Peter and Theo both took a few days to design what they wanted for their cars. While Peter was more modest with his build, it was still modified from the original design by a good bit. His experience in the shop and information he gained from Jacob, Ben, Jon, Sara and even his dad over the years helped form what he wanted in the car.
While the overall look didn't change much, he cleaned up the body lines with help from Ben and the design software. Now the car would look a little more streamlined when it was finished.
The frame of the car was one of the things that was changed the most. It was completely redesigned from the ground up to take into account changes with modern suspension and to help with other minor issues. The inside of the car was also redesigned to accommodate modern features that Peter wanted. The mom's all insisted on modern safety features like airbags and other things, so that was also included into the details.
As for the power plant, Peter kept it simple with a newer V8 engine that would be slightly modified. The total horsepower would be around four hundred or so depending on how it was tuned. But he was happy with the design and it was signed off by his parents pretty quickly.
Theo on the other hand had a couple issues with his car that his mother didn't like. The first was the engine, since Theo wanted to build a custom engine from the ground up. While it would only be a V8, it would be a flat plane V8 instead of a cross plane. That wouldn't have been an issue except Theo wanted forged pistons, rods and crankshaft along with a custom engine block.
Sure it would have less torque then a cross plane V8 along with more vibrations with its imbalanced firing order. But the engine could run at a higher RPM and Theo loved the sound that came from those types of engines. Sure he liked the low, choppy visceral sound from a cross plane. But the scream from a flat plane V8 when it opened up was like music to his ears.
The other issue besides the engine was the fact he wanted to install a partial roll cage into the car. Sure it would be basically hidden with the way it was designed and the interior would cover it up. But the fact that it was there at all was the issue his mom had with it.
Daniel didn't understand what she was looking at when she looked over the design with May. But after May pointed everything out, Daniel turned to Theo and said, "You have to redesign it."
"Why?"
Daniel pointed at the tablet as she said, "You built a race car."
"It's nowhere close to a race car. I could easily shave off a few hundred pounds if I wanted to do that by getting rid of the roll cage to make it faster."
May nodded in agreement as she said, "Normally a race car would remove everything unnecessary to save weight. He's kept all the creature comforts of a normal car and added a roll cage."
"But if he isn't going to race, why the roll cage?"
"Safety. I don't plan to ever roll the car, but it would still protect me in an accident." Theo said with a shrug before he said, "But if you think it's for racing, I can remove it."
Daniel glanced towards May who smiled slightly as she shrugged herself. Daniel narrowed her eyes as she turned back to Theo as she said, "What about the engine? May said this is basically a racing engine."
"Because of how customized it is? I just know what I want and you can't really buy it anywhere, so I am gonna make it myself."
Daniel turned to May for help who brought up the engine's spec's on the tablet. She then turned it to Theo as she said, "But this is a little too much power."
"It's to get the proper sound. Anything less and it won't sound right."
Both Daniel and May shared a glance before Daniel asked, "Sound? Isn't that gonna be more from the exhaust?"
May nodded as she said, "The engine will affect the overall sound along with the exhaust."
"And so will everything else in my build. Here, let me show you what I am talking about." Theo said as he put his hand out for the tablet.
May handed it over and he quickly pulled up Peter's car build and selected one of the test options. It allowed a customer to hear what their car should sound like when it was done. Theo pushed play and that low iconic rumble of an American V8 engine played for ten seconds as it went through gears.
As Theo went back to his build he said, "That was Peter's car. It sounds like a normal muscle car."
Theo quickly pulled up his car and the engine playback option as he said with a grin, "And this is mine."
The engine started out fine but as soon as it picked up speed and shifted through gears a distinct sound filled the air almost like a musical instrument being played. May's eyes widened slightly as she said, "That sounds like a Ferrari."
Theo smiled wide as he said, "Exactly. I love the sound they make, it's almost like music."
Theo pulled up a different option on the design to show the engine along with the exhaust system before he showed it to them as he said proudly, "I spent almost ten hours designing everything to get the perfect sound."
Daniel glanced at the design before she looked at May who said, "If it's just to get the sound then it makes sense, even if the horsepower seems a little high."
Theo shook his head as he said, "I tested five different engine builds and this was the first one that sounded right. It has to do with the RPM of the engine and anything lower just doesn't sound right."
Daniel frowned as she asked, "Fine, let's say I agree and let you keep the engine… But why is the car four wheel drive?"
"It's all wheel drive, not four wheel drive."
"All wheel drive, four wheel drive… Your car only has four wheels. Isn't it the same thing?" Daniel asked with a raised eyebrow.
Theo shook his head as he said, "Four wheel drive only works when you engage a switch or lever to transfer power to all the wheels. All wheel drive is always on and never turns off."
"Okay, but why do you have all wheel drive on the car?"
Theo smiled as he said, "It's for better traction and control. A rear wheel drive car can easily lose traction, an all wheel drive car will help fix that issue. If it's raining or snowing I will have an easier time driving the car."
When Daniel heard that she glanced at May who nodded in agreement before she said, "That's correct. A car with all wheel drive normally comes with some type of traction control to help make it more stable."
Theo nodded as he said, "I plan to build something like the Nissan R32's Attesa ET-S System and program it myself."
"If it's safer than a two wheel drive car, we should add it to Peter's car also." Daniel said as she glanced down at the tablet.
May nodded slightly before she asked, "Is there anything else you want to ask him about?"
Daniel shook her head as she said, "Not right now. I'm gonna talk with Jacob about it first."
"So I don't have to change anything?" Theo asked hopefully.
"Not yet… But I wanna double check with your father and see what he thinks about your design."
A few days later and Theo's car was approved, but as a result Peter's car was modified. Apparently the all wheel drive was shared with everyone and Richard and Mary both liked the idea along with the partial roll cage. So Peter's car was redesigned to accommodate both of them and to compensate for the weight his engine was upgrading with a bit more horsepower.
Once everything was finalized and the plans were green lit, Peter and Theo were allowed to start on their cars. They spent the rest of the summer striping the cars completely to the frame before they worked with Ben, Jacob, Richard, Jon and Sara to slowly start the modification process. Since it wasn't a job, the adults only helped out after work.
Peter and Theo on the other hand were allowed to work on it as much as they wanted. But since they weren't as experienced, they did everything they could without help first. Afterwards they helped around the shop and would get help on their cars on Saturday. Since the shop was only open Monday thru Friday. Saturday they would work on the car for most of the day with help from their dad's, Ben and sometimes Jon and Sara.
Even with all that help and time, building the cars would take a couple of years to finish. Well it would probably be faster, but Jacob and the others were taking their time when they helped to work on the cars to teach. So while they might spend six hours on a Saturday working on the cars, half of that was teaching the boys and having them help. Or they would explain what needed to be done and have Theo and Peter do it themselves as they watched and corrected them along the way. Overall it was a fun bonding experience for everyone involved and with it summer quickly finished.
With the new school year came a new school as well since they were starting junior high school this year. While Peter and Theo had outstanding grades and were offered spots at a fancy school for gifted students. They both turned it down because Milly wasn't offered a spot, so they were going to a school not that far from home instead of across town.
Daniel, Mary, Richard and Jacob didn't mind either, since they were happy the kids wanted to stick together. Theo was also happy his parents didn't push the issue because he really didn't want to waste time each day traveling across town to school. Sure a clone would go most of the time, but the few times he would go each week would suck. And it wasn't like he could just portal there since he would be with Peter each time.
With school started, Theo settled into a new routine of training, working on his projects and looking for people of interest. Within a week of the new school year starting, Theo received a phone call from Emil Blonsky who asked for details about the job offer he was given. Theo wasted no time and transformed into Ezekiel before he went to meet the man.
Ezekiel appeared from a portal about a block away from a military hospital in England. After checking the direction he headed towards the hospital where he walked in the front door and stopped at the counter. A woman who was working at a computer said without looking up from the screen, "Please stay the purpose of your visit."
"I'm here to visit Emil Blonsky, I should be on the visitors list under Ezekiel."
"ID please." The woman said after she typed something into the computer.
Ezekiel smiled at the woman as he said, "That won't be necessary, just tell me where I can find him."
The woman glanced up to say something and after she looked at Ezekiel's eyes, her own eyes glazed over. She turned back to the computer and said with a monotone voice, "That won't be necessary, Mr. Blonsky is on the fourth floor, room four-o-six."
She pulled a visitor badge out and handed it to Ezekiel a moment later as she said, "Take the right elevator to the fourth floor and turn right when you exit it, it will be the third door on the left."
Ezekiel placed the badge around his neck and started to walk away as he said, "Thanks."
A few moments after Ezekiel left the woman looked around in confusion for a few moments before she went back to work. Ezekiel quickly made it to Emil's room where he found the man laid up in bed wrapped in badges. Emil glanced up from the book he was reading as he asked, "That job offer still good if I'm considered a cripple?"