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.

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.

'31 Ford Rebuilt
S7 E9

Bill Carlton looks for the balance between handmade metal work and the designs of two Ford trucks; the team makes a 1931 Ford tougher, while overcoming a crucial design challenge on 1949 Ford, one of their biggest ground-up builds.

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 beloved '64 Rolls-Royce with a rusty secret rolls into the shop; the team finishes final fabrication as they prepare to ship out the '53 tanker truck.

F-350 Raptor Build
S6 E5

The team turns an F-350 into a Baja-style Raptor and rebuilds a '64 Rolls.

440 'Cuda Overhaul
S6 E6

When the outside doesn't match the inside on one of Bill's favorite muscle cars, a 1972 'Cuda, the team hatches an innovative plan for a modern, handmade redux; Bill and the team tear down a 1952 GMC wrecker to build it into a tow and show truck.

Bill's Baja Is Back
S6 E7

Bill wakes up his F-150 race truck, and the wrecker gets new suspension.

Ford Lightning Fast
S6 E8

Bill thought he'd done it all until a 2022 Ford Lightning rolls in and becomes Ekstensive's first custom air ride with an all-electric drivetrain; the team stays old school by dropping a classic '52 Wrecker to the floor with a supercharged LT4.

Jeep Gladiator Steel
S6 E9

Bill sees a custom-made opportunity to turn a smashed 2022 Jeep Gladiator into a custom truck; the side-by-side scene has exploded in Texas, and Ekstensive gets a shot to show what they've got with a brand-new Polaris Ranger XP 1000.

Denali Lift and Hot Rod Wrecker
S6 E11

What was already one of Ekstensive's biggest ground-up builds ever goes even bigger on the '52 tow truck, as Bill and his team fabricate a custom hot rod wrecker truck unlike any other; the team takes the stock out of a 2023 GMC Denali.

Denali Lift, Bugatti Chop
S6 E12

John Cena surprises the shop with parts of an iconic '37 Bugatti Type 57; it's Bill's turn to surprise John with an audacious design choice; a stock '23 GMC Denali goes bigger, badder and dually.

Jeep Splits and Foreign Whips
S5 E1

Bill and the gang split a nearly perfect 1960 Willys Jeep into four pieces to make it longer, wider and meaner.

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

Bill has never really liked the body of the 1974 Cadillac Eldorado, but when a client wants hers radically redesigned, Ekstensive blends old and new to make it cooler than the rest.

Bigger, Badder Wrecker
S5 E5

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

H1 Hummer-Dinger
S5 E6

Bill changes things up when a 2001 Hummer H1 needs serious reinforcements.

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

A '68 C10 gets over-the-top fabrication and an epoxy river bed.

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 first vehicle Ekstensive has ever built entirely from scratch, the heavy-duty, 1,500-horsepower buggy of Bill's dreams; as they finish one enormous build, they take on their next one, John Cena's Bugatti 57C.

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.

Rock 'N Bronco
S4 E9

Rocker Ted Nugent brings in his beloved '74 Bronco; Bill and the guys make an all-terrain beast unlike any other; With his creative sparks flying, Bill gets going on a build he's dreamed about for years: a handmade, all-tube, off-road buggy.

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.

Cab Over Custom
S3 E1

The team tries to outdo themselves with a redesign of 1950 Ford F5 COE.

Cab Over Custom Part 2
S3 E2

The client asks for a last-minute engine swap on the '50 Ford F5 COE build.

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.

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.

Denali Drop
S2 E1

A client wants Bill to set the bar for custom SUVs with a 2018 Yukon Denali; the guys get busy with chassis, body mods, interior and twin turbos; Ekstensive goes full gangster with a 1948 Mercury, remaking a legendary car from the inside out.

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.

International Truck of BBQ
S2 E4

Bill and the guys are known for their custom metal work, but the transformation of a 1940 International Harvester water truck into a mobile barbecue pit tests all their skills; a 1986 C-10 is a family heirloom that's remade for future generations.

C10 to a Hundred
S2 E5

Bill and the guys take a good C10 to a hundred with custom touches from inside to out including one of one interior and bed; Ekstensive makes a dream come true by modifying a 2018 Dodge Demon for an under ten second quarter mile run on the track.

Street Rod Milk Truck
S2 E7

Rusty and riddled with bullet holes, Bill's neighbor hands over the crumbling shell of a '52 Ford F4 Milk Truck; the guys unleash their best fabrication skills and turn this 60-year-old milk truck into a one of a kind, dazzling diesel street rod.

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 & Supercharged
S2 E9

Bill pushes the shop's creativity with his own build of a 2018 Yukon Denali XL; the luxury SUV is their tallest build ever with a custom lift, straight axles and a supercharger; the '70 Suburban gets a custom chassis and body with a fourth door.

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 Impala Truck
S1 E3

The old shell of a 1966 Chevrolet C-10 is combined with the best of a '60s Impala in a ground-up build with a completely hand-built chassis, body mods, 6.2L engine and a hydraulic bed.

The Caliente Cadillac
S1 E4

When a local restaurant owner asks Bill to customize the '61 Cadillac he purchased at auction, the crew provides a fully customized interior, suspension, wheels and tires; an eye-catching 1963 Chevrolet C-10 gets its twin turbo engine all fired up.

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.

Houston, We Have a Lift Off
S1 E7

A longtime customer wants to make a statement by lifting his stock 2017 F250 Platinum 4x4; the boys from Texas are happy to oblige with a handmade 22-inch lift on 42-inch custom tires.