85 Buick Regal Goes Up Against An 81 Ford Mustang Cobra In a Build-Off

(NARRATOR)>> TODAY ON DETROIT MUSCLE THE BOYS TAKE A TRIP BACK TO THE '80'S WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO NEW PROJECT CARS. THERE'S LOTS TO BE DONE WITH RENDERINGS BEING MADE ALONG WITH A CUSTOM CHASSIS.

(TOMMY)>> HEY Y'ALL, WELCOME TO DETROIT MUSCLE. NOW WE'VE BEEN MAKING SOME PRETTY GOOD PROGRESS ON OUR '69 CHARGER, BUT WE'RE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE OUT THERE. WE'LL START A COUPLE OF PROJECTS BEFORE OUR OLD ONE IS EVEN HALF WAY DONE. NOW WE'RE FIXING TO JUMP INTO AN ERA THAT'S NOT REALLY KNOWN FOR THE BIG POWER OR MUSCLE WHENEVER IT COMES TO THE AUTOMOTIVE SIDE OF THINGS. LET'S SAY IT'S MORE KNOWN FOR ITS BIG HAIR AND A FEW BAD DECISIONS.

(MARC)>> AND YOU KNOW HOW BAD DECISIONS GO. TYPICALLY WHERE THERE'S ONE THERE'S ANOTHER ONE RIGHT BEHIND IT, AND THAT'S THE CASE FOR ME AND TOMMY HERE BECAUSE WE ARE GLUTTONS FOR PUNISHMENT. WE'VE DECIDED TO TAKE ON BOTH OF THESE '80'S LADIES AT THE SAME TIME.

(TOMMY)>> FIRST UP IS THIS SUPER CLEAN 1985 BUICK REGAL. THIS ONE IS GONNA BE MY RIDE. UP UNDER HERE WE'VE GOT THREE POINT EIGHT LITERS OF TIRE SHREDDING MADNESS, NOT REALLY. HOWEVER THIS LITTLE VSIX DOES GET PRETTY GOOD FUEL MILEAGE AND IS RELIABLE, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE THE POWER THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. NOW YOU GUYS REMEMBER BUICK DID MAKE A VSIX THAT MADE SOME REALLY GOOD POWER BUT IT HAD A BIG TURBO HANGING ON IT. WE'RE NOT REALLY GONNA GO THAT ROUTE, BUT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA HAVE TO STAY TUNED TO SEE WHAT WE DO.

(MARC)>> NEXT IS THIS DIRTY GIRL RIGHT HERE, AN '81 COBRA, NICE! WELL YOU MAY THINK THAT BUICK IS FANCY BUT IT'S NOT A 1981 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. THIS THING'S GOT SOMETHING ON THAT OLD BUICK, TWO THINGS ACTUALLY. TWO MORE CYLINDERS, THIS IS A VEIGHT, BUT I DON'T REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE POWER OUTPUT BECAUSE LET'S JUST SAY IT DIDN'T COME FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE MUSTANGS.

(TOMMY)>> WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A BUILD OFF WITH THESE HAIR BAND HONEYS, AND THE PLAN IS TO GO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS WITH THEM.

WITH BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS WE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO. MISTER MARC, ON YOURS WHAT'S YOUR PLANS FOR THAT BIG MUSTANG?

(MARC)>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY ARE?

(TOMMY)>> 347, BIGS AND LITTLES ON THE WHEELS AND TIRES, BIG STUPID TACH ON THE DASH, MAYBE SOME BLACK PAINT, GROWING YOUR HAIR LONG IN THE BACK AND PULLING THE SLEEVES OUT OF YOUR SHIRTS.

(MARC)>> YOU MIGHT HAVE HIT A COUPLE OF THEM BUT I'M NOT GONNA TELL YOU WHICH ONES. SO WHAT ABOUT THE BUICK GRANDPA?

(TOMMY)>> WELL YOU KNOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET SOME OF THAT GRANDMA SIN OUT OF THE INSIDE. SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIX THE INTERIOR UP A BIT, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS PAINT AS WELL.

(MARC)>> OH, CANDY PAINT!

(TOMMY)>> NO, NOT CANDY PAINT. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO ALSO FIX THE WHEELS CAUSE THESE THINGS BEING...

(MARC)>> 26'S?

(TOMMY)>> NO, JUST BIGGER WHEELS, NOT HUGE WHEELS, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT SOME POWER UNDER THE HOOD CAUSE THIS LITTLE MOTOR AIN'T GONNA DO IT.

(MARC)>> OH YEAH, SINGLE TURBO, GRAND NATIONAL CLONE.

(TOMMY)>> NO, NO, WE MAY PULL A FEW OF THOSE ACCESSORIES OFF OF A GRAND NATIONAL AND PUT THEM ON THIS IF YOU WILL CAUSE IT'S HARD TO BEAT A GRAND NATIONAL, BUT LET'S SAY LET'S GO GRAB A CHEESEBURGER AND ENJOY DRIVING THEM FOR A BIT BEFORE WE TEAR THEM APART.

(MARC)>> ALL RIGHT, WELL, IF MY TIRES HOLD AIR.

(TOMMY)>> YOU CAN RIDE WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO IF THEY HAVE A FLAT. YOU KNOW, AT LEAST YOU'LL BE COMFORTABLE IN THIS THING.

(MARC)>> OH THIS IS COMFY.

(TOMMY)>> OH, THIS IS NICE! PILLOW TOP SEATS!

(MARC)>> WELL WHEN IT COMES TO '80'S CARS, TO ME, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN A FOX BODY MUSTANG. I AM KIND OF PARTIAL TO FORDS. I GREW UP IN A FORD FAMILY, AND MY MOM ALWAYS DROVE A MUSTANG SURE, BUT I JUST THINK THAT THE FOX BODY IS THE QUINTESSENTIAL '80'S CAR.

(TOMMY)>> A FEW OF YOU GUYS MAY BE WONDERING WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO PICK A GRANDMA CAR LIKE THIS ONE. WELL IT'S ACTUALLY BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE GETTING REALLY POPULAR, AND BACK IN THE '80'S, WELL THE GRAND NATIONAL, WHICH IS THE BROTHER I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY OF THIS LITTLE REGAL, WELL WAS THE FASTEST PRODUCTION CAR OF THAT ERA.

(MARC)>> YOU CAN'T FIND ANOTHER CAR THAT HAS MORE AFTERMARKET SUPPORT THAN THIS. MAYBE A JEEP, BUT CERTAINLY NOT IN THE MUSCLE CAR MARKET IS THERE ANYTHING OUT THERE LIKE THE PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE FOX BODY.

(TOMMY)>> QUITE FRANKLY I JUST WANT TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THAT FOX BODY MUSTANG, WELL IT'S GONNA BE REALLY HARD TO STAND OUT IF YOUR GONNA BUILD ONE OF THOSE. [ engine revving ]

(MARC)>> TOMMY'S BEHIND ME. I'LL SHOW HIM WHAT'S UP.

(TOMMY)>> OH YEAH! OOH, DID YOU FEEL THAT SHIFT? EVEN THE POWER SHIFT IS COMFORTABLE. THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT KIND OF POWER THIS THING MAKES. RIGHT NOW WE JUST REACHED 65 MILES AN HOUR, AND NOW IT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. YEAH!

DID Y'ALL SEE THAT? I ALSO STEERED THIS CAR WITH MY FINGER.

(MARC)>> LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT CARBURETORS AND HOW THEY WORK. NOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION AND HOW IT WORKS. WHEN THE EPA WAS CRACKING DOWN ON MANUFACTURERS TO LOWER EMISSIONS THERE WAS ONE ANSWER, AND THAT WAS ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION. SOME EARLY EFI SYSTEMS USED THROTTLE BODY INJECTION, OR TBI, WHICH USES A THROTTLE BODY LIKE THIS WITH ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTORS BUILT INSIDE. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE OVERALL SIZE AND DIMENSIONS ARE SIMILAR TO A CARBURETOR. SO MANY COMPONENTS COULD BE RETAINED DURING MANUFACTURING, LIKE THE AIR CLEANER, THROTTLE LINKAGE, AND INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE PROBLEM WITH TBI TECHNOLOGY AT THE TIME IS THAT IT WASN'T MUCH MORE EFFICIENT IF ANY THAN A CARBURETOR. IT JUST SPRAYS FUEL DOWN IN THROUGH THE INLET OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, MUCH LIKE A CARBURETOR, WHICH ISN'T IDEAL SO THE OEM'S NEEDED SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE ADVANCED, AND THAT'S WHERE MULTI PORT FUEL INJECTION COMES IN. THIS IS A FACTORY INTAKE MANIFOLD OFF OF A LATE MODEL GM LS ENGINE. IT SHARES ONE COMMON FUEL RAIL FOR ALL EIGHT CYLINDERS, WHICH FEEDS FUEL INTO INJECTORS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE HERE, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE INTAKE RUNNERS NEAR THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER, AND THE AIR COMES IN THROUGH THE THROTTLE BODY PORT, WHICH WILL BE RIGHT. THE COMPUTER SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE INJECTORS AND TELLS THEM WHEN TO OPEN AND FOR HOW LONG TO STAY OPEN, MAKING THIS A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM AND DRASTICALLY REDUCING EMISSIONS. NOW OF COURSE THE AFTERMARKET HAS TAKEN A HOLD OF BOTH THE TBI AND MULTI PORT FUEL INJECTION TECHNOLOGY AND CREATED WHAT WE CALL STAND ALONE SYSTEMS WHERE YOU DON'T NEED AN OEM COMPUTER TO CONTROL YOUR EFI SYSTEM. YOU HAVE A COMPUTER THAT'S MADE IN THE AFTERMARKET THAT DOES EVERYTHING FOR YOU. THIS IS A HOLLEY SNIPER EFI SYSTEM. IT'S A TBI SYSTEM THAT JUST BOLTS RIGHT IN PLACE OF YOUR FACTORY CARBURETOR. IT IS SELF TUNING AND WILL LOWER EMISSIONS. IT HAS A COMPUTER BUILT IN. SO IT IS AN EASY SWAP. THIS IS A SINGLE PLANE INTAKE MANIFOLD VERY SIMILAR TO YOUR TRADITIONAL SINGLE PLANE FOUR BARREL, EXCEPT THAT THIS THING WAS CAST WITH THE PROVISIONS FOR MULTI PORT FUEL INJECTION ALREADY BUILT IN. IT'S GOT THE PORTS HERE FOR THE INJECTORS, AND IT'S EVEN GOT THE FUEL RAILS ALREADY MOUNTED. NOW THIS THING WILL NEED A THROTTLE BODY, WHICH WILL MOUNT RIGHT UP HERE, OR YOU CAN USE AN ELBOW LIKE THIS AND MOUNT THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE FRONT. NOW WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS YOU'LL NEED ALL THE OTHER PROVISIONS THAT YOU'LL NEED FOR AN EFI SYSTEM, LIKE ALL OF THE SENSORS AND OTHER INPUTS FOR THE COMPUTER. ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS REQUIRE MUCH MORE FUEL PRESSURE THAN A CARBURETOR. SO A MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP LIKE THIS ONE HERE, WHICH PROVIDES ABOUT FIVE TO SEVEN PSI, WELL THAT'S NOT GONNA DO THE TRICK. SO YOU NEED AN ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP LIKE THIS SETUP HERE, AND THIS ONE ACTUALLY SUBMERGES INTO THE TANK, AND IT HAS A SENDING UNIT BUILT IN.

(NARRATOR)>> COMING UP WE'LL SIT DOWN WITH A RENDERING ARTIST AND GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CREATING A MOCK UP FOR OUR MUSTANG. THEN IT'S TIME TO HIT THE ROAD TO THE CHASSIS SHOP.

(TOMMY)>> GLAD Y'ALL MADE YOUR WAY BACK. NOW OFTEN TIMES WHENEVER YOU START A PROJECT AND YOU START TELLING YOUR BUDDIES ABOUT IT, WELL SOMETIMES IT CAN BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE DIRECTION OF YOUR BUILD. ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO TELL THE STORY IS TO CONTACT AN ARTIST AND HAVE THEM FIX YOU UP WITH A RENDERING. THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE HAD DONE FOR OUR BUICK. I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CARTER HICKMAN AT CARTER HICKMAN DESIGNS AND HE CAME UP WITH THIS GORGEOUS CONCEPT FOR OUR BUICK PROJECT. HE USED A PHOTO REALISTIC APPROACH AND HIT IT WITH A GREAT LOOKING BURGUNDY PAINT SCHEME, ALONG WITH SOME BLACK ACCENTS. TOP IT ALL OFF WITH THOSE MODERN WHEELS AND THAT AGGRESSIVE STANCE AND YOU'VE GOT ONE MEAN REGAL.

(MARC)>> OF COURSE WE'RE HAVING A RENDERING DONE FOR OUR MUSTANG AS WELL AND IT'S NOT QUITE FINALIZED YET, AND WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS. SO WE BROUGHT IN JOHN MCBRIDE WITH MIDNITE OCTANE. JOHN, THANKS FOR COMING IN.

(JOHN)>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE MARC.

(MARC)>> WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

(JOHN)>> I'M WORKING ON AN '85 TO '86 RENDERING AND TAKING IT AND MAKING SOME CHANGES TO IT TO SUIT OUR '81 COBRA PROJECT.

(MARC)>> COOL, SO THE FOUR EYED FOX BODIES, THEY ALL LOOK VERY SIMILAR. SO WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM THIS '85, '86?

(JOHN)>> THE '85 TO '86 CARS HAD THE ROUNDER AERO NOSE, WHILE THE '79 TO '82'S HAVE THE MORE ANGULAR FRONT END WITH THE LOWER AIR DAM IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE SINCE IT'S A COBRA.

(MARC)>> I SEE THE GRILL'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. EVEN THE MOLDING'S DIFFERENT. SO THE MOLDING HAS TO CHANGE FOR THE WHOLE CAR BECAUSE IT'S DIFFERENT HERE, RIGHT?

(JOHN)>> RIGHT.

(MARC)>> SO THAT'S A BIG CHANGE YOU HAVE TO MAKE OTHER THAN THE NOSE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CAR IS THE SAME RIGHT?

(JOHN)>> CORRECT.

(MARC)>> ALL RIGHT, SO I LIKE THAT. HOW DO WE GET THAT NOSE ONTO A CAR?

(JOHN)>> I ALREADY GOT THAT DONE, BUT FIRST I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

(MARC)>> OKAY, I LIKE THE WHEELS, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE MY FAVORITE, AND I KNOW OUR CAR'S RED BUT I DON'T THINK RED'S THE WAY TO GO WITH THIS. THAT XFOX THING YOU DID, LOVE IT! IT'S MAKING ITS ROUNDS ON THE INTERNET. DO YOU HAVE THAT, CAN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT?

(JOHN)>> YOU KNOW I HAVE THAT RIGHT HERE.

(MARC)>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. SO CAN WE MAYBE TAKE SOME STYLING CUES FROM THIS THING AND APPLY IT TO OUR COBRA?

(JOHN)>> WE SURE CAN. ALL RIGHT, HERE IT IS MARC. I'VE GOT THE '79 TO '81 COBRA FRONT END ON. I'VE GOT THE COWL HOOD, I'VE GOT THE MOLDING, THE REAR SPOILER, THE RECARO SEATS, AND EVEN THE TTOPS.

(MARC)>> NICE, IT LOOKS GOOD, BUT LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THE WHEELS, I'M NOT A BIG FAN. DO YOU HAVE SOME OTHER WHEEL OPTIONS WE CAN LOOK AT?

(JOHN)>> YEAH I ACTUALLY DO RIGHT HERE. WE'LL START OUT WITH THIS ONE.

(MARC)>> THAT'S A LITTLE MODERN. I LIKE A LIP ON A WHEEL TOO, ON A FOX BODY ESPECIALLY.

(JOHN)>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, HOW ABOUT WE LOOK AT THIS IN BLACK. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

(MARC)>> BETTER, BUT AGAIN I JUST THINK THAT'S TOO MODERN FOR WHERE I WANT TO GO WITH THIS PROJECT.

(JOHN)>> ALL RIGHT, NOW ABOUT WE TRY THIS ONE.

(MARC)>> OH YEAH, YEAH, I LIKE THE MESH WHEEL.

(JOHN)>> I'VE GOT ONE MORE FOR YOU THOUGH. HOW ABOUT THAT.

(MARC)>> THAT'S EVEN BETTER. IS THAT A BLACK LIP? SO IS THAT A SILVER FACE?

(JOHN)>> IT COULD EVEN BE A MACHINED FACE WITH A MATTE OR A GLOSS LIP.

(MARC)>> THAT LOOKS GOOD.

(JOHN)>> WHATEVER YOU LIKE.

(MARC)>> I LIKE THAT WHEEL.

(JOHN)>> ALL RIGHT, NOW THAT WE'VE GOT OUR EXTERIOR PRETTY MUCH WORKED OUT AND WE'VE GOT THE WHEELS YOU LIKE, HOW ABOUT WE LOOK AT PUTTING IN HERE LIKE A LOWER FRONT SPLITTER?

(MARC)>> OH, IS THAT CARBON FIBER?

(JOHN)>> YEAH.

(MARC)>> THAT'S NICE.

(JOHN)>> NOW IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SPLITTER I THINK WE'RE ALSO GONNA NEED SOME SUPPORT RODS. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE UP HERE TO THIS LAYER AND WE'LL PUT THE SUPPORT RODS IN.

(MARC)>> WOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE.

(JOHN)>> YEAH, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE ON THAT. I THINK WE'RE ALSO GONNA, TO BALANCE OUT THE AERO IN THE FRONT, I THINK WE'RE GONNA NEED SOME OF THE AERO IN THE BACK. SO FOR NOW I'M KIND OF THINKING ABOUT A REAR CARBON BLADE SPOILER IN THE BACK THAT WOULD GO ON THE FACTORY REAR SPOILER.

(MARC)>> LIKE AN EXTENSION OF THE FACTORY ONE?

(JOHN)>> EXACTLY.

(MARC)>> OKAY, I LIKE THAT.

(JOHN)>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME HOOD DETAILS I WORKED OUT. THESE STYLE HOOD PINS.

(MARC)>> OH YEAH, I LIKE THOSE.

(JOHN)>> OR WE ALSO HAVE SOME ZEUS FASTENERS WE CAN GO WITH.

(MARC)>> THAT LOOKS PRETTY COOL TOO. THAT SEEMS LIKE A PAIN THOUGH, HAVE A LIFT OFF HOOD.

(JOHN)>> IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

(MARC)>> YEAH, LET'S GO BACK WITH THE OTHER ONES CAUSE THEN WE CAN STILL HINGE THE HOOD AND ALL THAT.

(JOHN)>> YEAH, VERY COOL.

(MARC)>> CAN YOU DO THE HOOD DECAL, THE COBRA?

(JOHN)>> YEAH I THINK WE AN. I DID SOMETHING HERE SIMILAR TO THE GRAPHIC THAT'S ON THE CAR BUT I WANT TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE TATTOO LOOK TO GIVE IT LIKE A MORE AGGRESSIVE FEEL.

(MARC)>> COOL, I LIKE THAT.

(JOHN)>> ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT WITH THE PAINT. I'VE DONE UP SOMETHING WITH SOME PATINA ON IT. SO WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

(MARC)>> OH YEAH.

(JOHN)>> YOU LIKE THAT.

(MARC)>> OH THAT'S COOL.

(JOHN)>> PUT THE SNAKE BACK ON. WE CAN EVEN MAKE THAT LOOK A LITTLE WEATHERED, KINDA MATCHES SO IT DOESN'T LOOK NEW UNLIKE THE PAINT.

(MARC)>> AND HOW WOULD YOU SEE US ACCOMPLISHING THIS PATINA THEN?

(JOHN)>> I THINK YOU'RE GONNA WANNA STILL LAY DOWN YOUR SATIN OR MATTE BLACK PAINT, AND THEN WHAT YOU'RE GONNA WANNA DO IS APPLY SOME KIND OF TECHNIQUES WITH THE PAINT TRYING TO GET THAT RUST LOOK ON TOP OF IT, AND THEN MAYBE YOU COULD EVEN DO SOMETHING WITH THE GRAPHIC TO HAVE THAT LOOK KIND OF LIKE WEATHER WARN AS WELL.

(MARC)>> SO THIS WOULDN'T BE A WRAP BECAUSE YOU COULD DO THAT WITH A WRAP AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF GUYS DO THAT.

(JOHN)>> I THINK DOING REAL PATINA ADDS AN AUTHENTICITY TO THE CAR VERSUS A WRAP.

(MARC)>> LET'S LOCK IT IN.

(JOHN)>> ALL RIGHT, COOL.

(MARC)>> WE JUST HAVE TO COME UP WITH A NAME.

(JOHN)>> THAT'S ON YOU.

(MARC)>> GREAT JOB, JOHN MCBRIDE WITH MIDNITE OCTANE. JOHN THANK YOU SO MUCH. REALLY APPRECIATE IT, YOU KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET YOU BACK TO DO ANOTHER ONE.

(JOHN)>> SOUNDS AWESOME.

(NARRATOR)>> UP NEXT IT'S A TRIP TO ALABAMA TO GET A CUSTOM CHASSIS MADE FOR THE BUICK.

(MARC)>> WELCOME TO GRANT, ALABAMA. SOUTHEAST OF HUNTSVILLE, IT SPORTS A BOOMING POPULATION OF 907 PEOPLE. IT WAS COMFY. THIS THING DOES RIDE NICE. WHY DO YOU WANT TO MESS WITH IT? IT'S A PERFECT GRANDMA CAR THE WAY IT IS.

(TOMMY)>> HEY Y'ALL, WELCOME BACK. NOW THE FIRST STEP TO OUR BUICK BUILD INVOLVED US TAKING A LITTLE ROAD TRIP DOWN HERE TO THIS GREAT TOWN OF GRANT, ALABAMA.

(MARC)>> NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT TOMMY AND THIS BUICK HERE CAN USE ALL THE HELP WE CAN GIVE THEM. SO WE FIGURED WE'D GIVE TOMMY A HEAD START HERE AT STREET ROD GARAGE SO THIS THING CAN GET AN UPDATED UNDERCARRIAGE.

(CHRIS)>> HERE AT STREET ROD GARAGE WE SPECIALIZE IN BUILDING CUSTOM CHASSIS' FOR MUSCLE CARS, STREET RODS, HOT RODS, JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. EVERYTHING IS DONE IN HOUSE. WE DESIGN THEM, TEST, DO ALL THE CAD WORK, ENGINEERING, EVERYTHING'S DONE IN HOUSE.

(TOMMY)>> NOW THE FIRST STEP IS WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS CAR ON THE LIFT SO THAT WE CAN START DEVELOPING THAT CHASSIS.

THAT'S GOOD!

(MARC)>> THE REASON WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DEVELOPED A CHASSIS FOR A GBODY YET.

(TOMMY)>> SO WHAT YOU GONNA DO UNDER HERE?

(CHRIS)>> WELL NOW THAT WE'VE GOT IT ON THE LIFT WE WILL GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE CHASSIS FRONT TO BACK AND WE WILL MAP THE ENTIRE CHASSIS. WE WILL GO THROUGH START TO FINISH, WE'LL TAKE OUR DIMENSIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH, STEP BY STEP. ONCE WE GET ALL THAT PLUGGED INTO THE COMPUTER THEN WE WILL START WORKING OUR TRANSITIONS WHERE IT TRANSITIONS IN HERE, WHERE IT TRANSITIONS THERE, IF WE'RE RUNNING A WIDER TIRE, IF WE'RE GONNA DO A MODIFIED REAR. A LOT OF TIMES IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS, AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. A LOT OF TIMES IN A REAL COMPLICATED, AN INDEPENDENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE TO MODIFY THE CAR TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. IF WE HAVE A CUSTOMER, LIKE IN THIS INSTANCE, WE DON'T WANT TO CUT THIS CAR UP, WE'RE GONNA USE SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW WILL FIT. WE'RE GONNA USE A MODIFIED TRIANGULATED FOUR LINK, A PARALLEL FOUR LINK, MAYBE A TORQUE ARM SETUP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S GONNA FIT UNDER THE ORIGINAL BODY WITHOUT HAVE TO CUT THE FLOOR FROM THE CAR.

(TOMMY)>> NOW COMES THE METICULOUS PART. CHRIS HAS TO MEASURE A SERIES OF KEY POINTS ALL ALONG THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR USING A LASER AND A RULER, AND TRANSLATE THOSE MEASUREMENTS TO A PAPER TEMPLATE.

(CHRIS)>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT STEP IS WE'LL TAKE ALL THE NOTES THAT WE'VE TAKEN, WE'LL GOT BACK TO THE COMPUTER, AND WE START PLUGGING ALL THESE NUMBERS IN AND START ACTUALLY DRAWING THE PERIMETER FRAME. ONCE WE GOT ALL THAT IN WE'VE GOT OUR FRAME PERIMETER DESIGNED. WE'RE READY TO START DOING THE TRANSITIONS AND ALL THAT, AND THEN WE WILL CARRY THAT OVER ONTO THIS SYSTEM WHERE WE'RE READY TO CUT PARTS. WE'LL START CUTTING THE PARTS AND PIECES TO BUILD THE FRAME ON THE CNC PLASMA TABLE. ALL THOSE PARTS WILL THEN GO OUT, BE CLEANED UP, READY TO SET THE JIG, AND THEN WE TRY TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'VE GOT A PERIMETER FRAME THAT WE CAN TEST UNDER THE CAR, AND THEN THAT'S THE POINT WE START DOING SUSPENSION.

(TOMMY)>> WELL I KNOW IT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW WEEKS FOR YOU GUYS TO FAB UP A BIG KILLER CHASSIS. SO I GUESS YOU'LL BE IN TOUCH, RIGHT?

(CHRIS)>> YEAH, WE'LL BE IN TOUCH, A FEW WEEKS.

(TOMMY)>> COOL, WELL THIS IS WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO INJECT AN INSULT TO THIS GUY FOR DRIVING A MUSTANG, BUT I JUST DID. YOU READY TO GO? AFTER YOU. THIS WAY I'LL LET YOU BE AHEAD OF ME FOR ONCE.

(MARC)>> HEY EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK. NOW YOU'VE SEEN US USE WELDERS HERE ON THE SHOW BUT YOU MAY NOT BE SURE WHAT TYPE OF MACHINE WE WERE USING OR WHY WE WERE USING THAT PARTICULAR ONE. NOW WELDING TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED GREATLY IN RECENT YEARS, AND TO TALK ABOUT THAT WE'VE GOT JOE HERE WITH LINCOLN ELECTRIC TO TALK ABOUT ONE MACHINE IN PARTICULAR.

(JOE)>> HEY GUYS, SO THIS IS A POWER MIG 210 MP. WHAT THIS IS IS A MULTI PROCESS MACHINE. WHAT THAT MEANS IS NOT ONLY CAN WE MIG WELD, BUT WE CAN ALSO D/C TIG WELD AND WE CAN STICK WELD. THIS MACHINE RIGHT HERE IS DUAL INPUT. SO THAT MEANS YOU CAN RUN OFF 120 OR 230. IT'S VERSATILE, IT'S RUGGED, AND IT'S EASY TO USE. THIS IS THE THREE AND A HALF INCH DISPLAY USER INTERFACE ON THE POWER MIG 210 MP. WE HAVE OUR MIG MODES UP FRONT, THE FLUX CORD, SPOOL GUN ALUMINUM, STICK, AND TIG, BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES TODAY WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND STICK WITH MIG STEEL C-25.

(MARC)>> ALL THAT'S COOL. WHY DID YOU GUYS GO WITH A SCREEN LIKE THIS?

(JOE)>> SO HISTORICALLY WE'VE SEEN THAT THE ANALOG WELDERS CAN BE VERY COMPLICATED TO SETUP. SO OUR GOAL HERE WAS TO CREATE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND DIGITAL DISPLAY TO MAKE IT VERY EASY AND SIMPLE TO USE FOR THE HOME HOBBYIST.

(MARC)>> WELL LET'S SAY I WANTED TO WELD THIS 12 GAUGE STEEL RIGHT HERE. HOW DO YOU SET IT UP?

(JOE)>> I'LL SHOW YOU HOW. SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CONFIRM OUR GAS MIX AT 75 PERCENT ARGON, 25 PERCENT COTWO BY PRESSING THE CONTINUE. OUR WIRE DIAMETER, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND SET TO ZEROTWOFIVE, PRESS TO SELECT, AND NOW WE'RE GONNA SET OUR THICKNESS. WHAT'S COOL ABOUT THIS IS THE DISPLAY IS TO SCALE. SO IF WE PUT OUR METAL UP HERE, WE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS 12 GAUGE.

PRESS TO SELECT IT AND NOW WE'RE READY TO WELD.

(MARC)>> SO JOE WHAT DOES A MACHINE LIKE THIS RUN?

(JOE)>> THIS MACHINE RUNS RIGHT AROUND $1,300 DOLLARS.

(MARC)>> THAT'S NOT BAD, AND WHERE WOULD I GO TO BUY ONE OF THOSE?

(JOE)>> BECAUSE THIS IS AN INDUSTRIAL MACHINE, YOU'RE GONNA WANNA GO TO LINCOLN ELECTRIC DOT COM OR WE HAVE OVER 2,500 LOCATIONS. YOU CAN SELECT THE DISTRIBUTOR THAT'S NEAREST TO YOU.

(MARC)>> SO YOU CAN'T JUST GO TO A BIG BOX STORE?

(JOE)>> EXACTLY.

(MARC)>> WELL THANKS FOR COMING IN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

(JOE)>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

(MARC)>> WELL I GUESS I NEED TO SUIT UP HERE, BURN SOME WIRE. SO YOU WANT TO SEE SOME OF THAT MASTERFUL WELDING AND SOME OTHER TECH THAT WE DO HERE IN THE DETROIT MUSCLE BOX, GOING TO POWERNATION TV DOT COM. [ welder crackling ]