NE Wis Mk4 Build

[Oshkosh Rob]

I spent a lot of hours thinking about building a roadster. In high school I had a '69 Mustang that was loud and fast. My uncle really got me interested in Fords and I read every Hot Rod magazine I could get my hands on. I did buy a '95 SVT Cobra and enjoyed that for a while and then a family came along and the Cobra was sold with the promise that someday it would be replaced. Well, I called in the debt and little did my wife know that it was going to be a Cobra kit car.

I spent a lot of time last fall watching ie427 videos, reading the forums, reading through some really good build threads such as Papa's, and learned there are some guys out there that know every nut and bracket. I've been reading the forum every day learning about the trials and tribulations and the successes. The forum has also help me understand why I would want certain upgrades or not. All of this led me to make the decision that the FFR kit and community would give the car I was hoping for.

So, here I am ready to take delivery next weekend!

Contacted Mike Forte and ordered parts - check
Contacted Breeze and ordered parts - check
Contacted Factory 5 and ordered kit - check
Contacted Steward Transport and arranged transport - check
Build body buck and frame dolly - check
Hauled my old Snap-on tool box out of the basement - check
Added lighting to the garage - check
Fixed furnace in the garage and insulated - check
Had Dave grant me more access so I can start my build thread - check

I'm ready to begin!

Set up:
MK4 complete kit
Power steering
Leather seats
Vintage gauges
Heater kit (Wisconsin gets chilly)
Set up for a 347 carbed stroker/TKX
8.8" solid axle
17" Halibrand wheels
Wilwood brakes
Breeze radiator support and shroud
Breeze front batter box
Forte mechanical throttle kit
Drop trunk
Self cancel directional unit
Several more items I'm sure as part of scope creep

[gbranham]

Congrats! Welcome to the club!

Greg

[BrewCityCobra]

Another Wisconsin builder - welcome!

There is absolutely nothing more helpful than spending time on the board and just reading build threads and questions. I do it all the time and am regularly amazed at all the new ideas/tips/tricks that pop up.

I'm a bit south of you (greater Milwaukee) but my family is all from the Fox Valley. If you have any questions or are just looking to link up with a fellow Wisconsin builder feel free to DM.

Good luck!

[Oshkosh Rob]

Another Wisconsin builder - welcome!

There is absolutely nothing more helpful than spending time on the board and just reading build threads and questions. I do it all the time and am regularly amazed at all the new ideas/tips/tricks that pop up.

I'm a bit south of you (greater Milwaukee) but my family is all from the Fox Valley. If you have any questions or are just looking to link up with a fellow Wisconsin builder feel free to DM.

Good luck!

Thanks! If your in the area stop in and check out the progress. I met up with another Mk4 build up in Neenah this past weekend and I understand there are a couple more. Slowly building the population around here.

Rob

[Oshkosh Rob]

Congrats! Welcome to the club!

Greg

Thanks Greg. I've ready some of your build thread and it's fun to watch the progress of others.

Rob

[Oshkosh Rob]

Saturday July 20th, Eric from Stewart arrived. I wasn't sure if he would be able to get his truck down into my cul de sac but this guy handled that thing very well. Needless to say having a 53' tractor trailer pulling into a cul de sac isn't something that happens in our neighborhood. Almost every house had people coming out to see what the heck was happening. Eric was super easy to work with and we had the car and boxes unloaded in no time. Everyone wanted to come out and help carry boxes. The car fit flawlessly on the frame dolly I built and we were able to push/pull the car into the garage. Christmas in July!

[Fbird]

Welcome. I have a Daytona coupe. I am starting an mk4 as well. Located in GB if you have questions.

[Oshkosh Rob]

Welcome. I have a Daytona coupe. I am starting an mk4 as well. Located in GB if you have questions.

You must have taken delivery just before me! Eric said that he was in GB and the guy already built a Daytona and got a MK4 to build.

[Oshkosh Rob]

I need to step back a bit and catch up with my build...In the roughly 3 months since I took delivery of my kit, this car is coming along rather fast.

Putting the front suspension together was a good lesson in taking your time, read a lot of build threads, and read the manual 2-3 times. With the power steering upgrade, I made sure to trim back the rear adjusting collar and shorten the two threaded links. The shock assemblies went together rather easily. Remember to check the adjustment of the shocks! I pre-assembled the shocks and front brakes. One learning along the way is that the two front spindles have to be swapped. The one marked DSS goes on the pasenger side. It was quickly obvious that it wasn't going to work the other way. Of course once you read farther along in the manual (page 46), sure enough they tell you that. I also learned from a couple of build threads that the steering arms need the taper to face down to attach to the tie-rod ends later on.