https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/blog.php?2-The-FIRST-TheFactoryFiveForum-com-Blog! Builder community site for Factory Five Racing. en Sat, 02 May 2026 14:31:16 GMT vBulletin 10 https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/blog.php?2-The-FIRST-TheFactoryFiveForum-com-Blog! https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?994-1966-Mustang-GT-Restomod-first-drive! Mon, 25 Mar 2013 03:51:32 GMT My son's first car is really coming together! As a bit of back story, I picked up this car from a friend who had completed a complete drive train replacement involving a new 302, T5, Torsen rear end and '99 cobra brakes. I had to complete the wiring, enlarge the front wheel wells, install the drive-shaft and sub-frame connectors, finish the hardline/brake hose install, install the exhaust and gut/replace the interior. We've been making great progress (with the help of this forum) and today we drove it for the first time! We bled the brakes a total of 4 times before we chased down all the leaks - you can see the trails of brake fluid in the videos - but after a "dry" run I handed the keys off to my son for his first drive. Boy was he excited!!
The car was converted from an automatic to a 5 speed and he is still learning but he is a very happy camper tonight. Here are some clips of him completing his first drive around the neighborhood.

He is learning to drive a stick with a Mustang that he helped to build, with nearly 400 HP on tap, after we get it tuned. He was really respectful of the car, and treated it with kid gloves on his first drive. Here he is, driving it solo for the first time:


Here is the end of his first drive. As I said, he is one happy camper! We will be registering it this week (It's been non-op for 6 years). When he turns 26 he plans to build his first FFR! His plans are for a '65 Coupe. He has good taste in cars!!


The camera doesn't pick it up, but at the end after he kills the ignition he says " this is totally awesome!" and I started to laugh. I'm so happy for him. He has really put a lot of effort into this and he totally "owns" the build of his first car.

:) ]]> David Hodgkins https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?994-1966-Mustang-GT-Restomod-first-drive! https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?755-Picking-up-a-new-project-1966-Mustang-GT-Coupe-Restomod! Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:43:45 GMT I'm buying a 1966 GT Coupe from a college buddy of mine. It has a new roller 302 engine with edelbrock heads and intake with a Holley street avenger Carb. The front suspension is new with Total control Products UCA and Global West LCA and sub fram connectors, Vintage 48 wheels and Nitto tires, an 8" rear with 3.55 gears and rare (I'm told) Torsen Differential. The body is straight with a little rust in front of the door and a small rust spot over 1 rear wheel. The front sub frame was stripped and por 15 applied. It has a red pony interior and a complete Blsck pony interior in boxes. The owner says it only needs a radiator and driveshaft. He also has frame stiffeners that could be welded to the bottom of the car.

Many pics to follow. His dad was the second owner and has had the car since 1981. It's a California car, built in San Jose.

The owner is a good friend and I'm getting a good deal. It's going to be my 18yo son's first car and he will do the majority of the rest of the build. He's getting a job to pay 50% of the purchase price back to me and all parts...












More info coming... ]]> David Hodgkins https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?755-Picking-up-a-new-project-1966-Mustang-GT-Coupe-Restomod! https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?289-IMPORTANT-Spam-and-Blogs-announcement-PLEASE-READ-(11-10-2011) Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:16:00 GMT Greetings everyone, We have been experiencing daily blog spam attacks, and today when I cleared them out the recent blog posts widget on the front... Greetings everyone,

We have been experiencing daily blog spam attacks, and today when I cleared them out the recent blog posts widget on the front page refused to update.

For now I have made it a requirement that all blog posts go through a moderation (accept) step that is similar to the one experienced by new members, except that every entry has to go through this step, not just the ones with links, etc.

We will also be patching the install today to the latest security revision. I do not believe you will experience any interruption, but it's possible.

I have removed the Recent Blogs widget on the Home page for now so you don't have to look at spam. I will replace it after the update has been applied.

No other aspect of the forum is affected at this time.

Thank you in advance for your understanding. We hope to be back to normal sometime later today.

ADDED 12:30 pm EST: Well that didn't take long. Looks like everything is back the way it should be.

We're going to keep the blog moderation going for a few days and see how it goes. If we continue to get a large amount of spam blog posts we have a plan to deal with it, that we will announce later if it is needed.

Thanks!

:) ]]> David Hodgkins https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?289-IMPORTANT-Spam-and-Blogs-announcement-PLEASE-READ-(11-10-2011) https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?111-In-Uterto! Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:33:17 GMT I was fortunate enough to have a high-ranking spy within FFR snap some pics of what should be frame # 2 of the anniversary (anni) series roadsters.... I was fortunate enough to have a high-ranking spy within FFR snap some pics of what should be frame # 2 of the anniversary (anni) series roadsters. This kit is scheduled to be loaded up sometime this week for the trip out west to California to my brother Phil's home in Encino.

First up is a few pics of the building bay where two anni roadsters are having their aluminum pieces put on along side two GTMs. The obvious note here is the cool silver powdercoating. This is the first major difference visually that identifies an anni roadster from the "norm". Phil's roadster in at the bottom in this shot:



In this shot you can make out that the different models have their parts grouped together for easy access. Pretty efficient!



Next up are a few pics of what the frames look like as the sheetmetal is being added. For those of you in-the-know, who is the builder attaching the sheetmetal in this shot?



And here is a solo shot of the frame, with attached sheetmetal. As we get through the first part of the build, these will be powder-coated. As with most builds, the final colors have yet to be decided, but Silver throughout is very, very high on the list of options. I'm pretty sure you can tell from the driver's footbox that this will be a small block build. Actually, the planned powerplant is going to be a FMS BOSS 427, which is based on the BOSS 351 block. This engine is rated at 535 HP with 545 ft/lbs of torque out of the box! This sucker's gonna scream!



Finally, here's a shot with the body on. Man, those MKIV bodies are nice...



As I said, the truck is leaving some time this week. The first goal is to have a roller we can bring to the HB show in April.

Let's get this build on the road!! ]]> David Hodgkins https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?111-In-Uterto! https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?102-T-Minus-1-week-until-the-birth-of-a-new-anniversary-roadster! Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:08:44 GMT My brother Phil, who like me has allways had the Cobra bug, jumped on the chance to get one of the new anniversary Roadsters. It's t-minus one week until it's done! It is scheduled to be completed on Tuesday, 3/15 and will be picked up by Stewart Transport shortly thereafter for the trip to California.

Not many options on the list because the kit is so complete! The current plan is to stuff a TKO 600 - backed FMS BOSS 427 under the hood. Oof. It should be a screamer!

Phil is semi-retired and will be working on his build in Encino, for all you valley dudes out there (I grew up there so I can say that ;)). His son Matthew, 15, is drooling at the mouth waiting to start the build with his dad! Many happy memories are about to be made.

I'm sure he'll be posting soon so be on the lookout for his posts. BTW that makes 3 anniversary roadsters in LA so far that I'm aware of. It's going to be a fun spring and summer of building in So-Cal!

Pics coming as soon as I can get them. Maybe even a spy shot or two from the womb? DS? Pretty Please?

:) ]]> David Hodgkins https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?102-T-Minus-1-week-until-the-birth-of-a-new-anniversary-roadster! https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?88-Blogging-blogging-blogging Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:42:04 GMT So now that we have launched, a bunch of people have started to use the blogs. If you haven't done so already, check them out! Each one is unique, and some already have some great content in them...

Also, the vendor links page was launched last night. The rates are very afforable, and hopefully wil ENCOURAGE more folks to innovate! If you have a cool widget for any one of the FFR's, why not join as a Supporting Vendor and sell them?

On a side note, my brother's 15th anniversay roadster id due to be completed on March 15th? can't wait to see it! Lot's of pics and blog entries should follow that date for sure...

:) ]]> David Hodgkins https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?88-Blogging-blogging-blogging https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?1-What-s-this-blog-thing-all-about-anyway Sat, 05 Feb 2011 19:13:46 GMT My first blog entry. What makes a blog different than a Thread? How many blogs can a person have? Would having a blog make a good build journal?... My first blog entry.

What makes a blog different than a Thread? How many blogs can a person have? Would having a blog make a good build journal? Or are they better suited as an online diary? Can non-members see these blogs?

These are but a few questions to answer in this, the first thefactoryfiveforum.com blog.

Let's experiment...

:) ]]> David Hodgkins https://v1.thefactoryfiveforum.com/entry.php?1-What-s-this-blog-thing-all-about-anyway