FFR MK4 . Some great new additions

[Maricopa]

Frankly you can stuff the trollish Kool-Aid comment. I've *****ed my head off to FFR about the shock issue and don't have a problem IDing the good and bad about the car or company. There are 7,500 of the things out there and from what's I've seen with our AZ group they get driven probably twice as much as other brands. Shi'ite is going to happen and they have been sometimes good and sometimes not so good at handling them.

6K miles a year for the past 3 without problems, and I check things pretty regular, thanks.

[franklin]

Anyone know if the fat trans tunnel was an upgrade? This would allow wider seats like the originals to be used. I don't know what it is, but when I sit in my old FFR in comparison to my Kirkham I have less room in the cockpit? Knee to dash board and knees to steering wheel. My FFR had dropped foot boxes and my Kirkham does not. You would think the spacing would be just the opposite? You also sit higher?

[Hexnut72]

Maricopa,

The Kool-Aid comment was not aimed at you.

FFR makes some great stuff, but as you mentioned, it isn't perfect. I like to point out the stuff that I don't like so the company can continue to improve. Some people don't like (or simply refuse to believe) that there are issues. I like to think that my complaining about the shape of the body has helped with the decision to change it with the Mk 4.

Sorry if that came through the keyboard as being ugly or trollish.

[Maricopa]

Well whoever it was aimed at I think it was misplaced. I didn't see any being consumed in any of the current posts. Sorry if I blew up a little.

Franklin, that would an excellent area for them to work on! I would love to sit a little farther in on the car.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by Hexnut72

I like to point out the stuff that I don't like so the company can continue to improve. Some people don't like (or simply refuse to believe) that there are issues. I like to think that my complaining about the shape of the body has helped with the decision to change it with the Mk 4.

Sorry if that came through the keyboard as being ugly or trollish.

Kind of a stretch to think improvements were made based on your complaints. Not saying that you can't think that though.

[computerworks]

To all...drop it.

Please keep the focus of the discussion on the Mk4

Thanks
ron
ClubCobra Moderator

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by computerworks

To all...drop it.

Please keep the focus of the discussion on the Mk4

Thanks
ron
ClubCobra Moderator

It's absolutely amazing that you put up with this shi* without being paid handsomely for doing so.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by patrickt

It's absolutely amazing that you put up with this shi* without being paid handsomely for doing so.

Make that ten thousand two hundred and ten....

So what do you think of all of this, Patrick? The car, that is...

[jmimac351]

What if... in addition to announcing more details about this car on the 13th they announce a 289? 2 years ago when FFR shared this vintage stuff they also mentioned a 289. I don't know anything but that would make a big splash if they did.

http://www.factoryfive.com/whatsnew/...gacy/text.html

[RACERAL]

About the FFR roll bar..FFR builds a taller roll bar because most tracks make you have one taller then your head.. If I am not mistaken, SPF either made theirs taller or has the option for a taller roll bar.. It doesn't make much sense to have a roll bar that doesn't work.
Hexnut... I tried to checkout some pictures of your roadster, but I couldn't find any.. got any?

[*13*]

You mean we have to wait 12 more days to seem more pictures? Cat's outta the bag, right? Why don't they get shorter drivers in lower seats instead of taller roll bars?

[Tim Brewer]

This is for you ,Buzz. The caption says "Hal Keck @ Lime Rock 1968"

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by Tim Brewer

This is for you ,Buzz. The caption says "Hal Keck @ Lime Rock 1968"

Thanks Tim. That car looks like her skirts are blown up in the back all right - even to the point of exposing a bit of her undercarriage and gas tank a la the FFR look.

A quick search brought up this pic of Hal Keck driving CSX3008, courtesy of SS COBRA's gallery, butt asside from being a different color, the rear bodywork (admittedly from a different angle) appears CSX "normal":


If we assume it's the same car, does anyone know whether it may have been repaired/rebodied and repainted?


EDIT: With a bit more searching it appears that 3008 changed colors a few times, even in the early days. Here are two more pics circa 1966 and 1967 respectively:





Even in the 1967 pic above in which the car's color is listed as white, you can see the high rear bodywork and slightly exposed gas tank. These are action shots however, with chassis dynamics under hard cornering and/or braking coming into play, as opposed to static shots of the car at rest. Here's a look at the same car, side on in '66. Her rear end appears a lot lower here, but you still get a glimpse of her underpants in the back. I have to conclude that this particular car definitely has less droop in the rear than most other original CSX3xxx cars I have observed.



(Sorry for the sidetrack - but with a tiny bit of a stretch this may tie in to the whole FFR old/new profile discussion.)

[Bill Bess]

Looks like a great improvement ( MK4)with regards to making the car look more authentic. I do however like the "perky butt" on the current FFR's...give the car some originality in styling.
Bill

[*13*]

Buzz, Thanks for posting the pics for comparison. Looks to me as if a lot of the variations in the car's BUTT may have to do with angle of shot & action being applied in the Footbox. As well the FFR body may possibly be a perspective thing. I can't wait to see a full spread of pictures on the FFR so we can get to the bottom of this accuracy debate.

[computerworks]

With a bit more searching it appears that 3008 changed colors a few times

in '66. Her rear end appears a lot lower here,

you can see the high rear bodywork and slightly exposed gas tank.

Remember a few things here...

Race cars were often repainted with a new livery every season... or after a major repair.

Race cars usually have their ride height, balance, etc. adjusted for the individual track or event.

The 42 gal tank on the Comp and S/C is indeed normally visible under the rear apron. This is not the tank that would be on street 427s.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by computerworks

Remember a few things here...

Race cars were often repainted with a new livery every season... or after a major repair.

Race cars usually have their ride height, balance, etc. adjusted for the individual track or event.

The 42 gal tank on the Comp and S/C is indeed normally visible under the rear apron. This is not the tank that would be on street 427s.

Thanks for shedding some light Ron.

[jmimac351]

Originally Posted by *13*

Buzz, Thanks for posting the pics for comparison. Looks to me as if a lot of the variations in the car's BUTT may have to do with angle of shot & action being applied in the Footbox. As well the FFR body may possibly be a perspective thing. I can't wait to see a full spread of pictures on the FFR so we can get to the bottom of this accuracy debate.

Only 11 more days. The tension is building...

[PJ4myboo]

I was all set to buy a Mk3 until I sat in the Factory Five show car at Carlise last year. It was pretty tight even though I'm only 6'. The Backdraft and Unique seemed to fit me better. I am anxious to see how much room there is with the dropped footboxes.

This certainly seems to be a big improvement all around.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by PJ4myboo

I was all set to buy a Mk3 until I sat in the Factory Five show car at Carlise last year. It was pretty tight even though I'm only 6'. The Backdraft and Unique seemed to fit me better. I am anxious to see how much room there is with the dropped footboxes.

This certainly seems to be a big improvement all around.

Like any kit, it's really dependent on how the seats are set up by the builder. I have a Mark I with original style Richmond seats that are set all the way to the rear. I'm 6'3" with plenty of room under the dash and have to straighten my left leg to hit the dimmer switch I mounted on the footbox bulkhead.