Texas Metal

Specializing in one-of-a-kind custom builds, Bill Carlton and the crew of Houston's Ekstensive Metal Works deal with rowdy customers, challenging projects and tight timelines while working on everything from muscle cars to monster trucks.
Ram Tow, '49 Ford Show
S7 E1

Bill balances custom and function when he tackles a working 2023 Ram that needs to deliver on the road and stand out at the tow show; a new client plans a surprise customization on her dad's '49 Ford F-1, which is more rust than wrecker.

'89 Bronco on Blast
S7 E2

Bill Carlton and his interior guru John Burgess are happy to take a trip down memory lane transforming an '89 Bronco II super low and extra loud; the team builds a custom frame for a '49 Ford truck with independent rear suspension.

'52 Wrecker Complete
S7 E3

Like a lot of kids growing up, one of Bill Carlton's favorite cars was the Pontiac GTO, so he's more than excited to put his spin on a 1968 GTO; one of Ekstensive's biggest builds, the '52 tow truck, finishes super strong.

Custom Cut F430 Ferrari
S7 E4

It's not everyday Ekstensive Metalworks gets to customize a 2005 Ferrari F430, but the entire team must pull out all the stops to make this Italian sports car one of one; the '68 GTO gets a new, handmade coilover suspension setup.

Custom Sasquatch Bronco
S7 E5

Bill and his team hand make a one-of-a-kind engine bay for the 1968 GTO out of steel and aluminum; Ekstensive gets its first chance to customize a 2022 Bronco Sasquatch, starting with a custom lift.

Texas Sized International Truck
S7 E6

Bill Carlton and his fabricators face a new challenge with a four-door 2023 International MV, with a big Cummins diesel engine.

Mustang for the Record
S7 E7

Bill Carlton and his team strategically customize a '23 Mustang for a world-record-breaking attempt at most donuts in a single ride; the fabricators create a modern setup for an old-school '49 Ford truck.

'68 GTO for the Win
S7 E8

After months of metal work, Bill and the fabrication team reach the final sprint on a one-of-one '68 GTO, built for two brothers; a 1931 Ford truck throws the team a major curveball right out of the gates.

Coffee and Diesel Truck
S7 E10

Bill and his team of fabricators hand make a custom coffee shop on wheels, designed to match the classic look of a diesel 1931 Ford truck.

Rollin' in My F-350
S7 E11

With dozens of awards on their walls, crowds of adoring fans, and a long waitlist, Bill Carlton and his Texas team always have their hands full with rowdy customers, challenging builds and tight timelines.

'49 Ford Rust to Royalty
S7 E12

A while back, a customer asked Bill to rebuild a rusty '49 Ford truck as a gift for her dad; the team has given it their all to finish a one-of-one, hand-built masterpiece with a Coyote engine -- and one of the best presents a dad could ever imagine.

Jeep Willys and the Hellcat
S6 E1

Some builds are just worth the wait. With a longer, wider cab, custom everything and a 6.2 Hellcat, Bill and the team finish strong by transforming a pristine 1960s Jeep Willys truck into something bigger, meaner and louder than anything on the road.

Missouri Tanker
S6 E2

An antique 1953 tanker tests the team as one of their biggest builds to date, while a family golf cart gets radically remade into a wheelie poppin', high-speed electric demon.

Coupe de Tanker
S6 E3

The crew takes a fully customized '37 Ford Coupe back to the factory look.

Rolls On In and Tanker Away
S6 E4

A '64 Rolls-Royce has a rusty secret, and the '53 tanker is almost done.

F-350 Raptor Build
S6 E5

Bill loves a good challenge, especially when it's a build he and his team have never done before; while they transform a one-ton 2022 F-350 into a Baja-style Raptor, they rebuild a 1964 Rolls riddled with structural damage from the ground up.

440 'Cuda Overhaul
S6 E6

The team upgrades a '72 'Cuda's interior and tears down a '52 GMC wrecker.

Ford Lightning Fast
S6 E8

A '22 Ford Lighting becomes the shop's first all-electric custom air ride.

Jeep Gladiator Steel
S6 E9

Builds include a smashed '22 Gladiator and a Polaris Ranger side-by-side.

Mini Truckin' UTV
S6 E10

Bill goes back to his roots building mini-trucks with a 2023 Polaris Ranger, adding a custom camper and dancing bed; Ekstensive has built its share of ground-up builds over the years, but nothing like the metalwork on the 1952 Wrecker.

Denali Lift & Hot Rod Wrecker
S6 E11

Bill and his team fabricate a custom hot rod wrecker truck like no other.

Denali Lift, Bugatti Chop
S6 E12

Builds include John Cena's 1937 Bugatti Type 57 and a 2023 GMC Denali.

Jeep Splits and Foreign Whips
S5 E1

Bill and the gang split a '60 Willys Jeep and overhaul a '98 AMG G-Wagon.

Mom-Ster Truck
S5 E2

After John Cena makes a surprise appearance at the shop, Bill and the guys begin to customize John's small 1969 MGC to be a perfect fit; a new customer wants a handmade lifted suspension on his 1920 Denali 2500 as a gift for his wife.

From the Ground Up
S5 E3

Bill is still being put to the test with a 1928 Ford Rat Rod, a 1942 Ford pickup and a 1975 C10.

Root Beer Cadillac
S5 E4

The crew blends old and new to radically redesign a client's '74 Eldorado.

Bigger, Badder Wrecker
S5 E5

The team works their magic to customize a brand-new International wrecker.

H1 Hummer-Dinger
S5 E6

An Ekstensive favorite, a 2001 Hummer H1, needs some serious reinforcements; Bill changes things up on his completely custom, all-tube buggy by borrowing technology from monster trucks; Bill puts his daughter to work customizing her 2020 Challenger.

MGCena
S5 E7

John Cena is amazed by the transformation of his British classic '69 MGC.

Across the Block
S5 E8

The Mecum Auction comes to town, and Bill has four vehicles on the block.

Ram Tougher and Louder
S5 E10

Bill takes the '68 C10 into uncharted territory with over-the-top fabrication and an epoxy river bed that tests their skills; a 2018 Ram dually can't handle heavy loads, so the team comes up with a unique setup to get it back to work.

C10 to End All C10s
S5 E11

Bill refuses to hold anything back as the '68 C10 finishes in a flourish.

Bill's 1,500-HP Diesel Buggy
S5 E12

The team custom builds every part for the heavy-duty, 1,500-hp buggy.

Tale of Two Fords
S4 E1

A long-time client wants to improve upon a near-perfect '68 Ford Ranger; the team is up to the task with an all-new custom chassis, handmade interior, rebuilt bed and Coyote 5.0 engine swap; the guys check off new custom upgrades on a '75 Bronco.

Imposta to Impala
S4 E2

A 1996 Impala throws the guys for a loop when they discover it's an imposter; the team makes it better than ever, with custom body fabrications, rear subframe and handmade interior.

Big and Bigger
S4 E3

Truck builds tend to get bigger than originally planned, so it's no surprise when a 1971 Suburban goes even bigger with a custom lifted air suspension and interior; a nearly finished 2006 Kodiak needs just one more custom upgrade.

Low and Loud
S4 E4

Bill and his team make one of their longest custom chassis ever for a new 2020 Denali, and Ekstensive gets a diesel pro-mod drag car back on the track.

Show and Go Dually
S4 E5

Ekstensive turns a stock 2020 Denali dually into a frame-dropping, show-stopping work truck; as a final touch, Bill handmakes articulating speakers for the bed; Bill takes a family's minds off their brush with a custom 2019 Polaris Ranger.

Beantown Continental
S4 E6

The guys bring a 1964 Lincoln back with a late-model Coyote engine and handmade interior; the Sling-Ray is a custom automotive sensation, but Ekstensive has what it's been missing.

The New Old School Suburban
S4 E7

A 1971 Suburban returns to the shop for "phase two," wanting more power and custom metalwork; when a client finds parts and pieces of a '68 C10, Bill and the crew set on a new course for a ground-up build.

Texas Square Body
S4 E8

Bill gets déjà vu on a 1985 Chevy C10 square body; a handmade chassis; after a close call, Ekstensive makes a 1923 T-Bucket street safe.

Blue Thunder Coupe
S4 E10

A local client wants the teams help to surprise his dad with a custom 1946 Ford Coupe; Bill goes for a mix of both classy and supercharged when working on his wife's 2021 Escalade.

450 Reasons to Go Bigger
S4 E11

Ekstensive needs a new shop truck, Bill and the guys go sky-high with a lifted '21 F-450 King Ranch capable of hauling over 20,000 pounds; with most of the '46 Ford Coupe body beyond repair, the team has no choice but to build from the ground up.

A Texas-Sized Surprise
S4 E12

The guys hit the home stretch on the '46 Ford Coupe "Blue Thunder."

Cab Over Custom Part 2
S3 E2

The team goes bigger on the yearlong 1950 Ford F5 COE build when the client asks for a last-minute Cummins diesel engine swap; a twisted graphic wraps up a months-long 2001 Ford F350.

The Family Falcon
S3 E3

Bill knows all too well that families are the lifeblood of the custom truck scene; a customer wants to transform a 1965 Ford Falcon Club Wagon into a fully custom family cruiser; a 1966 Cobra replica gets reinforced.

Re-Dually
S3 E4

Bill and the team fix another shop's mistakes when a 2017 F-350 is hauled into the shop broken due to a botched lift; a client insists on the ultimate tailgating BBQ trailer with custom everything.

Bolt-On Is a Dirty Word
S3 E5

Bill looks to the year 2073 when the owner of a '73 El Camino challenges the shop to transform his vehicle. The city wants a custom bumper on a 2020 Freightliner tow truck that can push 45,000 pounds.

Big Diesel and Drag Truck
S3 E6

A 1937 International Harvester gets a big old Cummins 12-valve diesel engine that's as heavy as the truck itself; a 2005 Chevy Colorado gets a new lease on life as a nitrous-infused drag truck.

100 and C10 Percent
S3 E7

Bill and the team get their chance to finish a 1968 Chevy C10, which they turn into a unibody by welding the body and bed into one piece; an old dump truck rolls into the shop as the biggest truck the team has ever customized.

Dump Truck to Show Truck
S3 E8

A 1996 dump truck is the largest truck the shop has ever customized; the guys go extra heavy duty to create a military-styled megatruck; a lowrider enthusiast wants a custom air ride and LS swap for his pristine 1934 Buick.

Earl Campbell's Custom Cadillac
S3 E9

Hall of Fame running back Earl Campbell arrives with the body and parts of a 1949 Cadillac, and the crew is honored to create a ground-up build for the local legend; a 1940 F-100 build snowballs into a much bigger job.

Earl Campbell's Custom Cadillac Part 2
S3 E10

NFL Hall-of-Famer Earl Campbell made a career mowing down defenders, so the guys take the same hell-bent approach to rebuilding his 1949 Cadillac; they also customize a van for a disabled motocross rider so he can drive again.

Earl Campbell's Custom Cadillac Part 3
S3 E11

The team revamps an old school '34 Buick into a modern day lowrider; after months of rebuilding the body and making a custom frame for Earl Campbell's '49 Cadillac, the Hall of Famer challenges the shop with a last-minute wrinkle.

5500 Lifted, Texas Edition
S3 E12

This year's over-the-top build has Bill and crew lifting a 2020 Chevy Silverado 5500 more than a foot with a custom heavy-duty air suspension; the guys also prove their Texas mettle by radically overhauling the utility bed.

Buckin' Bronco
S2 E2

Bill and the guys have built a lot of trucks, but never a Ford Bronco.

Beyond ZL1, Part 2
S2 E3

Bill and the gang are back under the hood of the 2018 Camaro ZL1, rebuilding the engine to add as much power as possible before a visit to the dynamometer; Ekstensive tries to turn a patinaed 1949 GMC pickup sleeper truck into keeper truck.

Beyond ZL1 Part 2
S2 E4

The crew squeezes the '18 Camaro ZL for more power with an engine rebuild.

The Grand Finale
S2 E5

The '70 Suburban is finally revived, and a '65 Belvedere II gets a Hemi,

Buckin' Bronco
S2 E6

Ekstensive's built a lot of trucks, but never a Ford Bronco until now; Bill and the guys transform a rusted '68 Bronco roadster into a high-powered off-roading truck with a supercharged engine, handmade dash, roll cage, and waterproof interior.

C10 to a Hundred
S2 E7

A C10 gets new custom touches, and a Dodge Demon needs mods for the track.

Hauler Back
S2 E8

The wrecked shell of a 1970 Suburban car hauler tests Bill and his metal geniuses as they transform it into a high-end diesel, low, long bed, crew cab dually; Ekstensive makes a lifted and loaded F150 for Boots for Troops, a military charity.

Extra Large and Supercharged
S2 E9

A 2018 Yukon Denali XL will be the shop's tallest build ever.

International Truck of BBQ
S2 E10

Converting a 1940 truck into a mobile barbecue pit tests the team's skills.

Low Down and Dually
S1 E1

Bill and the guys customize a brand new 2017 F350.

I Can't Drive This '55
S1 E2

After a 90's remodel, a purple '55 Chevy truck needs a modern update.

The Caliente Cadillac
S1 E3

A local restaurant owner asks Bill to customize his '61 Cadillac.

The Impala Truck
S1 E5

A guy from TX wants to combine the shell of a '66 C10 with a '60s Impala.

Black on Black on Black Cadillac
S1 E6

Hip-hop artist Slim Thug wants his rusted '59 Cadillac brought up to the dress code of the rest of his car collection; the Ekstensive crew creates an eye-catching, black-on-black-on-black Cadillac roadster that would make the Batman jealous.

Bill's Baja Truck
S1 E7

Bill and the guys transform a wrecked 2017 F150 into a unique prerunner.

Black on Black Cadillac
S1 E8

Hip-hop artist Slim Thug wants Ekstensive to dress up his old '59 Cadillac.