BrianT
03-26-2026, 05:07 PM
Greetings!
I’m a recently retired science teacher. My last few years of teaching I was hoping that building a roadster was in my future. I’ve done work on cars for years but mostly sub-systems. I never really got into an engine until we bought a Range Rover. Having it actually work was a confidence builder. I started thinking I could do it! After visiting Factory Five in the fall of 2024 and getting a ride with Dave in his son’s car and getting a top secret glimpse of the Mark V, I was all in. I waited for the Mark V to become available to see what the price was. A 5k increase put it just out of reach. The deal with the wife was full support but if I wanted a new toy I had to get rid of one. Sadly the BMW R1200 GSA went on the chopping block. I started looking at doner options and incomplete kits.
I found one on this site that was listed in an odd place. I found a Mark IV complete kit, still in the boxes, unopened. Apparently the owner was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and bought it as a carrot to get him through treatment. Unfortunately he didn’t make it and his son needed to let the kit go. I got the kit, 31k with options plus a set of Dayton Wire Wheels for 20K. My daughter and I loaded up our 2002 Dodge Cummins with a 20’ enclosed trailer and headed from Wyoming to north central New York and picked it up. Traveling back we dodged severe weather and tornadoes all across the Midwest. The worst was a blizzard 20 miles from home with 60 mph crosswinds that blew the trailer out from behind the truck. Fortunately it came back in line pretty quick. I have never seen my daughter’s eyes so wide. I think she was impressed with my driving skills. I didn’t let on that all I did was keep the truck straight in four wheel drive and it came back on its own. A great trip and her first time driving across the country. Unfortunately it was spring and the leaves weren’t out yet so she really didn’t get a taste of the rich foliage of the east.
I found a rear end and a 302 engine on Craig’s list in Denver. She travelled with me to pick those up. The guy that sold me the engine was a financial planner and investment broker. he got the engine from a guy whose cousin sold it to him. He had it for years but never did anything with it. His cousin’s husband bought a new 1983 ford mustang. Apparently he made some bad choices and strayed. The judge gave her the house and said he could keep the mustang in the garage until he found a place of his own. This was his second mistake. She parted the mustang out. 1500 miles on it. I got the engine and a Borg-Warner T-5. Like new. Picking up the rear end in another part of Denver (very shady) I had to make the deal in a McDonalds parking lot. We got out of there pretty quick. My daughter wondered how I knew all these guys and I told her I didn’t but found them on Craig’s list. She is sure that everything on Craig’s list is stolen. I’m not sure about the rear end.
I disassembled the engine and took it to the machinist in Cody. He and his son set me up and did all the hard work. I assembled the engine with the mods he suggested to get me to 300 ft-lbs of torque. It was my first time building an engine and I really enjoyed that. I have no idea if it will run but I read three books and took my time and made sure everything was spotlessly clean and my fingers are crossed. I think the hardest part was filing the rings. I had a Chinese feeler gauge and was all done and doing a final check before installing and the next feeler up fit and it shouldn’t. I bought one made in the USA and checked again, not even close, so I started over. Took forever but I got it.
Jumping forward, I’m about ready install brake lines and wiring harness. I bought the 17” Halibrands and need to get rid of the Dayton Wire wheels and the leather seats. I’m 6’4” and have to do the tall person mods. I’ll post those as soon as I get enough comments to post in the classified section. I have really enjoyed this process. Each new thing is a bit intimidating but once you start, it isn’t as hard as I thought. I’m behind schedule but hoping to go-cart in a month.
I’m a recently retired science teacher. My last few years of teaching I was hoping that building a roadster was in my future. I’ve done work on cars for years but mostly sub-systems. I never really got into an engine until we bought a Range Rover. Having it actually work was a confidence builder. I started thinking I could do it! After visiting Factory Five in the fall of 2024 and getting a ride with Dave in his son’s car and getting a top secret glimpse of the Mark V, I was all in. I waited for the Mark V to become available to see what the price was. A 5k increase put it just out of reach. The deal with the wife was full support but if I wanted a new toy I had to get rid of one. Sadly the BMW R1200 GSA went on the chopping block. I started looking at doner options and incomplete kits.
I found one on this site that was listed in an odd place. I found a Mark IV complete kit, still in the boxes, unopened. Apparently the owner was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and bought it as a carrot to get him through treatment. Unfortunately he didn’t make it and his son needed to let the kit go. I got the kit, 31k with options plus a set of Dayton Wire Wheels for 20K. My daughter and I loaded up our 2002 Dodge Cummins with a 20’ enclosed trailer and headed from Wyoming to north central New York and picked it up. Traveling back we dodged severe weather and tornadoes all across the Midwest. The worst was a blizzard 20 miles from home with 60 mph crosswinds that blew the trailer out from behind the truck. Fortunately it came back in line pretty quick. I have never seen my daughter’s eyes so wide. I think she was impressed with my driving skills. I didn’t let on that all I did was keep the truck straight in four wheel drive and it came back on its own. A great trip and her first time driving across the country. Unfortunately it was spring and the leaves weren’t out yet so she really didn’t get a taste of the rich foliage of the east.
I found a rear end and a 302 engine on Craig’s list in Denver. She travelled with me to pick those up. The guy that sold me the engine was a financial planner and investment broker. he got the engine from a guy whose cousin sold it to him. He had it for years but never did anything with it. His cousin’s husband bought a new 1983 ford mustang. Apparently he made some bad choices and strayed. The judge gave her the house and said he could keep the mustang in the garage until he found a place of his own. This was his second mistake. She parted the mustang out. 1500 miles on it. I got the engine and a Borg-Warner T-5. Like new. Picking up the rear end in another part of Denver (very shady) I had to make the deal in a McDonalds parking lot. We got out of there pretty quick. My daughter wondered how I knew all these guys and I told her I didn’t but found them on Craig’s list. She is sure that everything on Craig’s list is stolen. I’m not sure about the rear end.
I disassembled the engine and took it to the machinist in Cody. He and his son set me up and did all the hard work. I assembled the engine with the mods he suggested to get me to 300 ft-lbs of torque. It was my first time building an engine and I really enjoyed that. I have no idea if it will run but I read three books and took my time and made sure everything was spotlessly clean and my fingers are crossed. I think the hardest part was filing the rings. I had a Chinese feeler gauge and was all done and doing a final check before installing and the next feeler up fit and it shouldn’t. I bought one made in the USA and checked again, not even close, so I started over. Took forever but I got it.
Jumping forward, I’m about ready install brake lines and wiring harness. I bought the 17” Halibrands and need to get rid of the Dayton Wire wheels and the leather seats. I’m 6’4” and have to do the tall person mods. I’ll post those as soon as I get enough comments to post in the classified section. I have really enjoyed this process. Each new thing is a bit intimidating but once you start, it isn’t as hard as I thought. I’m behind schedule but hoping to go-cart in a month.