soaringDude's MK IV Roadster Build #8523

23483 Views 130 Replies 30 Participants Last post by UrQ, May 11, 2021

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · Feb 11, 2015

4

Well, it is finally my turn to start my build thread! It only took me 25 years to go from seeing one in person to doing something about it, but I am finally here. Over the years, I either didn't have the money or time to build one but have been following the kit industry and FFR specifically for years. In the past 4-5 months I got more serious about it after seeing a friend work on his and realizing leaving it as a bucket list when I get to retirement age is not the best idea!

Been doing research and talking to a few local guys for the past 5-6 months; ordered my complete kit in December as soon as the winter sale started; and my kit was delivered this past weekend in pouring rain. I was completely soaked by the time half the boxes were inside the garage!

Yes, I know I put the dolly way too forward. In all the rain, it was very hard to take the time and I accidentally put it in front of the front crossbar. It is adjusted and is very stable now.

And she is home now:

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soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 11, 2015 (Edited)

Build plan (I will be editing this as time goes on trying to keep it up to date):

Complete Kit
Powder coated chasis
IRS w/ 3.55 gear and Eaton TrueTrac limited slip differential
Coyote engine
TKO600 (haven't decided on the final gear ratio)
King's DS foot box mod
Wilwood 12.88" 6 piston front & 12.2" 4 piston rear brakes (manual)
Breeze power steering rack & offset mounting kit and Heidts valve
Mike Forte Hydraulic clutch
In tank fuel pump
Lizard skin sound/heat insulation for cockpit area
Heated seats (for my better half!)
AC-III wheels
Leather seat upgrade
Blank panel for custom gauges arrangement
Glove compartment
Stainless headers custom coyote headers
Solid pumpkin mount from Mike Forte
Herbs Door panels

And I am sure this list will only grow

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dale

· #3 · Feb 11, 2015

Wow Dude! Nice build plan. Looking forward to following it. I know its early, but you're thinking what color(s)?

I built my MKII in Benicia back in 2004-2005.

Embo

· #4 · Feb 11, 2015

Nice! Looking forward to updates!!

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 11, 2015

Thanks Dale, I have been reading and re-reading your build thread. Thanks! Way too soon and I am sure I will change my mind a hundred times by the time I am ready for that. But since you asked

As of right now the runner up is:

I got connected with the photographer and he is trying to get me more pictures without the cloud reflection and possibly even contact info for the original owner. But a good portion of this is the great photography and the reflection light/clouds and late in the day lighting (my other hobby is photography, so certainly know how a good photographer could portrait a boring object with average colors to a work of art! But it is absolutely gorgeous in this picture...

dale said:
Wow Dude! Nice build plan. Looking forward to following it. I know its early, but you're thinking what color(s)?

I built my MKII in Benicia back in 2004-2005.

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soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 11, 2015

It will be relatively slow. Enough key parts are missing to make progress very slow - front upper arm, shock sleeves, brakes, tank straps, ...

Also, I have to help my wife finish the kitchen paint and backsplash rework given all the support she has been giving me. So it will probably all work out for best!

Embo said:
Nice! Looking forward to updates!!

UrQ

· #7 · Feb 11, 2015

It will be fun to follow your build. It's fun to watch middle age software programmers/architects deal with thing not fitting or having to wait to get a missing part. I expect an invite when in the bay area to see progress or lack there of !

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 11, 2015

Thanks Tony! You are more than welcome anytime, we can work on the car and discuss internet security :001_tongue:

UrQ said:
It will be fun to follow your build. It's fun to watch middle age software programmers/architects deal with thing not fitting or having to wait to get a missing part. I expect an invite when in the bay area to see progress or lack there of !

Embo

· #9 · Feb 11, 2015

I love the orange, in any form on this car. Very bold, smooth, and daring. Nice.

freddiehebert

· #10 · Feb 11, 2015

Glad you got the kit. You know you're gonna have to sponsor a beer & burger get together for us local builders and owners. Maybe before or after Huntington Beach show.

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #11 · Feb 11, 2015

Anytime buddy, would love to have you guys over and shake up the neighborhood with all the wonderful sound from the side pipes

freddiehebert said:
Glad you got the kit. You know you're gonna have to sponsor a beer & burger get together for us local builders and owners. Maybe before or after Huntington Beach show.

CraigS

· #12 · Feb 11, 2015

Congratulations on the arrival. Couple of thoughts for you. 1-Reverse those colors so the car is orange w/ silver stripes.2- Go for the short 5th gear since the Coyote likes to rev. 3-Breeze has your rack.
Breeze Automotive Factory Five Racing

bansheekev

· #13 · Feb 11, 2015

freddiehebert said:
Glad you got the kit. You know you're gonna have to sponsor a beer & burger get together for us local builders and owners. Maybe before or after Huntington Beach show.

Freddie, Dave and I talked a couple days ago and we were thinking first week of March maybe...

Kevin

chrisarella

· #14 · Feb 11, 2015

Nice build plan. A lot of similarities to mine and others. I'm going with a T56 though.

The Breeze PS Rack Craig referenced above looks like the best one I've seen out there, and the one I went with. It already has the rack extender and with 3 turns to lock you'd be getting a well balanced ratio for daily driving and track use without it being too twitchy at high speeds.

I'd recommend getting the Offset Rack bushings as well:
Breeze Automotive Factory Five Racing
Offset Solid Rack Bushings

You can get the Wilwoods and most other things from Mike Forte and Breeze.

Good luck with the build

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UrQ

· #15 · Feb 11, 2015

I see no progress has been made, what gives ? I expect the whole family out there helping every night after work, heck just leave work a 3PM and head home and make some progress.

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 13, 2015

Yeah, I can totally see the reverse colors also work very nicely. The problem is pretty much any color is beautiful! The good news is I have a bit of time to pick them

Just to be clear, by short you mean 0.82 5th gear?

Sounds like the recommendation is for Breeze, I looked at it before, just trying to figure if there are other good options.

CraigS said:
Congratulations on the arrival. Couple of thoughts for you. 1-Reverse those colors so the car is orange w/ silver stripes.2- Go for the short 5th gear since the Coyote likes to rev. 3-Breeze has your rack.
Breeze Automotive Factory Five Racing

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 13, 2015

Thanks Chris. Yes, the bushing is also on the plans. And the brakes are ordered. I ordered front upgrade from FFR and got the rear ones from Mike Forte. Hopefully both arrive soon.

chrisarella said:
Nice build plan. A lot of similarities to mine and others. I'm going with a T56 though.

The Breeze PS Rack Craig referenced above looks like the best one I've seen out there, and the one I went with. It already has the rack extender and with 3 turns to lock you'd be getting a well balanced ratio for daily driving and track use without it being too twitchy at high speeds.

I'd recommend getting the Offset Rack bushings as well:
Breeze Automotive Factory Five Racing
Offset Solid Rack Bushings

You can get the Wilwoods and most other things from Mike Forte and Breeze.

Good luck with the build

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #18 · Feb 13, 2015

Some of us have to work for living Tony :001_tongue:

But seriously it has been one of those weeks where everything goes wrong. First my wife's car was broken into so had to drop things and get the side window replaced, then I got hit by what looked like a half a brick at full highway speed so I had to go back to the auto glass guy the next day to replace my windshield! and a half dozen other challenges...

Next step is to assemble the body buck and get the body off so I can get started on aluminum panels given I can't think of anything else to do due to backordered parts.

UrQ said:
I see no progress has been made, what gives ? I expect the whole family out there helping every night after work, heck just leave work a 3PM and head home and make some progress.

Avalanche325

· #19 · Feb 13, 2015

soaringDude said:
Next step is to assemble the body buck and get the body off so I can get started on aluminum panels given I can't think of anything else to do due to backordered parts.

You did do a full inventory, right?

The aluminum panels will keep you busy for a while. You can bend at least some of your brake and fuel lines. Put heaters in your seats. Make a fan shroud. You could even start on your dash.

Congrats on the arrival.

soaringDude

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 13, 2015

The inventory is mostly done. Have to take the body off to ensure all the parts that are supposed to be on the car are in fact there and then send a list of few discrepancies to FFR.

Good idea, on the seat/fan. But I hadn't thought that far ahead and don't have parts for either of them. I think my best option is aluminum panels specially since I want to get the powder coated. So getting on that task is probably a good idea for this weekend.

Avalanche325 said:
You did do a full inventory, right?

The aluminum panels will keep you busy for a while. You can bend at least some of your brake and fuel lines. Put heaters in your seats. Make a fan shroud. You could even start on your dash.

Congrats on the arrival.

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