Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman (2018): Season 2, Episode 4 - Episode #2.4 - full transcript

Kaufman: 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."

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

TONIGHT, MY CREW AND I BUILD
A MODEL "A" RAIL DRAGSTER...

I CAN'T STOP!

WHERE'S THE REST OF IT?

...AND PREPARE MY HARLEY... THAT'S IT.

...FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

AN EVENT THAT CELEBRATES
OUR PAST,

OUR CULTURES, HOT RODDING.

BUT OUR RENDEZVOUS
WITH THE PAST

SEEMS LIKE A SHOT
IN THE DARK...

BEING WITHOUT POWER DOES
KIND OF SCREW UP A FEW THINGS.

...AS WE BATTLE TIME...
WE'RE, LIKE, WEEKS AWAY.

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GONNA PUT
SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR THIS?



...AND UNEXPECTED
MECHANICAL MISHAPS.

OH, NO!

I PROBABLY SHOULD'VE FILLED
THAT RADIATOR UP.

OH, GOODNESS
GRACIOUS.

Kaufman: QUACK, QUACK,
QUACK, QUACK,

QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK.

YOU KNOW, BILL, WERE YOU
AWARE OF RACE OF GENTLEMEN

BEFORE I SHOWED YOU?

OKAY.
SO I LOVE OLD STUFF.

I LOVE THAT THERE ARE OTHER
GROUPS OF PEOPLE

THAT REALLY, REALLY DO
ENJOY THE OLD STYLE,

THE OLD WAY,
THE OLD APPEARANCE,

SO IT'S REALLY
TO RELIVE SOMETHING

THAT IS VERY ROMANTIC TO ME

ABOUT HAVING LESS
AND DOING MORE WITH IT.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
I BECAME AWARE OF A THING

CALLED THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN

THEY HAVE ON THE EAST COAST,
IN THE JERSEY SHORE,

IN A TOWN CALLED WILDWOOD,

AN EVENT THAT CELEBRATES
OUR PAST,

THAT CELEBRATES OUR HISTORY,

OUR HERITAGE, OUR CULTURES,
HOT RODDING,

AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
APPRECIATE THE NEW STUFF

UNLESS YOU APPRECIATE
THE OLD STUFF,

WHERE WE COME FROM.

THESE GUYS GET TOGETHER,
AND THEY'RE BUILDING DRAG CARS,

AND THEY'RE GOING
AS FAST AS THEY CAN,

SEE WHO CAN GET DOWN THE BEACH,
660 FEET, THE FASTEST,

AND THEY'RE DOING IT ALL
WITH PERIOD-CORRECT

RACE CARS AND MOTORCYCLES.

AND WHAT BEAUTIFUL PLACE,
WHAT A WONDERFUL EVENT.

SO I WASN'T ABLE TO GO
FOR A COUPLE YEARS

AFTER I BECAME AWARE OF IT,

AND THEN I FINALLY PUT TOGETHER
A LITTLE '45...

AND SINCE THE HARLEY NEEDED
A LITTLE WORK,

I PLANNED TO TAKE IT
TO THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

...AND JUST COULDN'T QUITE
GET IT TOGETHER.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS
OR THE TIME

TO MAKE IT TO THAT YEAR'S
RACE IN NEW JERSEY,

SO THAT WAS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
TO MAKE UP FOR,

AND SINCE THE RACE
OF GENTLEMEN FEATURES

BOTH MOTORCYCLES
AND RACE CARS,

THIS YEAR I PLAN TO GO BIG
AND HIT BOTH CATEGORIES.

AND SO I TALKED TO THE GENTLEMAN
WHO RUNS THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

HE HAS A NEW CLASS,

AND THE NEW CLASS IS
A RAIL DRAGSTER,

BUT THE IDEA IS, IT PREDATES
WHEN DRAGSTERS EXISTED,

SO THE RULES FOR THIS CLASS

STIPULATE THAT IT BE
A MODEL-T FRAME OR AN "A" FRAME.

SO BESIDES BRINGING
MY MOTORCYCLE,

I DECIDED TO BUILD A MODEL "A"

BECAUSE IT'S SO ICONIC
TO HOT RODDING.

YOU KNOW, THE MODEL "T" HAD
A LONG NINE-YEAR RUN,

AND THE REST
OF FORD'S COMPETITOR'S

HAD BEGUN TO CATCH UP,

SO IN 1927,

HENRY FORD INTRODUCED
THE MODEL "A."

IT WAS NOT ONLY A BIG STEP
FORWARD IN ENGINEERING

BUT ALSO KEPT THE COST DOWN.

A MODEL "A"
STARTED AT ONLY $385,

AND BY 1930, OVER THREE MILLION
WERE ON THE ROAD.

NOW, JUMP AHEAD TWO DECADES,

AND THERE'S A HUGE SURPLUS
OF MODEL As

THAT CAN BE PICKED UP
FOR NEXT TO NOTHING.

FOR A YOUNG KID
WHO HAD A LITTLE MONEY

AND WANTED TO BUILD
HIS FIRST RACE CAR,

THEY WERE A PERFECT SOLUTION,

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'VE BECOME
SO ICONIC IN HOT RODDING.

AND SO WE CAME UP
WITH A MODEL "A"

LISTED JUST A COUPLE HOURS
NORTH OF WHERE THE SHOP IS,

SO WE'RE UP HERE IN OKLAHOMA,

JUST THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE RED RIVER.

ARE YOU THE ONE
WE'S A-WAITING ON?

YEAH.
THAT'D BE ME.

AND WE HAVE A ALLEGEDLY
RUNNING AND DRIVING MODEL "A."

- I'M RONNIE.
- RONNIE?

- NICE TO MEET YOU.
- NICE TO MEET YOU, SIR.

- YEAH.
- HOW YOU DOING THIS MORNING?

WELL, WE'RE ALIVE.

YEAH, YEAH.
WHAT YOU THINK?

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THIS
LITTLE HALF CAR?

- LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HER.
- YES, SIR.

SO THIS GUY I KNEW UP
IN NORTHERN OKLAHOMA --

HE BOUGHT IT IN WEST VIRGINIA.

GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF EVERYTHING AROUND HERE.

HIS WIFE WAS TELLING HIM

HE NEEDED TO GET THAT
OUT OF THEIR GARAGE.

OLD BOY HAD A BIG OLD BOX
OF STUFF FOR SALE.

- YEAH.
- AND I BOUGHT ALL OF IT.

HE ENDED UP
LETTING ME HAVE IT.

NOT HAVE IT, BUT, I MEAN,
SOLD IT TO ME PRETTY CHEAP.

SO IT'S RUNNING,
DRIVABLE RIGHT NOW?

I'VE NEVER STARTED IT.
OKAY.

THE GUY I GOT IT FROM

SAID IT WOULD FIRE
RIGHT UP.

THAT'S VERY POSSIBLE.

BUT I BELIEVED HIM,
SO I DIDN'T EVEN START IT.

YOU GOT A SODA BOTTLE
WE CAN PUT FUEL IN?

PUT SOME FUEL IN?
OH, YEAH.

WE'LL SURE GET
SOMETHING.

SO I'M SUPPOSED TO BE BUYING
A RUNNING AND DRIVING MODEL "A,"

BUT I'VE WORKED
ON A LOT OF MODEL As,

AND YOU CAN ALMOST SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON FROM A DISTANCE.

SOMEONE SNIPPED THE WIRES
ON THE COIL,

AND THE POINTS ARE CORRODED,

BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
SUPER-PRESSING TO DO,

SO I FIGURED LET'S JUST SEE
IF IT RUNS AND DRIVES.

Maples: JUST WHOOP
THAT BOOGER OFF.

SO THE 6-VOLT BATTERY IS DEAD.

HE HAD PUT WATER IN IT,
AND WHO KNOWS WHAT HE PUT IN IT,

AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY TIMES
IT'S BEEN CHARGED?

WE'LL MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN,
WON'T WE?

YEAH, WE'LL MAKE HER
HAPPEN WITH THIS.

A RUNNING CAR OR A FIRE,
ONE OF THE TWO.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE WE GO.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAUGHT IT,
BUT IT'LL START HISSING,

AND THAT'S USUALLY A PRECURSOR
TO IT EXPLODING.

JUST HEADS UP,
IF THAT BATTERY POPS,

IT'S GOING TO...

IT'S JUST KIND OF SCARY.
THAT'S ALL.

YEAH.

CRANK ON IT
A COUPLE TIMES,

AND THEN IT JUST RAN
FOR HALF A SECOND AND DIED.

COULD BE FUEL,
COULD BE IGNITION.

- WELL, YOU GOT ANOTHER STARTER?
- NO, I DON'T.

Kaufman: BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM
IS THAT WE ONLY GOT

A COUPLE TRIES AT IT
BEFORE THE STARTER GOT HUNG.

I KNOW
THAT THING WORKS.

SO WE JUST KIND OF FIXED THAT
SO THAT THE GEAR ENGAGES,

PUT IT BACK IN.Both: THERE IT IS.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE
RUNNING THE GAS CAN.

WELL...

IT'S RUNNING NOW.
GOOD.

I SAY PLUG THAT THING ON THERE,
AND WE CAN GO FOR A RIDE.

Maples: WE GOT THAT
THING RUNNING.

IT TOOK TWO OR THREE HOURS,
AND HE'S FROM TEXAS.

HE AIN'T USED TO THIS MUCH WORK.

I HOPE THE BRAKES WORK.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I HOPE THEY DO.
I DON'T KNOW.

I'M HEADED TO DALLAS.

- I HOPE YOU LIKE DALLAS.
- YEAH, LET'S GO.

WE'LL GET IN THE FAST LANE,
AND WE'LL ROLL.

THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN.

IT DOES SEEM TO RUN VERY SMOOTH,

DOES SEEM TO BE...
REASONABLY RELIABLE.

OH, NO!

OH, GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

OH, SHE GETTING HOT.

I PROBABLY SHOULD'VE FILLED
THAT RADIATOR UP.

A MODEL "A" IS A CAR --
DRIVES LIKE EVERY OTHER CAR,

AND IT NEEDS COOLANT
LIKE ANY OTHER CAR.

ONE FOR YOU.

ONE FOR ME.

YOU WANT TO TRY IT
AGAIN OR WHAT?

YEAH, LET'S GO
FOR A RIDE.

HELL, WE AIN'T GOT
NO DAMN HORN.

I WISH WE'D HAVE
HOOKED UP THE HORN.

BEEP, BEEP!

Kaufman: I DON'T THINK THAT
IT'S IN TIP-TOP SHAPE,

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY
MAINLY TO DO WITH

JUST KIND OF SITTING OUTSIDE
A LITTLE BIT.

EVERYTHING WORKS ON IT.
THE BRAKES WORK ON IT.

THE PARK BRAKE WORKS ON IT,

BUT COOL THING IS,
THERE'S NOT MUCH TO IT.

NOW THAT WE
GOT IT RUNNING,

WHAT WAS YOU GOING
TO DO WITH IT?

BASICALLY PUT A CHAIR ON IT,
A ROLL BAR AND GO RACE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

COULD IT BE IN
BETTER SHAPE? YEAH.

BUT FOR THE PRICE --
I'D SAY IT'S INCREDIBLY

GOOD SHAPE FOR THE PRICE,

SO I THINK THAT THIS
WOULD POINT.

LOOK LIKE THE RIGHT NUMBER
OF THEM TO ME.

THAT'S IT.
YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

Bill:
"DELIVERANCE" BACK HERE.

DA-DA-LING, DING, DING,
DING, DING, DING.

ALL RIGHT,
DID YOU GET ON CAMERA

THAT AARON SAID HE COULD TURN
THIS THING AROUND ANYWHERE?

Man: I DON'T THINK SO.

BILL, YOU'RE, LIKE,
200 YARDS FROM THE FREEWAY.

- OH!
- IT TOTALLY DOES!

IT TOTALLY DOES!

HOW COOL IS THIS,

IF YOU'RE JUST
BOMBING THROUGH HERE?

I JUST GOT TO CHECK IT OUT
REAL QUICK.

180?

SO IT LOOKS LIKE
THE BRIDGE IS OUT.

- HOW DEEP WAS IT?
- OH, 6 FEET.

SO I WANTED TO BUILD
THIS MODEL "A,"

DRAGSTER-RAIL-JOB THING,

AND THAT REQUIRES
A MODEL "A" CHASSIS,

SO NOW I GOT ONE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE
REALLY DOING THIS --

TAKING THIS MODEL "A"
AND MY MOTORCYCLE

TO THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,
AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS T.R.O.G.

ALL WE GOT TO DO
IS EVERYTHING.

Webster: THAT THING
IS SO AWESOME.

ANYBODY ORDER
A RACE CAR?

HEY, WHERE'S
THE REST OF IT?

- THAT'S IT, HUH?
- THAT'S IT.

THAT'S ALL
THERE IS TO IT.

WELL, MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS,

"AT LEAST THIS TEARDOWN IS
GONNA BE REALLY EASY."

SO THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE GONNA START WITH,

AND I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS
TO CONSIDER.

WE'LL ULTIMATELY USE
THIS REAR END,

PARTS OF THIS SUSPENSION,

PARTS OF THIS STEERING
AND PARTS OF THIS BRAKE.

THE TRANSMISSION --
WE'LL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO USE.

IT'S GOT OUR PEDAL ASSEMBLIES
AND ALL THAT STUFF ON IT.

WE'LL JUST MOVE HOW THEY WORK

AND THEIR LOCATIONS
IN THE VEHICLE,

AND THEN, LIKE, I HAVEN'T
CONSIDERED WHAT SUSPENSIONS

BECAUSE IT'S POSSIBLE I MIGHT
REMOVE THE SUSPENSION OUT OF IT,

AND IT'S LIKE...
IT GETS A LITTLE CHOPPY,

BUT YOU JUST, YOU KNOW,
PUT A PIECE OF LEATHER

BETWEEN YOUR TEETH
AND HAMMER IT, RIGHT?

BUT THE...

WELL, IT'S ONLY,
WHAT, 660 FEET?

660 FEET --
WE SHOULD BE FINE.

PROBABLY GOING TO RUN
16s OR 17s IN THE BACK

AND THEN IN THE FRONT,
SO WE'LL PUT BICYCLE TIRES

ON THAT THING UP THERE.SWEET.

SO, I MEAN, IT DOESN'T
LOOK LIKE MUCH NOW,

AND WHEN IT'S DONE,
IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH THEN,

BUT IT DRIVES PRETTY GOOD.

SO THAT MOTOR MAKES
60 HORSE, MAYBE.

Kaufman: NO.
NO, NO, NO, NO.

THIS THING RIGHT HERE
IS PROBABLY...

30, 40?

PROBABLY 25 OR 30 HORSEPOWER.YEAH.

Kaufman: SO THE ORIGINAL
FLATHEAD FOUR-CYLINDER

ON A MODEL "A" IS NOT
GOING TO BE ENOUGH POWER,

DEFINITELY NEED SOMETHING
THAT'S GOING TO GO A LOT FASTER,

BUT SINCE THE PARTS CUTOFF
IS 1952,

THAT DOESN'T LEAVE US
WITH A WHOLE LOT OF OPTIONS.

AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE
TO MAKE THIS, LIKE,

A BODIED, INDY-STYLE CAR,

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BUILD
IS WHAT PREDATED

WHAT WE COMMONLY KNOW OF
AS A DRAGSTER ON IT,

AND SO JUST THE GUYS
HAVE GOT...

THEY'D BUILD THE CARS
AS FAST AS THEY'D GO,

TAKE THE FOUR-CYLINDER OUT,
PUT A V-8 IN IT

AND THEN HOPPED IT UP,

CARBS HANGING OFF EVERYWHERE,
HIGH-COMPRESSION HEADS,

AND THEN JUST...
AND GOT TO A POINT WHERE

THEY WEREN'T GOING ANY FASTER,
AND SO THEY SAID,

"WELL, LET'S JUST
MAKE THEM LIGHTER."

SO THEY PULLED THE BODIES OFF,

AND THEN THAT BEGAN
THE DRAGSTER ERA.

LATE '40s INTO EARLY '50s,

WE START TO SEE
SOME OF THIS EMERGE.

BY THE LATE '50s AND EARLY '60s,

AS THESE GUYS WERE
BUILDING HOT RODS,

BASICALLY BUYING THE CHEAPEST,
LIGHTEST CARS THEY COULD,

USING THESE BIG,
POWERFUL MOTORS,

YOU START TO HAVE CARS
THAT START TO RESEMBLE

WHAT WE THINK OF AS A DRAGSTER.

THE DRIVER MOVED VERY FAR BACK.

THE MOTOR MOVED VERY FAR BACK,
THE WHEELBASE GETTING VERY LONG

BECAUSE IT HAD ONE,
SINGULAR JOB --

ACCELERATE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE.

- SUPER-COOL.
- SO THIS IS IT.

- SO I THINK IT'S GOOD BONES.
- I LOVE THOSE PLUG WIRES.

OH, I KNOW.

I CAN'T STOP!

THAT'S THE SKINNIEST SCREECHER
I THINK I'VE EVER SEEN.

WE'RE WOEFULLY,

INADEQUATELY BEHIND ON PARTS
TO USE ON THIS THING.

IF WE'RE GONNA GO TO A V-8,

HE'S GOING TO ALSO HAVE
TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION.

WE ARE BACKED UP
AGAINST THE WALL.

WE'RE IN A SITUATION.WE'RE,
LIKE, WEEKS AWAY.

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GONNA
PUT SOME TOGETHER FOR THIS?

- WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TRY.
- OH, REALLY?

SO, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE
IT'S EVER BEEN WRECKED

OR ANYTHING, HUH?

NO, NO.
IT'S REALLY NICE.

Kaufman: SO WE'RE ALL REALLY
EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO T.R.O.G.

WITH MY MOTORCYCLE
AND, OF COURSE, THE MODEL "A."

- IT RUNS GOOD.
- YEAH.

- REALLY GOOD.
- YEAH, IT DOES.

AND ON MOST PROJECTS,
WE JUMP RIGHT IN,

BUT THIS RAIL DRAGSTER
IS A VERY UNUSUAL PROJECT,

SO I'VE CALLED AN OLD BUDDY
WHO JUST HAPPENS TO BE AN EXPERT

IN THESE OLD-SCHOOL DRAG CARS.

RISE AND SHINE!
WHAT'S GOING ON, MAN?

¿QUé PASó, SEñOR?
HEY, MAN.

HOW'S IT GOING, BUDDY? IT'S GOING WELL.

HOW ARE THINGS? GOOD TO SEE YOU.

VERY GOOD, VERY GOOD.
GOOD.

Ellis: I'VE KNOWN AARON
A LONG TIME,

AND I INVITED HIM OUT
TO THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
AND HE CAME.

I SAID, "HERE IS MY CAR.

YOU KNOW, GO TAKE IT
DOWN THE BEACH,"

AND I THINK HE GOT THE BUG.

I'M GLAD YOU COULD
MAKE IT BY.

I WANTED TO SHOW YOU
MY NEWEST ACQUISITION.

UH-OH.AND THEN I WAS TALKING

WITH MEL, AND HE SAID HE OPENED
A NEW CLASS THIS YEAR

FOR THE RAIL DRAGSTERS --

MODEL "A," MODEL "T,"
NO-SHEET-METAL KIND OF THING.

OH, SHOOT.
YEAH.

CONSIDERING HOW CLOSE
IT'S COMING UP,

I FIGURED THAT WAS
ABOUT THE ONLY THING

WE COULD GET BUILT IN
TIME.WE'RE, LIKE, WEEKS AWAY.

ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GONNA
PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR THIS?

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TRY.OH, REALLY? NICE.

I WENT TO OKLAHOMA,
AND I BOUGHT A MODEL "A,"

AND I KIND OF WANTED TO SEE
A COUPLE THINGS --

"A," WHAT YOUR OPINIONS WERE
ABOUT THE SITUATION

AND, "B," MAYBE IF YOU
HAD ANY HEADS UP

OR LEADS ON ANY PARTS.
YEAH.

I THINK I KNOW SOME PEOPLE.
I GOT SOME PARTS AND STUFF.

- YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT?
- YEAH, LET'S GO DO IT.

Kaufman: ELROD IS
A WALKING ENCYCLOPEDIA

WHEN IT COMES TO THESE CARS.

- THIS IS IT.
- SHOOT, THIS IS NICE.

AND HE'S A MEMBER OF THE OILERS,

THE CAR CLUB THAT PUTS ON
THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN.

HE KNOWS QUITE A BIT OF HISTORY
WHEN IT COMES TO THIS EVENT.

WELL, THE OILERS ARE KIND OF
PIONEERS OF DRAG RACING.

OKAY.

BACK IN 1947,
THE OILERS FORMED.

MANY OF ITS MEMBERS HAD JUST
COME BACK FROM WORLD WAR II.

THEY STILL HAD ADRENALINE
RACING IN THEIR VEINS,

AND SO THEY WERE BASICALLY
TRYING TO GET INTO

LAND SPEED RACING.
MM-HMM.

BUT THEY WERE ALSO FREAKIN'
10 HOURS AWAY FROM THE SALT,

SO THEY WERE LIKE,
"THERE'S GOT TO BE AN EASIER WAY

FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOYS
TO DO THIS.

LET'S SET UP
A DRAG STRIP."

AND SUDDENLY, THAT KIND OF
CHANGED ALL THE RULES.

IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A CAR.YEAH.

IT DIDN'T HAVE
TO BE A WHATEVER.

LET'S JUST TRY TO GO AS FAST
AS WE CAN IN A 1/4 MILE.

THIS KIND OF CREATED
AN OPPORTUNITY

FOR A LOT OF CREATIVITY,
BUBBLE NOSES,

JUST A CHAIR WITH THE GUY'S HAIR
FLYING IN THE AIR,

BUT ALSO, JUST, BASICALLY JUST
STRIPPING IT DOWN TO BARE BONES.

Ellis: THE OILERS' GLORY DAYS
LASTED ABOUT A DECADE,

BUT SIX YEARS LATER,

EAST COAST ENTHUSIAST MEL STULTZ

REVIVED THE CLUB AND CREATED
THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN

TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE
VERY FIRST HOT RODDERS.

THE EVENT TAKES PLACE OVER
THREE DAYS ON THE JERSEY SHORE,

WHERE PURPOSE-BUILT
PRE- AND POST-WAR VEHICLES

RACE ACROSS THE BEACH

AND COMMEMORATE AMERICA'S
RICH RACING HERITAGE.

THEY COMPETE IN FOUR
DIFFERENT CLASSES,

BUT THE OVERALL RULES
ARE PRETTY SIMPLE.

ALL VEHICLES MUST BE
AMERICAN MADE

AND MODIFIED FOR RACING.

CAR BODIES MUST BE
OLDER THAN 1935,

AND MOTORCYCLES MUST BE
OLDER THAN 1948,

AND, ABOVE ALL, PAINT AND PARTS
MUST RECREATE THE LOOK AND FEEL

OF THOSE EARLY DAYS OF RACING.

IT'S VERY MUCH
A PRESERVATION EVENT.

THAT'S THE PROBABLY THE BEST WAY
I'VE HEARD THAT DESCRIBED,

AS A PRESERVATION EVENT.RIGHT.

IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY GEEKS
THAT ARE REALLY INTO,

YOU KNOW,
DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY,

SO I THINK YOU GOT
A GREAT START HERE, MAN.

AND THEN, AS NICE
AS THIS MOTOR RUNS,

AND AS BIG A FAN AS I AM
OF BANGERS ON IT,

IT'S JUST NOT A V-8.
THAT'S -- THAT'S A FACT.

RIGHT, AND YOU CAN
HAVE A TON OF FUN

AT THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN
WITH THIS,

BUT WE'RE TRYING TO UP
THE COMPETITION.

AND SO I THINK GOING
TO THE FLATHEAD ROUTE,

GOING TO V-8 INSTEAD
OF FOUR-CYLINDER

IS THE WAY TO GO.

THE RADIATOR'S SUCH
A GOOFY FEATURE ON THE CAR.

SURE.
LIKE, IF WE DO A SEAT

AND THEN DO
A WATER TANK BEHIND IT,

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THAT?

I THINK IT WOULD BE FINE.

I MEAN, YOU GOT AN OCEAN
RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE
PLENTY OF COLD WATER.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I THOUGHT,
AS WELL.

BUT YOU ALSO DON'T
WANT TO JUST

KEEP GETTING STUCK,
KEEP GETTING STUCK.

WE HAD A GUY THAT WAS THERE
LAST YEAR...

HE RAN A WATER TANK?
RIGHT.

AND HE COULD MAKE ONE
OR TWO PASSES

AND THEN HAD TO STOP
FOR A COUPLE HOURS.

YEAH
OKAY.

YOU COULD DROP
THAT WEIGHT,

BUT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
THAT HE COULD OVERHEAT,

SO THAT'S A GAMBLE.

WHAT'S THE DEAL
WITH TRANSMISSION

ON THIS RIGHT HERE?

DO WE NEED TO GO FIND
A V-8 TRANSMISSION?

YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO FIND
A V-8 TRANSMISSION.

Ellis: IF WE'RE GONNA
GO TO A V-8,

HE'S GOING TO ALSO HAVE
TO CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION.

THE MODEL "A" --
THE PEDALS ARE TOTALLY INTEGRAL

TO THE TRANSMISSION HERE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE
ANOTHER PROBLEM.

CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION --

THEN THAT CREATES
A PEDAL PROBLEM.

THE PEDALS GO AWAY,

SO NOW WE'VE GOT
TO CREATE PEDALS.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE ACTUALLY
KIND OF A TIME SUCK.

WHAT'S YOUR TIME FRAME?

IN THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS.

I THINK HE'S KIND OF NUTS
FOR TRYING TO PULL IT

IN THIS TIGHT
OF A TIME FRAME.

JUST KIND OF LET ME KNOW
WHAT YOUR SCHEDULE IS

OR WHAT YOUR INTERESTED
IN COMING DOWN,

BECAUSE I'D LOVE TO HAVE
SOME INPUT ALONG THE WAY,

IF YOU'RE DOWN.
OKAY.

YEAH, IF YOU WANT SOME HELP
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER,

I'D BE GLAD TO COME DOWN
AND BANG AWAY ON IT.

YEAH.
THAT WOULD BE COOL.

I'M MAYBE NUTS, TOO,
FOR COMING DOWN HERE

BECAUSE NOW
HE'S GOT ME TALKED INTO,

"HEY, YOU WANT TO COME MAYBE
TURN A COUPLE WRENCHES

AND SEE IF WE CAN MAKE
THIS TRIP TO NEW JERSEY?"

NOW WHAT
I CAME HERE FOR,

YOU WANT TO GO GET SOME LUNCH
OR SOMETHING?

I'D LOVE TO.
LET'S DO IT.

ALL RIGHT. COOL.

Ellis: WHAT HE'S STARTING
WITH, I THINK,

IS A REALLY GREAT FOUNDATION
FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

BUT JUNE IS RIGHT
AROUND THE CORNER.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO IT
IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME

AND HAVE THE MOST AMOUNT OF FUN.

I'LL DIG INTO MY
PARTS-ON-LOAN STASH.

- THIS AFTERNOON?
- THIS AFTERNOON?

YOU'VE ALREADY PUT ME
TO WORK, RIGHT?

- THAT'S RIGHT.
- YEAH.

Kaufman: I GUESS WE COULD
PROBABLY JUST GO AHEAD

AND FLIP THIS THING AROUND,

THAT WAY, GIVES A LITTLE
MORE ROOM TO WORK WITH,

AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS STUFF
ALL COMES OUT SUPER EASY.

STRIP THIS THING DOWN
SO IT'S JUST THE FRAME.

WE'LL REMOVE
THE FRONT BRAKES ON IT,

AXLE AND STUFF,
AND, YOU KNOW,

WE'LL JUST BE DOWN, BASICALLY,
TO A FRAME.

THIS BUILD IS PRETTY LIGHT,
SO BIGGEST THING IS,

LIKE I SAID,
IS JUST MAKE AS MUCH POWER

WITH AS LITTLE CAR AS POSSIBLE.

AND SO IN OUR CASE,
WE'RE GONNA TRY

AND MAKE IT AS LIGHT
AS POSSIBLE.

NO BODY --

THE CLASS ACTUALLY STIPULATES

THAT THERE BE NO SHEET METAL,
NO BODYWORK ON IT.

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE
FOUR-CYLINDER BANGER MOTORS,

BUT I THINK A V-8 IS
THE RIGHT WAY TO GO HERE.

IT LOOKS BETTER, SOUNDS BETTER,
JUST MORE POWER ON TAP,

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO PULL
THE MOTOR AND TRANS OUT,

MODIFY THE MODEL "A" PEDALS
SO THEY HOOK UP WITH THE TRANS.

ONE BIG TASK IS THAT
WE'RE GONNA MOVE

THE STEERING
TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR

AS OPPOSED TO
HANGING OFF ONE SIDE.

IT'S BECAUSE IT LOOKS BETTER.
IT MAKES MORE SENSE.

NEXT THING IS,
WE GET RID OF THE RADIATOR.

I'M PLANNING ON USING
A WATER TANK ON IT.

WE KNOW THAT IT CAUSES
TURNAROUND ISSUES,

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S
GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG ISSUE,

AND IT ALLOWS US TO MOVE
A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT

FURTHER BACK IN THE VEHICLE,
WHERE WE NEED IT.

EVERYTHING RACING IS
ABOUT TRACTION.

WHEN IT COMES
TO WHEELS AND TIRES,

THE FRONTS DON'T MATTER.

WE JUST NEED THEM LIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA PUT THE BIGGEST
TIRE WE CAN IN THE BACK.

WE'RE GONNA TRY AND MAKE
AS MUCH TRACTION AS WE CAN,

AND WE'LL PROBABLY
PUT A ROLL BAR ON IT.

IT'LL PROBABLY BE VERY CRUDE
BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY,

THAT'S THE WAY
THE GUYS WOULD'VE DONE IT,

AND SO WE HAVE TO LIMIT
THE AMOUNT OF MODERN TECHNIQUES

WE USE ON IT.

YOU JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD
AND START TEARING

THIS ONE APART?
WE CAN.

AND SO WE'RE REALLY GONNA

PUT THIS THING TOGETHER
AS CONSERVATIVELY AS POSSIBLE,

THE WAY THE GUYS
THAT HAD NO MONEY,

AND THEY HAD A TORCH, A HAMMER,

AND SOME LEFTOVER SCRAP
WOULD'VE DONE.

HELL, I'D LOVE TO QUARANTINE OFF
A 10x10 GARAGE

AND BUILD IT IN IT
WITH ONLY THOSE TOOLS.

IT'S LIKE, "WE'LL TRY
AND DO THINGS."

LET ME STIPULATE.

WE HAVE ONLY A FEW WEEKS

TO GET BOTH THE MOTORCYCLE
AND THE MODEL A READY.

AND THERE MAY BE A FEW PARTS

THAT WE PUT
A LITTLE MORE EFFORT INTO

AND TRY AND DO
AS APPROPRIATELY AS POSSIBLE,

BUT IF WE A MODERN TECHNIQUE
ON THE CAR,

IT'LL LOOK OUT OF PLACE BECAUSE
THEY DIDN'T HAVE THOSE TOOLS,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BUILD SLOPPY.

WE BUILD AS CLEAN AS WE CAN

WITHIN THE CONFINES
OF THE STYLE.

COME ON.

DID THEY HAVE CHERRY PICKERS
BACK THEN?

WHAT DID THEY USE?

A TREE.

FRESH OUT OF TREES.

WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO EMULATE
WHAT WAS DONE BY, YOU KNOW,

DECADES AND DECADES
AND DECADES AGO,

GENERATIONS GONE BY,

TO EMULATE WHAT HAD BEEN DONE
BY KIDS WERE 15, 17, 18,

BUILDING THESE HOT RODS
IN THEIR DADS' GARAGES.

GUYS HAD VERY LITTLE MONEY,
AND THEY'D HOPPED UP THE MOTORS

AS FAR AS THEY COULD HOP THEM UP
WITH WHAT WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM

AND THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.

WHAT THEY UNLEASHED
WAS INGENUITY.

IT'S VERY AMERICAN.

IT'S VERY MUCH US,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE

I DON'T THINK WE SEE
ENOUGH OF TODAY,

IS THAT INGENUITY,
THAT JUST MAKE IT WORK,

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY THAT.

LOOK AT THIS RACE CAR.

- VROOM, VROOM!
- KEEP PULLING IT.

WHAT WAS THE ADVERTISED
HORSEPOWER ON THIS ONE?

I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE
30 OR 40 SOMETHING.

IT'S NOT MUCH.

YOU CAN GET THEM ETHANOL,
THOUGH.

- ETHYL.
- ETHYL?

- YEAH.
- DANG!

I BET A LADY BY THE NAME
OF ETHEL RODE

IN THIS THING
AT ONE TIME.

- YEAH, REALLY.
- I BET A COUPLE OF THEM.

-YEAH, NO THANKS.

I REALLY WANT THIS CAR TO BE
A VERY, VERY TRADITIONAL CAR.

THAT BEING SAID,
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PARTS.

I'VE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO
TO SCROUNGE UP A FEW PARTS

IN BETWEEN
OUR OTHER BUILDS.

WE'RE WOEFULLY,
INADEQUATELY BEHIND

ON PARTS TO USE
ON THIS THING,

AND WE ARE BACKED UP
AGAINST THE WALL.

WE'RE IN A SITUATION,

SO WE BETTER FIND
THE PARTS WE NEED FAST.

SO WE'RE AT THE PATE
SWAP MEET TODAY.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND
SOME EARLY V-8 STUFF.

WE WERE ABLE TO LOOK
INSIDE OF THAT,

AND IT WAS FULL OF WATER.

THAT WASN'T GOING
TO WORK FOR US.

OH, BOY.
IT'S TIGHT.

Kaufman: AFTER A FEW ROTATIONS,
IT STOPPED,

AND THAT'S INDICATIVE
OF A VERY NASTY PROBLEM.

ALL THIS PAIN
IN THE ASS

TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN
ON THE BEACH, RIGHT?

YEP.

Kaufman: SO WE'RE AT
THE PATE SWAP MEET TODAY

BECAUSE T.R.O.G. IS COMING UP
IN NOT VERY MUCH TIME.

I'M TRYING TO FIND SOME
EARLY V-8 STUFF RIGHT NOW.

- SMALL-BLOCK?
- ALL FLATHEAD STUFF.

YEAH, YEAH.

AND THAT RACE CAR WE'RE BUILDING
FOR T.R.O.G. --

WE'RE BUILDING
A MODEL "A" DRAGSTER,

AND THE PARTS THAT WE'RE AFTER
DON'T EXIST IN A CATALOG,

AND I DEFINITELY
DON'T WANT TO BUY

ANY OF THIS STUFF AFTERMARKET.

IT WOULD JUST...
IT WOULD LOOK SO WRONG.

LOOK AT THAT.

AND SO WE COME OUT HERE
TO THE SWAP MEET

AND FIND STUFF THAT
THEY DUG OUT OF THEIR GRANDPA

OR THEIR GREAT-UNCLE'S
GARAGE OR THEIR BARN

AND USE THOSE PARTS
TO BUILD OUR CAR.

Ellis: YOU FIND
EVERYTHING ALREADY?

- YEAH.
- YEAH?

- I'M CARRYING IT, RIGHT?
- YEAH, RIGHT, YEAH. YEAH.

Kaufman: ELROD HAS
AGREED TO MEET ME HERE

AND HELP ME TRACK DOWN
MODEL "A" PARTS

AND, HOPEFULLY,
A DECENT FLATHEAD V-8.

NOW THE GENESIS
OF FORD'S FLATHEAD V-8

GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1932.

FORD'S MODEL "A" WAS ONLY
AVAILABLE IN FOUR CYLINDERS,

AND ALTHOUGH V-8s
HAD BEEN AROUND

SINCE ALMOST THE TURN
OF THE CENTURY,

BECAUSE OF THEIR COMPLEXITY
AND COSTLY PRODUCTION,

THEY WERE ONLY AVAILABLE
IN HIGH-END LINES OF CARS.

FORD WANTED TO BRING
DOWN THOSE COSTS

TO REACH A BIGGER MARKET,
BUT TO DO SO,

HE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLETELY
REDESIGN THE V-8 ENGINE.

AFTER MUCH TRIAL AND ERROR,
IN 1932,

HE INTRODUCED
THE FORD FLATHEAD V-8.

HE WAS ABLE TO KEEP COSTS DOWN

BY ENCASING THE INTAKE
AND EXHAUST VALVES,

AS WELL AS THE CYLINDERS,
INTO A SINGLE, ONE-PIECE BLOCK.

THE CYLINDER HEAD IS FLAT,
HENCE THE NAME FLATHEAD.

THE REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN
BECAME SO POPULAR

IT WAS KEPT IN PRODUCTION
UNTIL 1951

AND IS CONSIDERED THE PIONEER
OF HOT-ROD ENGINES.

Ellis: THE PATE SWAP MEET
IS ONE OF THE LARGEST

SWAP MEETS IN THE SOUTHWEST.

I MEAN, IF IT'S CAR-RELATED,
IT SHOULD BE OUT HERE SOMEWHERE.

Kaufman: ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
WE FOUND WALKING AROUND WAS

AN INTAKE MANIFOLD
FOR THREE CARBURETORS,

TWO-BARREL CARBURETORS,
STROMBERG 97s.

THEY'RE WORKING.
THEY LOOKED TO BE SUPER-CLEAN.

THEY HAD THE RIGHT PATINA
ON ALL OF THEM.

Ellis: OH,
THIS LOOKS GOOD.

- THIS LINKAGE IS AWESOME, TOO.
- YEAH.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
THE APPROPRIATENESS

OF HOW IT LOOKS,
HOW IT FEELS --

THIS IS THE PART I NEED.

YOU'D TAKE 1,200
FOR THIS WHOLE STACK?

THE WHOLE STACK, YEAH.

I'LL DO THAT.
I'LL DO THAT.

I APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.
YES, SIR.

SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE
OF SMALL BITS AND PIECES

FOR THE MODEL "A" DRAGSTER,
BUT THAT BEING SAID,

THE BIGGEST THINGS
I'M LOOKING FOR

IS A FLATHEAD V-8
AND TRANSMISSION --

ONE THAT RUNS OR COULD RUN.

I DON'T HAVE THE TIME
TO BUILD A WHOLE MOTOR

AND EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH
RIGHT NOW.

YOU SAID THIS CAME OUT
OF A MERCURY?

- YEAH.
- '51 MERCURY.

'51 MERCURY.

WE DID FIND ONE FLATHEAD

THAT SAT OUT IN THE RAIN
ALL DAY YESTERDAY.

THIS WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE
IF IT'S NOT ALL LOCKED UP.

- YEAH.
- IT WASN'T.

- BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT...
- YEAH, IT WASN'T THEN.

Ellis: IT WAS WET
YESTERDAY.

Ellis: WE WERE ABLE TO
LOOK INSIDE OF THAT,

AND IT WAS FULL OF WATER.

THAT WASN'T GONNA
WORK FOR US.

YOU HAVEN'T SEEN
A RUNNING FLATHEAD?

Man: RIGHT THERE --
THAT RIGHT THERE.

CAN WE SEE IF IT'S LOCKED UP,
IF IT TURNS?

YEAH, WE CAN SEE
IF IT TURNS.

THERE YOU GO.

OH, BOY.

Kaufman: IT WAS LOCKED UP.
IT WOULDN'T ROTATE.

THAT MEANS A PISTON
OR A RING IS HUNG,

OR A BEARING SEIZED IN IT.

THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF THINGS,
SO THAT'S OFF THE TABLE.

ALL THIS PAIN IN THE ASS

TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN
ON THE BEACH, RIGHT?

- YEP.
- IT'S WORTH IT.

Kaufman: Y'ALL KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS FLATHEAD?

MOST OF THEM ARE STUCK.
THIS ONE IS NOT STUCK.

- NOPE.
- GOOD. COME ON.

Ellis: AARON IS
PUTTING HIS THUMBS

OVER THE SPARK-PLUG HOLES,

HOPING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD UP
SOME COMPRESSION.

IT, LIKE, SNAGS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.

Kaufman: AFTER A FEW ROTATIONS,
IT STOPPED,

AND THAT'S INDICATIVE
OF A VERY NASTY PROBLEM.

THIS, 100%, WILL LIVE
TO SEE ANOTHER DAY.

IT JUST WON'T
IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT I HAVE.

- THANKS, MAN.
- THANK YOU.

- I APPRECIATE IT.
- YOU BET.

- WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS.
- THANK YOU.

SO AFTER RUMMAGING THROUGH
THE ENTIRE SWAP MEET,

WE CAME AWAY
WITH AN INTAKE MANIFOLD,

CARBURETORS, AND LINKAGE,

BUT OUR HUNT FOR A FLATHEAD V-8,

WELL... TODAY IS NOT
THE MOTOR DAY.

YOU GOT ONE
IN THAT '36, MAN.

YEAH, I KNOW.

I HAVE A '36 FORD
THREE-WINDOW,

AND AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE TO
NOT TAKE THE MOTOR OUT OF IT,

I DO HAVE A RUNNING
AND DRIVING FLATHEAD AT HOME

THAT I CAN USE IN OUR RACE CAR.

SO THAT IS A POSSIBILITY,
AND I'M NOT AFRAID OF THAT.

IT WAS NOT MY FIRST CHOICE,
BUT IT IS A POSSIBILITY.

Ellis: IT RUNS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT
WE COULD TAKE OUT

AND BRING DOWN TO THE SHOP
AND PUT IN THIS CHASSIS.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.

MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE ANSWER,
AS MUCH AS I DON'T WANT...

YOU KNOW, I'M...

THAT'S PROBABLY
THE RIGHT ANSWER.

Kaufman: I REALLY DIDN'T
PLAN ON CANNIBALIZING

ANY OF MY STUFF
TO DO ANY OF THIS,

BUT WE'RE WOEFULLY,
INADEQUATELY BEHIND ON PARTS

TO USE ON THE MODEL "A,"
AND SO THAT BEING THE CASE,

YOU KNOW, PARTS ARE
WHERE YOU FIND THEM,

AS IT TURNS OUT,
SOME OF THEM ARE HERE.

I BOUGHT A '36
THREE-WINDOW FORD,

AND I REALLY WANT THIS CAR TO BE
A VERY, VERY TRADITIONAL CAR.

UP!

NOW, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS MOTOR
TO BE ORIGINAL TO THIS CAR,

AND SO THAT BEING THE CASE,
I DON'T NEED THE MOTOR.

I'M GOING TO BUILD
ANOTHER MOTOR,

SO WE'RE GOING TO PULL
THE DRIVETRAIN OUT OF MY '36.

OH, YO, COME ON!
COME ON!

YOU GOT SO FAT AND LAZY!

I'LL TELL YOU THIS --
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MOTOR

IN MY CAR IS AMAZING OR NOT.

IT DOES RUN.
I HAVE DRIVEN IT.

IT'S A FLATHEAD V-8,
AND ON ITS WORST DAY,

IT'LL MAKE MORE POWER
THAN THAT FOUR-CYLINDER.

LITTLE PUSH.

- GOOD?
- YEAH.

Kaufman: IT AIN'T
GOING NOWHERE.

Kaufman: I OBVIOUSLY GOT
A TON OF CRAP IN HERE.

BEFORE WE CAN PULL THE
V-8 OF THE '36,

WE GOT TO CLEAN OUT ABOUT
TWO YEARS' WORTH OF JUNK.

- SWEET.
- WHOA!

WHAT YOU GOT?

38 REGULAR.

- THERE YOU GO.
- DANG!

PLENTY OF OLD
HOT-ROD MAGAZINES.

- THAT'S JUST MUSK.
- PULL IT OUT

I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT...

AAH! THERE'S A CAT!

THERE'S TOTALLY
A CAT IN THERE!

OH, IT'S GONE.
IT RAN.

COME HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WHAT,
BUT I KNOW I JUST SAW A CAT

RUNNING AROUND
IN THE TRUNK OF MY '36 FORD.

OH, YEAH.
THERE IT IS.

LITTLE,
TINY KITTEN.

IF THERE'S ONE,
THERE'S PROBABLY MANY.

YEP, THERE'S ONE
RIGHT THERE.

OH, YEAH.
THERE'S TWO OF THEM.

- DID YOU FIND MORE CATS?
- YEAH.

- CATS FOR EVERYONE!
- WHO WANTS CATS?

- CATS!
- DUDE, I WANT A CAT.

Kaufman: I-I'M NOT
REALLY INTO CATS,

BUT I KIND OF FEEL
OBLIGATED NOW.

- I THINK WE JUST...
- ARE THERE MORE IN THERE?

I THINK IT'S JUST
THEM TWO.

SOME GROWN-UP CATS DID
SOME GROWN-UP CAT THINGS

IN THE BACK OF MY OLD FORD
AND MADE SOME BABY CATS.

ALL RIGHT.
SO I GOT CATS NOW.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH THEM.

GIVE THESE TO THE GIRLS?
GIVE THEM TO ROBIN.

YEAH, Y'ALL CAN DEAL
WITH THESE THINGS.

OH, THERE'S TWO?
ARE THERE ANY MORE?

- WE DON'T KNOW.
- YEAH.

OH, MY GOD.
THERE YOU GO.

- THERE YOU GO.
- OH, MY GOD.

THERE YOU GO.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
SCARED TO DEATH?

- THANKS, BOYS.
- HERE IS ANOTHER ONE.

- MORE CATS?
- YEP.

- COME ON. COME ON.
- MORE CATS.

CATS ON CATS
ON CATS.

THIS ONE
IS THE FAT ONE.

- HE'S A LITTLE MORE...
- DUDE, HE IS A LITTLE PORKER.

MM-HMM!

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT --
THE ROUND PART OR THE FACE?

-THE EYES.

GOOD ENOUGH.
WE GOT ALL THE CATS?

- GOT ALL THE CATS.
- I THINK SO.

THERE'S A POWER POLE
LAYING ON THE GROUND

FROM THE BUILDING
ACROSS THE STREET.

I DON'T KNOW IF ONE OF
THE TRANSFORMERS GAVE UP

AND BROKE THE POLE?

IT LOOKED KIND OF LIKE
THAT POLE WAS SUPER ROTTED,

SO NOW WE'RE WORKING
IN THE DARK.

BEING WITHOUT POWER DOES
KIND OF SCREW UP A FEW THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS,
BUT WITH NO FANS GOING,

IT'S MUGGY UP IN HERE.

WE'RE GETTING READY
TO PULL THE V-8 ENGINE

OUT OF AARON'S '36 FORD

SO WE CAN SWAP IT OVER
INTO OUR MODEL "A."

SORRY, '36.

WE'RE STEALING YOUR GUTS.

I FEEL LIKE
THE FOUR-CYLINDER WEIGHED

AS MUCH AS THIS ONE.

THE V-8 IS BASICALLY
THE SAME LENGTH

AS THE ORIGINAL FOUR-CYLINDER
WE REMOVED FROM THE MODEL "A,"

SO IT SHOULD FIT LIKE A GLOVE.

YEAH, ROBBING FROM
PETER TO PAY PAUL.

SO...

Bowman: THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S A LITTLE WATER.

Willis: KIND OF CRAZY BECAUSE
WHEN HE BOUGHT THIS CAR,

HE ACTUALLY TOOK A LOAN
FOR THIS CAR,

WHICH HE SAID
HE NEVER DID BACK THEN,

SO THIS CAR KIND OF
MEANS A LOT TO AARON.

WHEN HE BOUGHT IT, HE ACTUALLY
ONLY HAD A BIKE TO RIDE, ALSO,

SO INSTEAD OF GOING OUT
AND BUYING A NICE DAILY DRIVER,

YOU KNOW,
HE SOUGHT AFTER A '36.

THIS IS WHAT HE FOUND,
SO PULLING THE MOTOR OUT OF IT,

I THINK, IS KIND OF
THE FIRST STEP TO THIS CAR

BECOMING WHAT HE WANTS

BUT ALSO KIND OF
HEARTBREAKING,

SEEING THE MOTOR COME OUT OF,
YOU KNOW,

THE CAR THAT HE WANTED
FOR SO LONG.

THIS IS NOTHING OUT
OF THE REGULAR PRACTICE.

PEOPLE PUT THESE MOTORS
IN THESE CHASSIS DAILY.

TOO CLOSE? YEAH, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

Webster: THAT ENGINE,

SINCE IT'S NOT
THE STOCK POWER PLANT,

HE NEEDS
SOME CUSTOM MOTOR MOUNTS,

SO I'M GOING TO USE
SOME OLD TECHNIQUES

TO FABRICATE A NEW SET.

ANYTHING THAT CAN MAKE YOU
TAKE A STEP BACK

AND REALIZE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO HAVE ALL THESE FANCY TOOLS

TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME JOB,
THAT'S NICE.

NOW, SINCE WE'RE NOT USING
ANY SHEET METAL,

THESE MOTOR MOUNTS
WILL BE QUITE VISIBLE.

AND ALTHOUGH T.R.O.G.'S RULES
DON'T PROHIBIT US

FROM USING MODERN TOOLS,
THEY DO WANT ALL OF THE PARTS

TO APPEAR
AS ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE.

I'M USING THE ACETYLENE TORCH
TO CUT THROUGH THIS METAL,

A PROCESS THAT WAS ACTUALLY
INVENTED IN 1903

AND HASN'T REALLY
CHANGED MUCH SINCE THEN.

BOOM.

Willis: WHILE JEREMY
IS MAKING THE MOTOR MOUNTS,

I'M OVER HERE ASSESSING THE AXLE
THAT WE GOT AT THE SWAP MEET.

IT ALREADY HAS A DROP,
WHICH MAKES THE CAR SIT LOWER.

THE GUY THAT SOLD IT TO US
SAID IT HAD A BOW IN IT,

SO WE KNEW THAT GOING IN.

IT'S ONLY GOING DOWN THE SAND.

WE DIDN'T REALLY CARE TOO MUCH

FOR IT TO BE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT.

WE WILL GET IT
AS STRAIGHT AS WE CAN

BEFORE PUTTING IT ON THE CAR.

Bowman: YOU HAVE GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME.

OF COURSE.

THE MOMENT WE ALL GET
INTO A GROOVE TACKLING

OUR LONG TO-DO LIST
FOR THE MODEL "A,"

THE POWER GOES OUT.

SO WE WANDERED OUTSIDE,
AND THERE'S A POWER POLE

LAYING ON THE GROUND FROM
THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.

I DON'T KNOW IF ONE OF
THE TRANSFORMERS GAVE UP

AND BROKE THE POLE.

IT LOOKED, LIKE, KIND OF LIKE
THE POLE WAS SUPER ROTTED,

SO NOW WE'RE WORKING
IN THE DARK,

AND IT SEEMS LIKE
SINCE IT GOT DARK,

IT GOT WARMER IN HERE.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, THOUGH,

AARON WANTS US TO USE
OLD-SCHOOL TECHNIQUES,

SO THIS IS RIGHT UP HIS ALLEY.

YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING LOOKS OKAY.

Willis: JEREMY STARTED
THE MOTOR MOUNTS HERE.

I THINK HE'S ON THE RIGHT TRACK
WITH THOSE, WITH, LIKE,

A LITTLE BOX THAT KIND OF HUGS
THE UPPER FRAME LIP.

YEAH, THERE'S THE...
STRAIGHT UP,

THEY'RE SUPER JAZZY,
BUT, YEAH, ROCK THEM.

Bowman: DO YOU WANT RUBBER
IN THESE MOUNTS...

NO.
...OR JUST SOLID --

NO, RACE CAR.
RACE CAR.

AND THEN THE WATER-TANK-
OR-RADIATOR SITUATION, MAN,

TO BE HONEST, I HATE LOOKING
AT THAT THING UP THERE.

ULTIMATELY, LIKE, IT'S NOT
SUPER HOT OUT THERE.

LIKE, IT'S RIGHT...
SO THE OFFSHORE BREEZE,

AND THERE'S...
I MEAN, LET'S PROCEED LIKE

WE'RE GOING TO RUN A WATER BOX
AND NOT A RADIATOR ON IT.

I HATE THE LOOK OF THE RADIATORS
ON THEM WITHOUT A GRILLE SHELL.

I JUST THINK IT JUST
LOOKS LIKE YOU

REMOVED THE BODY OFF A CAR.

SO WATER BOXES, WHERE WE KIND OF
FIND THEIR POPULARITY...

SO IN TIME-TRIAL CARS,
SO, LIKE, WHEN, LIKE,

EL MIRAGE, BONNEVILLE,

SINCE THE VEHICLES ARE MADE
FOR ONE USE, ONE THING,

THE ENGINE WILL ONLY CONSUME
SO MUCH WATER,

AND EVEN IF IT IS CYCLING,
IT'S CYCLING AT SUCH A RATE

THAT IT WILL TAKE A WHILE
TO HEAT ALL THE WATER UP,

SO IF WE'RE ONLY RACING
THIS THING SHORT PERIODS OF TIME

WITH LARGE COOL-DOWN INTERVALS
IN BETWEEN,

THEN WE CAN REDUCE
THE COMPLEXITY

OF HAVING
A RADIATOR UP THERE,

AND SO IT ALLOWS US TO
REMOVE AN AWKWARD PIECE THAT,

"A," LOOKS WEIRD AND...

"B," IT LOOKS WEIRD.

SO THERE'S THAT, AND JON WILL
GET SOME ALL THREAD,

AND THEN WE'LL GET
TO FLIPPING THE SPRINGS.

Willis: MODEL As
SIT REALLY TALL.

WHEN YOU PULL THE BODIES OFF,
AND YOU PULL THE FENDERS OFF,

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THE CAR IS, LIKE,

ALMOST LIKE A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE,
IT'S SO TALL.

SO ANYWHERE WHERE
WE CAN GAIN A LITTLE BIT

WITHOUT BUYING NEW,

WE'LL DEFINITELY
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

SINCE OUR SPRING PACK IS

NORMALLY BOLTED TOGETHER
LIKE THIS

TO WHERE YOUR BOLT IS ON
THE LOWER SIDE OF THE SPRING,

SO BY TAKING
THE SPRING PACK APART,

WE CAN PULL THE MAIN LEAF OUT,
FLIP IT OVER, BRING IT BACK IN.

NOW THAT JUST,
PUT YOUR BOLT ON THE TOP,

SO WE'LL RE-ARCH
THIS LOWER SPRING

TO MATCH THE REST OF THE PACK.

THAT'S THE EASIEST WAY
TO LOWER A MODEL "A."

PUT THE BOLT THROUGH
AND GET THIS ONE READY.

WE'RE BASICALLY GOING
TO THREAD A NUT

ONTO THIS LONG BOLT
THAT WE RAN THROUGH

THE MIDDLE OF THE LEAF PACK

TO TIGHTEN THE SPRING
INTO A SINGLE ARC.

IF THAT ONE PUTS UP
A REALLY HUGE FIGHT,

WE MAY GO AHEAD
AND RELAX THAT ONE.

ONCE IT'S ALL
TIGHTENED DOWN,

WE'LL JUST CUT OFF
THE EXCESS LENGTH OF THE BOLT.

3-INCH INCISION.

YEAH.

- OH.
- WHAT IS THAT?

- IT'S BACK ON.
- FANS, NOW!

Kaufman: BACK TO WORK,
CHIL'REN.

Willis: LEAF-SPRING SUSPENSION

HAS BEEN IN USE
SINCE THE MID-18th CENTURY

WHEN IT WAS USED ON CARRIAGES
IN ENGLAND.

IT'S EVEN IN USE TODAY
ON HEAVIER VEHICLES,

LIKE TRUCKS AND VANS AND SUVs.

I JUST WANT TO CHECK THIS OUT,
SO I JUST GOT TO...

I'M GOING TO BUMP THESE
A LITTLE BIT.

I'D GO AHEAD AND HIT THAT
WITH HEAT

AND GET IT TO CONFORM,
YOU KNOW,

AND JUST THE ONE THING IS
JUST REALLY KEEPING IT

EVEN BECAUSE A HOT SPOT WILL
CAUSE A KINK ON IT.

- YEAH.
- TRY AND MELLOW THOSE OUT.

TRY AND HEAT IT UP, MELLOW THEM,
AND GET THAT TO CONFORM.

HOW HOT
DO YOU TAKE IT?

UNTIL IT CHANGES COLOR,
IT WON'T MOVE.

- SO ORANGE?
- ORANGE, YEAH.

I HAVEN'T USED A TORCH
SINCE, LIKE, HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE WE GO.

Willis: IT'S PRETTY AMAZING
HOW THE MECHANICS,

THE PHYSICS, AND THE TECHNOLOGY
HASN'T REALLY CHANGED

IN THE LAST 100 YEARS
OF HOW WE WORK ON THESE CARS

BESIDES MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS
FOR EFFICIENCY.

PRESTO!

Kaufman: I WAS GOING TO TAKE IT
TO T.R.O.G. A FEW YEARS AGO.

THEY'RE KNOWN FOR
NOT SEALING WELL.

WELL, GUESS WHAT?
THIS ONE DIDN'T SEAL WELL.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
IF IT'S SPARKING.

I DON'T EVEN...

OH, COME ON.

OH, YOU PIECE OF CRAP.

ARCLIGHT CAN BE VERY DEMANDING,

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE
OF OURSELVES,

AND THAT MEANS STICKING TO
A STRICT NUTRITIONAL DIET...

THAT'S BOMB.

...AND MAKING SURE
YOU'RE ALWAYS HYDRATED.

AN EXERCISE ROUTINE IS A MUST,

SO WE WORK OUT
WHENEVER POSSIBLE...

WHAT YOU GOT?

KEEP YOUR ELBOWS
TUCKED IN.

- OH, LIKE THIS?
- AND KEEP PUSHING.

TWENTY.

THINK OF EVERYONE
THAT'S EVER MADE FUN OF YOU.

Bowman: ...WHETHER
IT'S LIFTING WEIGHTS

OR JUST GOING FOR A BIKE RIDE.

JUST KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE CREW
IS IN TIP-TOP SHAPE

SO THAT WE CAN ALWAYS
BRING OUR "A" GAME.

AAAAAH!

- QUICK MOCK UP?
- YEAH.

DO WE WANT TO THROW THIS
ON THE AXLE FIRST OR...

SAME AMOUNT OF PROBLEM
BOTH WAYS.

YEAH.

TODAY, WE'LL GET A LOOK AT

HOW THE FRONT-END COMPONENTS
AND THE MOTOR

ARE GOING TO FIT TOGETHER
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

ONCE WE PUT ALL OF THESE PIECES,
SOME OF THEM FROM THE SWAP MEET,

SOME OF WE HAVE ALTERED...

AND FIND OUT HOW
THEY ALL LIVE TOGETHER.

YOU WANT ME TO TAKE A GOOD SIGHT
DOWN THAT AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK.

YEAH, NO.
I KNOW IT'S SCREWED UP.

Kaufman: THIS IS THE MOMENT
WHEN ALL OF YOUR

BRILLIANT IDEAS ON PAPER
SUDDENLY BECOME REALITY

AND MAYBE WON'T WORK OUT
AS WELL AS YOU THOUGHT.

Kaufman: HEY, I THINK WE MAY
NEED TO LOWER THE MOTOR DOWN.

HOW MUCH DO YOU
WANT TO GO?

I'D LIKE TO GET THAT CRANK
KIND OF IN LINE WITH THIS,

AND THE TIE ROD IS PROBABLY
GOING TO RUN INTO THE FRAME NOW.

- WE ARE.
- I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO HERE IS,

WE'LL MAKE A STEERING ARM
FOR IT,

YOU KNOW, AND SO WE'LL MOVE
THE STEERING ARM FOR IT.

THE ONE THING THAT I THINK ABOUT
IS ON THE CASTER, THOUGH,

IT CAUSES THE TIE ROD
TO FALL DOWN AND LIFT,

SO I THINK WE'RE
IN A HOLDING PATTERN

ON THE MOCK-UP
RIGHT HERE,

AND THEN LET'S GET
THE REAR END TOGETHER

AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON
BACK THERE.

SO THAT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME
WE KIND OF GET IT ALL TOGETHER.

MOCKING EVERYTHING UP IS
A PRETTY IMPORTANT PROCESS

ON A BUILD LIKE THIS...

- ALL RIGHT. YOU READY?
- YEAH, THAT'S IT. GO AHEAD.

...BECAUSE THERE'S REALLY
NOT A SINGLE PART

THAT'S GOING TO BE LEFT STOCK.

THE LINE UP
IS BAD ON THE...

IT'S SPENT?

PUSH, PUSH, PUSH.

YAY.

BUT IN OUR SPECIFIC CASE,

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING
WE'VE DONE SO FAR

IS GOING TO NEED
SOME ADJUSTMENT,

FROM THE MOTOR MOUNTS
TO THE LEAF SPRINGS.

Willis:
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH WEIGHT.

FOR WHAT?

TO GET THE SPRINGS CLOSE
TO THE SHACKLE.

THIS THING HAS STILL GOT
SO MUCH CURL IN IT, IT'S NOT...

YEAH, WE'RE STILL, LIKE,

- 6 INCHES AWAY.
- THAT'S 6 INCHES OFF.

COMPRESS IT SOME MORE.

SO IT'S NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY
TO HAVE TO MAKE SMALL CHANGES

TO GET EVERYTHING
WORKING PROPERLY,

BUT IT IS TIME-CONSUMING.

WITH T.R.O.G.
ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY,

WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR BIG ERRORS.

Kaufman: WHERE'S
THE LITTLE PRY BAR

SO I CAN TURN
THAT THING OUT?

HERE.

WE JUST FIGHTING
THAT ONE SPRING.

WHERE'S RUSS
WHEN WE NEED HIM?

- JUST TO SIT ON THE...
- JUST TO SIT ON THIS THING.

YEAH.

Kaufman: SO THE DEAL IS, LIKE,

IT RAN WHEN I BROUGHT
IT UP HERE,

SO I'M JUST GOING TO...
I'M GOING TO FIRE IT BACK UP,

SO IF YOU TWO GUYS GRAB
THE FRONT OF IT,

ONE ON EACH SIDE, AND WE'LL
GRAB THE BACK OF IT HERE,

AND JUST WHEEL IT BACKWARDS.

- UNO, DOS, TREES.
- YEP.

Kaufman: SO BASED ON THE
TEST FITTING WE DID YESTERDAY,

THE GUYS HAVE THE MARCHING
ORDERS ON THE MODEL "A."

THAT'S IT.

IT'S REALLY
AN OLD MILITARY BIKE.

YOU COULD JUST PUSH IT
RIGHT OFF THERE,

AND IT WOULD
PROBABLY SURVIVE.

MOST LIKELY WOULD.

AND WHILE THEY DO THAT,
I FIGURED I'D DIG OUT

MY HARLEY-DAVIDSON
WLA '45.

I WAS GOING TO TAKE IT
TO T.R.O.G. A FEW YEARS AGO,

BUT I DIDN'T EVEN OPEN
THIS THING UP

TILL LESS THAN TWO WEEKS
BEFORE TIME TO BE THERE, RIGHT?

AND I HAD NEVER
HAD A '45 BEFORE,

SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE IN IT, NOT IN IT,

WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE,
NOT LOOK LIKE,

SO I KIND OF...
I PUT IT TOGETHER IN THIS SHAPE,

LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE,
BUT WHEN I GOT IT TOGETHER,

THESE THINGS HAVE THREADED
NIPPLES FOR THE INTAKE,

AND THEY'RE KNOWN
FOR NOT SEALING WELL.

WELL, GUESS WHAT?
THIS ONE DIDN'T SEAL WELL.

AND I COULDN'T GET IT STARTED
FOR THE LIFE OF ME.

I WORKED ALL NIGHT LONG.

I GAVE UP 10:30, 11:00
IN THE MORNING

AND SAID,
"I GOT TO BE GONE."

I EVENTUALLY DID GET IT RUNNING.

SHE'S A SPITTER.

BUT I SERIOUSLY REGRET NOT
HAVING IT READY FOR T.R.O.G.

GOOD ENOUGH.

- RUN FOR MILES ON THAT, HUH?
- MM-HMM.

NOW, T.R.O.G. ONLY ALLOWS
VEHICLES TO ENTER

IF THEY'RE AMERICAN MADE,

AND YOU DON'T GET
ANYMORE AMERICAN

THAN HARLEY-DAVIDSON.

IN 1901, 20-YEAR-OLD
WILLIAM HARLEY

STRAPPED A SMALL GAS ENGINE
TO A BICYCLE FRAME.

WITHIN TWO YEARS,
HE AND HIS CHILDHOOD FRIEND,

ARTHUR DAVIDSON,
FOUNDED HARLEY-DAVIDSON

TO MAKE WHAT THEY CALLED
A MOTOR BICYCLE.

THE REST, AS THEY SAY,
IS HISTORY,

AS HARLEY-DAVIDSON
IS NOW CONSIDERED

A QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN ICON.

AS FOR MY HARLEY,
IT'S BEEN SITTING A BIT,

SO THIS TIME, JUST IN CASE,

I'M NOT WAITING
UNTIL THE LAST SECOND

TO GET HER GOING.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
IF IT'S SPARKING.

I DON'T EVEN...

OH, YEAH.

OH, COME ON.

WHEN IT COMES
TO MY LITTLE HARLEY,

I FEEL LIKE
WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

HOWEVER, I'VE BUILT IT.

I'VE RIDDEN IT, SO THIS TIME,
I'M OPTIMISTIC.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT --
WHEN IT COMES TO OLD BIKES...

OH, YOU PIECE OF CRAP.

...YOU NEVER KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

NEXT WEEK, WE CONTINUE
TO PREP FOR T.R.O.G.

OH, YEAH.

THE HARLEY... YEAH.

I'M GONNA DRIVE IT AROUND
THE STREET, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

...AND THE MODEL A...

HOLY CRAP.

- IT MOVES.
- BRACE FOR IT.

Kaufman: ...AREN'T SHOWING
ANY FAVORS.

OH, BRAKES.

THERE'S NO BRAKES, 100%.

100% NO BRAKES.

I'M GOING TO GO CRY
IN THE CORNER.