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

[BB767]

Nice job Dave! Looks and sounds strangely familiar!

[wareaglescott]

Well that escalated quickly!
Went from disappointment that the headers would not be there until Tuesday at 12:31 to pure elation of the first start by 4:57! Congrats. It sounds great and fired right up like a champ! Looks like a nice day there. Time for a go cart

[Papa]

Thanks for all the encouraging comments! I couldn't believe it when the headers showed up. I immediately installed them and then more excitement when the engine started on the first try. That definitely wouldn't have happened without the help from everyone that got me through my issues with the EFI electrical. Thank you all! On another note, I also got my new horn button installed today.



Tomorrow I may try a go-kart!

[Jeff Kleiner]

Congrats Dave

BTW, used that same horn button on a customer build a couple of years ago!

Jeff

[Mark Eaton]

That is awesome Dave! You are really flying along.

Mark

[Papa]

Dave,

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your car and some of your stories. Your build is really amazing and quite the inspiration. I'm sure it won't be the last time we meet! ;-) Just finalized my order yesterday for my production complete date of Jan 13, 2018. Can't wait for the delivery and getting started. Spending tons of time now cleaning up donor parts and organizing/cleaning my garage.

Thanks,

Steve

Steve,

Sorry for not responding sooner. It was really nice meeting you and your wife last week. I also saw your post regarding a body buck. I see you found one. I'd offer you mine, but it's still going to be a while before I'm ready to put the body on the car. Good luck with your build and don't hesitate to give me a shout if you need a hand.

Dave

[GoDadGo]

What A Way To Ring In The New Year!

.Congratulations!

[japollon]

Great work Dave! I'm very jealous! Joel

[Boydster]

Doesn't that 427 sound nice? Congratulations!!

[Papa]

Doesn't that 427 sound nice? Congratulations!!

It's only a 427 wanna-be, Boyd. It's a 347 with 427 valve covers, but it does sound angry!

[RJD]

Congratulations! What a way to wrap up the old year.

[Papa]

I found a couple of issues on second start that I'll need to work through. First is a pretty noticeable exhaust leak on the driver's side. That probably explains the occasional pop I was hearing. I'll pull it off and try to make the gasket again (copper rtv), but it looks like the flange may not be 100% flat. I may need to do some grinding/sanding. Second, the coolant looks filthy already. There was likely some water in the block from the dyno runs that Blueprint did and then the engine sat for several months after that before yesterday's start. Wal-Mart has Prestone 50/50 for $8.88 a gallon.

The ECM is throwing a fault code (rapid flashing LED on the ECM). I'm sure it's just because the O2 sensor isn't installed, but I may try to figure out how to get my laptop hooked up and make sure that's all it is.

Oil pressure is at about 60 psi and water temp was hovering between 78 and 82 degrees Celsius after the thermostat opened and the fan was cycling. I hadn't even realized that my water gauge wasn't Fahrenheit until I started the car.

Back to the garage to tinker; I still can't get this silly grin off my face!

[Straversi]

Congratulations! Love it.
-Steve

[TexasAviator]

congrats on the first start papa. What a great job! I am sorry I haven't come to see it yet, we are skiing winter park and celebrating the new year in a big adventure. Got to love Colorado!

[Papa]

congrats on the first start papa. What a great job! I am sorry I haven't come to see it yet, we are skiing winter park and celebrating the new year in a big adventure. Got to love Colorado!

No problem at all; sounds like you are enjoying your leave. I'm back to the grind tomorrow - got to pay the bills. Safe travels back to Texas.

Dave

[Papa]

I got a call back from Georgie at Gas-N this morning. He's going to have a set of 351 headers made up with the proper flanges and will be sending those out to me. Evidently, BluePrint's 347 uses a 302 block, but 351 heads.

[Yama-Bro]

Awesome! I was out all last week on vacation and didn't check the forum while I was gone. It was a nice treat to see your post when I got back to work. Congrats! I'll share this with the BPE team.

[BluePrintEngines]

Sounds Great Buddy! video is making its way around the blueprint building this morning! congrats!

[rrrose]

Greatness, congrats Dave.
Ron

[Papa]

Awesome! I was out all last week on vacation and didn't check the forum while I was gone. It was a nice treat to see your post when I got back to work. Congrats! I'll share this with the BPE team.

Sounds Great Buddy! video is making its way around the blueprint building this morning! congrats!

Thanks guys! I appreciate the support from both Frank and Johnny over the last couple of weeks.

[Papa]

Greatness, congrats Dave.
Ron

Thanks, Ron. You definitely had a hand (two actually) in making this happen! Hope you are doing well and just give me a call whenever you need a hand or two yourself.

Dave

[mlewis]

I had planned to start running my brake lines today, but I'm still missing a few things for that task. So, I mounted the reservoir and connected the master cylinders with the CNC supplied hoses.



Then I did some testing to see how much movement of the rear axle would be required to contact the FF Metal battery box and decided that if I actually articulated the rear axle as much on either side to cause contact that I'd likely be in much worse trouble with the car than a dent in the battery box. So, with that said I went ahead and mounted the box and cut out the opening in the trunk floor. That's all I had in me today.

Papa,

Love the thread. Sorry to jump back, but wondering where you got your battery box ?

Thanks,

Mark

[Papa]

Papa,

Love the thread. Sorry to jump back, but wondering where you got your battery box ?

Thanks,

Mark

Mark,

The box is from FFMetal. http://www.ffmetal.com/batteryboxpage.html

Dave

[mlewis]

Excellent.

Thanks !!

By the way big congrats on the first start !

Just ordered my coyote, so I have a bit to go before that milestone. In the meantime, I'll keep stalking your thread.

Mark

[Tex2131]

Congratulations on the first start Dave! I have been following your progress since last June and you have done a great job on your build.

My complete kit is scheduled to show up on Jan 14 and an EFI 427 Windsor and TKO package from Blueprint should get here mid March according to Johnny.

I went to the Build School last month and with what I learned there, plus your thread and the outstanding support from other forum members, I am ready to tackle this bad boy.

Don

[Papa]

Congratulations on the first start Dave! I have been following your progress since last June and you have done a great job on your build.

My complete kit is scheduled to show up on Jan 14 and an EFI 427 Windsor and TKO package from Blueprint should get here mid March according to Johnny.

I went to the Build School last month and with what I learned there, plus your thread and the outstanding support from other forum members, I am ready to tackle this bad boy.

Don

Don,

It does my heart good to know that this complete novice builder's thread is helping someone! I've learned a ton from reading other build threads and asking questions when I just need that extra nudge to get me past a problem. Good luck with your build. Waiting those last few days, especially after the car is on the truck and heading your way is agonizing (in a good way).

Dave

[Papa]

Today I worked on a couple of things. First, I drilled the bolt holes for the roll bars. I'm using the Tangent system to attach my rear leg to the main bar, so I didn't drill the bottom rear leg holes yet. I figure I'll do those once the bars are installed for good. I'm concerned if I drill them now that the holes won't line up exactly the same later on. I drilled the holes using three different size bits using my angle head drill and some tap fluid to keep the bits from burning up.





After that task was done I installed all the trunk aluminum and the cockpit rear wall. I pulled the wires for the license plate light through the double-wall section.



I installed the access covers for the fuel sender and pump using rivnuts and button head stainless screws. I plan to carpet the trunk, so these covers will get covered and installed so I can still get at the components below. The same for the battery cover.





Now that the back wall is in the cockpit, I plan to get my Breeze seat mounts installed next week. She's starting to look pretty good and my shelves are clearing off quickly. I hope to be ready for paint around March.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Looking great Dave! What seats are you using? I always caution to wait until you can test fit them with the body on...even the lowbacks can collide with the back corner of the cockpit opening where it curves around just behind the doors.

Jeff

[Papa]

Looking great Dave! What seats are you using? I always caution to wait until you can test fit them with the body on...even the lowbacks can collide with the back corner of the cockpit opening where it curves around just behind the doors.

Jeff

Jeff,

I have the leather roadster seats from FFR. I figured I'd set up the mounts with the seat about an inch from the back wall at it's furthest position. That would give me three inches of forward adjustment with the Breeze mounts. Is the issue you described a front-to-rear issue or a side-to-side issue?

Dave

[Jeff Kleiner]

Jeff,

I have the leather roadster seats from FFR. I figured I'd set up the mounts with the seat about an inch from the back wall at it's furthest position. That would give me three inches of forward adjustment with the Breeze mounts. Is the issue you described a front-to-rear issue or a side-to-side issue?

Dave

Combination of both kinda'. The critical area is indicated by the arrow.



Additionally you don't want them so far outboard that they crowd being able to easily reach the door latch. The Mk4 in the pic is one that I built a few years ago and has the lowbacks that were standard at the time---since then FFR has began using exclusively what they used to refer to as their "big and tall" seats which are a bit wider and higher. Sounds like you plan to use adjustable sliders that will raise the seat further and exacerbate the situation. If you decide to mount them before testing with the body on it would be prudent to be sure that the seats hug the tunnel.

Jeff

steveingaragearrow.JPG

[Papa]

Combination of both kinda'. The critical area is indicated by the arrow.



Additionally you don't want them so far outboard that they crowd being able to easily reach the door latch. The Mk4 in the pic is one that I built a few years ago and has the lowbacks that were standard at the time---since then FFR has began using exclusively what they used to refer to as their "big and tall" seats which are a bit wider and higher. Sounds like you plan to use adjustable sliders that will raise the seat further and exacerbate the situation. If you decide to mount them before testing with the body on it would be prudent to be sure that the seats hug the tunnel.

Jeff

steveingaragearrow.JPG

Got it. The Breeze mounts have a slight tilt to them that leaves the rear of the seat at the original height and the front is raised about an inch or so. I'll go ahead and wait until I get the body on to be safe. I don't want to be drilling any extra holes in the floor!

Thanks,
Dave

[Higgybulin]

Just watched the video, the exuberant yell when you stepped out of the **** pit said it all!!!! Keep up on the posting, your kicking butt!!

[Papa]

As I get closer to completing my MK4, I'm agonizing over color selection. I want blue with white stripes, but want it somewhat unique at the same time. I thought I was settled on BMW's Carbon Black until I saw BMW's Azurite Black. It is bluer in the light than the Carbon Black. What do you guys think?

[Straversi]

I'm thinking dark blue and white myself. As the blues get really dark, the contrast with white gets harder to pull off, to my eye at least. I think a dark silver like stainless steel stripe would go with that darker blue. This is a totally personal decision so I hate to even give an opinion.

There was a dark blue Porsche in my office parking lot. I was holding a white piece of paper near it while trying to take a photo. The owner came out with a glare. He thought I was leaving him a note after hitting his car. When I told him what I was doing he laughted and we layed out some paper on his hood mocking up a stripe and took photos.

I do Like the color of that BMW. Not trying to talk you off of it at all. Find a way to put something white up against it. The Porsche had a little too much purple. They white paper helped show it.

I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

-Steve

[Papa]

I'm thinking dark blue and white myself. As the blues get really dark, the contrast with white gets harder to pull off, to my eye at least. I think a dark silver like stainless steel stripe would go with that darker blue. This is a totally personal decision so I hate to even give an opinion.

There was a dark blue Porsche in my office parking lot. I was holding a white piece of paper near it while trying to take a photo. The owner came out with a glare. He thought I was leaving him a note after hitting his car. When I told him what I was doing he laughted and we layed out some paper on his hood mocking up a stripe and took photos.

I do Like the color of that BMW. Not trying to talk you off of it at all. Find a way to put something white up against it. The Porsche had a little too much purple. They white paper helped show it.

I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

-Steve

Steve,

I wouldn't have asked for opinions if I didn't welcome them! I haven't seen this color in person, but have a friend at my local BMW dealership. I plan to see if he can show me a car with this color on it, although it is a pretty uncommon selection from BMW at a $5,000 upcharge. One of the drawbacks to a color like this would be trying to match it if I ever need a repair. I really like the color in the right light, but may not feel the same way in low light or overcast conditions. My other thought is to go with a brighter blue altogether. Decisions, decisions...

Dave

[GoDadGo]

Papa Dave,

For the record, if that color looks as good in person as it does in that BMW Pic then how can you not go with it?
Also, there are blacks and there are blacks so make sure that getting touch-up paint is an easy option.
Another thing to consider using a BLACK primer so that minor chips don't stick out like a sore thumb until you touch them up.
In addition, my long in the tooth daily driver has quite a few GRAY rock chips on the hood which was repainted about a decade ago.
That's why my Dart Cobra will be Non-Metallic Torch or Viper Red with a primer that will be tinted red as well so that when it gets rock dings I don't see them as easily.

Steve

Daily Driver Rock Dings Can Be Seen About One Minute Into Attached Video:

https://youtu.be/svZX2BMSDEs

My Kawi-Meanstreak Cruising Scooter Is Black Too So I Do Like Black, But It Is Tough To Keepig Looking Good!

[Papa]

Papa Dave,

For the record, if that color looks as good in person as it does in that BMW Pic then how can you not go with it?
Also, there are blacks and there are blacks so make sure that getting touch-up paint is an easy option.
Another thing to consider using a BLACK primer so that minor chips don't stick out like a sore thumb until you touch them up.
In addition, my long in the tooth daily driver has quite a few GRAY rock chips on the hood which was repainted about a decade ago.
That's why my Dart Cobra will be Non-Metallic Torch or Viper Red with a primer that will be tinted red as well so that when it gets rock dings I don't see them as easily.

Steve

Daily Driver Rock Dings Can Be Seen About One Minute Into Attached Video:

https://youtu.be/svZX2BMSDEs

My Kawi-Meanstreak Cruising Scooter Is Black Too So I Do Like Black, But It Is Tough To Keepig Looking Good!

Great advice on the primer tint. I'll definitely put that on my list of things to discuss with the painter.

[rrrose]

Hey Papa
That is a nice dark blue. I am in Steve's camp on the white stripes with the dark blues though. I spent a number of Sundays visiting dealerships with my white paint sample taking pictures of blue cars. Found the same thing with many of the darker blues. With the white I saw too much purple for my personal taste. As we talked about I decided on the lighter blue with white stripes. It really is similar to the very traditional guardsman blue. Besides I like the name, Long Beach Blue named for the Long Beach Grand Prix.
For the dark colors and I was originally going to go black with black cherry stripes I like the ghost stripe approach, a slightly lightened version of the main body color. Just my preference though.

Here is the main body color I am set on and I sure hope I dont change my mind now I have too many decisions that are all interrelated.
long beach blue 1.jpglong beach blue 2.jpglong beach blue 3.jpglong beach blue 4.jpg

[rrrose]

Papa Dave,

For the record, if that color looks as good in person as it does in that BMW Pic then how can you not go with it?
Also, there are blacks and there are blacks so make sure that getting touch-up paint is an easy option.
Another thing to consider using a BLACK primer so that minor chips don't stick out like a sore thumb until you touch them up.
In addition, my long in the tooth daily driver has quite a few GRAY rock chips on the hood which was repainted about a decade ago.
That's why my Dart Cobra will be Non-Metallic Torch or Viper Red with a primer that will be tinted red as well so that when it gets rock dings I don't see them as easily.

Steve

Daily Driver Rock Dings Can Be Seen About One Minute Into Attached Video:

https://youtu.be/svZX2BMSDEs

My Kawi-Meanstreak Cruising Scooter Is Black Too So I Do Like Black, But It Is Tough To Keepig Looking Good!

I am so stealing this idea, thanks GoDad.

[Jazzman]

I love the BMW Azurite Black. Stunning. Have you considered a Titanium Ghost strip? I love that Azurite and worry that a bold white or even stainless stripe would distract from it. Or you could follow another fool (me) and forego the stripe entirely. That Azurite really is stunning. It really does stand on it's own. I am glad I didn't see this till after mine was painted. This would have made my decision even more difficult!!