Trying to choose a kit & engine to build in Perth

[MikeFromPerth]

Hi guys

yes it's another one of those threads! sorry

I'm in Perth and after dreaming of cobras for about ten years i've finally got garage room and some spare cash, so maybe it's time soon.

some ideas that i have about it are:

1. i'm not strongly motivated by "replica" authenticity/accuracy. for example i am perfectly happy with EFI, power steering & brakes would be great (not sure how realistic that is as a goal though?), would like bucket/somewhat-race-styled seats, etc

2. i'm thinking that "assembly" more than "fabrication" is the appropriate level for me to aim at, as although i'm reasonably handy and have tinkered with cars since a kid, i'm certainly no pro/mechanic and couldn't weld my way out of a paper bag for example.

3. i'd like the bulk of my car to be "new-ish" so i'm not a huge fan of the idea of scrounging up big chunks of it from donor cars and so on.

4. i'm really keen on a supercharged V8 and would like it to be a Ford. from what i've read it seems that this is pretty much going to limit me to the coyote from an emissions test perspective?

5. the car will be for road use (full registration) with perhaps the occasional track day for fun - but i won't be worried about lap times.

As far as i can tell, when it comes to local kit suppliers it's either G-Force or FFR (via Component Cars). Am I right in thinking that having the kit supplier local to you can be a real advantage?

At first glance it seems like the FFR kit is the one for me, given my thoughts above. But equally i don't have much of a clue at the moment and it seems like a daunting choice.

i would love to hear everyone's thoughts and advice, from kit choice to engines to engineers, anything.

thanks in advance!

Mike

[Paintwerks]

You don't need to have the manufacturer in the same state that you live in. There are four of us currently building Pace Cobras in Melbourne and the cars come from the Gold Coast. We've been provided with lots of support, plus they are only a phone call away. No issues in building them without the factory next door.

My opinion only, but I think that the Pace is a superior car to the FFR. Theoretically, it should also have a higher resale too.

[Wazza]

I'm happy to send all of the information , including pics/videos etc.,if you want to consider the Absolute Pace P427.
Just drop me an email to..
warren@absolutepace.com
And I'll send you the information pack.

Of course,that goes for anyone....I can send one of these information packs to anyone who who's interested in checking out the product.

Cheers,
Warren

[deano59]

i am in adelaide and building a pace there are 2 or 3 others in sa . close is handy sometimes but not if the kit is hard to put together. you posted the main reason i didnt want to build another kit yes ive been there before and that was scrounging around wrecking yards then cleaning and recondition everything . i looked at buying a car already on the road is that a option for you ?.

i couldn't find one to suit my needs and didn't want to go thru the building process till i come across the pace
kits . depending on what stage you buy the kit at the more brand new or recon parts you get.
i am not sure what the wait for a kit is nowdays but i believe it's lot better than it used to be . i haven't found anything thats been hard to fig out in the build so far and the bonus is there are quite a few been built and guys posting pics plus the 600 page build manual most of the guys building cars talk to each other and share info thats a big plus as well.
dont rush into it talk to as many car builders and people building there cars join your local cobra club there will be a wealth of info there as well

cheers dean

[DaveW]

I must be a scrounger, i love wreckers, especially pick-a-part, find something, remove it, walk a few more cars down, find a better part, remove that, so on, and so on.
grease mud rain, Pull it down, refurb it, paint it, fit it, sometimes remove it and get something else...Learn something, personal satisfaction of a good job.... magic.

Different for everyone.

In this day and age, i don't think it matters where the factory is, there is some form of support just about everywhere.

Dave

[gjkrv8]

Mike, welcome to the madness. You have entered the market at a great time. There are some great kits around from the various manufacturers each with their own level of "completeness from a kit perspective" depending on what you want to experience from your build.

There is a neat thread about all the kit manufacturers here:

2015 List of Cobra/GT40/Daytona Manufacturers in OZ - Please add

I'd highly recommend sitting in a few if you can and do a close inspection, cause they are all a little different in their own special way. Then maybe pick your top 2 or 3 and go visit their workshops, well worth the exercise.

This forum is an encyclopaedia (or "google") of information. :-)

Building with an interstate supplier is ok as long as they give good service and answer phone etc.

Have fun choosing.

cheers

Gregg

[Gav]

'I'll do a couple of track days but won't be concerned about lap times'

I can remember having those thoughts, they didn't last long!!!!!

If you want a track car and want modern performance, buy an AP.

[leroy17]

Consider your size as well, height and.....well... Size.

You want to sit 'in' these cars and not on them.

Different makes may provide additional room if needed.

[Jethrow]

Hi Mike.

You wont go wrong with the FFR, there is at least 5 or 6 now registered in Perth, not to mention more than 8000 made in the USA. I got mine registered very recently, and really had no issues at all, the product is well received over here.

Plus in my opinion, it is a superior kit, with a very authentic construction about it. My kit has been built from all new parts, no donor bits at all (tho I went the Chev LS3 crate motor route). It is also very roomy.

You are welcome to come see it if you like.

[iva bigan]

Come on you guys your smarter than that, you are being conned by Mike from Perth and also from Seamus 78 from another thread .i think they are colluding in a bungalow in outback WA .

[Mrs flatchat]

What's ya story Iva -- why are you writing this ??

[MikeFromPerth]

Originally Posted by Jethrow

Hi Mike.

You wont go wrong with the FFR, there is at least 5 or 6 now registered in Perth, not to mention more than 8000 made in the USA. I got mine registered very recently, and really had no issues at all, the product is well received over here.

Plus in my opinion, it is a superior kit, with a very authentic construction about it. My kit has been built from all new parts, no donor bits at all (tho I went the Chev LS3 crate motor route). It is also very roomy.

You are welcome to come see it if you like.

i was reading about your build! looks awesome. in the thread you said you put new cat convertors on it to get the emissions test done, but in the photos i saw it looks like there can't possibly be space for them in your side exhaust's header setup? Where the hell are they?! unless they're the tiny dark-coloured items just inboard of the body shell, but they're only a few inches long?

also - how exactly did you get exemptions for the side pipes and the racing harnesses - what's the process?

thanks for the offer of having a look, that could be really useful - i live in Carine, are you anywhere close to me?

thanks
Mike

[Donunder]

Good idea Mike. Jethrow's done an incredible job on his FFR, and with the number already registered locally, the WA engineers and rego boys seem to have things sorted -- always a relief.

A look is worth a thousand words (and twenty forum pages!)

But..... by the way -- what's a cheapo flight to the Gold Coast cost from your neck of the woods? Could be the best money you'll ever spend. January is a terrific time to visit over here and to pop into the Pace wonderland for a chat and a look around. Trust me, it'd be just like Christmas all over again for you!

[Jethrow]

I do have full size OEM VE/F cats in there. A tight fit yes, but it does fit. When you come for a look, you will see. I live in Rivervale, send me a PM if you want to come over. We can also discuss the exemptions then, but it is fairly simple - engineer mentions it in the cover letter to his report, and you give the DOT $50.

Originally Posted by MikeFromPerth

i was reading about your build! looks awesome. in the thread you said you put new cat convertors on it to get the emissions test done, but in the photos i saw it looks like there can't possibly be space for them in your side exhaust's header setup? Where the hell are they?! unless they're the tiny dark-coloured items just inboard of the body shell, but they're only a few inches long?

also - how exactly did you get exemptions for the side pipes and the racing harnesses - what's the process?

thanks for the offer of having a look, that could be really useful - i live in Carine, are you anywhere close to me?

thanks
Mike

[Tenrocca]

Ron Fords FF Daytona was the nicest car at the nats this year IMHO. Judges too.
just sayin'

[MikeFromPerth]

Originally Posted by Paintwerks

You don't need to have the manufacturer in the same state that you live in. There are four of us currently building Pace Cobras in Melbourne and the cars come from the Gold Coast. We've been provided with lots of support, plus they are only a phone call away. No issues in building them without the factory next door.

My opinion only, but I think that the Pace is a superior car to the FFR. Theoretically, it should also have a higher resale too.

Thanks for the info. I have a quick question that's makes sense to ask you, as a paint guy: did you paint your car or just leave the gel coat alone? why?

I'm yet to see gel coat on the flesh so I don't know what to think about it from a quality of finish and durability perspective. (Is there an idiot's guide to gel coat?!?)

[Jethrow]

Hi Mike.

Just to add to your question above, right now my car is also in gel coat. Why? Too impatient to get it registered and going as much as anything. Plus I wanted to run it for a bit and see if I wanted to change anything as well before I painted it. For example I am considering adding some vents to the bonnet to let some engine heat out. That sort of thing.

That all said, the FFR gel coat is only OK as a 50' finish. Ie, it looks ok from 50' away. I plan on looking to the painting prolly next year some time, after the new house is built. The Pace gel coat does look a lot better, but it is also a much more expensive kit.

[Hoity]

Hey Tim, dollars wise there doesn't appear to be a lot in it, the FFR maybe a couple of grand cheaper when I option it to a similar spec as the Pace. you probably make up that and a little more with AP body.
Curious as to your thoughts and if you spent more or less than what the website works it out to be with options etc.
Are
Is it harder to get full reg in Vic, Nsw and Qld than WA?

[Jethrow]

Hi Hoity,

Dollar wise I would say I spent a fair bit less than a completed Pace kit would be, but that said, the dollar was was much closer to parity when I bought. The FFR kit is very complete, you do not need to buy much extra.

I do not know how rego compares between the states other than to say NSW sounds like a nightmare! On the whole, the WA rego boys are fairly reasonable, not requiring you to go above and beyond the VSB requirements.

[400TT]

We are getting a lot of interest from WA. Packing a kit up to go to WA right at this moment and more in the shop destined also for WA. Will be a nice little group of PACE builders over there soon.

Originally Posted by Hoity

you probably make up that and a little more with AP body.

Yes, the PACE body does generally save money if you are looking to paint as it requires less prep work than a typical kit body. If you want to run it as a gelcoat body it saves you even more money.

But the FFR and PACE kits could not be more different in both execution and specification. In my opinion both have different aims, different price points (except exchange rate has changed that a fair bit), different approaches. There is no wrong or right choice, just select the kit that will get you the result that you want.

Best thing to do is to view what type of components are supplied and get a detailed packing list from both suppliers and compare the following:

• Quantity of Parts Supplied
• Quality of Parts Supplied - e.g. brake system (brembo calipers, Tilton pedal box)
• Quality of Materials Used in Supplied Parts (e.g. aluminium or stainless body accessories/trims, stainless or steel roll bar etc)
• Quantity of Hardware Supplied including hose clamps, p clamps, bosses, clips etc)
• Quality of Hardware Supplied (Fastener types and how much of each (stainless, grade 8, 10, 12 etc, Zinc or Stainless P Clamps, Quality of Hose Clamps etc)

Originally Posted by Hoity

Is it harder to get full reg in Vic, Nsw and Qld than WA?

Compare what compliance information is supplied with both kits. As you will need significantly more compliance documentation for VIC, NSW & QLD, than you would in WA.

Also on the subject of rego compliance, check any kit you are looking to purchase see how many of the supplied components are registration compliant. You will find a number of components in the USA kits will not be suitable for registration use in Australia.

Check each brand to compare the design and execution and see what suits you best. e.g. cockpit space, safety, performance, etc.

Best advice is to do thorough research as above and try and see the kit brands you are looking at purchasing in person.

If you haven't request detailed packing lists for each kit, also get hardware lists and start comparing.