§ 01
THE BRIEF
This 1950 Shoebox Ford is being built from a clean stock chassis into a full custom restomod. The top was chopped, the floors, firewall, transmission tunnel, and wheel tubs were all shaped from 14-gauge steel in-house. Aluminum inner fenders and a custom core support cover add detail under the hood. The drivetrain is a 550 HP Don Hardy LS3, visually disguised as a 1954 Lincoln Y-block, backed by a Bowler Performance 4L80E painted to match. Modern road manners come from a Mustang II front suspension, RideTech triangulated four-link, 9-inch rear end, and air ride. The car was featured in Wheel Hub Magazine in bare metal before it went to paint.
§ 02 — Note from the shop
"Classic post-war Ford lines hiding a modern, hand-disguised LS heartbeat."
§ 03 — Build journal
The updates.
A living log of every meaningful moment on this build — new photos, short notes, and the milestones worth marking.
4 UPDATES · 1 MILESTONES
Milestones
- JUL 10, 2026— In the paint booth
UPDATE 04 / 04
Jul 10, 2026
PAINT MILESTONEIn the paint booth
The Shoebox is now in the paint shop getting its final color. Bodywork and metal shaping are complete, and the top chop, firewall, and floor panels are ready for paint.
J001
J002
J003UPDATE 03 / 04
May 15, 2026
PRESSWheel Hub Magazine feature
The car was shot in bare metal for Wheel Hub Magazine, showing the custom firewall, floor, tunnel, and tubs before paint.
J004
J005
J006UPDATE 02 / 04
Mar 8, 2026
DRIVETRAINDrivetrain mocked up
The Don Hardy 376ci LS3 dropped in with its Lincoln Y-block disguise — gold valve covers, matching air cleaner, Holley EFI hidden behind period-correct dress-up.
J007
J008
J009UPDATE 01 / 04
Jan 12, 2026
METALWORKChop top in the seminar
The roof chop was performed during a hands-on seminar, with the pillars and glass openings reshaped to keep the Ford proportions intact.
J010§ 04 — Process
Chapter by chapter.
Every build is documented as it moves through the shop. Here's how this one came together.
C011Body & top chop
The stock Shoebox roof was chopped in-house during hands-on seminars. Every pillar and window opening was reshaped to keep the proportions right while dropping the silhouette.
C012Metal fabrication
14-gauge steel floor, transmission tunnel, wheel tubs, and firewall were all cut, formed, and fit in-house. Aluminum inner fenders and a custom core support cover complete the engine bay.
C013Drivetrain disguise
A 550 HP Don Hardy LS3 is dressed to look like a 1954 Lincoln Y-block. The Bowler Performance 4L80E is painted to match, so the package looks vintage from the outside and runs modern underneath.
C014Chassis & suspension
Modified stock chassis with Mustang II front suspension, RideTech triangulated four-link rear, 9-inch rear end, and air ride — modern ride height and handling with classic Ford bones.
§ 05 — Gallery
Frame by frame.
10 FRAMES · SHOT IN-HOUSE
G015G016G017G018G019G020G021G022G023G024§ 06 — Next steps
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