460.465USMC's MK4 Build #9890 - Gel Red is Rad. Blue is Better!

[460.465USMC]

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Happy Independence Day! One of my favorite holidays! I'm thankful for the freedoms we have, and especially for all those service members and families who have sacrificed.

This last week was also big for me for another reason: I ordered a complete MK4 kit July 1. It is supposed to be ready for pickup Sept. 12. I live in Spokane, WA, so will have it shipped here. I am so excited to take on this project!

Like many other first time builders on this forum I'm also a novice. This will be by far the largest car project I've ever undertaken. To be honest, it's a little intimidating given my meager mechanical skill. But, I have great hope for success after reading through several other first timers such as Shark92651, Papa, Straversi, VAHokie, JohnK, JB in NOVA, Jazzman, Wareaglescott, Yama-Bro, RRAC20, etc. I've done a good amount of my own vehicle maintenance over the years, and various home projects. I also have a technical background in electronics/RF. Hopefully, this will be a strong enough foundation for me to be successful.

It's been very enjoyable to read others' build threads. I am learning so much from the builders mentioned above, not to mention Sir Edwardb, and comments and tips from others like Jeff Kleiner and many others. Thank you! I'm reading through the FF build manual for the second time. I also just found out I have a neighbor (SteveP) just 15 minutes from my house who's really close to sending his MK4 off for body work/paint. So, a great resource "in the neighborhood". The number of helpful, friendly people I've encountered through this forum is really something. What a great group of people!

What I ordered from FF:

• Complete MK4 kit
• Setup for Coyote/TKO600 drivetrain
• Powdercoated chassis
• Coyote full length ball headers
• Hydraulic clutch master cylinder
• Body cutouts
• Vinyl seats
• FFR (Speedhut) GPS guage set
• Front and rear sway bars
• IRS
• Passenger side rollbar (black)
• 2018 IRS 3.55 center section and spindles
• 13" Wilwood brakes

I haven't yet ordered the drive train. I'm considering ordering from Fortes. Also, not sure if the $300 mid-shift upgrade is better than rotating 180 deg. standard shift location. I'm looking for a short shifter, not the classic angled long handle shifter that attaches at the rear-most location on the TKO.

**Edit: I ordered the Coyote Gen 3 + TKO600 from Forte WITHOUT the mid-shift option. Will just flip the shifter around.

Mods: there will probably be a few minor Mods I will consider, but overall I plan to do a straight forward build with the version of kit I ordered. I figure a standard build will give me more than enough challenge. It will be a slow build given the limited time available I have each week. I hope to be able to carve out time to document a bit as I go along, and will definitely seek out advice from all of you master-Jedi builders who have gone before. If you've done one build, in my mind you are at master-Jedi level! It will not be a 100% classic build (obvious from my drive train decision), and will include other departures like non-Halibrand replica style wheels (haven't decided which ones yet), mid-shift (or similar), black roll bars, black exhaust, black wheels, etc. As far as paint color goes, I don't yet have a clear vision, and more than plenty of time to decide. I'm partial to orange and to white, but again, a long way off.

I got the idea to mark out the build space from Shark92651. Since I have plenty of time to finish making my garage ready for the build, the outline of the MK4's dimensions on the floor gives me a good reference point.



From the build threads I've read, I don't think the four post lift--seen in a couple of these pictures--will be practical until the build is pretty much done. I've had the lift for four years--it's great for maintenance, etc.

**Edit: great tip from JohnK on using four-post lift. I’m hopeful I can follow his lead.


Finally...I must be honest up front and say I'm a Chevy guy at heart. I'm a huge fan of pretty much anything from the 60's (Chevy II/Nova, Chevelle, bubble tops, Camaros, etc.), and Tri-Fives. I like modern Chevrolet muscle as well. My forum name also references my Chevy roots from the HP/Torque in a C7 I used to own; the USMC reference is from my five years in the Marines as an avionics technician.

I e-mailed FF this weekend to see if they have visibility to when the Wilwood brakes will ship to me. Would be fun to get those partially assembled while I wait for kit delivery over the next 12+ weeks.

**Edit: Wilwood brakes were received in early August. Hats assembled to rotors, and safety wired.

Chris