The real advantage to having a few thousand people watch a project...they help you if you are dropping the ball.
Just fired off an email to the "fab five" (and yes fab five is going to stick as a nick name around here) betas requesting config instructions and asking what special stuff they want as a thank you. I forgot to mention bill s. Who is the lead vr6 guru.... They will let me know who is ready to cut and I will zip to their house if needed with cut directions and moral support if it is wanted...only if thats how they want to do it...hey not everybody is as outwardly cool and social as John P....
Hopefully the end of every cut event is a rolling chassis since it doesn't take much to get the cars rolling. Then each of them can do the project as fast or slow as they want.
Thats all for now. Looking forward to a fun summer of beta build support.
mark
__________________
Smyth Performance.... Go Green, Go Fast
I have sold Factory Five Racing to my brother Dave as of Jan 2012. I remain a huge FFR fan and founder but have moved on to VW Jetta based kits and the continued growth of Local Motors as my primary focus.
Go Green, Go Fast!
Last edited by marksmith; 06-01-2011 at 12:10 AM..
It is starting to look like a go for John Phillip's cut party on the 18th or 19th.
The rest of the fab five have the product line covered.
three different versions of the tdi powered cars, a vr6, and a screaming 1.8T round off the five.
On the fund raising side I continue to plan for the high expenditures of the launch by listing the 1969 charger r/t se and the ferrari 365gtc/4 as well as the norton dunstall cafe racer on ebay. Charger will be on by the weekend as i had a bit of touch up to do on the fender still. I will be putting the big diesel go fast scarab powerboat on later in june so that we have a fat bank acct to buy some fancy tools and the rest...fun stuff.
As I was writing the details of the cut instructions for john and the rest of the fab five it occurred to me that a mid engined full jetta bodied 4 door is possible as well. If the spare tire well is cut out and the rear subframe bolted in it would be quite a stock looking sleeper ride imho.
so the product line expands again...the g3f mid engine sports car for 11k, the truck bed conversion for the jetta rear, and the mid engine full jetta. An interesting mix to say the least...but all based on the loyal vw following and the mark 4 jetta golf.
mark
__________________
Smyth Performance.... Go Green, Go Fast
I have sold Factory Five Racing to my brother Dave as of Jan 2012. I remain a huge FFR fan and founder but have moved on to VW Jetta based kits and the continued growth of Local Motors as my primary focus.
As I was writing the details of the cut instructions for john and the rest of the fab five it occurred to me that a mid engined full jetta bodied 4 door is possible as well. If the spare tire well is cut out and the rear subframe bolted in it would be quite a stock looking sleeper ride imho.
so the product line expands again...the g3f mid engine sports car for 11k, the truck bed conversion for the jetta rear, and the mid engine full jetta. An interesting mix to say the least...but all based on the loyal vw following and the mark 4 jetta golf.
As I was writing the details of the cut instructions for john and the rest of the fab five it occurred to me that a mid engined full jetta bodied 4 door is possible as well. If the spare tire well is cut out and the rear subframe bolted in it would be quite a stock looking sleeper ride imho.
And if you left the engine in the front, you could build a dual engine awd monster.
As I was writing the details of the cut instructions for john and the rest of the fab five it occurred to me that a mid engined full jetta bodied 4 door is possible as well. If the spare tire well is cut out and the rear subframe bolted in it would be quite a stock looking sleeper ride imho.
so the product line expands again...the g3f mid engine sports car for 11k, the truck bed conversion for the jetta rear, and the mid engine full jetta. An interesting mix to say the least...but all based on the loyal vw following and the mark 4 jetta golf.
mark
This would be very interesting to me. I've been struggling with flagging enthusiasm for the project, once I realized that the car would really only be a 2 seater. I was hoping for something big enough to fit my family of 4 in, even if somewhat cramped. The ability to go with a larger footprint would help get my juices going again!
Tear down begins to prep for Beheading Party 6-19-11
2 1/2 hours on the Jetta today, all front end sheet metal removed plus lot of easy to reach misc. engine compartment parts. Tomorrow evening I will attack engine/tranny, it'll probably be more involved. Demolition goes fast, only used a Phillips head screwdriver, 25T and 30T torx bits, and 10mm & 13mm sockets. Mark and I intend to saw this thing apart on Sunday June 19, so gotta get ready.
BTW, if you're in South Florida June 19, you're welcome to come by to meet Mark and participate in the "beheading party" at my house. Should be a fun afternoon. Just let me know you're coming so we can plan.
Smyth G3F Beta-build: 1999.5 Jetta TDI donor, Malone Stage 2 Tune and injectors. Love my Roadster; the G3F will be my daily driver. Build details here:http://www.g3f-jlphil.blogspot.com/
BTW, if you're in South Florida June 19, you're welcome to come by to meet Mark and participate in the "beheading party" at my house. Should be a fun afternoon. Just let me know you're coming so we can plan.
I'm interested. PM sent.
Lee
__________________ 2000 Jetta TDI GL: Mods: Malone Tuning Stage 1.0, ventectomy
Eventually, my Jetta will become a Smyth G3F TDI :)
Kim and I can't wait should be fun time. My goal is for the two of us to have John's and Kim's new cars rolling before John has to leave for europe. The steel is here by wed and I am welding right away.
I cut out all the laser parts in paper one more time as I make the jig...all looks good. I still am playing around with the hard top seal and front latch but making progress. Lots of tuning this week on the suspension and testing a new set of coil overs for all four corners when they come in. I just leave the sway bars in and disconnect the links while playing around with the springs.
mark
__________________
Smyth Performance.... Go Green, Go Fast
I have sold Factory Five Racing to my brother Dave as of Jan 2012. I remain a huge FFR fan and founder but have moved on to VW Jetta based kits and the continued growth of Local Motors as my primary focus.
Great to hear that things are moving forward for John P's first beta build. Wish I could get down there, but I'm hoping Mark will make an appearance in Alabama for my cut when the time comes. (I owe you a phone call, Mark.)
They're not my beloved round Mini Cooper / VW Bug / 911 lights, but I like the choice of projector headlights with LED strips. Eventually, they will be dated, but for right now they're plenty cool. I assume an HID/xenon retrofit should be a snap. Once you have HIDs, there is no going back. Before long we'll have LED primary lighting showing up as standard...
It's going to be very exciting to see the first couple of cars get boxed up and sent out. I'm also glad that Mark is down to latches and seals on the hardtop! Hoping that's wrapped up in time to ship with mine.
Cheers, John
__________________
FFR1004105RD - world's first twin-turbo BMW V12-powered FFR Roadster
2011 Dodge 2500 Cummins 6.7L - biodiesel-fueled daily driver JHETTO: 2001 VW Jetta TDI, intended as G3F donor, FOR SALE
2 1/2 hours on the Jetta today, all front end sheet metal removed plus lot of easy to reach misc. engine compartment parts. Tomorrow evening I will attack engine/tranny, it'll probably be more involved.
It is not happening without pictures....
Where is your build thread??
Where are the pictures!!??
Have fun!!
__________________
Jim
Present toys;
2005 GMC Sierra 1500
2002 VW TDI Golf- 251K miles- 56mpg- 135 hp/245 ft-lbs, VNT-17, PP520 nozzles, RC3+ tune (which sucks, looking for better tune).
2001 BMW R1100RT
1967 P400- Restoration to start in spring
1919 Harley Davidson- Retirement project
Future toys;
2001 VW TDI Jetta- 238K miles- stock.. for now. ---> 2011 G3F ---> maybe 2012 G3F, Beta #14-->#2-->#5-->To be sold!
I'm blogging about it on at the address under my signature, finally have something new to report. Pics there too! Here's a Picasa album with more pics...couldn't get it to link to a photo on this reply:
Is it better to have a build thread here? I'm OK with whatever works best for everyone, just don't want to have to post same stuff several places every time. Can I link the blog to here somehow? My tech skills are meager...
Smyth G3F Beta-build: 1999.5 Jetta TDI donor, Malone Stage 2 Tune and injectors. Love my Roadster; the G3F will be my daily driver. Build details here:http://www.g3f-jlphil.blogspot.com/
Last edited by John Phillips; 06-06-2011 at 08:34 PM..
I'm blogging about it on at the address under my signature, finally have something new to report. Pics there too!
Can I link the blog to here somehow? My tech skills are meager...
John, if you are comfortable with a blog... do that. Now that Mark has posted to the world a link to your blog... you don't have much choice. I agree, post one place not several. I have bookmarked your blog for speedy reference in the future.
__________________
Jim
Present toys;
2005 GMC Sierra 1500
2002 VW TDI Golf- 251K miles- 56mpg- 135 hp/245 ft-lbs, VNT-17, PP520 nozzles, RC3+ tune (which sucks, looking for better tune).
2001 BMW R1100RT
1967 P400- Restoration to start in spring
1919 Harley Davidson- Retirement project
Future toys;
2001 VW TDI Jetta- 238K miles- stock.. for now. ---> 2011 G3F ---> maybe 2012 G3F, Beta #14-->#2-->#5-->To be sold!
the simplicity of a separate blog is great John. This thread is a terrific place too, but I like the look and different destinations to bookmark personally.
Good stuff.
mark
__________________
Smyth Performance.... Go Green, Go Fast
I have sold Factory Five Racing to my brother Dave as of Jan 2012. I remain a huge FFR fan and founder but have moved on to VW Jetta based kits and the continued growth of Local Motors as my primary focus.
Smyth G3F Beta-build: 1999.5 Jetta TDI donor, Malone Stage 2 Tune and injectors. Love my Roadster; the G3F will be my daily driver. Build details here:http://www.g3f-jlphil.blogspot.com/
Ok, the white 1.8t is my early G3F beta, the blue 1.8t is Travis' late G3F beta, and the maroon tdi is for an early production G3F. And yes, I have a FFR roadster as well.
Is this enough to get on Mark's Christmas card list?
There hasn't been much discussion here about the project. I assume everyone is watching John P.'s blog about preps for the first cut. I am heading over to the other coast of FL in a little while to take part in the "Beheading". Stay tuned tomorrow as the first beta gets the knife!
__________________
-Jeff
Last edited by WolfTDI; 06-18-2011 at 07:22 PM..
Reason: ...
Thanks for the pic Jeff! We put about 3-4 hours of work into the Jetta cutting project yesterday, and finished almost everything. That's with talking, goofing around, and actual work, including changing cutting personnel every once in awhile for fun. Learned some good lessons and got a couple of good ideas I'll try to write up later. Thanks Mark and Kim for coming down to Jupiter for the festivities, and for all the motorheads who showed up with tools and enthusiasm. Here's a link to photos John Lennon took of the action: https://cid-6655b8b1ffb777cf.skydriv...B1FFB777CF!121
Smyth G3F Beta-build: 1999.5 Jetta TDI donor, Malone Stage 2 Tune and injectors. Love my Roadster; the G3F will be my daily driver. Build details here:http://www.g3f-jlphil.blogspot.com/
After looking at the pictures of the cuts that John P. just finished making got me thinking... what is good to seal up those cuts so they don't rust in the future??
__________________
Jim
Present toys;
2005 GMC Sierra 1500
2002 VW TDI Golf- 251K miles- 56mpg- 135 hp/245 ft-lbs, VNT-17, PP520 nozzles, RC3+ tune (which sucks, looking for better tune).
2001 BMW R1100RT
1967 P400- Restoration to start in spring
1919 Harley Davidson- Retirement project
Future toys;
2001 VW TDI Jetta- 238K miles- stock.. for now. ---> 2011 G3F ---> maybe 2012 G3F, Beta #14-->#2-->#5-->To be sold!
JIM, I hit the edges with an angle grinder to make em a little smoother, and plan to use green rustoleum applied with a foam brush. It won't be perfect, but it should do the trick for another 10 years or so. Wait'll you see how the insides of many of those structures is covered with rust-preventing schmegma from the factory, pretty impressive!
Smyth G3F Beta-build: 1999.5 Jetta TDI donor, Malone Stage 2 Tune and injectors. Love my Roadster; the G3F will be my daily driver. Build details here:http://www.g3f-jlphil.blogspot.com/
After looking at the pictures of the cuts that John P. just finished making got me thinking... what is good to seal up those cuts so they don't rust in the future??
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should be fun time. My goal is for the two of us to have John's and Kim's new cars rolling before John has to leave for europe. The steel is here by wed and I am welding right away.
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