XOR - Xtreme Off-Road Builds
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Join the PowerNation Email NewsletterParts Used In This Episode
Strong Hand Tools
Welding Table, BuildPro, 78 in. Length, 38 in. Width, 24 in. Height, Each
Edwards Ironworkers
Made in the USA. Established in 1875, Edwards Manufacturing, the North American leader of Ironworker machine manufacturing
Essentially Off-Road
PenAxle PA 47-Spline Knuckle
Essentially Off-Road
The 1410 Heavy Duty Driveshaft Kit includes the slip, weld yoke, and weld stud(1.5" Spline). The weld yoke and weld stud will work with 2.25" .120 wall tubing for 2.5" .250 wall tubing. 2.25" and 2.5" tubing is in stock and ready to ship
Express Pull-N-Save
Express Pull-N-Save is a self service used auto parts facility located in LaVergne, TN, just outside metropolitan Nashville.
Interco Tire Co.
Super Swamper TSL/SX, 43x14.50-16.5LT
Loctite
Loctite 598 Black High Performance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker
PAC Racing Springs
14 inches tall - PAC Racing Springs,PAC-14x2.5x100, YELLOW
PAC Racing Springs
14 inches tall - PAC Racing Springs,PAC-14x2.5x150, YELLOW
Streetwerkz Custom Powder Coating
Streetwerkz is a state-of-the-art powder coating and media blasting facility in Columbus, Ohio
Sturgis Off Road Blowout
The Worlds Most Thrilling Off-Road Racing Series comes to Sturgis KY. This event is a National Ultra4 King of the Hammers qualifying race and UTV race.
The Industrial Depot
Industrial Depot - Fasteners, Hardware, And Shop Supplies
Trail Worthy Fab
Custom Hummer Wheels W/ Rock Rings, PVC Inserts, And Raw Steel Finish
Trail Worthy Fab
The Hero transfer case was designed to be the strongest selectable reduction box alive
Episode Transcript
(ANNOUNCER)>> FROM A PILE
OF STEEL TO A ROLLING CHASSIS, RAGING BULL JUST
MIGHT ME OUR MOST INTENSE PROJECT TO DATE. TODAY ON XTREME OFF
ROAD, WE BUTTON UP THE DRIVETRAIN AND SUSPENSION. PLUS THE STORY BEHIND
ULTRA FOUR'S NEWEST RACE. AND A FIRST LOOK AT OUR
LATEST JUNKYARD FIND.
(IAN)>> PROJECT RAGING BULL IS GETTING READY TO THROW ON A SET OF TIRES AND WHEELS, ROLL OUT THE SHOP, AND TAKE ON ITS FIRST HILL KILLING ADVENTURE. BUT WE'RE STILL MISSING ONE KEY COMPONENT OF THE DRIVETRAIN, AND THAT'S BECAUSE DURING THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS RIG I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A VERY SPECIFIC TRANSFER CASE TO ARRIVE HERE AT
THE SHOP, AND IT GOT HERE TODAY. THIS IS THE NEW TRAIL WORTHY FAB HERO TRANSFER CASE. A CASE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE BRUTAL
WORLD OF COMPETITIVE OFF ROAD RACING. FOR RIGS LIKE ROCK BOUNCER AND ULTRA FOUR CARS, IT'S DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE ABUSE OF HIGH HORSEPOWER
ENGINES AND MASSIVE TIRES. EQUIPPED WITH INCH AND THREE QUARTER 40 SPLINED
OUTPUTS FRONT AND REAR. MASSIVE HELICAL CUT GEARS TO PROVIDE GREATER GEAR TOOTH CONTACT AND INCREASED STRENGTH.
ALL HOUSED IN A FULLY MACHINED OVERSIZED ALUMINUM HOUSING TO ALLOW FOR EXTRA FLUID CAPACITY. TO INSTALL OUR HERO TRANSFER CASE INTO OUR
BUGGY, TRAIL WORTHY FAB SENT US AN ADAPTER THAT WILL GO ONTO THE BACK OF OUR TURBO 400. NOW ONE THING YOU DO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN YOU'RE USING ADAPTERS LIKE THIS IS WHETHER OR NOT THE EXTENSION HOUSING IS WET OR DRY. IF THERE WAS A SEAL HERE, IT WOULD BE DRY EXTENSION HOUSING.
OURS DOESN'T HAVE IT AND THAT MAKES IT A WET ONE. THAT MEANS NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO APPLY A COAT OF RTV TO THE BACK OF THE TRANSMISSION, WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO APPLY A COAT OF RTV TO THE FACE OF THE ADAPTER BEFORE WE BOLT THE TRANSFER CASE IN FOR GOOD. RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST MOCKING EVERYTHING UP. THE CROSS MEMBER FOR RAGING BULL WILL BE MADE FROM SOME THICK WALLED SEAMLESS TUBING WITH NO BUSHINGS AT ALL. BASICALLY SOLID MOUNTING THE TRANSMISSION JUST
LIKE THE REST OF OUR DRIVETRAIN. WITH THE ADAPTER ON THE BACK OF THE TRANS, THE CASE IS JACKED UP AND SLID OVER THE OUTPUT SHAFT. THE CLOCKING OF THE ADAPTER IS CHOSEN BY MOCKING UP A SINGLE BOLT INTO THE ADAPTER AND MARKING THE CASE. THE CASE IS THEN REMOVED, AND THEN THE STUDS ARE INSTALLED.
I'M SURE BY NOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT EVERYTHING ON A ROCK BOUNCER IS JUST IN EXCESS. WE'VE GOT EXTRA TUBING IN THE CHASSIS FOR STRENGTH, AN INSANE AMOUNT OF HORSEPOWER FROM OUR ENGINE. WE'VE GOT A BULLET PROOF TRANSMISSION AND A BOMB PROOF TRANSFER CASE ALONG WITH SOME PRETTY SERIOUS AXLES AT EITHER END OF THE BUGGY. SO TO CONNECT IT ALL TOGETHER WE NEED SOME PRETTY SERIOUS DRIVESHAFTS.
NOW I'M USING A DO IT YOURSELF DRIVESHAFT KIT FROM ESSENTIALLY OFF ROAD. NOW THIS KIT IS DESIGNED AROUND THE LARGER 1410 SERIOUS UJOINT, WHICH IS MUCH BIGGER THAN A STANDARD 1350 YOU'D FIND IN A ONE TON TRUCK. WE'RE GONNA PUT A TWO PIECE SHAFT UP FRONT, SO THE KIT COMES WITH THIS CARRIER BEARING THAT
ACCEPTS A 14 BOLT AXLE PINION YOKE
ONTO THE FRONT OF IT. NOW THE ENTIRE PACKAGE IS DESIGNED AROUND THICK WALLED TWO INCH DOM TUBING, AND BOTH THE YOKE AND THE SLIP JOINT ARE MACHINED TO FIT INSIDE THAT TUBING WITHOUT THE NEED OF A PRESS. THE SLIP JOINT IS INCH AND A HALF FULL LENGTH SPLINES
THAT ARE CASE HARDENED FOR EXTRA STRENGTH.
BUT WHAT REALLY MAKES THIS KIT EASY IS THE FACT THAT WE DO ALL THE FAB WORK IN HOUSE. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BE DOWN WAITING FOR OUR DRIVESHAFTS TO BE BUILT, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS, CUT SOME TUBING, AND START WELDING. TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT LENGTH OF THE DRIVESHAFT, IT'S MEASURED WITH THE SUSPENSION FULLY EXTENDED AND THEN AGAIN FULLY COMPRESSED. THE TWO INCH DOM TUBING IS THEN CUT TO LENGTH AND SECURED USING THE STRONG HAND TOOLS FAB TABLE AND CLAMPS TO INSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT. ONCE IT'S TACKED TOGETHER, THE SHAFT IS TEST FIT. THEN FULLY WELDED, PAINTED, AND THE NEW UJOINTS ARE INSTALLED. THEN THE SHAFT CAN BE BOLTED INTO THE BACK OF OUR BUGGY FOR GOOD.
(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, RAGING BULL GETS READY TO ROLL, AND SO DO A BUNCH OF ULTRA FOUR RACERS!
(IAN)>> WITH ALL OF OUR DRIVETRAIN INSIDE THE CHASSIS OF OUR ROCK BOUNCER, THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO TO THIS PROJECT TODAY IS GET IT SITTING ON ITS TIRES AND WHEELS AND A TRUE ROLLING CHASSIS. NOW I'VE ALREADY SHOWN YOU THESE INTERCO TSL XS
TIRES THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT ON THIS BUGGY, BUT WE'VE ONLY EVER MOCKED THEM INTO PLACE. WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY BOLTED THEM ONTO THE AXLES, PUT SOME SPRINGS ON THE SHOCKS, AND HAD THIS THING SITTING DOWN ON THE GROUND.
THAT IS WHAT WE DO NOW. THE FIRST STEP IS GOING TO BE TO INSTALL A SET OF HUBS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS OF OUR BUGGY. THE CUSTOM SPINDLE THAT I WELDED INTO OUR 14 BOLT REAR AXLE IS DESIGNED TO FIT A 40 SPLINE AXLE SHAFT, AND IT USES A SET OF FACTORY DANA 70 REAR HUBS. SO I JUST PICKED THESE UP AT A LOCAL JUNKYARD. NOW IF YOU REMEMBER, OUR FRONT AXLE IS ALL CUSTOM. IT'S GOT THOSE HEAVY DUTY PENN AXLE FULLY FABRICATED KNUCKLE ASSEMBLIES, AND THEY USE A ROCKWELL SPINDLE. WELL PENN AXLE OFFERS HUBS TO FIT THAT SPINDLE. NOW THEY'RE HEAVY DUTY STEEL UNITS AND THEY'RE
AVAILABLE IN EIGHT ON SIX AND A HALF BOLT PATTERN THAT FITS ALMOST ALL POPULAR WHEELS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A HEAVY DUTY DRIVE FLANGE THAT WILL PROVIDE 100 PERCENT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TIRE, THE WHEEL, AND THAT MASSIVE 47 SPLINE OUTER STUB. FOR NOW I'M JUST GONNA MOCK THESE HUBS INTO PLACE SO I CAN MEASURE FOR AXLE SHAFTS, AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR A FEW BRAKE PARTS TO GET TO THE SHOP. TO SECURE THEM TO THE HOUSING I'M USING STAGE EIGHT XLOCKS. A LOCKING SPINDLE FASTENER SYSTEM THAT NOT ONLY INSURES THAT THE SPINDLE NUT WILL NOT COME LOOSE. IT ALSO INSURES THAT THE TORQUE ON THE WHEEL BEARINGS STAYS CONSTANT, EVEN DURING
EXTREME CONDITIONS. I ALREADY HAD THE INNER WHEEL SHELLS POWDER COATED BY STREET WORKS CUSTOM COATINGS WHEN THEY DID THE CHASSIS. BUT NOW I HAVE THE CUSTOM OUTER RINGS THAT TRAIL WORTHY FAB MADE FOR OUR PROJECT, WITH THE NAME RAGING BULL CUT INTO THE OUTER RING IN LAMBORGHINI FONT. I'M GONNA PAINT THEM WITH SOME FLAT BLACK DUPLICOLOR AEROSOL TO MAKE TOUCH UPS EASY AFTER A DAY ON THE TRAIL.
THE LAST ITEM WE NEED TO TURN OUR BUGGY TRULY INTO A ROLLER ARE SOME SPRINGS FOR OUR COIL OVER SHOCKS. SURE, WE COULD DUMP IT DOWN ON ITS BUMP STOPS AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE FULLY LAID OUT. BUT IT'S GONNA LOOK SO MUCH COOLER FINALLY SITTING AT RIDE HEIGHT HERE IN THE SHOP. NOW THE SPRINGS FOR OUR COIL OVERS ARE ALL FROM PACK RACING SPRINGS.
NOW THESE ARE 100 PERCENT MADE IN THE USA SPRINGS. THEY'RE SHOT PEENED FOR EXTRA STRENGTH AND CYCLE TESTED TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T WEAKEN OVER TIME. THE NICE THING IS IS BECAUSE PACK IS A TRUE CUSTOM SPRING MANUFACTURER, YOU CAN SPECIFY A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS, LENGTHS, AND RATES, AND ALSO ANY COLOR COMBINATION YOU CAN DREAM UP. SINCE MOST LAMBORGHINI'S OUT THERE HAVE BRIGHT YELLOW CALIPERS BEHIND THE WHEELS I THOUGHT, WHY
SHOULDN'T WE HAVE BRIGHT YELLOW SPRINGS ON OUR LAMBORGHINI INSPIRED BOUNCER? BUT CHOOSING SPRINGS FOR AN OFF ROAD CAR, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS PICKING YOUR FAVORITE COLOR. THERE IS SOME MATH THAT GOES INTO CALCULATING YOUR DUAL RATE SETUP. OFF ROAD RIGS OFTEN USE DUAL RATE COIL OVER SETUPS TO FINE TUNE HOW THE SUSPENSION REACTS IN THE DIRT. THE TWO SPRINGS IN THE SYSTEM ARE THE TENDER, OR UPPER SPRINGS, AND LOWER OR MAIN. TO CALCULATE THE COMBINED SPRING RATE OF A DUAL RATE SPRING PACK, THE MAIN SPRING IS MULTIPLIED BY THE TENDER AND THEN DIVIDED BY THE SUM OF THE SAME TWO SPRINGS. ON THE REAR OF OUR BOUNCER THE MAIN SPRING IS 150 POUNDS, THE TENDER 100 POUNDS. SO THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF THESE SPRINGS WHEN STACKED TOGETHER IS 150 TIMES 100 DIVIDED BY 250, OR 60 POUNDS PER INCH. NOW THAT MAY SOUND PRETTY SOFT BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO SPRINGS IN THE DUAL RATE SETUP. 60 POUNDS FOR THAT INITIAL MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE, ABLE TO ABSORB OBSTACLES ON THE TRAIL EASILY. BUT WE HAVE A MAIN SPRING THAT'S 150 POUNDS, AND IT COMES INTO PLAY WHEN THE DUAL RATE KIT BECOMES ACTIVE. ON THE BODY OF THE SHOCK WE HAVE THESE STOPS THAT WE THREAD DOWN AND LOCK INTO PLACE. THIS DUAL RATE SLIDER SLIDES UP AND DOWN THE SHOCK. WHEN IT HITS THOSE STOPS, THE UPPER SPRING IS REMOVED FROM THE EQUATION AND WE ARE ONLY RIDING ON THE LOWER SPRINGS. THE BACK OF THIS BUGGY WE HAVE A 150 POUND LOWER. SO WE HAVE 60 POUND SPRINGS WHEN WE'RE RIDING, BUT IF WE EVER HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF AIR. MAYBE COME OFF A BIG OBSTACLE, WE LAND ALL THE BUGGY'S WEIGHT ON ONE SPOT. WELL WE HAVE THAT STIFFER 150 POUND SPRING TO ABSORB THAT SHOCK. NOW THESE ARE JUST OUR INITIAL SPRING RATES. WE STILL HAVE TO GET OUT AND TEST AND TUNE ON THIS BUGGY. BUT IT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT AND THAT GETS US ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING THIS BUGGY ON THE TRAIL.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, THE NEW ULTRA FOUR SHORT COURSE RACE IS FAN FRIENDLY AND FILLED WITH ACTION. PLUS THIS RARE JEEP IS ABOUT TO BE TURNED INTO SCRAP METAL, BUT NOT IF WE CAN HELP IT.
(IAN)>> YOU CAN SAY THAT BILL BAIRD HAS RACING IN HIS BLOOD.
HE'S BEEN GOING FULL THROTTLE HIS ENTIRE LIFE, CULMINATING IN THE 1999 ARCA SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. AFTER RETIRING FROM RACING, HE FOCUSED ON HIS RACE SHOP, BILL BAIRD MOTORSPORTS, WHICH DESIGNS AND SELLS HIGH END RACING GEAR FOR THE OFF ROAD MARKET. NOW HE'S THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE OFF ROAD BLOW OUT IN STURGIS, KENTUCKY. A THREE DAY FESTIVAL OF ALL THINGS OFF ROAD, INCLUDING MONSTER TRUCK RIDES, DRIVER AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS, AND A KILLER MONSTER TRUCK SHOW.
ALL OF THAT LEADING UP TO THE NEWEST EVENT IN THE ULTRA FOUR SERIES. A SHORT COURSE RACE THAT'S GOT DRIVERS AND FANS TALKING, AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS GOOD. IT'S BEEN ALMOST A DECADE SINCE THE KING OF THE HAMMERS COMPETITION FIRST TESTED THE METAL OF OFF
ROAD RACERS, IN ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL DESERT RACES EVER IMAGINED. AND SINCE THEN ULTRA FOUR RACING HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONWIDE SERIES OF EVENTS, FROM THE SUN BAKED EARTH OF JOHNSON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, TO THE THICK FORREST OF ROUSH CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA. (BILL BRINEY)>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST THE ADRENALINE OR WHAT IT IS. I'VE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THE YEARS, EVER SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS BUT IT JUST KEEPS YOU WANTING MORE.
(IAN)>> A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE ULTRA FOUR SERIES MOVED INTO THE MIDSOUTH, TAKING ON THE STEEP HILLS AND PUNISHING ROCKS OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS. AND NOW THEY'VE PUSHED ONTO THE SOUTHEAST, TO STURGIS, KENTUCKY, RACING AT THE FIRST
ANNUAL OFF ROAD BLOWOUT. (BILL B.)>> I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF, YOU KNOW, PROMOTING A RACE. I JUST NEVER HAD TIME OR THE PLACE TO DO IT.
(IAN)>> BUT ALL THAT CHANGED WHEN BILL BAIRD HAPPENED UPON A MOTOCROSS TRACK THAT WAS NO LONGER BEING USED. AFTER ALMOST A YEAR OF MAKING PLANS AND MOVING EARTH, ULTRA FOUR'S NEWEST VENUE WAS READY. A ONE POINT FOUR MILE SHORT COURSE DESIGNED FOR HIGH SPEED BUMPER TO BUMPER ACTION.
(MIKE)>> IT'S INTERESTING, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE NORMALLY DO OUT EAST. IT'S SHORT, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ROLL OVERS I THINK. IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD TIME.
(IAN)>> A TIGHT WOODED SECTION PROVIDES SOME PACING, GIVING THE RACERS A CHANCE TO RECOVER FROM ADRENALINE PUMPING SPEEDS OF ABOUT 100 MILES PER HOUR. (BILL B.)>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET YOUR BRAIN CELLS ALL WORKING BETWEEN YOUR EARS AGAIN. AND IT ALSO COOLS THE ENGINES DOWN, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE A PROBLEM HERE TODAY.
(CLAY)>> YOU'VE GOT CARS AROUND YOU THE WHOLE
ENTIRE TIME. YOU NEVER CAN LET OFF YOUR GUARD. IF YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, YOU'RE EITHER UPSIDE DOWN OR THE NEXT GUY'S PASSING YOU. IT'S AWESOME, SHORT COURSE IS A BLAST!
(IAN)>> THERE'S PLENTY OF ACTION TO SEE AT THE OFF ROAD BLOW OUT. AND THE COMPACT LAYOUT OF THE COURSE LETS THE SPECTATORS WATCH THE ACTION UP CLOSE. THREE YEARS BEFORE HE DESIGNED THE STURGIS COURSE, BAIRD MET SHANNON CAMPBELL, WHO INSPIRED HIM TO TAKE UP ULTRA FOUR RACING. AFTER A STRONG FINISH IN HIS FIRST RACE, HE WAS HOOKED. (BILL B.)>> I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT WOUND UP RUNNING FIFTH FOR THE RACE. AND THEN AFTER THAT, AS SOON AS THE RACE WAS OVER WITH, THEY TOLD ME A QUALIFIED FOR A THING CALLED THE KING OF THE HAMMERS OUT IN CALIFORNIA. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS. SO THAT'S HOW I GOT STARTED ROCK RACING AGAIN.
(IAN)>> THE MOST VETERAN RACER AT 65 YEARS OLD, BAIRD SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN ON OR OFF THE TRACK. HE'S A SEASONED COMPETITOR WITH PLENTY OF PODIUM FINISHES. CONSISTENTLY RANKED ONE OF THE BEST DRIVERS IN THE SPORT. BAIRD HAS MADE JUST ONE CONCESSION TO THE EFFECTS OF AGE. HE PREFERS IFS CARS, BOTH FOR THEIR TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED SUSPENSION, AND THEIR COMFORT.
(BILL B.)>> AT THE KING OF THE HAMMERS I WAS IN THE CAR FOR EIGHT HOURS AND 23 MINUTES WITHOUT GETTING OUT OF IT. AND TO GET OUT OF IT OR NOT WORE OUT, WHETHER I HAD THE STRAIGHT AXLE CAR, THEY'RE PRETTY HARD ON YOUR BODY. BEING MY AGE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T NEED ANYTHING REALLY ROUGH ON MY BODY.
(IAN)>> SHOULD HE EVER RETIRE FROM RACING, BAIRD WILL STILL HAVE TWO STRONG CONNECTIONS TO ULTRA FOUR. FIRST IS THE EXCITING NEW SHORT COURSE RACE HE ORGANIZED. SECOND, AND MOST IMPORTANT, HIS GRAND SON LANE. JUST 12 YEARS OLD, THIS YEAR AT STURGIS HE EARNED AN IMPRESSIVE SECOND PLACE FINISH IN THE UTV CLASS IN HIS FIRST EVER ULTRA FOUR RACE. THE YOUNGEST AND THE OLDEST ULTRA FOUR DRIVER, BOTH PART OF THE SAME FAMILY AND SHARING THE SAME DRIVE TO COMPETE.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, A ROUTINE VISIT TO THE SALVAGE YARD BRINGS US OUR LATEST PROJECT!
(IAN)>> FOR A GEARHEAD, A TRIP TO THE LOCAL SALVAGE YARD IS ALWAYS A TREAT, AND THIS VISIT WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HEADED OVER TO EXPRESS PULL 'N SAVE TO SEE IF WE COULD FIND A FEW ITEMS FOR OUR FORD FOCUS RALLY CAR, SPECIFICALLY A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
A NICE THING ABOUT THESE NEWER WRECKING YARDS IS THEY COMPUTERIZED INVENTORY OF ALL THE CARS IN STOCK. AND AFTER FINDING QUITE A FEW FOCUSES ON THE LIST, I HEADED OUT INTO WHAT I CONSIDER THE ULTIMATE CANDY STORE. WE FOUND LOTS OF COOL STUFF, LIKE AN OLD FIERRO, DOZENS OF JEEPS BOTH OLD AND NEW. WE LOOKED A SEVERAL FOCUSES BUT COULDN'T FIND WHAT WE NEEDED. WELL WE DIDN'T FIND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN THE YARD BECAUSE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE FOCUSES, THIS ONE IS AN AUTOMATIC. BUT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SOMETIMES WHEN YOU COME TO A PULL 'N SAVE YARD. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND. THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO GET IN THERE, LOOK AROUND, AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND. ( )>> WHAT'S THAT?
(IAN)>> IT'S AN OLD JEEP, GO, GO! HEY, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT THING? THEY'RE SCRAPING THAT, NO WAY! I'M BUYING THAT, DROP IT RIGHT THERE. THIS IS AN OLD KAISER, OH MY GOD!
THESE ARE SO COOL! THESE ARE FROM THE WAR, LIKE '68, '69. AND THEN THEY ALL ENDED UP IN THINGS LIKE THIS.
LIKE BIRMINGHAM, JEFFERSON COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE. THIS IS OLD SCHOOL JEEP STUFF. THESE WERE SUPER COOL. LOOK AT THAT, THAT'S AN OVERHEAD CAM STRAIGHT SIX MOTOR. THAT WAS BACK IN THE '60'S, THAT WAS LIKE CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY STUFF. THAT IS SO COOL! THIS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. THIS JEEP, 715, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A KAISER,
WAS DROPPED OFF FOR SCRAP IRON. YES, THAT'S RIGHT, I SAID SCRAP IRON, AND IT WAS HEADING OUT INTO THE YARD TO BE PICKED OVER. WELL NOT TODAY! THESE JEEPS WERE ORIGINALLY PRODUCED IN OHIO FOR THE US MILITARY IN THE LATE '60'S. THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS ONE AND A QUARTER TON TRUCKS.
FULL TIME FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, FOUR SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WITH A TWO SPEED TRANSFER CASE, DANA 70 REAR AXLE, AND A UNIQUE CLOSED KNUCKLE DANA 60 UP FRONT. BUT PROBABLY THE COOLEST THING IS THE INLINE SIX TORNADO OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA LET THIS JEEP SPEND
ITS REMAINING DAYS HERE GETTING PICKED APART. A RIG THIS COOL DESERVES TO BE REBORN XTREME STYLE! WE DIDN'T FIND A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR OUR RALLY CAR BUT INSTEAD WE FOUND A COOL NEW PROJECT.
Show Full Transcript
(IAN)>> PROJECT RAGING BULL IS GETTING READY TO THROW ON A SET OF TIRES AND WHEELS, ROLL OUT THE SHOP, AND TAKE ON ITS FIRST HILL KILLING ADVENTURE. BUT WE'RE STILL MISSING ONE KEY COMPONENT OF THE DRIVETRAIN, AND THAT'S BECAUSE DURING THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS RIG I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A VERY SPECIFIC TRANSFER CASE TO ARRIVE HERE AT
THE SHOP, AND IT GOT HERE TODAY. THIS IS THE NEW TRAIL WORTHY FAB HERO TRANSFER CASE. A CASE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE BRUTAL
WORLD OF COMPETITIVE OFF ROAD RACING. FOR RIGS LIKE ROCK BOUNCER AND ULTRA FOUR CARS, IT'S DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE ABUSE OF HIGH HORSEPOWER
ENGINES AND MASSIVE TIRES. EQUIPPED WITH INCH AND THREE QUARTER 40 SPLINED
OUTPUTS FRONT AND REAR. MASSIVE HELICAL CUT GEARS TO PROVIDE GREATER GEAR TOOTH CONTACT AND INCREASED STRENGTH.
ALL HOUSED IN A FULLY MACHINED OVERSIZED ALUMINUM HOUSING TO ALLOW FOR EXTRA FLUID CAPACITY. TO INSTALL OUR HERO TRANSFER CASE INTO OUR
BUGGY, TRAIL WORTHY FAB SENT US AN ADAPTER THAT WILL GO ONTO THE BACK OF OUR TURBO 400. NOW ONE THING YOU DO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN YOU'RE USING ADAPTERS LIKE THIS IS WHETHER OR NOT THE EXTENSION HOUSING IS WET OR DRY. IF THERE WAS A SEAL HERE, IT WOULD BE DRY EXTENSION HOUSING.
OURS DOESN'T HAVE IT AND THAT MAKES IT A WET ONE. THAT MEANS NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO APPLY A COAT OF RTV TO THE BACK OF THE TRANSMISSION, WE'LL ALSO HAVE TO APPLY A COAT OF RTV TO THE FACE OF THE ADAPTER BEFORE WE BOLT THE TRANSFER CASE IN FOR GOOD. RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST MOCKING EVERYTHING UP. THE CROSS MEMBER FOR RAGING BULL WILL BE MADE FROM SOME THICK WALLED SEAMLESS TUBING WITH NO BUSHINGS AT ALL. BASICALLY SOLID MOUNTING THE TRANSMISSION JUST
LIKE THE REST OF OUR DRIVETRAIN. WITH THE ADAPTER ON THE BACK OF THE TRANS, THE CASE IS JACKED UP AND SLID OVER THE OUTPUT SHAFT. THE CLOCKING OF THE ADAPTER IS CHOSEN BY MOCKING UP A SINGLE BOLT INTO THE ADAPTER AND MARKING THE CASE. THE CASE IS THEN REMOVED, AND THEN THE STUDS ARE INSTALLED.
I'M SURE BY NOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT EVERYTHING ON A ROCK BOUNCER IS JUST IN EXCESS. WE'VE GOT EXTRA TUBING IN THE CHASSIS FOR STRENGTH, AN INSANE AMOUNT OF HORSEPOWER FROM OUR ENGINE. WE'VE GOT A BULLET PROOF TRANSMISSION AND A BOMB PROOF TRANSFER CASE ALONG WITH SOME PRETTY SERIOUS AXLES AT EITHER END OF THE BUGGY. SO TO CONNECT IT ALL TOGETHER WE NEED SOME PRETTY SERIOUS DRIVESHAFTS.
NOW I'M USING A DO IT YOURSELF DRIVESHAFT KIT FROM ESSENTIALLY OFF ROAD. NOW THIS KIT IS DESIGNED AROUND THE LARGER 1410 SERIOUS UJOINT, WHICH IS MUCH BIGGER THAN A STANDARD 1350 YOU'D FIND IN A ONE TON TRUCK. WE'RE GONNA PUT A TWO PIECE SHAFT UP FRONT, SO THE KIT COMES WITH THIS CARRIER BEARING THAT
ACCEPTS A 14 BOLT AXLE PINION YOKE
ONTO THE FRONT OF IT. NOW THE ENTIRE PACKAGE IS DESIGNED AROUND THICK WALLED TWO INCH DOM TUBING, AND BOTH THE YOKE AND THE SLIP JOINT ARE MACHINED TO FIT INSIDE THAT TUBING WITHOUT THE NEED OF A PRESS. THE SLIP JOINT IS INCH AND A HALF FULL LENGTH SPLINES
THAT ARE CASE HARDENED FOR EXTRA STRENGTH.
BUT WHAT REALLY MAKES THIS KIT EASY IS THE FACT THAT WE DO ALL THE FAB WORK IN HOUSE. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO BE DOWN WAITING FOR OUR DRIVESHAFTS TO BE BUILT, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TAKE SOME MEASUREMENTS, CUT SOME TUBING, AND START WELDING. TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT LENGTH OF THE DRIVESHAFT, IT'S MEASURED WITH THE SUSPENSION FULLY EXTENDED AND THEN AGAIN FULLY COMPRESSED. THE TWO INCH DOM TUBING IS THEN CUT TO LENGTH AND SECURED USING THE STRONG HAND TOOLS FAB TABLE AND CLAMPS TO INSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT. ONCE IT'S TACKED TOGETHER, THE SHAFT IS TEST FIT. THEN FULLY WELDED, PAINTED, AND THE NEW UJOINTS ARE INSTALLED. THEN THE SHAFT CAN BE BOLTED INTO THE BACK OF OUR BUGGY FOR GOOD.
(ANNOUNCER)>> COMING UP, RAGING BULL GETS READY TO ROLL, AND SO DO A BUNCH OF ULTRA FOUR RACERS!
(IAN)>> WITH ALL OF OUR DRIVETRAIN INSIDE THE CHASSIS OF OUR ROCK BOUNCER, THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO TO THIS PROJECT TODAY IS GET IT SITTING ON ITS TIRES AND WHEELS AND A TRUE ROLLING CHASSIS. NOW I'VE ALREADY SHOWN YOU THESE INTERCO TSL XS
TIRES THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT ON THIS BUGGY, BUT WE'VE ONLY EVER MOCKED THEM INTO PLACE. WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY BOLTED THEM ONTO THE AXLES, PUT SOME SPRINGS ON THE SHOCKS, AND HAD THIS THING SITTING DOWN ON THE GROUND.
THAT IS WHAT WE DO NOW. THE FIRST STEP IS GOING TO BE TO INSTALL A SET OF HUBS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS OF OUR BUGGY. THE CUSTOM SPINDLE THAT I WELDED INTO OUR 14 BOLT REAR AXLE IS DESIGNED TO FIT A 40 SPLINE AXLE SHAFT, AND IT USES A SET OF FACTORY DANA 70 REAR HUBS. SO I JUST PICKED THESE UP AT A LOCAL JUNKYARD. NOW IF YOU REMEMBER, OUR FRONT AXLE IS ALL CUSTOM. IT'S GOT THOSE HEAVY DUTY PENN AXLE FULLY FABRICATED KNUCKLE ASSEMBLIES, AND THEY USE A ROCKWELL SPINDLE. WELL PENN AXLE OFFERS HUBS TO FIT THAT SPINDLE. NOW THEY'RE HEAVY DUTY STEEL UNITS AND THEY'RE
AVAILABLE IN EIGHT ON SIX AND A HALF BOLT PATTERN THAT FITS ALMOST ALL POPULAR WHEELS. IT ALSO INCLUDES A HEAVY DUTY DRIVE FLANGE THAT WILL PROVIDE 100 PERCENT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TIRE, THE WHEEL, AND THAT MASSIVE 47 SPLINE OUTER STUB. FOR NOW I'M JUST GONNA MOCK THESE HUBS INTO PLACE SO I CAN MEASURE FOR AXLE SHAFTS, AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR A FEW BRAKE PARTS TO GET TO THE SHOP. TO SECURE THEM TO THE HOUSING I'M USING STAGE EIGHT XLOCKS. A LOCKING SPINDLE FASTENER SYSTEM THAT NOT ONLY INSURES THAT THE SPINDLE NUT WILL NOT COME LOOSE. IT ALSO INSURES THAT THE TORQUE ON THE WHEEL BEARINGS STAYS CONSTANT, EVEN DURING
EXTREME CONDITIONS. I ALREADY HAD THE INNER WHEEL SHELLS POWDER COATED BY STREET WORKS CUSTOM COATINGS WHEN THEY DID THE CHASSIS. BUT NOW I HAVE THE CUSTOM OUTER RINGS THAT TRAIL WORTHY FAB MADE FOR OUR PROJECT, WITH THE NAME RAGING BULL CUT INTO THE OUTER RING IN LAMBORGHINI FONT. I'M GONNA PAINT THEM WITH SOME FLAT BLACK DUPLICOLOR AEROSOL TO MAKE TOUCH UPS EASY AFTER A DAY ON THE TRAIL.
THE LAST ITEM WE NEED TO TURN OUR BUGGY TRULY INTO A ROLLER ARE SOME SPRINGS FOR OUR COIL OVER SHOCKS. SURE, WE COULD DUMP IT DOWN ON ITS BUMP STOPS AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE FULLY LAID OUT. BUT IT'S GONNA LOOK SO MUCH COOLER FINALLY SITTING AT RIDE HEIGHT HERE IN THE SHOP. NOW THE SPRINGS FOR OUR COIL OVERS ARE ALL FROM PACK RACING SPRINGS.
NOW THESE ARE 100 PERCENT MADE IN THE USA SPRINGS. THEY'RE SHOT PEENED FOR EXTRA STRENGTH AND CYCLE TESTED TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T WEAKEN OVER TIME. THE NICE THING IS IS BECAUSE PACK IS A TRUE CUSTOM SPRING MANUFACTURER, YOU CAN SPECIFY A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS, LENGTHS, AND RATES, AND ALSO ANY COLOR COMBINATION YOU CAN DREAM UP. SINCE MOST LAMBORGHINI'S OUT THERE HAVE BRIGHT YELLOW CALIPERS BEHIND THE WHEELS I THOUGHT, WHY
SHOULDN'T WE HAVE BRIGHT YELLOW SPRINGS ON OUR LAMBORGHINI INSPIRED BOUNCER? BUT CHOOSING SPRINGS FOR AN OFF ROAD CAR, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS PICKING YOUR FAVORITE COLOR. THERE IS SOME MATH THAT GOES INTO CALCULATING YOUR DUAL RATE SETUP. OFF ROAD RIGS OFTEN USE DUAL RATE COIL OVER SETUPS TO FINE TUNE HOW THE SUSPENSION REACTS IN THE DIRT. THE TWO SPRINGS IN THE SYSTEM ARE THE TENDER, OR UPPER SPRINGS, AND LOWER OR MAIN. TO CALCULATE THE COMBINED SPRING RATE OF A DUAL RATE SPRING PACK, THE MAIN SPRING IS MULTIPLIED BY THE TENDER AND THEN DIVIDED BY THE SUM OF THE SAME TWO SPRINGS. ON THE REAR OF OUR BOUNCER THE MAIN SPRING IS 150 POUNDS, THE TENDER 100 POUNDS. SO THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF THESE SPRINGS WHEN STACKED TOGETHER IS 150 TIMES 100 DIVIDED BY 250, OR 60 POUNDS PER INCH. NOW THAT MAY SOUND PRETTY SOFT BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TWO SPRINGS IN THE DUAL RATE SETUP. 60 POUNDS FOR THAT INITIAL MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE, ABLE TO ABSORB OBSTACLES ON THE TRAIL EASILY. BUT WE HAVE A MAIN SPRING THAT'S 150 POUNDS, AND IT COMES INTO PLAY WHEN THE DUAL RATE KIT BECOMES ACTIVE. ON THE BODY OF THE SHOCK WE HAVE THESE STOPS THAT WE THREAD DOWN AND LOCK INTO PLACE. THIS DUAL RATE SLIDER SLIDES UP AND DOWN THE SHOCK. WHEN IT HITS THOSE STOPS, THE UPPER SPRING IS REMOVED FROM THE EQUATION AND WE ARE ONLY RIDING ON THE LOWER SPRINGS. THE BACK OF THIS BUGGY WE HAVE A 150 POUND LOWER. SO WE HAVE 60 POUND SPRINGS WHEN WE'RE RIDING, BUT IF WE EVER HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF AIR. MAYBE COME OFF A BIG OBSTACLE, WE LAND ALL THE BUGGY'S WEIGHT ON ONE SPOT. WELL WE HAVE THAT STIFFER 150 POUND SPRING TO ABSORB THAT SHOCK. NOW THESE ARE JUST OUR INITIAL SPRING RATES. WE STILL HAVE TO GET OUT AND TEST AND TUNE ON THIS BUGGY. BUT IT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT AND THAT GETS US ONE STEP CLOSER TO GETTING THIS BUGGY ON THE TRAIL.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, THE NEW ULTRA FOUR SHORT COURSE RACE IS FAN FRIENDLY AND FILLED WITH ACTION. PLUS THIS RARE JEEP IS ABOUT TO BE TURNED INTO SCRAP METAL, BUT NOT IF WE CAN HELP IT.
(IAN)>> YOU CAN SAY THAT BILL BAIRD HAS RACING IN HIS BLOOD.
HE'S BEEN GOING FULL THROTTLE HIS ENTIRE LIFE, CULMINATING IN THE 1999 ARCA SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. AFTER RETIRING FROM RACING, HE FOCUSED ON HIS RACE SHOP, BILL BAIRD MOTORSPORTS, WHICH DESIGNS AND SELLS HIGH END RACING GEAR FOR THE OFF ROAD MARKET. NOW HE'S THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE OFF ROAD BLOW OUT IN STURGIS, KENTUCKY. A THREE DAY FESTIVAL OF ALL THINGS OFF ROAD, INCLUDING MONSTER TRUCK RIDES, DRIVER AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS, AND A KILLER MONSTER TRUCK SHOW.
ALL OF THAT LEADING UP TO THE NEWEST EVENT IN THE ULTRA FOUR SERIES. A SHORT COURSE RACE THAT'S GOT DRIVERS AND FANS TALKING, AND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS GOOD. IT'S BEEN ALMOST A DECADE SINCE THE KING OF THE HAMMERS COMPETITION FIRST TESTED THE METAL OF OFF
ROAD RACERS, IN ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL DESERT RACES EVER IMAGINED. AND SINCE THEN ULTRA FOUR RACING HAS GROWN INTO A NATIONWIDE SERIES OF EVENTS, FROM THE SUN BAKED EARTH OF JOHNSON VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, TO THE THICK FORREST OF ROUSH CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA. (BILL BRINEY)>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST THE ADRENALINE OR WHAT IT IS. I'VE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THE YEARS, EVER SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS BUT IT JUST KEEPS YOU WANTING MORE.
(IAN)>> A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE ULTRA FOUR SERIES MOVED INTO THE MIDSOUTH, TAKING ON THE STEEP HILLS AND PUNISHING ROCKS OF HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS. AND NOW THEY'VE PUSHED ONTO THE SOUTHEAST, TO STURGIS, KENTUCKY, RACING AT THE FIRST
ANNUAL OFF ROAD BLOWOUT. (BILL B.)>> I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF, YOU KNOW, PROMOTING A RACE. I JUST NEVER HAD TIME OR THE PLACE TO DO IT.
(IAN)>> BUT ALL THAT CHANGED WHEN BILL BAIRD HAPPENED UPON A MOTOCROSS TRACK THAT WAS NO LONGER BEING USED. AFTER ALMOST A YEAR OF MAKING PLANS AND MOVING EARTH, ULTRA FOUR'S NEWEST VENUE WAS READY. A ONE POINT FOUR MILE SHORT COURSE DESIGNED FOR HIGH SPEED BUMPER TO BUMPER ACTION.
(MIKE)>> IT'S INTERESTING, IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE NORMALLY DO OUT EAST. IT'S SHORT, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF ROLL OVERS I THINK. IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD TIME.
(IAN)>> A TIGHT WOODED SECTION PROVIDES SOME PACING, GIVING THE RACERS A CHANCE TO RECOVER FROM ADRENALINE PUMPING SPEEDS OF ABOUT 100 MILES PER HOUR. (BILL B.)>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET YOUR BRAIN CELLS ALL WORKING BETWEEN YOUR EARS AGAIN. AND IT ALSO COOLS THE ENGINES DOWN, BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE A PROBLEM HERE TODAY.
(CLAY)>> YOU'VE GOT CARS AROUND YOU THE WHOLE
ENTIRE TIME. YOU NEVER CAN LET OFF YOUR GUARD. IF YOU LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, YOU'RE EITHER UPSIDE DOWN OR THE NEXT GUY'S PASSING YOU. IT'S AWESOME, SHORT COURSE IS A BLAST!
(IAN)>> THERE'S PLENTY OF ACTION TO SEE AT THE OFF ROAD BLOW OUT. AND THE COMPACT LAYOUT OF THE COURSE LETS THE SPECTATORS WATCH THE ACTION UP CLOSE. THREE YEARS BEFORE HE DESIGNED THE STURGIS COURSE, BAIRD MET SHANNON CAMPBELL, WHO INSPIRED HIM TO TAKE UP ULTRA FOUR RACING. AFTER A STRONG FINISH IN HIS FIRST RACE, HE WAS HOOKED. (BILL B.)>> I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT WOUND UP RUNNING FIFTH FOR THE RACE. AND THEN AFTER THAT, AS SOON AS THE RACE WAS OVER WITH, THEY TOLD ME A QUALIFIED FOR A THING CALLED THE KING OF THE HAMMERS OUT IN CALIFORNIA. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS. SO THAT'S HOW I GOT STARTED ROCK RACING AGAIN.
(IAN)>> THE MOST VETERAN RACER AT 65 YEARS OLD, BAIRD SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN ON OR OFF THE TRACK. HE'S A SEASONED COMPETITOR WITH PLENTY OF PODIUM FINISHES. CONSISTENTLY RANKED ONE OF THE BEST DRIVERS IN THE SPORT. BAIRD HAS MADE JUST ONE CONCESSION TO THE EFFECTS OF AGE. HE PREFERS IFS CARS, BOTH FOR THEIR TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED SUSPENSION, AND THEIR COMFORT.
(BILL B.)>> AT THE KING OF THE HAMMERS I WAS IN THE CAR FOR EIGHT HOURS AND 23 MINUTES WITHOUT GETTING OUT OF IT. AND TO GET OUT OF IT OR NOT WORE OUT, WHETHER I HAD THE STRAIGHT AXLE CAR, THEY'RE PRETTY HARD ON YOUR BODY. BEING MY AGE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T NEED ANYTHING REALLY ROUGH ON MY BODY.
(IAN)>> SHOULD HE EVER RETIRE FROM RACING, BAIRD WILL STILL HAVE TWO STRONG CONNECTIONS TO ULTRA FOUR. FIRST IS THE EXCITING NEW SHORT COURSE RACE HE ORGANIZED. SECOND, AND MOST IMPORTANT, HIS GRAND SON LANE. JUST 12 YEARS OLD, THIS YEAR AT STURGIS HE EARNED AN IMPRESSIVE SECOND PLACE FINISH IN THE UTV CLASS IN HIS FIRST EVER ULTRA FOUR RACE. THE YOUNGEST AND THE OLDEST ULTRA FOUR DRIVER, BOTH PART OF THE SAME FAMILY AND SHARING THE SAME DRIVE TO COMPETE.
(ANNOUNCER)>> UP NEXT, A ROUTINE VISIT TO THE SALVAGE YARD BRINGS US OUR LATEST PROJECT!
(IAN)>> FOR A GEARHEAD, A TRIP TO THE LOCAL SALVAGE YARD IS ALWAYS A TREAT, AND THIS VISIT WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HEADED OVER TO EXPRESS PULL 'N SAVE TO SEE IF WE COULD FIND A FEW ITEMS FOR OUR FORD FOCUS RALLY CAR, SPECIFICALLY A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.
A NICE THING ABOUT THESE NEWER WRECKING YARDS IS THEY COMPUTERIZED INVENTORY OF ALL THE CARS IN STOCK. AND AFTER FINDING QUITE A FEW FOCUSES ON THE LIST, I HEADED OUT INTO WHAT I CONSIDER THE ULTIMATE CANDY STORE. WE FOUND LOTS OF COOL STUFF, LIKE AN OLD FIERRO, DOZENS OF JEEPS BOTH OLD AND NEW. WE LOOKED A SEVERAL FOCUSES BUT COULDN'T FIND WHAT WE NEEDED. WELL WE DIDN'T FIND WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN THE YARD BECAUSE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE FOCUSES, THIS ONE IS AN AUTOMATIC. BUT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SOMETIMES WHEN YOU COME TO A PULL 'N SAVE YARD. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND. THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO GET IN THERE, LOOK AROUND, AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN FIND. ( )>> WHAT'S THAT?
(IAN)>> IT'S AN OLD JEEP, GO, GO! HEY, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT THING? THEY'RE SCRAPING THAT, NO WAY! I'M BUYING THAT, DROP IT RIGHT THERE. THIS IS AN OLD KAISER, OH MY GOD!
THESE ARE SO COOL! THESE ARE FROM THE WAR, LIKE '68, '69. AND THEN THEY ALL ENDED UP IN THINGS LIKE THIS.
LIKE BIRMINGHAM, JEFFERSON COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE. THIS IS OLD SCHOOL JEEP STUFF. THESE WERE SUPER COOL. LOOK AT THAT, THAT'S AN OVERHEAD CAM STRAIGHT SIX MOTOR. THAT WAS BACK IN THE '60'S, THAT WAS LIKE CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY STUFF. THAT IS SO COOL! THIS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME. THIS JEEP, 715, OFTEN REFERRED TO AS A KAISER,
WAS DROPPED OFF FOR SCRAP IRON. YES, THAT'S RIGHT, I SAID SCRAP IRON, AND IT WAS HEADING OUT INTO THE YARD TO BE PICKED OVER. WELL NOT TODAY! THESE JEEPS WERE ORIGINALLY PRODUCED IN OHIO FOR THE US MILITARY IN THE LATE '60'S. THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS ONE AND A QUARTER TON TRUCKS.
FULL TIME FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, FOUR SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WITH A TWO SPEED TRANSFER CASE, DANA 70 REAR AXLE, AND A UNIQUE CLOSED KNUCKLE DANA 60 UP FRONT. BUT PROBABLY THE COOLEST THING IS THE INLINE SIX TORNADO OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE'RE GONNA LET THIS JEEP SPEND
ITS REMAINING DAYS HERE GETTING PICKED APART. A RIG THIS COOL DESERVES TO BE REBORN XTREME STYLE! WE DIDN'T FIND A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR OUR RALLY CAR BUT INSTEAD WE FOUND A COOL NEW PROJECT.