Ffr Opinions?

[Colonial Cobra]

The 400-500 hour figure is way high for an FFR build. I've been involved in 5 Cobra Builds and my FFR went much smoother than any of the others I'd seen. From delivery to street in 90 days and consistently brings home first place trophies. And that was the early car (Mark1). My Coupe is taking longer than that but mainly because of the additional body fitment and complexity.
I would budgit 300 hours or so for a Big block FFR build.

Brad

[Great Asp]

it's time to really let this go. Stop taking everything posted here as a personal attack on "you" or "your car".........

Bill S.

Bill, your taking this too personally.

Eric

[mrmustang]

I warned you what would happen if you continued to hang out with Dorthy.



Bill S.

Originally posted by Great Asp


Bill S.

Bill, your taking this too personally.

Eric

[foothills gary]

My time estimate on 400-500 hours was for a first time builder,with modest skills and would include time running down parts,etc not just wrench time.I believe any one could substantially cut that time the second time around,and there is probably a lot of crossover between makes of Cobras as far as skills needed,and even parts required.On a donor build there is also time required to clean up and rebuild as nessary,assuming that the builder is not just transferring parts from Mustang to FFR to get it on the road.I certainly hope I haven't offended any one at this site(I"m trying to make some new friends!),but just sharing the experience of this old perfectionist.FFR will send out a manual ahead of time,and I found it most beneficial.

[Ozona]

Originally posted by foothills gary


My time estimate on 400-500 hours was for a first time builder,with modest skills and would include time running down parts,etc not just wrench time.

The kit is pretty complete. There are several vendors that offer parts / pieces for very reasonable prices.

I'd guess you could get it all delivered just about in one truckload from several of the dealers.

There isn't much to chase down if you stay with the donor concept or use a FMS crate like the 392.

The build is very straight forward. I haven't built a car from scratch before and I've hardly used the manual.

I do have a pretty good set of tools an a fair amount of car experience.

Things that have taken up the most time for me:

1. Modifying my 351W blower bracket to fit properly.
2. Customized battery box in the back of the car, underneath.
3. Hiding the heater completely inside the dash with no nuts, bolts or protrusions through the firewall.
4. Polishing the aluminum in my engine compartment.
5. Hiding as much of the EFI wiring as possible. With the body on my car, other than where it exits the top of the footbox it's fairly well hidden.

My car is not a "period" car - it's how I wanted to build it.

This picture is about a month old:

[Colonial Cobra]

The 300 hour figure I gave is for a first time builder. Including the donor teardown.
Someone with prior Cobra build time will cut a good bit of time from that figure.
Where most Kit cars eat up so much time is hunting for parts. The one Donor concept eliminates the problems scavenging through junk yards. Even if someone goes with a new motor or tranny, the Donor will still have all of the other parts needed to complete the car.
The reason FFR has the largest number of completed cars out there is the ease of the build.

Brad

[decooney]

Originally posted by Ozona

My car is not a "period" car - it's how I wanted to build it.

Ozona,
this is another great point about the FFR. It seems you are not held to a specific build or type that hurts the value too much on an FFR. People build them with 302s, 351, SuperChargers, 4.6, V-6 Turbos...FEs, and various wheel and tire combinations with custom adds that make them sort of personalized - which is kind of cool.

One of the more fun and interesting things I look for now is who is trying and doing something different!

[Gatorac]

I guess I'm confused and did not understand your post... you say you wanted to build a car, so you went with the FFR, right?. Did you finish the FFR? Did it have anything to do with time to finish?

Yes, you are confused. It's understandable, though, since you do not have all the facts on my situation. Time was not the factor in canceling or delaying the build.

A collegue of mine, avid car builder, is currently building a FFR/MKII. He's very capable and been working on it soid for 6 months now. He's built and repared several Cobras over the last fifteen years. To my amazement, he or myself could have built two Uniques or one ERA in 1/2 the time it's taken on the FFR MKII so far, not counting the customization needed just to make good tires and brakes fit under the car... not even counting body work yet... that's another chapter.

FMS, Bear, Brembo, Wilwood, Stoptech and many others make brakes that will bolt on the the FFR without modification. My FFR will hold 245 tires up front and up to 335 out back without any modifications. What is your friend working on? I'm not familiar with what brake/tire combos are available for the Unique. Maybe you can help.

The FFR body is not a pretty piece. The Tristates body cost was factored in to the equation. It is not as conveinent as getting everything together in a one package from one company. In fact, if you get one now, FFR will not give you a credit for the stock body.

All new Cobra people looking should be aware of the actual time it takes to build some of these cars, and time should be figured in the equation if you place a value on your time. If it takes 60 or 90 days longer to properly build an FFR compared to another car that only costs $2000 more to begin with, to me, this is a huge consideration to put on the table when considering what to buy, and (what you get for your money at delivery time) - IMHO.

If you want something built, the Backdraft is a steal at $26k. Square tube frame to boot. How can anyone sell a kit now?

[foothills gary]

Ozona,I am most impressed with that underhood view!A detail man after me own heart.I hope our paths cross someday.I would love to crawl under her as well,because I'll bet the underside is just as detailed.Thanks for posting the pic!

[decooney]

Jim,
My friend is building an FFR,/MKII for a customer with a rear that was narrowed an additional 4" over stock. How were you able to fit 335s on the rear of FFR? He was able to fit only 295/50s on the back, and had to trim off part of the original spring mount on the frame and part of the shock mount below... It's really tight and there was no way to fit anything wider UNLESS going with some sort of a wheel with little or no offset, like a FWD wheel... Anything wider would rub on the outside of the body. He also had to trim the rear fender lip a bit too. As for any questions on the Unique or ERA, fire away, that's what I've built for myself and helped a few friends... As for FFRs, my friend is building one for a customer and I'm thinking of helping someone to build one, only if we can stuff larger tires on there (like the 335s you mentioned)...

As for BDR, if you like what they offer for suspension and how they shape the body, I agree, its a nice option for the price. I almost became a dealer for BDR once, but it did not work out for a few reasons... I talked with Reg for over a year about needed changes for the car, and they have incorporated some of those since then... Great car if you stay under 450hp, IMHO. See Ya.

[RACERAL]

my ffr with a small block with 3/4 tank of gas came in at 2176 lbs at the spring fling..

one thing I see about all the cars is..... ffr gives you the chance to build a nice car or a crappy car..... its up to you...

[Ozona]

I have the tristate body as well, it does not have the "perky" FFR buns and is 3" wider through the hips. There's nothing wrong with "perky" butts, I just like a little more junk in the trunk / meat with my potatoes.

I have 17x11 with 315 Drag radials on it right now, as thats the widest Nitto I could get my hands on. The tires get hugely more expensive moving up to 335 or 355.

I figure my first set of tires will be bald in no time, so why dump a bunch of $$ on them.

[Roscoe]

All I have to say is that, anthropologically, the ffr is a bit steatopygic compared to the other more callipygian bodies.

Roscoe

[mrmustang]

Come on Roscoe, I saw what you were doing to that FFR's "perky butt" last night..........


Bill S.

[Roscoe]

Uh-Oh....busted schtupping an ffr!

Roscoe

[mrmustang]

Originally posted by Roscoe


Uh-Oh....busted schtupping an ffr!

Roscoe

[davidg]

REM, If you want to see some nice FFR cars, there are some nice ones in the Orlando area. these are great cars, the bodies have gotten better, the frame is better than the original and can handle one hell of a big block. I can take you to see two. Ine with a huge 460, the other a 427. If you want to go with the "Bath Tub", go with the other companies. If you want to go with race proven safety and reliabilty, go with Factory Five. I have FFR2863.

[mrmustang]

Nothing like being antagonistic.

Bill S.

Originally posted by davidg


REM, If you want to go with the "Bath Tub", go with the other companies.

[Roscoe]

Sigh..oh well...here we go again:

The FFR is the greatest thing since the wheel was invented. All other brands are just inferior attempts to come up to the level of the superior FFR. The chassis is the strongest in the industry and is race proven and totally superior to the 'other' brands. The egg shell body is one of the greatest inventions since the overcoat. Yadda yadda yadda.

I've said many times that FFR makes a good product but, c'mon, get real. Put things into perspective. Be intellectually honest with yourself. Don't you realize that by posting the way you do you detract from the FFR? You actually do it an injustice? People don't take you seriously when you spout opinions like that. You come off like a child that says "mine is best, mine is best, yours is sh1t!"

Roscoe

[JerryH]

I believe the Tristates body for the FFR is wider than FFR's allowing for a larger tire. Most running the 315's with the stock FFR body have to do some minor frame modifications.