Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman (2018): Season 2, Episode 5 - Wildwood or Bust! - 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...

THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

THE CELEBRATION
OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOT RODS,

IS ONLY A WEEK AWAY,

BUT OUR MODEL "A" DRAGSTER...!

...AND OUR WORLD WAR
II-ERA HARLEY...

OH, YOU PIECE OF CRAP....ARE
FAR FROM RACE-READY.

YOU WANT TO NAIL THAT SEAT DOWN? NOPE.

I THOUGHT YOU KNEW
WHERE IT GOES.

NO,
I DON' KNOW WHERE IT GOES.

AND WITH ONLY A FEW DAYS
TO FINISH OUR BUILD...

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



...PROBLEMS MEET US
AT EVERY TURN.

I THINK ALL THREE
OF THE ACCELERATOR PUMPS...

Bowman: ARE DOOKIE.

I GOT A WILD MUSTACHE HAIR
THAT'S GONE BERSERK.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN FIX IT.

- THIS IS FOR A LATER MODEL.
- WE CAN'T USE THAT.

Bowman: TURNS OUT IT'S
THE WRONG CAM FOR OUR MOTOR.

- SOMETHING GOING ON.
- OH, BRAKES.

Bowman: WE LEAVE IN TWO DAYS...
Kaufman: THERE'S NO BRAKES.

...BUT, RIGHT NOW, IT'S KIND
OF LOOKING PRETTY BLEAK.

Kaufman: I'M GOING TO GO
CRY IN THE CORNER.

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

I DON'T EVEN...

OH, YEAH.

WELL, I WAS HOPING TO HAVE
MY HARLEY-DAVIDSON W.L.A.

READY TO GO TO T.R.O.G,
THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

OUT IN WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY,
IN A WEEK...

OH, COME ON.

...BUT THE BIKE
MAY HAVE OTHER PLANS.

OH, YOU PIECE OF CRAP.

THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN, TO ME,
IT LOOKS LIKE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE

THAT APPRECIATED SOME OF THE
SAME THINGS I APPRECIATE --

EARLY FORD, HARLEY, INDIAN.

ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT MADE
I FEEL LIKE, AMERICA GREAT.

OUR INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

WAS BUILT ON THE BACK OF PLANES,
TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES.

AND SO, ULTIMATELY,
THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS

PUTTING ON A RACE
OF ERA-APPROPRIATE MOTORCYCLES

AND RACE CARS ON THE BEACH,

I THINK, IS SUCH
A HUGE CELEBRATION

OF SUCH AN INTERESTING TIME
IN AMERICAN CULTURE.

ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE
THINGS ABOUT THE BEACH

IS THE VAST EXPANSE
OF RACETRACK.

THERE WEREN'T SPEED LIMITS
LIKE THERE WERE ON THE STREETS.

THE COPS WEREN'T PATROLLING IT

LIKE THEY WERE
IN YOUR SMALL TOWNS.

THERE WERE NO FREEWAYS YET.

THERE REALLY WAS BUT ONE PLACE.

IF YOU WENT TO THE DRAG STRIP,

YOU ONLY HAD A 1/4 MILE
OR 1/8 OF A MILE TO FIND OUT,

BUT ON THE SAND,
WE CAN GO FOR MILES AND MILES,

AND WE REALLY CAN FIND OUT
WHAT WE HAD BUILT,

WHAT THEY HAD BUILT.WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WANT TO LOOK AT THIS
LITTLE HALF CAR?

TAKE A LOOK AT HER.

ABOUT A WEEK AGO,
I BOUGHT MOST OF A MODEL "A"

TO RUN AT T.R.O.G IN THEIR
NEW RAIL DRAGSTER CLASS.

ANYBODY ORDER A RACE CAR?

THE CLASS REQUIRES THE CARS
HAVE NO BODY,

AN UNLENGTHENED FRAME,

AND PERIOD-CORRECT
MOTOR AND PARTS.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY --

THE CHEAPEST HORSEPOWER
IS LESS WEIGHT.

THE ORIGINAL FOUR-CYLINDER MOTOR
JUST WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT,

SO I DRAGGED MY '36 FORD
THREE-WINDOW UP TO THE SHOP

SO WE CAN SCAVENGE
ITS MORE POWERFUL FLATHEAD V-8.

SORRY, '36.
WE'RE STEALING YOUR GUTS.

BUT THAT WASN'T THE ONLY THING

WE ENDED UP PULLING
OUT OF THE '36.

AAH! THERE'S A CAT!

THERE'S TOTALLY
A CAT IN THERE!

NOW I'M NOT SUPERSTITIOUS,

BUT I REALLY DO HOPE
THAT FINDING CATS

IN THE TRUNK OF MY OLD FORD

IS GOOD LUCK
ON OUR DRAGSTER BUILD.

- GIVE THESE TO THE GIRLS.
- FOR ROBIN.

YEAH, Y'ALL CAN DEAL
WITH THESE THINGS.

OH, MY GOD.

AS FOR THIS HARLEY W.L.A.,
I'VE BEEN MEANING TO GET

THIS THING TO T.R.O.G FOR YEARS.

BUT I RAN INTO AN ISSUE

AND MISSED THE DEADLINE
A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

HOLY.

IT'S FINALLY TIME.

THIS IS THE YEAR
I'M GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN,

EVEN IF THE BIKE
ISN'T CURRENTLY COOPERATING.

OH!

SHE'S GOT FIRE.

THE BIKE HAD BEEN SITTING
FOR A WHILE,

SO IT LOOKS IT JUST NEEDED
THE COBWEBS SHAKEN OFF.

SO PEOPLE ASK ME
WHY I RIDE HARLEYS,

LIKE, WHY I'M A HARLEY GUY.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY BUILD
THE GREATEST MOTORCYCLE.

THAT'S NOT TRUE AT ALL.

THE DEAL IS,
IT'S OURMOTORCYCLE, RIGHT?

IT'S LIKE THE ONE THING
YOU GOT TO REALIZE

IS THAT IT IS HERITAGE.

IT IS OURS.
IT'S UNIQUELY OURS.

Bowman: THAT BIKE
IS SO COOL.

THIS PARTICULAR MODEL
HAS ITS ROOTS

ALL THE WAY BACK
IN THE LATE '30s

WHEN WORLD WAR II
WAS JUST BEGINNING.

AT THE TIME,
HARLEY WAS PRODUCING

A CIVILIAN MODEL CALLED THE WL
THAT USED AN ENGINE WHICH,

LIKE THE MOTOR
WE'RE USING IN OUR MODEL "A,"

WAS A FLATHEAD.

UNLIKE THE FORD V-8, HOWEVER,

IT WAS A 45-CUBIC-INCH
TWIN CYLINDER MODEL.

AFTER PEARL HARBOR,
HARLEY-DAVIDSON BEGAN PRODUCING

A VARIANT OF THAT MOTORCYCLE
CALLED THE W.L.A.,

CUSTOMIZED FOR USE
BY THE U.S. ARMY.

OVER THE COURSE OF THE WAR,

MORE THAN 90,000 WLAs
WERE PRODUCED.

THEY EVEN EARNED THE NICKNAME
"THE LIBERATOR,"

AS THEY WERE SEEN
BEING RIDDEN BY SOLDIERS

DURING THE LIBERATION
OF OCCUPIED EUROPE.

AND SO HARLEY-DAVIDSON,
AND THIS BIKE IN PARTICULAR,

WILL ALWAYS HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE
IN MY THOUGHTS

AND IN MY GARAGE.

BUT IT'S A 75-YEAR-OLD
MOTORCYCLE

THAT'S BEEN SITTING
FOR ABOUT A YEAR,

SO THERE'S SOME CRITICAL THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE ADJUSTED

BEFORE I CAN RACE IT.

READY?

THE FIRST THING
I WANT TO CHECK OUT

IS THAT THE OIL LEAKING
FROM THE BIKE

IS LEAKING
FROM THE PROPER LOCATIONS,

OR, IF IT WAS A CASE-HALF LEAK,

BUT IT DOES APPEAR
THAT IT'S THE CHAIN OILER,

WHICH IT'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE.

IT SPITS OIL OUT OF THIS
LITTLE TUBE ONTO THE CHAIN.

WE DON'T HAVE A BELT.
IT HAS A PRIMARY CHAIN.

AND TO KEEP FROM GETTING
ALL RUSTY AND JAMMED UP,

IT HAS A CHAIN OILER RIGHT HERE

SO IT DRIPS OIL ONTO IT,
SO, CONSEQUENTLY,

IT LEAKS OIL ALL OVER THE PLACE,
AS YOU CAN SEE.

NOW I'VE VERIFIED THAT,
YOU KNOW,

THE MOTOR IS NOT LEAKING.

IT'S JUST THE CHAIN OILER.

POP THIS ALL BACK TOGETHER

AND ADJUST THE CHAIN TENSION

BECAUSE THE CHAIN IS
SUPER-LOOSE ON IT.

IT'S JUST SLACKED OUT
A LITTLE BIT,

SO IF I CAN SHORTEN TWO LINKS
ON IT, I WILL,

AND I'LL BRING THE AXLE UP
INTO THE CHAINSTAY A LITTLE BIT,

TIGHTEN THE AXLE UP

AND THEN TAKE IT
FOR ONE LAST SHAKE-DOWN RIDE.

BUT PAST THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE JUST PUT NUMBER PLATES ON IT,

AND, IF THEY'LL LET ME
RUN IT DOWN A BEACH,

WE'LL GO RUN IT DOWN A BEACH,
AND I'LL TRY NOT TO FALL OFF,

AND IT'LL BE A GOOD TIME.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
ABOUT THIS SHIFTING

ON THE SIDE OF THE TANK
BUSINESS?

SO I'LL SPIN THE STORY
FOR YOU QUICK.

MOST MOTORCYCLES THESE DAYS

HAVE CLUTCH LEVERS
AND SHIFTER PEDALS,

BUT, BACK IN THE DAY,

HARLEYS HAD A MUCH DIFFERENT
CONTROL ARRANGEMENT --

CLUTCH PEDALS AND HAND SHIFTERS,

BUT EVEN THOSE DIDN'T
NECESSARILY WORK THE SAME

FROM BIKE TO BIKE.

FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE OUR W.L.A.

SO THIS IS A ROCKER CLUTCH
ON IT, SO I CAN...

WE CAN COME TO A FULL STOP,

AND I CAN BE IN FIRST GEAR
BECAUSE OF THE CLUTCH, RIGHT?

SO IT'LL STAY IN
WHATEVER POSITION,

WHETHER IT'S ENGAGED
OR DISENGAGED, RIGHT?

YOU CAN HAVE IT IN THIRD GEAR
AND COME TO A STOP

AS LONG AS YOU PUT
THE CLUTCH IN,

TAKE BOTH FEET OFF,
BUT, LIKE,

MY BLACK AND PURPLE BIKE,
IT'S JOCKEY SHIFT,

BUT IT'S SUICIDE CLUTCH,

AND THE DEAL
WITH THE SUICIDE CLUTCH

IS THAT ONCE YOU STEP OFF OF IT,
IT'S LIKE THE ONE IN YOUR CAR.

ONCE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT
OFF OF IT, IT ENGAGES.

THE MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION
ARE LINKED,

AND THEN THE JOCKEY PART OF IT
IS WHERE YOU REACH.

JUST LIKE WHEN YOU RIDE A HORSE,

IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU GO
TO WHIP THE HORSE

SO THIS IS THE JOCKEY POSITION,
IS JOCKEY SHIFT BACK HERE.

SO RAAAAAAA-CLACK-CLACK!

I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF
WHAT HE WANTS,

LIKE, WHERE THE BUTT SECTION IS.YEAH.

HE WANTS THAT
KIND OF KICKING IT.

UH-HUH.
LIKE A...

YEAH, ESPECIALLY WITH
HOW HE WANTS

TO SIT WAY BACK.

Webster: SO JASON AND I
SPENT SOME TIME

GOING THROUGH PICTURES
THIS MORNING,

LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION FOR
OUR SEAT FOR THE MODEL "A."

- OH, THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE.
- YEAH, YEAH.

- I LIKE THAT ONE.
- UH-HUH.

- THAT ONE WORKS.
- I CAN GET US THAT ALL DAY LONG.

THAT'S NO PROBLEM.

YEAH.

SINCE THE RULES OF THE CLASS
THAT WE'RE COMPETING IN

STIPULATE THAT OUR DRAGSTER
HAVE NO BODY,

THE STOCK MODEL "A" SEATS WOULD
LOOK COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE,

AND IF WE USE BENCH SEATS,
AARON IS GOING TO BE BOUNCING

ALL OVER THE PLACE
DOWN THE BEACH,

HAVING A HARD TIME
CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE.

I DID FIND ONE THAT I'M ACTUALLY
DIGGING ON PRETTY GOOD

AND THAT LOOKS
PRETTY COOL.

SO, INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING TO GO
WITH A BOMBER-STYLE SEAT,

WHICH WAS FAIRLY COMMON AMONG
DRAGSTERS IN THE '50s AND '60s.

THE DIFFERENCE IS,
BACK IN THE DAY,

MILITARY SURPLUS YARDS WERE
OVERFLOWING WITH BOMBER SEATS

LIKE YOU'D FIND IN A B-17.

BUT NOWADAYS, THEY'RE A LITTLE
MORE RARE, EXPENSIVE,

AND, FRANKLY, UNCOMFORTABLE,

SO, INSTEAD, I'M GONNA
CUSTOM MAKE A BOMBER-STYLE SEAT.

SO I STARTED THE SEAT,
AND I CAME UP WITH A DESIGN.

IT'S JUST A BASIC, GENERIC STYLE
OF A BOMBER SEAT.

WE'RE GOING TO ADD A FEW
FEATURES OF OUR OWN TO IT,

SO WE'RE GOING TO
MAKE IT SIMILAR

TO A LIST OF DIFFERENT ONES

BUT ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME,
TRY TO MAKE IT OURS.

NOW I KNOW
YOU'RE ABOUT TO ASK ME,

"WHY ARE WE USING ALL
THESE MODERN MACHINES FOR THIS?"

THE ANSWER IS BECAUSE
WE'RE UNDER A TIME CRUNCH,

AND WE'LL BE UPHOLSTERING
OVER THE SEAT FRAME,

SO MOST OF THE WORK
WON'T EVEN BE VISIBLE

IN THE FINISHED PRODUCT.

COOL.

HERE. YOU STAND
ON THIS SIDE.

I'LL HOLD IT
FROM OVER THERE.

Kaufman: ACTUALLY,
BRING IT DOWN SOME.

YEAH.
I DIG IT.

- LET'S JUST ROCK AND ROLL.
- COOL.

ON YOUR STEERING BOX,

WE GOT TO FIGURE OUT
THE EXTENSION ON IT.

LIKE, IF THAT'S PUT
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE,

AND THEN WE NEED
TO GET THAT...

DO WE HAVE A PITMAN ARM
ON THIS THING SOMEWHERE?

IT SHOULD BE
ON THE STEERING...

IT'S RIGHT THERE.

Willis: WE'RE PLANNING
ON CENTERING

THE DRIVING POSITION
ON THIS DRAGSTER,

WHICH, "A," WILL LOOK
BETTER WITH NO BODY

AND, "B," WILL MAKE
THE CAR MORE BALANCED

SO IT'S EASIER TO MANAGE
IN A DRAG RACE ON THE SAND,

BUT THAT MEANS WE HAVE
TO CENTER NOT ONLY THE SEAT,

WHICH JEREMY IS WORKING ON,

BUT THE STEERING BOX, AS WELL.

- I'M JUST GONNA...
- YEAH. GO FOR IT.

I'M JUST GOING TO SET IT
RIGHT HERE LIKE THAT.

Bowman: TRADITIONALLY, IT WOULD
BE INSIDE THE FRAME RAIL.

THE PITMAN ARM WOULD COME
OUTSIDE THE FRAME RAIL,

AND THEN YOU'D HAVE IT
PUSH OUT TO THE STEERING.

- 14 INCHES.
- OKAY.

SO WE GOT TO GO 14 INCHES
TO GET OUT THERE.

SO THE STEERING BOX WOULD
COME THROUGH THE FRAME.

FRAME RAIL WOULD BE IN HERE

AND THEN THIS WOULD PUSH
AND PULL OUR STEERING,

MAKE US GO RIGHT AND LEFT.

YEAH. SOMETHING LIKE THAT
RIGHT THERE. EXACTLY.

I THINK IT'S
THE EASIEST SOLUTION.

OUR FRAME RAIL IS STILL HERE,

BUT WE'VE MOVED
THE STEERING BOX TO ABOUT HERE,

SO WHAT I'M MAKING IS
A STEERING SHAFT, ESSENTIALLY,

THAT WILL COME FROM
OUR CENTER-MOUNT STEERING BOX

AND WILL ESSENTIALLY EMULATE
OUR ORIGINAL SHAFT

THAT WOULD'VE COME
THROUGH THE FRAME

SO THAT THIS WOULD GO
INTO THE PITMAN ARM.

WE CAN USE OUR
FACTORY PITMAN ARM,

AND THEN ALL IT'S GOING TO DO

IS JUST TRANSFER THE STEERING
FROM THE CENTER.

NOW IT'S JUST MAKING THAT
STEERING SHAFT LONGER.

IT'S A BIT INVOLVED,

BUT ANYTHING THAT HELPS
CENTER THE WEIGHT IN THE CHASSIS

IS AN ADVANTAGE
WE NEED IN THE SAND,

WHERE TRACTION
IS ALREADY LOW.

THAT IS HOT.
BE CAREFUL.

THE STUDS HAVE TO COME OUT,

AND THEY'RE NOTORIOUSLY
A PAIN IN THE ASS,

SO I JUST WENT AHEAD AND WELDED
THE NUTS TO THE STUDS.

HOPEFULLY, THE HEAT
WILL BREAK THE CORROSION

THAT'S HOLDING THEM TOGETHER.

!

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE
THAT WE CAN REALLY

DO BESIDES...

I'M DOING
THE GAS TANK DEAL.

YOU WANT TO NAIL
THAT SEAT DOWN?

Webster: NOPE.

I THOUGHT YOU KNEW
WHERE IT GOES.

NO. NO,
I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GOES.

Willis: SO WE'RE SUPPOSED TO
LEAVE FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN

IN JUST FOUR DAYS,
AND WE GOT A LOT TO DO.

GAS TANK WILL BE DONE
HERE SHORTLY.

- YEAH.
- I CAN'T REALLY FINISH

THE THROTTLE PEDAL
BECAUSE OF DISTANCE.

Willis: BUT BECAUSE
OF THE NATURE OF THIS CAR,

EVERYTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO
IS KIND OF DEPENDENT

ON SOMETHING ELSE
BEING FINISHED FIRST.

SO TO KEEP THINGS MOVING,

WE'RE TAKING A STEP BACK
AND WORKING ON THINGS

THAT DON'T REQUIRE US ALL
TO BE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

JASON IS GOING TO DO
SOME MOTOR WORK,

AND JEREMY IS HEADING OVER
TO THE METAL SHOP

TO GET SUPPLIES WE NEED
TO FINISH THE BUILD.

ME, I'M WORKING ON THE MOUNT

FOR THE VENTED-STYLE FUEL TANK
THAT AARON BOUGHT YESTERDAY

THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE
ON THE CAR.

THIS WOULD'VE BEEN ON, LIKE,

AN OLD TRACTOR, A OLD BOAT.

YOU KNOW, THIS COULD HAVE
EASILY BEEN ON TOP

OF A OLD TROLLING MOTOR.

SO IT'S JUST KIND OF RAD,

FITTING THE NOSTALGIA FACTOR
THAT WE'RE GOING FOR.

IT'S GOT A COOL LITTLE
CLEAR GLASS BOWL

THAT WILL COLLECT
ALL THE SHMAGMA

THAT MIGHT BE IN YOUR FUEL,

SO I'M GOING AHEAD AND MAKING
SOME STRAPS FOR THIS ONE

JUST TO GET THIS ONE
ROUGH-MOUNTED

BEFORE AARON GETS HERE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING
TO KEEP IT SIMPLE.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO
REINVENT A WHEEL,

JUST KIND OF HOW WOULD
THEY HAVE DONE IT

BACK IN THE DAY
WITH THE ADDED BENEFIT

THAT WE'RE GOING TO SAVE WEIGHT
OVER A FULL-SIZE FUEL TANK.

SIZE-WISE,
WE'RE GUESSING IT HOLDS

HALF GALLON TO A GALLON,

SOMEWHERE IN THAT BALL PARK.

WE'RE ONLY GOING 650 FEET,

SO, ESSENTIALLY,
IT'S PLENTY OF GAS.

THAT'LL WORK.

WE'RE HEADING TO
THE METAL-SUPPLY PLACE.

WE'RE GOING TO PICK UP
SOME MATERIAL FOR THE...

TO FINISH OUT THE BUILD
ON THE MODEL "A".

THERE'S JUST A FEW THINGS
WE HAVE TO GET.

SOME SWEET SHORTS THERE, CARLO.

I KNOW IT'S HOT.

WHAT I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH
IS THE UNEVENNESS.

RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE AT METAL SUPERMARKET.

I'M PICKING UP THE METAL
WE'RE GOING TO NEED

TO FINISH UP THE MODEL "A".

ALL RIGHT, TONY.
THIS IS WHAT I GOT.

I NEED 1/4-INCH PLATE.

YOU GOT LIKE A 2x4 DROP
OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE?

- I GOT NO METAL 2x4.
- OKAY.

Webster: THESE GUYS HAVE
HELPED US ALONG THE WAY

THROUGH THE PROCESS ON EVERY
PROJECT THAT WE'VE DONE.

LET'S DO 3/8 HOT
OR COLD SOLID STOCK.

- HOW MUCH?
- 5 FEET OF THAT.

Webster: WE STILL HAVE
A BUNCH OF THINGS TO FABRICATE,

AND WE'RE GETTING
LOW ON MATERIAL.

SHOW HIM THAT, YEAH,
AND WE'RE GOOD.

I STILL NEED TO FINISH
FABRICATING A BRACKET

FOR THE CUSTOM BOMBER SEAT
I MADE.

I'M ALSO PLANNING
ON MAKING A MOUNT

FOR THE WATER TANK WE'RE USING
INSTEAD OF A RADIATOR.

OH, SO YOU DON'T HAVE
TO CUT THAT.

I'M GOING TO GET 5/16
OF FULL JOINT.

- I'M JUST GONNA USE FULL JOINT.
- NOT A PROBLEM.

WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE MOUNTS
FOR OUR PEDALS,

OUR NUMBER PLATES.

SO EVEN THOUGH OUR DRAGSTER
DOESN'T HAVE ANY BODYWORK,

YOU CAN SEE WHY WE RUN OUT
OF MATERIAL SO QUICKLY.

FINGERS CROSSED,
THIS SHOULD LAST US

UNTIL THE END OF THE BUILD.

SO ANY TIME THAT YOU HAVE AIR
INSIDE OF A CAR,

THEN YOU HAVE
AN AERODYNAMIC PROBLEM, RIGHT?

YOU'RE CAUSING
A PRESSURE SITUATION

THAT'S SLOWING
THE CAR DOWN.

Producer: ALL THE STUFF
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT

ARE NOT REALLY THINGS
THAT PEOPLE REALLY

THOUGHT ABOUT BACK THEN.

THEY WEREN'T THINKING
ABOUT AERODYNAMICS.

100% WRONG.
100% WRONG.

AND WHOEVER TOLD YOU OTHERWISE
WAS 100% WRONG, AS WELL.

EVERYONE THINKS THAT CARS THAT
WERE BUILT IN THE '20s OR '30s,

BECAUSE THEY WERE SIMPLE,

THEY WERE BUILT
BY MINDLESS MORONS.

THESE CARS INCORPORATE SOME
OF THE MOST MODERN TECHNOLOGY,

AND PEOPLE WERE EVERY BIT
AS SMART AS THEY ARE NOW.

THEY UNDERSTOOD ALL
THE PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICS

EQUALLY AS WELL
AS THEY DO NOW.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER,

WE'RE BUILDING AIRPLANES
AT THIS POINT.

SO ARE THEY THINKING
ABOUT THERMAL EXPANSION?

ARE THEY THINKING
ABOUT THERMAL DYNAMICS?

ARE THEY THINKING ABOUT PHYSICS?
YEAH. THEY'VE BEEN THERE.

WHEN IT COMES TO AERODYNAMICS,
YEAH.

THEY'RE ALREADY THERE.

THING WAS, THERE WAS
A VERY LOW NECESSITY,

SO, FIRST OF ALL, THERE WERE
VERY, VERY FEW PAVED ROADS.

THE ONES THAT WERE PAVED
WERE PAVED IN BRICKS,

AND THERE WAS A LIMIT
TO WHAT THE WHEELS COULD TAKE.

THERE WAS A LIMIT TO WHAT
THE TIRES COULD DO,

AND THEN, NOT TO MENTION,
SOCIETY, AS A WHOLE,

WASN'T REAL HIP
ON FAST VEHICLES,

PARTICULARLY IN TOWN,
AND BETWEEN TOWN

WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE
DID A WHOLE LOT OF.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
A LOT OF DIRT ROADS,

AND THEY HAVE ISSUES THERE,

SO IT WASN'T THAT PEOPLE
DIDN'T CONSIDER IT.

IT WASN'T MUCH OF A FACTOR.

SO JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE OLD
DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE CRAP.

SO AARON DECIDED THAT
HE DIDN'T WANT

TO RUN A RADIATOR
ON THIS VEHICLE,

NOT BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST
THE RULES OR PERIOD-CORRECT

BUT BECAUSE IT LOOKS
OUT OF PLACE

ON A VEHICLE WITH NO BODY.

INSTEAD, WE'RE GONNA
COOL OUR MOTOR

USING FRESH WATER
FROM THIS WATER TANK

THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOUNT
BEHIND THE SEAT.

THIS CAME OUT
OF A B-17 AIRCRAFT.

THIS WAS THE O2 TANK.

THIS IS THE BREATHING OXYGEN
FOR ALL THE CREW MEMBERS.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT
A WATER TANK,

AND I'M JUST COMING UP
WITH SOME BRACKETS

SO WE CAN ACTUALLY MOUNT IT
TO THE BACK OF THE CAR.

I'M THINKING
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THIS IS OUR BOTTOM BRACKET
THAT HOLDS THE TANK.

WE HAVE TWO HINGE POINTS
FOR THE STRAPS,

AND WE'LL HAVE A BOLT
THAT RUNS THROUGH IT.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A RADIATOR

BECAUSE IT'S BIG
AND OBNOXIOUS UP FRONT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO
WITH THIS AIR TANK

'CAUSE IT'S REALLY
COOL-LOOKING.

YEAH, WITHOUT A RADIATOR,

WE DO RUN THE RISK
OF OVERHEATING THE MOTOR

BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SO LONG

BEFORE THE COLD WATER CIRCULATES
THROUGH THE BLOCK AND HEATS UP,

BUT BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY
DRAG RACING 660 FEET,

WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY
TO SWAP IN FRESH,

COLD WATER BETWEEN RUNS,
AND REALLY, TO ME,

THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN
IS ALL ABOUT STYLE,

SO I HOPE IT'S A RISK
WORTH TAKING.

YAY.

Bowman: WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE
THIS OLD FLATHEAD V-8 CAME FROM

BEFORE IT MADE ITS WAY
INTO AARON'S '36 FORD,

SO WE'RE MAKING SOME CHANGES
TO ENSURE THAT IT RUNS RELIABLY

WHILE ALSO GIVING IT
MORE POWER.

FIRST, WE'RE SWAPPING OUT
THE WATER PUMPS

THAT CAME ON THE MOTOR
FOR BRAND-NEW ONES WE KNOW

WON'T FAIL ON US THE FIRST TIME
WE START THIS MOTOR UP.

WE ALSO BOUGHT A NEW CAM SHAFT
THAT'S SET TO GO IN TOMORROW,

BUT THE BIGGEST CHANGE
WE'RE MAKING

IS INSTALLING
NEW ALUMINUM HEADS.

COMBINED WITH
THE NEW CAM SHAFT,

THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE
OUR ENGINE BREATHES BETTER,

WHICH, IN TURN, IS GOING
TO GIVE US MORE HORSEPOWER,

AND SINCE MOST
EARLY FLATHEADS STRUGGLE

TO GET INTO THE TRIPLE DIGITS,
EVERY BIT COUNTS.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, THE STUDS
YOU BOLT THE FACTORY HEADS TO

WON'T WORK WITH
OUR NEW ALUMINUM HEADS,

SO THE STUDS
HAVE TO COME OUT,

AND THEY'RE NOTORIOUSLY
A PAIN IN THE ASS IN FLATHEADS,

SO I JUST WENT AHEAD

AND WELDED THE NUTS
TO THE STUDS.

HOPEFULLY, THE HEAT WILL
TRANSFER THROUGH THE STUDS,

BREAK THE CORROSION
THAT'S HOLDING THEM TOGETHER,

AND THEN THEY'LL COME OUT.

I DON'T KNOW.
WE'LL SEE.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE FOR T.R.O.G
IN JUST THREE DAYS,

SO WE'RE REALLY STARTING
TO FEEL THE PRESSURE

TO GET THINGS BUTTONED UP,

BUT OUR TO-DO LIST DOESN'T SEEM
TO BE GETTING ANY SHORTER.

!

SHOP TOWEL IS BURNING.

THE AIR BLOWER?

I THINK IT'D JUST MAKE IT WORSE.

HERE'S A NOVEL IDEA.
ANYBODY GOT SOME WATER?

- THIS IS FOR A LATER MODEL.
- WE CAN'T USE THAT.

THE CAM SHAFT THAT
WE GOT IN YESTERDAY --

TURNS OUT IT'S THE WRONG CAM
FOR OUR MOTOR.

WE LEAVE IN TWO DAYS.

MY GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS THING
RUNNING BY TOMORROW NIGHT,

BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S KIND OF
LOOKING PRETTY BLEAK.

- YEAH.
- START OVER.

Bowman: YEAH.

- WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
- HEY, BUDDY.

Kaufman: HOW YOU DOING?

MY BUDDY, ARRON MATHER,
IS A BIT OF A MENTOR.

HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR
MY EARLY EDUCATION

IN THE MACHINE SHOP

AS WELL AS MY UNDERSTANDING
OF THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON

AND QUITE POSSIBLY
MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH IT,

SO I INVITED HIM DOWN
TO THE SHOP

TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR DRAGSTER

BECAUSE I KNEW
HE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.

SO THIS IS
OUR T.R.O.G CAR.

SO, BASICALLY, WE'RE BUILDING
A MODEL "A" RAIL JOB.

SO MODEL "A" STOCK CHASSIS,
MODEL "A" REAR.

WE'VE WELD THE SPIDER GEARS,
AND THEN WE PULLED THE MOTOR

AND TRANS OUT OF
MY '36 FOR IT.

Mather: COOL. COOL.

OH, HEY, MAN.
LET US TAKE YOU TO LUNCH.

- LET'S GO.
- ALL RIGHT.

AARON IS A BRILLIANT BIKE
BUILDER IN HIS OWN RIGHT,

AND WE GO WAY BACK,

BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN EACH OTHER
IN A WHILE,

SO, OF COURSE, I'M GOING
TO JUMP AT ANY CHANCE

TO GET OUT OF THE SHOP
AND CATCH UP WITH HIM.

Kaufman: AND THE NEAT THING
ABOUT THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN IS

THEY DO KIND OF CONTROL,
IN A TOTAL SENSE,

THE STYLE OF RACING.

THEY CONTROL THE LOOK,
THE FEEL, AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVATION
FOR GOING THIS YEAR?

YOU WANT TO SHOW THEM
WHAT YOU CAN DO,

OR YOU JUST WANT TO...
I WISH THAT WAS THE CASE.

...GO HAVE FUN
WITH THE GOOD OLD BOYS?

THAT'S MORE LIKE "B,"

BECAUSE, LIKE, LAST TIME,
I SHOWED UP,

AND I PLAYED
WITH EVERYBODY ELSE'S TOYS,

AND SO I WANTED TO BRING
A COUPLE OF OUR OWN,

SO THE THING I APPRECIATE
SO MUCH ABOUT IT IS THAT,

WHEN WE PLAY
WITH OLD TOYS,

IS THAT, IN MY OPINION,
IS THAT WE'RE KEEPING IT ALIVE,

SO IT'S JUST LIKE RELIVING
A SNAPSHOT OF HISTORY,

AND AS LONG AS THAT
IT'S STILL ALIVE,

THAT MEANS THAT PEOPLE STILL
KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.

THEY STILL KNOW HOW
TO BUILD IT.

TO SOME DEGREE,
THAT KNOWLEDGE

IS BEING PASSED ON
TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

Mather: AND NOT ONLY THAT,
THIS TYPE OF RACING,

IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

YOU DON'T...

YOU DON'T RACE BECAUSE
YOU CAN'T GET THE THING TO RUN.

- AND THAT'S...
- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO START...

THERE'S NO BUTTON.THERE'S NO START BUTTON.

THERE'S NONE OF THAT.I'LL TELL YOU...

YOU ACTUALLY GOT TO KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE ARE THERE
BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT.

IT IS A GOSH-DARN
GOOD TIME.

- YOU'LL HAVE A BLAST.
- I CAN'T WAIT.

- I CAN'T WAIT.
- YEAH.

- IT'S GOOD. I'M LEAVING NOW.
- YEAH?

Willis: WHAT DO YOU
THINK, JASON?

Bowman: UH... I THINK
IT'S KIND OF A CAR.

- ALMOST A RACE CAR OR NOT?
- NO, FAR FROM IT.

OH. OH.
NOT A RACE CAR?

Willis: SO, RIGHT HERE,
WE JUST FINISHED UP.

JASON FINISHED UP
THE THROTTLE PEDAL.

I GOT THE BRAKE PEDAL
AND THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY DONE,

AND WE'RE MOVING ON
TO THE CLUTCH PEDAL.

NOW, IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT,
BUT, IN THE SPIRIT OF T.R.O.G,

WE'RE TRYING TO UTILIZE AS MANY
MODEL "A" PARTS AS WE CAN.

WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO
AHEAD AND BEND RIGHT HERE.

TAKE THAT OUT.

I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN
STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK,
IT NEEDS TO COME OVER

OR JUST STRAIGHT UP?

I THINK STRAIGHT UP.

SO I HAVE IT MOUNTED WHERE
I THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK.

I'M GOING TO TEST FIT A ROD,

LEAVING THE FOOT OVER HERE,
AND THEN WE'LL HEAT IT UP,

AND WE'LL GIVE THE FOOT
A NEW PLACEMENT,

CLOSER TO THE PALM,
WHERE WE WANT IT.

OUR FEET, WHEN WE WERE
SITTING IN IT,

ARE ALWAYS SITTING,
LIKE, RIGHT HERE.

I SAW.

YEP. JUST LIKE THAT.

SO DO YOU WANT TO GET BANNON
ON THIS?

I THINK JUST DO IT.

ALL RIGHT THEN.

Willis: SO WHAT A CLUTCH DOES --

IT CONNECTS THE OUTPUT
OF THE MOTOR

TO THE GEARBOX,

AND BY PRESSING
THE CLUTCH PEDAL,

IT ALLOWS YOU TO DISENGAGE
THE CONNECTION

THROUGH A SERIES OF LINKAGES,
CABLES, AND LINES

SO YOU CAN SHIFT THE GEARS
WITHOUT GRINDING.

YOU CAN COME TO A COMPLETE STOP
WITHOUT STALLING.

SO ONCE I BENT THE PEDAL
INTO A COMFORTABLE POSITION,

I NEED TO MACHINE
A BIT OF THE PEDAL

SO THAT THE CLEVIS
ON THE LINKAGE

WILL FIT OVER IT.

JUST GOT DONE MAKING
THE LINKAGE FOR THE CLUTCH.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO BEND
THE PEDAL AROUND

TO GET
IN A BETTER POSITION.

IF THE PEDALS AREN'T
IN A GOOD POSITION,

IT'LL MAKE IT MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT

FOR AARON TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY,

AND HE'S ALREADY GOT
A LOT TO FOCUS

ON TO PUT TOGETHER
A GOOD RACE ON THE SAND.

I'LL GO AHEAD
AND GET THE PEDAL BENT,

WELD THE TABS ALL THE WAY,
AND THAT'LL BE OFF THE LIST.

SO WE GOT BRAKES,
CLUTCH, THROTTLE.

ONCE THE INTAKE IS ON,
IT'S DONE.

IT STEERS.

SO IF JASON CAN MAKE IT GO FAST,
WE CAN GO HAVE FUN.

Bowman: SPEAKING OF GOING FAST,
WE'RE TRYING TO SQUEEZE

WHATEVER EXTRA HORSEPOWER
WE CAN OUT OF OUR FLATHEAD V-8

BECAUSE, EVEN THOUGH
IT'S THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

THE OTHER GUYS AT T.R.O.G.
ARE NO JOKE.

IT ORIGINALLY STARTED OUT
AS ONLY AN EXHIBITION

WHERE GUYS COULD SHOW OFF THEIR
OLD HOT RODS AND MOTORCYCLES

AND CHECK OUT
WHAT OTHER ENTHUSIASTS

WERE BUILDING OR RESTORING,

BUT AS TYPICALLY HAPPENS
WITH CAR GUYS,

THEY WEREN'T CONTENT
WITH TAKING IT EASY,

SO IT TURNED INTO A FRIENDLY
SPEED COMPETITION.

AND WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS
ON THE LINE,

DRIVERS KEPT TRYING TO PUSH
THEIR PERIOD-CORRECT MOTORS

TO GO A LITTLE FASTER
AND FASTER,

AND NOW IT'S EVOLVED INTO
A FULL-ON DRAG-RACING EVENT.

THIS YEAR IS SHAPING UP TO BE
THE FASTEST YEAR YET.

WITH THE NEW DRAGSTER CLASS
THAT WE'RE RUNNING IN,

IT PROHIBITS THE USE OF BODIES,

MAKING THE VEHICLES LIGHTER
AND EVEN QUICKER.

SO TO AVOID GETTING EMBARRASSED
WHEN WE SHOW UP,

WE'RE GOING TO TRY
AND GET AS MUCH POWER

AS WE CAN OUT OF THIS MOTOR,
AND ONE WAY WE'RE DOING THAT

IS BY SWAPPING OUT
THE STOCK CAM SHAFT

WITH SOMETHING MORE AGGRESSIVE.

IT WAS A BIT TEDIOUS,

BUT I'VE GOTTEN ALL
THE LIFTERS AND VALVES OUT,

SO, UM, ANYWAY,

THE CAM IS READY TO COME OUT,

SO LET'S GET THIS THING OUT.

THIS IS YOUR CAM,

AND IT'S CONNECTED TO THE CRANK
WITH A GEAR, SO IT ROTATES.

AS IT ROTATES,
ALL THESE LOBES ROTATE,

AND EACH ONE OF THESE
HAS A JOB --

INTAKE EXHAUST,
SO ON AND SO FORTH

ALL THE WAY DOWN,
SO AS YOUR LOBE COMES UP,

THIS RIDES ON THE LOBE,

AND SO AS IT COMES UP,
IT OPENS YOUR VALVE.

THAT IN TURN PUSHES ON
THE BOTTOM OF THIS STEM,

WHICH OPENS THE VALVE,
LETTING AIR

IN AND OUT OF THE CYLINDER
JUST LIKE THAT.

THAT BEING SAID, THE BENEFIT
TO DOING AN AFTERMARKET CAM IS,

BY CHANGING THE SHAPE
OF THE LOBES ON THE CAM SHAFT,

WE CAN CHANGE THE SPEED
AT WHICH THE VALVES OPEN

AND THE DURATION THE VALVES
STAY OPEN FOR,

ALLOWING US TO INCREASE
THE AIRFLOW

IN AND OUT OF THE CYLINDERS.

THE MORE AIR YOU CAN PACK
INTO THE CYLINDER,

THE MORE POWER YOU MAKE.

HENCE, WE DO A CAM,

OPEN THE VALVES MORE,
SUCK MORE AIR IN.

Producer: COPY THAT.

SO WHICH CAM SHAFT

HAS A GEAR-DRIVEN
DISTRIBUTOR?

THIS IS FOR
A LATER MODEL.

THAT'S WHAT
I'M THINKING.

DISTRIBUTOR COMES IN
THE SIDE RIGHT HERE.

YEP.

WE CAN'T USE THAT.

THE CAM SHAFT THAT
WE GOT IN YESTERDAY,

TURNS OUT IT'S THE WRONG CAM
FOR OUR MOTOR.

IT'S FOR A FRONT OFFSET
DRIVE DISTRIBUTOR.

THAT'S NOT HOW OUR MOTOR
IS SET UP.

THIS CAM SHAFT,

THE DIAMETER OF THE CAM SHAFT
IS SMALLER.

LOBES ARE SUPER NARROW
ON THIS LITTLE BOOGER.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

ALSO, GET A SET
OF CALIPERS

AND CHECK THE LIFT
ON THESE THINGS.

THEY DON'T LOOK AS BIG
AS THE OTHER ONE.

WELL, THIS SHAFT DIAMETER IS
WAY SMALLER THAN THAT ONE.

YEAH,
LET'S JUST CALL JOHN.

LET'S CALL.
LET'S CHECK SOME NUMBERS.

WE COULD MACHINE THIS
AND PUT THIS IN HERE.

IT'S NOT THE END
OF THE WORLD.

- I DON'T WANT THAT.
- YEAH. FOR SURE.

WE LEAVE IN TWO DAYS.

MOTOR IS TORN APART.

MY GOAL IS TO HAVE THIS THING
RUNNING BY TOMORROW NIGHT,

BUT, RIGHT NOW,

IT'S KIND OF LOOKING
PRETTY BLEAK.

THROW SOME
CALIPERS ON IT.

IF IT'S JUST A DISASTER,
THEN START OVER.

YEAH.

Kaufman: WHEN I SNAPPED
THE THROTTLE BLADES OPEN,

THERE WAS TOO MUCH AIR,
NOT ENOUGH FUEL.

I THINK ALL THREE OF
THE ACCELERATOR PUMPS

Bowman: ARE DOOKIE.

JUST A JOKE.

Bowman: GOOD NEWS --
THE DAY IS SAVED.

SINCE AARON BOUGHT THIS MODEL
"A" ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO,

WE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES
TO GET IT READY

FOR DRAG RACING ON THE SAND
AT T.R.O.G.

WE REPLACED
THE FOUR-CYLINDER MOTOR

WITH A FLATHEAD V-8
FROM AARON'S '36 FORD.

WE'VE MOVED THE DRIVING POSITION
TO THE CENTER.

WE REMOVED THE RADIATOR
IN FAVOR OF A WATER TANK,

BUT, EARLIER TODAY,
WHEN WE WERE UPGRADING

THE CAM SHAFT IN THE MOTOR,
WE RAN INTO SOME FITMENT ISSUES.

I MADE A FEW PHONE CALLS
AND WAS ABLE TO SCORE US

A NEW CAM SHAFT
OFF A SIMILAR MOTOR,

SO THIS IS A HUGE WEIGHT
OFF OUR SHOULDERS

BECAUSE, IF WE HAD TO ORDER IT,

WE DEFINITELY WOULDN'T HAVE
GOTTEN A REPLACEMENT IN ON TIME.

SO GET THIS THING
SHOVED IN THERE.

WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO,
WHICH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE

WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO GET
THIS MOTOR FIRED UP TOMORROW.

CAM SHAFT FITS LIKE IT WAS
MADE FOR THIS MOTOR.

CRAZY.

Willis: YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONLY
TWO DAYS TO GET THE MODEL "A"

AND THE '45 READY
FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN,

AND THERE'S STILL A TON TO DO.

SO, RIGHT NOW,
I'M CUTTING OUT SOME METAL

TO FABRICATE INTO A FOOT PLATE.

IT'S BASICALLY JUST A HEEL REST,
A SPOT TO PUT YOUR HEEL

SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO HOLD
YOUR FEET UP IN THE AIR

TO USE THE PEDALS ALL THE TIME.

THEY CAN REST DOWN JUST LIKE
ANY VEHICLE'S FLOOR BOARD.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO
SOMETHING REAL SIMPLE,

NOT TRYING TO DO A WHOLE FLOOR
IN THE CAR, KEEP WEIGHT DOWN.

THEY WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT
BACK IN THE DAY.

Kaufman: I'VE ONLY BEEN ASKED
ABOUT A MILLION TIMES.

THERE'S NO ANSWER.
I DON'T HAVE A GREAT ANSWER.

I ONLY REGISTER FOR THINGS ABOUT
TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY CUT IT OFF,

SO I END UP KIND OF
WITH WHAT EVER.

SO TODAY I'M TYING UP LOOSE ENDS
ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM.

WE GOT THIS WATER CANTEEN.

THIS IS ACTUALLY GONNA BE OUR
OVERFLOW TANK FOR OUR WATER TANK

THAT'S IN THE BACK OF THE CAR.

SOMETHING WE HAVE TO HAVE
JUST IN CASE OF OVERHEATING,

SO WHEN THE COOLANT
GETS HOT AND EXPANDS,

INSTEAD OF IT JUST SPEWING
ALL OVER THE GROUND,

IT'S GOT SOMEWHERE TO GO.

Bowman: BACK IN THE DAY, PLASTIC
WASN'T A THING IN THIS ERA.

IT WAS LATE '40s, SO OBVIOUSLY,
SINCE PLASTICS WEREN'T AROUND,

THEY DIDN'T HAVE
ZIP TIES BACK THEN

SO IN ORDER TO KEEP THINGS TIDY,

KEEP WIRES STRAIGHT,
WE'RE USING THE WAX TIE CORD.

IT'S A CORD COATED IN WAX.

YOU'LL JUST WRAP IT
AROUND YOUR CABLING,

WHATEVER IT IS, PULL IT TIGHT,

AND THEN THERE'S YOUR ZIP TIE.

Webster: SO NOW WE'RE AT
THE POINT WHERE I'M READY TO DO

A VACUUM TEST
ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM.

SINCE WE'RE RUNNING A WATER TANK
TO COOL THIS ENGINE

INSTEAD OF
A TRADITIONAL RADIATOR

SET UP IN THE FRONT,

IT'S CRITICAL THAT EVERYTHING
FUNCTIONS PROPERLY.

ANY KIND OF AIR BUBBLE OR LEAK

COULD CAUSE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE
TO THE MOTOR,

SO IN ORDER TO TEST FOR LEAKS,

I'M GOING TO PULL ALL THE AIR
OUT OF THE SYSTEM

TO MAKE SURE
IT ACTUALLY HOLDS VACUUM.

- THAT'S LEAKING.
- IT'S LEAKING?

YEAH.

Webster: WITH A SYSTEM LIKE
THIS, I'VE DONE A LOT OF WELDING

AND MADE A LOT
OF TUBES FOR THIS,

100% EXPECTED

TO FIND AT LEAST ONE,
MAYBE TWO OR THREE LEAKS.

- THERE'S A LEAK THERE.
- MM-HMM.

AND SO I STARTED, YOU KNOW,
PUTTING MY EAR UP TO THINGS

TO FIND OUT WHERE
THE LEAK IS COMING FROM,

AND THERE'S JUST A LITTLE,
BITTY, TINY PINHOLE

RIGHT THERE.

SO I'M GONNA FIX THAT ONE FIRST,

AND THEN I'M GONNA
GET THE OTHER ONE

'CAUSE, COME TOMORROW MORNING,

THIS CAR HAS GOT TO BE
READY TO RUN.

UH...

THREE YEARS.

LIKE, SOME CRAZY HIPPIE HAD IT
BEFORE ME, APPARENTLY,

AND THIS THING USED TO HAVE
AN AMMO BOX ON ONE SIDE

AND A BIG RIFLE SCABBARD
ON THE OTHER AND HAD A BIG --

I MEAN, ALL KINDS OF
GOOFY STUFF ON IT.

I MEAN, THEY USED THEM
FOR ALL SORTS OF STUFF.

THEY USED THEM FOR,
LIKE, CORRESPONDENCE,

AND I'LL TELL YOU, SOMETIMES YOU
MAY SEE OLD MILITARY FLATHEADS

THAT HAVE A STICK
ON THE FRONT OF THEM --

A GREAT BIG STICK.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S FOR?

THEY WOULD RUN CORRESPONDENCE

BETWEEN GENERALS
OR BETWEEN OFFICERS AND STUFF,

IN THE WOODS
AND EVERYTHING.

WELL, WHAT THE OPPOSITION
WOULD DO IS,

THEY WOULD TAKE PIANO WIRE
AND STRING IT ACROSS THE TRAIL

AND SO IT'D DECAPITATE
OR CUT THEIR THROATS OR WHATEVER

'CAUSE THE RIDER --
YOU'RE BOMBING ALONG,

CATCH YOUR PIANO WIRE AT 40,
50 MILES AN HOUR, YOU'RE DONE.

SO WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS
THAT OFF THE FRONT,

THEY WOULD PUT THESE POLES
AS TALL AS THEY WERE.

RAH-BING!

SO IF YOU EVER SEE ONE OF THESE

WITH A STICK
IN THE FRONT OF IT...

Producer: NOW I
KNOW....IT'S NOT FOR A FLAG.

CAN WE CHECK
GEAR SELECTOR?

I DID.

THAT'S WHY I'M STANDING
RIGHT HERE.

I'LL STOP IT.

YEAH.
TIME TO LIGHT THE CANDLE.

Kaufman: THIS IS THE MOST
DRAMATIC PART OF IT.

WE'RE T-MINUS 11 SECONDS
FROM LEAVING.

ALL OF THE WHOLE ADVENTURE
HINGES ON THIS MOMENT.

WE HIT THE BUTTON,
AND THIS THING LIGHTS,

AWAY WE GO.

GLORIOUS WILL BE US.

IF IT DOESN'T, THEN WE HAVE
TO REDO EVERYTHING.

CAN YOU COUNT DOWN?

OH, YEAH.
ARE WE READY?

YEAH.

IN FIVE, FOUR...

WE HAVEN'T PRIMED AT ALL,
SO CARBS DON'T HAVE ANY FUEL...

THREE, TWO, ONE.

NOISE MAKER!

OH, MY GOD!
WOO!

OKAY.
LET'S GO HOME.

Bowman: IN ALL SERIOUSNESS,

WE'RE LEAVING FOR T.R.O.G.
TOMORROW,

SO IT'S GREAT THAT THIS ENGINE
STARTS AND RUNS.

NOW WE JUST NEED TO PRIME
THE FUEL PUMP AND THE CARBURETOR

AND SEE HOW IT RESPONDS
THROUGHOUT THE REV RANGE.

COME ON,
FUEL PUMP!

OKAY, WELL...
WE'RE DONE.

MUCH BETTER.

ONCE THE FUEL PUMP
AND CARBURETORS ARE PRIMED,

THE ENGINE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO IDLE ON ITS OWN,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
WE'RE SATISFIED YET.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THE ENGINE RUNS SMOOTHLY

FROM IDLE
ALL THE WAY TO RED LINE...

...AND OUR ENGINE DOESN'T.

IT DEFINITELY HAS
A FUELING ISSUE.

IT BASICALLY FALLS FLAT
ON ITS FACE

WHEN YOU WHACK THE THROTTLE,

NOT A PROBLEM YOU WANT TO HAVE
ON A DRAG CAR.

- TIMING IS SLOW ALSO.
- YEAH, FOR SURE.

THE ACCELERATOR PUMP
DOESN'T SEEM INCREDIBLY

ACTIVE ON THE OUTSIDES.

Kaufman: SO I NOTICED,
AS I ROLLED INTO THE THROTTLE,

IT SEEMED TO CLIMB
RPMs SMOOTHLY,

BUT WHEN I SNAPPED
THE THROTTLE BLADES OPEN,

THERE WAS TOO MUCH AIR,
NOT ENOUGH FUEL.

IT COULDN'T COMPENSATE.

THAT, TO ME,
POINTS NOT TO A JETTING ISSUE

BUT TO AN ISSUE
WITH THE ACCELERATOR PUMPS.

JUST A JOKE.

I THINK ALL THREE
OF THE ACCELERATOR PUMPS...

Bowman: ARE DOOKIE.

I THINK THE DONUTS...

IT COMES OFF IDLE
LIKE THEY ARE.

Kaufman: OUR JETTING AFFECTS
HOW MUCH FUEL GOES IN THE MOTOR

BASED ON HOW MUCH AIR IS
GOING THROUGH THE VENTURI.

THE ACCELERATOR PUMP
IS A MASK FOR IT,

AND THAT MOMENT
THAT WE OPEN THE THROTTLE,

THERE'S A LITTLE PISTON
WITH THIS LITTLE GOOFY UMBRELLA,

AND AS YOU SHOVE DOWN ON IT,

IT SQUIRTS A LARGE AMOUNT
OF FUEL IN THERE.

THE EXTRA FUEL HELPS COMPENSATE
FOR THE RAPID CHANGE,

THE BIG GULP AS IT TAKES
IN A BUNCH OF AIR.

LET'S PULL
THE KITS WE HAVE

AND SEE ABOUT
THE ACCELERATOR PUMP.

Willis: IT WE CAN'T FIND
SOME USABLE ACCELERATOR PUMPS

IN ONE OF THESE CARBURETOR
REBUILD KITS,

WE MAY HAVE TO DELAY
OUR DEPARTURE.

ALL THESE EXTRA PARTS
I'M FINDING RIGHT HERE

AND NO ACCELERATOR PUMPS.

Kaufman: I'M GONNA IT DOWN
THE STREET, SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

WORSE THING THAT HAPPENS
IS KILLS ME,

EXPLODES, CATCHES ON FIRE.

YOU BETTER STEP FORWARD
JUST A LITTLE BIT.

OH, BRAKES.

Webster: THERE'S
SOMETHING GOING ON.

THERE'S NO BRAKES, 100%.

Bowman: DOES IT FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE DRIVING?

OH, YEAH.
THERE YOU GO.

HOW'S THAT?

PERFECT.

MAN, THAT SUCKS ABOUT
THIS ACCELERATOR.

Bowman: YEAH.

Kaufman: SO WE RAN
INTO A CARB ISSUE

ON OUR MODEL "A" DRAG CAR.

WHEN WE BRING RPM UP,
IT SEEMED TO RIDE.

IT SEEMED TO RUN PRETTY GOOD.

IT WAS JUST ADDING THROTTLE
WAS A PROBLEM.

I GOT A WILD MUSTACHE HAIR
THAT'S GONE BERSERK.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN FIX IT.

IT'S JUST THE TRANSITIONING,

SO FROM ONE RPM TO ANOTHER.

WELL, THAT MEANS
OUR ACCELERATOR PUMP COMPONENTS

INSIDE OUR CARBURETORS
HAVE GONE BAD.

RIGHT NOW, JASON IS TEARING
APART SOME OTHER CARBS

WE HAVE AROUND THE SHOP
TRYING TO FIND

SOME MORE ACCELERATOR PUMPS
FOR OUR STROMBERGS.

THIS ONE IS MORE BETTER
THAN THE OTHERS.

WHILE HE DOES THAT...

WE'LL CHECK THE FUEL HEIGHTS
HERE IN A SECOND.

PROBABLY WHAT WE'LL DO --
IT'S HARD ON THE BATTERIES --

WE'LL DISCONNECT THE IGNITION

BECAUSE THE FUEL PRESSURE
IS MADE

BY THE CRANK SPINNING OVER,
SO WE'LL RUN IT,

AND THEN WE'LL SEE
WHERE THEY COME UP AND STOP AT

BECAUSE WITH THE TOPS OFF,

WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SEE THEM COME UP AND STOP.

IF ALL THREE OF THE CARBURETORS

DON'T HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT
OF FUEL IN THE BOWL...

DEFINITELY LOW TOO.

...IT'S GOING TO
ADVERSELY AFFECT

THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUEL
IN THE CYLINDERS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO RUN WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
AN ERRATIC-RUNNING ENGINE,

AND THAT'S FAR
FROM A RACE MOTOR.

AFTER AN HOUR OF MESSING
WITH THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE BOWLS

AND A LITTLE BIT OF THEM
MESSING WITH ME...

- UH-OH. YOU GOOD?
- MM-HMM.

...I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT THINGS
SORTED OUT,

AND JASON MANAGED TO SCAVENGE
SOME ACCELERATOR PUMPS

THAT FIT OUR CARBS.

- HEY.
- IT WORKS?

- IT'S ON.
- GOOD.

THAT ONE IS SOLID.

THAT'S GREAT.

NOW THAT, HOPEFULLY,
ALL OF THAT'S SORTED,

IT'S TIME TO FIRE THIS THING UP
AND SEE HOW IT GOES.

THE MOTOR IS RUNNING
MUCH BETTER,

WHICH IS A RELIEF,

BUT WE'RE LEAVING FOR
T.R.O.G. TOMORROW,

SO I STILL NEED
TO SHAKE THIS DRAGSTER DOWN

TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING ELSE
IS WORKING, SORT OF.

YEAH.

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

WORST THING THAT HAPPENS
IS KILLS ME,

EXPLODES, CATCHES ON FIRE.

I'M IN FOR IT ALL.

SEE IF I CAN...

- OH!
- HEY, YOU GUYS.

DAMN.

Kaufman: SO THIS IS
A CULMINATION OF STUFF

I'VE DRUG UP FROM THE SWAP MEET,
STUFF I HAD SITTING AT MY HOUSE,

AND WE'VE THROWN IT TOGETHER
IN THE LAST FEW DAYS,

A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK,
AND SO I'M IMPRESSED.

IT LOOKS LIKE A CAR,
BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS,

DOES IT DRIVE,

AND THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME.

WHAT I'M AFTER IS JUST

AT LEAST SOME SEMBLANCE
OF SMOOTH OPERATION,

THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING,
THAT WE CAN USE IT.

SQUEAK, SQUEAK,
SQUEAK!

I'M NOT REALLY SURE
HOW FAST THIS CAR

WILL GO ON THIS TEST DRIVE.

ONE THING'S FOR SURE,
THOUGH --

PROBABLY FASTER
THAN IS COMFORTABLE.

DUDE,
IT'S A GIANT GO-KART.

HOLY CRAP.

IT MOVES.

THE SHIFTER IS
WORKING REAL GOOD.

Kaufman: SO FAR,
EVERYTHING FEELS OKAY.

ALL THAT'S LEFT
IS TO REALLY GIVE IT

THE BEANS DOWN THE MAIN DRAG.

YEAH, IT DOESN'T
SOUND BAD.

YOU BETTER STEP FORWARD
JUST A LITTLE BIT.

I'D GET OUT
OF THE STREET.

Willis: OH, BRAKES.

!

Bowman: THERE'S
SOMETHING GOING ON.

!

OH, MAN.

I'M GOING TO GO CRY
IN THE CORNER.

Kaufman: NEXT WEEK, WE HEAD
TO WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY,

FOR THE RACE OF GENTLEMEN...

Announcer: THE SEVENTH
RACE OF GENTLEMEN

HERE IN WILDWOOD,
NEW JERSEY.

...WHERE CROWDS CHEER
AS CLASSIC ENGINES SCREAM

AS LONG AS YOU
CAN GET THEM STARTED.

WE DON'T HAVE THE VOLTAGE
TO SPIN IT HARD ENOUGH.

WE GOT TO PULL THE STARTER OUT.

AND THE ONLY THING HARDER
THAN WINNING THE RACE...

Announcer #2: I DON'T KNOW.
BILL GALLA'S PUTTING UP A FIGHT.

HE MIGHT CATCH HIM
AT THE END.

...IS SURVIVING THE CRASH.

SUSHI HAS
A WIN. UH-OH.

TIME OUT.

SUSHI GOT A LITTLE
WASH UP.

OOH. PUT HIS BIKE DOWN
THERE AT THE END.

WE'LL SEE HOW
HE'S DOING, FOLKS.