Roadkill Garage S02e04 The Off Road Challenger __hot__ Guide
In Roadkill Garage season two, episode four, hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich attempt to transform a beat-up 1970 Dodge Challenger into a desert-bashing machine, ultimately resulting in a chaotic showdown with a 70-mph sandstorm. The build, which featured sheet-metal cutting and a 318 small-block engine, was sidelined by sandstorm damage but solidified its reputation as a fan-favorite "Roadkill" project. Watch the full episode on Tubi.
In Season 2, Episode 4 of Roadkill Garage , titled " The Off-Road Challenger!
", hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich transform a 1970 Dodge Challenger into a rugged desert-bashing machine. The episode is widely regarded for its "Mad Max" aesthetic, featuring the aggressive modification of a desirable muscle car for off-road use. The Build: From Dirt Track to Desert Brawler
The vehicle, originally a clapped-out 1970 Dodge Challenger, had a history as a circle-track race car in the 1990s. Before this transformation, it was known as the "Dirt-Track Challenger" and had been sitting for over a decade.
Sheet Metal Modification: To accommodate massive off-road tires, the hosts took the extreme step of hacking away significant portions of the car's sheet metal.
Engine Setup: At the time of this episode, the car ran a 318ci Mopar engine. While later episodes saw it upgraded to a 360ci small-block V8 from a parts truck, this specific outing focused on its original low-buck setup.
Essential Gear: The build prioritized function over form, utilizing a roll cage made of water pipe and a "garden fence" style grille for a distinct, ratty look.
Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4 The Off-Road Challenger! David Freiburger
and Steve Dulcich take the "Vanishing Paint" 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a "Mad Max"-style desert basher Episode Highlights The Build Strategy
: Instead of a traditional restoration, the guys hack the sheet metal off the Challenger to make room for giant off-road tires The Mission
: The goal was to take the clapped-out Mopar and test its limits in the desert, specifically navigating lava flows and a massive The Carnage
: During the desert test, a severe sandstorm with 70 mph winds pelted the car, revealing old circle track lettering but ultimately leading to an "end-of-life experience" for the 318 engine. Vehicle Status & Legacy Sitting for Decades
: Before this transformation, the car had been off the road since at least 1989. The Aftermath
: Following the engine failure in the sandstorm, the Challenger sat neglected for two years before being revived in later episodes (like Season 4, Episode 1) with a fresh 360ci powerplant. Where is it now? roadkill garage s02e04 the off road challenger
: More recently, the car was reportedly sold to a staffer and has made appearances in community videos, still known for its tendency to "blow transmissions". You can watch the full catalog of Roadkill Garage episodes on MotorTrend+ or via streaming services like Discovery Plus Are you planning to build your own off-road muscle car , or just looking for the next episode to watch
In Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4, titled "The Off-Road Challenger," hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a clapped-out 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a "Mad Max" style desert basher. This episode is considered one of the series' most extreme builds because of the unapologetic way the team hacks away at a rare muscle car body to fit massive off-road tires. Building the Off-Road Challenger (ORC)
The car used in this episode was originally a mundane dirt-track racer that had previously appeared in Roadkill (Episodes 54 and 56).
The Foundation: A base-model 1970 Dodge Challenger with a factory V-8, an A904 automatic transmission, and a light-duty 7-1/4 rearend.
The "Roadkill" Modification: To accommodate giant off-road rubber, Freiburger and Dulcich used hammers and cutting tools to clear out the sheet metal, a move that would make any purist cringe.
The Powerplant: The episode features the revival of its tired 318 small-block Mopar engine. The team eventually aimed to transform this "dog" of an engine—which originally produced only about 140 horsepower—into a high-revving "screaming demon" with a tunnel ram, targeting 450 horsepower. Desert Bashing and Disaster
After fitting the oversized tires, the duo took the ORC to a desert lava pit for testing. The adventure turned legendary—and literal—when they encountered a 100-year sandstorm with 70 mph winds.
Damage: The extreme conditions were so harsh they stripped paint from the car and shredded the participants' skin and eyes.
Engine Failure: The 318 engine was ultimately devastated by the sand and gravel intake during the storm, leading to the car sitting for another two years before later being revived in subsequent episodes with a "Junkyard 360" engine. Where to Watch
You can catch this classic episode of Roadkill Garage on various streaming platforms:
In Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4, titled " The Off-Road Challenger!
", hosts David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a clapped-out 1970 Dodge Challenger and transform it into a desert-bashing "Mad Max" style machine.
Originally aired on May 4, 2017, 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 In Roadkill Garage season two, episode four, hosts
The Build: The guys start with a mundane dirt-track race car (previously seen in Roadkill episodes 54 and 56). To make it trail-ready, they cut into the bodywork to fit giant off-road tires.
The Desert Test: They take the modified "Off-Road Challenger" (ORC) to a lava flow in the desert.
The Sandstorm: The test drive takes a turn when they are hit by a "100-year sandstorm" with 70 mph winds that stripped paint and severely damaged the car's 318 engine.
The "Vanishing Paint" Connection: This car is also known as the "Vanishing Paint" Challenger, a project that would reappear in later seasons for further revival and racing.
Watch the transformation and desert-testing of the Off-Road Challenger in these highlights: Roadkill Garage - Dirt-Cheap 1970 Challenger Rescue! 15K views · 1 year ago YouTube · Roadkill Reborn
In Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4, titled "The Off-Road Challenger," David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a 1970 Dodge Challenger dirt-track car—previously featured in Roadkill episodes 54 and 56—and transform it into a "Mad Max"-style desert basher. The Build & Modification
The episode focuses on the rapid, "wrong thing the right way" transformation of the Challenger to handle extreme off-road conditions:
Sheet Metal Surgery: To accommodate giant off-road tires, the duo hacks off significant portions of the Challenger's sheet metal.
The Engine: While the car originally ran a bone-stock 318 engine, this episode follows the effort to get it running reliably for desert duty. In later revivals of this car, it eventually receives a "Junkyard 360" for mud-slinging power after the original 318 was damaged by a sandstorm.
Functional "Upgrades": The build is famous for its "ratty" aesthetic, complete with a garden-fence grille and oversized tires designed for desert bashing. The Test: Desert Bashing & Sandstorms
The climax of the episode sees the guys taking the modified E-body to a lava pit and the desert:
Environmental Hazards: The test is plagued by a "100-year sandstorm" with 70-mph winds that reportedly stripped paint and shredded skin.
Mechanical Failure: 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. Show: Roadkill Garage Season: 02, Episode 04 Title:
Check out these highlights and behind-the-scenes updates on the Off-Road Challenger's transformation and its later revivals:
In Roadkill Garage Season 2, Episode 4, David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich transform a former dirt-track 1970 Dodge Challenger into a "Mad Max-style" desert-bashing machine. The build, featuring a 318ci V-8, was heavily modified for off-road use before a 70 mph sandstorm severely damaged the car during testing. Watch the full episode on Prime Video.
It looks like you're referencing "Roadkill Garage" Season 2, Episode 4, titled "The Off-Road Challenger."
In this episode, David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take a beat-up Dodge Challenger and convert it into an off-road machine — essentially a muscle car turned desert runner. They focus on suspension upgrades, big tires, and drivetrain mods to make it capable of tackling dirt trails and jumps, while keeping the classic Challenger look.
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.
Final Status of the Vehicle
By the end of the episode, the Challenger proves to be a surprisingly capable off-road machine, capable of keeping up with dedicated Jeeps and trucks on mild trails. It remains a running, driving symbol of the "do anything with nothing" motto of the show.
Show: Roadkill Garage
Season: 02, Episode 04
Title: The Off-Road Challenger
Episode Logline
When a subscriber challenge turns into a full-blown build, the Roadkill Garage team transforms a neglected Dodge Challenger into a weekend-ready off‑road rocket — mud, shocks, and creative fabrication included.
The Action: Dirt, Drift, and Danger
Once the build is complete, the real fun begins. Dulcich and Freiburger take the beast out to the dirt for a shakedown run. The visual of a classic muscle car carving through ruts and kicking up dust clouds is undeniably entertaining. The episode captures the sheer joy of hooning a machine that defies convention.
However, this is Roadkill, so things don’t go entirely according to plan. The off-road environment puts immense stress on the vintage unibody structure and drivetrain. The episode highlights the fragility of modifying old cars for new purposes, as the team deals with the inevitable mechanical gremlins that arise when you take a street car off the pavement.
The Premise: Mismatched Madness
The concept was beautifully simple and utterly insane. Freiburger and Dulcich wanted to build an off-road vehicle. But instead of a Jeep, a truck, or a classic Baja Bug, they chose a 1970 Dodge Challenger. Yes, a quintessential muscle car—long, heavy, low-slung, and built for pavement—was destined for dirt jumps, whoops, and desert washboards.
The donor car was a rust-free (by East Coast standards) but mechanically tired 1970 Challenger coupe. It had a slant-six engine and an automatic transmission—the least powerful, least glamorous version of Mopar’s iconic E-body. For Freiburger, that was the point: a cheap, disposable body that could be hacked without guilt.
Episode Assets / Shot List (short)
- Before/after car beauty shots
- Shop walkaround and measurements
- Welding, grinding, coilover installs (time-lapse)
- Suspension geometry diagrams overlay
- On-car telemetry: wheel speed, diff temp, engine RPM during tests
- Recovery and blooper moments
