Dirt Every Day Extra Season 4 Episode 63 Wagoneer Race Truck Project

In this episode of Dirt Every Day Extra, host Dave Chappelle takes on a new project in the form of a 1983 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. The plan is to transform the classic SUV into a race truck capable of competing in off-road races.

After getting a good look at the Wagoneer, Dave decides to do away with most of its original bodywork and create a custom race truck body on top of the Jeep's frame. He sets to work cutting and welding the body to fit snugly over the frame, leaving room for the engine, transmission, and suspension to all fit comfortably underneath.

Once the custom body is firmly in place, Dave turns his attention to the truck's suspension. He explains that in order to make the Wagoneer capable of racing off-road, it needs to have plenty of articulation and ground clearance. He decides to install long-travel coilover shocks at all four corners, along with heavy-duty control arms to keep the wheels planted on rough terrain.

With the suspension sorted, it's time to address the engine. Dave has chosen a small-block Chevrolet V8 as the basis for the truck's powerplant, but it needs a bit of work before it's ready to rumble. He removes the cylinder heads and replaces them with higher-performance units, along with a more aggressive camshaft to increase power and torque.

The transmission is also upgraded, with a beefy four-speed manual gearbox installed to handle the demands of racing off-road. Dave also installs a custom shifter and clutch pedal assembly to make shifting gears quick and smooth.

With the engine and transmission sorted, it's time to load up the truck and take it out for a shakedown run. Dave and his co-hosts take turns driving the gleaming blue and white race truck through some rough terrain, testing out the suspension and getting a feel for how it handles.

Despite a few hiccups along the way, the Wagoneer race truck project is shaping up to be a potent off-road machine. As the episode draws to a close, Dave and his team reflect on the hard work that went into building the custom race truck, and they can't wait to see how it performs in competition.