Factory Five Racing Type 65

[MMARSH]

Originally posted by sammyg2
The mustang 5.0 uses front suspension derived from (and nearly identical in may ways) the mustang II suspension. The mustang II suspension was a knock off of the pinto suspension. The 5.0 suspension is similar in design and strength to that of the pinto.

I dopn't have a problem with factory five racing. I have a problem with how they advertise and present the quality of their kits.
I almost bought one in 2000. I was ready to pull the trigger but a copy of the complete guide to cobra replicas arrived. i could not believe what I had read.
Then I went to the house of cobras (too many times) and talked to just aout everyone there. They all said the same thing, if you want a mustang (or pinto) then buy a mustang, but don't call it a cobra.
You wanna talk about snobs, talk to a hard core cobra enthusiast. They will look down their noses at the FFR kit. The house of cobras sells more finished (used) replica cobras and just about anyone around.

The only thing I hold against FFR is that they told me their kit was as good as anyones. They told me their kit was as safe and anyones. They told me their quality was a good as anyones, or better. I almost believed them and would have been very disappointed if I had gone through with the purchase and found out the truth. Do they make fun cars? yep. Are they as good as SPR? Nope. Not even in the same league. They don't even look like real cobras anywhere near as much as an SPR does.

Is a FFR kit good for racing? Sure, why not. With enough mods. Is it light? yep, lighter than the competition but not for the good reasons. Lighter because of thin fiberglass. Lighter because of less metal in key places.

I would like to have a FFR cobra if the price was right, but I would never present it as near as good as a superformance car.

Sammy, you still haven't said anthing. Less metal in key places? like where? Less safe then a SPF, Why? I've seen them in the flesh involved in accidents, they handled it pretty well. My FFR came with tubular upper and lower control arms and coilover shocks, Didn't know a Mustang II used those pieces. Again the biggest problem is that a FFR car is subject to the builder. Some money strapped folks will use all donor parts and a 4 link suspension. With the SPF, Like I said it comes wiith a IRS, factory paint and all the goodies. THat being said I'll stack the FFR chassis against an SPF any day. I suggest that next year you go to Knotts Berry Farm and check out the show. You will see the Difference between a 20K FFR and a 50K FFR. There are no 20K SPFs. One thing I know for sure. The guy who spent his hard earned 20K has the same big grin on his face as the guy who spent 60K for his SPF.

I will agree with you that the rear end is not a faithful copy of an original Cobra, but most people arn't looking for an exact copy of an original Cobra.

[Tervuren]

+1, I'd get a FFR for a faithful track car, and weekend warrior on the road, not as a show car or to be an exact "replica".

Sammyg2 know our Porsche's use front suspensions that are simply evolutions of the VW bug, right? I don't see you trashing Porsches all over for it... Also keep in mind, that a FFR weighs a TON less than a mustang does, the lgither the car, the less stress on components. I'd warrant if you the gearbox of a Lotus Elise in a 5.0 Ford Mustang you'd see trouble, due to the increased weight causing strain, that doesn't mean the Elise's gear box is crud. A part exosed to the forces of 3,000lb car that is adequate for normal applications, will be able to hold up to twice a much in a 1,500lb car.

That said, I don't get where you are saying they use Mustang II parts, those are parts chosen by the builders, and I never saw anywhere the recommendation to grab parts off of a Mustang II.

On the thing bodywork, I'd warrant if you had opportunity to own a 911R prototype from the 1960's that you wouldn't snub your nose for being an ultra light version of a 911 with thin body work, lighter taillights, whatever?

[chapo]

I believe sammy is wrong again. Doesn't a Mustang II use an upper and lower control arm and the Fox bodied Mustangs use a strut with no top arm?

[Laneco]

Not going to involve myself in a Cobra war, but I will say the GTM flat out kicks ass and takes names.

I did a "performance day" with a buncha cobras, couple of spyders and the GTM. This particular car (the maroon sexy beast in this picture) was powered by a fuel-inject Chevrolet LS7 engine, complete with AC. Mild mannered and 505 no-baloney HP. It was fast on the skid-pad, fast on the slalom, the best 60 to zero braking (98 feet...) I've ever seen on a street legal door-slammer, and peeled off a 0-60 in 3.6 seconds.

Very impressive numbers.

angela

[Jeff Alton]

It is just that the GTM is so ummmm fugly..........

Sounds like wonderful performance no doubt, but, to me anyways, it really looks homemade. Maybe it looks better in the flesh......

Cheers

[Racerbvd]

Originally posted by onlycafe
i heard that chuck beck is training people in pennsylvania to do the 904.
i saw his own at the hershey show, just stunning. i think he is running a 3.6 in the one i saw. moves right along. sounds good too.

That is a 3.2 out of his son's 914-6 and yes, it is very fast, I've been on the track with it and it is SMOKING fast!!! I have also been on the track & driven a couple of Superformance Cobras, and there was a bunch of FFR ones there too, and up close the Superformance was a much nicer, better built car in MHO. Now, the FFR cup series looks like it would be a total blast to run though.

[RallyJon]

In an industry as filled with bias and partisanship as the replica Cobra business, you can't believe anything you hear or read. If you were selling or owned an $80k Cobra, what would you think of a $30k Cobra? Would you be neutral and unbiased? Hell no.

Fact is, the Factory Five (even the early, flawed ones that everyone trashes) is the greatest thing to come along for the driving enthusiast who wants a Cobra--as opposed to the Cobra snob. Figure out which one you are, and buy accordingly.

[Hawktel]

The 2 aesthetic problems I have with the FF kit is the rear wheel arc. It needs to hug the wheel closer on the backside, and the trunk lid, it almost comes to a point, where the Light bracket for the License plate is. It should be more rounded.

[Jeff]

MMARSH, Do you race in the spec series? A close friend of mine did and says it is a very good series.

I was involved in the build of his first spec racer, it was very well thought out. If someone wants to get into racing and have a chance at being competitive without spending a fortune, this would be the first place to look.

As far as FFR being a nice street car, I think a few of you already hit it on the head, you are only limited by your wallet.

[MMARSH]

Originally posted by C U L8R
MMARSH, Do you race in the spec series? A close friend of mine did and says it is a very good series.

I'm hoping to be able to start before the end of the year. I won't have enough events for the nationals so I'll just use the rest of the year to get the car dialed in. I'm really looking forward to it.

I've met several of the drivers here on the west coast and they are having alot of fun. Most of the drivers came from other series for the exact same reason I did. Controlled costs and lots of fun.

[Jeff]

Good luck in the series. Do you have a car yet?

Do you know a guy named Spencer Sharp?

Where are the nationals this year?

[MMARSH]

Originally posted by C U L8R
Good luck in the series. Do you have a car yet?

Do you know a guy named Spencer Sharp?

Where are the nationals this year?

Yes, My car is 99% finished. Basically need a weekend to tie up a few little things and get it corner balanced and it's done.

I met Spencer and his father a few years ago at Buttonwillow. Talked to them about the car Spencer was driving then, which has since been sold to another current racer.

The nationals for the next six years will be at Mid-ohio. NASA booked the track for a seven year run after the SCCA moved the runoffs elsewhere.

Im really looking forward to getting it out there, But if I find I don't enjoy the car, Im selling it, putting a 3.6 in my early car, buying a race bike and going motorcycle racing.

[Jeff]

What spring rates do you plan to run? If you need any set-up help I could pick Spencer's brain for you. He had his car dialed in fairly well.

That was his dad's car. His dad wrote a whole series of articles in Grass Roots Motorsports magazine about the build and racing of that car. Spencer has since bought two more FFRs and one for the street and one for the track. He is currently building the street car and selling the race car as he is racing Grand Am next year. It has only been raced once and tracked at one PCA DE.
He was over last night and we got to talking about the ability of an FFR as a race car. At a local track (PIR) here in Phoenix, he was able to lap the track 1/2 second faster than a 997 Grand-Am Koni series cup car they were testing. Granted that is apples to oranges with different drivers (the other driver also races Grand -Am and is very capable), but still a testament to how good the FFR is as a racecar.

Have fun in the series, I'm sure you will.