Chef's 35 Truck build thread
Welcome to my build thread! I’m set to get my kit in mid-November, and I’ve spent most of the summer setting up my two-car garage with a layout just for this build.
Quick background on me: I’m an executive chef at a private country club in South Florida. My busy season runs November to May, where I’m usually putting in around 70 hours a week, but I get most of the summer off. Figured now was the best time to order the kit, just in case there are any backorders or missing parts—I’ll hopefully have what I need by the time I’m really into it. Planning to chip away at the build over the season and, with any luck, get the chassis rolling by May. I’ve got a 347 Blueprint engine and a manual TKO5 scheduled to arrive around then, too. Ordered a Moser rear end, standard brakes, and a Whitby power brake kit.
The goal is to make this a solid daily driver. South Florida has nice weather most of the year, so I’m going with electric power steering and, of course, AC. For the body, I’m keeping it simple with just the hood and front carbon fiber bike fenders. Skipping the wood bed kit; thinking I’ll stick to a red-and-black theme and maybe do a carbon fiber wrap in the bed. Shoutout to GuardM16 for that tip!
Honestly, I started this thread because I’ve been following a lot of your builds and getting ideas from each of you. Figured it’d be fun to share the journey and keep the inspiration going. Thanks for all the help along the way!
About me
I've been tinkering with cars since I was about 12, starting with my dad’s cars and dirt bikes. My first car at 16 was a 1967 Mustang convertible, 289 3-speed manual. I restored a previously-built 1927 Ford back in 2003, which had originally been put together in the '70s. But after that, life took over—I had kids, built my career, and didn’t do much in the garage besides storing the kids bikes and the minivan. I’ve got three daughters, so my time was filled with dance classes and daddy-daughter nights. For years, I thought I’d eventually get around to building one of those Cobra kits, if i had a grandson, but that’s not happening.
I moved to Florida from Long Island in my late twenties for better opportunities as a country club chef. My parents stayed on Long Island until my dad retired, and now they live just a few miles away. With my youngest daughter graduating this May and those bills winding down, I figured it was the perfect time to tackle this build with my dad. I ended up choosing the truck over the Cobra, mainly because I want something I can use as a daily driver—and in South Florida, you need something that can handle those afternoon thunderstorms and brutal sun.
I came across the 35 truck last year and, after months of YouTube deep dives and following this forum, I decided to go for it. I took my dad to Flint, Michigan, in September (yes, I drank the water!) for the Build School. If you’re thinking about doing a project like this, I highly recommend it. The class was three days, packed with helpful insights, and I met people with all levels of experience. I’m just a weekend garage guy myself, so it was reassuring to meet others who were in the same boat, as well as some with far more experience. The trip from South Florida cost about $2,500 per person, but considering the project’s overall cost will be around $70,000, it was a small investment to get a solid understanding of what I’m in for.
Once I got back, I ordered the kit right away—on Tuesday, September 17. Final payment to Factory Five is wired, and my completion date is set for November 2. I’ve arranged delivery with Stewart Transport, and fingers crossed, I’ll have my kit by mid-November.
