Behind the Build: Custom Engine Bay Fabrication on Our 1966 Lincoln Continental Restomod

There’s a reason people fall in love with restomods.

They deliver everything we love about classic cars—the styling, the presence, the history—without forcing you to deal with all the headaches that came with owning them decades ago. At VRides Garage, every build is about finding that balance between old-school character and modern performance.

This week, the spotlight was on one of the biggest projects currently in our shop: our 1966 Lincoln Continental Restomod. But this episode wasn’t just about the car. It was also about introducing the newest member of the VRides team and giving everyone a behind-the-scenes look at what real custom fabrication actually looks like.

If you've ever wondered what separates a high-end restomod from a typical restoration, this is exactly the kind of work that makes the difference.

Introducing Donte: The New Fabricator at VRides Garage

Every great build starts with the right people.

This week marked the official introduction of Donte, the newest fabricator to join the VRides crew. While most people see the finished product at car shows or scrolling through social media, the reality is that incredible builds are created by skilled craftsmen who spend countless hours measuring, cutting, shaping, welding, and perfecting every detail.

Donte wasted no time getting to work.

His first major assignment? Helping transform the engine bay of our 1966 Lincoln Continental into something worthy of the rest of the build.

For anyone unfamiliar with fabrication, engine bay work is one of the most challenging areas of any custom build. It's easy to make a car look good from the outside. Making everything underneath the hood look clean, functional, and serviceable requires an entirely different level of craftsmanship.

Why Engine Bay Fabrication Matters

One of the biggest giveaways of an average build is a cluttered engine compartment.

Even when a vehicle has an impressive powertrain, exposed wiring, unfinished panels, and random components scattered throughout the engine bay can take away from the overall presentation.

That's why we're building custom box-out panels for the Continental.

These panels help create a cleaner, more refined appearance while still maintaining access to critical service points. Every cutout, bend, and mounting location has to be carefully planned so the finished product looks factory-designed rather than simply added afterward.

The goal isn't just to hide things.

The goal is to make everything look intentional.

A Trip to McKenzie Steel

Before fabrication can begin, you need materials.

The team started the day with a trip to one of our favorite local suppliers, McKenzie Steel. Whether we need sheet metal, tubing, angle iron, or specialty materials for a custom build, they're one of our go-to sources for fabrication supplies.

For this project, we needed:

Sheet Metal

Used to create the custom engine bay panels and box-out sections.

Square Tubing

Needed for structural support and mounting points.

Various Fabrication Materials

Everything required to properly construct, reinforce, and finish the custom panels.

Selecting material thickness is always a balancing act. Too thin and it becomes difficult to weld without distortion. Too thick and it becomes unnecessarily heavy and difficult to shape.

After reviewing options and discussing the best approach, the materials were loaded up and brought back to the shop so the real work could begin.

From Cardboard Templates to Steel Panels

One of the biggest misconceptions people have about custom fabrication is that builders simply start cutting steel.

In reality, most fabrication starts with cardboard.

Cardboard templates allow us to test fit, make adjustments, verify clearances, and visualize the final product before ever touching expensive sheet metal.

For the Continental, the process started by mocking up the panel locations and determining how they would interact with various engine bay components.

Several critical areas had to remain accessible, including:

• Radiator cap access

• Brake booster reservoir access

• Fuel system components

• MAF sensor clearance

• Wiring pathways

Every one of these details had to be accounted for before any metal was cut.

Once the templates were finalized, it was time to transfer those measurements onto steel.

Learning the Art of Metal Shaping

Custom fabrication is part engineering and part art form.

After the panels were cut, Donte began using a pan brake to create the bends and mounting lips necessary for installation.

For anyone unfamiliar with fabrication equipment, a pan brake allows sheet metal to be bent at precise angles, creating strong edges and mounting surfaces.

These bends are critical because they allow the finished panels to:

• Sit flush against existing structures

• Maintain rigidity

• Hide mounting hardware

• Create clean transitions between components

What looks like a simple bend actually requires careful planning and measurement.

A mistake of even a few degrees can completely change how a panel fits.

The Reality of Custom Fabrication

One of the things we pride ourselves on at VRides is showing the real process.

Not everything goes perfectly.

At one point during fabrication, a panel was bent in the wrong direction.

Could it have been forced into place?

Maybe.

Would it have been right?

Absolutely not.

Instead of trying to make a mistake work, Donte cut a new piece and started over.

That's the difference between building something quickly and building something correctly.

In custom fabrication, shortcuts almost always come back to haunt you later.

Sometimes the fastest way forward is simply doing it again.

Fine-Tuning Every Detail

As the project progressed, the Continental's engine bay began taking shape.

Panel by panel, the cardboard mockups were replaced with finished steel components.

Attention shifted toward:

Hidden Mounting Solutions

The goal was to keep the panels looking seamless without visible fasteners.

Wiring Management

Exposed wiring can instantly ruin the appearance of an otherwise clean engine bay.

The team identified several areas where wiring needed to be tucked lower and routed more cleanly.

Panel Overlap

One of the biggest priorities was eliminating unnecessary overlaps.

Instead of stacking panels on top of each other, the design was engineered so many sections would slide underneath adjoining pieces, creating a cleaner and more professional appearance.

These are the details most people never notice individually.

But together, they're what make a build feel finished.

The 1966 Lincoln Continental Restomod Specs

While the fabrication work is stealing the spotlight right now, this Continental is much more than an engine bay project.

This build combines classic Lincoln styling with modern performance and drivability.

Vehicle

1966 Lincoln Continental

Engine

Supercharged Ford Coyote V8

Fuel Management

Holley Sniper EFI

Suspension

Custom Air Ride System with AccuAir Management

Wheels

22-inch Three-Piece Wheels

Interior

Custom Audio System and Modernized Features

Instrumentation

Dakota Digital Gauges

Brakes

Upgraded Modern Braking System

Climate Control

Vintage Air A/C System

This build represents exactly what a high-end restomod should be: classic looks combined with modern reliability, performance, and comfort.

More Than Just Cars

One thing that makes VRides different is that every project tells a story.

Sure, we build cars.

But we're also building a brand around the people, challenges, successes, mistakes, and personalities that make these projects possible.

Throughout the day, there were the usual shop jokes, conversations about other builds, discussions about tuning, and even complaints about the flooding issues outside the shop whenever Miami gets heavy rain.

That's real shop life.

No scripted drama.

No manufactured moments.

Just a group of people passionate about building badass cars.

What's Next for the Continental?

By the end of the day, the driver's side panel system was nearly complete, and the passenger side was already being test-fitted and tack welded into place.

The next step is handing everything over to Jesus for final paint work.

Once the panels are finished and coated, the engine bay will finally start matching the rest of the Continental's high-end aesthetic.

And trust us—the finished product is going to be worth the wait.

Conclusion

The best restomods aren't built by accident.

They're the result of thousands of small decisions made by people who care about getting every detail right.

This week's progress on the 1966 Lincoln Continental showcased exactly what goes into high-level custom fabrication—from sourcing raw materials and creating templates to shaping steel and refining every last fitment detail.

It also gave everyone a chance to meet Donte, the newest member of the VRides Garage team, and see firsthand the craftsmanship that helps turn ambitious ideas into reality.

The Continental continues to evolve with every passing week, and with custom engine bay fabrication nearly complete, we're getting one step closer to revealing another finished VRides masterpiece.

If you're passionate about restomods, classic cars, custom fabrication, muscle cars, and behind-the-scenes build content, make sure to follow along. The best parts of this build are still ahead.