Papa's MKIV Roadster Build - #9115 (Post Grad) - One million + views!!!

[Papa]

What do you plan to do with the turn signal buttons in the dash?

I sold them with the SDC module.

[nucjd19]

Papa. First, big thank you. When I committed to purchasing my complete kit I loved to pour over your build thread for ideas and tips. You have helped so much. Second, I have the same Boig coolant pipe as you but have the standard radiator cap. Do you remember where you picked up that awesome matching radiator cap? Thank you .

[Papa]

Papa. First, big thank you. When I committed to purchasing my complete kit I loved pour over your build thread for ideas and tips. You have helped so much. Second, I have the same Big coolant pipe as you but have the standard radiator cap. Do you remember where you picked up that awesome matching radiator cap? Thank you .

Thanks for the kind words. I always like to hear that my build thread had inspired and/or helped a fellow builder. I bought the radiator cap from Summit Racing.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bsp-75125

Dave

[nucjd19]

Thanks for the kind words. I always like to hear that my build thread had inspired and/or helped a fellow builder. I bought the radiator cap from Summit Racing.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/bsp-75125

Dave

Huge Thank you Dave!

[Papa]

I had the car cleaned up and did a short walkaround video.

[Blitzboy54]

I had the car cleaned up and did a short walkaround video.

Looks fantastic. When was this taken, you still have snow?!?

[Papa]

Looks fantastic. When was this taken, you still have snow?!?

It was taken in late Februrary, but we're expecting snow over the next couple of days. It was 86 degrees a couple of days ago.

[NYMike]

Your car is incredible Dave. Reading through your whole build thread at the end of last year inspired us to pull the trigger on ours. I can only hope ours comes out half as nice as yours.

[BeePea]

Papa, how are you liking your tires? Still running the PS2 in 245x35x18 and 315x30x18? I'm about to pull the tire trigger myself.

[Papa]

Papa, how are you liking your tires? Still running the PS2 in 245x35x18 and 315x30x18? I'm about to pull the tire trigger myself.

I'm very happy with the PS2s, especially after driving with them in a torrential downpour yesterday. I'll definitely replace them with the same tire when the time comes.

Dave

[BadAsp427]

I'm very happy with the PS2s, especially after driving with them in a torrential downpour yesterday. I'll definitely replace them with the same tire when the time comes.

Dave

Will you??? They don't make them any longer... At least that's what I'm finding out. I love mine... and have many, MANY miles in the rain and on wet roads..

[Papa]

Will you??? They don't make them any longer... At least that's what I'm finding out. I love mine... and have many, MANY miles in the rain and on wet roads..

Well that's unfortunate. Do they have something new in the same sizes?

[Papa]

Just did a quick check and Discount Tire is still selling them. Can't say for how long, but still available today.

[NYMike]

Big fan of Michelin tires on our other cars so this is exciting. There definitely was a time a month or two ago where I couldn’t find them either but maybe they are back from the grave. Tire rack seems to have them too but the fronts say special order so not sure what the lead time is there. Time to do some more searching.

[BadAsp427]

Just did a quick check and Discount Tire is still selling them. Can't say for how long, but still available today.

I would only caution that if anyone orders them that they somehow find out the date code on them... or at least look at it as soon as received. I received "new" ones that were 8 years old the day I received them.

[BeePea]

I would only caution that if anyone orders them that they somehow find out the date code on them... or at least look at it as soon as received. I received "new" ones that were 8 years old the day I received them.

Interesting, I just ordered some, should get them next week.

[Papa]

My car has been on the road legally now for right at 18 months and after a 300 mile drive last weekend that included some torrential rain, I put the car on the lift to do a wipe-down and check. Other than needing a bit of cleaning, there are no leaks and everything is looking really good. I didn't see any movement of any witness marks on my torqued bolts anywhere. The new ball-joint boots are doing their job and no grease globs on my wheels. All fluid levels are right where they should be, but I do plan to flush and fill the cooling system with Dex-Cool at some point, probably this fall at the end of the driving season.





I took this opportunity to coat the bottom ~8 inches of the foot box front panels on both sides of the car with a couple of thick coats of Herculiner. These areas were pretty much stripped of the spray-on bed liner I used on my aluminum panels. My splash guards got Herculiner and it is solid, so I ran a strip of masking tape at about 8" up on both sides and hit the aluminum. That should be the last I have to worry about that.

[460.465USMC]

The undercarriage looks immaculate. I think your good build quality is showing itself with no leaks, etc. Nice!

[Jeff Kleiner]

Looking great Dave!

The undercarriage looks immaculate. I think your good build quality is showing itself with no leaks, etc. Nice!

I've said before that I get to see these cars without their clothes on which reveals everything---some look pretty good until you strip them down (you can make your own analogy but I think you know what I mean ). Papa's looks just as good naked as it does dressed up! Definitely in the top 3 out of all of them that I've done

Jeff

[Papa]

Looking great Dave!



I've said before that I get to see these cars without their clothes on which reveals everything---some look pretty good until you strip them down (you can make your own analogy but I think you know what I mean ). Papa's looks just as good naked as it does dressed up! Definitely in the top 3 out of all of them that I've done

Jeff

Thanks, Jeff. The clothes are looking pretty stylish still, too. I'm hoping to get the opportunity to do a show or two this year.

Dave

[sittonb]

Dave, mind if I ask a question. Prepping my order/wants/needs etc. and have read your build at least twice. Nicely done, and your engine and rear dif are exactly what I'm looking at, but you have convinced me to go larger rims. Anyway.... clutch - I noticed you went cable. Do you think the pedal is heavy in any way? Would you have changed it looking back? Also did you ever take it in and have the Sniper adjusted or did you get it handled yourself? Thanks

[Papa]

Dave, mind if I ask a question. Prepping my order/wants/needs etc. and have read your build at least twice. Nicely done, and your engine and rear dif are exactly what I'm looking at, but you have convinced me to go larger rims. Anyway.... clutch - I noticed you went cable. Do you think the pedal is heavy in any way? Would you have changed it looking back? Also did you ever take it in and have the Sniper adjusted or did you get it handled yourself? Thanks

Welcome to the forum and for giving me the honor of your first post! My clutch feels good to me, not light, not heavy. I know others have had a heavy clutch feel and quickly snapped a cable. I suspect something was a miss there. I didn't assemble my clutch, which came ready to go from BluePrint. I don't have any regrets with the cable clutch so far. On the Sniper, I never had it "professionally" tuned, but may still go down that road. There are guys that will do it remotely, but for the same cost, I can have it done on a chassis dyno here locally. The car runs pretty well, but isn't completely dialed in. The popping when I let of the throttle is back since the Sniper wants to relearn it's bad habits if you don't lock the learn parameters down. The good thing is, I have a good tune that I can get back to in 30 seconds. I just haven't tried to fiddle with it in quite a while since it really does drive well. I think I might be a little rich in some parts of the map and lean in others, but it's all easily corrected with the right knowledge. The car starts right up and idles cold or hot.

Dave

[sittonb]

Ah great, thanks... You noticed the first post huh? funny. Been lurking for awhile, reading threads etc. Probably won't pull the trigger until early next year. Looking at full kit, solid rear, blueprint 347 (still deciding Carb or sniper) as I live in the Pac NW and highest altitude is just about 4800 ft. Only part that gives me pause is the bodywork. Seems to be a couple good guys in California which is probably where it'll end up unless someone else points me in a different direction. Your build pics, explanations etc were really great, they cleared up a lot of questions I had after going over the manual. Combining your build posts and a few others I feel good about jumping in. Got me thinking about the clutch option now though. Anyway, thanks again.

[Papa]

I'm glad that my build thread helped you decide to build. It's a very rewarding experience to drive a car you built yourself. Good luck and don't hesitate to post questions in the forum. There are so many builders that are always eager to share their knowledge here.

Dave

[D Stand]

Where are you in the PAC NW?

[sittonb]

Newberg OR, just outside of Portland

[ggunter]

PAPA your car is an inspiration to all of us. Beautiful build. Where did you get your spats?

[Papa]

PAPA your car is an inspiration to all of us. Beautiful build. Where did you get your spats?

The spats are from Very Cool Parts, one of our supporting vendors. Nice parts made from thick aluminum and hand-formed on an English wheel. They aren't always available, and are done in batches. Contact them for more information on availability.

[Papa]

I made a small upgrade to my build today. I really like the new Factory Five Racing emblem and bought one along with a new center cap (thanks Jim1855 for offering one up while FFR is out of stock).

New:



Old:



Interestingly, the new center cap would not sit properly due to the air pressure as I pressed it in forcing the cap to push back out. Since I'd already stuck the emblem on, there was no place for the air to go. I ended up drilling a small hole through the side of the insert on the outside of the o-ring to vent the pressure as the cap is pressed into the hub and all is good.

[Jim1855]

Papa,
Looks great, glad I could help and it was a pleasure working with you.
That "faith" and "honor" stuff really does work.
Jim

[Papa]

The weather yesterday was perfect for a drive and a Cars & Coffee. My roadster was the only Cobra in the bunch, but not the only Shelby replica...







I had a lot of people around my car with lots of interest in FFR in the crowd.

One more nice picture:

[Jeff Kleiner]

Looks like a nice day Dave! I think it was just about exactly 2 years ago that it came home to you

Jeff

[Papa]

Looks like a nice day Dave! I think it was just about exactly 2 years ago that it came home to you

Jeff

Yep! Right ahead of a snow storm. We're expecting some rain/snow over night tonight, but it was perfect yesterday.

Dave

[460.465USMC]

Wow! What a beautiful day and beautiful cars, Dave. Sounds like a really fun day. I keep thinking you will bump into my nephew, as he doesn’t miss many car events. Thanks for the pictures.

[Papa]

Wow! What a beautiful day and beautiful cars, Dave. Sounds like a really fun day. I keep thinking you will bump into my nephew, as he doesn’t miss many car events. Thanks for the pictures.

Hey, Chris. I assume your nephew is stationed at Buckley? That was my last assignment before I got out of the Army. I'd love to meet him. If you want to give him my contact information, I'll PM you with my cell number and you can pass it along to him.

Dave

[Papa]

Another perfect day in Colorado today and my wife and I headed out with the Mile-Hi Cobra Club for a beautiful drive that ended up in Golden for some lunch before heading home for the day.

[Papa]

Another short video of today's drive:



And lunch with the gang:

[GoDadGo]

I'm glad you were able to take your car out for a Mile High Cruise with your pals before the snow comes and turn Colorado into a Winter Wonder Land!
Since I'm a flatlander, I am definitely jealous of those insanely long mountain views.
Thanks for sharing your day with us.

[Papa]

After two years on the road and still not quite getting the EFI tune dialed in, I found a local performance shop that will tackle the task for me. Step one is to take the car in and let the tuner assess what I have in terms of parts. Step two will be to establish a plan to get me to my desired goals for the car. Step three will be the actual tuning.

I'm looking for drivability and consistency, but as a long-term goal, I'd love to go with one of these from Borla:

[WIS89]

Dave-

A big YES to the stacked injection. They just have that classic look in these cars, and make the engine bay look amazing.

I look forward to some pics as you get it all sorted. Your car is beautiful and deserves this upgrade! Good luck with it.

Regards,

Steve