Hello! I’m Mark, and I’m a bit late starting this thread. Longtime Lurker / First-Time Poster. I’ve had my kit for over a year now, delivered at the end of July 2023. I’ve been wanting to build this kit since before my wife and I were engaged (over 12 years ago!)

Now I’d like to take some time to post in a build thread.

My goal has been, from the start, a budget build, as that’s the only way I could get it approved . After a bunch of price comparisons and a few spreadsheets, I determined I would not save any money by going the donor route, nor the base-kit route. So after talking with Factory Five at length and going back-and-forth, I finally made the purchase 4/21/23.

I had watched the delivery times skyrocket during the pandemic, so I was confused/surprised when Factory Five called and said my kit would be completed on 7/22/23 and I needed to schedule transport!

Kelly @ Stewart Transport dropped it off 7/29/23, just over 3 months from order to my driveway. I was somewhat ready, as I had been preparing for this day for a while.

PXL_20230730_144150172.MP.jpg PXL_20230730_150928499.MP.jpg PXL_20230730_175728740.jpg

I’m looking at the photo album I have of all the work I’ve done so far, and the delivery day photos are about halfway through.

Here’s some basic info about what I have in mind:
Full MK4 Roadster Kit
99’ Ford Explorer 302
T5 Transmission
Fox 8.8 Rear (3.55:1) with 3-Link
5-Lugs, 15" Wheels
Front (FFR) and Rear (North Racecars) Disc brakes
Carburetted
Koni Coilovers
Power Steering
No computers (I reserve the right to change my mind about this later, but this is a founding thought/goal haha)

I didn’t order wheels or seats as part of the kit. This kept cost down, but I also had not decided on wheels or seats.

This build thread will start off where I started off, with the engine. Not sure if it’s frowned on or not, let me know. I know there are plenty of threads on Mustang Corral on the venerable power plant, but this is the one going in my project, and maybe what I’ve done can help someone else.