More Complete vs Base kit Questions

[Feen]

I didn't want to hijack the other threads, but have a couple questions regarding going complete vs base kit - assuming non-donor build with crate motor

1) for those that have gone complete kit, what itemes did you not use/upgrade and why?
2) if you go base kit, does Forte or Breeze have the completion kits available to finish the car off without a lot of searching for misc parts? and is the over all cost less or the product better?

[Hunter 2]

I purchased a base kit. The advantage for me is that I can buy the best of parts or the most basic of parts depending on where they will be used in the car. Who needs a $200 aluminum fan shroud when you can get a new stock one for less than $100. The savings can be used to purchase an upgrade on something else you want. Breeze has some great products for finishing your car. I just got their adjustable master cylinder push rod. It fits snug as a bug in a rug.

[Mark Reynolds]

Breeze Automotive Factory Five Racing

[Silverstreak02]

I used everything that came with the complete kit except:

1. Radiator overflow container. The one that came with the kit was very small. I replaced it with the 2 quart tank from Breeze.
2. The complete kit gas pedal. I never used mine except for in go cart. It seemed to work fine, but I upgraded to the Russ Thompson pedal.

I modified a lot of other stuff, but nothing from the complete portion of the kit

Jeff

[GT-Tom]

Hi Feen,
Welcome to the forum. The other thread does have some good info. It really depends on what you want from a build. I went with a base kit be because I wanted to do a bunch of upgrades. The process of the build is fun for me and I consider the journey as important as the end result . The complete is a good choice if you want a "standard build" without a lot of upgrades or changes. The base kit requires more research and attention to detail. With the base kit the assumption is you are using a donor so you will not get a lot of smaller or critical parts ie. pedal box, cables, even the little brackets for the brake light switch or clutch safety switch are not included in the base kit. Do you want to fabricate or source the missing parts? Do you want a custom build? Breeze makes good products to fill in the gaps. Call Mark to get a better feel of what you are planning. Mike Forte is good as well.

Tom

[QSL]

We went complete kit. The quality of just about all the parts are really good. Its really hard to list everything that it does come with over the base kit. But there is a ton of stuff including electrical connectors, wires, grommets, hardware. Then there are the big things like pedal box, gas tank, steering rack, gas tank straps, radiator, wire harness etc.

We are about 80-90% complete and what we have not used so far...

-gas pedal. We liked it, but it did not work well with mechanical linkage.
-gas pedal cable. Because we made mechanical linkage
-brake lines. Because i work at a hose shop and used a cunifer style line as an upgrade.
-rubber hose adapters for radiator hoses. Because i upgraded to silicone
-Clutch line. Because we upgraded to hydraulic clutch.

There are a few other little bits and pieces that i would consider extra parts they give you that we did not use, but really its not much at all. There is nothing in the complete kit for the most part that you would need or really even want to upgrade. All the upgrades we have done for the most part dont come with either kit and dont really replace a valuable part. They are things that ADD to the car.

My advise is to just have a very good idea what you want ahead of time. You can buy a complete kit but have them delete items you want to upgrade. For instance, we are going to get a coupe probably. We are going to have them delete the gauges so we can get custom speed hut gauges. We may have them delete the lower control arms so we can get the levy arms. And you still get the benifit of getting all the misc stuff you dont think about along with all the items you NEED to build a great car.

You cant go wrong either way. Both options will give you a different experience and they both will be good!

[NAVYDUDE]

Feen,

Im just 6 weeks into my build. I went with the complete kit because i didnt want to look for parts (most people who are using donor parts wind up buying the piece and then rebuilding it or refurbishiing it to almost the cost of a new part). I dont have the will to take apart, clean, scrub, sandblast, then rebuild, then maybe upgrade- but some thats what makes their car THEIRS- to each his own

My car is never going to the dragstrip, or road course... Im just going drive the crap out of it and smile the whole time- rain or shine.

I went complete so i could go easily from box number one to box twenty six and have a completed car when i was done. I completely disagree with the complete cookie cutter thing, im sure some will disagree, but honestly the dash is really the only thing visible thats different with the cars...

Yes i spent the extra money, yes it was worth it to me... The parts I havent used so far was the stock FFR rotors and calipers(yes i went with the red 03 cobras and vented big rotors), the kit comes with a blue cone air filter that im not going to use, comes with a ron francis wiring harnes that is actually really complete ( but may go with ISIS...m-a-y-b-e)

ok for now- either way its your decision, based on funds, based on willing to work, based on ease of build... I saved for a loooong time and a buddy of mine said " FFR has another sale on...$$hit or get of the pot" I called the next day.


as for a base kit though, If you dont get all the options you want up front with the delivery... all those shipping charges add up quick- just keep that in mind

best of luck to you.