'65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi Dash
Moderators: Dan Szwarc, jleonard
- SouthernOctaneGarage
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'65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi Dash
We have a pretty wild project going on right now here at Southern Octane Garage! We're working away 7 days a week to get this wicked custom '65 continental convertible ready to debut at this year's SEMA show in Vegas. The owner of the car is a Suicide Slabs member (Joshua Bazzetta) that came to us originally about a year ago to get some rust repaired and floor pan & rocker panel patches installed/fabricated. We originally finished up the floors and rockers and sent the car back out to the customer to tuck back away to "finish" the project on his own and with some other shops in the mix.
About 3 1/2 months ago this slab landed back in our shop to get the bodywork ready to send it off to paint. Well one thing led to another and we saw that the bodywork and sheetmetal on the car needed to be addressed more than originally thought (we had to strip this bitch all the way down!). The original build plan was much much, much more mild than this but we saw a great opportunity to build something truly amazing as we started to tear into the car. With the customer already discussing an airbag suspension setup, and a 4.6 ford mod motor swap -- we kicked around multiple ideas and ended up taking things to a much more in-depth build.
Long story short, this particular Continental had a lot of rust and rot in the inner rocker panels, the main frame sections under the passenger area, and had bondo piled sky high on multiple body panels. Sooo, we worked up a build plan and vision and began cutting everything away to get back to square one.
We decided on sourcing a 2003+ Lincoln Navigator so that we could build this restomod project around the 5.4 mod motor AND utilize the majority of the interior electronics and creature comforts from the Navigator as well including the dash, steering column, gauge cluster, etc. Once it's all said and done this 1965 Continental will think it's 2006 Lincoln Navigator with working OBD2 wiring.
The build highlights include:
- Chassis & Suspension:
-- Custom designed & fabricated full tubular chassis
-- Custom designed & fabricated IFS with power rack and pinion based on Mustang II geometry
-- Tubular upper & lower control arms designed & fabricated in-house
-- Ford 8.8 rear end narrowed and new axles for 5x5 bolt pattern
-- Airlift bags front and rear with AccuAir E-Level air management system
-- 14.25" 4-piston Brembo front brakes
- Drivetrain & Performance:
-- 2006 Lincoln Navigator 5.4 3v mod motor (rebuilt and all VVT issues addressed including billet cam phaser lockouts)
-- Ported & polished heads
-- COMP Cams Mutha' Thumpr camshafts (very aggressive and choppy idle!)
- Interior
-- 2006 Lincoln Navigator dash modified and sectioned down to fit
-- 2006 Lincoln Navigator full body/chassis harness & wiring to support electronics and creature comforts including cruise control, gauge cluster, power adjustable pedal assembly, etc.
-- Custom door panels
-- Rear bench seat split into pseudo bucket seats
-- Front and rear seats re-foamed and bolstered design
-- Custom leather upholstery from the dash through the rear
-- Navigator console sectioned down and extended thru a custom console running thru the rear seats
-- German square weave carpet
- Exterior
-- 22" Asanti Forged Wheels
-- Laser straight body work (you don't need to modify much on these slabs for them to look trick as hell -- just get them straight and slick!)
-- Fresh chrome and brightwork
-- Ford Kona Blue w/ extra pearl by Matrix Automotive Finishes
-- LED headlights and taillights
We're excited to build this one for sure, and we're documenting the entire build process through weekly build update videos. I'll post those all up here too.
Southern Octane Garage. Full service hot rod & restoration shop. Hot rods, restorations, & muscle cars custom built in Suwanee, GA.
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
- SouthernOctaneGarage
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Build update 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlZEXapW3XQ
Build update 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-say-ErdfI
Build update 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZkiEXcjo3E
Build update 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2xnNjuYysQ
Build update 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdB0_MTo0t8
Build update 6:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrKXjFrTBqQ
Edit -- how do I embed these videos? I tried the full URL in the [youtube][/youtube] tag, and just the video ID but neither worked?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlZEXapW3XQ
Build update 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-say-ErdfI
Build update 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZkiEXcjo3E
Build update 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2xnNjuYysQ
Build update 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdB0_MTo0t8
Build update 6:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrKXjFrTBqQ
Edit -- how do I embed these videos? I tried the full URL in the [youtube][/youtube] tag, and just the video ID but neither worked?
Southern Octane Garage. Full service hot rod & restoration shop. Hot rods, restorations, & muscle cars custom built in Suwanee, GA.
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
- Steve K
- Lincoln-ally Insane
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
That's just SICK! Can't wait to see it finished.
2018 Lincoln Continental
1964 Lincoln Continental Sedan
1948 Mercury Town Sedan,
1959 Mercury Montclair
1964 Lincoln Continental Sedan
1948 Mercury Town Sedan,
1959 Mercury Montclair
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
an excellent reason to go to Vegas and see this build
Robert DeFrang
- SouthernOctaneGarage
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Thanks guys -- definitely try to get by the Asanti Wheels booth (#61010) to check it out if you're out at SEMA this year!
Southern Octane Garage. Full service hot rod & restoration shop. Hot rods, restorations, & muscle cars custom built in Suwanee, GA.
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
- SouthernOctaneGarage
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
We've got some exciting progress on the chassis to share with you guys -- we've been through two main chassis rail designs/layouts so far and a few versions of our one-off custom front suspension setup. We've been learning and tweaking as we go to really get this dialed in properly for the best ride height, engine clearance (these mod motors are no joke size wise!) and track width for wheel clearance and turning radius.
As of tonight the front frame section is complete, the front subframe (v3) is tacked together, the tubular control arms are DONE, the steering rack is mounted in proper location (with great geometry -- so no crazy bumpsteer), the Ford 8.8 rear has been narrowed, the rear 4 link has been started, and probably more that I'm forgetting.
Tomorrow we start on engine and transmission mounting and get back on the rear 4 link!
Anyway here's photos:
Tubular control arms designed and TIG'd up!
We've R&D'd a more affordable big brake kit with 14.25" rotors and 4 piston Brembo calipers
(v1 or v2 of the front frame section and subframe)
Ford 5.4 mod motor in for the first time
And these are the photos are of tonight with the Lincoln Continental chassis front suspension partially mocked up:
As of tonight the front frame section is complete, the front subframe (v3) is tacked together, the tubular control arms are DONE, the steering rack is mounted in proper location (with great geometry -- so no crazy bumpsteer), the Ford 8.8 rear has been narrowed, the rear 4 link has been started, and probably more that I'm forgetting.
Tomorrow we start on engine and transmission mounting and get back on the rear 4 link!
Anyway here's photos:
Tubular control arms designed and TIG'd up!
We've R&D'd a more affordable big brake kit with 14.25" rotors and 4 piston Brembo calipers
(v1 or v2 of the front frame section and subframe)
Ford 5.4 mod motor in for the first time
And these are the photos are of tonight with the Lincoln Continental chassis front suspension partially mocked up:
Southern Octane Garage. Full service hot rod & restoration shop. Hot rods, restorations, & muscle cars custom built in Suwanee, GA.
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
- burnski
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Wow! Following.
- sauceman
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Holy boxed frame batman! Looking good so far, would like to know how much this things weighs when it's finished.
cheers
cheers
Good judgement comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgement.
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My 1977 Town Car build
Yugoslavia '94' , Israel/Syria '99 , Bosnia '02 , Afghanistan '08-'09
My 1977 Town Car build
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Looks great, but must be a huge cost and maybe a profit should this be auctioned off eventually.
Well done all concerned.
Well done all concerned.
An Aussie guy who loves cars.
1978 Silcco four door convertible (to be restored).
1978 Silcco four door convertible (to be restored).
- SouthernOctaneGarage
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Thanks guys!
So we've made some serious progress this past week on the chassis
- Front suspension completely tacked and bag brackets in place
- Ford 5.4 mod motor & 6 speed automatic transmission all mounted up
- Ford 8.8 rearend has been narrowed and new Moser axles ordered
- 4 link progress
So I'm going to just jump into the photos:
So we've made some serious progress this past week on the chassis
- Front suspension completely tacked and bag brackets in place
- Ford 5.4 mod motor & 6 speed automatic transmission all mounted up
- Ford 8.8 rearend has been narrowed and new Moser axles ordered
- 4 link progress
So I'm going to just jump into the photos:
Southern Octane Garage. Full service hot rod & restoration shop. Hot rods, restorations, & muscle cars custom built in Suwanee, GA.
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
- Steve K
- Lincoln-ally Insane
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
I get crazy jealous when I see someone with a vision like this AND the skills and tools to pull it off at the rate you are going and with such awesome fabrication. Would you like another project when you're done with this one? I have a vision........but that's about it as far as this type of custom build. Fascinating project to watch.
2018 Lincoln Continental
1964 Lincoln Continental Sedan
1948 Mercury Town Sedan,
1959 Mercury Montclair
1964 Lincoln Continental Sedan
1948 Mercury Town Sedan,
1959 Mercury Montclair
- SouthernOctaneGarage
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Our latest build video is online now if you're more for the brief video type (1 minute recap)
[youtube]lNirn24fTCk[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNirn24fTCk
[youtube]lNirn24fTCk[/youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNirn24fTCk
Southern Octane Garage. Full service hot rod & restoration shop. Hot rods, restorations, & muscle cars custom built in Suwanee, GA.
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
- SouthernOctaneGarage
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
We just the body off so we can finish up the chassis welding and finalize the 4-link setup in the rear:
Southern Octane Garage. Full service hot rod & restoration shop. Hot rods, restorations, & muscle cars custom built in Suwanee, GA.
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
http://southernoctanegarage.com/our-wor ... 016-build/
https://www.facebook.com/SouthernOctane/
- LC67Vert
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Re: '65 Continental Vert Full Frame Restomod w/ 5.4 & Navi D
Incredible project. Can't wait to watch the build unfold and based apon the renderings the car is going to be a real beauty. Thanks for posting all the photos!!!
Jeff
1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible
1967 Lincoln Continental Convertible
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