Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman (2018): Season 1, Episode 5 - Semi-Charmed Kinda Truck - full transcript

I'VE BEEN BUILDING CARS
FOR OTHER PEOPLE FOR FAR TOO LONG.

NOW I'M TAKING THINGS
IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

AT MY NEW SHOP,
ARCLIGHT FABRICATION,

I'M DESIGNING
AFTERMARKET TRUCK PARTS,

BUILDING UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD,

AND I'M HAVING
MORE FUN DOING IT.

I'VE HANDPICKED A TEAM
OF THE BEST BUILDERS

FROM ACROSS AMERICA TO JOIN ME.

BUILDING THESE CUSTOM VEHICLES

WILL CHALLENGE OUR SKILLS
AND EXPERIENCE ON EVERY LEVEL.

AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE,
WE'LL PUT EACH ONE TO THE TEST.



I'M AARON KAUFMAN,
AND THIS IS "SHIFTING GEARS."

TONIGHT...

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
THE EXHAUST.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE
AN OVER-THE-ROAD WORK TRUCK

AND TURN IT INTO A RACE CAR,

AND PUT IT UP AGAINST
OTHER PROFESSIONAL RACERS

IN COLORADO SPRINGS,

AND WE'RE GONNA DO IT
ABOUT AS FAST AS WE CAN.

TWO WEEKS.

BUT WE HAVE A LOT
OF WORK AHEAD OF US.

WE PUT THE SIDEPODS ON IT,

YOU MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE A NORMAL TRUCK.

THERE IT IS.

AND HIGH PROBABILITY
OF WRECKING THE VEHICLE...



WE NEED A VERY STRONG CAGE.

BUT BUILDS DON'T ALWAYS
GO ACCORDING TO PLAN.

THIS IS GONNA BE A DISASTER.

WE'VE PACKED
EVERYTHING TOGETHER,

SLAMMED EVERYTHING IN THERE,
AND WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON TRACK

AND SEE HOW IT HANGS
WITH ALL OF MY FRIENDS' TRUCKS.

I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

OUTRIGHT BATTLE ROYALE, I THINK.

JUST TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING'S BACK TOGETHER.

JUST BASICALLY GONNA DO
A START-UP.

SO,
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TURNING

A SEMI-TRUCK
INTO A RACE CAR,

THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP
AGAINST THIS COUNTRY'S

BEST SEMI DRIVERS AT PIKES
PEAK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY.

AND IT ALL BEGAN
JUST ONE WEEK AGO.

YOU SAID FIND YOU A TRUCK,
I FOUND YOU ONE THE NEXT DAY.

I THINK SHE'S JUST PERFECT.

GOT A 60 SERIES DETROIT
IN IT.

I'LL LEFT YOU KNOW
ABOUT THE PERFECT OR NOT.

SO, WHEN I DECIDED THAT I WANTED
TO BUILD A SEMI RACE CAR.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND
MUCH MONEY,

AND I WANTED A DETROIT
SERIES 60 MOTOR IN IT.

YEAH, LOOK AT THAT MOTOR
RIGHT THERE, MAN.

SEMI-TRUCK RACING HAS BEEN
GOING ON SINCE THE MID-'70s,

AND IT HAS
A WORLDWIDE FOLLOWING.

COMPETITORS
RANGE ACROSS THE BOARD

FROM PROFESSIONAL
RACE-CAR DRIVERS

TO YOUR AVERAGE JOES.

THE RULES FOR BUILDING
ARE PRETTY SIMPLE.

THE TRUCKS MUST BE
MASS-PRODUCED MODELS

THAT ARE HIGHLY MODIFIED
FOR SPEED AND SAFETY.

SO WHEN WE GO TO THE PIKES
PEAK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY,

WE'LL BE ENTERING FOUR
DISTINCT COMPETITIONS.

ONE -- A DRAG RACE.

TWO -- AN OVAL RACE.

THREE -- A ROAD RACE.

AND THEY JUST ADDED
A FREESTYLE COMPETITION.

SO WITH ONLY THREE WEEKS UNTIL
RACE DAY, WE GOT RIGHT TO WORK.

THE LIGHTER IT IS,
THE FASTER IT IS,

SO THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
WAS TO STRIP OFF

ALL THE UNNECESSARY EQUIPMENT.

TO MEET MY GOALS, WE NEEDED
TO SQUEEZE AS MUCH POWER

AS POSSIBLE OUT
OF THE SERIES 60 MOTOR

IN A SHORT TIME FRAME.

ENTER BOB BALL.

HE LIVES!

HE'S ONE OF THE TOP DIESEL-
ENGINE BUILDERS IN THE COUNTRY.

LOOKS LIKE A GOOD START.

HOW MUCH POWER ARE WE GONNA
MAKE OUT OF THIS BIG TRACTOR?

OH, IT'LL BE AN EASY 850.

WE'RE REALLY AFTER
FOUR NUMBERS, HERE.

WE CAN PROBABLY GET IT THERE.

OVER THE PAST WEEK,
HE'S HELPED US UPGRADE THE TURBO...

THE INJECTORS, AND THE MANIFOLD,

WHICH BRINGS US TODAY
WHERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME,

WE SEE IF WE CAN
FIRE UP THE ENGINE.

SAY A PRAYER.
LET'S SEE IF SHE'LL LIGHT.

ANYBODY THAT NEEDS TO DRY
THEIR HAIR, STAND ABOUT HERE.

THAT TURBO WILL DRIVE
YOUR HAIR IN A HURRY.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO LOSE
SOME JEWELRY,

PUT YOUR FINGERS ANYWHERE AROUND
THE FRONT OF THAT INLET, TOO.

EVERYBODY CLEAR?

CLEAR ENOUGH.

COME ON.

LET ME DISCONNECT POWER.

THERE'S A PLUG BACK HERE, IN THE
BACK OF THE OIL-FILTER HOUSING.

- YEAH.
- IT'S NOT TIGHT...

ALLEN PLUG.

WHAT DO YOU GOT GOING ON --
IN YOUR SKEET PORT?

YEAH, IT'S SKEETIN' OVER HERE,
SKEETIN' A LITTLE OIL.

SINCE THE FUEL SYSTEM
WASN'T IN PLACE YET,

WE JUST USED FUEL OUT
OF ONE THE BARRELS.

WE'RE NOT MAKING PRESSURE.

AND WE WERE JUST HAVING
A HARD TIME GETTING IT

TO DRAW FUEL THAT HIGH,

AND WE WERE REALLY HAVING
A HARD TIME BLEEDING

THE AIR OUT OF THE PUMP.

MY GoPro GOT DOUSED.

HI.

SO, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE
COMPETITIVE IN COLORADO SPRINGS,

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO NEED
A LOT OF HORSEPOWER.

SO, WE'RE SWAPPING OUT
ALL THE FUEL LINES,

'CAUSE NOT ONLY IS THERE
FUEL LEAKING OUT...

ALL RIGHT.

BUT AIR IS BEING DRAWN INTO
THE FUEL SYSTEM, CAUSING ISSUES.

LET'S SEE IF THIS WORKS.

IT WORKS IN MY HEAD MOVIES.

HOPEFULLY THAT SOLVES
THE PROBLEM.

WHAT A PAIN IN THE REAR.

'CAUSE IF IT'S NOT
THE FUEL LINE,

WE'VE GOT A MYSTERY TO SOLVE,

AND WE'RE SHORT
ON TIME AS IT IS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HIT IT?

GIVE 'ER A RIP.

BURNING A LOT CLEANER.

IT'S ALIVE!

ONCE WE GOT THE AIR OUT
OF THE SYSTEM, IT RAN FINE.

WE WERE ABLE TO RUN IT
OUT OF A BARREL.

BOB, THAT'S EXCELLENT.

SO, WE GOT THIS THING
SAWED DOWN,

WE GOT THE REAR
SUSPENSION SWAPPED,

WE GOT IT BACK CARRYING
WEIGHT ON THE FRONT...

NEW CLUTCH, NEW TRANSMISSION...

RIGHT GEARS...

DRIVE SHAFT IS IN...

I'D SAY YOU KNOCKED IT
OUT OF THE PARK.

WE JUST GOT TO FINISH
RACE-CAR CONVERSION.

I'LL GET A NOSE BACK ON IT,
GET STICKS INSIDE OF IT...

MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE A TRUCK AGAIN.

WITH ANYONE ELSE'S HELP, THIS
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.

BOB BALLS WAS THE ONLY WAY
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PRODUCE

900 HORSEPOWER

SOMEWHERE IN THE BALL PARK
OF 2,200-FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE.

THE REST OF THIS IS STUFF
WE DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

SO YOU GOT THE BIG TRUCK I THINK
WRANGLED UP PRETTY GOOD FOR US.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

ALMOST A RACE CAR.

IT WAS A PLEASURE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YES.

NOW, THIS ISN'T THE LAST
WE'RE GOING TO SEE OF BOB.

HE'S INVITED ME UP TO SEE HIS
INCREDIBLE SHOP IN A FEW DAYS.

THAT'S AN OFFER I CAN'T REFUSE.

HOW ABOUT YOU JUST STAY?

THERE'S PLENTY OF DIESELS
AROUND HERE.

IT WOULD BE A LONG
DISCUSSION WITH MAMA.

YEAH.

GET THE HELL OUT OF
HERE, YA FILTHY ANIMAL!

NOW, BEFORE WE CAN
GO RACE IN COLORADO,

WE NEED TO MAKE SOME ALTERATIONS
TO THE TRUCK'S CHASSIS.

WHAT ARE YOU MEASURING?

TRYING TO DECIDE
ON WHAT THE SHAPE

OF THE BODYWORK'S
GONNA LOOK LIKE.

SO, THE TRUCK IS VERY MINIMAL
BY THE FACT

THAT IT JUST HAS ONE JOB,
AND IT'S TO PULL TRAILERS.

SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE DOWN
THE SIDE OF IT IS BATTERY

LOCATION, LARGELY FUEL TANKS,

AND FACADE JUST TO COMPLETE
THE APPEARANCE OF THE TRUCK.

SINCE WE'VE REMOVED ALL
THE STUFF THAT WE DON'T NEED,

WE HAVE TO ADD BACK
A PORTION OF THE TRUCK

BETWEEN THE CAB
AND THE REAR AXLE.

SO WHAT WE COULD DO IS,
DO A BOX DOWN THE WHOLE SIDE.

YOU SEE HOW THE FENDER
COMES DOWN?

LIKE, IF WE CONTINUED THAT --
THEN THE TRUCK HAS A SHAPE --

YOU KNOW, DOWN THE SIDE
OF THE TRUCK.

BECAUSE THE FRAME RAIL
IS NOT EVEN

HALF THE WIDTH
OF THE OVERALL CAB.

IF WE HIT A POLE, A WALL,
ANOTHER TRUCK,

WE HAVE TO TRY AND REDUCE
THE AMOUNT OF INTRUSION

THAT THE OTHER VEHICLE OR POLE
OR WALL CAN MAKE INTO THE CAB.

SO, WE PUT THE SIDEPODS ON IT.
A. -- TO MAKE IT LOOK

LIKE A NORMAL TRUCK.

B. -- TO PROTECT EVERYTHING
INSIDE, INCLUDING THE OCCUPANT.

AND THEN THE LAST THING IS
TO KEEP THE OTHER TRUCKS

FROM GETTING INSIDE THE CAB
AND THE BACK TIRES,

THINGS LIKE THAT.

THIS ONE --
THIS ONE'S THE ONE.

SO IT'LL HAVE OUTRIGGERS
THAT RUN FROM THE FRAME TO THIS.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE
WILL RUN UP LIKE THAT.

ACROSS THE TOP WILL BE SHEETED

ALL THE WAY OVER
TO THE FRAME RAIL,

AND SO WE'LL JUST --
THE PODS WILL BE ENCASED.

SOMETHING THAT MAKES IT
LOOK LIKE A TRUCK

INCREASES THE SAFETY FOR THE
DRIVER I THINK PROPORTIONALLY.

THERE IT IS.

THAT SIDE IS JUST
A SLIGHT BIT LOWER.

I THINK IT'S LEANING THAT WAY.

I DON'T THINK IT'S FAR OFF,
THOUGH.

DUDE, IT'S LITERALLY
A 1/16TH DIFFERENCE.

OH. SO...

I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

IS THE FLOOR
ONLY NOT LEVEL HERE?

YEAH, I THINK SO.

SO, IS THAT LEVEL?

THE ONE SIDE IS SLIGHTLY
LOWER THAN THE OTHER.

IT'S JUST -- IT'S LOW BECAUSE
OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FLOOR.

I MEAN, IT'S FINE.

THIS SIDE'S SLIGHTLY
KICKED DOWN, RIGHT?

- MM-HMM.
- YEAH, WELL...

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH VARIANCE
FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO...

TWO AMATEURS WORKED
ON THIS SIDE, RIGHT?

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.

HEY, BOWMAN...?

ARE YOU A CHEF?

NO.

THIS IS OUR NEW
ARCLIGHT FABRICATIONWEAR.

TODAY, WE'RE GOING
TO MAKE THE EXHAUST.

SO, SINCE OUR ENGINE'S
PRODUCING 1,000 HORSEPOWER

AND WE HAVE THAT BIG TURBO,

WE'RE GONNA NEED
A LOT OF AIRFLOW.

THIS TUBING IS OUR EXHAUST.

MAGNAFLOW
SENT A COUPLE OF KITS.

OBVIOUSLY MAGNAFLOW DOESN'T MAKE
A KIT FOR A SEMI-TRUCK,

SO I'VE GOT TO CUT
AND MAKE IT HOW I WANT IT.

ROGER.
ROGER, ROGER.

OVER, OVER.

THIS IS THE START
OF OUR DOWNPIPE.

SO, THE TURBO'S
GONNA SIT HERE, DOWNPIPE,

AND THEN WE'LL DUMP UNDER THE
FRAME AND RUN STRAIGHT BACK,

AND THEN OUT, EVENTUALLY.

I CUT MORE.

SO, I HAVE ALL THESE PIECES

AND I HAVE TO MAKE
ALL THESE PIECES WORK

WITH HOW I WANT IT TO HAPPEN.

ARE YOU CREEPIN' DOWN LOW?

OR ARE YOU STAYING HIGH?

- WITH THE EXHAUST?
- YEAH.

IT'S GONNA COME -- WELL,
IT'LL BE BELOW THE FRAME RAIL.

IT'S GONNA COME RIGHT
BETWEEN THERE AND HERE.

AND THEN I'M GONNA DO TWO
COMING OUT THE SIDES RIGHT HERE.

- MM. I LIKES.
- MM-HMM.

SO IT'LL BE PRETTY COOL.

WE COULD DO A BACK ROLL,

SO IT WOULD MAKE, LIKE,
A LITTLE TIP...

YOU KNOW, WITH --
ON TOP OF YOUR STUFF.

HEY, BRO...

HEY, TWO WEEKS.

WE GOT TWO WEEKS.

REMEMBER WHAT ALL THE COOL,

SUPER ELABORATE IDEAS DID
FOR US?

YEAH.

AND IT LOOKS
COOL AND ELABORATE.

TWO WEEKS.

SO?

WE FINISHED THAT IN TWO WEEKS.

100 DAYS.

RACING IS A VERY
ON-THE-EDGE KIND OF THING.

A HIGH-PROBABILITY
OF WRECKING THE VEHICLE.

WE NEED A VERY STRONG CAGE.

MADE IT!

I CAME HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE ENGINE THAT'S IN OUR TRUCK.

I'M READY TO DROP THESE
CYLINDERS IN RIGHT NOW.

WELL, HE'S NOT GOING TO.

OH, YOU GOT A MACHINE
THAT DOES?

I THOUGHT YOU WOULD.

GOT THIS TRUCK LOADED,
BROUGHT IT UP HERE,

AND WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON TRACK

AND SEE HOW IT HANGS
WITH ALL OF MY FRIENDS' TRUCK.

I'D SAY I AM GREATLY OUTMATCHED.

LET'S GO RIGHT HERE.
WHY NOT?

SO, WE GOT ABOUT
TWO WEEKS TO FINISH

AARON'S SEMI THAT HE PLANS
TO RACE IN COLORADO SPRINGS,

AND WE'RE ALL DEFINITELY
FEELING THE PRESSURE.

DON'T TRIP ON THAT PIPE.

I STARTED THE EXHAUST.

'CAUSE TO BE COMPETITIVE
IN COLORADO SPRINGS,

WE NEED A LOT OF HORSEPOWER
AND GOOD AIRFLOW.

BUILT A DOWNPIPE.

AND THEN JONATHAN WENT TO GO
GET ME SOME TUBING,

SOME 5-INCH STAINLESS,

SO I CAN CONNECT THE DOTS
FROM THE DOWNPIPE

TO WHERE WE'RE GONNA
TURN IT OUTSIDE THE TRUCK.

THE TURNOUT DOWN THERE,
I'M NOT HAPPY WITH IT

BECAUSE IT, LIKE, IT COMES DOWN
AND THEN IT TURNS BACK UP.

SO I MUST HAVE JUST CLOCKED IT
WRONG WHEN I WAS SETTING IT UP,

SO I GOT TO RECUT THE LOWER TURN

SO THAT IT'S LEVEL
WITH THE FRAME.

NEED TO CUT.

WE'RE PICKING AN
EXHAUST SYSTEM BASED ON ITS SIZE,

HOW MUCH VOLUME OF AIR IT CAN
MOVE, AND THEN ITS LOCATION.

I NEED SOMETHING THAT
DOESN'T INTERFERE

WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE,
IS MOUNTED INCREDIBLY STRONG,

AND AESTHETICALLY IT LOOKS COOL.

NOW THAT I'VE REWORKED
THIS PIECE,

I'M GONNA TEST-FIT IT
AGAIN ON THE TRUCK

TO MAKE SURE IT'S ALL LEVEL.

THAT ONE IS TOO TALL!

JEREMY!

HEY, CAN YOU GRAB ME A SMALL --
A SHORT JACK STAND, PLEZ?

SO, BUILDING THE EXHAUST,
YOU KNOW, IT'S CHALLENGING

BECAUSE IT'S SO BIG
TO DEAL WITH.

THANK YOU.

IT'S A JUNGLE GYM
TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE.

IT IS ALL JUST SUPER HEAVY.

SO I HAD JP CRAWL UNDER WITH ME
AND HELP ME OUT, YOU KNOW?

THANK YOU.

SO...

THANKS, JP.

OH, YEAH.

IS THAT PUSHED ALL THE WAY UP
WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE?

I THINK.
CAN YOU GRAB A LEVEL

AND MAKE SURE IT'S PARALLEL
WITH THE FRAME?

OKAY.
THERE YOU GO.

THERE IT IS.

- IS IT?
- IS IT?

PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT.

JUST LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

NEXT UP, WE GOT
TO BUILD A ROLL CAGE.

WHAT'S THE ROOF LIKE?
IS IT FLAT?

UH, NO.

THIS RACE CAR IS 12,000 POUNDS.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE DOOR
OPENING IS ON IT.

SO WHAT'S THE DOOR OPENING?

THIS IS THREE TIMES THE WEIGHT
OF A NORMAL RACE CAR.

210?WHICH SIDE IS HIGH?

- THE RIGHT SIDE.
- SO IT'S UP LIKE THIS.

SO IT'S GOING DOWN.

- YEAH.
- 2 DEGREES?

UH, YEAH.
OKAY.

THAT BEING SAID, IT'S IMPORTANT

TO HAVE THE RIGHT
AMOUNT OF STICKS,

THE RIGHT SIZE OF STICKS,
AND HAVE THEM IN THE RIGHT SPOT.

RACING IS A VERY ON-THE-EDGE
KIND OF THING.

CARS CRASH.

AND THEY CRASH OFTEN.

SO, WITH HIGH SPEED
AND HIGH PROBABILITY

OF WRECKING THE VEHICLE,
WE NEED A VERY STRONG CAGE.

THAT'S CURVED SLIGHTLY I THINK.

THERE MIGHT BE
A FLAT SPOT IN IT.

- YEAH.
- YEAH, YEAH.

SEE WHAT LOOKS GOOD IN THERE,
AND THEN JUST CHECK THAT ANGLE.

IT'S HAD A HARD LIFE.

IT'S GOT EVIDENCE
OF BEING HIT BEFORE.

SO WHEN WE BUILD THE CAGE,
WE LIKE TO BUILD IT,

YOU KNOW, I CALL IT

"DEAD-NUTS ON," JUST COMPLETELY
SQUARE AND STRAIGHT.

BUT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PUT IT
INSIDE OF THIS BOX

SITTING ON TOP
OF THIS GREAT BIG FRAME,

AND SO MANY OF THESE
THINGS AREN'T SQUARE.

AND WE ARE DEALING WITH
VERY LITTLE TIME ON THIS THING.

.105 IS THE DISTANCE PER ANGLE.

DOING MATH WITH BENDS
IS NEW TO ME.

THIS CAGE FOR THE SEMI-TRUCK
IS PRETTY TRICKY.

IT HAS A TON OF BENDS AND
NOTCHES AND THINGS TO BE MADE.

ALL RIGHT,
I'LL PUT NUMBERS ON IT.

ARE YOU USING THAT CALCULATION
THAT YOU HAD ON THE PAPER?

IT'S LONG-ASS FORMULA,
ISN'T IT?

NO, NO. SO...

CLR TIMES TWO,
AND THEN DIAMETER TIMES PI.

SO, YOUR CENTERLINE RADIUS.

SO SAY IT'S, LIKE,
CYLINDERS ARE HERE.

CLR IS 6 INCHES.
THAT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE TUBE.

- MM-HMM.
- SO CLR BY TWO IS 12.

WE TAKE THAT AND WE DIVIDE
THAT BY TWO.

AND THEN, SO WE'VE GOT
12 TIMES 3.14 DIVIDED BY 360.

1046...

I ROUNDED UP TO .105,
TIMES 28.

TIMES THE AMOUNT OF DEGREES.

SO THAT'D BE .105.

SO THE BEND RADIUS IS 3.20...
AND TWO.

HM.

SO, THAT'S WAY WEIRD.

PRETTY LUCKY TO HAVE A
MATHEMATICAL GENIUS ON MY HANDS,

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT EVERY DAY
YOU GET TO WORK WITH RAIN MAN.

SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO BALANCE
WHAT WE NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE

AND WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE.

REALLY, WE END UP WHAT IS
CALLED "SPLITTING HAIRS,"

TRYING TO FIND
THE MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING.

TELL ME WHEN IT SNUGS UP.

YOU WANT THINGS
A LITTLE TIGHTER,

BUT THE TIGHTER YOU WANT THEM,
THE MORE DIFFICULT THEY ARE.

OOH, IT'S GONNA FIGHT,
IT'S GONNA FIGHT.

BOY, THIS WAS EASIER
TO PUT IN WHEN IT DIDN'T FIT.

WE HAVE TO NIP A LITTLE
MORE OFF THE TAIL.

SO, WE'VE JUST HAD
TO LOOSEN UP THE CAGE

WHERE I REALLY WANTED IT,

AND THEN WHERE
WE'RE GONNA HAVE IT.

AND ULTIMATELY,
IT FITS PRETTY GOOD.

MODIFYING THIS SERIES 60 ENGINE
HAS ME SO CURIOUS ABOUT IT.

WHEN BOB OFFERED A TOUR
OF DETROIT REMAN,

I COULDN'T RESIST.

HEY.
WHAT'S GOIN' ON, BOB?

YOU MADE IT.

YES, SIR.
ABSOLUTELY.

GOOD SEEING YOU.
THIS IS JOSH.

JOSH?

NICE TO MEET YOU.NICE TO MEET YOU.

WELCOME TO DETROIT
REMANUFACTURING.

WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME
THIS MORNING.

SO, BOB INVITED ME UP
TO DETROIT REMAN

TO CHECK OUT THEIR FACILITY.

WORKING ON MY SERIES 60
REALLY GOT MY CURIOSITY

GOING ABOUT HOW
THESE ENGINES ARE BUILT.

AND SINCE I TRUST THE GUYS
BACK AT THE SHOP

TO KEEP THINGS
MOVING ON THE TRUCK,

I COULDN'T TURN DOWN
THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE TIRED OLD
MOTORS THAT HAVE DONE THEIR JOB,

PUT IN THEIR SERVICE,

AND THEY COME HERE
TO GET A NEW LIFE, RIGHT?

THAT'S IT.

WE LOOK AT THOSE
AS OUR RAW MATERIALS.

DETROIT DIESEL MOTORS ARE
THE BACKBONE OF AMERICAN TRUCKING.

AT DETROIT REMAN, THEY REHAB
THESE INTO SECOND-LIFE.

SO I'M SPENDING A LITTLE TIME
HERE IN THE SHOP

LEARNING MORE
ABOUT THEIR SYSTEMS

AND HOW THESE MONSTROSITIES
GO TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S A GREAT
AFTERNOON OUT.

I'M GONNA HAND YOU OFF
WITH BOB.

YOU READY TO ROCK?
YOU WANT TO WALK UP THIS WAY?

YEAH, LET'S DO IT, MAN.

YOU SEE THIS ENGINE
RIGHT HERE?

IT'S GETTING READY TO START
THE TEAR-DOWN PROCESS.

YEP.

IT COMES ON DOWN THE LINE.

AND HE DISASSEMBLES.

AND JUST GET IT DOWN
THE THE RAW MOTOR?

EXACTLY.

ON THE SEMI
HE'S CURRENTLY MAKING,

IT HAS A MILLION MILES ON IT.

I TOLD HIM, YOU REALLY JUST NEED
TO COME SEE THE PROCESSES.

I'LL SHOW YOU WHY
OUR REMAN PRODUCTS

ARE JUST AS GOOD AS THE NEW.

HOW COOL IS IT THIS MOTOR'S
ALMOST AS TALL AS ME?

TODAY, WE CAME UP HERE TO LEARN
ABOUT THE DETROIT SERIES 60.

I CAME HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE ENGINE THAT'S IN OUR TRUCK.

I NEVER HAD ONE APART.
NEVER HAD A REASON TO.

NEVER EVEN OWNED ONE.

NOW THAT I DO, THE CURIOSITY'S
THAT MUCH BIGGER.

NOW WE GET DOWN
TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS.

YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE
OILING UP A FEW O-RINGS,

DROP THESE CYLINDERS
IN RIGHT NOW.

OH, HE'S NOT GOING TO.

OH, YOU GOT A MACHINE
THAT DOES?

I THOUGHT YOU WOULD.

OH, LET'S DO IT.

EVERYONE SHOWS UP TO WORK
WITH DIFFERENT QUALITIES

AND DIFFERENT ABILITIES
AND TALENTS.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

- BRIAN.
- AARON.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU HAVE THE PERSON
HANDLE A VERY --

A SMALL SET OF REQUIREMENTS
THAT THEY CAN DO

OVER AND OVER AGAIN
WITHOUT FATIGUE.

WE LOADING ALL SIX? YEAH.

EVERY ONE OF THEM.

WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THAT,
YOU GET TO PUT

THE BIG CRANK SHAFT IN.

SO, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

I'VE PUT CYLINDERS
INTO A BLOCK LIKE THIS.

YOU HAVE TO CHECK THE LINER
HEAD ON EACH ONE

TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOU'RE GONNA GET THE PROPER SEAL

ON YOUR COMPRESSION.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IT
TO BE EVEN...

OKAY.

...WITHIN THE SPECIFICATION.

YOU'RE CHECKING MULTIPLE POINTS
TO MAKE IT SURE IT CROSSES IT.

- CORRECT.
- OKAY.

THERE'S A LOT OF TOOLS
IN HERE THAT ARE BUILT

SPECIFICALLY
FOR DOING ONE JOB --

NOT MULTIPLE JOBS, OR TWO.

THEY DO ONE JOB.

BYE.

OH, NO.
IT'S COMING BACK TO SEE YOU.

OH, IT FLIPS IT
THE OTHER WAY.

- YEAH.
- NOW WHAT?

INSTALL THE CRANK SHAFTS.

UH-OH.

THERE IT GOES.

SO, I PUT AARON TO WORK
FOR A LITTLE BIT TODAY.

HE DID GREAT.

I WOULD SAY IT SPINS
PRETTY GOOD, ACTUALLY.

I AM A BIG FAN OF INSTEAD
OF BUYING NEW, MAINTAINING...

KEEPING GOING.

I THINK COMING HERE
AND FINDING A BENCHMARK

OF WHAT AMERICAN MANUFACTURING
IN THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD,

CUSTOM AUTOMOTIVE WORLD,
CAN BE...

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT

TO MY LONG-TERM GOALS.

I HAVEN'T WRECKED
ANYTHING TODAY!

- YEAH!
- COOL.

I'LL TELL YOU THIS,
I APPRECIATE IT, MAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'VE GOT AN EVENT COMING UP
WITH THE SEMI-TRUCK,

AND I HAVEN'T RUN
THE IN-FIELD TRACK.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY TIGHT
COURSE FOR THE SEMI.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE...

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT.

THESE GUYS RACE THESE TRUCKS
AND THEY RACE THEM HARD,

AND SO THIS COULD GO GOOD,

OR THIS COULD BE
A REALLY GREAT JOKE.

ALRIGHT, CHRIS.

LET'S GET THESE
AIR BRAKES INSTALLED.

HEY, WAS THERE WASHERS
BEHIND THE DISC BEFORE?

NO.
MNH-MNH.

SINCE WE'RE NO LONGER TRYING
TO HAUL 80,000-POUND LOADS

OVER THE ROAD,

WE'RE SWAPPING OUT
THE OLD DRUM BRAKES FOR NEWER,

LIGHTER, MORE EFFICIENT
DRUM BRAKES,

MORE SUITABLE FOR
A 12,000-POUND RACE TRUCK.

THAT'S BASICALLY OFF
A LITTLE BIT.

WEIGHT IS EVERYTHING.

AND ALTHOUGH THE OFFICIAL
RULES STATE

THAT WE NEED TO MAINTAIN
A MINIMUM OF 11,500 POUNDS,

WE STRIPPED ALL THE UNNECESSARY
EQUIPMENT OFF THIS TRUCK.

THE DASH, THE INTERIOR,
AND EVEN OUR HEAVY DRUM BREAKS.

GIVE ME 1 INCH
ONLY ON THE ROD.

I'M KIND OF GETTING
THE MEASUREMENTS,

HE'S CUTTING THE UNNECESSARY
PART OF THE SHAFT OFF,

SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IT ALL FIT.

THAT'S THE 1-INCH
YOU ASKED FOR.

YEAH, I KNOW.

THERE'S NO MEASUREMENTS,
YOU KNOW?

SO IT'S ALL TRIAL AND ERROR.

WELL, I DON'T HAVE
A BRAKE,

SO WE BETTER HOPE IT'S RIGHT.

YOU'LL BE AN AIR-BRAKE
EXPERT BEFORE WE'RE DONE.

WHAT THIS TRUCK'S ABOUT TO DO,

WE WANT THE MAXIMUM
BRAKING AS POSSIBLE.

IF HE HAS TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES,
I WANT THEM THINGS TO LOCK UP.

THIS AIN'T MOVING IT.

YEAH, SO I SAY
THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

BUT EVEN THOUGH
WE'RE ONLY STOPPING

A 12,000-POUND RACE TRUCK

INSTEAD OF AN
80,000-POUND TRAILER,

WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH BRAKES

AND THAT'S HEAT AND AARON'S
GOT A PLAN FOR THAT.

SO, WE NEED MPT
TO 1/4"-D.O.T.s.

ON -- WE NEED THE FOUR.

AND THEN WE NEED A 1/4" MPT
TO PUSH -- YOU KNOW, MATCH THAT.

AND SEE IF WE CAN GET ENOUGH
STUFF TO PLUM THE BRAKE SPARES.

THESE TRUCKS HAVE DRUM BRAKES
ALL THE WAY AROUND.

THEY'RE VERY, VERY, VERY SIMILAR
TO WHAT'S ON THE BACK

OF AN OLD PICK-UP TRUCK.

HOWEVER, THEY WEREN'T
DESIGNED TO BE APPLIED,

LET-OFF APPLIED,
LET-OFF APPLIED, LET-OFF,

SO WE BUILD A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF HEAT.

AND AT A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE,

THE BRAKES JUST NO LONGER
CAN DO THEIR JOB,

SO WE HAVE TO REMOVE
THE HEAT OUT OF THE BRAKES,

SO WE SPRAY WATER ON IT,
THE WATER TURNS TO STEAM,

AND IT EVAPORATES,

AND THAT'S HOW WE REMOVE
THE HEAT OUT OF THE BRAKES.

WE HAVE BRAKE SPARES HERE.

UH, THIS IS A FAN NOZZLE,
SO IT WILL SPREAD OUT THE SPRAY

AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
APPLYING WATER TO THE BRAKES.

SO THAT IS --
THIS NOZZLE RIGHT HERE...

IS GOING TO SPRAY WATER
AT THE DRUM.

WE WANT TO SPRAY THE DRUM
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE

THE HEAT IS REALLY CREATED.

WHEN THE WATER HITS THE DRUM,
IT CREATES STEAM AND THE STEAM

IS A NATURAL WAY
TO GET HEAT OFF OF --

IT PULLS SOME OF
THE HEAT OUT OF IT

AND SENDS IT OUT
TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

UNDER THE SKIN, WE'RE
INSTALLING A 20-GALLON TANK FOR WATER.

FILL THIS UP WITH WATER AND IT
WILL BE A GAUGE ON THE DASH.

WHENEVER WE HIT THE BRAKES,
IT WILL SPRAY,

SO WE'RE ABLE TO USE
THE BRAKES A LOT LONGER,

WE CAN HAVE LONGER RACES,

WE CAN HAVE MORE EFFECTIVE
BRAKES ON MORE TURNS.

IS IT FIGHTING YOU
OR YOU THINK IT'S OKAY?

UH, I HAVE A SIMILAR BRACKET.

I'M COMING OFF OF
THE STUDS HERE.

HMM, OKAY.

AND THEN, I'M SPRAYING
RIGHT IN HERE.

SO, BASICALLY I'M --OH, THAT ONE --

THAT ONE LOOKED LIKE
IT WORKED OUT GOOD.

AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL
COME UP WITH THAT WATER LINE.

WE'LL COME UP AND SNAKE IT
WITH THE BRAKE LINE.

YEAH, FOLLOW -- FOLLOW IT
WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

YEP.

I THINK -- I THINK
IT WILL BE FUN.

COME ON, CHRIS.

ONLY THREE MORE TO GO.

GOD.

WE'RE AT PIKES PEAK
INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY,

BETTER KNOWN AS PPIR,

JUST A LITTLE SOUTH
OF COLORADO SPRINGS.

I GOT TIME-TRAVEL RACES
COMING UP WITH THE BIG TRUCK,

OUR SEMI-TRUCK,

AND I'VE ONLY RACED
IN A TRUCK ONCE BEFORE.

AND LET ME TELL YOU,
IT CAN GET ROUGH OUT THERE.

IT'S UNLIKE ANY OTHER
KIND OF RACING.

AND AS FAR AS THIS TRACK
IS CONCERNED,

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, AND SO,

I THINK TODAY MIGHT BE
A GOOD OPPORTUNITY

TO JUST COME OUT HERE
AND TURN A COUPLE OF LAPS

OR AT LEAST WALK THE TRACK
AND SEE WHAT I'M UP AGAINST

FOR UPCOMING COMPETITIONS.

QUé PASA, MAN?

- WHAT'S GOING ON?
- NADA.

I SEE YOU OUT HERE
TEARING IT UP.

ABSOLUTELY, MAN.

JUST RUNNING SOME LAPS
IN THE SCHOOL CARS.

YEAH.

I KNOW TOMMY.
HE'S A PROFESSIONAL DRIVER.

HE'S AN INSTRUCTOR.

HE'S WELL-QUALIFIED.

I KNOW WE'RE BRINGING
THE BIG TRUCKS HERE,

SO I WAS OF CURIOUS IF I COULD
DO A LITTLE RECONNAISSANCE

AND, UH, CHECK THE TRACK OUT.

FOR SURE, MAN.

WE CAN HOP IN AND DO
SOME LAPS IN THIS G8.

MY DAD IS INVOLVED WITH
THE OWNERSHIP OF THE TRACK.

HE'S ONE OF THE OWNERS HERE,

SO I'VE BEEN AROUND THIS PLACE
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.

I'VE ACTUALLY GOT PICTURES OF ME
IN MY GO-CARTS HERE

GOING ACROSS
THE START-FINISH LINE.

I'VE SEEN YOUR DAD'S
DATSUN PICKUP.

I'D LOVE TO TAKE SOME LAPS
IN THE DATSUN.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY?

YEAH, UH, I THINK
WE CAN MAKE THAT WORK.

WE JUST GOT TO KEEP
THAT THING SUNNY-SIDE UP.

THAT'S A DEAL.
LET'S DO IT.

ALRIGHT, LET'S DO IT.

THAT'S A LOT FASTER THAN
I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

IT RUNS PRETTY GOOD,
DOESN'T IT?

YEAH.

IT'S ONLY, LIKE, A HUNDRED
SOME HORSEPOWER, BUT...

I'M ACTUALLY THE CHIEF
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

HERE AT THE TRACK NOW,

SO ANY TIME WE HAVE ANY
SORT OF DRIVING PROGRAM,

WHETHER IT BE A TEENAGE-DRIVING
COURSE OR A RACING CLASS,

I'M UP IN FRONT
OF THE CLASSROOM,

TELLING EVERYBODY WHAT TO DO.

I'VE GOT MORE LAPS
AROUND THIS PLACE

THAN ANYBODY ON BOTH THE OVAL
AND THE ROAD COURSE,

WHICH DEFINITELY PLAYS
TO MY ADVANTAGE.

I THINK I'M GOING TO WORK
WITH HIM A LITTLE BIT.

I'LL GIVE HIM A FEW POINTERS.

I WON'T GIVE HIM ALL MY TIPS
AND TRICKS,

BUT WE'LL GET HIM UP TO SPEED
WITH THE REST OF THE GUYS.

SURE, SURE.

TOMMY'S DRIVEN ME
AROUND A FEW LAPS,

SHOWING ME HIS SPEED, HIS LINE,

WHERE TO DO THIS,
WHERE TO DO THAT.

SO, PRETTY MUCH
EASY AS THAT.

NOW IT'S MY OPPORTUNITY TO HOP
INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT

AND SEE IF I CAN REPLICATE
HIS SPEED AND HIS LINES.

IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

ALRIGHT, MAN.
READY TO GIVE HER A GO?

YEAH, LET'S DO IT.

I'M ALWAYS LEERY OF DRIVING
OTHER PEOPLE'S CARS, YOU KNOW.

IT'S LIKE -- IT'S A VERY
PERSONAL THING.

IT'S LIKE -- IT'S ALMOST
LIKE WEARING

SOMEONE ELSE'S UNDERWEAR, RIGHT?

AND SO, I DON'T WANT
TO WRECK HIS TRUCK,

I DON'T WANT TO HURT HIS TRUCK,

I DON'T WANT TO
DAMAGE THE TRUCK,

BUT I REALLY WANT TO DRIVE IT.

OH, TOO LATE.

THERE WE GO.

I LIKE IT.

I THINK THIS IS A VERY TIGHT
COURSE FOR THE SEMI

AND I GUESS THEY RACED

INDY CARS HERE,
SMALLER NASCARS HERE.

SO THE TRACK WASN'T DESIGNED
WITH SEMI-TRUCKS IN MIND.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE --

I THINK IT'S GOING
TO BE DIFFICULT.

THE TRUCK'S VERY BIG.

IT NEEDS A LOT OF ROOM
TO CHANGE DIRECTION.

IT'S -- WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT
FOR IT WITH THE SEMI.

NO BRAKES HERE?

OVERALL, I THINK I DID WELL.

A LONG WAY FROM TOMMY'S
PROFESSIONAL LINES,

TOMMY'S SPEED,
I REALIZE THAT.

BUT I THINK I DID REALLY WELL
AND, MORE THAN ANYTHING,

I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

WHAT A WILD DEAL.

OH, YEAH.
SO...

GOOD WORK OUT THERE, MAN.

I THINK WE'LL BE SET WHEN WE
COME IN THE BIG TRUCKS...

THANKS, MAN.
...AND BE PROUD.

YEAH.
I -- I CAN'T WAIT.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE SOME
CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US,

BUT THE BIGGEST ONE
IS GETTING BACK TO DALLAS

AND GETTING THE SEMI
PREPPED TO COME UP HERE

AND RUN THIS TRACK FOR REAL.

- WE'LL SEE YA.
- SEE YA.

THANKS.

HEY, THIS -- THIS BACK BAR
IS TOUCHING.

ESSENTIALLY, THE CAGE SHRUNK.

MAYBE IF WE JACK
THE FRONT OF THE CAB UP?

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY
TO GET TO THE BACK

OF THAT ROLL CAGE

AND TRY AND DO IT
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE NOW WE'RE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISASTER.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE?

I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT, MAN.

YEAH.

OH, IT'S DOPE.

THEY'RE HEAVY.

YEAH, I BET THEY ARE.

I'D GET THEM OUT OF THE BACK
OF THE TRUCK WITH A FORKLIFT.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE
IS FOUR BRAND NEW WHEELS,

FOUR BRAND-NEW TIRES
FOR OUR RIG.

AND WE GOT THEM OUT
OF THE BALANCE JUST NOW

AND THEY'RE READY TO GO.

YEAH, THEY'RE REALLY BIG,
THEY'RE REALLY HEAVY,

AND I DON'T WANT TO UNLOAD THEM.

UH, I MEAN, TODAY I KIND OF
HATE MY INTESTINES, SO --

YEAH, LET'S JUST GO
AND PFFT THAT OUT.

THAT WAS THE SOUND OF THE
INTESTINES STARTING TO COME OUT.

HOW BAD IS IT?

- YOU'RE GOING TO HELP HIM NOW?
- I'M GOING TO HELP HIM.

YEAH, WE'RE JUST GONNA --
WE'RE JUST GONNA ROLL THEM OFF,

SEND THEM OFF IN THE SUNSET.

FOR A GUY THAT
WORKS OUT EVERY DAY,

YOU SEEM AWFUL AFRAID OF IT.

HEY, JON.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT
BALANCING THEY DID ON IT.

THEY DID.
THEY STUCK WEIGHTS TO IT.

HOW EFFECTIVE THEY'RE GOING
TO BE I DON'T KNOW, BUT...

WE'LL FIND OUT,
WON'T WE?

THEY STUCK SOME
WEIGHTS ON THERE.

ALRIGHT, ONE, TWO, THREE.

SEND IT.

AND HE'S WALKING AWAY.

YEP.
THANKS.

THANKS.

SO, ONCE CHRIS GETS
THOSE HEAVY WHEELS AND TIRES

INSTALLED ONTO THE SEMI,

IT WILL BE A GOOD TIME
TO TAKE A MEASUREMENT

TO SEE HOW MUCH
THE WHOLE TRUCK WEIGHS.

SO, SHE'S GOING TO ROLL.

UH-HUH.

SINCE THE BIG RIG
RACING SERIES RULES SAID

A MINIMUM OF 11,500 POUNDS

IN ORDER TO KEEP
THE PLAYING FIELD LEVEL...

AS FAR AS THE WEIGHT
GOES, I EXPECT HIGH NUMBERS.

I MEAN, IT'S --
IT'S A SEMI TRUCK, SO,

I MEAN, I DEFINITELY
EXPECTED BIG NUMBERS.

THE FRONT'S A LITTLE BIT
HEAVIER THAN THE REAR.

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

1,820 AND 38,000.

THAT'S NOT BAD.

THAT'S BETTER THAN
I EXPECTED IT TO BE.

YEAH.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE
SUPERNOSE-HEAVY.

WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP
THIS TRUCK AS CLOSE

TO THE 11,500-POUND
MINIMUM LIMIT AS WE CAN

AND ALSO GIVE AARON
EVERYTHING THAT HE WANTS

AND I THINK
WE'RE RIGHT IN THERE.

THOSE NUMBERS DON'T
SURPRISE ME, AT ALL.

YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING
AND WE STILL

DON'T HAVE A FULLY LOADED --

6, 70 -- SO YOU GOT 76 BACK HERE
AND THEN FOUR 11s --

SO 11-SOMETHING NOW?

THESE ARE OUR CURRENT WEIGHTING
MEASUREMENTS RIGHT NOW.

WE STILL GOT PROBABLY
500 POUNDS OF STUFF

THAT IS STILL ACTUALLY GOING
TO GO ON THE TRUCK.

RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE SITTING AT 11,290.

MINIMUM WEIGHT'S WHAT?

11,500.

11,500?
YEAH.

OH, WHEN WE GET THE REST
OF THE CRAP ON THERE,

WE'LL BE EVERY BIT OF THAT.

YEAH, BUT,
I MEAN, CURRENTLY,

IT'S SHORT A FEW
ALUMINUM PANELS,

TWO WINGS,

TWO LITTLE PIECES OF GLASS --

40 FOOTS OF STICK.

AT LEAST, 'CAUSE...

- OH, GOING ON THE BACK OF IT.
- YEAH, YEAH.

WE'LL BE PUSHING RIGHT AT 12
OR A LITTLE OVER 12

WHEN IT'S ALL SAID
AND DONE ON RACE DAY.

PROBABLY 250 MISCELLANEOUS.

WE'LL BE -- WE'LL BE 600
POUNDS HEAVIER THAN WE ARE NOW.

YEAH.
YEAH, YEAH.

12,000 POUNDS.

AND HEADLIGHTS.

FOR A WHILE.

'TIL SOMEONE KNOCKS THEM OUT.

NOW THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY
WEIGHED THE TRUCK,

WE CAN TURN OUR ATTENTION
TO FINISHING THE ROLL CAGE.

ARE WE SLEEVING BACK HERE
AND THEN DIVING DOWN

TO THE, UH,
SPRING ARCHES, RIGHT?

THIS ONE --
TO THE PASSENGER SIDE.

THAT ONE -- PBHT!
INTERSECT THROUGH.

AND, UH, KICKERS COVER
THE RACK OR NO?

PROBABLY.
THEY'LL -- PBHT, PBHT.

SO, THE INSIDE OF
THE ROLL CAGE IS IN PLACE,

BUT WE HAVE TO SECURE IT
TO THE CHASSIS

WITH AN X-FRAME
THAT WILL GO ACROSS THE BACK.

THE TRUCKS WE'RE RACING
AGAINST IN COLORADO SPRINGS

ALL WEIGH IN THE BALLPARK
OF 12,000 POUNDS,

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THIS ROLL CAGE

IS SECURED AND WELDED
TO THE CHASSIS

AND NOT COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY.

SO THERE TO THERE?

AND THEN, THERE TO THERE?

WHOA.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

BRAKE!

I'VE TOUCHED IT!

I'VE GOT...

PROBABLY 15, 20 BARS
STILL TO BUILD AND BEND

AND NOTCH AND PUT IN THE TRUCK,

SO, ON TOP OF BUILDING SEAT
BRACKETS FOR THE SEATS...

- MAYBE?
- I'M JUST ASKING.

OKAY.

THAT'S JEREMY OVER THERE.

UM.

HEY.

HEY.

THIS IS TABITHA.SORRY.

I MEAN, WE'LL MAKE IT.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT, WE HAVE
TO MAKE IT, SO IT'S JUST --

JUST GOT TO PUT IN THE TIME
AND STOP DILLY-DALLYING.

I'LL PACK EVERYTHING
TOGETHER IN HERE.

TELL HER TO QUIT MOVING.

HEY, THIS --
THIS BACK BAR IS TOUCHING.

HUH?

THE BACK BAR.

SO, AFTER WE WERE WELDING
SOME OF THE CAGE UP,

THE EXTERIOR AND THE INTERIOR,
THE CAGE MOVES,

SO WHEN YOU WELD EVERYTHING
IT GETS HOT AND COOLS

AND EVERYTHING KIND OF SHRINKS
AND DOES WHAT IT WANTS TO.

WELL, WE HAD TO REDO THE X
ON THE INTERIOR OF THE CAB

'CAUSE ESSENTIALLY
THE CAGE SHRUNK.

I MEAN...
TELL ME.

WE CAN'T GET TO THE BACKSIDE
OF THE WELD,

OF THE TUBES, ON THE X?

UH-HUH.

SO I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO GET BACK THERE.

MAYBE IF WE JACKED
THE FRONT OF THE CAB UP,

TAKE THE BOLTS OUT, JACK THE CAB
UP, AND ROCK IT BACKWARDS.

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

WHY?

'CAUSE YOUR
FIRM-ASS FIT OF THE TUBES

COMING THROUGH THE CAB.

SO WE'VE GOT TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS AND MAKE OUR FINAL WELDS,

BUT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
TO REACH THE BACKSIDE

WITH OUR WELDING TORCHES.

WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO GET AWAY WITH

IS LEAVE THIS BOTTOM X OUT

AND THAT WAY WE CAN...

WORK OUR WAY IN THERE.

NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S
GOING TO WORK, EITHER.

HOW THE DO WE
EVEN GET THE TUBE OUT?

YOU HAVE TO PULL
THIS MAIN B-BAR OUT.

YEAH, SO HOW'RE YOU
GOING TO DO THAT?

HMM, I DON'T KNOW.

MM-HMM.
YEAH, EXACTLY.

WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A WAY
TO BE ABLE TO GET

TO THE BACK OF THAT ROLL CAGE

AND TRY AND DO IT
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE NOW WE'RE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISASTER.

I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

HEY, THIS -- THIS BACK-BAR
IS TOUCHING.

THIS CAGE FOR THE SEMI-TRUCK
IS PRETTY TRICKY.

MAYBE IF WE JACKED
THE FRONT OF THE CAB UP.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

ESSENTIALLY THE CAGE SHRUNK.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A DISASTER.

WE'RE TAKING THIS TRUCK
TO COMPETE IN COLORADO SPRINGS.

I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

OUTRIGHT BATTLE ROYALE, I THINK.

MAN, WE DON'T -- WE DON'T
EXACTLY WANT TO SEE YOU GIVE US

JUNK WHEN THE GUY
OWES US THIS STUFF, BUT...

CHRIS RUSHMAN GOT
A HEART OF GOLD,

BUT SOMETIMES IT'S HARD
TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT THE HELL
HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

I SQUISHED ONE DOWN IN THERE.

SOME THINGS WE CHUCK.

WHAT HAPPENED?

- HUH?
- WHAT DID YOU SAY?

KENWORTH DRIVERS AIN'T GOING
TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH

ABOUT THEIR METHOD --

THEY SMEAR IT UP AND TAKE OFF
AND THEN THEY'RE DONE.

WHAT DID HE JUST SAY BECAUSE
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF IT.

I HEARD "KENWORTH"
IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

WE CAN'T GET TO THE BACKSIDE
OF THE WELDS.

HUH?

SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO GET BACK THERE.

WE'RE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE
RIGHT NOW TO GET THIS TRUCK DONE

FOR AARON TO RACE
IN COLORADO SPRINGS

AND WE HAD A BUMP IN THE ROAD

WITH THE ROLL CAGE
WITH THE BACK X.

WE CAN'T REACH IT WITH OUR
TORCHES TO MAKE THE FINAL WELDS.

HOW THE DO WE
EVEN GET THE TUBE OUT?

I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO.

BECAUSE WHEN WE WELDED
PART OF THE ROLL CAGE,

IT SHRUNK ITSELF, SO ME
AND JASON HAD TO DISASSEMBLE IT

TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING
FIT PROPERLY.

AND WITH ONLY A COUPLE
OF DAYS BEFORE THE TRUCK

IS SUPPOSED TO LEAVE
FOR COLORADO SPRINGS,

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING
NON-STOP TO GET EVERYTHING DONE.

I SPENT 50 HOURS
WORKING ON THIS CAGE,

BUILDING IT AND IT'S NOT EASY
TEARING IT ALL APART.

PIECE OF.

I'M TYPICALLY PRETTY
LEVEL-HEADED.

I DON'T LOSE MY COOL VERY EASY.

HEY, HEY.

WHEN I GOT NO SLEEP

AND SOMETHING'S
NOT GOING MY WAY,

I JUST GET A LITTLE --
GET A LITTLE HOT-TEMPERED.

ALRIGHT.

PIECE OF.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS FRUSTRATING
BECAUSE WE'RE OUT OF TIME,

WE'RE TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE.

IT'S BEEN ROUGH, YOU KNOW?

WE'VE BEEN GOING ON
24 HOURS AND NO SLEEP

AND IT'S ONE MORE THING
THAT'S ADDED TO THE LIST

THAT WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR.

SO, ALTHOUGH I THINK
WE'LL GET IT DONE,

WE'LL BE LUCKY IF WE GET IT
FINISHED BY MORNING.

SO THE GUYS WERE UP
ALL-NIGHT FINISHING THE ROLL CAGE

AND NOW WE'VE GOT
LESS THAN 24 HOURS

TO FINISH THE REST OF THE TRUCK.

THINKING ABOUT THE STUFF
WE HAVE LEFT TO DO

IS EXTREMELY OVERWHELMING.

WE JUST GOT TO KEEP
PUSHING THROUGH.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT
THE BRAKE BACK IN

AND THEN WE GOT THE STRUCTURE
THAT GOES IN BEHIND ALL THIS,

GET IT ALL TIGHTENED UP.

IS ALL THIS PERMANENTLY
PUT IN THERE?

I FEEL LIKE IT'S MISSING
SOME BOLTS AND STUFF.

OH, WELL, THIS ONE'S NOT --

YOU SEE THAT CAB EXTENSION?

LIKE, THE BRACKET -- YOU KNOW,
SO THERE'S TWO BIG BOLTS...

OH, YEAH.
THERE'S TWO MISSING THERE.

AS SOON AS I GET THAT DONE I'LL
MAKE THE MOUNT FOR THE GAUGES.

SO, AS WE GET DOWN TO
THE LAST HOURS OF THIS THING,

WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS
PURELY BASED ON,

"WHAT DO WE HAVE THAT MAKES
THIS TRUCK GO, STOP, AND TURN?"

IT LOOKS BRAND-NEW.

WELL, THAT'S JUST A STICKER.

HOW DOES IT FEEL
ON THE INSIDE?

DIRTY, UNFINISHED.

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER
OF INVENTION.

YOU KNOW, WE JUST GET DONE
WHAT WE HAVE TO

AND DO AS NICE AS WE CAN.

- HEY, AARON?
- YEP?

YOU HAVE THAT TORCH OUT
RIGHT THERE?

YEP.

UH, YOU CAN TACK THIS
FOR ME REAL QUICK.

UH, TODAY'S THE LAST DAY ON
OUR BUILD FOR THE SEMI-TRUCK HERE

BEFORE WE GO TO
COLORADO SPRINGS.

STILL QUITE A FEW THINGS TO DO.

WE'VE STILL GOT SEATS TO MOUNT,

WE'VE STILL GOT A COUPLE
OF SHEET-METAL PANELS TO MOUNT.

HOW DID YOU GET IN THERE?

WE HAVE SOME WIRING
TO FINISH UP.

DEADLINES CREEP UP ON YOU FIRST.

THE NERVES WERE KIND OF THERE
FOR ALL OF US --

YOU KNOW, ME, JEREMY, AND JON,
ALL HAD OUR CONCERNS.

IT'S A STRESSFUL TIME.

I WISH WE COULD HAVE HANDLED
UP ON SOME DETAILS A LITTLE MORE.

JUST MAKE THINGS A LITTLE
SLICKER, A LITTLE SHARPER,

MAYBE A LITTLE BETTER
THOUGHT OUT.

ULTIMATELY, VERY HAPPY
WITH THE TRUCK.

VERY HAPPY WITH THE WAY
IT CAME OUT.

THE LAST -- YOU KNOW, THE LAST
40 HOURS OF THIS BUILD

DIDN'T HAPPEN OVER ONE WEEK.

IT HAPPENED OVER TWO DAYS.

WE PACKED EVERYTHING TOGETHER,

WE SLAMMED EVERYTHING IN THERE,
BROUGHT IT UP HERE,

AND, UM, WE'RE GOING TO
PUT IT ON TRACK

AND SEE IF IT CAN COMPETE

WITH SOME OF THE FASTEST RIGS
IN THE COUNTRY.

THESE GUYS RACE THESE TRUCKS
AND THEY RACE THEM HARD AND SO,

THIS COULD GO GOOD OR THIS
COULD BE A REALLY GREAT JOKE.

THESE GUYS ARE WELL-EXPERIENCED
TO SAY THE LEAST.

WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR LEVEL OF
EXPERTISE IN THIS VERSUS MINE,

WELL, I'D SAY
I AM GREATLY OUTMATCHED.

I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

OUTRIGHT BATTLE ROYALE, I THINK.

I'LL SEE IF MY SEMI-RACE CAR

WILL HOLD UP AGAINST
THE PROFESSIONALS.

IF NOTHING ELSE,
IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

YEAH, YEAH.

MAKE DADDY PROUD!

UH-OH.
UH-OH.

OH!

YEAH!!