Gearz - Season 18 (2024)

When it comes to working on a vehicle, nothing quite prepares you for the first time you pull a body off a frame. Even though it sounds easy, there is MUCH more involved than meets the eye. This week on GEARZ, Stacey walks thru the challenges of taking a new frame and components, and fitting it to an old, vintage body, and all the things to think about while doing it. Headers, exhaust, engine, transmission, accessories, rear-end and these are just SOME of the things to consider when you take on a level 4, frame off build. However, if you take your time and plan accordingly, Stacey shows that this is something that most people will be able to do. So grab a hoist and lets' start crankin'.

The Hot Rod Coupe is back in the shop as Stacey continues to fit the old '40 Chevy body down on the new, replacement frame. Once that is done, it's on to fitting the front clip and laying out the radiator and inner fenders so we can finally get our first look at the stance of this classic hot rod. After that, he rolls in the amazing Mighty Mite for some simple fuel system upgrades. This aluminum bodied, 4x4 vehicle was designed specifically for the Marine Corps to do anything a jeep could do, only better and faster. Did it succeed? Well, you'll have to watch GEARZ to find out.

Last season Stacey rolled in a barn find, 1967 Jeepster convertible, and demonstrated how to do a Level 1 restoration on it by getting it running and driving again. This time, he's kicking it up a notch and moving on to a Level 2 restoration on the old Jeepster - the mechanical and cosmetic restoration. Stacey dives into the interior and goes through how to get a convertible top working, how to determine what to keep and what to replace, and how to get rid of the biggest mouse house you'll see this side of Disneyland. It's floors; it's carpet; it's seats, and even some tips on how to bring the color back into old carpet without replacing it.

No, this isn't about the movie with crazy Jack chasing his family around, this is about paint. With the cost of a new paint job, a lot of people are trying to make their current paint last as long as possible. But is it possible to bring the shine back to old, faded paint? And even more importantly, how do you know if your old paint will handle the rigors of a buffer? This week on GEARZ, Stacey shows how to assess the condition of the paint and body on your project and lays out some of the factors involved in deciding between restoring your old paint, or completely re-painting the vehicle. There's more to consider here than most people think. After that, he fires up the buffer and lays into the faded paint on the 67 Jeepster. It's messy, it's dirty, and it's labor intensive, but can save you thousands of dollars and you won't believe the results Stacey gets.

If you've watched Gearz in the past, you're probably familiar with our little Thiokol IMP Snowcat project. Well, today you get to meet the legendary big brother - the Thiokol Swamp Spryte. What? Never heard of it? That's because they are extremely hard to find, very few photographs exist of them, and they leave a very distinct footprint. Yeah, we're talking the off-road version of Sasquatch. That all changes today, because Stacey has actually captured one of these mythical vehicles and rolls it into the shop to give you an up-close look at what makes the Swamp Spryte so unique. With a limited number made, this amphibious, all terrain, tracked vehicle is still a force to be reckoned with, and will be even more so once Stacey does some restoration and upgrades on this old beast.

The Thiokol Swamp Spryte is back in the shop for some much-needed restoration as Stacey takes a look at what sixty years of off-road abuse can do to a tracked vehicle. We're talking bent grousers, cracked tires, broken wheel guides, and sagging axles, and that's just the undercarriage. Then it's on to removing a zillion rivets so we can patch the holes with new skin so the Spryte will float again. After that, the Little Red Wagon is back, and Stacey's got 50 years of Skyjacker history to go through as he unpacks a new suspension for his number one shop truck. You've got to check this one out.

This time on GEARZ we dig into the unique story of Painless Performance, and how they went from making wiring harnesses in a garage to one of the most prominent and influential companies in the automotive aftermarket. Then, Stacey walks through the importance of choosing the right harness for your project and how to do it. After that, he shows off a bunch of cool new products that would be great on YOUR project. Only on GEARZ.

This time on GEARZ Stacey takes a look at one of the most iconic and rare super-cars ever built, the legendary McLaren M6GT. With only a handful made, the originals are multi-million dollar collectors' items. But how cool would it be to build a replica of your own? Well, that is exactly what Stacey is doing, as he reveals the new M6GT component car from Retroformance. You've got to see this chassis and suspension to believe it.

The M6GT replica is back in the shop, and this time, it gets serious as Stacey stuffs a 600+ HP Kaase engine into the aluminum monocoque and layers it with an exquisite bundle of snakes exhaust system from GP Headers. Then, he finally reveals that legendary McLaren body shape that is going to cover it all up. If you've ever dreamed of owning a modern mid-engine car with the look of a classic McLaren, this kit is for you.

The 1999 Dodge Li'l Red Wagon truck is back in the shop as Stacey tackles what do to with the tired old engine and transmission. Enter the HEMI. On this show you'll not only see where to get a great Hemi crate engine, but also how to deck it out with all the right aftermarket parts so you can drop it in your project and go. The LS and Coyote engines have been on the top of the swap heap for a long time, but that's changing as this show demonstrates how a HEMI might be a good fit for your future project.