SprayMax Automotive Paint (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0855G85HW?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_ti tle_1). I got the primer, topcoat, and semi-matte clear coat. It's a 2-stage paint that you have to activate and use basically within 24 hours. Everything went on very smoothly, and the cans worked very well. My issue was that I actually ran out of the 2k top coat white insanely fast. For whatever reason, it just went on a bit heavier and used up the cans. I had to abandon some of the parts and focused on the differential and some other parts, and will have to re-sand and re-paint the other parts when my other back-ordered suspension parts come in from FFR. Here's the pumpkin finished. Later, I turned it around and added clear coats to the black side.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225191&d=1770322596

I do think that, moving forward, I'm going to use the high-gloss clear. The semi-matte was fine, and I had read from other people that it's glossier than the name suggests. I didn't find that to be the case. It's exactly what a semi-matte would be and thankfully the main item with it will be the rear diff for now. The other parts I'll scuff up and re-do later with the other suspension parts.

[460.465USMC]

Welcome aboard, sir! I couldn't agree with you more about the wealth of good info. here on the forum. So many generous folks taking the time to document their experiences and approaches. There are many builders with amazing skill! I constantly learn from the forum. Given your car building experience, I look forward to learning from you as well.

Enjoy the build with your family! I love it!

[orangemonkey65]

Here's an update on my POL from FF I got a few days ago. Still no tracking orders or confirmation of anything sent, but at least there's more clarity.

17119- IRS RIGHT UPPER ARM (just received)
17118- IRS LEFT UPPER ARM, (just received)
17117- IRS RIGHT LOWER ARM (waiting for assembly)
17116- IRS LEFT LOWER ARM (waiting for assembly)
16620- TOE ARM (2 weeks)
60843- WING MOUNT (in stock)
60538- WING MOUNT BASE (in stock)
60627- STR WIDE ROAD RACE SPOILER (dropshipped, directly from supplier)
26235- DASH VENT ASSEMBLY (in stock)
60657- LOUVER SPACER (in stock)
60757- DEFROSTER GRILL (2 week)
60878- A/C WIRING HARNESS (in stock)
60587- HEAT A/C MAIN UNIT (4-5 weeks)
15830- CP WINDSHIELD WIPER KIT (being assembled)
16373- CHARCOAL CAN MOUNT (unknown from supplier)
17244- EFI PRESS RED AND HOSE ASSEMBLY (in stock)
13083- 302/351 POLY ENG/TRANS MOUNTS (just arrived, waiting to be assembled, will go out next week)
14503- CHASIS WIRING HARNESS (6-7weeks)
12066- FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS (in stock)
60175- 31 SPLINE IRS 10.50” DRIVESHAFT (4 weeks)
15370- FRONT WILWOOD BRAKE RED 12.88 (3 weeks)
16757- 302 HEADERS W PARTS (8 weeks)
15834- GT400 POLISHED SIDE MIRRORS (unknown status)
60418- TAIL LIGHT MOUNTING RING (unknown stats)
60391- NOSE HINGE BRAK ASSEMBLY (assembly in process)
60318- COUOE BLACK HEADLINER (being cut)
13858- NAMEPLATE (AMANDA HANDLES)
10759- CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN (AMANDA HANDLES)

Feels broadly like I'm stuck bouncing around a bit to do things I can with the parts I have now. I'm opposed to skipping too far ahead and doing something that will require me to backtrack and/or make it much harder. Still, trying to keep busy and make progress little by little. More updates coming soon!

[Jeff Kleiner]

...Feels broadly like I'm stuck bouncing around a bit to do things I can with the parts I have now. I'm opposed to skipping too far ahead and doing something that will require me to backtrack and/or make it much harder. Still, trying to keep busy and make progress little by little. More updates coming soon!

You can get busy drilling a bunch of holes. And assembling the coilovers (don't forget to set the rebound). And changing out the studs in the rear hubs. And throwing that IRS center section up in there... You still have plenty to keep you busy! ;)

Jeff

[orangemonkey65]

Fuel Tank & Pump

Trying to catch up with work already completed. Installed the new fuel pump, hanger, and prepped the fuel tank for installation. As many others have done, I went with the Pro M Hanger and Welboro pump. The pictures don't do it justice, but the quality and feel of the Pro M vs. the one that comes in the kit is night and day. The kit provided hanger, while I'm sure it does it's job, feel like a cheap toy compared to the Pro M hanger.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225474&d=1770892316

Everything seemed to wire up fine and connected directly together.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225475&d=1770892316

The biggest issue was actually the filter sock on the bottom. For the life of me, I couldn't get that to snap on, and it took way too long. Finally did once I took some advice from other builders and angled it a bunch to get the one side to snap on first. After that, the rest clicks in fast. Alignment is critical on this because it doesn't move once it's on FYI.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225476&d=1770892316

Finally, the tank itself. I bent down the outside edges as the manual suggested. Installed the Breeze big-bore vent, and the fuel level sending unit went in easily. Outside the tank, I did add a few sections of sound-deadening (can't hurt), mostly where I think the drop trunk might touch. Added some solid rubber strips around the outside edges so the metal-to-metal contact when the tank goes in has protection.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225473&d=1770892277

I was all ready to go and had the straps half-installed to put the tank in, but with the body on, I just cannot seem to finagle the tank into sliding in without seriously bending the straps that hold it in place. I've seen other builders install with the body on, so I know it's possible, but my plan is to remove the body soon anyway, so I'll just wait until then and not force anything.

[orangemonkey65]

Rear Knuckles

Still backfilling work completed. Spent time prepping the rear knuckles. First took to sanding and scuffing them for paint prep later. Found that doing it by hand (though time-consuming) was the best course to get in all the little grooves.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225478&d=1770893386

Marked a line where the ears would be cut from the manual. Felt weird reading this at first, then I looked around and saw that it was standard for the coupe so I felt more comfortable trimming it. The manual has it a bit closer, but I saw others leave more "meat" on the ends without any clearance issues.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225479&d=1770893438

Hacksaw in a vise did the trick, and then I cleaned up and sanded the rough edges.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225480&d=1770893438

As others have done, I fabricated some small covers and tapped screws for the remaining ABS holes on these. Here's one on vs. the other with the exposed holes. Feels better to have those covered than open.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225481&d=1770893438

Nothing too major with this step, just time.

[orangemonkey65]

Rear Hub Studs

Swapped out the rear hub studs before attaching the hub to the rear knuckles.

Here's a side-by-side of the studs that came in the hubs (right one) and the new ones that you have to install (left one). Removing the old studs was fine, light taps with a hammer while putting the end of the hub on a narrow opening of the vise. I tried some other "methods" so I wouldn't have to hammer it out, but nothing worked, and honestly, they came out way easier than expected.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225487&d=1770894231

On the new studs, I filed down one side for clearance when going back in.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225486&d=1770894231

I think it might have worked without trimming the edges, but it could also have been way too tight. Here's a look at the clearance with the trimmed ends.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225484&d=1770894187

Finally, the new studs are in. I used a stack of washers, greased them well, and then bought some 1/2-20 nuts to pull the studs. The nuts were not hard grade 8 or anything, so that they could be sacrificed in favor of the studs not stripping. I used 1 nut for 2 studs, then swapped it out for a new one to keep it fresh. The nuts at the end, as shown in the picture for the one here, looked beaten up, but that was fine so long as the studs were okay.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225485&d=1770894231

Next, I bolted the hubs to the knuckles. Felt like I was going to pull a muscle trying to torque them down to ~100lbs but got it done.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225490&d=1770913791

Now I'll start preparing these for paint.

[orangemonkey65]

Power Steering + Question

The power steering rack came packaged nicely, and no damage to the lines, which I was slightly worried about, as I've seen others showing damage on delivery. Scuffed and painted the center section only with POR-15 spray. First time using POR-15 specifically, but it seems to have gone on nicely after a few coats. I did let it sit for a few days per the instructions and fully cure.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225495&d=1770913972

Removed the stock bushings that came with it, and then installed the new ones from the kit. The rack went in really easily. I kept the tape and wrapped an old shirt around the middle section to prevent chipping or scratches, which didn't interfere with anything.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225494&d=1770913922

Here's a shot from the engine bay side. You might also notice that it looks like FF made a change to the area where the battery mounts, adding a new plate rather than the "V" tubing supports. I like this design much better and hadn't seen it anywhere else prior to getting my kit. It's probably out there, just missed it. Either way, I'm not sure I'm going to mount the battery there or in the rear somewhere (still TBD), but I like the concept.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225493&d=1770913922

Question: I read in the manual about drilling a small dimple for the set screw. It wasn't clear to me if that dimple should be done on 3 areas of the steering rack. From the picture I would imagine I could do a small dimple for the set screw on the bottom of the main (D?) shaft coming out of the footbox, and on both sides of the longer shaft that ultimately connects to the rack itself? Any feedback on this from other builders? Seems that the added set screw areas won't harm anything if I do it unless I'm missing something? [Everything is losely assembled at this point]

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225493&d=1770913922

Finally, it seems I have enough clearance to mount the bearing on the outside of the footbox. Though I've seen the look of those who mounted it inside, and might mount it there anyway.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225491&d=1770913922

As you can see I've got more than enough room to play with it. The picture above is not adjusted, just was showing the full range it had.

[Papa]

Two recommendations on the last picture ...

1. Flip the bearing so that the set screws are outside the footbox.
2. When you position the shafts in the joints, be sure that the shaft doesn't extend into the joint. You want them flush to the openings.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225496&d=1770915579

[orangemonkey65]

1. Will do - didn't consider that. Good call.
2. Yeah, those were just set in there for the picture to show general play in the shaft. I haven't tightened anything down just yet, but will make sure I leave room for movement.

Did you drill multiple dimples for set screws? That is my current little hangup on this section.

[Papa]

1. Will do - didn't consider that. Good call.
2. Yeah, those were just set in there for the picture to show general play in the shaft. I haven't tightened anything down just yet, but will make sure I leave room for movement.

Did you drill multiple dimples for set screws? That is my current little hangup on this section.

Yes, I drilled dimples on the shafts for the three set screws but did not on the steering rack. You want to be able to re-clock the splines if needed to center the steering wheel and the splines act as a groove to hold things in place. Use blue thread locker on the set screws and the jam nuts.

[orangemonkey65]

Yes, I drilled dimples on the shafts for the three set screws but did not on the steering rack. You want to be able to re-clock the splines if needed to center the steering wheel and the splines act as a groove to hold things in place. Use blue thread locker on the set screws and the jam nuts.

Great thanks - that's what I figured but just needed a confirmation - much appreciated as always!

[orangemonkey65]

Rear IRS Differential

Been a little bit since my last round of posts, but not for lack of progress. I feel that we've made considerable progress and just wanted to get some clean pictures at different points. So, I'm going to try to catch up on things already done a few weeks back.

First up, we installed the IRS rear differential. As expected, it was heavy and a very tight fit. However, my two girls and I managed to wrestle the beast into position without too many issues in about 2 hours overall. These girls did awesome, and I couldn't have done it without them. Here is my middle girl, who was sitting inside the tank area, helping line up bolts.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=225477&d=1770893301

I will share that we used my engine hoist and 2 ratchet straps to lift the differential into place. We placed the engine hoist at the rear of the car and lowered the cables through the rear hatch/trunk. At this point the body was still on the car and in hindsight I could have taken it off and made it easier (we ended up taking it off soon after). One ratchet strap was around the front of the differential, and the other was around the rear. This gave us the ability to ratchet it up at pivot points in the front and rear. Combined with the engine hoist, which my oldest was in charge of, we were able to rather easily maneuver the big pumpkin into place.

Some final photos:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226550&d=1773131349

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226548&d=1773130952

The manual wasn't clear on which exact bolts were used for installation, which I continue to learn is the case in certain areas, but I believe I got the right ones and torqued them appropriately. This thing isn't going anywhere.

[orangemonkey65]

Pedal Box Assembly

Next up was the pedal box assembly. I went with the kit supplied by Wilwood brakes and the hydraulic clutch. Assembly was simple, and I chose to cut the ends of the master cylinder as described in the manual. I have seen a few people skip this and leave it longer, but I didn't think it would be necessary. Once I start getting brake lines and reservoirs attached, I'm not sure how keen I'll be on removing everything to trim them again later.

For this stage, I had my boy helping, which he enjoyed a lot.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226551&d=1773132855

Here's a look at the parts prior to assembly. Two things I did swap out. First, I went with different switches (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/oer-25524845?seid=srese1&ppckw=pmax-restoration&gclid=Cj0KCQiAprLLBhCMARIsAEDhdPfWXwt1uJubqIFyHfJD QLDv9oRaStN5SMUdbRULcLWFQt-UIKXR-WYaAroPEALw_wcB) (the white ones vs. supplied black in the picture below). The color wasn't the issue; I've seen a few people talk about these supplied switches failing, so I opted for something (I hope) lasts longer. Will they fail? No clue, but it was a $20 upgrade, and now I have a spare set if needed.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226552&d=1773133022

Also opted for the slightly larger .625 bore master cylinders (https://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIL-260-10371) that, I believe, Rsnake (Cobra Daytona Build), had swapped for later on. Since I do plan to do some track work with this car I wanted to make this change now.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226553&d=1773133022

Here's the finished assembly.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226562&d=1773133443

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226554&d=1773133022

Lightly adjusted the balance bar for the brakes and plan on fine-tuning it later on once the brake lines are in. That said, it's a tight fit in that pedal box. I can barely get a small wrench in there, so it'll be "fun" to adjust later on for pedal height and balance, lol. I also painted the small bracket that attaches to the frame. Don't worry, I did put the bolts on those later - this photo was prior to that.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226558&d=1773133237

I do plan to change the pedal covers later, but for now, these can act as placeholders.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226563&d=1773133443

[orangemonkey65]

1st Removal of Body

At this stage, I was still missing a long list of parts from FFR for my POL. So, I decided to remove the body because I was increasingly finding it tricky to move the panels around, which is what I tackled next. My build "plan", if you want to call it that, prior to getting the coupe, was to leave the body on for a while. I had seen many builders do this and get nearly to the point of a rolling chassis. Yet I was still missing nearly all the upper and lower control arms for the suspension at this stage, so I wasn't going to get to the rolling stage soon. Hence, my decision to remove the body.

Luckily, my parents were in town for the weekend visiting, and so I used the opportunity to get my wife and parents involved in removing the body.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226564&d=1773134315

Removal wasn't too bad since the body itself is light. It's just awkward, so I'm not excited to put it on and take it off. My plan is that I'll put the body back on later for final trimming and fit, remove it for the final time for paint, and reinstall after paint for good. Storage-wise, it's sitting in the extra car bay next to the frame temporarily. My wife gave me a few weeks to figure out a better long-term solution so she can get "her spot" back soon.

[orangemonkey65]

Gas Tank Installed

With the body off, it was much easier to install the gas tank. As expected, since my father was in town, he wanted to help, which was great, and one of my personal goals during this build was to spend time with him working on cars, as we used to when I was younger.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226566&d=1773135030

After we stared at the car and talked shop for a while, we got to work lifting it into place. The straps, of course, didn't fit easily and took some bending and forming. I did order an extra pair of straps that I'll probably swap out later because the ones in the kit cracked the powder coating or whatever finish is on them multiple places, and I'm not sure I want to lose a tank strap down the road if they start rusting. Also, I did not install the filler neck bracket yet - it's out for powder coating, so I'll have to drop the tank anyway later to get that on, possibly.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226565&d=1773135030

Finally, I did swap for the longer 3" bolts on the passenger side, as many have suggested. I don't know how the 2.5" would have fit, and frankly, I already got another 3" I plan to use on the driver's side when I drop the tank later to put the filler neck bracket on and replace the straps.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226567&d=1773135059

[orangemonkey65]

Blueprint 302 Delivered

A few weeks back, the engine was delivered, which was very exciting to have it finally here. As a reminder, I purchased the Blueprint 302 fully dressed with PS & AC and Tremec 5-speed TKX. Oddly, it wasn't delivered with the wiring harness or O2 sensor, so I contacted Blueprint, and they had it out to me the following week.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226572&d=1773135588

Now, for how excited I was to have the engine in my possession, I was equally frustrated by the actual care in delivery. To be honest, the box it came in and the pallet it was sitting on were practically destroyed. When I saw the engine in the back of the FedEx truck, it was noticeably leaning to one side on the front and wasn't level at all. Moreover, it moved and shook A LOT while the guy was getting it off the truck. Not exactly giving me that warm and fuzzy feeling, but he finally let me help him keep it steady and get it into the garage. I'm not sure if it was Blueprint in the way they packaged it, because it certainly looked like it was packaged correctly and strapped in, OR if it was FedEx freight that just didn't handle it nicely at all. It's water under the bridge at this point, but either way, I was quick to get it out of the box and inspect everything, which seemed okay. The main concern was the oil pan because the plywood underneath it had snapped right in half, as if the engine had fallen at some point and broken it. My theory, though, is that the engine didn't move, the pallet under the engine wasn't aligned or shifted, and the corner broke through. There's no visible damage or anything on the oil pan itself, so I think I'm okay.

I got it hanging quickly and out of the shipping box.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226569&d=1773135388

A few mornings later, the kids and I put the engine in for the first time. My plan was to put the engine in quickly in the build and measure for some clearances and get a feel for how it was going to fit and where things would go (brake lines, fuel lines, power lines, etc.) and then take it back out to work on those items.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226570&d=1773135467

Here's a midway in shot. The engine mounts were pretty easy and seem very solid. Also, I didn't remove the shifter during the install, which didn't cause any issues but was a bit tricky to work around. Later on, when I show pictures of it coming back out, I removed the shifter handle, which made it easier to slide out. Next time the engine goes in, I'll remove the shifter for sure.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226571&d=1773135467

And just like that, the engine was in. There's plenty of room around this small block, as I wanted for my build. Some areas are a little tight, but overall, it's a very well-designed setup and package from Blueprint that leaves plenty of room in this engine bay for everything else. I'm pleased with the decision and progress.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226574&d=1773135605

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226573&d=1773135605

[orangemonkey65]

Blueprint 302 Fit & Spacing

I took these photos for myself to reference later on, but figured they might also help others who are considering the 302 for their coupe build. As mentioned in the previous post, there is ample spacing around the engine bay and transmission tunnel. Here's the mock-up of the fuel and brake lines I was previously working on prior to installing the engine.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226575&d=1773136632

They were just tapped into place for now, and nothing was fully installed because I wanted to see how much room I had with the transmission installed down the tunnel. Since the transmission is slightly offset to the passenger side, I believe the best place for the fuel lines is towards the driver's side. I know this is common already, but I did wonder if the passenger side was a viable option because on this 302 with the Holley Sniper 2 EFI the fuel ports are on the passenger side so if I ran the lines down the passenger side and came out on that end of the engine bay, it would be a shorter run to and from the Sniper. But, alas, that's not as open for room as the driver's side of the tunnel. The midshift kit for the TKX fits very well.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226576&d=1773136686

The trans mount I also wanted to test fit before sending it to powder coating. I think it'll work - it's tight - but it should work fine, and I test-fitted the driveshaft as well, so I think I'll be good there. Of note, a sled also doubles for a nice creeper, and my son was happy to be the one taking care of the trans mount bolts (which again are not specified in the manual).

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226582&d=1773137922

Here are the clearances and spacing around the engine for those interested.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226579&d=1773136814

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226580&d=1773136814

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226577&d=1773136773

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226578&d=1773136773

[orangemonkey65]

Aluminum Panels

Since I was still waiting on a bunch of parts from my POL, I decided a while back to start tackling the panels with the time I had. It was a decent project, but happily, as of the time I'm writing this, I am probably 85% done with the panels that I wanted to get done by this stage. Some panels I have not done yet because I had to pull the engine back out first.

I will say that I'm very glad my build plan got thrown a little wrinkle with the delayed parts from FFR. If I were to do it again in the future, I would 100% do the panels early in the build process. Why? Because it's easy to get everything on and off a bunch of times for marking and trimming, AND because it makes a MESS! Those little shavings are everywhere, and as particular as I am, there's no way I would have wanted to have more things in the way for the shavings and metal to get behind and lodged in later on in the build. So, I decided to tackle as many of the panels as I thought were prudent at this stage.

Now, I'm not sure I have all the pictures in order, but I do want to try to get as many added here as I can so that others can see how I did it. I know I personally appreciated this about other build threads and probably had 5-6 tabs open during this process, bouncing back and forth between photos other builders put up to see how/where they overlapped or drilled their panels. So, I hope my photos here help someone else down the road.

First up was this Snakebite Motorworks tunnel cover I ordered (more on them later, but it's been nothing but good things with those guys!). The process for panels is straightforward. Align and clamp generally so it's in the position you want.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226587&d=1773138243

Then mark the backside frame rails so you have a clear template for the spacing of the holes using the kit-provided spacing thingy. I also did little squiggly lines where weld seams were, so I didn't accidentally put a hole in that location. That helped a number of times where I could have easily put a hole in a place where it shouldn't have gone.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226585&d=1773138140

Then, slowly drill and cleco your panel. Overall, I found most of the FFR places where they put the self-tapping screw to be "okay" to work around. Some trimming for sure on some panels and will need to grind a few weld spots but not terribly bad by any stretch. Very workable.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226588&d=1773138243

My middle daughter, in particular, found the drilling and cleco part very "satisfying," as she put it, lol.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226583&d=1773138111

Alright, I'll add lots of photos here. No particular order.

Radiator front section:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226589&d=1773139386

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226590&d=1773139386

With side panels for the Radiator tunnel:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226596&d=1773141911

[orangemonkey65]

Aluminum Panels Continued...

The tops of the footboxes will be removable as expected using rivnuts:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226591&d=1773139790

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226598&d=1773141943

The driver's side footbox outside is done as well as the front splash panel. Waiting on the front panel until I finalize the brake lines to the front.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226594&d=1773141876

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226597&d=1773141943

The interior back panels were a bit of a puzzle, but thankfully, I had lots of other build pictures to reference:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226595&d=1773141889

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226599&d=1773141988

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226600&d=1773142026

[orangemonkey65]

Aluminum Panels Continued...

I think the thing that took the most time for me was the back outside panels behind the seats. Those had to be aligned with the rear trunk side panels, but they turned out nice and straight after some trimming around the roll bar for the back trunk panel:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226601&d=1773142026

Trunk floor, access covers, and sides. The rear-most panel covering the taillights will be removable with rivnuts. The panel that is missing in this photo is the crazy tight one that is super tough to get out and in. I have a different plan for this panel. I'll post later on to make it easier.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226603&d=1773142071

Finally, I mocked up some of the front engine bay/frame covers from Snakebite Motorworks. I've now ordered 3 different batches from them. Very quick to respond and ship, and the panels are nicely cut. These will need a bit of trimming, in particular, but I cannot expect them to match each panel perfectly to these frames. I certainly like the look of the panels in this area. Just cleans it up really nicely.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226602&d=1773142026

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226593&d=1773141814

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226592&d=1773141780

At this point, the panels I haven't done are as follows:

- Passenger footbox
- Driver footbox inside
- Trans tunnel and cover
- Trunk panel right behind seats, that's a tight fit
- Trans cover underneath (ordered from Snakebite)
- Engine bay/frame covers (ordered from Snakebite)

Not too shabby - feel like I'm in a good spot with these panels.

[orangemonkey65]

Engine Removal

As mentioned earlier, my plan has always been to fit the engine initially and check for clearances and take measurements, then remove the engine. We did that this past weekend, early on Sunday, before church. Kids were very helpful and I could tell they felt more comfortable with the whole process after helping put the engine in earlier. And since they were more comfortable, Dad was more comfortable haha. Overall, it took maybe an hour at most to pull it back out. I learned a lesson this time and removed the shifter (as mentioned earlier) and also the panel on the radiator tunnel for a bit more clearance with the engine hoist.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226604&d=1773146129

With the engine out and most of the panels drilled, I spent what felt like a full day cleaning up and organizing some things around the garage. Earlier last week, I did get a big box of items from my backlog POL from FFR, including all the upper and lower control arms and brake packages from Wilwood! This means I can finally start working towards completing the suspension, brakes, and fuel lines, which are next on my list to tackle. If you look closely, you can see a few of them had powder coating come off during shipping (or earlier), which is fine in my case since I will be painting everything white soon. First, I plan to test fit it all before working towards another painting session.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=226605&d=1773146158

Still haven't heard from FFR after multiple follow-ups (I think it's been over 2 weeks with no reply, unfortunately). Items remaining on my POL as of right now.


60627- STR WIDE ROAD RACE SPOILER (dropshipped, directly from supplier)
60587- HEAT A/C MAIN UNIT (4-5 weeks)
15830- CP WINDSHIELD WIPER KIT (unknown)
14503- CHASIS WIRING HARNESS (6-7weeks)
16757- 302 HEADERS W PARTS (8 weeks)
15834- GT400 POLISHED SIDE MIRRORS (unknown)
60418- TAIL LIGHT MOUNTING RING (unknown)
60318- COUOE BLACK HEADLINER (unknown)
13858- NAMEPLATE
10759- CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN

[460.465USMC]

Rear IRS Differential

First up, we installed the IRS rear differential. As expected, it was heavy and a very tight fit. However, my two girls and I managed to wrestle the beast into position without too many issues in about 2 hours overall. These girls did awesome, and I couldn't have done it without them. Here is my middle girl, who was sitting inside the tank area, helping line up bolts.

Congrats on getting the differential installed. That's a real milestone IMHO. And, hey, little hands are much better than no extra hands. Great teamwork! You're making good progress.

[Power Surge]

The engine/trans reference pics are extremely helpful! I'm doing a BP347 and TKX. There's very few people doing Gen3s with a small block and TKX. I was questioning the space around an installed drivetrain for certain parts I want to use, but your pics answer all those questions.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Surprised to see that you have the welded tubular steel control arms and not the new forged aluminum ones.

Jeff

[Power Surge]

Surprised to see that you have the welded tubular steel control arms and not the new forged aluminum ones.

Jeff

I was told the forged ones only come with the anniversary cars. Mine came with the tubular ones also. I'm not upset about it though... because I had to shorten mine since I wanted to move my front wheels inboard 2".

Mine did come with the forged rears though.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I was told the forged ones only come with the anniversary cars. Mine came with the tubular ones also. I'm not upset about it though... because I had to shorten mine since I wanted to move my front wheels inboard 2".

Mine did come with the forged rears though.

Hmmm.... They're standard with all Mk5s so I thought that carried over to the Coupes as well.

Jeff