Michigan builders.

[Ghostknife]

Just a couple dates to watch for:

Sunday June 18th!
Cars by the Creek car show
Stoney Creek Metropark at 11am
Gladeview South shelter. More info on facebook.


Friday June 23rd!
Port Huron Cruise Night.
If trailering, can park at my house and cruise from there.

 

[snirtman]

Hi everyone, I just left the secretary of states office and I will put this here to help out anybody who will be going through the process next.

First and most importantly you will need the title of the donor car preferably in your name. They appreciate that the parts that came off of the donor car aren’t stolen.

Secondly you will need the MCO from DF kit car. There are no catches to this part and everything is self-explanatory.

Thirdly you will need a filled out TR 54 form from a local police officer. now on this form you will need to fill out sections one and two:
In the first section under vehicle identification number I put none because technically there is no VIN number assigned to it yet but the lady behind the counter asked if the chassis number that comes from DF should be there. We talked it over and both agreed that none or NA is acceptable.
In part two I had checked all the boxes except the box that stated you needed to outside mirrors for a half ton truck. I will cross that bridge when the inspector comes out about the windshield and windshield wiper

The fourth item that you will need is your invoice from DF showing what you paid for the kit. everything here is self-explanatory to the clerk.

The fifth item is a a written statement that I typed up and signed stating that I was the builder using parts and pieces from a kit and from a donor car. It didn’t have to be long just had to have a brief overview of what you are actually doing.

While I was there there was some questions regarding mileage and I ended up having to sign a odometer affidavit stating that the car has 109,000 miles but not actual miles on the chassis. I did find it weird that they only charged me the $25 title application fee and no taxes on the kit itself but I’m not gonna complain about that. I was told they are currently about eight weeks out to send an inspector from Lansing. The lady behind the counter was very nice and thanked me for being so well prepared in making her life easier.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to reach out and I will do my best to answer them

Ok, I'm going to beg for some help on this Michigan VIN process. I have a pretty dim view of our "public servants" to begin with, but this process has proven they can sink even lower. I have yet to find someone that knows how this is supposed to work.

So I took my documents and the TR-54 to SOS and they said I first needed to have the car inspected by my local sheriff. I called the sheriffs office and of course no one answered, so I left a voicemail. No response after 5 days, so another call and another voicemail. Still no response for 4 more days, so I called the local dispatch and asked for an officer to come out to do whatever they had to do. Several hours later an officer shows up and says he can't fill out a TR-54. They had a guy doing those, but he retired two weeks ago.

The officer was super nice though, and spent about 30 minutes in his cruiser surfing the SOS website for instructions on how get the VIN. He came out with a printout that I already had, which of course is almost no help. However, he also printed out a list of officers that do inspections in my area even though they're not in my county. He read through the instructions he printed and came to the conclusion that the car had to be finished, then inspected, then take everything to SOS. Is he right?

 

[Ghostknife]

Ok, I'm going to beg for some help on this Michigan VIN process. I have a pretty dim view of our "public servants" to begin with, but this process has proven they can sink even lower. I have yet to find someone that knows how this is supposed to work.

So I took my documents and the TR-54 to SOS and they said I first needed to have the car inspected by my local sheriff. I called the sheriffs office and of course no one answered, so I left a voicemail. No response after 5 days, so another call and another voicemail. Still no response for 4 more days, so I called the local dispatch and asked for an officer to come out to do whatever they had to do. Several hours later an officer shows up and says he can't fill out a TR-54. They had a guy doing those, but he retired two weeks ago.

The officer was super nice though, and spent about 30 minutes in his cruiser surfing the SOS website for instructions on how get the VIN. He came out with a printout that I already had, which of course is almost no help. However, he also printed out a list of officers that do inspections in my area even though they're not in my county. He read through the instructions he printed and came to the conclusion that the car had to be finished, then inspected, then take everything to SOS. Is he right?

You need the TR 54 form filled out before the SOS. Any cop should be able to fill it out. Shoot me a text and we can chat, 810-392-0221

 

[Mahkoi]

Ok, I'm going to beg for some help on this Michigan VIN process. I have a pretty dim view of our "public servants" to begin with, but this process has proven they can sink even lower. I have yet to find someone that knows how this is supposed to work.

So I took my documents and the TR-54 to SOS and they said I first needed to have the car inspected by my local sheriff. I called the sheriffs office and of course no one answered, so I left a voicemail. No response after 5 days, so another call and another voicemail. Still no response for 4 more days, so I called the local dispatch and asked for an officer to come out to do whatever they had to do. Several hours later an officer shows up and says he can't fill out a TR-54. They had a guy doing those, but he retired two weeks ago.

The officer was super nice though, and spent about 30 minutes in his cruiser surfing the SOS website for instructions on how get the VIN. He came out with a printout that I already had, which of course is almost no help. However, he also printed out a list of officers that do inspections in my area even though they're not in my county. He read through the instructions he printed and came to the conclusion that the car had to be finished, then inspected, then take everything to SOS. Is he right?

He's right on the order at least how it worked out for me. Finish with all the stuff that checks the boxes on the tr54, call the cops and have them fill out the tr54, then to the SOS with the tr54 and paragraph of explanation. I had the officer put my serial # as the vin on the tr54 and it allowed me to skip the state inspector. The SOS employee said it was a unique # in the system so i wouldnt need the state inspector to come out and put the vin sticker on and the tr54 counted as a state inspection. The Oakland County Sherriff was pretty particular about wipers, windshield, washers and bumpers. Hopefully your your local guys will be laid back about it.

 

[Ghostknife]

Sorry I was driving so I couldn’t quite type it out. Mahkoi typed it out well. If you have any questions please feel free to pm or text me.

 

[Mahkoi]

Once you get to the SoS stage the explanation paragraph that you need is a tr34. Here's a pdf version and a copy of mine. I didn't get any calls from the title guys in Lansing so they must be OK with this format.

 

[Ghostknife]

The only other bit of advice I can offer is, when the SOS tells you how long it’s going to be for the state inspector to come out, don’t listen to them…. Lol. It’s hard to find an excuse of why your car still isn’t built but you already when through the process… ask me how I know!

 

[Dunn]

Hello all! Potential SE Michigan builder here, so I figured this would be the best place to post!

Currently have to many vehicles and not enough time (due to a 1 and 3 year old) to enjoy all of them (2001 Wrangler, 2016 Fiesta ST, 2021 Bronco, 2010 Kawasaki Z1000, 2014 Suzuki VStrom 1000). Looking to downsize the fleet and get a project going with my Dad to build some memories(and a car!). I've dreamed of doing a Factory Five Roadster for the longest time, but can't justify the likely $55K budget. The Goblin seems like the better alternative. I also love the idea of repurposing a manual/FWD vehicle into a RWD adult go kart! (I wish there was a kit for my Fiesta ST!).

The market seems to be pretty terrible for decent donor vehicles (SC or TC) at the moment. So I figured I'd get my questions in while I search for the right one...

• Did you guys have your kits shipped to MI? If so, what should I plan on for cost?
• What did you do with the donor shell after disassembly? junk yard?
• Reading this thread, there appears to be several options for powdercoating in the area, so I think I'm all set there.
• Registration scares me a bit. I'd hate to end up building a ~$25K vehicle that I can't drive on the road. It appears to be dependent on WHO does the TR54 inspection. But it sounds like even people who got hit hard were able to come up with a glass windshield/wiper/washer solution to get it registered in MI. Let me know if you have any recommendations.
• When ordering the kit... any options you highly recommend? wish you ordered but didn't? regret ordering?

I appreciate any advice/guidance you guys can offer!

 

[Ross]

- donor shell gets sold for scrap metal... $50ish
- If MI registration is too big of a pain, you can always register the car thru the Montana method.
- The brake proportioning valve is a good option for stopping quicker, and more control. 5x114.3 hubs are nice if you want more options for aftermarket wheels.

 

[TravMac]

Hey welcome! Where about in SE Michigan are you from? There's a few around here so might be near by!

I was terrified for the registration too, but Michigan really does make it pretty straight forward. The assembled vehicle process is spelled out pretty well online, and a lot of testimonies here too. I finally registered mine, but all last year raced and took to car shows. Lots od fun ways to use the toy!

Shipping isn't too bad. You'd probably spend as much going down to get it yourself. If you call the folks at DF, they may know more current rates for that sort of distance.

Marketplace the shell or find a local junk yard, either way is fine. Just make sure you keep the title for registration.

I totally agree with the proportioning valve. It made a huge change on the cars handling. Just make sure to budget for a good wheel and tire too. Although I haven't installed mine yet, I've also heard great things about the new shifter. It's pretty cost effective, so worth doing up front instead of having to tear things down another day. I think parking break might be standard now... But that's good to get too if not.

Edit: and feel free to reach out too. Most everyone I've met here has been great to talk to and bounce ideas off of.

 

[snirtman]

Did you guys have your kits shipped to MI? If so, what should I plan on for cost?

Shipping #466 to western MI in March 2023 was $1100.

 

[Ghostknife]

Hello all! Potential SE Michigan builder here, so I figured this would be the best place to post!

Currently have to many vehicles and not enough time (due to a 1 and 3 year old) to enjoy all of them (2001 Wrangler, 2016 Fiesta ST, 2021 Bronco, 2010 Kawasaki Z1000, 2014 Suzuki VStrom 1000). Looking to downsize the fleet and get a project going with my Dad to build some memories(and a car!). I've dreamed of doing a Factory Five Roadster for the longest time, but can't justify the likely $55K budget. The Goblin seems like the better alternative. I also love the idea of repurposing a manual/FWD vehicle into a RWD adult go kart! (I wish there was a kit for my Fiesta ST!).

The market seems to be pretty terrible for decent donor vehicles (SC or TC) at the moment. So I figured I'd get my questions in while I search for the right one...

• Did you guys have your kits shipped to MI? If so, what should I plan on for cost?
• What did you do with the donor shell after disassembly? junk yard?
• Reading this thread, there appears to be several options for powdercoating in the area, so I think I'm all set there.
• Registration scares me a bit. I'd hate to end up building a ~$25K vehicle that I can't drive on the road. It appears to be dependent on WHO does the TR54 inspection. But it sounds like even people who got hit hard were able to come up with a glass windshield/wiper/washer solution to get it registered in MI. Let me know if you have any recommendations.
• When ordering the kit... any options you highly recommend? wish you ordered but didn't? regret ordering?

I appreciate any advice/guidance you guys can offer!

1. Shipping for #383 to SE Michigan was $1000 this time last year.

2. Everyone hit the nail on the head pretty well already. If you look back a few pages I posted about what it took for MI registration. Also when I was done with my donor, a guy drove down from Saginaw to pick it up, he does FWD circle track racing and uses cobalts. He doesn't need the title for it, so it works out. If you put it on FB marketplace it will go.

3. Im sure there is something local to you, I use Dun-Right Q.C. Coatings on 23 mile Rd. I was happy with the work done and the guy that runs it is super cool. He let me take home the frame and suspension that were done in Bronze and start assembling while I was waiting for the subframe to be done in black with out paying. He was $1400 for powder.

4. It does depend on who your inspector is but everyone who has set out to get it road legal has done it.

5. I ordered the 5x114 hubs and glad I did for wheels, the next option i would do is the 4x100 hubs for wheels. The 5x110 is just stupid to me lol.

Also depending where you are located, someone here I'm sure would be happy to meet up with you to take you for a ride/show you the car.

 

[Mahkoi]

Hello all! Potential SE Michigan builder here, so I figured this would be the best place to post!

Currently have to many vehicles and not enough time (due to a 1 and 3 year old) to enjoy all of them (2001 Wrangler, 2016 Fiesta ST, 2021 Bronco, 2010 Kawasaki Z1000, 2014 Suzuki VStrom 1000). Looking to downsize the fleet and get a project going with my Dad to build some memories(and a car!). I've dreamed of doing a Factory Five Roadster for the longest time, but can't justify the likely $55K budget. The Goblin seems like the better alternative. I also love the idea of repurposing a manual/FWD vehicle into a RWD adult go kart! (I wish there was a kit for my Fiesta ST!).

The market seems to be pretty terrible for decent donor vehicles (SC or TC) at the moment. So I figured I'd get my questions in while I search for the right one...

• Did you guys have your kits shipped to MI? If so, what should I plan on for cost?
• What did you do with the donor shell after disassembly? junk yard?
• Reading this thread, there appears to be several options for powdercoating in the area, so I think I'm all set there.
• Registration scares me a bit. I'd hate to end up building a ~$25K vehicle that I can't drive on the road. It appears to be dependent on WHO does the TR54 inspection. But it sounds like even people who got hit hard were able to come up with a glass windshield/wiper/washer solution to get it registered in MI. Let me know if you have any recommendations.
• When ordering the kit... any options you highly recommend? wish you ordered but didn't? regret ordering?

I appreciate any advice/guidance you guys can offer!

-Tr-54 all depends on the officer you get. My first guy didn't fill it out completely. Second attempt I got the officer who specializes in vehicle inspections for oakland county....that's not the guy you want. By the third attempt I had all the stuff to make it legal except for the glass windshield but the officer was cool with it.

- I broke my kit up in stages. Shipping on stage one was $1k. Shipping on stage 2&3 combined was only a couple hundred dollars if I remember correctly.

 

[Ghostknife]

-Tr-54 all depends on the officer you get. My first guy didn't fill it out completely. Second attempt I got the officer who specializes in vehicle inspections for oakland county....that's not the guy you want. By the third attempt I had all the stuff to make it legal except for the glass windshield but the officer was cool with it.

- I broke my kit up in stages. Shipping on stage one was $1k. Shipping on stage 2&3 combined was only a couple hundred dollars if I remember correctly.

Helps knowing a cop, my kit was still at the powder coat shop when I had it filled out lol

 

[Ghostknife]

Also, M1 concourse has a Cars and Coffee on Aug 5th 8-11am for Customs, Hot rods, and Pro-touring cars. Parking is FCFS so if anyone wants to go, we should meet before and ride in together.

 

[Dunn]

Appreciate all the feedback/advice!

I'm in New Hudson, near South Lyon. Which means I'm Oakland County, so "Second attempt I got the officer who specializes in vehicle inspections for oakland county....that's not the guy you want " made me laugh...

Thanks for the recommendations on the proportioning valve, I'll add that to my list. Although I don't think I saw it listed on the DF order form...

The shipping cost was right around what I would have expected, so that's good.

I'm currently talking with someone on Marketplace with an 06 SC for sale... although I'd really like an 08-10 TC

 

[Ghostknife]

Appreciate all the feedback/advice!

I'm in New Hudson, near South Lyon. Which means I'm Oakland County, so "Second attempt I got the officer who specializes in vehicle inspections for oakland county....that's not the guy you want " made me laugh...

Thanks for the recommendations on the proportioning valve, I'll add that to my list. Although I don't think I saw it listed on the DF order form...

The shipping cost was right around what I would have expected, so that's good.

I'm currently talking with someone on Marketplace with an 06 SC for sale... although I'd really like an 08-10 TC

Either one will make good power and will be a blast to drive. I would try to find the lowest mileage/best taken care of donor you can engine wise.

 

[SmsDetroit]

Appreciate all the feedback/advice!

I'm in New Hudson, near South Lyon. Which means I'm Oakland County, so "Second attempt I got the officer who specializes in vehicle inspections for oakland county....that's not the guy you want " made me laugh...

Thanks for the recommendations on the proportioning valve, I'll add that to my list. Although I don't think I saw it listed on the DF order form...

The shipping cost was right around what I would have expected, so that's good.

I'm currently talking with someone on Marketplace with an 06 SC for sale... although I'd really like an 08-10 TC

It all depends on your end goal. I went with a 09 LNF because I was just looking to make in the 300HP range which basically only takes a tune. If you and planning on building more than that the LSJ has was more aftermarket support.

 

[Mahkoi]

I think this is going be the first event I take the car to if the weather good. Feel free to hang out if you're interested.

Walter P Chrysler Museum
(248) 944-0439

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[SmsDetroit]

I’m in