Metalmaker's build thread begins

[wleehendrick]

One thing I didn't like, the roadrunner Beep-Beep horn. This car might be small but it drives and accelerates with authority. Sorry Chris, please put a "get out of my way" horn in that beast.

I just installed a Wolo 370 horn (roadrunner 'meep-meep') in mine... kinda as a gag; is that what you have? I'll probably get sick of it, but I like the incongruity: 'cute' little car, 'cute' little horn, but open it up and all hell breaks loose!

[metalmaker12]

Yea meep meep like road runner exactly!! I might keep it and learn to drive this thing so maybe I can come close to Jim's GTM with my meep meep car.

[VD2021]

One more note, the 818 in many ways is better then the GTM and that is really saying something.

.......you can't make a statement like this and not expound on it...

[Santiago]

Ditto. Exactly what I was thinking. So many variables that "in many ways" can contain. Care to elaborate?

This might be fit for its own thread, but we're likely to invite an internet feud once the GTM guys got wiff of it. =)

[Kalstar]

Your a big dude so don't kick my ***.

Santiago...I am also a GTM guy. I have one of each.

OK, so how it is better..... 1). Visibility out the front is fantastic. The mail slot of the GTM is nowhere found. 2). Blind spots, what blind spots. 3). Sound reflection is lessened considerably. 4). The engine "waterfall" on the GTM is made of thin fiberglass and fabric, if a belt comes off at high speed or the engine gives up its ghost, well the injuries would be ugly. 5). The seats sit higher and you do not feel so low to the ground, gives a more secure feeling. 6). The ground clearance of the 818 is better. 7). The panels come off in pieces so incase of damage there is no need to repaint a whole shell or front clam 8). It is much simpler to build yet still looks the part of something special with a 1/3 the time invested. 9). Cost 1/2 to 2/3 less to build then the GTM. 10). The 818 not only has storage, but a trunk too.

All this said, I still like my GTM better, biased I know! Love your car Chris but when you get a chance to drive my GTM you will see what I am talking about. Not taking anything away from your car, you did an outstanding job! I would liken it to the Shelby 500 or the Ford GT. The Shelby with 650hp is nearly as fast at the GT, but at the end of the day, if given the choice between the 2 the more complicated, finicky and overly sexy GT would be a 10-1 favorite. Don't get me wrong, the 818 garners much kudos from the general public and it is definitely no slouch in the performance category. It truly earns the right to wear a Factory Five badge. On the other hand, the GTM is the flagship and has earned it's right at the top of the F5R heap, (I know, bad pun) but it is clearly evident that Factory Five's evolution and forward thinking of their newest offering (the 818) will make the manufacturing and large panel styling of the GTM very obsolete. If only one of the two cars were an option and I could only chose one, I would day dream about the GTM while I was rocketing down the road in my 818 (after I changed the horn of course).

[Santiago]

Thanks Kalstar, that was some interesting commentary. I'll be building an R-car so #5 & #6 won't apply, but the rest is good to hear.

Shelby 500 vs Ford GT...well, I come from pretty humble roots anyway, so I'm ok with thinking of the 818 as only a Shelby 500. =)

Best,
-j

[Kalstar]

Correction on my last post.... Forgot a few words.

If only one of the two cars were an option and I could only choose one ** I would be just as happy** day dreaming about the GTM while I rocketed down the road in my 818.

Case and point, I also have a C6 Corvette and an SS Camaro, though the C6 is superior in many ways, if it came down to it, the more utility use of the Camaro would win the "which do I keep" battle. Maybe that is why I feel the way I do about the GTM/818. Both are awesome and the owners should be very proudly to have the privilege of owning any Factory Five.

Sorry Chris for the Hyjack.

[metalmaker12]

It's ok I will just snatch your GTM, C6, SS or AMG to sell so I can build a meep meep horn company!! lol haas devious laugh

[Kalstar]

It's ok I will just snatch your GTM, C6, SS or AMG to sell so I can build a meep meep horn company!! lol haas devious laugh

After an "out of warranty" $3600.00 fuel pump, the AMG needs to go away anyway.

This pic seems to fit the discussion.

[metalmaker12]

Here's Justin's 818 and my 818 startup and fly by
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gnwusq0el...185819_282.mp4

[Frank818]

I only see one 818.
Is that loud sound legal?
Did you change the horn?

[metalmaker12]

The first two of the 4 are Justin's, Legal at idle, and yea that's the meep meep still

[Xusia]

Car sounds awesome in the fly by!

[shinn497]

do you have equal or unequal length headers. My frothing desire for this car increases! I can't get enough.

also do you plan to paint it? I feel like this car would look great in blue.

[Santiago]

Maybe it's just me, but I kind of like that meep-meep horn...just for the humor factor. She growls menacingly enough at idle...then the *meep-meep* just takes you off guard.

So picture the scene:
- You roll off of grid with a growl...
- You destroy some high-dollar Porsche's and Vettes on track, forcing them to point you by, then...
- You pull back into the pits after the session, wave hi to those same "macho-dollar" guys, and *meep-meep* them
I love it.

Best,
-j

[metalmaker12]

Maybe it's just me, but I kind of like that meep-meep horn...just for the humor factor. She growls menacingly enough at idle...then the *meep-meep* just takes you off guard.

So picture the scene:
- You roll off of grid with a growl...
- You destroy some high-dollar Porsche's and Vettes on track, forcing them to point you by, then...
- You pull back into the pits after the session, wave hi to those same "macho-dollar" guys, and *meep-meep* them
I love it.

Best,
-j

Lol, exactly what I am thinking


Equal length, It's getting painted, prob is I love driving it too much to stop and prep

[shinn497]

So did you replace the headers?

I'm going to search for your modlist nowz.

[metalmaker12]

No, had them, came with 2005 ej207

[Kalstar]

Maybe it's just me, but I kind of like that meep-meep horn...just for the humor factor. She growls menacingly enough at idle...then the *meep-meep* just takes you off guard.

So picture the scene:
- You roll off of grid with a growl...
- You destroy some high-dollar Porsche's and Vettes on track, forcing them to point you by, then...
- You pull back into the pits after the session, wave hi to those same "macho-dollar" guys, and *meep-meep* them
I love it.

Best,
-j

So basically the car equivalent of Mike Tyson.

I have a lifted Silverado, menacing exhaust, Big V8, little horn, I get teased even by my 10 year old son. Meep meep is cute.....for a Girly car, even if it can punch like Mike.

BTW, Mary Kay pink will be a good paint scheme
.

[longislandwrx]

Mary Kay pink will be a good paint scheme

dibs.

[metalmaker12]

Started priming some parts, here's the hood image.jpg

[Mechie3]

I have that same lamp! I got it to help stay warm in the winter.

[Aloha818]

Started priming some parts, here's the hood image.jpg

Looks good, what product are you using?

[metalmaker12]

5 star , it drys fast, and mixes 4:1,4:1:1,4:1:2.image.jpg

My other favorite is spices heckers highbuild

[alpine227]

looking good, I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

[metalmaker12]

A little photoshop

image.jpg

[lsxsean]

Nice build!

[Kurk818]

Looks killer. Is that a paint you were teying to imitate or juat shading?

A little photoshop

image.jpg

[metalmaker12]

Just gel, I was just playing around, 818 on hold, babies around the corner. Maybe an autocross this weekend though.

[longislandwrx]

you better step up your lawn game, neighbor looks like she doesn't mess around.

[metalmaker12]

She try's, I don't, but my lawn always looks better cause I have a good science behind it. This year she might one up me. My wife is two weeks till be have our second and I am family family family and like a little 818. My wife actually really likes the 818 and told me once things calm down to finish it right and make it look killer. She has been by my side with all my cars and always gave me good advice. I am actually going to autocross next Sunday and than get in full dad mode. I will post video if I can get it to load on my computer. If you subie guys are on nasico, I am in contact with Dave Hersey ( who tested our 818 in Quansett point R.I during development). He has a wicked nasty sti etc etc and is a driving instructor, who loves the 818.

[Scargo]

What's Dave Hershey's handle on NASIOC? Don't know if I've met him. Will be at WGI this week for open track with Trackmasters and then NASA.
Nevermind, I found him. "hershey"

[longislandwrx]

pretty sure his handle is HERSHEY I thought he sold that black Sti...

edit DOH.

[metalmaker12]

Yeah Hershey, he did sell it, so had the most bad *** Sti. He has a Silvia and some others image.jpg, guess what's above it??? Anyway he's a cool guy and a local resource for me and others.

[longislandwrx]

his supercharged 383 FD is also pretty damn cool.

[metalmaker12]

Yea all his cars are unique, just like our 818's

[metalmaker12]

818 is down, took to autocross and was doing great, but hit a piece of road chunk that got on coarse and blew out my right rear and I have an oil leak going on. I think it's a cam seal, so motors coming out. Not a good day

[RM1SepEx]

Bummer Chris! I've had to stop on course in my shifter kart for big chunks of asphault before... brutal to hit one a damage a tire!

[Aloha818]

818 is down, took to autocross and was doing great, but hit a piece of road chunk that got on coarse and blew out my right rear and I have an oil leak going on. I think it's a cam seal, so motors coming out. Not a good day

That really sucks! Car was looking great. Any body damage?

[metalmaker12]

The side I hit the chunk, on the lower quarter is a deep scratch, but other than that it's ok. My oil leak issue is what I have to diagnose so I can sleep. Hopefully just labor intensive, like a cam seal or something along those lines. Needless to say I am feeling bummed out, but I still did have a great time.