818C THE south island build thread

[Flamshackle]

Hi all,

I thought I would introduce myself and save this spot as I wait for my coupe to arrive.

My name is Scottie, born and bred in Aotearoa (New Zealand). I am in my mid 30's have a wife (very tolerant) of 15 years and three champion little boys pictured below...

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I caught my fathers passion for motorsport and grew up watching F1, WRC and of course down this part of the world... the V8 supercars. He himself raced mini's and my uncles race BMW's to this day. My background is in sheet metal engineering and I have personally built the Subaru club car pictured below. full disclosure... I am a "baaru" nut and have solely owned, modified and enjoyed Subaru's over the last 15 20 years.

club car.jpg

I have followed this forum and the development of the 818 since the inception and design contest. The concept grabbed my attention. Its potential seemed huge being light weight, very affordable, very powerful and the hope of it looking the part also. the 818C finally ticked all the boxes for me and I placed my order.

The coupe has a few area's I am keen to modify aesthetically and this mod of Vmans of rear intake is the big one I will try and make happen.

818C RSide Front.JPG

In the long run I want to run the 3.0R non turbo engine but I will initially build it with the 2.0 JDM turbo four to gain compliance here in NZ.
I have purchased the clutch braided line off mike, steering column spacer and the clutch master cylinder relocation kit.
I am going to run the XXR 530 wheels.
I have a mate with a wrap business and will wrap the car Ferrari red with a carbon wrap roof to mimic my favorite Ferrari, the 458 Italia.
I just purchased an MR2 shifter (for $20) and intend to follow many others and shorten the shift lines.
I also have a pair of MOMO race seats, belts and loads of other performance subaru kit laying about.

My intention is to document the build of the coupe as well as I can. This is a dream come true for me and I cant wait to build memories with my three little blokes and also a car that we can be proud of.

Soooooooo it will be a little quiet here for a few months but after that... watch this space

[Pearldrummer7]

Awesome! When will you take delivery of it?

Congratulations by the way!

[STiPWRD]

Congratulations! Sounds like you're off to a great start! One thing I've learned is to just enjoy the build process and relinquish any kind of completion time estimating.

[nkw8181]

Welcome to the factory five addicts! Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[Flamshackle]

Congratulations! Sounds like you're off to a great start! One thing I've learned is to just enjoy the build process and relinquish any kind of completion time estimating.

Great advice thanks.

Awesome! When will you take delivery of it?

Congratulations by the way!

Cheers, no idea when it will be delivered. Will wait for more correspondence from FFR regarding the development. They said August so I guess it will be in the next few months.

[SnyderJD]

Congrats on your adventure. I think all of us that have put deposits down anxiously waiting for calls from FFR. With a newborn on the way as well, I have two babies to forward to.

[Flamshackle]

Congrats on your adventure. I think all of us that have put deposits down anxiously waiting for calls from FFR. With a newborn on the way as well, I have two babies to forward to.

Exciting times mate congrats :-)

Because I live in NZ and the dollar is dropping like a stone I have already paid FFR in full to ensure I dont loose thousands on the falling NZD.

[Frank818]

have a wife (very tolerant)

HAHAHAH!!! Yeah that's gonna be a blessing!

Are you the first 818C in NZ?
RHD 818C, probably.

[Flamshackle]

HAHAHAH!!! Yeah that's gonna be a blessing!

Are you the first 818C in NZ?
RHD 818C, probably.

There are two other 818's in the north island Justin has his running.

I believe I will be the first to have the coupe however.

[Flamshackle]

FFR have sent me an email and I can expect the coupe to be ready for shipping at the end of November. Exciting times!

In other exciting news... This morning I purchased my donor car!

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Its a 2004 Legacy with a 2007 engine in it that has done 55 000 miles. The original motor was cooked when the owner ran it after the radiator split. They sold it as a wreak. The new owner found a low KM motor out of a rear damaged 2007 only decide to sell it in parts as he would get more for it. They took off the bonnet, bumpers, side fenders, boot and doors. In his words he removed all the "valuable" parts and threw the "scrap parts" to me! hahaha... He even gave me a three month guarantee on the motor

The car is in really excellent mechanical condition and I cant wait to start pulling it apart and cleaning up/restoring the parts ready to go on the coupe.

Looks like my boys and I are going to be busy with spanners and oil

[Martin]

Scottie - as a NZ'er (displaced), I'm going to watch this thread. I know how popular the Subaru's are back home with a thriving modding community. The cars and the Japanese import market are hugely popular, and the Subarus are ideal cars for NZ roads.

This should be a good one to watch come together.

Martin

[Frank818]

He even gave me a three month guarantee on the motor

Loll!!! Too bad the engine won't probably even start once during those 3 months.
Looks like a clean donor though, from the outside.

[Flamshackle]

Loll!!! Too bad the engine won't probably even start once during those 3 months.
Looks like a clean donor though, from the outside.

Except that the engine is already running ;-) but yes once I pull it out it will be idle for a decent while.

[Flamshackle]

Scottie - as a NZ'er (displaced), I'm going to watch this thread. I know how popular the Subaru's are back home with a thriving modding community. The cars and the Japanese import market are hugely popular, and the Subarus are ideal cars for NZ roads.

This should be a good one to watch come together.

Martin

Good to meet another kiwi here!

Yea I am aiming for 350hp at the wheels. But getting it going first is the primary target. Should be fun

[Flamshackle]

Just confirmed with Wayne P a set of XXR 530's in gold for our coupe.
xxr-530-gold_1.jpg

One of my boys threw a wobbly because he wanted them in matt black not gold (first world problems pal!). He came right after I talked to him about the magical wonder that is Plasti dip and showed him my plasti dip spray system. best of both worlds...

Oh man as if I needed any more motivation!
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Just in the process of organizing international shipping for the kit (ready for pickup end of November). $$$$ouch

Donor arrives tomorrow morning

LET THE TEAR DOWN GAMES BEGIN!

[Hindsight]

Congrats!

I love those XXR wheels. 527 and 530 both look great on the 818.

[STiPWRD]

Nice selection on the wheels, I'm a fan of gold as well.

[Flamshackle]

Stewarts has confirmed the shipping in the next couple of weeks. Best price I could get was $5800 shipped to little ol NZ (I got over 10 different quotes ranging from the former right through to $11000!)


Hopefully Wayne P gets the wheels and tires to FFR before then or else I am seriously up the creek.

I have read a lot of complaints about the standard FFR fuel tank leaking.

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...d-Thread/page8

Have FFR been contacted about this very dangerous issue?

Is there a known fix or work around for the standard tank?

I am enjoying tearing the donor apart with my kids (pics to come)

[Frank818]

Whoa, what a cost range! Still sad to know half of the kit price must be added just for shipping, but on the other end, you are not 5mins of driving from FFR!

As for the tank, a few people did some mods to it and it's a pain to remove the tank once everything is in place, you better leak test it while it's off the car. Can't tell if FFR knows about it.

[Flamshackle]

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I have looked at all the wiring and since its not a skill I posses I am going to just get a custom loom made. Stuff the expense if it means I don't have to tangle my brain over it.


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Got a new radiator with a higher cooling capacity. I think its a good idea given the distance from front to rear. I also have an electric water pump that I may use to replace the standard one.

I have done it on my race car; Just take out the old pump and turn the impeller down on a lathe. The main advantage to me is an even cool down for the motor once you turn it off.

[Flamshackle]

I just recieved this one sentence email from Courtnie from FFR...

"Glass just came in! Nate is working on getting kits together now."

Hope that means my kit is ready to ship in the next week


Also there is now ANOTHER build happening in the South Island of NZ (30 mins away in Christchurch at that!)

Very exciting to have two 818C's in my region.

[THE FURNACE]

Hi Scottie,
That's great news that the glass has finally arrived. You have had a long wait (and still waiting) for your kit. Like your NZD, our CDN has taken a large dip. My kit was 40% more than it would have cost just over a year and a half ago. I will be doing the 9 hour drive to FFR in March to pick up. It will probably save me $3,000 in shipping, and I'll get a factory tour.
It sounds like you might receive your kit in March too.

From the other side of the planet,
best regards,
Dave

[Flamshackle]

Hi Scottie,
That's great news that the glass has finally arrived. You have had a long wait (and still waiting) for your kit. Like your NZD, our CDN has taken a large dip. My kit was 40% more than it would have cost just over a year and a half ago. I will be doing the 9 hour drive to FFR in March to pick up. It will probably save me $3,000 in shipping, and I'll get a factory tour.
It sounds like you might receive your kit in March too.

From the other side of the planet,
best regards,
Dave

Good for you Dave! I wish I could save on shipping...

I imagine my shipping time could mean that the kit actually arrives in April for me. I look forward to pictures of your build.

[Flamshackle]

I just received an email from Foytt shipping in LA showing my crate in a container about to go on the boat heading out of LA to little ol Aotearoa. It has taken a lot longer than expected but I am pleased it is on its way now.

Terrible timing in some ways as we are at the sharp end of our house build and the car looks to arrive just before we move in. When it rains it pours!

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[Flamshackle]

Just had an email saying that the crate is in the city! woohoo!


I pick it up first thing in the morning. pics to follow

[Flamshackle]

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One happy man, all in good shape after traveling around the globe! impressive packaging FFR

[Hindsight]

Congrats! Let the fun begin.

[Loring]

Indeed. Looking forward to your progress.

[FFR-ADV]

Congratulations!

[Solidworks-Mike]

Interesting in your last picture the coolant flex line. Thought they had switched to hard line connections and got rid of the flex lines.

[Loring]

Mike, mine is also flex.

[Flamshackle]

Interesting in your last picture the coolant flex line. Thought they had switched to hard line connections and got rid of the flex lines.

I have no intention of using flex lines.

I deconstructed the box this morning and had a good look at the chassis. Short story is I am impressed with the quality. I used to be a sheet metal fabricator so I know good work when I see it. Well done FFR.

Mods I will definitely be making:

1- Composite underbody tray from front to rear.
2- Chassis strengthening in a couple of key areas.
3- front mounted fuel cell.
4- fixed Windows
5- halo roll cage

More info and pics to come soon

[Junty]

Hey Scottie, congratulations on your coupe arriving in NZ. Looking forward to seeing a few more on the road. I might need to venture south in my 818 roadster - would be nice to see your build, but also enjoy the drive of course...

[Flamshackle]

Hey Scottie, congratulations on your coupe arriving in NZ. Looking forward to seeing a few more on the road. I might need to venture south in my 818 roadster - would be nice to see your build, but also enjoy the drive of course...

Looking forward to meeting you and your car one day Justin

[Flamshackle]

Woooooow this is an old thread lol.

Life got in the way, a new house build, endless job of landscaping and some other projects that took me away from this.

Today is a bit of a moment, reading back over this and feeling shocked that it’s been 5 years, Three house moves and finally today I started to pull the donor apart.

Maybe I’ll have the chassis rolling in another 5 years ������

[MonzaMan]

ah ha ha ha, too funny!

Hopefully I can give you comfort in letting you know you're not alone: While working abroad I bought my kit early 2017 (then took another international assignment), only picked it up Dec 2018 (then another international assignment), put in a few weeks of work early 2019, and am now waiting for this international lock down to end so I can get home for a few more weeks of building before my next assignment.

Hopefully your donor fared better than mine!