With front wheel drive, I am able to utilize a perimeter frame. This allows for a lowered floor that accommodates my height. I am 6'4" and 5'0" sitting in my wheelchair. I needed to drop the floor about 10" from stock to get the needed clearances.

Northstar engine and transaxle is a very good system. It is all aluminum and has four valves per cylinder. The version I have produces 280 horses and substantial torque. Since it moved a very heavy luxury car, the Northstar should easily power my panel.

The Deville came with power disc brakes with 12" rotors. These should be sufficient but I may add larger rotors and heavy duty calipers later.

All corners will have air struts. Using the air struts will allow me to lower the frame to about 4" from to the pavement. Of course, I will need to find room for the compressor and air tank.

As with most auto enthusiasts, I am always looking for ways to increase performance. Unfortunately, there are very few after market parts to boost the power of the Northstar. For now, the only planned engine mods for the Northstar are boring out the throttle body and mounting plate and a free-flowing air intake/filter system. I have yet to locate any company that modifies the OBD-II computer system for the Northstar. Of course, increasing performance is not limited to horsepower. Brakes, suspension and other functions are areas in which better performance is a goal.

As with everything else on this panel, even choosing the wheels had its own set of issues. The Deville had a 5 x 115 mm bolt pattern and of course, needed a front-wheel drive style. Since we put a frame where one was not meant to go, clearance while turning sharply could be a problem. To lessen this difficulty, we need the right offset. All these issues caused significant searching. I wanted wheels that have a "hefty" look but most of the 115mm wheels are more "spider leg" like, more spindly. When I found a look I liked, it wasn't available in 115mm, or the offset wasn't right. I finally found a set that look good and *should* allow for fulll turning clearance. I decided to go with this 18" x 7.5" wheels with Toyo tires.

The rear suspension is really causing some consternation. We decided to use the same type strut the Caddy had in front. It is now equiped with a complete air strut system.

Sice I will be using an air aystem to lower the entire vehile, the distance from the inside floor to the pavemement will be only about 4 to 5 inches. Instead of using a short ramp at the rear door to enter the vehicle, I plan on having the floor hinge at about the rear wheel centerline and, using actuators, the rear floor will actually be the ramp. Since there will be about a 4 foot run to a 4" - 5" rise, the ramp should have a very reasonable slope. Air at all four corners should also look very cool and be a hit at cruise-ins.