Equipped  with 4  corner  Independently  Controlled  Suspension  System:

The suspension system under this car is what gives us such a stable camera platform.

The Front
On the front the car is equipped with an Air Ride Technologies "Shock Wave" system. This system has a 2500 lbs. carrying capacity as well as a shock system that allows control of the "rebound & compression rate of each front wheel independently as well as control of the ride height. A massive 40mm sway bar up front keeps everything level.

The Rear
On the rear Caraira QA1 coil over shocks with independent control over "rebound & compression" take care of the ride, while 9" Firestone air bags handle the load, up to 4000 lbs. A 30mm sway bar in the rear keeps it all stable.

The Tires
The tires on this beast are huge 295/50-16SR Cooper Cobras. These tire put down an 11.5" wide foot print and have 5.5" of side wall to absorb all those annoying road cracks and imperfections, so they're not transmitted to the camera. As well these tires offer excellent road handling characteristics on both dry & wet road surfaces.

On Board Air
The Predator has an on board air compressor & ressivour for on the fly susspension adjustments.
KISS
"Keep It Safely Simple"
"The Predator is as LOW TECH as you can get.
The most Hi-Tech equipment you'll find on this car is the monitor and the ignition system.
The Engine
The power comes from a 429 cid big block Ford, the engine has been up graded with a long list of goodies. Such as Ford Motorsport 429 CJ heads fitted with Manly valves, a Comp Cam, Crane roller rockers, ARP push Rods, KB Pistons, Eagle Forged Rods, Stock Crank shaft, True roller timing chain & gear set. The intake is an Edelbrook 429 Torquer II, a Barry Grant "Mighty Demon" carb handles fuel distribution, an SK fuel pump & filter take care of fuel delivery through -8 s/s braided lines with AN fitting at every connection (there are no rubber lines in the car).
 The exhaust system is why this beast makes more torque then horse power. When I built the car, headers were a must for this engine combination (2" primaries & 4" collectors). As the build progressed I realized headers were not an option due to ground clearance issues, so I used exhaust manifolds from a Boss 429. with 3" header pipes into a 4" single pipe into a 3" muffler with the inlet flared to 4" and the exit left at 3" and no tail pipe only a turn down.
 The result of this unconventional system is that when I chassis dyno'ed the car with open manifolds the engine was producing 692 hp & 586 lbs/ft torque, with the exhaust system hooked up it made 572 hp & 628 lbs/ft torque. And the torque range moved down from 5800 rpm to 4700 rpm where I can use it.

     

The Transmission & Rearend
 The transmission is a C6 three speed automatic that has been set up to be shifted manually. All of the internal parts are TCI performance parts. Pump pressure was set to stock spec's to give smooth soft shifts under power. The torque converter is a 2000 rpm stall unit needed for smooth low speed acceleration. The trany is cooled by 2-1500 lbs coolers, 1 equipped with a heat sensor activated fan. The differential is a Rearend Specialties, Ford 9" unit equipped with an Auburn posi unit, with a 3.73:1 Richmond gear set, and Dutchman axles.

The Suspension System
The Front suspension uses the stock Crown Vic control arms, spindles, linkage & steering box. The spings however have been replaced with AirRide Technologie's new Shock Wave Air Springs with built in Dual Adjustable Shocks. As the photos below show this installation required a lot of frame modifications be done.



 The stock rear system used by Ford on the Crown Vic. is a 4 link, Watts Link System, while this is one of this best handling suspension systems available, short of an IRS system, the original links were stamped steel pieces. all of the links have been replaced with Chrome Molly bars with spherical joints. 9" Firestone Air springs can carry up to 4000 lbs. and are controlled by a set of Caraira QA1 Dual Adjustable Coil Over Shocks.

 

"thepredator@shaw.ca"