FFR basic kit reality

[Frank Messina]

The biggest challenge in the build process is resisting the overwhelming temptation to make changes. When I first started thinking about a build 11 years ago, going with a donor seemed like a natural, and I even looked at a couple candidates. But then I decided I wanted IRS. Don't need a donor just for an engine and trans.....plus, Ford Racing was selling new 351 crate engines at a discount through a dealer in Phoenix. No way I was going to pass on that deal. The dominos never stopped falling after that and my final build plan didn't even remotely resemble the simple add part A to part B that got me started.

If you're not impatient and are willing to spend the time cleaning, stripping and refurbishing parts off the donor, you can bring it in on budget. In the process you will become intimately familiar and bonded to your new car like nothing you've ever owned before. One last thing. All the mega horsepower, big cubic inch chest thumping and grunting is for the parking lot. It was the 289 cars that won all the races. A nicely prepped 302 will push you along quite briskly, thank you very much. Good luck.

Frank