It seems the quality and finish of completed FFR’s continues to new heights every day.  Evidence FFR customer Rob Byrnes from Novi, Michigan.  This flawless car was built and documented in a meticulous fashion.  We wanted to send a big congrats out to Rob for his craftsmanship and profile him on our site. 

Rob is a senior products engineer at Decoma DSIG, a division of Magna corporation.  He lives with his wife Linda and 2 kids (pit crew Mark 17 and Jennifer 15) in Novi Michigan.

In the months since completing his FFR, Rob has garnered a shelf-full of trophies.  Here are a few…

First Place      Livonia CC Car Show                                    June 19, 2004

First Place      Livonia Spree                                                 June 26, 2004

Class Award   Motor City Show and Go                               June 6, 2004

First Place      Novi 50’s Festival                                          July 31, 2004

Attended         Sunday Nights at Baker in Milford

Attended         2004 Woodward Dream Cruise                     August 15, 2004

Rob was kind enough to send us his own story.  Thanks for the great work and now that Rob’s done with the roadster we are all hoping to see what he can do with a coupe! 

Life Prior to FFR-3601

As far back as I can remember there have always been a car and/or a plane in my life.  My grandfather always had a car in his garage that he was painting or detailing, including a 1968 Shelby GT500 that my Uncle Jerry owned.  My Grandfather was a paint supervisor at Ford Engineering and retired in 1969.  After retirement, he worked at the T-Bird Shop in Farmington, Michigan and restored old T-Birds.  He continued to work on cars in his garage until about 5 years before his death.

My dad started building a Midget Mustang airplane in the mid 60’s, but later sold it to buy a house.  In  1979, we purchased my first car.  It was a 1968 Mustang Convertible that we repainted Acapulco Blue.  I couldn’t afford the payments, so my dad and I traded cars.  His 1974 Mustang Mach 1 for the 68 convertible.  What a deal.  No more payments! 

We did a ground up restoration on the 68’ and won several awards.  He sold the Mustang to help purchase a kit plane called Lancair 235 in 1986.  He spent the next 4 years building it.  Whenever I had the time, I would drive over and help.  He flew that plane everywhere with my Mom.  It was a little two-seat plane with retractable gear, constant speed electric prop, and capable of speeds over 200 mph.  He accumulated over 350 hours and several awards including a Bronze Lindy at Oshkosh. 

My Dad was a Design Supervisor at Ford in the Exterior Ornamentation Department and he retired in 1993.  In January of 1994, he purchased another kit plane called a Lancair IV.  My Son Mark and I helped out on the build when we could, but there was a lot going on when you have teenagers.  He sold the Lancair 235 to purchase the engine and prop for the IV.  This plane is bigger, faster, and much more complicated than the 235.  After building for 8 years, he is now flying everywhere including Oshkosh, WI. Redmond, OR, Lakeland, FL, and Reno, NV, just to mention a few.  This plane screams.  It’s capable of 350 mph, has 4 seats, retractable gear, constant speed prop, and a moving map.  You could say it has the works.  Again, he has won awards at every show he goes too, including another Bronze Lindy at this years Oshkosh.  See http://www.airventure.org/2004/awards/images/aircraft/N54TB.jpg

My Uncle Rick built a Model A Hot Rod in the early to mid 70’s that had a 200 cubic inch 6 cylinder that would pull the front tires off the ground.  He sold it to go racing at Bonneville.  He built a 1987 Mercury Merkur XR4Ti for the specific purpose of land speed racing.  He set 5 world records in that car with the fastest record at 204.952 mph and the fastest one-way speed of 208.389 mph.  In the ¼ mile, he ran an 11.53 ET with a trap speed of 120.46 MPH.  All this with a Ford 2.3L turbocharged engine producing close to 700 hp.  Like my Grandfather and my Dad, he worked for Ford as an Engine Engineer, and retired in 2000.  He is now building a streamliner, and when complete will utilize the same 2.3L turbocharged engine, this time producing over to 1000 hp and speeds over 300 mph.

See http://www.rbmotorsports.com.

There’s a reason why I write so much about these three people.  They were and are the most influential people in my life.

In 1980, I took the red 1974 Mustang to the drag strip with a bunch of friends.  What a blast!  The car wasn’t fast, but it sure was fun being able to thrash on a car legally.   In 1985, I raced go-carts with the Thunderbird Go-Cart Club on Sunday mornings.  I even ended upside down on my head during a street race that scared the crap out of me.  I told myself, the next time you race, you’ll have a roll bar and seat belts.  The next year, I raced with a friend in Chillicothe, Ohio in a Pro Rally Race.

About FFR-3601

I started collecting parts for the no donor build on February 3, 2001, when I purchased a Tremac 3550 from my Uncle Rick that he used in the Mercur XR4Ti Land Speed Racer.  The same day I picked up the tranny, Uncle Rick surprised me by giving me an original FE Purge Tank and Oval Air Cleaner that my Grandfather saved for such an occasion.

I continued to accumulate parts from various suppliers.  The IRS was probably the biggest project to date.  My Son and I tore it down, sand blasted the cases, painted, or clear coated it, then rebuilt the system.  This went on for months with every component that we purchased from the pedal box to the gas tank.

I ordered my roadster kit on May 16, 2002. 

The following options were ordered:

Carbureted Kit

Powder Coating to Frame

Headers, 351, 4 Port Side Exhaust

Pin Drive IRS

Pin Drive Front Tubular Control Arms

Seat Tracks – Drivers Side Assembly

Leather Interior Package, Black

Blank Dash

Body Cut Outs

Carbon Fiber Hood Scoop

Windshield Decal

Wiper Set

The kit arrived via Stewart Transport on June 9, 2002.  Brice had the good trailer with the hoist and made the job easy.  Just in case he had the bad trailer, my entire family and several friends were on hand for the arrival and celebration.  I started the build immediately following the hang over on June 10, 2002. 

From the first day of the build, I had planned on building this car with the intention of showing it, driving it, and racing it.  Not necessarily in that order.  These are the options/changes made to the car during the build.

Ceramic Coated Headers and Side Pipe

Windshield Washer

Chrome Quick Jacks

Chrome Roll Bar Lowered Roll Bar 2.0”

Stainless Steel Brake Lines

Breeze Upper and Lower Steering Shafts

Breeze Offset Rack Bushings

Breeze Drive Shaft

Classic Gauges

Reverse Lock Out Shifter

Billet Gas Pedal

Rolled Edges around the Cockpit and Wheel Wells

Sold the Carbon Fiber Hood Scoop and Purchased an Aluminum Hood Scoop

Trigo Pin Drive Wheels

Online Hidden Hood Hinges

Online Hidden Deck Lid Hinges

Vintage Air Heater/Defroster

Breeze Seat Platforms

Custom Hood and Deck Lid Hoops

Custom Instrument Panel with Glove Box

Polished Aluminum in the Engine Compartment

Custom Wiring with an AMP plug on the Instrument Panel for easy service

Custom made Defrost Plenum (Fiberglass)

Finish Line Demister Vents

Custom made blower plenum between the blower motor and heater core (Fiberglass)

Hidden Battery Disconnect Switch

Scratch built Glove Box Door

Scratch built Glove Compartment (Fiberglass with Black Flocking)

Finish Line Twin Pusher Fans

Oil Cooler

Custom Access Panels in Trunk for Fuel Sender, Pickup, External Pump, and Filter

FIAMM Horns (very English sounding)

Mike’s Custom Parts Chrome Roll Bar Trim Rings

Mike’s Custom Parts Chrome Windshield Plates

Mike’s Custom Parts E-Brake Boot Bezel

Custom Hood Prop Rod

Custom Hidden Body Mounts

Original Style Deck Lid Prop Rod

Finish Line Front and Rear Bumper Grommets

Tonneau Cover

Soft Top

Thermostat Controlled Pusher Fan

Windshield Center Bar

Wind Wings

Sun Visors

Mikes Custom Parts Weather Stripping

FE Valve Cover Adaptors

FE Valve Covers

Finish Line Seat Belt Bezels

Custom Fit Door, Hood and Trunk Margins

Drive Shaft Safety Loop

Ashtray

Finish Line Vintage Decals

2” X 15” Stainless Overflow Tank

Custom Center Dash Supports

Earls Fresh Air Vents

Ford Motor Sport 392 Windsor

Forte’s Alternator and Brackets

Custom FE Purge Tank Adaptor

McLeod Steel Bell Housing

Ford Motorsport Clutch and Pressure Plate

Holley Blue Fuel Pump

Holley 650cfm Carburetor

MSD Ignition, Plug Wires, and Coil

GL Oil Pan

The car went together like a model.  In a little under 16 months, on October 4, 2003, we started her up.  What a rush.  We must have put 20 miles on the go-cart that day.  We knew we over did it when one of Novi’s finest showed up to inform us that someone had complained.  Over the next few months, we reinstalled the body, installed all the trim less carpeting, got the Novi Police out for the inspection, and acquired the appropriate insurance. 

On December 1, 2003, I registered the car with the State of Michigan, and she was done less paint.  It was cold that day, but Mark and I sure had fun driving it around with the top on.  Boy, did we get funny looks.  What the heck.  There was no snow yet, the heater worked well, and we needed gas.  What an excuse, huh?

I delivered the body to Jeff Bogan on January 17, 2004 for paint.  Before Jeff took over, I had filled all the seams, tightened up all the margins, fit the doors, hood, and trunk so they were flush, and applied the 1^st coat of primer with my dads help.  (Payback time from the airplanes)  On February 22, 2004, we picked up a Mazda Miata Classic Red Body.  It was flawless.  Absolutely flawless.

On March 13, 2004, I pronounced her complete.  Complete until this winter when I have a small list of items that I want to change.

I have attended 6 car shows this year, winning 1^st place in 3 of them and 2^nd in an all Ford meet.  I’ve attended several car cruises including the 10^th annual Woodward Dream Cruise.  If you ever get a chance to go, do so.  There are so many cars and people to see.

During the build and after, I met some of the nicest, helpful people in the world.  Without their help, and the help of www.ffcobra.com, I don’t think I could have completed the car to this caliber.  Thank you to all of you.

I have over 1000 pictures of my build, car shows, the Lancair IV, and the Streamliner at www.wwgarage.com/lancairiv

Thanks for the story and photos Rob! 

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