Shell Valley or FFR,Which to purchase

[ChrisL]

Hi guys ,
Still looking at kits to purchase and now the more I read the more confused I get .I think I have it narrowed down to these to but I cannot decide which to go with right know .I know there is many theads and opinions on this and I have read alot of them .OF course price is a factor here and I know not to shop by price alone.I already have a donor car if one is needed for which ever I chose.I would like to go with as many new parts as possible (of course everyone would) or as much as I can squeeze out of my wallet and still complete the project. I would like to make it as nice as possible , mainly to use it,have fun with and drive.not a trailer queen for shows (maybe go to local shows ) .and not to race at the track either .Just a fun toy to cruise with in the nice weather. So maybe there are afew people out there who have some good opinions for me and have had one or both of the manufactures or first hand exsperience with these Thanks Guys Chris

[klayfish]

Chris,
You're really not going to find a solid answer, I think it's a matter of personal preference. Take a good look at both cars up close and personal. See which one you like better. Which is more comfortable for you? Which looks better?

I chose FFR because of the bang for the buck. It's a good value and just a ton of fun to drive. Easy to upgrade. The FFR family is just fantastic. The support network is awesome. But from what I've seen of Shell Valley, they are very nice cars too.

I'm not sure where in Pompton Plains is, but there are many owners in PA, NJ, NY. And there are several upcoming Cobra events where you can get a good look at all the cars.

Steve

[blykins]

Hey Chris,

I have a Shell Valley and am very pleased with it. You will not need a donor car if you go this route...

I'm sure FFR has wonderful support, but I couldn't ask more out of the Shell Valley guys.

Email me off-site and I'll tell you more about the car...

[hog]

I have been very happy with my Shell Valley. They are an excellent company to work with. The kit went together very well. I was a year from the time I started untill it was together working in my spare time. The only item used in my kit is the differential.
Hog

[sllib]

Chris;
Go to Carlisle (May 21-23) for the kit car show. All the big manufacturers go and you can get all your questions answered in one place. It helped me a lot.
Bill Stradtner

[Jahred]

Think about doing the Shell Valley with a Kevlar body.

That's a hard mod to get most places.

The body is very solid and you will love the feel.

Their frame is also very solid and I think a good plan if you are thinking about throwing 600 HP at it. They automatically build in the Moser Axles and Power Trac differential. I think with a BB having a solid frame and bullet proof rear end set up is critical.

I'm told even the standard 9 Inch rear end has trouble with all the torque.

They are set up well for BB applications.

[slithering]

Chris,

Rich Anderson owns Shell Valley. I have had the pleasure of hanging out with him at the Knotts show a couple of years ago, great guy. He also owns Midstates and they share the same facility with Shell Valley. Because I own a Midstates, I have met and talked with most of these guys. Their family of workers has never failed to answer a question or give advise when I needed it. If at all possible, you should visit the shops you have narrowed down as your kit supplier. You might give Bob Kallio, with Midstates, a call as well. He's part of the same family. Ask as many questions as possible. Good luck with your build!

Chris,
slithering

[trctrdrvr]

Chris
I also agree with the support from SV they are very easy to work with, I went the same route as you, bought a doner, then decided on a SV car, all I used was the engine and trans, wanted to start w/ low HP and grow w/ the car, good luck on you're choice it's all a matter of personal opinion

[Lowell W]

The FFR seemed to me to have a little more legroom than the SV, if that's any concern to you.

[Roxie_427]

I just plopped down my 25% on a Shell Valley kit 10 days ago. I'm going with a Kevlar body and I'm planning to install a stroked 427. Email me if you'd like more information.

Dana, Rich, Rich, Bruce, and the others are top notch. I visited their factory in November. They haven't hesitated to answer my questions, large and small.

Tim

[Terry Stapley]

I am a Shell Valley owner and I did a cost comparison between SV and FFR and the cost factor was less than $500 between the two. Not going the donor car route! I have been very satisfied with the support of SV and they are a great group of Cobra enthusiasts.

[kodicobra]

havent heard of shell valley but I am ordering the 65 mark 11 roadster in the next few days. They are also offering a 1200 dollar discount or incentive with free body cut outs, free powder
coating and $500.00 in free suspension upgrades on the mark11 model as of yesterday.

[joedeats]

Well Ive just recently decided which one to purchase myself and the Shell valley is the way Im going. Shell and FFR are nice but I found more things about Shell that fit into what I wanted. I plan on going with a 514 385 series ford backed up with a C6, this setup is great for drag racing or just going out on a nice saturday. The FFR was originally made for the well known 302 with a T5 tranny, not a bad setup but not what I wanted. I know that FFR has added new setups that allow you to run the 351, the FE and the 385 series but I kinda think thats a bandaid approach considering its not what it was designed to run with in the first place. Another reason I have chosen Shell is my size im 6 foot 4 and built like a lineman the FFR is just to tight where as the Shell fit great make sure ya sit in them first. Its really up to you and what ya like, there both good kits what I suggest is talk to both companys, really get to know the people and make your mind up that way because your gonna really need to get along with them in the long run and. Its no fun working with someone you dont jibe with but hey its my opinion 25 cents might get ya a cup of coffee.

[B+L FFR1686]

Joe,
It isn't really a "bandaid" to fit other engines. They just use the Mustang donor concept as a good marketing tool. Their intention from the beginning was to allow people without a huge budget to build a really nice, reliable car without mixing and matching parts from various sources. It's a good concept for some, but that is not to say that you can't use any driveline you want - there are even several Chevy pwered FFR's. From the very beginning they were designed for the 5.0/5.7 Windsors, 429/460's, and FE series engines. The only real changes that they have made with regard to using bigger engines, was to redesign the aluminum engine compartment panels to allow for more space, and they also moved the frame mounts slightly, but all of that was done way back in '96! They are currently offering the lastest revision which will also allow the use of the new modular engines to open even more options!

I can't personally speak of Shell Valley, but I'm told they offer a very nice car also...

[PnRCobra]

Chris
Our Cobra is a Shell Valley also. It took me two years and two trips to the Kit car show at Carlisle to finally make a decision to get a SV kit. Our's has been on the road for almost 2 years. If I had to do it again I would still go back to SV. The people there are excellent to deal with and they stand behind their product 110%. They always had an answer for me,no matter if it was their product or some other after market item I was putting on the Cobra.

If you want to contact me directly via e-mail ( PNRstation@AOL.com) I would be glad to talk to you or even show you what I have I don't live to far from you.

Rich
Sweet as a Kandyapple....................Faster than it's prey

[ChrisL]

One thing that I did not mention was that I really like the way FFR builds there frames , they look really good with the round tubing and bracing when as SV is very plain .Yes I know once the body is on there is not much frame to see. The pricing on these two kits set up with sort of the same new parts seem to be rather close to me the way I have figured it , I still need to fine tune the pricing on both for a better comparison But this is just a few of my many pros and cons I have with these to kits. Chris

[svobud]

I have a Mark I FFR .. and have a Cobra-friend close by who has a Shell Valley. I have to say, his car IS nice, but overall .. I still prefer the FFR. Just minor things that you'll only notice after driving YOURs and then getting a close look at another brands. The total package was the selling point for me. What you get for your $$$ and what you can do with it. The forethought and engineering that allows 'bolt on' from a highly popular donor - plus the aftermarket upgrades from there. No piece-milling.

The only shortcoming to me about the FFR is the BODY. It's too skinny looking sitting next to other kits and too "perky" for my personal preference. By itself, dead-sexy, but put it next to something like a Unique .. and you'll see what I mean. Look in my gallery for the pic of mine sitting between two Uniques. Of course, you can always solve that with a Tri-states body.

[maxrpm]

svobud, I stared & stared that pic in your gallery and can't pick out the differences. I see what you mean by the middle car looking narrower but I'm wondering if it's just some sort of illusion or is your car really narrower? I thought maybe your taller, beefier rollbar was making your car look different. Some cars just look lower and wider with a smaller rollbar or different windshield rake. Is your car at a higher ride height? Does it look narrower from other angles? Like you said, in all the other photos your car looks just right to me. I frequently park along side a friends FF and never noticed anything like that. Either way, you car looks sharp.

[ChrisL]

My decision update:
Well yesterday I called Shell Valley and had spoken with Jon , A very nice gentalmen and very informative He seemed to answer all my questions honestly Weather I was asking about the SV or the FFR. He did not slam FFR in any way, put them, or there product down what so ever either .He had said he owned a FFR priviously. I was impressed that he had read and remembered this thread and he already , more or less knew my questions I was about to ask him . Apparently SV really does there home work and are very helpful . I kind of felt that there would be no qustions to small or trivial for them to answer or help me with if I go with them. I still have not picked one yet and have to tighten up my numbers on both sides, but SV is really shinning in my eyes right now . Chris

[joedeats]

Either way you go I hope for nothing but good times for ya! both kits are nice and both have special appeal. I hope to see ya some time at a cobra cruise or a shell valley/midstates event. Make sure you keep us informed what gos on as threads like this help others find reputable kits makers.