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Hey guys! I've been following the forums on SW for some time now, and finally got around to finding time to share my build for the 2011 season.
A short about me: Name is Josh, and I run a performance fab shop, PRT, that's still in it's infancy but quickly on it's way to becoming the full-time job I've always dreamed of. I got my start a few years ago when I bought my first car and am completely self taught mechanically. I've made a strong name for myself over the last few years in the CSVT game and started branching out in 2011, so far things are going rather well and we're pumped to see what 2012 has in store.
I built a track car earlier this year as a tool to promote the shop, my name and my car. Sadly my build thread was lost thank to a forum crash on another site, but I recently had a shoot for a feature on stancewi.com so I figured i would share it with you guys. Hope you enjoy!
Link to build thread:
Follow along with our fun:
On with the feature:
“PRT BILT” – PRT’s 99 SVT Contour, the street-driven track whore.
“Why a Contour?” - The one question I get more often than any other. Quite simply, I bought one as my first car and fell in love. There was only one problem….I wanted to make the car my own but lacked a supporting aftermarket. What I did have, was a passion for design and fabrication.
Enter PRT, the company name I began associating with the parts I built for myself and others. It all started small with simple things like urethane engine mounts and fiberglass gauge pods. Over the next six yearsI proceeded to churn out small numbers of parts and occasional full car builds and the shop was growingsteadily, but there was still one big problem looming over head. Wisconsin winters and a shop with no heat meant my hobby, my passion, had to take a break five months a year. That was until the winter of 2010.
It was then that I happened upon a heated work space for the last few months of the winter. With no customer cars waiting for my attention,it was time to build something for myself. The car, the first SVT I had ever owned, was pulled from the corner of the shop and moved a week later and I got to work. I came into the project with a notebook full of ideas. I had pages upon pages of parts and modifications I never had the time to bring to life. The goal here was simple, build a fun and capable car for me to enjoy that also showcased my abilities in hopes of expanding my services outside of my current niche market.
The car’s chassis was heavily modified to reduce weight while stiffening its structure and reducing the interior to a literal shell of its former self. The engine was swapped for a larger displacement 3.0L unit and while it may be naturally aspirated, it’s no slouch in the straight line. Braking late and cornering fast was next so aggressive rubber and the largest brakes that would clear the wheels were fitted using some my own custom brackets. The car also received a track ready re-paint in the form of John Deere chassis enamel and a few aesthetic modifications were thrown in during the process. Just four months of late nights and long hours later I debuted the car at Nelson Ledges in Ohio at the national Contour meet’s track day. It was everything I could have hoped for and performed beyond expectation.
It wasn’t long after my return that I found StanceWI.com and things only continued to get better. The car has since seen numerous shows, several thousand miles, a few different drivers (ahem Preston)while opening the door to a great group of people. I’ve got more plans for the car this winter and I’m also hard at work on another build that I look forward to sharing next season. For those of you I have met, it’s been a pleasure. As for the rest of you, I look forward to chatting, cruising, and all-around “staying awesome” with you next year!
Key Changes-
Drivetrain Performance:
PRT port-matched Ford Escape 3.0L engine swap
SVT-spec camshafts
Upgraded and aluminum pulleys
PRT power steering delete
Mustang 65mm throttle body
Extrude Honed “max-honed” upper intake manifold
Ported lower intake manifold
MDSD headers
PRT high-flow Y pipe and mandrel bent exhaust
Spec stage 3 clutch and flywheel
Quaife LSD
Emissions systems deleted
Chassis Performance:
520 lbs. overall weight reduction
Tubular harness bar/x-brace/rear strut tower bar
PRT full tubular rear suspension
Up-sized front and rear swaybars
PRT sway bar end links
Koni adjustable struts
Ground Control coilovers
PRT 13” Mustang Cobra front brake conversion
PRT 11.8” rear brake conversion
Rev. Model 12 17’s
Toyo R888 tires (235/40/17)
Interior:
CorbeauForzaII seats on custom brackets
Corbeau 4-point harnesses
Stripped dash and interior re-wire
PRT dual 2 5/8” gauge pod
Lo-tek pillar gauge pod
Aesthetics:
Shaved emblems, body seams, antenna and
John Deere Blitz Black full re-spray
PRT badgless front grill
Color matched chrome trim
Tinted tail lights
Yellow tinted head and fog light lenses
Samco Ford Mondeo hose kit
Metallic silver engine powder coating
A short about me: Name is Josh, and I run a performance fab shop, PRT, that's still in it's infancy but quickly on it's way to becoming the full-time job I've always dreamed of. I got my start a few years ago when I bought my first car and am completely self taught mechanically. I've made a strong name for myself over the last few years in the CSVT game and started branching out in 2011, so far things are going rather well and we're pumped to see what 2012 has in store.
I built a track car earlier this year as a tool to promote the shop, my name and my car. Sadly my build thread was lost thank to a forum crash on another site, but I recently had a shoot for a feature on stancewi.com so I figured i would share it with you guys. Hope you enjoy!
Link to build thread:
Follow along with our fun:
On with the feature:
“PRT BILT” – PRT’s 99 SVT Contour, the street-driven track whore.
“Why a Contour?” - The one question I get more often than any other. Quite simply, I bought one as my first car and fell in love. There was only one problem….I wanted to make the car my own but lacked a supporting aftermarket. What I did have, was a passion for design and fabrication.
Enter PRT, the company name I began associating with the parts I built for myself and others. It all started small with simple things like urethane engine mounts and fiberglass gauge pods. Over the next six yearsI proceeded to churn out small numbers of parts and occasional full car builds and the shop was growingsteadily, but there was still one big problem looming over head. Wisconsin winters and a shop with no heat meant my hobby, my passion, had to take a break five months a year. That was until the winter of 2010.
It was then that I happened upon a heated work space for the last few months of the winter. With no customer cars waiting for my attention,it was time to build something for myself. The car, the first SVT I had ever owned, was pulled from the corner of the shop and moved a week later and I got to work. I came into the project with a notebook full of ideas. I had pages upon pages of parts and modifications I never had the time to bring to life. The goal here was simple, build a fun and capable car for me to enjoy that also showcased my abilities in hopes of expanding my services outside of my current niche market.
The car’s chassis was heavily modified to reduce weight while stiffening its structure and reducing the interior to a literal shell of its former self. The engine was swapped for a larger displacement 3.0L unit and while it may be naturally aspirated, it’s no slouch in the straight line. Braking late and cornering fast was next so aggressive rubber and the largest brakes that would clear the wheels were fitted using some my own custom brackets. The car also received a track ready re-paint in the form of John Deere chassis enamel and a few aesthetic modifications were thrown in during the process. Just four months of late nights and long hours later I debuted the car at Nelson Ledges in Ohio at the national Contour meet’s track day. It was everything I could have hoped for and performed beyond expectation.
It wasn’t long after my return that I found StanceWI.com and things only continued to get better. The car has since seen numerous shows, several thousand miles, a few different drivers (ahem Preston)while opening the door to a great group of people. I’ve got more plans for the car this winter and I’m also hard at work on another build that I look forward to sharing next season. For those of you I have met, it’s been a pleasure. As for the rest of you, I look forward to chatting, cruising, and all-around “staying awesome” with you next year!
Key Changes-
Drivetrain Performance:
PRT port-matched Ford Escape 3.0L engine swap
SVT-spec camshafts
Upgraded and aluminum pulleys
PRT power steering delete
Mustang 65mm throttle body
Extrude Honed “max-honed” upper intake manifold
Ported lower intake manifold
MDSD headers
PRT high-flow Y pipe and mandrel bent exhaust
Spec stage 3 clutch and flywheel
Quaife LSD
Emissions systems deleted
Chassis Performance:
520 lbs. overall weight reduction
Tubular harness bar/x-brace/rear strut tower bar
PRT full tubular rear suspension
Up-sized front and rear swaybars
PRT sway bar end links
Koni adjustable struts
Ground Control coilovers
PRT 13” Mustang Cobra front brake conversion
PRT 11.8” rear brake conversion
Rev. Model 12 17’s
Toyo R888 tires (235/40/17)
Interior:
CorbeauForzaII seats on custom brackets
Corbeau 4-point harnesses
Stripped dash and interior re-wire
PRT dual 2 5/8” gauge pod
Lo-tek pillar gauge pod
Aesthetics:
Shaved emblems, body seams, antenna and
John Deere Blitz Black full re-spray
PRT badgless front grill
Color matched chrome trim
Tinted tail lights
Yellow tinted head and fog light lenses
Samco Ford Mondeo hose kit
Metallic silver engine powder coating
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