JDav's MK4 #9028 Build Thread

**Jdav** · 11-07-2017, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by Yama-Bro

For driving around, did you attach it with the hinges or did you just tape it with duct tape, like you said?

Trunk is attached to the hinges, but not trimmed or aligned and the latch is not installed - it is held down by tape.
Hood is just resting on the body lip and taped down on all 4 sides, not attached to hinges and latches are not installed.
I figure I'll only be driving for a month or so before sending off for bodywork, so i'd deal with this to ensure that the hinges and latches are in the right place once the body is adjusted.

**Yama-Bro** · 11-07-2017, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Jdav

Trunk is attached to the hinges, but not trimmed or aligned and the latch is not installed - it is held down by tape.
Hood is just resting on the body lip and taped down on all 4 sides, not attached to hinges and latches are not installed.
I figure I'll only be driving for a month or so before sending off for bodywork, so i'd deal with this to ensure that the hinges and latches are in the right place once the body is adjusted.

Sounds good. I'd be worried it would blow off, but you must not have had any problems.

**Jdav** · 11-24-2017, 05:49 PM

60 degrees and sunny sounded like a nice day for a ride. It's been a couple of weeks since I had driven her, but she started on the first turn of the key and ran smooth for a 20mi trip around town. I'm at 155 miles now.

**Jdav** · 12-11-2017, 10:33 PM

As previously mentioned, I am running vintage 1965 plates on the car. As such, I didn't want to have to trim them at all. I did the Kleiner lens mod, but it still looked like i was going to have to trim a bit and I didnt really like how the light was covering a good bit of the plate.
So, I found this light on Summit https://www.summitracing.com/parts/HDD-820-0375C and fabbed up a new plate bracket to mount it to.
The plate now clears the trunk handle and sits fully below the light. the light doesnt fill out the complete flat spot on the trunk, but it doesnt bother me and I like the end result better then other options.

**Jdav** · 12-24-2017, 12:09 PM

I decided to make a little bling for the engine compartment - filling the indentations of the coyote valve covers with some polished aluminum strips.
I took a thin aluminum flat and ripped it down to a 1/4" width, cut to length and then shaped the ends on a grinder. Then I went at it with steel wool/1500 grit/2000 grid and a polish disk on the dremel. I may do a bit more polishing before I permanently install (with double back tape).

In progress (top is polished, bottom is not yet)

Driver's side

Passenger side

**wareaglescott** · 12-24-2017, 05:31 PM

Looks good Joel. Merry Christmas

**Jdav** · 01-08-2018, 12:58 PM

I have decided to switch over to the Breeze roll bars, so I have a few roll bar items up for sale in the classified section: Chrome driver side bar, 2 sets of Tangent hidden mounts and 2 sets of Russ Thompson polished trim rings.
Let me know if you are interested.

**Jdav** · 01-30-2018, 08:47 PM

Week 52

It's hard to believe that it was 1 year ago today that my kit was dropped off. And now I sit with a completed car (minus bodywork and paint) with 247 miles on it.

Not much of an actual update, but I couldn't let the anniversary pass without notice.
I did get those little aluminum strips professionally polished that I made to dress up the coyote valve covers. I think it sets it off just right now (I still plan on painting the stripe on the engine cover blue to match the body).

I also had my new breeze roll bars polished and they look beautiful. I still need to get the 3rd leg welded on and then I'll have the polisher touch it up.

I'll ship her off to Kleiner for paint soon and should be fully graduated by spring!

**Jdav** · 03-05-2018, 02:45 PM

I haven't posted on my thread in a while.
I'm still waiting on paint and bodywork.
I did add the turnbuckle mod to support the j-pipes as one of mine cracked (granted I didn't have the sidepipes supported for a while). And I also replaced the FFR provided brake pads with the Hawk HPS+ - I have found them to be a big improvement. I also ran down a coolant leak; it was coming from my heater bypass. It looked like it was coming from the quick connectors after I turned the engine off. I looked back in my thread and receipts and I cant tell where I got my quick connectors from, which concerned me that I may have got the wrong ones and/or low quality ones. So I ordered some new Gates (Gates 28504) ones (once again following EdwardB). When I put them on they immediately felt much more secure and no subsequent leaks.

We had a Caffeine and Octane event and I took the car up there (3rd time). It was another great experience and ran into a few forum members. It was a beautiful day here for a drive (although a bit chilly at 6:30am).

**broku518** · 03-12-2018, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Jdav

So after chatting with WarEagleScott, it appears I had the wrong calibration for my tach. It should be at .5 rather than 4. I made that adjustment tonight and it now moves. Idle and revving appear about what they should, but when I turn the car off, it stays at 1000

Hi, I am at this part where I need to calibrate those. I am not really sure what I am doing here.
Can you please share some pointers? I have already driven my go cart (don't see the speed and engine rpm). And I have the vintage gauges.

Thanks,
Martin

**Jeff Kleiner** · 03-12-2018, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by Jdav
...Idle and revving appear about what they should, but when I turn the car off, it stays at 1000

Joel & Martin,
That's normal. When you shut off the ignition the tach, temp, pressure and volt gauges will hang at their last reading. If you turn the ignition back on but don't start the car you'll see them all sweep then go to zero (except volts which will show battery voltage).

Jeff

**broku518** · 03-12-2018, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleiner

Joel & Martin,
That's normal. When you shut off the ignition the tach, temp, pressure and volt gauges will hang at their last reading. If you turn the ignition back on but don't start the car you'll see them all sweep then go to zero (except volts which will show battery voltage).

Jeff

Thanks Jeff,
I have observed those. I was just wondering how do I calibrate my two main gauges. I have the manual, it calls for come clicking to do, I am not sure based on what. Or how many clicks should I do, if that makes any sense

**Jdav** · 03-12-2018, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by broku518

Thanks Jeff,
I have observed those. I was just wondering how do I calibrate my two main gauges. I have the manual, it calls for come clicking to do, I am not sure based on what. Or how many clicks should I do, if that makes any sense

Tach and speedo are connected differently, so it could be a few things, #1, make sure you are supplying power appropriately.

Speed is registered through the GPS signal, so there is no physical connection to the car or real calibration - just make sure your GPS puck is plugged in and has a decent line of sight (it does take some time to acquire signal at times and wont register and speed until it does).

Tach will need a wired connection - you are running a different engine that I am, so I cant really speak to that. That also means your calibration will be different, but that should be noted in the instructions that came with the gauges. Once you have it in calibration mode, you press the button until it reads the number based on the calibration you need.

**broku518** · 03-14-2018, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by Jdav

Tach and speedo are connected differently, so it could be a few things, #1, make sure you are supplying power appropriately.

Speed is registered through the GPS signal, so there is no physical connection to the car or real calibration - just make sure your GPS puck is plugged in and has a decent line of sight (it does take some time to acquire signal at times and wont register and speed until it does).

Tach will need a wired connection - you are running a different engine that I am, so I cant really speak to that. That also means your calibration will be different, but that should be noted in the instructions that came with the gauges. Once you have it in calibration mode, you press the button until it reads the number based on the calibration you need.

Thank. I looked at my box and found the gps cable. Attached now, magnet positioned on passenger side.
I may need to experiment with tach, got the instructions.

**broku518** · 03-26-2018, 03:16 PM

Just wanted to follow up on my issues. The missing gps cable solved the speedo 'problem.'
The tach issues - I forgot to run a cable to coil to pick up the pulses. My setting is 4= 8cyl/coil. Pretty simple.

Thanks,

**Jdav** · 03-26-2018, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by broku518

Just wanted to follow up on my issues. The missing gps cable solved the speedo 'problem.'
The tach issues - I forgot to run a cable to coil to pick up the pulses. My setting is 4= 8cyl/coil. Pretty simple.

Thanks,

Glad you were able to get all of that sorted out!

**Jdav** · 03-31-2018, 11:16 AM

I finally finished up the dressing on the engine cover. I wanted something customized, but understated. As I have previously shown, I added some polished aluminum strips to the valve covers and now i painted a stripe on the engine cover with Guardsman blue (which will be what the car is painted). I also 3D printed a new nameplate and added some blue to it as well.

I will be shipping my car up to Jeff Kleiner in about 2 weeks and hope to have it back all beautiful in June!

**Straversi** · 03-31-2018, 10:52 PM

Nicely done.
-Steve

**Jdav** · 04-09-2018, 11:11 AM

Week 62 update
The car is loaded up and on the way to see Jeff Kleiner for paint!

And now a sad, lonely, empty garage waits. I think this wait might be more painful than waiting for the kit to arrive.

**wareaglescott** · 04-09-2018, 11:42 AM

Hey that trailer looks familiar!
Glad it is on the way. For sure the hardest part. What kind of time frame are you expecting?

**Jdav** · 04-09-2018, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by wareaglescott

Hey that trailer looks familiar!
Glad it is on the way. For sure the hardest part. What kind of time frame are you expecting?

Yes, Althea was telling us about you waiting on the front porch when they delivered yours.

I'm hoping end of June. Jeff isnt quite ready to start on mine yet (but this timing worked best to get it up there) and should be 10 weeks +or -

**Jeff Kleiner** · 04-09-2018, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Jdav

I'm hoping end of June. Jeff isnt quite ready to start on mine yet (but this timing worked best to get it up there) and should be 10 weeks +or -

I'm not quite ready to reveal my secret plan for you yet...

Jeff

**Jdav** · 04-09-2018, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleiner

I'm not quite ready to reveal my secret plan for you yet...

Jeff

I don’t know if I should be excited or terrified by that.

**Jeff Kleiner** · 04-10-2018, 05:58 PM

It's here!

For now it's parked in the paint booth keeping another Coyote roadster company that is on hold awaiting a decision on color.

Cheers,
Jeff

**Jdav** · 04-11-2018, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleiner

It's here!
For now it's parked in the paint booth keeping another Coyote roadster company that is on hold awaiting a decision on color.

Cheers,
Jeff

Feel free to post update pictures in this thread.

**wareaglescott** · 04-11-2018, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleiner

It's here!

For now it's parked in the paint booth keeping another Coyote roadster company that is on hold awaiting a decision on color.

Cheers,
Jeff

IDK Jeff if they haven't figured out their color yet that should send them to the back of the line and move Joel up a spot shouldn't it??

**Jeff Kleiner** · 04-11-2018, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by wareaglescott

IDK Jeff if they haven't figured out their color yet that should send them to the back of the line and move Joel up a spot shouldn't it??

I have two ahead of him that are undecided. It could happen.

Jeff

**Jdav** · 04-11-2018, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleiner

I have two ahead of him that are undecided. It could happen.

Jeff

Guardsman Blue - lock it in!

**Ducky2009** · 07-13-2018, 07:14 PM

Is it still red...... or now blue? Hope you get it back soon!

**Jdav** · 07-22-2018, 08:53 PM

It is currently splotchy

Kleiner was nice enough to send me a few pics of the completed bodywork after his masterful touch. It should be turning slicksand grey next week before its final blue beauty coat.

**wareaglescott** · 07-23-2018, 05:44 AM

Nice to see the progress. I was wondering if he was going to build up the area around your license plate light that you did a little differently. Looks like not much in that area. Cant wait to see more pictures. I know you must be getting anxious.

**Higgybulin** · 07-23-2018, 07:29 AM

Just spent my morning reading your whole thread, nice job!! Started out asking questions every other post and by the end problem solving for other members! I'll keep my eyes open for the finished project!!
Cheers,
Higgy

**Jdav** · 08-06-2018, 09:32 AM

The paint is moving along. I went with the classic Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes, but I added a black accent stripe on the outside of the white. I really liked how that looked on EdwardB's red 20th Anniversary Cobra and I thought it would add a modern touch to the vintage paint scheme; akin to the coyote in a cobra skin.
Here are a few pick Kleiner sent me in the various steps along the way.

Slick Sand and sanded:

Masked after the black spray

Masked after the white spray

Hood (before clear):

Hood after clear:

Clear spray:

In the sun:

**Straversi** · 08-06-2018, 10:10 AM

Wow, love it. I think the accent stripe looks great.
-Steve

**Ducky2009** · 08-06-2018, 12:10 PM

Looks great! Congrats

**wareaglescott** · 08-06-2018, 02:11 PM

Great call on the black stripe. Looking great.

**Jeff Kleiner** · 08-07-2018, 07:58 AM

Originally Posted by Straversi

Wow, love it. I think the accent stripe looks great.
-Steve

Originally Posted by wareaglescott

Great call on the black stripe. Looking great.

The accent stripe seems to be a hit! I've seen several comments on a FB post, my wife likes it, my buddy and fellow FFR builder who stopped by while I was unmasking the body likes it and the guy who dropped his off with me yesterday REALLY likes it and said "Oh, I want you to do that on mine!"

Jeff