MK4 #8442 Build

[rmiller64]

Interior looks great!

Thanks Tom

I'm following your latest build and love the Soft Top and Dual quad setup. Your flying through the build but after 6 of them you've got if figured out. A 289 FIA is next on my bucket list with a 331 and weber setup

[rmiller64]

All hands on deck today to put the body on for the last time I hope. Family and Neighbors helped as we had to hook up the defroster hoses to vents. My brother Ron and I installed the hood, trunk lid, doors and windshield. Tomorrow after Easter brunch I'll get the side pipes and hangers and finish off the door sill trim and carpet.

body on1.JPGbody on2.JPGbody on3.JPGbody on4.JPGbody on5.JPGbody on6.JPG

[rmiller64]

Today I installed the side pipes and oil cooler. I bought 10ft of Black nylon braided hose from Summit but don't think it's long enough so returned and ordered the 15 ft length about all I have left is the elephant ears. Heading to Portland, OR for work this week and going to Hillsboro to pickup a set of Alex's wheel well liners

Oil cooler1.jpgOil cooler2.jpgside pipes1.jpgside pipes2.jpg

I'll be connecting the oil cooler lines to a Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter, Aluminum 3/4-16 in. Thread, -10 AN O-Ring Inlet/Outlet fully Opens at 180 degrees

Oil Thermostat.jpg

[rmiller64]

This evening I install all 4 elephant ears A little trimming on front and they fit very well, Rear fit perfect. Used a large head 1/8 rivet. easy to drill out if they need to be removed

Front
Elephant ears front.jpg

Rear
Elephant ears rear.jpg

[rmiller64]

Returned from Portland, OR with the Alex's Custom Interior Wheel Well Liners and installed this evening. They are a nice product. Only had to trim a 1/4" off the leading edge on the fronts to get them to fit to my satisfaction. They are held in snug with 5ea - 1/4 push trim buttons drilled through the elephant ears. The fronts are held with a angle bracket pop riveted to the 3/4 tube in front.

wheel well liner front bracket.jpgwheel well liner left rear.jpgwheel well liner left rear2.jpgwheel well liner Right front.jpgwheel well liner Right front2.jpg

[skullandbones]

Between post 164 and 165 you must have had a change of heart or you are building two different cars. I could have sworn you put the kit wheel well guards in and then magically, the others are installed. What happened? Inquiring minds must know!

BTW: the second set does give it a much more finished look.

One more thing: is your oil cooler mounted on the bottom to the body or just to the aluminum on top with the four screws?

Thanks,

WEK.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Between post 164 and 165 you must have had a change of heart or you are building two different cars. I could have sworn you put the kit wheel well guards in and then magically, the others are installed. What happened?

The "Alex" pieces go over/on top of the kit's splash panels. As he said in post #165 they attach to the elephant ears.

Jeff

[rmiller64]

Between post 164 and 165 you must have had a change of heart or you are building two different cars. I could have sworn you put the kit wheel well guards in and then magically, the others are installed. What happened? Inquiring minds must know!

BTW: the second set does give it a much more finished look.

One more thing: is your oil cooler mounted on the bottom to the body or just to the aluminum on top with the four screws?

Thanks,

WEK.

Hi Wek

Post 164 was the install of the kit supplied elephant ears. 165 I installed over top of them the Alex's Custom interiors 1/8 ABS liners. they go all the way around . easy install

The cooler is installed with the 4 screws on the top through the aluminum shroud. It does sit flat on the bottom but won't drill the 4 holes thru the bottom chin. It's fastened solid as it is now. waiting for the -10 black nylon hose to arrive early this next week to install

[rmiller64]

The "Alex" pieces go over/on top of the kit's splash panels. As he said in post #165 they attach to the elephant ears.

Jeff

you explained in much fewer words Jeff didn't see your reply before I answered Wek

[GoDadGo]

They do clean things up and give you a very finished look.

[rmiller64]

They do clean things up and give you a very finished look.

yes and when the wheels and tires are back on and car is sitting on the ground you don't even know they are there. good protection even though I installed 1 gal of herculiner under coating to the under body side

[rmiller64]

Finishing up little things and getting ready for graduation. Installed the oil cooler lines, about 12' total. The right side loops around the top of the opening and joins up with the left and is connected to a 180 degree billet sandwich thermostat.

Installed a set of Lucas headlights today that have H4 bulbs. great quality purchased off ebay

Lucas lights.jpgoil cooler lines.jpgOil Thermostat.jpg

[WIS89]

Rick-

Liked the wheel well liners; they really do finish up that whole area.

I also like the headlights. They look to be a decent quality product, and give it that authentic look.

Graduation can't be too long now. I look forward to seeing her all buttoned up!

Regards,

Steve

[rmiller64]

Delivered 8442 to local detail shop for SunTek Clear Bra on the entire front up to the hood opening and over sized rear spat area. Film won't show in pictures but took this shot after removing the lights and quick jacks to make the job easier. 5 year warranty and has self healing properties

Clear Bra.jpg

[rmiller64]

Used AC Headlight Aimer to adjust the Lucas Tri Bar headlights Felt like an Optometrist doing an eye exam

Headlight adj.JPG

[rmiller64]

Installed Brake Vent screens today. Trimmed them down and left tabs on all 4 sides to apply Clear silicone to hold them on.

Brake vent screen.jpg

[rmiller64]

Getting ready for graduation pictures and put Cobra in race uniform

Service Station8.jpg

Service Station29.jpg

[carlewms]

Looks like a couple of Photos of the Month worthy submissions ...

[wallace18]

Wow! I really like those pics.

[RR20AC]

Best I have seen, congrats Rick. I would like that pic for my shop.

[WIS89]

Rick-

Some great pictures; the car looks great!

I meant to ask you if you would mind sharing the info on the headlights. I know you said eBay, but do you have any additional info? Thanks!

I am looking forward to seeing your graduation post!

Regards,

Steve

[rmiller64]

Thank you everyone for the comments on the pictures. More to follow when I use something other than my Iphone as a camera

[rmiller64]

Rick-

Some great pictures; the car looks great!

I meant to ask you if you would mind sharing the info on the headlights. I know you said eBay, but do you have any additional info? Thanks!

I am looking forward to seeing your graduation post!

Regards,

Steve

Thanks Steve

Very happy with the Quality of these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lucas-PL700-...-/360488873351

[Jazzman]

Re: the Lucas Headlight: Are they really bright? Is the light output more yellow/white or closer to blueish/white? I was considering trying to do LED headlights, but these look very interesting.

Thanks!

[rmiller64]

Re: the Lucas Headlight: Are they really bright? Is the light output more yellow/white or closer to blueish/white? I was considering trying to do LED headlights, but these look very interesting.

Thanks!

Bright yellow/white i'd say They have new style H4 bulbs that insert from the back of the light. Have not drove in the dark yet

[carlewms]

Jazzman,

BTW I looked at LED headlights for my roadster (all the other lights are LED) but so far have not found ones that are either affordable or have a more yellow white (instead of blue white) color.

If your interested this is the link to https://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/...nversion-kits/ where they do have conversion kits which would allow you to convert these over to LED (they have H4 conversion kits).

Carl

[WIS89]

Rick-

Thanks for the lead on the headlights!

Regards,

Steve

[aseweepay]

Absolutely phenominal, Rick....thanks for sharing....

[carlewms]

Check EdwardB's 20th anniversary build thread ... He found some very nice LED headlights from Watson-Works.com.

[rmiller64]

Time to post the official graduation thread for my #8442 Mk4 Roadster. The car was legal and insured early in the build process (before Go Cart) as WA State DOL didn’t require an inspection. I went into DOL with my MSO and complete kit invoice from Factory five along with my 1965 restored plates. I paid my taxes and lifetime collector registration. Title came in the mail about 2 weeks later showing 1965 MkIV Roadster.

Building a Cobra replica has been a dream for the past 30+ years. The week before my 50th B-day August 2014 I did a google search and found Factory Five and once I watched Dave Smith’s sales video on the MK IV I was sold. The online order form for a complete kit was quickly completed taking advantage of the 50/50 sale. The next 2 months gave me time to think about how I wanted the car to look and which Small block ford I would use, More on that in a bit.

At the end of October when the kit was ready for Stewart Transport I jump on a flight cross country from Bellingham, WA to Boston. BIG thanks to Factory Five group especially Dan G. for spending a ½ day with me giving me the tour of the manufacturing process and taking pictures of 8442 in the shipping rack. Kudos to them for making a quality product that’s accessible to us average guys. I also want to thank the many forum vendors – Fortes, Breeze, Dark Water Custom, **********, Russ Thompson, Mike Everson, FFMetals, Herb Frasier – who helped me spend my money, but more importantly provide great service and products. Big thanks to all my forum friends for their support, Paul-EdwardB, Jeff Kliener and now good friend Jeff-Rotorcraft in Snohomish, WA and Finally my brother Ron Miller who in Jan 2015 had a heart attack and triple by-passes. He spent many hours over the next 3 months in my shop completing cardiac rehab with 1/8" drill bits, pneumatic rivet gun, soldering iron and wire crimpers in hand.

My goal for the non-donor build was going to be an authentic look without going overboard on modifications. Engine choice was to be a carb’d 331 stroker small block Windsor. T5 5-speed, 3 link w/ 3.73 gears, mechanical throttle linkage, heater, FFR low back Leather seats, single chrome roll bar, Stainless side pipes, 15” Halibrands with GoodYear BillBoards. Purchased wiper kit but decided during build not to install them.

For the engine, I decided to go 331 vs 347 stroker which I had built for my 65 Mustang a few years back. Started at a friend Tyler Kings machine shop with a 1990 302 block installing the Scat stoker kit with Mahle pistons. Bottom end finished up with a Canton Main Cap Girdle and Canton Windage Tray. Oil pan is aluminum Cobra T-Pan that I’ve had for 30 years. The top end has a Comp Cams 35-522-8 Extreme Energy hydraulic roller cam, AFR 185 heads and an original 1965 Shelby S1MS-9424A Cobra Intake and new Holly 4150 650 DP Carb. Valve covers are also vintage Aluminum Cobra. Belt drive is stock 1965 v-belt pulleys. Oil cooler from ********** and 185 degree sandwich thermostat controls oil flow (not needed but sure looks good along with twin fans).

The rest of the drivetrain is a Ford Racing billet flywheel, Stock bell housing, Ford Racing clutch, Tremec T-5 , Metco Motorsports safety loop, Ford 8.8 Trac-Loc solid rear with 3:73 gears and Summit axles and Ford Racing Axle Girdle cover.

The chassis came powder coated from FFR, all aluminum panels were Silver powder coated, Lizard skin sound and thermal insulation in the cockpit and trunk, .090 firewall from FFMetals. Breeze front Battery tray and Breeze upper and lower Radiator hose were installed

The electrical system is kit provided Ron Francis wiring harness, stock FFR lighting all around except for Lucas Tri-Bar headlights. Speed hut gauges and LED foot well courtesy lighting. Ignition and light switch is 1965 Mustang. Kit provided toggle switches control turn signal, hi/lo beam, emergency flashers and dual pusher fans.

The paint is by Corvette Specialties in Surrey, BC Canada. The color is Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon white strips. The body is undercoated with Herculiner and Alex custom Interiors provided the wheel well liners. Sun Tech Clear Bra was applied to the entire front nose up to hood opening and fronts of the rear fenders for chip protection from the sticky BillBoards. Other interior highlights are Herb Fraser custom door panels made from left over dash material that matches the leather seats. Russ Thompson accelerator pedal Mike Everson under dash tray, steering dash bezel and trunk lid struts.

I have logged 700 quick miles so far and look forward to the rest of the spring and summer driving weather.

With one FFR under my belt I have a strong desire to build a FFR 289 FIA car with 331 and IDA 48 weber setup.

Happy building everyone!

Graduation Photo 1.jpgGraduation Photo 2.jpgGraduation Photo 3.jpgGraduation Photo 4.jpgService Station29.jpg

[Raceral]

Very nice.. went back and looked at it all

[edwardb]

Rick -- Congratulations and it looks really great. And POM too! Thanks for the shout out. It was a pleasure to help what little I did and especially to see such a beautiful outcome. Now go enjoy it!

[David Hodgkins]

An outstanding build! Beautiful result. I like everything about this build. Very happy to see that you plan to do another.

Congratulations, and have fun on the road!

[rmiller64]

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Update. Fast forward 2 1/2 yrs. I didn't get a chance to build the 289 roadster that I wanted but found another go fast project that maybe the only 1954 Cessna 180 Skywagon painted factory scheme in Guardsman Blue and Whimbledon White. Enjoy both hobbies equally

[Joe390]

The Cessna and the Cobra have it covered...both in the Sky and on the Ground......I enjoyed reading your build Rick.....When my MK4 kit arrives on January 10,2019...…I have a better idea what to expect with my MK4 build.........!!
Thanks....Joe Mazza

[429 SCJ COBRA]

Does anyone know where to find a 8.8 differential cover that has the Cobra inbossed on it ? I seen one once