"What I wish I knew before building a Shelby Cobra replica"

[elspanishgeek]

I recently reached the go-kart stage with my Roadster and it prompted me to take a moment and think about how this all got started. I wrote it down in a bit of a self-deprecating humorous blog (also because sadly, as someone still a long way from retiring, I gotta frame this journey in a way that adds something to my resume) and thought y'all might get a kick out of it. Also, I do mention a few usernames of people here who were invaluable in their help, but if anybody is uncomfortable let me know and I can edit.

I'm also curious if this resonates with anyone else. Particularly, I'd imagine there are a lot of us who ended up here one way or another due to the pandemic/lockdown.

What I wish I knew before building a Shelby Cobra replica

[egchewy79]

Nice write up.
Part of me wishes I had done more research before diving in, but part of me thinks that the surprises and frustrations are all part of the process.
I told my wife when I met her years ago that I was going to build a car when I turned 40.
This dream never would have materialized had she not encouraged me to build a separate garage to house this project (and the next as it turns out).
I got my kit in Jan 2019, a few months before my 40th, in the middle of a snow storm, with Stewart truck blocking off one lane of a fairly well traveled road in front of my house.
Fast forward 4+ yrs, I just got my car back from Kleiner and want to drive it any day there's no rain in the forecast. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be in the 30s here in Ohio, yet I'm ready to put on a coat and turn on my heater and seat heaters on my way to work at 6am.
In fact, I just spent 2 hrs in the garage tonight doing some work on the intake/EFI.
Looks like you're almost there. I put on at least 100mi in go kart stage (neighbors probably think I'm crazy) and another 1000mi in gelcoat before I was up for my turn with the painter.
Early Covid quarantine probably cut 6mo off my build as I was able to get in the garage daily for almost 6 weeks.
Once you're done (if that's ever possible), you'll have a machine you can be proud of and tell others that "I built this freakin car".

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[JimLev]

I’m sure alot of us here can relate and did pretty much the same as you.
I’m still taking things apart just to see what’s inside and how they work.

[cc2Arider]

Nice write-up Federico

My takeaway by undergoing this process was that I've really learned (confirmed) more about myself than anything else

Craig C

[burchfieldb]

This was very well written and couldn't be closer to the truth. I am a mechanical engineer by day, but this is still a big challenge. When people ask me about it being a kit, I tell them it is anything bit that. A kit is something you pull out of boxes and assemble, this requires a lot of figuring out and fabricating. If you want to take the next step, check out these channels, if you have not already, about building cars from scratch. Pretty amazing.
https://youtube.com/@RUNGECARS?si=jE-1ecFfILJIDrDd
https://youtube.com/@benbeames?si=iJMbCQOBgaIIdXpb

[elspanishgeek]

Thank you everyone, glad that y'all enjoyed it! I'm definitely staying in go-kart state for a while until I work out some kinks. First, it was an exhaust leak, now looks like a leak in the water pump. Definitely, the truth when I wrote "This car will never be fully done", hahaha.

[maclonchas]

Federico,

I enjoyed your article and can relate to many of the misconceptions that one can have when starting this project. I am awaiting my motor and hopefully go kart stage soon.

Thanks
Bill

[Skuzzy]

Boy, could I expland on that article.

Really nice read. Very enjoyable. Congrats!

[Matt Ries]

Federico, the article was a hoot to read, loved it! While My motivations to build where way different the end is the same a sense of pride! When you get the car completed the smile will be hard to remove from your face! The people around these cars become family, others that you don't know will stop you and ask questions admiring what you have done. The joy these silly little cars bring to other people is amazing. Give kids, grandma's other guys rides and their smiles are infectious. Enjoy the build, keep on task, it'll be done before you know it. The journey will continue to inspire on down the the road.

Matt

[Cutter 54]

Federico, it was a pleasure reading your confessional experience. It is accurate, humorous, factually and philosophically educational and, for those with ears to hear, prophetic. I too, initially thought hard about rewriting the manual (I still have a sense of humor and childish optimism) but realized that would be similar to Darwin finally publishing his "Origin of Species", a superhuman task. More realistically, there were many, many times I have thought of posting a similar summary of my disappointments and (mostly) constructive criticisms of both the manual and the salesman philosophy of the FFR owner. As confirmed numerous time on this forum, however, I am not alone and was able to "man up" and use the experience to learn more about myself and, well, about human behavior in general; 1) Separate the "wants" from the "needs", 2) Caveat emptor (buyer beware), 3) Keep asking "how did I make such a gigantic miscalculation about what this would entail?".
I can only compare it to how very easy it is to a) fall in love and b) make babies. Both of the latter invariably have a "price tag" inversely proportional to the ease and pleasure of the initiating act. Said another way, anything so seemingly simple MUST HAVE A CATCH.
On the other hand, what else would I have done with the past 3 years and $70K??
You have a talent for writing, good insight and importantly a sense of humor and enough humility to keep you honest. Bravo. Well done.

[toadster]

awesome write up! I love this part... literally LOLed

“I’m going to build a car.”
****.

[Blessidsoul12]

All of that is so true. Fantastic writeup. It actually spans multiple genres and I have encouraged multiple people who aren't even car people to read it. Thank you.