: The ORC initially featured a 318ci engine that had been sitting for 27 years. During the episode, the guys struggled to get it running and driving by a Sunday deadline.
Originally aired on , this episode is famous for the duo’s decision to hack away the sheet metal of a desirable muscle car to accommodate massive off-road tires. Episode Highlights
The episode deviates from conventional restoration approaches, prioritizing immediate fun over traditional aesthetics. It has established itself as a memorable installment within the gearhead community. roadkill garage s02e04 the off road challenger
Instead of restoring the car to a concours-level muscle car, Freiburger and Dulcich pivoted. They recognized the trend of building rugged "battle cars". The goal for S02E04 was straightforward: clear enough space in the wheel wells to fit oversized off-road tires and take the car where no vintage E-body belonged—the desert. The Build: Slicing Up a Icon
When you think of a 1970 Dodge Challenger, you likely picture a pristine, gleaming piece of Detroit muscle that commands six figures at auction. But on Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4 ("The Off-Road Challenger"), hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take that classic muscle car silhouette and turn it into a high-riding, dirt-slinging monster. This episode stands out as one of the most delightfully unhinged builds in the Roadkill universe, taking the beloved, iconic E-body Mopar and modifying it into a dedicated, rough-and-tumble mud-basher. The Car: Rescuing the "Orc" : The ORC initially featured a 318ci engine
If you're looking for a specific detail — like what engine they used, suspension changes, or where to watch the episode — let me know and I can dig further.
The harsh conditions eventually led to the 318 engine being filled with sand and gravel, causing significant damage that sidelined the car for two years before its later "rebirth" in subsequent seasons. They recognized the trend of building rugged "battle cars"
The car featured a 318ci engine that was estimated to produce only about 140 horsepower due to low compression (6.9:1) and stock components. Off-Road Setup:
Watch the cinematic transformation of this vintage Mopar muscle machine as it trades the drag strip for the open desert:
: The episode highlights the show's "wrong thing the right way" mantra, including using an impact wrench to install cylinder heads in a pinch. The Survival Story: The 100-Year Sandstorm