planning a build

[eblanks]

Hi folks,

new to the forum, I've been in love with the 427 Cobra since I built a model of one when I was a kid and have dreamed of a day when I might own one. With the recent purchase of a house with 2 car garage, the way is becoming clearer to making that dream a reality. I've been researching manufacturers and really like what I hear with FFR so I am pretty certain that's who I would buy from. But my head is filled with thousands of questions. I'll try to keep them to a minimum and just ask whats most worrisome. I have read lots of posts on this board where people have added their own modifications to the build process. I've seen posts on adding sound and heat insulators, solid carb linkage vs cable, weep holes in the frame and the list goes on. So what if I build the car exactly to the manuals instructions? Am I going to have a bad car? Are these mods personal touches or does anyone consider some to be necessities? If so which ones? My ultimate goal is to create a car as near to the original as possible. To that end, I would love an actual 427 ci carbureted engine with independant rear suspension instead of solid axle. At the same time I would like to limit the amount of donor car parts, as I just can't get my head wrapped around the fact that I'd be adding used parts to a new car. I am also trying to make some contacts with people that can help out where I might fall short in my skills. Also putting together a budget and source out where all of the parts are coming from before actually pulling the trigger. I also look forward to corresponding with the folks on this forum.

Thanks
Eric

[2FAST4U]

There are numerous mods to enhance the original look. Do a search

[MPTech]

I think that's the BEST thing about the FFRs, you can build them ANY WAY YOU WANT.

You can build a Basic kit / Donor, by the book. (probably the cheapest route)
You can build a Basic kit with sourced parts, by the book.
You can build a Basic kit with sourced parts and crate engine, with the latest and greatest mods.
You can build a Complete kit, with Donor running gear (engine, trans, rear-end), by the book. (probably the fastest build)
You can build a Complete kit, with crate engine, trans, rear-end, by the book.
You can build a Complete kit, with crate engine, trans, rear-end, with the latest and greatest mods. (probably most expensive and longest route, but a lot of guys do this too!)

Or any combination of the above. YOUR CHOICE.

[Gumball]

If you haven't found ffcars.com, go check it out, too. There is a forum on that page called "Modifications for Originality" and there are literally hundreds of things you can do to your FFR if you choose to make it a bit more period correct. FFR did quite a big jump towards more period correctness with the shape of the Mk4 body, but there are still quite a few things you can do to make it even more accurate if you want.

[bil1024]

If its your first kit build, I would go the donor route and build it by the manual. Thats what my first build was, and came out fine. You can always upgrade later

[SStrong]

Look up some of the blogs of people who have built cars. Several have detailed things they would have done differently. Wish I had found them before I bought my donor. I was going to use the motor from my 94GT, pulled it and started rebuilding (have a machine shop check the block and any major parts for cracks) then found a short block already built by a NASCAR engine builder for less than I was going to spend at my machine shop ($1200). So I will have a 400 hp motor for about $4500. I could have purchased most of the parts I will be using new or from a junkyard for about what I paid for the donor. I will probably get a few hundred from the donor when I'm done. With the SN95 (94-95 donor) you have to get the rear axle housing cut down to fit the body correctly or buy an 87-92. I did know this before I purchased the kit, and had a local guy who does this for a lot of racers to fit slicks. I came up with a 93 rear end, but you have to change to 5 lug axles. Lots of places can set you up with these. Forget a budget. Thought I would build for about $25000. I'm up to $33000 and still need paint.
Also keep a book on everything you put into the car, with lots of pictures. I will need proof of where the motor and major parts came from, and if you ever sell the buyer will need it to work on it.

Good luck on your build. I have a 5 car garage and I am still cramped, moving stuff around all the time, but some of the guys have built in one car garages (a friend left his body on his porch without a buck for a year, and it didn't harm it a bit. Just remember it is light enough to get blown around by the wind).
Steve

[Bob Cowan]

IMO, the FFR is the best replica on the market. Well designed chassis, easy to build, easy to find parts, etc. BUT, if an exact copy of the original is your goal, this is not the car for you. As said above, you can information on how to change the FFR to look more original. But you're better off starting with a kit that's designed to look original to begin with. The Devil is in the details.

If you stick with the FFR, there's absolutly nothing wrong with a straight donor build. Take everything off the Mustang and put it on your Roadster. Those were excellent parts for the Mustang, so they'll work fine for the Roadster.

Lots of people (myself included) have done a lot of small custom touches to their cars. Most of them to meet a specific need/desire, and sometimes just to make us feel better. You'll probably do the same thing. Unless you have a specific goal, I don't think there's any changes not designed by FFR that you MUST do.