Ep 4. Model A-K

After leaving his former garage Gas Monkey, Aaron Kaufman started his own business called Arclight Fabrication. Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman follows his ventures as he takes on difficult custom build projects and tries to expand his small Texas shop into a nationwide success, all while battling against the clock and dealing with the pains and joys of running a small business.

In season 2 episode 4, titled Model A-K, Aaron and his crew are tasked with creating a unique hot rod for a client named Jim DeFrank. The project is called "Model A-K" due to its combination of a Ford Model A body and a 1928 Chrysler K engine. The goal is to marry classic hot rod style with modern engineering capabilities, resulting in a vehicle that can go fast and look good doing it.

The build starts off on a high note as the team finds a good Model A body and strips it down to its bare essentials. However, things get complicated when they take apart the Chrysler K engine. The team discovers that it's in worse shape than they originally thought, with several critical components either damaged or missing. One of the team members, Jeremy, gets tasked with searching for replacement parts while the rest of the crew focuses on getting the other parts of the build done.

Meanwhile, Aaron takes a break from the build to participate in a charity motorcycle ride. He rides alongside other motorcycle enthusiasts and raises money for a good cause. However, he admits that he's feeling the pressure of running a business and managing his time effectively. With so many projects going on at once, he's worried about the long-term viability of Arclight Fabrication and its ability to stay profitable.

Back at the shop, Jeremy returns with the engine parts and the team gets back to work. However, they soon discover that some of the parts don't fit properly and need to be custom-fabricated. This slows down progress on the build, and the team begins to feel the crunch of the deadline. They work long hours and weekends to try to get everything done on time.

As the deadline approaches, the team hurries to finish the final touches on the Model A-K. They install the engine, paint the body, and add other custom details such as a unique steering wheel and dashboard. When Jim DeFrank arrives to take a look at the finished product, the team is eager to see his reaction. He's thrilled with the final result, and Aaron and his crew feel proud of their hard work paying off.

In the end, the episode serves as a showcase for the difficult and rewarding processes involved in hot rod building. From finding the right parts to custom-fabricating components, the team at Arclight Fabrication demonstrates their expertise and passion for the craft. The episode also highlights the challenges of running a small business, including managing time and pressure to maintain profitability. Despite these challenges, Aaron and his team continue to push forward and create unique vehicles that make their clients happy.