Dear Fsstnotch:
I built a Hurricane two years ago. I had already built a Factory Five and helped build a couple of Shell Valleys. I was impressed with the completeness of the Hurricane as well as the quality. I did not want to go with the donor route.
Mike and Rich were very good about answering my questions and getting me the info I needed to make my purchase decision. We went up to their shop to pick up the car and parts (we traveled from NW Alabama). They had everything ready. Anything missing from the kit, which was very little, they quickly sent to me.
You have gotten quite few of your questions answered, however, I will make one recommendation concerning the soft top, get a hard top. The soft top will be a complete pain in the butt once you exceed forty five to fifty mph. The hard time I have for mine is a modified factory five hard top. I had to lower the roll bar about two inches, make my own bolt down holders that go in behind the windows just behind the doors on the back deck and modify the padding going under the bottom of the top. I go the windows from a guy in texas that supplies factory five with their window. I had driven the car and 75+ mph and have had no problem with the top other than it is a little noisy like all cobras.
Hope this info will help with your decision on the top. You can e-mail me at
mikedlane@comcast.net.
Coach Mike