dchilds Don Childs Cass City, Michigan (9 posts) Registered: 09/03/2009 11:17PM Main British Car: 1976 TR6 Ford 302 |
Don's TRiStang
Owner: Don & Bridget Childs
City: Cass City, Michigan Car Model: Triumph TR6 Engine: 1993 Mustang 5.0 GT-40P Heads w/ Roller Rockers Edelbrock RPM Performer Intake Manifold Holly 650ccm Double Pumper w/ mechanical secondaries Trick Flow Specialties Stage 1 Cam Cooling: Custom Aluminum 'Mark 7" Radiator Spal Electric Fan Exhaust: Patriot Tight Tuck Headers Patriot Side Pipes Transmission: 1993 Mustang T-5 B&M Short Throw Shifter Rear Axle: Narrowed TurboCoupe: 4-Lug; 3:55 Posi; Disc Brakes Front Susp.: Altered front stock suspension for more Camber Modified QA1 Mustang II Adjustable Coil-Over Shocks Rear Susp.: Owner built Adjustable 5-Link Adjustable Coil-Over Shocks Brakes: (master) 'Right Stuff Detailing" Master Cylinder/ Brake Booster Speedway Motors Adjustable Rear Proportioning Valve (front) Stock TR6 Slotted Rotors (rear) Stock TurboCoupe Slotted Rotors Wheels: 17 x 9 Mustang Cobra 'R' Tires: (Front) Kuhmo 225/45-17 (Rear) Nitto 555 Drag Radials 275/40-17 Body Mods: Shaved door handles, side marker lights & Wrap-around Bumper '65 Mustang Tail Lights Recessed Side-Pipes "Shaker" Hood Scoop Front & Rear Nerf Bumpers Custom Grille Fuel Cell Interior: Aftermarket Seats (Black w/ Red Stiching) 4 Point Racing Harness Aftermarket Stearing Wheel (Black w/ Red Stiching) Dual Hoop Roll Bar Custom Aluminum Dash NUV Performance Series White Face Gauges Electrical: Trunk Mounted Optima Battery Carter Electric Fuel Pump I have always dreamed of building a replica Cobra since a kid. Been following the Cobra replica industry for years. Even visited the Factory Five factory & seriously considered it until I restored a TR6 & discovered 'British V8" I've been into cars all my life. Helped my uncle build a Manx dune buggy in the 60's when I was about 12. He was also into drag & dirt track racing, so I was always around it. My 1st cars in order: '62 V8 Impala, '67 429 Thunderbird, '69 MG Midget (myself & a buddy of mine circled the U.S. with this car in 1977) '68 289 Mustang, '70 Plum Crazy Cuda I owned for 25 years & never should of sold. Many more too numerous to mention. (or recall) Was into off-road racing in the late '80's & built a few Jeeps & sand rails, also quads. Was a machinist/ machine builder for 25 years, so I have an advantage in fabrication skills. Nobody should take a project like this lightly. Here's a picture of the '72 TR6 I restored about 8 years ago & have since sold. Looking at the parts car I had left over from the TR6 build got me to thinkin'..........hmmmm............what if?????? Goal: Fast, Save, Low Budget, Good Handling & Braking, Emulate the Cobra/ Mustang Look. Motto: KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) Cut out the rusty rockers. Replaced with sheet metal to recess the side-pipes. Engine fits! Minor cutting. Set as low & far back as practical. Bottom of Oil pan even with bottom of Frame. Need access hole in footwell to access Drivers side rear spark plug. Steering is gunna' be tight! The old & the new, or is it the new & the old. I'm confused. Always loved "Shaker" Hoods. Scary cutting a hole in a perfectly good hood. (Oop's, Bonnet) Check out the old "So-Cal" Scoop. E-Bay find. Never cared for the wrap around bumper & Tail-Lights on the TR6, so....... Filled in the recesses & installed '65 Mustang Tail-Lights. Luv it or hate it. It's mine. Mustang 4 lug 17x9" wheels really set it off. Plugged & re-drilled front hubs for correct bolt battern. (Thanks Ken Hiebert) On to the chassis. Was very happy with the condition of the Chassis upon disassembly. Virtually no rust or damage. I feel guilty having to modify it. (OK, I’m over it) Frame Strengthening: Added tubing to triangulate frame & for the transmission mount. Note how the loads from the lower suspensions links will be spread throughout the frame. Notched frame for exhaust pipe clearance. Don’t want em’ draggin’ the ground. Modified upper A-Arm mounts for more Camber. Installed altered QA1 Mustang II adjustable Coil-Over Shocks. (Thanks Les Shockey) Ditched the independent rear end. Owner designed & built adjustable 3-Link suspension with adjustable Coil-Over Shocks. (Modeled after FFR spec Cobra) Reinforced frame with ¼”x 2x2 tubing. Narrowed 8.8” out of a 1988 Ford TuboCoupe. (Posi, 3:55 gears, Disc Brakes) Engine Mounts. The Engine (Detailing by Bridget) Is that a car or a go-cart????? Sheet metal work to cover up what was removed for engine clearance. Dropping the Body back on to the completed chassis. Fabricated Transmission Tunnel Body work....Yuck....I'm a lucky man, my wife likes it. Ready for paint!!!!!!! Laying out stripes. One word: Tedious Lookin Good. Viper Pearl Blue. Pearl White Stripe. Headin' home from the paint booth. Wheels & SidePipes. She's looking fine with her jewlery on. Tail Lights on. Man, she's got a fine lookin' rear end. I'm real happy with the look. Still deciding on a bumper. Windshield & Head Lights. Aluminum grille material on order. Went with 427 Cobra Bumperettes turned 90 degrees Also on the Front. Gauges & Dash Layout. Roll Bar Mock-up. Dash and RollBar mounted. Wiring....Arghhhhh...!!! Dash painted by "Bridget" Interior.....Getting Close Shifter with real 8 Ball Edited 38 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/2017 09:35AM by dchilds. |