Ep 5. Wildwood or Bust

In the fifth episode of season two of Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman, titled "Wildwood or Bust," Kaufman and his crew take on their biggest challenge yet as they set out to build a custom hot rod from scratch in just eight weeks. To make things even more difficult, they have to build it in time for the Wildwood, New Jersey, car show, and Aaron only has five weeks to get the car ready before it has to hit the road for the 1,500-mile drive to New Jersey.

Kaufman and his team are determined to create a one-of-a-kind machine, and they set their sights on building a custom 1931 Model A Ford hot rod. With only eight weeks to complete the build, they're under a tight deadline to gather all the parts they need and start putting them together. From engines to transmissions to rear ends, every part of the car is custom-designed and hand-built, and Aaron Kaufman oversees every step of the process.

Throughout the episode, viewers get to see the team tackle all the challenges of building a custom hot rod, from fabricating new body panels to painting the car in a bold shade of orange that will stand out at the car show. Along the way, they encounter setbacks and obstacles that threaten to derail their progress, but Kaufman's determination and skill keep them on track.

One of the biggest challenges the team faces is finding the right engine for their hot rod. After searching far and wide, they finally settle on a vintage Ford Flathead V8 engine that they believe will give the car the power it needs to perform on the road. They also spend hours sanding and smoothing the car's body panels to create a flawless finish, and they assemble the intricate suspension system that will keep the car stable at high speeds.

As the deadline draws nearer, Kaufman and his crew push themselves to the limit to get the car finished in time for the Wildwood car show. After weeks of hard work, the hot rod is finally ready for its debut, and the team packs up and hits the road for the 1,500-mile drive to New Jersey. Along the way, they encounter some unexpected challenges, including a blown tire that nearly derails their progress. But they press on, and eventually arrive in Wildwood, where the crowds are waiting to see their custom creation.

The episode wraps up with Kaufman and his team showing off their hot rod at the car show, where it's a big hit with the crowd. The car's bold orange paint job and sleek, streamlined design turn heads and draw compliments from fellow car enthusiasts, and Kaufman and his team are proud of what they've accomplished. Despite the challenges and setbacks they faced along the way, they managed to pull off an incredible build in just eight weeks, and they're already thinking about what their next project will be.