Rear differential installed

Things done this week:
Danced in two performances of the Nutcracker with my daughter.  Not the best way to learn how to Waltz but it worked.
Finally managed to paint the rear differential using high temp paint.  Easy to do and will keep an eye on it to see how well it holds up.
Had to do some minor hole enlarging on the axle brackets to install the shock mounts.  Easy fix with a dremel caused by a small hump on the back of the bracket where the plate was intentionally deformed to strengthen around the hole where the lower shock bolt screws into the mount and the axle bracket.
The shocks were the items missing in my original shipment so if you noticed the fact the floor jack is still there you are observant.  The shocks should be in this week.
Fact learned the hard way: remove the Panhard bar BEFORE trying to jack the rear diff into place.  It will go with the Panhard bar installed but it takes some finagling.  And then you get to realize what an idiot you are when the rear axle and wheels look like you're trying to build some kind of NHRA Funnycar.  So after staring at it a while, and reading the manual where the next step is to install the Panhard bar I realized what my mistake was.
Overall the installation is on track.  This coming weekend will be used to do some Christmas shopping and then install the rear shocks and put the now infamous Panhard bar in place.  In a few short weeks it will be time to order to motor and trans.

Front suspension installed

Major work this week:
Removed and labeled (not in that order of course, Duh) all Al panels affixed to the body when it was shipped.
Took LOTS of pictures as recommended in the build manual.
Installed the front suspension components (pic is of passenger side).  Had to shave all shims for the shock mounts by about 1/32" to make sure they fit.  Torqued all bolts as best as possible as there is no way to torque the top spindle bolt castle nut when the bottom spindle bolt castle nut is on.  Surely there is some magical way to do it but I am not smrat enough to figure it out.
Still can't paint the rear diff as the humidity has been off the charts.  If I didn't care if I had to do it again it would be no problem.  I prefer to do it once and done.
This week will be painting the rear diff and installing the rear suspension components.
Found a couple of minor issues in the build manual but then again if you want to build a kit car you have to plan on some figurin' on your own.

Inventory and dis-assmebly

Progress this weekend!  First off, I can't thank my wife, daughter, and brother-in-law enough for all of their help and support.  Scott helped out tremendously with box inventories.  It was cool to touch every single piece of the car as it came out of a box and have an idea that somewhere along the way each piece goes to making a complete car.  A & O (my wife and daughter) were my strong-backs for lifting the body off and putting it on the body buck I made (thanks to http://www.carrollclan.com/FFR/BODYBUCK/index.html for the body buck plans).
This weekend we:
Inventoried every box.
Uncrated the rear differential but didn't paint it yet as FL humidity is too high (i.e. rain) to get good adhesion.  I plan to use rattle can high temp paint for it this week.
Removed the nose clip and body.
Doesn't sound like much but the inventory took several hours and overall there were only two things missing in addition to the things already id'd by FFR.  I stored all of the boxes on some shelves in the corner behind where I take the weekly shot.  Everything but the additional Al pieces and the Hooker Headers fit there.
Time for lots of Ibuprofen, and Mexican Food!
Next week: remove all Al body pieces, and start installing front suspension components.

Some assmebly required

Yes! The truck from Stewart Transport showed up with a whole bunch of parts. 

Day 1... Awesome, I am going to build a FFR.

Day 2... What the f--- was I thinking?

Day 3... Rear differential showed up from FED EX.

In looking at the pictures taken while unloading the truck I realized how much of my hair has migrated permanently, well elsewhere.  So I realized I need to embark upon:

OPERATION GROW OLD-MAN SKINNY RAT TAIL.  You know, those hideous rat tails some middle age men grow right below their bald spot to indicate to everyone THEY ARE NOT OLD! 

This weekend I will arrange the parts into a meaningful pile I can actually inventory, move the body onto the body buck (currently being used to hold boxes full of parts), and right after reality has left the building I will paint the rear diff as it comes unpainted.  This week is mostly spent reviewing other blogs trying to figure out the points I will have difficulty with.  Given I've already suspended reality to start the project it is indeed a little late to wonder what I could have done better.

Garage is ready for the Type 65 kit

First post for the build of a FFR Type 65 Coupe.  The garage is ready and the truck is supposed to show up this Tuesday.  More to come when the kit shows up.  Basic rules.  I will keep this relatively up to date and will often infuse with thoughts on other topics.  Comments will largely be ignored.  Clearly I am supported by nobody for this build, and am supporting nobody else either.  The words here are my own.