Ep 2. Wrenching for Speed in the Roadkill Crop Duster!

In the second episode of Roadkill Garage's first season, titled "Wrenching for Speed in the Roadkill Crop Duster!", hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich undertake the challenge of transforming an old crop duster plane into a land-speed car capable of reaching 200 mph.

The episode begins with the duo traveling to a remote airstrip in California to pick up the crop duster. Upon arrival, they are greeted by the plane's owner, who hands over the keys and wishes them luck on their ambitious project. It quickly becomes clear that the crop duster is in rough shape, with rusted panels, a stripped interior, and a mismatched collection of parts. But Freiburger and Dulcich are undeterred, and set to work on the plane's transformation.

The first order of business is to remove the wings and tail, which will be replaced with custom-built pieces designed for maximum speed on the ground. This proves to be a daunting task, requiring the use of a forklift and a homemade scaffold to hoist the heavy pieces off the plane. Once the wings and tail are removed, Dulcich begins fabricating the new components, while Freiburger focuses on rebuilding the engine.

The plane's original engine is a six-cylinder Continental, which the hosts decide to keep and modify for more horsepower. They install a high-performance camshaft, custom headers, and a larger carburetor, among other modifications. Along the way, they encounter a few challenges, such as a stubborn oil filter and a troublesome distributor, but eventually get the engine running smoothly.

Meanwhile, Dulcich continues to work on the wings and tail, which are made from lightweight aluminum tubing and covered in fabric. He shapes them by hand, using a wooden form and a mallet to create the proper curvature. He also designs a custom steering system, which will allow the car to turn by pivoting the rear wheels instead of using a conventional front axle.

As the project nears completion, Freiburger and Dulcich perform a few test runs on the airstrip, using the plane's original landing gear to support the car. They are pleased with the results, getting the car up to speeds of nearly 100 mph in a short distance. However, they also discover a few issues, such as a wobbling front wheel and a fuel leak, which they must address before attempting to reach their ultimate goal of 200 mph.

The episode culminates with Freiburger and Dulcich taking the newly christened Roadkill Crop Duster to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to attempt their speed run. They arrive at the famous racing venue, eager to put their creation to the test. However, they quickly encounter a setback when they discover that their tires are not rated for the high speeds they hope to achieve. Undaunted, they choose to run the car anyway, reaching speeds of over 100 mph before calling it a day.

Overall, "Wrenching for Speed in the Roadkill Crop Duster!" is an entertaining and informative episode of Roadkill Garage, showcasing the hosts' ingenuity and resourcefulness in the face of a challenging project. Viewers will appreciate the attention to detail and the humor that Freiburger and Dulcich bring to their work, as well as the thrilling conclusion at the Bonneville Salt Flats.