1966 Military Mustang Thrash

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE WE'RE GONNA SLIP UNDERNEATH OUR LOW DOLLAR IROC AND MAKE SOME BUDGET SUSPENSION UPGRADES. PLUS A TEXAS STYLE MILITARY MUSTANG THRASH FOR THE SEMA SHOW.

(TOMMY)>> LAST TIME YOU SAW OUR IROCZ BUDGET PROJECT WE WERE PULLING THE SEATS OUT AND VACUUMING UP SOME DOG FOOD. THAT WAS ALL PART OF THE INTERIOR REBUILD THAT TOOK

IT FROM NASTY TO CLASSY FOR RIGHT AT $1,000 BUCKS, AND IT TURNED OUT PRETTY GOOD.

(MARC)>> YOU MIGHT ALSO REMEMBER THAT WE PLUGGED IN A NITROUS HUFFING 350 AND STRAPPED IT TO THE DYNO, WHERE WE FOUND THAT WE'D DOUBLED THE POWER OUTPUT OF THIS '86 CAMARO.

(TOMMY)>> WITH ALL THOSE UPGRADES WE JUST ABOUT GOT

OUR IROC DIALED IN, BUT THERE ARE FEW SMALL ISSUES THAT WE'RE WANTING TO TAKE CARE OF AND THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF CONVERSATION FOR TODAY.

(MARC)>> NOW WHAT THAT IS IS THE SUSPENSION. NOW THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THIS THIRD GEN FBODY'S FRONT SUSPENSION IS REALLY GOOD OVERALL. HOWEVER THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT, LIKE THE WEAR ITEMS. TIE ROD ENDS, SWAY BAR LINKS, BALL JOINTS, ALL OF OURS MAY BE DIRTY AND GREASY BUT THEY'RE IN REALLY GOOD SHAPE. THE NEXT THING YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ARE THE SWAY BARS. NOW THIS '86 IROCZ WOULD HAVE COME EQUIPPED WITH A 32 MILLIMETER FRONT SWAY BAR. SOMEONE'S ALREADY UPGRADED THIS ONE TO A 36 MILLIMETER, WHICH IS ALMOST AN INCH AND SEVENTHSIXTEENTHS THICK. PLENTY FOR WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING. THE NEXT THING YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WOULD BE AARMS. THERE ARE SOME AFTERMARKET AARMS AVAILABLE AND THEY'RE ABOUT $500 BUCKS FOR THE PAIR. NOT IN OUR BUDGET, AND BESIDES, WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE THE LIMIT OF THESE ANYWAY. WHAT WE ARE GONNA SPEND OUR MONEY ON THOUGH WOULD BE THOSE STRUTS.

(TOMMY)>> AS FAR AS THE REAR SUSPENSION OF OUR IROC, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SETUP AS WELL. THE ONLY ISSUE IS IT'S GOT A FEW COMPONENTS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT WEAK, ESPECIALLY WHENEVER YOU CONSIDER WE'RE THROWING TWICE THE POWER AT IT. NOW ONE OF THE ICONIC PIECES TO THE THIRD GENS IS THIS TORQUE ARM. LIKE WE MENTIONED WITH THE POWER THAT WE'RE THROWING AT IT, WHAT THIS THING DOES IS IT'LL FLEX AND TWEAK A LITTLE BIT. GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S A LOT OF COMPONENTS AVAILABLE FOR THESE THINGS. THEY JUST SIMPLY BOLT IN PLACE. WE'LL GET THESE REAR END DROPPED DOWN AND GO AHEAD AND GET A FEW THINGS OUT OF THE WAY, INCLUDING THE SPRINGS AND THE DRIVESHAFT.

WE'LL ALSO BE REMOVING THE SHOCKS SINCE WE'RE

REPLACING THOSE, AND WITH EVERYTHING FREED UP THE

REAR END CAN COME OUT.

(MARC)>> ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'VE GOT THE REAR END OF OUR IROC ALL DISASSEMBLED, IT'S TIME TO START TAKING A LOOK AT THE PARTS WE'RE GONNA PUT BACK IN.

WE WENT TO SUMMIT RACING FOR A BUNCH OF THIS STUFF FROM UMI. NOW THE LINCHPIN OF THIS REAR SUSPENSION IS THE TORQUE ARM. THIS ONE'S MADE FROM INCH AND A QUARTER STEEL

TUBING, HAS SOLID ROD ENDS, AND A THREEEIGHTHS PLATE WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE REAR END. NOW YOU COMPARE THAT TO THE STOCK PIECE AND IT

DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO REALIZE HOW MUCH STRONGER

THIS ONE IS, AND IT'LL PROVIDE US WITH A LOT LESS DEFLECTION. NOW MOVING ON TO THE CONTROL ARMS. CONTROL ARMS AND THE PAN HARD ROD ARE SIMPLE CONSTRUCTION BUT VERY EFFECTIVE. THEY HAVE THESE POLY URETHANE MOUNTS, GREASE

ZERKS, AND THEY'RE DIRECT BOLT INS. COMPARE THAT TO THE STOCK UNIT AND JUST LIKE THE TORQUE ARM, HUGE DIFFERENCE. ANOTHER PIECE WE OPTED FOR IS THIS TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER. IT'S DESIGNED TO WORK WITH OUR NEW TORQUE ARM, HAS A POLY MOUNT, AND A BUILT IN DRIVESHAFT LOOP. NOW INSTALLING ALL THOSE NEW STIFFER SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WOULD ALL BE A WASTE IF YOU GOT A BUNCH OF FLEX IN YOUR CHASSIS.

THAT'S WHERE THESE SUBFRAME CONNECTORS COME IN. NOW THIRD GEN CAMAROS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING A FLEXIBLE CHASSIS, AND ADD IN THE FACT THAT OURS HAS TTOPS AND WE DOUBLED THE POWER OUTPUT. WE DEFINITELY NEED A SET OF THESE. NOW WE'RE GONNA GET STARTED.

THE FIRST THING GOING IN, THIS

TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER. WE'LL USE A SCREW JACK TO HOLD THE TRANNY UP AND GET THE OLD CROSS MEMBER OUT OF THE WAY. THEN SLIDING IT DOWN THE DRIVESHAFT WE CAN INSTALL THE NEW CROSS MEMBER IN THE FACTORY LOCATION. [ DRILL SPINNING ]

(MARC)>> NOW FOR THE CONTROL ARMS.

WE'LL USE SOME LUBE THAT CAME WITH THE KIT TO MAKE INSTALLATION A LITTLE EASIER. THEN THEY CAN BE PLUGGED INTO PLACE.

WITH THAT DONE WE CAN START

REATTACHING THE REAR END.

WE ALSO OPTED FOR A SET OF SWAY BAR CONNECTORS SINCE THE ONES THAT WERE ON THE CAR LOOKED WORN OUT AND THEY'RE NOT VERY EXPENSIVE.

(TOMMY)>> NOW AS FOR SHOCKS WE NEEDED TO UPGRADE THOSE AS WELL BECAUSE THEY LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED. SO WHAT WE GOT ARE SET OF KYB'S FROM SUMMIT RACING. THEY'RE ADJUSTABLE, AND BY THE TWIST OF THIS DIAL IT'S THAT EASY OF AN UPGRADE. INSTALL IS A BREEZE. THESE CARS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOP SHOCK MOUNT, WHICH IS FASTENED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT MIGHT HELP TO HAVE A BUDDY UP TOP TO GET THEM TIGHTENED DOWN.

THE BOTTOM MOUNTS ARE YOUR TYPICAL STYLE. JUST SLIP THEM ON AND FASTEN THEM DOWN.

(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO STIFFEN A CHASSIS AND SET YOUR PINION ANGLE.

(TOMMY)>> ALRIGHT GUYS WE'RE READY TO INSTALL OUR TORQUE ARM. NOW IF YOU'RE RUNNING THIS STYLE SUSPENSION IT HAS A FEW BENEFITS. ONE OF THEM IS IT HAS LESS BIND DURING ARTICULATION OR FLEX OF THE REAR. ANOTHER THING YOU WANT TO KEEP IN MIND. IF YOU'RE RUNNING A STOCK STYLE UNIT HERE, IF YOU RAISES OR LOWER THE HEIGHT OF THE CAR, WELL YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO ADJUST YOUR PINION ANGLE AND THIS ONE WILL LET YOU DO IT.

(MARC)>> THE MAIN PURPOSE BEHIND THIS TORQUE ARM IS TO PREVENT AXLE WRAP, WHICH WILL CAUSE WHEEL HOP.

WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SLIP OUR SPRINGS BACK INTO PLACE SINCE THESE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. AND THEN THE PAN HARD BAR CAN BE INSTALLED.

ALRIGHT SO NORMALLY THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO GO AHEAD AND SET THE PINION ANGLE AND THEN TIGHTEN ALL OF OUR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, BUT WE REALLY CAN'T DO THAT UNTIL THE CAR'S DOWN ON ALL FOURS. SO FOR NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE FRONT.

(TOMMY)>> THE UPGRADE WE'RE GONNA BE DOING ON THE FRONT DOESN'T HAVE THE LABOR THAT IT TOOK BACK

THERE IN THE BACK. ALL WE'RE GONNA BE SWAPPING OUT UP HERE IS

THE FRONT STRUT. BUT BEFORE YOU GET TOO SLAP HAPPY AND START TAKING EVERYTHING APART, REMEMBER THAT THING'S GOT A COIL SPRING HIDDEN IN THERE. YOU DON'T WANT TO GET HURT. WE USED SOME WD 40 RUST RELEASE SPRAY TO HELP GET THESE NUTS OFF. AND THEN AFTER THAT WE'LL GET AT THEM

WITH AN IMPACT GUN.

NOW WE'LL LET THE CAR DOWN A BIT AND BRING

IN A FLOOR JACK. TO USE THIS KEEP THE SPRING UNDER TENSION WHILE YOU TAKE THE STRUT OUT OF THE CAR.

IF YOU DON'T DO THIS THE SPRING CAN COME FLYING OUT AND THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET SOMEBODY HURT.

IT'S A PRETTY GOOD THING THAT WE'RE UPGRADING THESE STRUTS BECAUSE THESE ARE SLAP WORE OUT. YOU CAN SEE THE WEIGHT OF MY HAND, IT'S COLLAPSING IT. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE USING IS A SET OF THESE KYB'S THAT WE GOT FROM SUMMIT. THEY'RE ADJUSTABLE AS WELL, YOU JUST HAVE TO DO

IT RIGHT HERE AT THE END. WE'VE GOT TO REUSE THIS DUST COVER, AND THEY SIMPLY BOLT INTO PLACE.

[ DRILL SPINNING ]

(MARC)>> NOW ONE MORE THING. THOSE NEW STRUTS WE PUT IN HAVE THAT ADJUSTOR IN THE TOP. THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT COVERS ARE GONNA KEEP US FROM BEING ABLE TO GET TO THOSE ADJUSTORS. SO WHAT WE DID ON THIS ONE, DRILLED A HOLE RIGHT IN THE TOP. THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP THE FACTORY LOOK AND STILL ADJUST OUR NEW STRUTS.

(TOMMY)>> ALRIGHT GUYS, WE BROUGHT OUR CAR OUT HERE INTO THE BIG SHOP AND PUT IT ON THIS FOUR POST LIFT. THAT WAY WE COULD HAVE THE CAR UP HIGH ENOUGH WE CAN WORK ON IT WHILE IT'S SITTING ON ALL FOUR. NOW WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND SET THE PINION ANGLE AND TIGHTEN UP THOSE REAR LINKS. THEN FOLLOW THAT UP BY WELDING IN THOSE SUB FRAME CONNECTORS. YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE TO DO THAT WITH THE CAR SITTING ON ITS WEIGHT BECAUSE OTHERWISE IF IT'S DROPPING DOWN ON A LIFT LIKE WE GOT, WELL THE DOORS ON THE CAR MAY NOT CLOSE PROPERLY.

(MARC)>> NOW TO SET THE PINION ANGLE, WHICH ON THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE ZERO DEGREES. JUST MAKE SURE WHEN YOU DO THIS THAT YOU'RE PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE SO YOU CAN GET AN ACCURATE READING.

THEN THE SUSPENSION CAN ALL BE TIGHTENED DOWN AND TORQUED TO SPEC. NOW FOR THE FRAME CONNECTORS.

SOME TYPES BOLT IN, SOME TYPES WELD IN, AND THESE PARTICULAR ONES REQUIRE BOTH. NO BIG DEAL, WE'LL GET THEM BURNED IN AND WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

[ WELDER CRACKLING ]

(MARC)>> ALRIGHT SO THAT'LL JUST ABOUT DO IT FOR THE SUSPENSION ON OUR IROC. NOW WE STILL HAVE ABOUT $1,000 DOLLARS LEFT TO SPEND ON THIS THING AND WE STILL NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT LOOK A LITTLE BETTER. SO CHECK BACK NEXT TIME AND SEE WHAT WE DO.

(ANNOUNCER)>> AFTER THE BREAK, SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO JUMP ON BOARD A LAST MINUTE SEMA THRASH FOR A MILITARY MINDED MUSTANG.

(MARC)>> HEY, WELCOME BACK. YOU KNOW, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL

AROUND HERE, AND TODAY IS ONE OF THOSE DAYS. I GOT A CALL FROM MY ALMA MATER, WYOTECH, ASKING FOR HELP ON A VERY COOL SEMA BUILD. WE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO HELP AND COVER A COUPLE OF DAYS OF A VERY SPECIAL BUILD, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO US MILITARY VETERANS. TO BEGIN WITH I HOPPED ON A PLANE FROM NASHVILLE, TO AUSTIN, TEXAS. FROM MUSIC CITY TO THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.

THEN WE FOUND OURSELVES AT RICHARD WOOD CUSTOMS IN A PLANNING MEETING FOR WHAT WILL BE A HUGE UNDERTAKING. WE'RE GONNA BE WORKING ON A SEMA CAR.

(RICHARD)>> WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH. WE HAVE A BUNCH OF GOOD GRADUATES FROM WYOTECH. SO WE ASSEMBLED A GREAT TEAM TOGETHER.

(JOHN)>> SO WE'RE DOWN IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AT RICHARD WOOD KUSTOMS BUILDING A 1966 FORD MUSTANG FOR THE

UNITED STATES MILITARY EDUCATOR ASSOCIATION, USMEA.

(MARC)>> THE USMEA IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT ASSISTS VETERANS ON THE HOME FRONT WITH EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS AFTER THEY LEAVE THE SERVICE AND COME HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. WYOTECH IS A BIG SUPPORT OF EDUCATION FOR FORMER ARMED FORCES MEMBERS, WITH AROUND 20 PERCENT OF THEIR STUDENTS HAVING BEEN IN THE MILITARY. THEY OFFER THREE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE STUDENTS CAN EXPERIENCE HANDS ON LEARNING IN THE DISCIPLINES OF THEIR CHOICE, BE IT PAINT AND BODY, WATERCRAFT, MOTORCYCLES, HOT ROD, DIESEL, AND HIGH PERFORMANCE. (JOHN B.)>> IF YOU WANT TO BECOME AN AUTO MECHANIC THERE'S PLENTY OF JOBS OUT THERE AND THERE'S A BIG FUTURE IN IT.

(JOHN)>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCE IN OUR INDUSTRIES IS AN AGING TECHNICIAN.

(MARC)>> FOR THIS BUILD TOMMY DIDN'T GET TO COME ALONG, BUT THANKS TO WYOTECH THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH HELP IN THE FORM OF A GROUP OF RECENT GRADUATES WHO JUMPED IN AT THE CHANCE TO WORK ON HIGH PROFILE SEMA BUILD. AND THEY WERE LEAD BY MASTER BUILDER RICHARD WOOD. HE'S A 1982 WYOTECH GRADUATE WHO STARTED HIS

OWN SHOP, NOW ONE OF THE LARGEST IN TEXAS. HE'S WON DOZENS OF BUILDER AWARDS, AND ON TOP OF THAT HE'S BEEN HONORED FOR THE SUPPORT HE GAVE AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS CALLED TO FIGHT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

(RICHARD)>> WHEN HE WENT TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND TAKE CARE OF US HE WAS GONE FOR TWO YEARS. THE LEAST THING I COULD DO, I PAID HIS SALARY AND I TOOK CARE OF HIS FAMILY, KEPT HIS JOB FOR HIM. SO WHEN HE CAME BACK HE HAD A HOME TO COME HOME

TO AND HAD A JOB TO COME BACK TO. (JOHN B.)>> THAT'S THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AND THAT'S WHY I FEEL SO STRONG ABOUT DOING ANYTHING I CAN FOR THESE FOLKS, CAUSE I KNOW THEY'LL HELP THE VETERANS AND THEY'LL HELP ME IF I NEED IT.

(MARC)>> ALRIGHT, SO IT'S THE MORNING OF OUR FIRST DAY HERE IN AUSTIN. WE GOT THE CAR OUT OF PAINT YESTERDAY. WE'VE GOT TO GET IT BACK OVER AND GET THE DASH PAINTED. WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT WE'VE GOT THE ENGINE TEAM WORKING ON GETTING THE ENGINE READY. WE'VE GOT TO PUT AN OIL PAN ON IT. WE'VE GOT TO PUT THE EFI SYSTEM ON. THEN WE'RE GONNA GET THE TRANS MOUNTED TO IT AND DROP IT ALL IN, HOPEFULLY THIS AFTERNOON. MOST OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WORK IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY ANOTHER SMALL GROUP OF STUDENTS

FROM THE ALEX XYDIAS CENTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE ARTS IN POMONA, CALIFORNIA.

(BRIAN)>> THE ALEX XYDIAS CENTER FOR AUTOMOTIVE ARTS IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. WE PULL STUDENTS FROM LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS AND GIVE THEM AUTO SHOP EDUCATION THAT JUST ISN'T AROUND ANYMORE.

(MARC)>> AS FOR THE BODY, IT'S ON ITS WAY TO THE SPRAY BOOTH.

(RICHARD)>> WE'RE GONNA GO IN, WE'RE GONNA TAKE THIS

DASH AND WE'RE GONNA PAINT THE ACTUALLY OUTSIDE BODY COLOR BUT WE'RE GONNA DO IT IN A MATTE FINISH. BEING MATTE, BEING THE SAME COLOR, AND THE MOTOR IS ACTUALLY THE SAME COLOR BUT MATTE, IT'S GONNA TIE IT ALL TOGETHER. IT'S GONNA LOOK REALLY TRICK. SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS THING GOING.

(MARC)>> A LOT OF PANELS ON THE CAR STILL HAVE TO BE PREPPED FOR PAINT, AND SEVERAL OF THE RECENT WYOTECH GRADS, LIKE HAYDEN CLARK, ARE ON THE JOB.

(HAYDEN)>> EVERYTHING THAT I'VE LEARNED AT SCHOOL WE'VE DONE HERE. IT'S KINDA SCARY, COMING OUT, FIRST TRY. I MEAN I'M GREEN AS CAN BE.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME DOWN HERE TO TEXAS, TO

COME DOWN HERE AND BUILD A CAR FOR SEMA, IT'S ALMOST A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY.

(JOHN)>> PART OF THIS TEAM, 30 DAYS AGO, JUST GRADUATED IN LARAMIE, ON SEPTEMBER 18TH.

THAT NEXT WEEK ON THE 24TH THEY WERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE LAST 30 PLUS DAYS RUNNING DAY AND NIGHT. IT'S AN EXPERIENCE. THEY'RE HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE

SOMETHING THAT FEW MIGHT.

(MARC)>> SPEAKING OF EXPERIENCE, SEVERAL GRADS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A FEW YEARS ALREADY WORK FOR RICHARD.

(ROBERT)>> I GRADUATED FROM WYOTECH IN LARAMIE, WYOMING. AND ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO I GOT A JOB OFFER HERE WITH RICHARD AND JUMPED ON IT, AND SINCE THEN EVERYTHING'S JUST KINDA TAKEN OFF. I TOOK THE COLLISION AND REFINISHING, AND STREET ROD CUSTOM FABRICATION THERE, AND ALL THAT STUFF

I'VE LEARNED IN SCHOOL HAS SHOWED ME SO MUCH HERE. ALL THAT STUFF IS TIED IN.

(ANNOUNCER)>> STILL AHEAD THE TEAM KEEPS HAMMERING AWAY ON THE USMEA MUSTANG.

(JOHN B.)>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE RETURNING VETERANS, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND UNLESS YOU'VE REALLY BEEN THERE. THE REAL PROBLEM IS WHEN THEY RETURN THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR FUTURE HOLDS. THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE A PLAN BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T EXPECT TO LIVE THAT LONG.

(RICHARD)>> GIVING THESE GUYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PICK UP A CRAFT, PAINT, BODY, DIESEL, WHATEVER IT IS, THAT'S BETTER THAN ANY DRUG YOU CAN GIVE THEM, THAT'S BETTER THAN ANY THERAPY THEY CAN GO

THROUGH CAUSE THIS RIGHT HERE IS A LIFETIME DEAL TO WHERE THEY HAVE A TALENT. AND IF THEY START BLEEDING GASOLINE IS WHAT I CALL IT, THEY'RE IN LOVE MAN.

(MARC)>> PROGRESS CONTINUES ON THE MUSTANG'S ENGINE WITH THE STUDENTS AND RECENT WYOTECH GRAD TYLER STRATTON.

(TYLER)>> I GRADUATED ON A FRIDAY AND CAME OUT HERE ON A TUESDAY. I THINK THAT I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS, JUMP IN WITH THESE GUYS, AND BE ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

(MARC)>> PAINT WORK IS STILL HAPPENING IN THE BOOTH, WITH RICHARD AND EMPLOYEE JAMIE HERNANDEZ, WHO ALSO WENT TO WYOTECH.

(JAMIE)>> I WENT TO THE LARAMIE, WYOMING, CAMPUS IN 1997. AUTO BODY COLLISION, REFINISHING, CUSTOM STREET RODS, AND CUSTOM PAINT. ON MY WAY BACK TO ABILENE, I STOPPED HERE JUST CAUSE THEY HAD A WYOTECH SIGN OUT FRONT, AND I MET RICHARD. HE ASKED ME IF I WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB. I SAID YES, AND HE HIRED ME.

[ SANDER SPINNING ]

(ROBERT)>> WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS TAKING THE AFTERMARKET FORD RACING VALVE COVERS OFF THE CAR AND GRINDING THEM SMOOTH ON TOP. TO AVOID DAMAGING THE VALVE COVERS AND THINNING OUT THE METAL TOO MUCH I'M USING A FIBERGLASS FILLER TO FILL IN THE LETTERING AND THE OUTLINES, AND TO GIVE IT A REAL SMOOTH AND CLEAN LOOK ON TOP OF THE MOTOR.

(RICHARD)>> WHAT WE'RE FIXING TO DO RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GONNA GET ALL THE MASKING PAPER OUT OF HERE.

WE'RE GONNA ROLL AROUND TO THE MOTOR SHOP.

(MARC)>> THE BODY ITSELF IS READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE PAINT BOOTH FOR GOOD.

SO THE CART THAT IT'S BEEN LIVING FOR WEEKS CAN BE REMOVED AND REPLACED BY JACK STANDS. THE INTERIOR GUY, TOMMY PERKINS, HAS ALREADY

PREFABBED THE ENTIRE INSIDE OF THE MUSTANG AT HIS SHOP, SEEMS RIDICULOUS IN VIRGINIA. WE ASKED WHAT HE LEARNED IN HIS TIME AT WYOTECH.

(TOMMY)>> HOW TO START HONING YOUR SKILL, HOW TO START LOOKING FOR THINGS, HOW TO USE THE RIGHT TOOLS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR YOU. YOU GET OUT THERE AND HONE YOUR SKILL.

(MARC)>> WE'VE GOT THE KMEMBER IN PLACE. STARTING TO GET THE FRONT SUSPENSION BOLTED IN. THE REAR END HOUSING JUST SHOWED UP. WE GOT IT MOCKED UP.

GET IT CENTERED FRONT TO THE BACK, LEFT TO RIGHT. GOT THE PAN HARD ROD IN. SO THEY'RE GONNA WELD THAT IN NOW. THEY JUST DRUG THE WELDER IN. MISCELLANEOUS COMPONENTS ARE IN THE

BACK BEING PAINTED.

(JIM)>> A LOT OF VETERANS GIVE A LOT OF THEMSELVES EVERYWHERE THEY SERVE, AND THEY LEAVE SOME IT BEHIND. AND WALKING INTO A PLACE LIKE THIS AND SEEING THIS GESTURE OF SUPPORT, IT'S OVERWHELMING.

(MARC)>> JIM BRACKEN, A RETIRED MARINE WITH 23 YEARS OF SERVICE, SWUNG BY TO CHECK OUT THE BUILD.

(JIM)>> THIS KIND OF INDUSTRY IS PERFECT FOR THAT KIND OF MARINE, SOLDIER, WHOM EVER IT IS. IF YOU'RE AN ACTION ORIENTED DO'ER WHO WANTS TO GET YOUR HANDS INVOLVED AND YOUR MIND, AND YOU WANT TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, THIS IS THE PERFECT TRANSITION FOR THAT KIND OF INDIVIDUAL. WELL I BUILT THE ENGINE.

(MARC)>> HE'S ALSO A GEARHEAD AND HE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT HIS BRONCO IF YOU GIVE HIM THE CHANCE. MEANWHILE JOHN HURD, WYOTECH GRAD NOW TURNED AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RELATION SPECIALIST FOR THEM, IS HUNTING DOWN PARTS. THANKS TO GENEROUS COMPANIES LIKE SUMMIT RACING, HOLLEY WHO DONATED A TERMINATOR EFI AND FUEL SYSTEM, DEI WHO PROVIDED SOUND DEADENING MATERIAL, AND SEVERAL OTHERS LIKE MICKEY THOMPSON WHO FURNISHED THE TIRES.

THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS AFTER OUR SHORT TWO DAYS HERE ARE GONE. ( )>> LET'S GIVE EVERY SERVICE MEMBER, MILITARY SERVICE MEMBER BOTH ACTIVE AND VETERAN A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR LETTING US...

(MARC)>> UNBELIEVABLY THE GROUP WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF AND FINISH THE CAR JUST IN TIME FOR SEMA AS A

ROLLING TRIBUTE TO US VETERANS AND TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR SERVICE MEMBER EDUCATION. THE PROJECT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE GO TO USMEA DOT ORG AND TO SUPPORT WOUNDED VETERANS GO TO PURPLE HEART DOT ORG.