"StreetRodder Magazine Feature Car"

THE BUILD

It started with the well thought out Factory Five kit and used what they call the Donor Build. We purchased a real nice 1996 Lincoln Mark VIII with bad air ride and drove it home on the bump stops. It ran great. other than the ride. and we proceeded to remove all the usable goodies from the Donor. We salvaged the engine and trans including all the accessory drives and A/C and P/S pumps. We even used the Shifter assy and the driveshaft yoke and the engine fuel lines. We removed the complete rear end assembly  from brake to brake and used most of those pieces to construct the IRS assembly. We removed all the electronics that manage the engine. trans. fuel pump and cooling fan and then we sent the hulk off to scrap.

We were quite pleased that none of the components showed any signs of leaking so we pressured washed everything and began the detail process. We never unmated the engine and trans and we just spent hours deburing casting flashing from the engine block. heads and transmission. The block is one of the sought after Italian made aluminum Teckskid blocks and the casting is Ferrari quality and the 4R70W transmission was another story as it had many casting issues and unneeded bosses that we choose to remove. We cut and ground and polished the case until it was flawless and then we acid washed it to achieve the finish we desired. We removed the transmission pan to remove some dents created by the removal and painted it Victory red acrylic enamel to match the engine oil pan.

We also removed the valve covers and intake manifold to grind. polish and paint to match the chassis in Victory Red Acrylic enamel and while we were at it we installed new injectors and spark plugs as we just assumed after 119. 00 miles she was probably due for a change. To our amazement the inside of the engine was spotless most likely due to the use of synthetic oil since new as told by the original owner.

We dissembled the Mark VIII rear end assembly and treated the cast aluminum center section to the same process as the trans and did nothing more than install new output seals to insure a good seal to the new halfshafts. We mocked up the rear end using some simple drawings and wood to achieve the camber curve we felt proper for our Hot Rod. We fabricated an aluminum lower control arm inner mount that also adapted a Speedway Motors Fake Q/C cover to give the diff the Cool look we desired. We treated the original brake calipers and knuckles to the same extensive prep process and painted them Victory red as the windows in the Billet Specialities 20” wheels exposed the internals and we thought the red would really Pop! We used ceramic specialty paint on the front and rear calipers that is durable and shinny. When laying out the rear end assembly we wanted a very deep look on the 12” wide wheels so we made the assembly 58” hub to hub. We made the control arms out of 1 ¼” chromemoly that we TIG welded and we urethane mounted the center section to isolate any possible vibration. The fact that the driveshaft does not move up and down during travel allowed us to make a much smaller tunnel therefore increasing interior room for the VW Golf GTI seats and the console we fabricated with ¼” veneer and fiberglass resin. mat and cloth. We extensively modified the supplied fiberglass trans tunnel to allow us to use the Mark VIII shifter and trans controls.

We did not want that hollow tube ringing you get with tubular headers so we purchased some Cobra take offs on the internet  and ported and polished them and had them ceramic coated in a near chrome finish. We took the supplied 2 ¼” polished Stainless Steel exhaust pipes and modified them extensively to fit our lowered engine. IRS and our hand made rear exit tips.

We had to make a custom water outlet to route around the steering and control arms and we modified the OEM thermostat housing to fit our needs. The supplied Afco radiator required only a hand polish and the install of an aluminum fan shroud made by Replicaparts. com to finish the cooling system. We purchased a heater a/c kit from Southern Air and modified it extensively to fit the small available cowl area and we handmade the compressor line block and lines and condenser mounting. Once again we used the Donor compressor as it was blowing cold when we removed it.  

The chassis wiring supplied with the kit was very generic and was usable for the most part but required altering to meet our needs. We choose to use the OEM PCM and Scott Bowers of The Detail Zone supplied us with a high quality wiring loom they call a Telorvek system which connects all the OEM controls to a common panel. Bowers also flashed the PCM to delete the CATS. GR and other smog related items followed by an improved fuel and ignition curve. The OEM system controls the engine and trans and even the cooling fan and in tank fuel pump supplied by Tanks Inc. The instructions and customer support were very good and the kit came with everything needed to complete the 30 plus hour job.

We were not happy with the Factory Five supplied fuel tank so we designed a unit and had it made by Boyd's Welding in Florida out of 6061 aluminum. We outfitted the chassis with QA1 Ultra Ride coilovers with chrome springs and 18 position ride control.

To eliminate any possibility of shrinkage in the finish we used only Spies Hecker “Slow” hardeners and reducers throughout the complete process and followed mixing procedures to the letter. All this was made easy by the fact that Dan once owned the Spies Hecker distribution in Arizona and was of course very versed in the proper application of there products.

After the surfaces were completely cured they were sanded again using the Mequiars Mirror Glaze brand finishing system. That started with the Unigrit 1200 Finishing paper followed by 2500 and then the use of only foam pads on a low speed buffer with #105 Ultra Cut compound followed by the #9 Swirl Remover finished off with the #21 Synthetic Polymer Sealant applied using the Mequiars orbital polisher and micro fiber towels.

The complete chassis and all the steel accessories were treated to many hours of weld grinding to remove welding slag and imperfections and then sandblasted and powder coated in red #3 by Affordable Powdercoat of Phoenix Arizona. Their name doesn't say it all! It should say Affordable and the BEST!

The project of transforming the kit into the Hot Rod Lincoln took one year and over 3500 man hours to complete. But as they say a true Hot Rod is never complete. you're always refining and changing the performance and looks to meet your personal needs and desires! 

After the Build    

Vehicle:           1933 Hot Rod Coupester - Factory Five

Build Time:     18 Months

Built by:          Innovative Rodding Specialists  Dan and Fred Ruth

CHASSIS

Frame:             Factory Five Tubular Space Frame           

Material:          Mild steel tubing various sizes

Modifications:  Ground and filled all welds. lowered engine mounts 1”. Installed custom

                       IRS and Trailer hitch.   Powdercoated by Affordable Powdercoating

           Phoenix. AZ. Phoenix. Az

REAR SUSPENSION         

Springs:           QA1 2. 5” Chrome Coilovers           

Shocks:           QA1    UltraRide           

Brakes:            Lincoln MK VIII rear10. 2” cross drilled and slotted

FRONT SUSPENSION

Suspension:     Factory Five Tubular Rocker-Arm inboard shocks  

Spindles:         Factory Five

Steering:          89 Dodge Omni Power rack & pinion

Brakes:            PBR  11”

Master cylinder:   Wilwood ¾”

Pedal assembly:    Wilwood

Steering column:   Ididit

Other suspension modifications

Outer tie rods with Heim joints and risers for bump steer adjustment and the addition of a 89 Dodge Omni Power R&P

Fuel tank:        Boyd's Welding 6061 aluminum 15 gl.

WHEELS:      Billet Specialties  Legacy 2G

Front:              18 X 8  backspacing 4”

Rear:               20 X 12  backspacing 5 ¾”

TIRES:        

GOODYEAR: Eagle F1 GS-D3

Front:               245/35ZR-18

Rear:                305/35ZR-20

ENGINE:  

1996  Lincoln   4 cam 32 valve 

Displacement    4. 6 LT

Water pump:    OEM

Fan:                 SPA1 Electric

Radiator:         AFCO    Aluminum

Alternator:       120 Amp polished

Valve covers:   OEM “Massaged”

Intake manifold:   OEM with hand made plenum

Fuel injection:     OEM

Air cleaner:         Walker AirSep

Ignition:              OEM               Wires:  Taylor “Custom”

Headers:            2003 Ford Cobra OEM   Ported. Polished and Coated

Exhaust system:   Stainless Steel  2 ¼”

Mufflers:             Flowmaster Stainless Steel   HP-2 Laminar Flow

Horsepower:      350 est             Torque:   300 est

DRIVETRAIN

Transmission:    1996 Ford   4R70W

Trans assembled by:  Performance Trans – Rapid City SD

Driveshaft:         Factory Five

EXTERIOR

Body style:        33 Coupster     Fiberglass

Manufacturer:    Factory Five

Top:                  Innovative Rodding Specialists Coupster.   Removable top with 3” chop           

Body mods:      Top was modified to use  Roadster windshield.   Headlights were recessed into fenders and were bobbed.

Hood:              Factory Five  Fiberglass

Grill:                Factory Five   Aluminum Insert

Bodywork by:Dan Ruth  Innovative Rodding Specialists. Litchfield Park. AZ

Paint:               Spies Hecker   Victory Red

Painter:            Dan Ruth - Innovative Rodding Specialists. Litchfield Park. AZ

Headlights:       Factory Five                Taillights:   42 Ford from Rodworx

Outside mirrors:           Southern Rods

Front/Rear Roll Pan:    Factory Five

Door handles/Glass:     Factory Five

Chrome by:     Repete     Phoenix. AZ

INTERIOR

Dash:               Factory Five  -  Fiberglass  

Insert:              Parr Auto           Gauges:    AutoMeter  Platinum

Head unit:       Kenwood    KDC-138

Rear speakers: Kenwood  6”

Subwoofer:      Tweeters – Ross   TW15   250 Watt

Stereo installation:   Innovative Rodding Specialists

Air conditioning:  Southern Air

 Insulation:          Hushmat

Compressor:      OEM               Drier:  Southern Air

Vents:                Southern Air     Control panel:  Innovative Rodding Specialists

Wiring:               Ron Francis/Detail Zone         By:  Innovative Rodding Specialists

Steering wheel:   Factory Five            Interior mirror:  Vintiques

Seats:                 Bucket Seats  2004 VW Golf GTI

Upholstery:        By Nacho's   North Hills. CA      Tan Vinyl

Carpet:              Black Loop

Door panels:      Factory Five       Custom console:  Innovative Rodding Specialists

Seatbelts:         GM  OEM Style

Tote-em Custom Luggage Trailer 

33 Hi Boy Mini

20 cubic feet interior storage interior 48'x 31'x 25'

Overall outside dimensions – 90” long – 48” wide 39” tall with standard tires.

Unloaded weight – 150 lbs.

Cross weight – 550 lbs

2 x 2 square tube chassis

1000 lb. torsion axle w/ 4. 5” on 5 bolt pattern

Jegs 15 x 4 Sport Mag 11 polished alloy wheels.

Discount Tire Arizonian 165R-15 Tires with matching spare.

Spies Hecker Victory Red BC/CC Urethane finish.

2 x 3 mild steel tubing chassis

1/8” diamond plate surface

2ea. 3000 lb electric winches

Self contained battery and Solar charger system

Electric tongue jack

Aluminum ramps

2” nylon tiedowns and ratchet system

Aluminum storage box

12v loading spot lights

Electric trailer brakes and LED taillights

#3 Red BC/CC Powdercoated throughout

Aluminum fenders

17” x 7” Cragar 390 Street Pro Chrome wheels with Knock offs

Firestone Transforce HT 225/75/R17 Load range E Tires

5000 lb. Torsion beam axle w/ 4. 5 on 5 bolt pattern

Also published at eBay.com

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