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.

'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

A pristine '60s Willys transforms into something bigger, meaner and louder.

Missouri Tanker
S6 E2

Bill and team go big with an antique '53 tanker and small with a golf cart.

Coupe de Tanker
S6 E3

A new customer challenges Bill with his fully customized '37 Ford Coupe, which he wants restored to its factory look; as one of their biggest builds yet, the '53 tanker proves again and again that the bigger the truck, the bigger the build.

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

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.

Bill's Baja Is Back
S6 E7

Bill is hard on his trucks, and that's especially true of his Baja-style 2017 F-150 race truck; after one too many jumps, Bill is ready to wake it up one more time; the team designs a one-of-one suspension for a 1952 wrecker truck.

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.

Mini Truckin' UTV
S6 E10

The Polaris mini-truck continues, along with metalwork on the '52 wrecker.

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.

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.

Hometown Homerun Van
S5 E9

The Houston Astros enlist the services of the Ekstensive team; Bill works his magic on a 1968 Chevy C10.

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.

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 to set the bar for custom SUVs with a 2018 Yukon Denali.

Beyond ZL1
S2 E2

The 2018 Camaro ZL1 is already a high performance sports car, but the owner wants Bill to improve his even more; the guys are happy to oblige, starting with a handmade aluminum chassis and interior; a new client wants his Sierra Denali frame dropped.

Beyond ZL1
S2 E3

A Camaro ZL1 gets performance upgrades and a GMC Sierra drops to the floor.

Beyond ZL1 Part 2
S2 E4

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

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

A '70 Suburban is transformed, and an F-150 build will benefit 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.

I Can't Drive This '55
S1 E2

A purple '55 Chevy truck that was remodeled in the 1990s is in need of a modern update; Ekstensive creates a timeless and classy truck with a modified hood and scoop, a handmade interior and new wood bed.

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.

We Drop Them Low
S1 E4

The crew turns a bread truck into the ultimate T-shirt vending machine.

Fast or Slow We Drop Them Low
S1 E5

The owners of a run-down '63 Grumman bread truck want it transformed into the ultimate t-shirt vending machine; Bill and the crew drop the giant truck to the floor with custom body modifications and a bar-themed interior.

Houston, We Have a Lift Off
S1 E6

A long-time customer wants his F-250 4x4 lifted and made off-road ready.

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.