Please Graduate Roadster #8650!

[Al_C]

It’s time to graduate 8650! I believe that this build is a good example that a non-expert can succeed at this effort. I thought I knew what I was getting into and I thought I knew what I was doing. I came up short on both counts! I learned a lot and hope I can share (in fact I hope I have shared) much of what I learned with others.

To start, let’s cover the basics:

Mark IV Roadster, complete kit. Delivered 7-17-15 by Stewart. There was nothing subtle about a 53’ trailer lumbering down my street emblazoned with Factory Five graphics…
IRS (Thunderbird style)
Gen II Ford 5.0 Coyote
Tremec TKO-600
17” Hallibrands
Nitto NT05 tires all around 255/40 front and 315/35 rear
Body cutouts
Two (chromed) roll bars
Chromed side pipes
Shorty headers and J-pipes (I would choose four-into-fours next time)
Wind wings
Sun visors
Big and tall leather seats
Over-riders, no hoops.
Wilwood brakes
Wipers
Heater (probably more trouble than it was worth)

Modifications:
Mid-shift
RT turn signal
FFMetal trunk-mounted battery box
RT drop trunk box
Power steering
Breeze radiator shroud
Metco driveshaft safety hoop
Backup light
Cobra heat seat heaters
Body/paint by Jeff Kleiner

Acknowledgements
Having been a salesperson, I’d say “I built it all by myself!”. But the fact of the matter is that I got a lot of help on this project. In no specific order:

Jeff Kleiner – lots of encouragement and technical support before and after his “official involvement”
Matt S – helped with the IRS center section and inspected my brakes
Dan T – helped install the Coyote and lots of other things
Ted H – (airplane builder) helped with lots of things
Dan B – helped install the Coyote and made a road trip to Bloomington
Dave Hodgkins – early inspiration and excellent BBQ host
Tony Zullo: his advice – “Do the coyote. That’s the best option” or something to that effect
Dan Golub: he learned very quickly how much I didn’t know…
My wife Nancy. Her only requirement: that she be able to keep her car in the garage. Other than maybe three nights, I think I kept that commitment over the 4+ years!

Paul “edwardb” – lots of help, especially with Coyote wiring
Scott “wareagelscott” – always put up with my questions and provided a lot of help
David “ducky2009” – sounding board, parts expert, and answer man
King “2bking” – engineering sounding board, especially on the mid-shift
Chris “gumball” – provided early support and a body buck
Steve “GoDadGo” – how could he NOT be an inspiration?
I probably missed a lot of forum members. Please insert your name here! (and excuse the omission!)

At the outset, I expected this build would take 2 ½ years. I missed that by a little – it took me 4 years and 8 months. Whatever. I feel like I built this car three times – a lot of things got done over, and sometimes over and over. I dealt with leaks in the fuel system, the cooling system and the braking system. I dealt with wiring problems. In fact, you name it, I learned by error. But I got it done.

I drove this car to Jeff Kleiner’s place on November 4, 2019. It was cold and windy and I froze my head and left shoulder. (Butt was fine!) It is 268 miles (according to Google maps) from my place to his. In hindsight, I can say that by no stretch of the imagination was this car road-worthy at that point. Even though it was registered. Considering the problems I have had since the car came home, it is truly a miracle that I made it there in one piece! Once it got home, I had a heater bypass valve go bad, I had a 90 degree quick lok fitting go bad, I had wiring issues with the headlights and signal lights and I had an oil pan fitting that was leaking like a sieve. I think the good Lord wanted me to get there in one piece, which I did. He also aligned everything so I could bring the car home in a trailer!

I have completed every item on my list to be able to say that construction is “complete”. Is it done? Heck no! This will never be done. I have improvements I’d like to make and a few things I’d like to have checked and re-done. Like camber on the rear wheels. Like a shorter PS belt that I have but have been putting off installing. Like a hydraulic arm to hold up the trunk. Whatever. It’s been a wonderful ride, and she is always a wonderful ride. I’m so glad I embarked on this adventure and appreciate the help and friendship of all of you in going down this road. They call academic graduations “commencements” because they signify a new stage. I believe the same holds true here: I’m just commencing a new stage of roadster ownership!

Some photos:

[GoDadGo]

Congratulation From The Swamp!

Well Done Al, Well Done!

Thank for the shout out too.

[Railroad]

Nicely done! My car is following a very similar path. I am planning my trip to Jeff, probably winter time too.

[egchewy79]

Congrats, Al. I'm 18mo into my build. What a journey, isn't it? Paint scheme is nice. Reminds me of Ironman!

[Papa]

Beautiful! What's the color on the body?

[karlos]

Way to go, Al - looking good! Always appreciated your sense of humor throughout.

Best,

-Karl

[RR20AC]

Always fun to see another done. Great job. Hope there are others around so you can cruise with them. These cars are a blast driving down the road together. Have fun and get a video up soon.

[Jetfuel]

That's one stunning car...congratulations on a well executed project ...but....when you think you're done you'll think of something else...and you know it..

Jet..

[D Stand]

Congrats!

[wallace18]

Congrats! Very Nice!

[Al_C]

Beautiful! What's the color on the body?

The main color is (Lexus) Brandywine; the stripe is Ford (2005) Bronze.

[Ponymedic]

Congrats enjoy

[Jryasko]

Congrats on the graduation Al, really nice looking build. We will have to talk in person one of these days, I'm about 10 miles south of Morris IL not too far away. Building 9735

[KDubU]

Congrats! Very nice and now you have all summer to enjoy her.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Great job Al! It has been a pleasure working with you on it---now go enjoy some time behind the wheel

Jeff

[edwardb]

Nice work, and great learning experience isn't it? Now go enjoy it. We've finally been able to get ours out. Took a nice cruise last Sunday. Just doesn't get any better. Be safe.

[RJD]

Gorgeous! Congratulations.

[frankb]

Nice work! Congratulations!

[Straversi]

Congratulations Al.
I started following this build when I first started getting serious about ordering. We have similar options and your thread was very helpful to me along the way. Thanks for posting the good and the bad.
Love the car. I know you are having a blast. Enjoy.
-Steve

[Alig2]

The front plate has got to go, you'll never get stopped for it.
The car is pretty much a get out of jail free card, unless you do something really stupid.

[DadofThree]

This is Great, Al! Congratulations on your build and completing an enormous achievement! See ya out there!

[boat737]

Good job. Congratulations.

The front plate has got to go, you'll never get stopped for it.
The car is pretty much a get out of jail free card, unless you do something really stupid.

Totally agree.

[GoDadGo]

If this could deploy from the oil cooler opening it would be slicker than slick.

Hide Away Plate Mount Video:
https://youtu.be/nv32Z8lg4F4

Motorized Version:
https://www.americanmuscle.com/flipd...motorized.html

Manual Version:
https://www.americanmuscle.com/flipd...te-manual.html

What-Cha-Think Gentlemen?

[Al_C]

OK, so it sounds like Boat, Alig and, possibly, GoDad like the idea of losing the front plate, perhaps with a flip mechanism. Yes, I agree that it would look better without it, but I'm more or less ambivalent. I may pull it off yet. It would be interesting to see if anyone has already installed something like what GoDad highlighted in the video links above.

[ydousurf]

Your car looks absolutely beautiful, Al! Just when I think I've seen all the different cool paint schemes, I get to remind myself to close my jaw. That's a looker! I too love that color scheme and agree and the plate takes so much away from the beauty of your color combo. Anyway, excellent work and congrats! May safe roads always find you...

Dj

[bldr.rob]

Congratulations! Beautiful car!!

[GoDadGo]

OK, so it sounds like Boat, Alig and, possibly, GoDad like the idea of losing the front plate, perhaps with a flip mechanism. Yes, I agree that it would look better without it, but I'm more or less ambivalent. I may pull it off yet. It would be interesting to see if anyone has already installed something like what GoDad highlighted in the video links above.

I think either would cool to have, but only if the front plate bugged you.

Congratulations Again & Submit That Sucker For Picture Of The Month!

[Jeff Kleiner]

Many years ago our friend Ralph Button told me how he dealt with the front plate situation when he lived in Maine... In the early days of Factory Five Racing the rear license plate bracket was prone to fatiguing and falling off of the car. Ralph had this happen, made a new mount and installed the front plate on the rear then went to the BMV to request a duplicate replacement. They gave him a copy of the form ordering up the duplicate to keep in the car should he get stopped for the missing front plate. Apparently, at least in the state of Maine, producing duplicates is not a high priority and it was about 2 years until he got it. By that time he really hated to have to put a front plate on so he made another trip to the BMV and told them that the darnedest thing happened---he lost another plate and was going to have to request another duplicate Ralph said he played that "waiting for a duplicate plate" game until he moved out of the state!

By the way Al...the reflections in the side of the car in this photo make me proud



Cheers,
Jeff

[KDubU]

Many years ago our friend Ralph Button told me how he dealt with the front plate situation when he lived in Maine... In the early days of Factory Five Racing the rear license plate bracket was prone to fatiguing and falling off of the car. Ralph had this happen, made a new mount and installed the front plate on the rear then went to the BMV to request a duplicate replacement. They gave him a copy of the form ordering up the duplicate to keep in the car should he get stopped for the missing front plate. Apparently, at least in the state of Maine, producing duplicates is not a high priority and it was about 2 years until he got it. By that time he really hated to have to put a front plate on so he made another trip to the BMV and told them that the darnedest thing happened---he lost another plate and was going to have to request another duplicate Ralph said he played that "waiting for a duplicate plate" game until he moved out of the state!

By the way Al...the reflections in the side of the car in this photo make me proud



Cheers,
Jeff

That is a good story, way to go Ralph. I drove with no plate for two season with zero issues here in Maine. I had the plate behind the passenger seat along with a bracket from Mike Everson. If I was ever stopped I was going to tell them it came off suddenly due to the vibration of the car.

[Al_C]

Many years ago our friend Ralph Button told me how he dealt with the front plate situation when he lived in Maine... In the early days of Factory Five Racing the rear license plate bracket was prone to fatiguing and falling off of the car. Ralph had this happen, made a new mount and installed the front plate on the rear then went to the BMV to request a duplicate replacement. They gave him a copy of the form ordering up the duplicate to keep in the car should he get stopped for the missing front plate. Apparently, at least in the state of Maine, producing duplicates is not a high priority and it was about 2 years until he got it. By that time he really hated to have to put a front plate on so he made another trip to the BMV and told them that the darnedest thing happened---he lost another plate and was going to have to request another duplicate Ralph said he played that "waiting for a duplicate plate" game until he moved out of the state!

By the way Al...the reflections in the side of the car in this photo make me proud



Cheers,
Jeff

I suppose in some small way, I could blame Jeff for the front plate. When I delivered the car, it was installed, although on the driver's side parking light. When I picked it up, it was installed on the PS parking light. But blaming him wouldn't really be fair, would it?

One of these days, I'll yank it off. It just means I need to crawl under the car again to loosen the parking light fixture. It was easier to leave it alone, but you guys have made enough of a stink that I'll remove it!

Thank you all for your kind words (other than about the tag...). Jeff deserves a lot of the credit and, yes, he should be proud of it, too!

[Jeff Kleiner]

I suppose in some small way, I could blame Jeff for the front plate. When I delivered the car, it was installed, although on the driver's side parking light. When I picked it up, it was installed on the PS parking light. But blaming him wouldn't really be fair, would it?

Truth is when I took the plate and mount from my box-o-parts I didn't recall which side it came off of and there was no conscious thought about which side to put it on; flip of a coin...roll of the dice...the side I was closest to when I had it in my hand...whatever

Jeff

[Cobradavid]

Congrats! Great looking car and great color combination!

[GTBradley]

Good job Al, perseverance pays off! I disagree on the plate - cars have plates, but to each his own. Anyway, it's beautiful!

[JB in NOVA]

Beautiful! Congrats. I'm just now beginning my newbie journey. Can't wait to be where you are.

[Ducky2009]

Congratulations! Beautiful car. You did a GREAT job with it.

[SSNK4US]

Beautiful car Al ! Congratulations! Job well done!

[marshc56]

Congratulations on a sweet build! Definitely an POM winner!

[j.miller]

Very nice !!

[BTHWarrior]

Awesome build, congrats!

[wareaglescott]

Great job Al! Hope you enjoy many happy miles