The Beginning: A Simple Request Turns Into Something Bigger
When our customer Frank came to us with a running, driving car and a simple request: dyno tuning, some wiring fixes, and a few minor tweaks. Little did we know that this project would soon snowball into something far bigger.
The SEMA Opportunity: A Call That Changed Everything
In the midst of working on Frank’s car, we got a call from our dyno manufacturer, Dynocom. They asked if we had a vehicle ready to showcase at SEMA 2018 — the biggest automotive trade show in the world. We took a quick look around the shop and immediately thought of Frank’s ride. We contacted him right away with the fantastic opportunity. But we made it clear: if we were going to bring this car to the central hall of SEMA, under the bright lights and alongside some of the world’s finest builds, we’d have to do some serious work. No “throw-together” builds or poorly executed cars that crowd the show. This needed to be something special.
Planning and Early Upgrades: Painting and Powertrain Decisions
While the car was a decent starting point, it required a ton of work to reach the level we envisioned. We began with repainting and cleaning up rough spots. Then Frank threw us a curveball: he wanted to swap in a 5.0L Coyote engine. And if we were doing that, a T56 Magnum transmission would be the perfect match. That’s when the project really took off.
Luckily, the previous shop had done excellent body and paint work. After fully disassembling the vehicle and sanding it down, we confirmed the car was never in an accident, giving us a great base to build on.
Paint Perfection: Choosing the Right Finish
With minor body repairs completed and the vehicle blocked several times, it was time for paint. Frank didn’t want an Eleanor clone but loved silver, so we chose a stunning Lexus silver base with a vintage clear coat. After careful color sanding and buffing, the finish gleamed with a flawless, showroom-quality shine.
Suspension and Drivetrain: Building for Performance
The car already had a TCI suspension installed by another shop, and since the work met our standards, it saved us valuable time. Once Frank committed to ditching the original 351W engine for the Coyote, we knew the final result would be incredible — but the hard work was just beginning.
When the Ford Racing Performance Package (engine and harness) arrived, along with the American Powertrain T56 Magnum transmission, we got to work fitting everything into the chassis. The stock inner fender wells looked out of place alongside the new motor, so we ditched them and hand-fabricated custom fender wells that look regal and fit perfectly — without stealing attention from the rest of the car.
Fabrication Challenges: Making It Fit and Flow
Frank was adamant about keeping the stock hood, so we made it work. Fitting the massive T56 Magnum required modifying the transmission tunnel to accommodate its size.
Mocking up the engine and transmission meant figuring out air intake routing. After several brainstorming sessions, we modified the front lower valance to channel air into a custom air box, ensuring the motor breathed clean, cool air.
The braking system posed another challenge. Neither the stock booster nor a hydro-booster fit with the new setup, so we opted for a manual brake system from Wilwood. We custom-mounted the reservoirs and master cylinders, and while we were working on the firewall, we smoothed it out for a cleaner, finished look.
Space was tight once all the components went in, but as you can see, we made it work beautifully.
Exhaust and Interior: Sound and Comfort
Of course, a build like this needed a great-sounding exhaust. We hand-built a custom stainless steel exhaust system in-house using 2 ½” mandrel bends. Getting everything to tuck perfectly without compromising looks or performance took some finesse, but the final product sounds fantastic.
Frank’s a tall guy, and these classic cars aren’t known for spacious interiors, so we installed seat mounts that moved the front seat back 4 inches and sliders that added another 2 inches of travel. That extra room makes all the difference for taller drivers.
Finishing Touches: Interior Work and Final Assembly
With mechanical, fabrication, and bodywork complete, it was time to finish the paint and tackle the interior. SEMA was fast approaching, and time was running out. That’s when we reached out to Chantell and Jimmy from Badass Productions, who had just wrapped a big project. They graciously came to our shop and installed carpet, hand-wrapped and hand-stitched the custom roll bar we fabricated in-house, and covered numerous interior panels in leather. The craftsmanship was outstanding — the interior transformed from basic to luxurious.
We couldn’t be happier with the work Badass Productions delivered, and we highly recommend their expertise to anyone wanting that perfect finishing touch.
