Anyone here have any experience with this (http://www.factoryfive.com/build-school/)? I've always wanted to build a Cobra but have been fearful of what's involved. This seems like an interesting way to get some great experience.
As a related question, so a car gets built during the school. Whose car is it? Could it be mine?? 
All I know is the second dumbest guy I've ever met in the Air Force built one, so school or no I think you could manage.
It's the Daytona Coupe you want to build, though.
Was he at VIR this past weekend with the car? I'm asking 'cause there was one there with a USAFA bag in the back.
Osterkraut wrote: All I know is the second dumbest guy I've ever met in the Air Force built one, so school or no I think you could manage. It's the Daytona Coupe you want to build, though.
We've worked on cars together, remember? Don't subscribe me too much credit! 
I love the coupe, but my dad loves the Roadster more.
dyintorace wrote:Osterkraut wrote: All I know is the second dumbest guy I've ever met in the Air Force built one, so school or no I think you could manage. It's the Daytona Coupe you want to build, though.We've worked on cars together, remember? Don't subscribe me too much credit!
It HAS been awhile. I was cleaning out my email the other day and re-read a few early Hogtown emails, ah nostalgia.
Osterkraut wrote:dyintorace wrote:It HAS been awhile. I was cleaning out my email the other day and re-read a few early Hogtown emails, ah nostalgia.Osterkraut wrote: All I know is the second dumbest guy I've ever met in the Air Force built one, so school or no I think you could manage. It's the Daytona Coupe you want to build, though.We've worked on cars together, remember? Don't subscribe me too much credit!
I MISS having people and space to work on cars. I keep getting urges to evict the tenants at my old house and pick fights with my wife every Friday night so I can go stay over there and work on project cars all weekend. 
MrJoshua wrote:Osterkraut wrote:I MISS having people and space to work on cars. I keep getting urges to evict the tenants at my old house and pick fights with my wife every Friday night so I can go stay over there and work on project cars all weekend.dyintorace wrote:It HAS been awhile. I was cleaning out my email the other day and re-read a few early Hogtown emails, ah nostalgia.Osterkraut wrote: All I know is the second dumbest guy I've ever met in the Air Force built one, so school or no I think you could manage. It's the Daytona Coupe you want to build, though.We've worked on cars together, remember? Don't subscribe me too much credit!
I wish you would so you could get the V8 RX-7 finally done!
A friend of mine has a coupe, thing to remember is that they are ovens. Little air flow in there (on his, even with no side windows). You will REALLY want to consider installing an aircon system. My friend had a coolshirt that he used to drive the car to autocrosses, he started trailering it after that.
Engine cooling also has its challenges, but it is solvable with a good fan.
Me, I would probably do a roadster build starting with the spec racer chassis for the good roll bar.
Some of my friends with roadsters have difficulties because of exclusion from some events due to lack of "sanctioning body approved" roll structure. Coupes are good, as is the spec racer. Only thing, spec racer you will be hopping the doors.
Also, drive one in anger before building one. I have driven 2 of them in autocross, they were REALLY fast (both supercharged), but touchy to me. Found that I had trouble turning off "spin cycle". A lot of it was short wheelbase, manual non assisted brakes, and lots of engine braking.
Thanks for the thoughts. I think he'd mainly want to use a Roadster for spirited Sunday drives and (very) occasional auto-x type stuff. No high speed HPDE most likely. Otherwise, I agree that I'd vote to go with a Challenge chassis to start.
Apexcarver wrote: Also, drive one in anger before building one. I have driven 2 of them in autocross, they were REALLY fast (both supercharged), but touchy to me. Found that I had trouble turning off "spin cycle". A lot of it was short wheelbase, manual non assisted brakes, and lots of engine braking.
I had an FFR Roadster for many years. Did autox and HPDE with it. Yep, the short wheelbase/high horsepower combination makes the car pretty easy to swap ends with. You have to "manhandle" it more than most cars, but at the same time you have to have tremendous respect for what it's limits are. Sadly, I read about way too many Cobra owners not respecting its limits and winding up badly injured or dead.
Klayfish wrote:Apexcarver wrote: Also, drive one in anger before building one. I have driven 2 of them in autocross, they were REALLY fast (both supercharged), but touchy to me. Found that I had trouble turning off "spin cycle". A lot of it was short wheelbase, manual non assisted brakes, and lots of engine braking.I had an FFR Roadster for many years. Did autox and HPDE with it. Yep, the short wheelbase/high horsepower combination makes the car pretty easy to swap ends with. You have to "manhandle" it more than most cars, but at the same time you have to have tremendous respect for what it's limits are. Sadly, I read about way too many Cobra owners not respecting its limits and winding up badly injured or dead.
I've found the FF Cobras to be a diverse lot. Many of them aren't that well sorted and not as fast as you'd think. Often the owners are actually kinda scared of them and drive with that in mind. OTOH, a well-sorted one drivien well is bloody fast. Having owned a somewhat similar vehicle (Stalker) my experience is that you have to focus on being smooth and showing restraint on the throttle. There's a fine line between steering with the throttle and spinning.
While I'm sure that the build school will be a lot of fun and certainly speed up the process, I got a lot of pleasure from the learning side of things. A kit car is a big puzzle. Do you like being told where to put all the pieces, or do you enjoy figuring some of it out for yourself?
Going back to the original question, I'd recommend the school. If you've never built anything and have concerns then by all means do the school. It can give you confidence you're seeking. It can give you an idea of what's involved. You can get many questions answered by the faculty instead of waiting to talk to a stranger on a website forum. I personally believe that we should never quit learning and there may be a classmate near by that you can team up with or just pick up the phone and call. The school is crammed full of info so take notes, review your notes that evening if you have the energy and from that you'll have questions for the next day. The faculty has built many FF Cobras so learn as much as you can from them. They know the in's and out's of this kit. Happy building friend.
I've built two and been involved in building a few others. Didn't do the school but my background is possibly more diverse than many builders. I know a couple of the instructors personally as well as a few people who have attended. I've never heard anyone express anything but praise for the knowledge imparted and the overall good time! If you are a little apprensive I bet you can benefit by attending. BTW, if you purchase after attending FFR gives you a credit for part of the cost. The car belongs to the school. After your class completes it the instructors disassemble it to do it all over again for the next group. One of the instructors told me that they build a kit a dozen or so times then for liability reason destroy it. In addition to the school start hanging around and asking questions on the two online forums:
ffcars.com
thefactoryfiveforum.com
Klayfish---Long time, no read! Sorry, I've got to disagree, you don't manhandle a roadster. I race mine all the time and have learned that high horsepower, light weight and a short wheelbase means that to maintain it on that knife edge you have to be smooth and use finess. Sure is fun
Jeff
Turbowerks9 wrote: Going back to the original question, I'd recommend the school. If you've never built anything and have concerns then by all means do the school. It can give you confidence you're seeking. It can give you an idea of what's involved. You can get many questions answered by the faculty instead of waiting to talk to a stranger on a website forum. I personally believe that we should never quit learning and there may be a classmate near by that you can team up with or just pick up the phone and call. The school is crammed full of info so take notes, review your notes that evening if you have the energy and from that you'll have questions for the next day. The faculty has built many FF Cobras so learn as much as you can from them. They know the in's and out's of this kit. Happy building friend.
Thanks for the thoughts! Neither my dad nor I are accomplished wrenches, so I think the school would be a smart move for us. Not to mention a fun father/son adventure.
JKleiner wrote: I've built two and been involved in building a few others. Didn't do the school but my background is possibly more diverse than many builders. I know a couple of the instructors personally as well as a few people who have attended. I've never heard anyone express anything but praise for the knowledge imparted and the overall good time! If you are a little apprensive I bet you can benefit by attending. BTW, if you purchase after attending FFR gives you a credit for part of the cost. The car belongs to the school. After your class completes it the instructors disassemble it to do it all over again for the next group. One of the instructors told me that they build a kit a dozen or so times then for liability reason destroy it. In addition to the school start hanging around and asking questions on the two online forums:
Thanks JKleiner. I love your car! What a great color combo. I'm very apprehensive about taking on such a project, so I think the school would help dispel lots of the "unknown" for us. I'll check out the forums, but am nowhere near ready to start asking questions! 
@JKleiner - is your black car a standard Factory Five kit or a Challenge kit?
dyintorace wrote: @JKleiner - is your black car a standard Factory Five kit or a Challenge kit?
It's a "standard" Mk3.
Cheers,
Jeff
JKleiner wrote:dyintorace wrote: @JKleiner - is your black car a standard Factory Five kit or a Challenge kit?It's a "standard" Mk3. Cheers, Jeff
Very cool. I love the double roll hoops. While perusing your photobucket account, I found the photo below of John in his Cobra. Do you know him? He's my go-to Cobra guy for info.
dyintorace wrote:Very cool. I love the double roll hoops. While perusing your photobucket account, I found the photo below of John in his Cobra. Do you know him? He's my go-to Cobra guy for info.
Laughing about how this internet deal sometimes actually makes the world smaller!
I've known John for about 12 years...he's one of the world's great guys! I make it to Florida 2-4 times a year and he's always on my visit list. In fact I was just there 2 weeks ago and we hoisted a couple over a sub sandwich lunch while sitting in the garage pondering his current Smyth G3F project. I made trips to Florida to lend a hand while he was building the car in the photo as well as the one that preceded it. He's a good guy to have as a "go-to"!
Jeff
You'll need to log in to post.
