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Parts inventoried. Everything checked out with my back order parts list other than a few nuts and bolts and quite honestly, they are probably in here. I read the manual before my kit arrived. Good advice from the forum, but it's a little like reading menu in a foreign language. Fist pass through is confusing but when you see the items and have them in your hands, the manual starts to make a whole lot more sense. Same with the inventory list. I've read where some people took all of the hardware out of the individual bags. Cant imagine doing that. Keep everything bagged.
Body buck built, elevated and on wheels. Most of the parts stored on dollies under the body. I'm able to store some of the boxes I won't need for a while like seats, wheels, carpets and windshield at my office so that makes things a bit easier.
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After inventory and a scheduled vacation, the first parts went on the car about a month after delivery. Proud moment. Lasted about 5 minutes before I realized I had made a few mistakes. The upper control arm was assembled incorrectly by FFR. Scratched my head and read a re-read instructions and looked at forum photos until I realized the mistake was not mine, but of course it was a Friday night and I didn't want to wait until Monday to get an answer so just kept plugging along. Good and bad in this frustrating start. Frustrated that an assembly was shipped out wrong but also happy to know that I could figure it out myself with the available resourced and keep moving.
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Decided at some point to follow EdwardB's lead and replace the upper ball joints. Don't know it its necessary but I was ordering some paint from Summit so why not add them in the cart.
I had to grind down the spacers a little on the lower shock mounts. At first I thought it was just the powder coat but I sanded that down and it was still too tight so made an adjustment on the grinding wheel. It takes a while to understand that these kits are well built but they do not go together to aircraft tolerances. Some adjustments need to be made. So far, every time I've run into an issue I've been able to look to the forum and see that several others have come across similar if not exact issues and the solutions are common sense. My I-pad is always close at hand.
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I didn't join the Wilwood wall clock club but I did manage to ricochet a bolt off the frame and into an open drain (now taped over). Of course you have to buy 12 of the bolts from Wilwood for $58 so if anyone finds themselves in the same need of ONE Willwood bolt, I can help 11 of you. Bought the safety wire plyers and wire. Love the internet and the fact that a dozen individuals have taken the time to make a "how to safety wire bolts" video. I'm sure this is just what Al Gore had in mind when he invented the internet.
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I bought the FFR power steering rack. Everything went together smoothly. No need to trim anything per the instructions, it was already done. I realized I put the steering link arms on upside down when I tried to connect the steering rack ends. Didn't notice the slight taper. I think this was the 3rd or 4th time I had taken the assembly apart but I'm definitely getting into a rhythm and gaining confidence. The front sway bar also went together smoothly. I think WareagleScott shows a picture of the carbide tipped sawzall blade "for thick metal" he used to cut down the male and female rod ends. I came to the same conclusion after I had smoothed out a few standard "metal" blades. The carbide blades take a healthy bite and the blade wants to jump so get a groove started with a hand file and the blade will settle in.