Just getting involved

I've been checking out F5 for about a year.

I'm considering attending a build school in the next year or three (My timeline is to have a build done within the next 4-5 years... so no rush).

The cars look amazing, my primary mechanical background has come from my father who did most of our automotive work when I was young and then more recently I had the bad luck to blow a head gasket on my Duramax (2004 LLY).

I took it to a diesel specialist and was quoted in the $19k range to have all the issues they found with the truck resolved. I had an acquantance do my head gaskets for me (For his shop rates but I supplied the parts at warehouse pricing for the most part). That was about 9k and then I did all the rest of the work myself.

So: All front steering and suspension (Upper and lower ball joints and a control arm, inner / outer tie rods) on a 3/4 ton truck. I also tracked down and solved numerous gremlins and etc . Replaced the front brakes (Calipers / Pads / Rotors), Replaced shocks, all the fluids... The steering gear... By my estimate I saved about $6.5k after paying for all my tools.

I'm a software developer but I've always enjoyed mechanical work, it's all about understanding the system and bringing it up to it's optimal performance.

In any case I'm interested in the type 65 coupe, the 818C and the GTM.

I think overall if I end doing anything it'll be the 818c, I have to have a car with a roof. It rains here too much to own anything that you can't drive in the rain!

What most attracts me to F5 is the building process and inherent in that is likely a simpler vehicle, likely more simply maintained and where hopefully everything has decent access.

I'm wondering if the GTM is scheduled for an upgrade as I think it's been out for awhile and I notice that it's not offered in the build school (probably too expensive to do there).