Opinions please about starting kit build.

[dolphin717]

Thanks to all for ideas and inputs. If I were to use a donor it would be just for four or five major parts....engine, rear end, trans, power steering rack, etc. Now, the question is where is this cost effective? I recently saw an '86 Mustang GT, 302 V8, 5 speed, low miles, said to be in very good condition. It sold for about $6500.....would that have been a worth while investment.

[Snake2998]

Originally Posted by dolphin717

Snake, are you kidding? So I guess I would not have to worry about leaving the body in the unheated or cooled storage shed in the back yard.

What Buzz said about supporting the body is important. Just remember there are millions of fiberglass yachts sitting out in the elements for decades with very little deterioration - your GRP body will be much the same.

[Jaydee]

That's what I love about this car. Nothing to rust. Hard to dent. No rivets to rattle loose. All air and water tight.
JD

[trularin]

Walter,

May I recommend a few things:

1. itstock makes a good point - having a place to do anything is important. My current project seems to have eaten my 52 foot barn. Realize your work area.

2. If you gave us an idea of your abilities, I missed it. I am sorry. - what can you do? The choice of path lies in your ability to handle the project. You have a huge family in ClubCobra and can post questions that should give you an assortment of options. Know what YOU can do.

3. I sense you are cash sensitive - plan your build. You may find it easier to build over time and spread your expense over a longer period. This means you might get what you want instead of compromize ( I love mangling that word ) on what it cost.

4. Your question in general - you are unsure about a number of things under this topic. Do more reaserch before you make a choice. Opinions are like assholes...everyone has one.

Just my $.02 worth. Good luck and please entertain us with your build log.

Tru

[dolphin717]

Thanks again, all good ideas. I'm going to spend the next 6 to 9 months doing everything I can to learn as much as I can. I'm kinda compulsive, so it's going to take some self discipline not to dive in too early.
Thanks again, and keep ideas coming.

[1985 CCX]

Factory Five
Great kit
Great engineering
Great support

[mptech]

I highly recommend preparing a Build Plan, this will help you address your requirements, purpose, theme, and decisions before you start the build.
Here's what I prepared, this is like version 10+++. Start at a high-level and fill in the details (or change them) as you do your research. Again, FFCars is your best source for a FFR build.
MPTech Build Plan - revision 9 (and counting)
If you want to stay on-budget and not extend your build time, Stay Off of these forums! There are too many good ideas here that will cost you more time & money! (this is tongue & cheek, but true!)

Good Luck, this is very rewarding!
I personally think persistence and problem-solving is more important than mechanical skills. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way to make it happen.

If you go donor engine, trans, rearend, I suggest to have them rebuilt or professionally inspected (you really don't want to pull the engine / trans out of a finished roadster (no fun!).
Re-manufactured Steering-racks are cheap, especially if you have a core. Don't use 20+ year old parts. It will bite you.

One of the reasons I went Base-kit, was I could purchase the kit and start the build earlier. If I had to save for the complete kit, it would have been 6+ more months. Also, don't buy the motor / trans right away, they will just be in your way until you are ready for them.

As far as space, I built mine in a 2 car garage during the winter with my wife's car parked next to it. I did pull it out for a couple milestones (dropping the engine in and installing the body). Also, pick up some tire dollies from Harbor Freight. Once you have a roller, it is very easy to wheel it around or out of the way!

[DanEC]

Half of a two car garage will work fine as long as you orgainize properly and make provisions for storing the body in some fashion when not working on it. You will probably need a little inside storage somewhere (part of a closet or something) to keep some things like the assembled instrument panel and seats out of the way.

I did a body off restoration of a Corvette in half of a 2-car garage (built a rolling buck to hold the body and the frame rolled under it). Even painted it in the garage although I did have to boot my wifes car out for a couple days to do that. I also built my ERA in half of a garage, although I didn't have to separate the body from the frame as the chassis was powder coated and everything else could be done without separating them. I did paint it elsewhere.

My ERA was a retirement project - my advice would be to do it. Getting up and down off the floor 20 to 30 times a day is great activity to keep you limber. A few cuts, smashed fingers and knots on the head will also re-expand your daily vocabulary to where the wife just rolls her eyes and walks away to leave you alone with it.

[Snake2998]

With respect to affordability - we (my wife & I) built our car at a time in life when cash was VERY short - it took 7 years to build - mostly because it took that long to scrape together the cash to buy what was needed - our kit was Jaguar suspension based so bought an un-roadworthy Jag, stripped out what I needed except for suspension - sold it to the Jag club for spares at almost what we paid for it if they stripped out the suspension for me so suspension cost nothing except for bushes and bearings. Wife assembled the motor for me.

The whole thing was great for our marriage and every hour worked on it was fun and every mile driven is pure pleasure.

To my mind the most important thing is that your family be behind you if cash is short.

[RICK LAKE]

dolphin717 One thing with Fiberglass, and you will laugh. It takes a good 3 months for it to cure. I went to ERA to buy my car and the body was out in 8" of snow. I was "O my GOD" Told this is the best way for it to cure in the sun and hot and cold days. My body was out in the weather for 8 months. Got car in 95, abused the crap out of it with racing ,autocross, and road course. I have 1 small mark in the glas from picking up debrie at the track. That is it. Have also won dinners and money for the strenght of this car frame and body. Pick up and 2 corners off the ground and there is no noise from the stress to body or frame.
Any way if you want to talk call me in the evening. 7322543536 or e-mail rdcobra428@aol.com Rick L.

[dolphin717]

I've been trying to get an idea of the cost of engine and transmission, but sites that advertise them don't list prices. What would be a ballpark for a good rebuilt Ford small block, EFI and a good rebuilt 4 or 5 speed trans? Thanks

[Brooklyn-427]

Stick with a good carb motor 300-350hp with a recon Ford tremec T5 , stock clutch, Alum bellhousing . You should be in for 8k+

[dolphin717]

Thanks, just another piece of the puzzle

[itstock]

The reason that I suggest having adequate room is so important is because I personally know quite a few people who abandoned projects do to lack of space, and more people to abandon projects do to lack of space rather than budget or interest. Working out of a 1 car garage is frustrating and pretty much sucks no matter how you slice it unless you are incredibly resourceful and patient (....simply put, hardheaded or driven beyond compare). It is frustrating not being able to move around to get in to the right position, not having room to store stuff, and simply not having the physical size to do the work correctly. I am relatively young and I can't imagine getting older and working out of 1 bay. Kicking against the walls, against parts, stacking items above my head level, etc etc. My back and body hurt thinking about it.

Sometimes the better route to take is buying a nearly completed or a completed project. Drive and enjoy. Save time and save money. There is plenty of tinkering left to do once you buy it anyway, but once the bones are there, it makes working out of tight spaces that much easier. Of course if the actual build itself is what interests you, by all means, take this route. Just don't believe that buying a somewhat or fully completed project takes away your future tinkering.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by itstock

Sometimes the better route to take is buying a nearly completed or a completed project. Drive and enjoy. Save time and save money. There is plenty of tinkering left to do once you buy it anyway, but once the bones are there, it makes working out of tight spaces that much easier. Of course if the actual build itself is what interests you, by all means, take this route. Just don't believe that buying a somewhat or fully completed project takes away your future tinkering.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I considered building, but found I could purchase a completed car for less $$. Was the car exactly what I wanted? No, but I was less hung up by that than I was by moving forward with something I could enjoy. Buying a completed car also meant I've been able to enjoy the car - enjoyment I probably would have had to defer had I chosen to build.

Having said that, the car I purchased was overdue for some upgrades, so I have spent quite a bit of time and money on those upgrades. FWIW, the purchase price was reflective of the need for upgrades, so that was fair. I was fortunate in being able to have half of a double garage available and, for a couple of weeks, the entire garage. Short of tearing the engine and transmission apart, I think I've touched just about everything on the car, so having a bit of space to work was definitely appreciated.

YMMV