Factory Five Racing Build School Course
3 Days in Howell, Michigan USA
http://www.factoryfive.com/roadster/build/school.html
What is This?
This 3 day build course takes place in Howell, Michigan USA and is an excellent resource if you are planning on building an Mk4 Roadster. We chose to take this course at the end of April because it fit our schedule it usually runs the last weekend from Friday - Sunday every month at Mott Community college.
(Tip*)
If you click on the first or any picture the larger picture will appear and below it are forward and back buttons to easily view the captions I wrote about piecing the Roadster together as well as the pictures in more detail.
(Tip*)
If you click on the first or any picture the larger picture will appear and below it are forward and back buttons to easily view the captions I wrote about piecing the Roadster together as well as the pictures in more detail.
Factory Five Build School Syllabus ~ The Itinerary
Friday Objectives:
Saturday Objectives:
Sunday Objectives:
- 8:00 AM: Introductions & Continental Breakfast
- 9:00 AM: Unpacking you kit
- 10:00 AM: Break
- 10:15 AM: Front Suspension
- 12:00 PM: Lunch is served
- 1:00 PM: Rear Suspension
- 3:00 PM: Break
- 3:15 PM: Pedal box
- 4:30 PM: Passenger side foot box
Saturday Objectives:
- 8:00 AM: Introductions & Continental Breakfast
- 8:15 AM: Bleeding brakes & Flaring
- 10:00 AM: Break
- 10:30 AM: Set the engine
- 12:00 PM: Lunch is served
- 1:00 PM: Wiring
- 3:00 PM: Break
- 3:15 PM: Final Hookups
- 4:30 PM: Engine Test
Sunday Objectives:
- 8:00 AM: Introductions & Continental Breakfast
- 8:15 AM: Body Prep
- 10:00 AM: Break
- 10:30 AM: Seat Belts
- 11:00 AM: Body on
- 12:00 PM: Lunch is served
- 1:00 PM: Wind Shield
- 2:00 PM: Doors
- 3:00 PM: Break
- 3:15 PM: Final fit & trim
- 4:30 PM: Instructor Test Drive
Day 1 Pictures (Friday - 29/04/2011)
Day 1 Summary:
After a lot of information being rushed into my head from the first moment I stepped into the college I began to comprehend what I was getting myself into. Although I was ever so thankful for the manual Factory Five provides each kit with. Even though the manual is like 4 inches thick most of it is pictures explaining and showing you how to put together each part of the car. After day 1 was complete Dean and I discussed how good of an idea this was. From the first hour in the class we realized how much time taking this course is going to save us when we start to build our Roadster. Just the little tips and tricks on minor things that the instructors taught us and the book didn't provided us with many useful insights into how we are going to put our Roadster together when the time comes. It doesn't look like we have completed much from the first day but we weren't necessarily supposed to, a lot of the class was spent on the instructor telling us what to do right and what the manual does not say to do. As well as more details specifically appointed toward each member of the class if they are using a donor car or not or just using some parts of a donor car it was all explained very nicely.
After a lot of information being rushed into my head from the first moment I stepped into the college I began to comprehend what I was getting myself into. Although I was ever so thankful for the manual Factory Five provides each kit with. Even though the manual is like 4 inches thick most of it is pictures explaining and showing you how to put together each part of the car. After day 1 was complete Dean and I discussed how good of an idea this was. From the first hour in the class we realized how much time taking this course is going to save us when we start to build our Roadster. Just the little tips and tricks on minor things that the instructors taught us and the book didn't provided us with many useful insights into how we are going to put our Roadster together when the time comes. It doesn't look like we have completed much from the first day but we weren't necessarily supposed to, a lot of the class was spent on the instructor telling us what to do right and what the manual does not say to do. As well as more details specifically appointed toward each member of the class if they are using a donor car or not or just using some parts of a donor car it was all explained very nicely.
Day 2 Pictures (Saturday - 30/04/2011)
Day 2 Summary:
Day 2 was probably the most exciting day other than watching the instructor take the Roadster for a spin because we got so much done in a very short time. We probably learn the most useful information today because of the amount of hands on work we did on the car. From finishing off most of the paneling to installing the engine and hooking up all the wires. As well two different Roadster owners one of them being one of our instructors brought their Roadster in for us to see them. I especially liked how even though they are the same car there are so many differences in the layouts and options you can put into your car. Today I'm taking way that you have to keep everything very, very organized and planned out so you don't start asking yourself , wait a second where does this bolt go and pray that it's not for something important.
Day 2 was probably the most exciting day other than watching the instructor take the Roadster for a spin because we got so much done in a very short time. We probably learn the most useful information today because of the amount of hands on work we did on the car. From finishing off most of the paneling to installing the engine and hooking up all the wires. As well two different Roadster owners one of them being one of our instructors brought their Roadster in for us to see them. I especially liked how even though they are the same car there are so many differences in the layouts and options you can put into your car. Today I'm taking way that you have to keep everything very, very organized and planned out so you don't start asking yourself , wait a second where does this bolt go and pray that it's not for something important.
Day 3 Pictures (Sunday - 1/05/2011)
Day 3 Summary:
Day 3 was an awesome day because we finished the Roadster but also because I think it's a relief that if we plan and stage the building of our Roadster well the job won't be overwhelming. One of my favorite quotes from one of the instructors which is very true is "If you are becoming frustrated, LEAVE and come back to it tomorrow before you break something." The instructors helped greatly today when we were installing the windshield and putting the body on because each of these parts to the car are not easy to fix if you damage them, and so the instructors told us exactly what to do if we have a fresh paint job done to the body and are ready to have the body mounted what the proper way of doing that would be and how to specifically tighten each screw on the windshield just enough but not to overdo it and break the glass. The last tip I took away from this course was patience as you need a lot of it if Dean and I are going to build this car. All in all I had a great time at the course and would recommend it to anybody thinking of building anyone of Factory Five's cars.
Day 3 was an awesome day because we finished the Roadster but also because I think it's a relief that if we plan and stage the building of our Roadster well the job won't be overwhelming. One of my favorite quotes from one of the instructors which is very true is "If you are becoming frustrated, LEAVE and come back to it tomorrow before you break something." The instructors helped greatly today when we were installing the windshield and putting the body on because each of these parts to the car are not easy to fix if you damage them, and so the instructors told us exactly what to do if we have a fresh paint job done to the body and are ready to have the body mounted what the proper way of doing that would be and how to specifically tighten each screw on the windshield just enough but not to overdo it and break the glass. The last tip I took away from this course was patience as you need a lot of it if Dean and I are going to build this car. All in all I had a great time at the course and would recommend it to anybody thinking of building anyone of Factory Five's cars.