How I Didn't Build a GT40 from Scratch PART 1

I sort of built a GT40 from scratch. Well some of it. In this series I take you through my process with plenty of explanations and excuses. Follow me and my son as we go from sheet metal to chassis tuning.
See the whole series here: • How I Didn't Build a G...

[@erikrummel6277]

“In a class that’s poorly contested, and showing up more than anyone else” 😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂 That was awesome

[@daviddavis1322]

I am an engineer and consider myself good at making things. I say this to emphasize this next point. Your practicality and simple design methods are incredible. Counting rivets as a method of reverse engineering, building mockups to evaluate structure, building around commodity grade OEM parts... Incredible.

[@mav3rick_gaming]

Use me as the “i came from micro soft/bing and road & track” counter. Awesome build man. I cant wait to watch this series

[@rb67mustang]

OMG, what an amazing build for around 25 Grand!!!!!!! I absolutely LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Liked & Subscribed.

[@olewurtz7625]

A lot of respect for you building your cars. I get it with your kid, but one day he’ll realize what a cool dad you are.

[@rb67mustang]

Yes, one day he will never want to see the GT40 be sold; it's a member of the family.

[@joelpierce3940]

I love the way you built your own car and how your son is involved. You are like Jim Hall!

[@Feintgames]

LOL, the ending was hilarious. So cool that you built this. Super impressive. I love the Lotus too. I think it's easy to dismiss the cigar shaped F1 cars in favor of the later cars with cool aero elements, but there's something about that look with the upswept exhaust that's just awesome. Really a gorgeous car.

[@noimagination99]

Man, I so related to so much of what you said and did here! You clearly have more dedication, time, discipline, and more, to make this happen! Huge kudos to you, great work!

[@Bourne246]

being a paper modeler myself, my eyes lit up when I saw your scale mock up of the chassis. I do plan to scratch build a replica myself, I haven't decided on what car yet, but I'm learning a lot from your videos. Thanks! keep up the good work.

[@GillansGarage]

How do you only have a 1000 subs?!?! Excellent content deserving of more credit!! Can’t wait to watch Part II of this build and more of your channel.

[@dirtbuilder4615]

i think more people have a pagani than a self build gt 40

[@timothyboles6457]

Love how your son got totally jaded about GT40s! Lol Awesome looking car. On to the next video

[@metromoppet]

Well, you got me hooked .I'm a Fan! You just reminded me that when we think "it's too hard", it's not, we're over thinking it!

[@EdDale44135]

I have so much sympathy for you with your son. Don’t worry, he will come around.

[@jeffreydraytoncfprcdfar8035]

So much humility, and so much accomplishment. That's an impressive combination. Very good work.

[@stevelloyd1421]

Impressive! Love the intellectual determinism, 'can do' attitude, and wit and humour. And, great to see the strong bond and memories that you have created with your son. I am sure that he will have a different take when he grows older.

[@fishhuntadventure]

9:38 I like the way this guy thinks: “you get the philosophies.” That is how (accidentally how) I have built and fabricated everything from cabinetmaking projects to jeep builds to ‘remodeling’ old boats. You figure out the important /characteristics/ and you build your own design- not copying anything. And get surprised later when it winds up working as well or better than the quintessential examples in the genre, sometimes even looking similar. Never built a road race or stock car rig though. Still cool. Nobody can afford the real thing LOL

[@RODRICKSR]

Awesome video

[@stephenprater6718]

I just stumbled onto your excellent channel today. I really admired your philosophy about the build and the way your son is included. Building exciting cars and a relationship with your son. You're a very smart guy and that's a lucky kid.

[@PGcrazy6]

Awesome !!! Love this video, caught it on Bing/windows. I had to find this on You Tube just to give it a THUMBS UP 😇. The race cars from older days are incredible looking, much better than newer styles. Seems a mass majority of millennials & newer are very unappreciative of anything they get in life, jobs, gifts etc., are quite selfish & do not know what hard work is.

[@ScottAClarke]

Wow! Fantastic work, presentation, and attitude.

[@mikeybishop7886]

So great! This is the best thing I’ve seen on KZbin for quite some time.

[@Super7Driver]

Awesome video Ben, you’re answering all the zillions of questions I’ve had for you with all your builds. Up there with Truth-in-30-seconds! Cheers, -David (yellow 7 owner, GGLC member, but a couple years since I autocrossed). PS, I have Terry’s book, enjoyed it)

[@benbeames]

Come back out to an autocross! We need more 7’s out there. Just be sure to run group B. That way you won’t have to pick up cones after my runs :)

[@andreww8941]

Awesome build Ben!!! Excellent choice and fantastic job! Super talented individual and clearly one hell of a human being in general. Glad I found the channel and look forward to your future content. Keep up the phenomenal work sir!

[@briansharp4388]

When I was a kid in the bay area(sf) the guy next door had a lotus with a DZ 302, 1 car garage, my dad had a boat, and a 39hot rod truck to pull it. 1 car garage. Never underestimate a guy with a small workspace.

[@jaycobthorne1704]

Great Build Ben! It's actually insane that last week I drew up my own plans for a 60s inspired mid engine race car, and seeing your videos has shown me even more how doable it is. Here's to how ever long it takes!

[@benbeames]

Do it!!!!

[@jaycobthorne1704]

@@benbeames I was thinking on running a 289 on a wrx transaxle but I had no idea Kennedy existed, are there certain Cayman gearboxes to look for or do the patterns stay the same through the years? might have to go that route just for peace of mind. It's the only problem in planning that I haven't been sure what to do!

[@benbeames]

@@jaycobthorne1704 Kennedy can do an adapter to a wax transaxle. Google them. They have a huge list of things they can mate. As for the booster cayman there’s 5 speeds and 6 speeds. The 6 speed is from the S models and I believe is supposed to be stronger. It’s also more expensive (I’m just using the 5 spd). As for different versions with different gearing, I’ve only seen the one variation for the generation I used. You can see info here: californiamotorsports.net/pages/porsche-987-boxster-5-and-6-speed-specifications

[@jaycobthorne1704]

@@benbeames thank you for the insight! I’ve almost gone to a few events in the bay so keep your eyes open for an experimental car down the road, best of luck!

[@amirhosseinkermani3695]

A good story teller is just what i needed , I'm happy to have found your channel.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

I appreciate your engineering process. Smart. As a tall man, I admire your determination to build something bigger that the typical Sir Stirling Moss sized vehicles.

[@peterwooldridge7285]

What a terrific erudite introduction...definitely one for me to follow

[@neilalbaugh4793]

Nicely done video & a nice car, too. Like you, I built my own chassis to fit on an existing body and our two cars weigh about the same. The lower weight of your car is probably due to your use of aluminum instead of steel. John Horsman told me that Ford's use of steel in their GT40 chassis cost them weight compared to the Lolas but that they won a few races when the Lolas broke something.

[@jparky1972]

Awesome. Loved it. Brilliantly edited. Thank you.

[@xlh1450]

Nicely done.

[@porkscratchings5428]

I toyed on a GT40 after building my FF5 Cobra which was slightly beyond me and 7 years later it’s finished. I wish I never started it and just got a turnkey instead. I still wanted a GT40 and ended up buying a Superformance MK2 turnkey, best move ever for me 👍🍻

[@benbeames]

You sir, have money and taste. Two enviable qualities!

[@ProjectFairmont]

Nicely done! I can relate to your desire and admitted limitations. I put together an FFR Daytona Coupe, and more recently sorting out a CAV GT40. The Daytona Coupe was definitely more involved with solutions than a kit car would otherwise suggest. Thankfully there is a good amount of shared info on FFR forums. The GT40, for being a completed car before my acquisition, is far more esoteric in terms of solutions. Either way, these are journeys I wouldn’t trade for anything. Cheers!

[@charleswahlert3353]

Great job Ben!! You have been busy! I have been aware of your efforts since the Lotus Europa days. I have a small hoard of them now and still none of them work :)

[@JPSO1677]

I think it's awesome how you built these cars.

[@raytheguyinthechair2791]

Some parts you may be able to find at Cobra Automotive in Wallingford CT. It's a big maybe but might be worth a call

[@deanoallen5096]

Amazing channel! Casey sent me here and I’m really happy I’ve subscribed!!

[@benbeames]

Thanks! I was wondering why I suddenly had a hump in subscribers. @caseyputsch is a darn cool guy!

[@deanoallen5096]

@@benbeames he is a first class individual

[@hcr-motorworks]

Cheers to some amazing garage builds!

[@joell439]

For your son ...... I must say ....... DID YOU SEE THAT GT40 - That is so cool !!!!! 😉

[@amaer2971]

I love this channel! The quality of this video is top! Keep up the great work!

[@dennislithgow]

AWESOME inspiration. Planning to do something similar.

[@MyZxcvb12]

Great work ❤ Your GT40.

[@rodsdmba1571]

I completely recognize/sympathize with the 2D pencil on paper way of working. I've worked full time professionally since 1974 (since age 17) in an engineering environment. Initially as a draftsman. My father was a machinist that had his own business and a friend owned a sheet metal shop. Everything was pencil (or ink) on paper up to the late 80's when 2D Autocad started to displace it. The 'industry' moved to 3D CAD in the mid 90's. Regardless, I still initially developed designs in 2D. For years I caught a lot of flak from other engineers and managers for continuing to cost the company a license fee for an Autocad seat. With pencil, one had to possess the spatial awareness (I won't call it thinking in 3D), when creating and developing the design layout. Who wants to erase half a drawing every time they forgot to consider something? Either you have it (or can develop it) or you don't. If you didn't have it, your career path was taking a different road . . . Certainly the design tools available to us are far better than those of 50 years ago. Are the designs created with these tools superior? No, not really. It still comes down to the skill of the designer. Regardless of whether the design was created in chalk, pencil, or on a 3D Cad platform, if the designer lacks that spatial awareness, it's crap. The problem today with 3D CAD is that the turds are polished and gold plated and the casual reviewer lacks a sense of smell. If those designers had been tasked with furnishing some free body sketches or, God forbid, some 2D layouts most issues would be caught and dealt with.

[@benbeames]

It’s just the way the world is going now. A few years back I needed a 1/4” key way cut into a shaft. All the places I went to to do it wanted a CAD file for the project. Me explaining that I was just going to hand them the shaft and needed a key way cut 6” in from both ends apparently wasn’t good enough. Luckily my dad was still farming at the time and knew a guy that could do it for me. I understand the many advantages of CAD but it seems like common sense was a little lacking. But the other thing is I’m on a computer all day long at my day job. I build cars because I don’t want to be on a computer after work!

[@crazyfingers_kc]

As a machinist myself, I take every blueprint I'm given from the customer and I re-draw everything on my own CAD program so I can easily grab whatever specific dimensions I may need, such as theoretical points, tangent points of radii, etc... Doing it this way, I have caught many, many mistakes made by the original print maker that I could have otherwise gone unnoticed. It's pretty insane just how many people in the world are drawing blueprints without any actual real world knowledge of how that part will be manufactured.

[@rodsdmba1571]

Agree. It's insane. Welcome to my pain. The company I work for has ~40,000 employees worldwide with perhaps 50% of those being 'technical'. Hiring is done with a 3 or 4 to 1 ratio 'new college graduates' vs experienced. While I commend the intent of hiring the best young talent, the follow thru re:onboarding would benefit if they were immersed in a machine shop environment for a period (as little as 3-6 months) before plopping them in the seat of a 3D CAD station.

[@crazyfingers_kc]

@@rodsdmba1571 I've always said that every engineer should be required to spend a year on the floor of a machine shop before they're able to graduate and work in the field. One of my lifelong friends went to college to be an engineer, and he was smart enough to send me rough drafts of his blueprints so I could tell him what makes life easier/harder for the machinist. Once I explained to him that the easier he can make the job for the machinist, the better. Less math involved means less room for error. He's doing well now lol

[@hgsnotes]

This video series has popped up on my recommended videos for the last week or so and finally watched it. Well done. I'm getting close to finishing a FFR cobra kit and wondering if I would do another kit car. The GT40 was my first choice but the costs are quite a bit higher than the cobra and I don't fit well either. But after watching this maybe I could build one to fit me. Subscribed

[@Skooter-nw3cm]

You sir, are a fount of information.

[@MLFranklin]

This is really cool what you've done. Hey, where can I find more detail about making seats like those in the GT40? I want to make duplicates for other cars. Are there any blueprints and material specs available?

[@AliasHSW]

That is a Huge! bow next to the “Lotus”

[@jamesyoung5610]

MindblowN

[@turboslugfiero]

"Being in a class that's poorly contested" "And showing up more than anyone else" "That's the only way I know how to win!" Absolutely 😂 Join the club! 👍😉

[@normdyer94]

Very very nice, down to earth, home build project of the finest sort. This very attitude is what built america. I'm sick already of others pretending to be hollywood comedians in quest for more views. Authentic living has a far higher value. Thanks for sharing. And thanks for being healthy and normal, not acting and not a freak.

[@fishhuntadventure]

I have no idea what you are getting at but the only parity to your comment that comes to mind is Jay Leno (or Vice Grip Garage and he’s not hollywood) and I can’t imagine not appreciating what he does for the auto enthusiast genre

[@suecobandito8954]

I am 6 4. How did you achieve extra room and stay within the readily available body dimensions? I built a cobra and extended the footwells, used block hugging headers and ran the exhaust under and out the back a la street version including scoop delete hood. People said I looked like magilla gorilla in it, but I didn’t care.😊

[@blanchae]

Ben uses BAM Beames Assisted Drawing.

[@carlobellini6146]

Really great work. I would have fitted teh car center lock hubs and spinners to make the look perfect. (Like original)

[@stefanotrasatti6019]

Hi Ben! is it possible to find the drawings of the original frame with the measurements?

[@benbeames]

I don't want to step on the toes of many replica makers out there who guys like us need for parts availability. But I am going to go into more detail about the plans in a future video and share some of the info I found on the internet that's already out there. Things like these measurmenents from a post in the Locost communinity: www.dropbox.com/s/htn5lfgrkwichzl/a225497-GT40%20Frame%2003.jpg?dl=0 and www.dropbox.com/s/e147bqqu70haya6/GT40%20Measurements.jpg?dl=0 Some original technical drawings can be found here (I think, not sure as I've never seen the book in person and it definitley doesn't contain EVERYTHING): porterpress.co.uk/products/ford-gt40-book Add some other, possibly sketchy sources are here (I've not looked a tthese either): www.carandclassic.com/car/C1509843 and grabcad.com/library/gt40-mk1-original-mk-1-chassis-blueprints-1 If you spend some time on google you'll probably find more.

[@DarinGC]

Where can I get the haynes manual? Can't find anywhere.

[@benbeames]

I got mine on Amazon years ago for $28. Looks like they're pretty expensive on ebay now.

[@Naniss1965]

To be honest, the Ford GT40 is the most Gorgeous american car to ever win le mans 4 times in a row!🏁🇺🇸

[@alexcalderon808]

Dont worry. My son is the same...

[@cpt_nordbart]

Reminds me of Casey Putsch.

[@jimjim753]

👍

[@FURDOG1961]

GT40 built from scratch for the price of a Toyota Camry.

[@griff1709]

what do you do if not engineering lol

[@tedzehnder961]

I bet you bought and made model kits as a youngster.

[@benbeames]

I did! But now I can buy diecast models and not have to deal with the disappointment of ruining the paint job at the last minute. Oh and getting glue on the windshield.

[@garysgarage.2841]

What the f*** just happened

[@alexruiz1197]

no whay thats cost only 25k

[@benbeames]

It was and I could have done it cheaper. Maybe about 23k. But I made some mistakes and also splurged on a few things like the engine where I could have built up a cheaper junk yard block.

[@alexruiz1197]

@@benbeames Really? I built a fsae car last year and that was about only the cost of one season. The car cost more than that and it's a pretty modest car built mainly out of steel tubes and sheet metal. Unbelievable that it cost so little for such a big car.

[@benbeames]

What were the most expensive parts? My chassis is under $3000 of aluminum, steel, rivets, and welding wire. The body was 11k with shipping. That was the biggest part. Engine was 5K, transaxle $800, and it goes down from there.

[@alexruiz1197]

@@benbeames I would say that the chassis cost us about 3k between material, tube bending, laser cutting and welding. Cutting of steel and aluminium sheets easily 1k. But components like engine: 1.2k, tyre kit: 1k, wheel rim: 3.5k, steering rack: 800, brakes and pedal board: 1k, carbon body and paint: 2.5k, shock absorber kit: 1.4k, wiring and electronics: 3k, ECU: 1.4k and I could go on but you can get an idea. I'd say the real result for the car is around 60-70k. On my channel you can see some videos of it. Most things are done by us in the workshop, but there are some components that we had no choice but to buy. It is a vehicle with a custom made intake, exhaust, cooling, lubrication and transmission system, as well as the body, suspension, wiring, etc.

[@bluesquidny]

At first your like this guys amazing. Then, he is so boring. Sweet cars.

[@benbeames]

Finally! Someone gets me!

[@ScottWaring]

Dude, you are living my dream! 🤩🥲🤔 Ever think about writing a book with schematics, short cuts of how to do this? NY bestseller bro.

[@benbeames]

I would make it free. I think knowledge should be free. BUT we need the kit car makers out there for all kinds of parts besides the obvious full kits. And I don’t want to do anything that hurts their business. That said there’s an expensive ($500) book out there that’s just technical drawings from the original gt40. I haven’t seen it in person. I’d buy it but seems a bit late for that now.

[@pete_bruschi_racing]

Another SCCA racer that makes bad decisions? 🫵 _SUBSCRIBE_ 🤣🍻 Great video man! That's amazing how you've done so much with so little. Inspiring me to go finish my junk!