Papa's Retirement Type 65 Coupe Build - Index in first post

[Papa]

It's been eight years since I ordered my MK4 Roadster kit and today I reviewed my Coupe order with FFR. I have a 6/21/25 completion date and shipping arranged with Stewart, but no ETA on actual delivery yet. I'm excited to be able to build another FFR kit and have a much better feel for what to expect after building the roadster. I'll be taking a different approach to the coupe compared with my roadster build. The coupe will be a more modern take, but still very classic looking. I will be doing IRS on this one with Wilwood brakes, including an electric e-brake kit from Wilwood. I was originally looking at an Aluminator and T-56 for the drive train but have backed off a bit from that with a Gen-4 Coyote and TKX. I still have time to think about it, but the kit will come with the drive shaft based on this combo.

The kit was ordered with the side window kit, heater and A/C, leather steering wheel, carpet, sway bars, and floor mats. A couple of key departures from the FFR standard kit will include Corbeau seats and Dakota Digital gauges. I'd like to incorporate TPMS from Dakota Digital as well as a rearview camera mirror if I can find an OEM quality mirror that I like. I also plan to order custom offset wheels to avoid using spacers and I have some candidates that I'm leaning toward but haven't locked my choice down yet. I'm going with a gray metallic color for the paint but haven't locked down a specific color yet. I'm leaning toward no stripes, but I do like the Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor Pepper Gray and black look, so who knows?

This kit is intended to be a retirement project, so I plan to move at a slower build pace than my first build. We'll see how that goes.

Build Thread Index:

Front Suspension	Post #61
Safety Wire on Wiwood Brakes	Post #65
Initial Fuel Tank Assembly	Post #82
Rear Suspension	Post #85
Sway Bar Installation	Post #93
Wilwood EPB Initial Harness Layout	Post #94
Snakebite Motorworks Drop Trunk Kit	Post #98
Fuel Tank Install	Post #104
Battery Tray	Post #109
Wilwood Pedal Box Install	Post #110
Turn Signal Lever Modification, Brake Master Cylinders, Brake Light Switch Adjustment, and Fitting and Drilling Passenger Footbox Aluminum	Post #113
Fitting and Drilling Driver's Footbox Aluminum	Post #122
A/C and Heater Fit	Post #123
Snakebite Motorworks Glove Box Installation	Post #136
Snakebite Motorworks Triple Reservoir Bracket and Bezel	Post #143
Brake & Clutch Reservoir Plumbing	Post #149
Radiator Aluminum Panel Fitment and Modifications	Post #172
Cockpit Aluminum Fitting and Drilling	Post #199
Front Brake Lines	Post #240
Rear Brake Lines	Post #259
Fuel Lines	Post #265
Dakota Digital VHX-1060 Gauges	Post #266
Sparco R100 Seats - Initial Test Fit	Post #280
Aluminum Panels Back from Powder Coater - (Install over several pages)	Post #313
Rear Electrical Harness	Post #342
Main Electrical Harness Modification	Post #425
Windshield Wiper Setup	Post #427
NRG Quick Release and I.E.427 NRG Hub	Post #477

[JimStone]

Exciting! Congratulations

I'm having a blast with my coupe project

[David Williamson]

I did my Coupe in 2017-18 as a retirement project and it was a good way to transition from work. I built my Mkll in 7 months while i was working and the Coupe took 18 months after I retired ??? Really slowed down on the Coupe and only worked on it a few hours in afternoons compared to the Cobra that I worked on most evenings and weekends.
David W

[Higgybulin]

Awesome Dave!! I will be following!!
Higgy

[edwardb]

Congratulations. I've been doing retirement projects for a while now. Can't beat it... Love the T-56 in my Coupe. But the TKX is excellent as well. Especially with the Coyote which is happy at just about any RPM. Will be following!

[burchfieldb]

Excited to see what you come up with. I am also a gan of the Eleanor color scheme.

[Rsnake]

Congratulations! I am excited to see the updates on your progress.

[Lidodrip]

Great project and congratulations!

James

[GoDadGo]

Jealous, You Bet I Am Papa Dave!
.......I'm sure your next project will be amazing.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Exciting times Dave!

On that Eleanor Pepper Gray...check out Ford Dark Shadow Gray (code CX). Very similar but when compared side by side the Pepper is kind of dead and brown. Here's one I did with it several years ago:



Can't wait to follow your build

Jeff

100_4810.jpg

[Papa]

Exciting times Dave!

On that Eleanor Pepper Gray...check out Ford Dark Shadow Gray (code CX). Very similar but when compared side by side the Pepper is kind of dead and brown. Here's one I did with it several years ago:



Can't wait to follow your build

Jeff

100_4810.jpg

Thanks, Jeff! I do like that look. Keep those recommendations coming. I'll be calling you at some point to get in line for paint.

[460.465USMC]

Congrats, Dave! And, welcome back! Your build has very similar options as mine, except I'm going with the T-56. Can't go wrong with the Coyote IMHO.

Now, if only you had a nice garage space for your build. I look forward to following along.

P.S. if you need any tips on how to build slowly, I wrote the book.

[johnnybgoode]

It's been eight years since I ordered my MK4 Roadster kit and today I reviewed my Coupe order with FFR. I have a 6/21/25 completion date and shipping arranged with Stewart, but no ETA on actual delivery yet. I'm excited to be able to build another FFR kit and have a much better feel for what to expect after building the roadster. I'll be taking a different approach to the coupe compared with my roadster build. The coupe will be a more modern take, but still very classic looking. I will be doing IRS on this one with Wilwood brakes, including an electric e-brake kit from Wilwood. I was originally looking at an Aluminator and T-56 for the drive train but have backed off a bit from that with a Gen-4 Coyote and TKX. I still have time to think about it, but the kit will come with the drive shaft based on this combo.

The kit was ordered with the side window kit, heater and A/C, leather steering wheel, carpet, sway bars, and floor mats. A couple of key departures from the FFR standard kit will include Corbeau seats and Dakota Digital gauges. I'd like to incorporate TPMS from Dakota Digital as well as a rearview camera mirror if I can find an OEM quality mirror that I like. I also plan to order custom offset wheels to avoid using spacers and I have some candidates that I'm leaning toward but haven't locked my choice down yet. I'm going with a gray metallic color for the paint but haven't locked down a specific color yet. I'm leaning toward no stripes, but I do like the Gone in 60 Seconds Eleanor Pepper Gray and black look, so who knows?

This kit is intended to be a retirement project, so I plan to move at a slower build pace than my first build. We'll see how that goes.

Re: rear view camera. I'm in the process of installing this combo in my Superlite right now. Congrats on the new build. Scott
https://www.auto-vox.com/products/au...YzztWm6RWaWc6K
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DPCGMMZS?...fed_asin_title

[Straversi]

Congrats,
I haven’t been active on the forum in a while but this post caught my eye. Can’t wait to see this come together.
-Steve

[Papa]

Stewart called today. My kit completion is 6/21/25 and Stewert will be picking it up on 6/23/25 with an expected delivery 6/27 - 6/29.

[edwardb]

Stewart called today. My kit completion is 6/21/25 and Stewert will be picking it up on 6/23/25 with an expected delivery 6/27 - 6/29.

Hmm... I'll bet we'll be on the same truck. My Mk5 Roadster picking up 6/23 and expected delivery 6/25 - 6/27. Looks like passing through MI on the way to MO. Makes sense.

[Papa]

Hmm... I'll bet we'll be on the same truck. My Mk5 Roadster picking up 6/23 and expected delivery 6/25 - 6/27. Looks like passing through MI on the way to MO. Makes sense.

I bet you're right.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I bet you're right.

And here's my prediction...they'll be delivered by Kelly Lindsey. He's driving the FFR big rig to the LCS show. While there his truck will get loaded up and when he gets back to Wareham on Sunday he'll head out in it to make deliveries.

Jeff

[Papa]

Delivery day today!











There were two MK5s and a MK4 on the truck left to deliver on this load. The next delivery is headed to Utah, then California, and finally Washington.

[Papa]

After a quick look at the inventory sheets, the POL is pretty short, just 17 items. Most won't be needed for some time, but the lower control arms are on the list, which I hope come quickly. The full inventory will begin in the next day or two.

[Stangrob]

First off, congrats! And secondly, you have a phenomenal garage!!!

Rob

[Blitzboy54]

Right on. Glad you jumped back in. Looking forward to following along.

Congrats on retirement as well.

[PNWTim]

Always a good day!

[Papa]

Today was spent doing a complete inventory. After seven hours, it's done and the most significant discrepancy is a lack of a build manual in any of the boxes or listed on the inventory sheets. Other than that, just one error on a small item (a rubber washer) where I got one extra of one size, and too few of a different size. I also received a couple of parts not listed on the inventory sheets that are part of the hydraulic clutch kit; a 3/4" Wilwood master cylinder kit, #4 Fragola braided steel hose, and a #4 to 1/8" NTP 90 degree fitting. The most significant parts on back order are the front lower control arms and the fuel tank assembly.

[Papa]

I e-mailed my MIK form to FFR this morning. Those hydraulic clutch parts that weren't on my inventory ... well, I'm missing a page! As I was drafting my e-mail and describing the "extra" parts in box #19, I noticed that I was missing the last page of that box's inventory. I've asked FFR to send me that page so that I can verify I actually have all the parts that should be there. I was surprised to find that FFR doesn't send printed manuals anymore! I have the digital manual, but I wish I had a printed one to keep notes in and to be able to flip forward while proceeding through the build to check for potential gotchas in later steps. I'd be happy if they just offered a hard copy as an option. Yes, I can print the darn thing, all 600 pages, but it'll be a PITA and burn a ton of toner on my color laser printer. A set of toner cartridges run almost $500 for my printer.

[PNWTim]

I e-mailed my MIK form to FFR this morning. Those hydraulic clutch parts that weren't on my inventory ... well, I'm missing a page! As I was drafting my e-mail and describing the "extra" parts in box #19, I noticed that I was missing the last page of that box's inventory. I've asked FFR to send me that page so that I can verify I actually have all the parts that should be there. I was surprised to find that FFR doesn't send printed manuals anymore! I have the digital manual, but I wish I had a printed one to keep notes in and to be able to flip forward while proceeding through the build to check for potential gotchas in later steps. I'd be happy if they just offered a hard copy as an option. Yes, I can print the darn thing, all 600 pages, but it'll be a PITA and burn a ton of toner on my color laser printer. A set of toner cartridges run almost $500 for my printer.

I was fortunate enough to get a hard copy manual but I did look into having Kinko's print and bind a copy of the digital version I received before my kit delivery. If I recall correctly, it was about $250 so perhaps that's an option for you. I think FFR probably doesn't want to keep up with the constant updates and changes necessary to make the hard copy current and relevant.

[JimStone]

Digital is nice to read while pretending to watch Paw Patrol with the kids, or at the airport, or on the toilet.

But there's no substitute to having the printed copy open on the work bench.

[PNWTim]

I was actually just on FF's parts site and they list the Coupe printed manual at $49.99

[Papa]

I was actually just on FF's parts site and they list the Coupe printed manual at $49.99

Awesome! I have one ready to order, but need to call and see if they also sell a blank gauge panel since I'm not using FFR gauges for this build.

[bishes]

They do sell a blank gauge panel (part 60393). I was told during my order process that I should expect the blank panel since I didn't order any gauges from them. I still got the precut gauge panel but they sent the blank one with my MIK after I asked about it.

[Papa]

They do sell a blank gauge panel (part 60393). I was told during my order process that I should expect the blank panel since I didn't order any gauges from them. I still got the precut gauge panel but they sent the blank one with my MIK after I asked about it.

Thanks! I'll shoot them a message tomorrow about the panel and get the manual ordered.

[PNWTim]

Thanks! I'll shoot them and message tomorrow about the panel and get the manual ordered.

That's interesting. I didn't order their gauges either and received a precut insert. I ordered my blank from Brent at Snakebite Motorworks. I wish I would've had the option to order a dash with no holes but I don't think that's an option.

[Papa]

I just got off the phone with FFR regarding the printed manual and blank gauge panel. In spite of what is shown on the parts website page, they no longer offer printed manuals. On the gauge panel, they do have a blank panel and were happy to sell me one for $45.00. When I asked about why it wasn't just shipped with my kit based on the gauge delete, I got a "that's just the way they do it" response. I asked that they just put it in with my POL parts and saved the cost of shipping. I don't get why they don't ship a blank panel when you do a gauge delete on your order. Perhaps if I'd have discussed it with them at the time the kit was ordered it could have been worked out at that time.

[460.465USMC]

Congrats, Dave! Exciting times. I think you're going to have a blast.

I'm a little surprised to hear they stopped including the manual. Mine just sits and collects dust. Happy to give it to you. Let me know.

P.S. your grass looks amazing! You're not only an excellent F5 builder, but a lawn doctor.

[Papa]

Congrats, Dave! Exciting times. I think you're going to have a blast.

I'm a little surprised to hear they stopped including the manual. Mine just sits and collects dust. Happy to give it to you. Let me know.

P.S. your grass looks amazing! You're not only an excellent F5 builder, but a lawn doctor.

Hey Chris,

I'd be happy to accept that manual, but only if you let me pay for shipping.

The lawn is a lot of work, but keeps me busy with three acres to keep up with.

Dave

[danmas]

I don’t have a dog in this hunt (yet) as I have a paper mkiv manual. However, I suspect Factory Five Racing could set up a print on demand sku that routes to Amazon or one of the other print on demand publishers. It would be easy and I think a good service for their customers. Here is a company that does Spiral coil notebooks. If anyone has a touch point/relationship with FFR perhaps you might suggest that?

I know I really value my paper manual because I write notes in it about the build…

Dan

[460.465USMC]

Hey Chris,

I'd be happy to accept that manual, but only if you let me pay for shipping.

The lawn is a lot of work, but keeps me busy with three acres to keep up with.

Dave

Sounds good. Glad to see it go where it can get some use. If you still have my number, send me a text with your details. Or, PM me.

[Papa]

As promised, I'm taking my time with this build. The body is still sitting on the chassis but should come off in the next couple of weeks once I get some helpers line up.

Today, I packaged up my headers to send them off for ceramic coating with Jet-Hot. I also ordered the Wilwood electric parking brake kit from Summit Racing with their SUMMER25 $80 off $1,000+ purchase deal. I'm holding on to all the e-brake stuff from the kit until I have installed and tested the Wilwood parts.

It also looks like FFR has three packages heading my way that should contain a bunch of POL items that I'll be able to check off the list. I've also scanned in my complete inventory sheets and converted to a searchable (OCR) PDF file that will make locating parts a lot easier down the road.

I think I've zeroed in on rearview mirror I'm going to use. I like the Wolfbox Pro (WOLFBOX G900Pro 12MP WiFi Touch Screen Rear View Mirror Dash Cam Smart Mirror).

[Papa]

One more update for today. I was reviewing Paul's Coupe build thread for information on the wiper arms/blades he used with the wiper kit he used. I plan to use the same kit, but the arms and blades he used are not available anywhere. So, using his information on lengths, I found these that should work.



We'll see when I get to that part of the build.

[PNWTim]

As promised, I'm taking my time with this build. The body is still sitting on the chassis but should come off in the next couple of weeks once I get some helpers line up.

Today, I packaged up my headers to send them off for ceramic coating with Jet-Hot. I also ordered the Wilwood electric parking brake kit from Summit Racing with their SUMMER25 $80 off $1,000+ purchase deal. I'm holding on to all the e-brake stuff from the kit until I have installed and tested the Wilwood parts.

It also looks like FFR has three packages heading my way that should contain a bunch of POL items that I'll be able to check off the list. I've also scanned in my complete inventory sheets and converted to a searchable (OCR) PDF file that will make locating parts a lot easier down the road.

I think I've zeroed in on rearview mirror I'm going to use. I like the Wolfbox Pro (WOLFBOX G900Pro 12MP WiFi Touch Screen Rear View Mirror Dash Cam Smart Mirror).

Dave - that's the mirror I bought which I am working on coupling it with the same roll bar bracket that Jim Stone used. You will need some kind of OEM arm or other attachment method as the unit is designed to fit on an existing mirror. It's a pretty nice piece. I tested the front and rear cameras and they both work well.