Jazzman’s #8745 "Flip Top" Build

[speedfreak1211]

Very nicely done

[Jeff Kleiner]

Look forward to meeting you both this weekend!

Jeff

[wareaglescott]

Looks spectacular Kevin. Congrats on having it finished up. Good luck at the show this weekend!

[Boydster]

Unreal. After all the work you did, they took it to the next level. Congratulations!

[WIS89]

Kevin-

Simply extraordinary!! Just a spectacular design with amazing execution!! I know you must be stoked.

Safe travels to and from HB.

Regards,

Steve

[edwardb]

Stunning. Congrats.

[jceckard]

Great googily-moogily! How about a picture or two with the top flipped?

[RR20AC]

Amazing build, can’t wait to see you down at the beach. Jim

[Gromit]

(picking jaw up off the floor)

I don't have words other than the thought that your Licence plate now has dual meaning. people looking at this beauty are going to flip their top!

well done and many trophies in your future I suspect.

Chris AKA Gromit

[Straversi]

Congratulations. Look forward to seeing it in person Saturday.
-Steve

[2bking]

Excellent completion! I especially like the trunk work so how about some pictures with the panels removed?

[SSNK4US]

OMG! WOW!! It’s beautiful Kevin!!!
I’ve followed it from day one. (As a lurker lol)
I (we, my wife too) can’t wait to see it and actually meet you
in person tomorrow!!!

Did I saw WOW?

Kurt

[Yama-Bro]

Great job is an understatement...It's amazing!

[TheBabyBadger]

That car is seriously gorgeous. I LOVE the wood, and LEDs... the Devil is in the details! BEAUTIFUL CAR!

[AZPete]

Beautiful! I look forward to seeing Flip Top this evening when she debuts at David's BBQ!

[cnutting]

Well done! I've been following since the beginning. Lots of hard work but it paid off.

[cv2065]

Stunning work Bud! The interior of the trunk and attention to detail throughout the car looks custom made by a factory its done so well. Outstanding!!

[Chris @ Forma]

Speechless.....WOW...even the trunk

[KDubU]

As they say, “It’s all about the details”. A work of art Kevin, you should be very proud.

[Jazzman]

The Huntington Beach Cruise In was an amazing weekend! It was truly wonderful to meet in person so many of the "friends" that I have made on this forum. The weekend started out VERY early on Friday morning. Bob Brandle met us at our house and off we went to California. This was literally the maiden voyage of my new trailer. It pulled great! Very smooth, no problems at all!



We went straight to David Hodgkins home for the pre-event BBQ. David and Leesa are very warm and wonderful people. There were already quite a few people there when I arrived. By the end of the evening, the house was packed! The food was amazing, the friendship even better. We all took a small cruise about 10 miles to a car museum and consignment showroom. There were many wonderful cars on sale if your pockets were extremely deep. Since my trailer was already full, I decided to pass this time!! The entire evening was simply wonderful . . . until FlipTop decided to give me a scare.

Just as we were leaving, Bob Brandle notice that the front left wheel was wobbling significantly! I carefully turned the car around and nursed it back to Davids home to decide what the problem was and what to do about it. As soon as we got back, the Factory Five Family gathered around to examine the problem. I had some tools, David provided a jack, a breaker bar was located for the lug nuts, and about 150 years of automotive experience focused their attentions on my car. So who steps forward to fix the "newbie's" broken car? The world famous Jeff Kleiner!!



Lots of idea were thrown around, many tests run. At the end of the process, it was determined that either a) the wheel is warped, or b) the flange on the back of the wheel is not clearing the spindle end. In either case it was safe to drive to the show and back. Very tired, we headed back to the Shorebreak Hotel for much needed sleep.

Saturday morning started very early. I got up and dusted the car, then headed out to line up for registration. AZ Pete was already first in line, but I lined up second. David Hodgkins and family, Dave Smith, and many others were already there setting up the registration tent and display booths. At 7am, we all started filing in and finding parking spots. Even thought the show didn't officially start until 10am, the "show" began right away as locals came out for breakfast.

The show was a big hit all day! People had a great time seeing all the cars, talking to the owners, etc. I had a great time meeting and talking to other builders and soon-to-be builders. Everyone had questions, and it was great fun answering them all.





One of the greatest moments was seeing the children become so excited about these rolling works of art. Two children in particular caught my attention:



It was great fun to let several children sit in the car and have their pictures taken by their excited parents. I loved getting them excited about the possibility of actually building a car.

About noon, Steve Temple, editor of ReinCarNation magazine surprised me by telling me he wanted to do a feature story in his magazine about my car! He wanted to have a photo shoot that afternoon after the show, and David Hodgkins son Grant would be taking the photos!! What an honor and a treat!

There were so many amazing cars at this show! When the "awards" time came, I was very nervous. I was not sure what the response to my unique car would be. I knew I had "coloured way outside of the lines" on this one!! They started handing out the awards. Best interior? Nope. Best Paint? Nope. Best Roadster? Nope. Oh well, I love the car, and the public seems to like it, but clearly the judges thought it was just too far beyond the traditional. And then . . .

Editors Choice Award goes to . . . ME!! I can't believe it!!



Then just as I am beginning to breathe again, the announce The Best of Show award: Me!! I didn't even think I was eligible. I assumed you had to win Best Roadster to even be considered. I am stunned!



Words cannot describe how special it is to be selected among this amazing group of people. Thank you to Factory Five, Dave Smith, and the entire Hodgkins family for putting on this show. Thank you to every last member of this forum for your support and assistance. Very special thanks to EdwardB for all his technical advice, and to 2BKing for his engineering and assistance as I conquered his flip top modification!

What an amazing journey this has been! I cannot wait to start the next one. I wonder what that will be . . .

[jceckard]

Congrats! Well deserved. Glad to see the flip top of FLIPTOP came in handy. Look at all that room to work!

[Bob Brandle]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Kevin !!! So well deserved.

It was an honor and thrill for me to be but a tiny part of Fliptop's reveal, its immediate appreciation by the Factory Five family, rewards and to accompany you and Diane this weekend in Huntington Beach.

Now let everyone see some photos of the gorgeous interior and close ups of the flip front end.

After attending this, my first Factory Five event, I'm so looking forward to my upcoming Type 65 Coupe order and then the build in Scottsdale, AZ, with you and your expertise, skills and enthusiasm just a few neighborly miles away, as well as Arizona Pete and his.

Bob

[Yama-Bro]

Congrats on the award! You did a great write up on the event. I enjoyed reading it. I've been wondering if the proper way to identify yourself at these events to other forum members is to wear a name tag with your username and avatar?

[wareaglescott]

Great work Kevin and congrats on the magazine feature and awards! Now get out and put some miles on it! Been a long time coming.

[broku518]

WOW! What a great looking car, event and wonderful community. Congratulations!
This will be hard to top it off...only one to find out

[Vspeeds]

Congratulations on the award. Your car is truly amazing. During the show I kept going back to your car. The pictures do not convey the true attention to detail in your build.

[Jazzman]

Congrats on the award! You did a great write up on the event. I enjoyed reading it. I've been wondering if the proper way to identify yourself at these events to other forum members is to wear a name tag with your username and avatar?

Thanks, Bro! Actually, at David's BBQ we did all have name tags, and many, including myself, listed both their real name and their username. My art skills are not sufficient to draw any avatar!!!

[Jazzman]

This will be hard to top it off...only one to find out

Thanks Broku! Yes, plans are already in the works for the next build . . .

[David Hodgkins]

Kevin,

It was great meeting you this weekend and sharing in the debut of FLIPTOP. You really built a special ride there my friend. Congratulations!

[Jazzman]

Kevin,

It was great meeting you this weekend and sharing in the debut of FLIPTOP. You really built a special ride there my friend. Congratulations!

Thank you, David, that is high praise coming from you!! I think you are the one that deserves the prize!! I can't believe all you and your family did.

[Jazzman]

Here is another nice write up about the Huntington Beach Cruise In from ReinCarNation magazine.

[Vette1972]

Just an amazing build! WOW!!!!!!! You worked so hard Congratulations seems very small. Best to you and FlipTop!!!!

[doddmoore]

CONGRATULATIONS! When I saw your car on FB I was blown away. One of the best builds I have seen looking through MANY build threads. So happy for you. Absolutely deserved.

[WIS89]

Kevin-

Dude -- I just had to break out the word dude for this -- congratulations on the recognition that deservedly came your way! It is certainly only the beginning of the awards you will see!

You did an amazing job with your build, and I have truly enjoyed following along with your build thread. I have always marvelled at the creativity and talent that folks have when they, as you said, "colour outside the lines." I really admire all the detail work in your interior, and have no idea how you came up with the design ideas. Just so darned impressive!!

Again, congratulations on the recognition. I look forward to the Reincarnation article, and I hope there are lots of pictures! Enjoy the heck out of your hard work!!

Regards,

Steve

[Saul S]

CONGRATULATIONS! on an awesome build and Best of Show award. Well deserved

Saul

[Clover]

In my opinion, your car is one beautiful piece of artwork. Terrific job. You should be very proud.

[Mark Eaton]

Kevin,

Shelly and I so much enjoyed meeting you and Diane last weekend. You two are such wonderful and authentic people. Here is a photo that Shelly took of you and I...

[DavidW]

Beautiful Roaster, I hope to see it in person one day!

[Jazzman]

Kevin,

Shelly and I so much enjoyed meeting you and Diane last weekend. You two are such wonderful and authentic people. Here is a photo that Shelly took of you and I...

Wonderful photo Mark!! Thanks! I am so sorry that we did not get to spend enough time chatting this weekend. It was really great meeting you and Shelly. I fully expect you to have your car completed by next year. Please plan to come down for the show. Lets try to find some time to talk before or after the show. As always, if I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.

Kevin

[Jazzman]

Read the directions. I know, not exactly a new idea, but it applies in this situation. You may remember that at the Huntington Beach Cruise In I discovered that my left front wheel was not spinning true. At David's BBQ I had a pantheon of experienced builders trying to figure out why the wheel would not seat solidly against the brake rotor. Yesterday I finally found time to take the car to the tire shop to have them test the wheel to see if it was warped or bent. (I was pretty sure it wasn't, as they would have found that when the balanced the wheel in the first place. But I had to check.) Lots of thumbs up, many photos, lots of ogling, but no warped wheel.

I came home and took the wheel off again. It appears that the only possibility is that the wheel doesn't quite fit over the centering ring that goes around the hub and centers the brake rotor.



I removed the ring to see how far off it was. It was completely off! That ring couldn't possibly go inside the center hole in the wheel. I went back and re-read the installation instructions from Willwood, specifically how that ring is installed. What do you know: the ring is installed on the BACK side of the rotor, not on the front.



I removed the brake caliper, removed the rotor, installed the ring on the back of the rotor (it has a very nice little notch that it fits in!) reinstalled everything, and voila! No more wheel wobble.

Yeah, read the directions!!