Search & Restore
Weekends on SpikeTV
There are memories behind the wheel, and under the hood, of every vehicle. For years, PowerBlock viewers have been reaching out to us, requesting our help to rescue your unfinished projects, classic collectables and family treasures.
You spoke, and we heard. Search & Restore was created for you, the viewer, to resurrect your dream of rebuilding your vehicle. After receiving nearly 70,000 submissions of your stories and photos, Search & Restore is PowerBlock's answer to ignite hope back into the lives of those in need of a helping hand.
Your ride, our dime.
Join us, weekends on Spike, as series host Tim Strange collaborates with the entire PowerBlock crew and volunteer teams to tackle the jobs that inspire us all.
The Recovery Rig
Driving cross country to locate and retrieve viewer’s vehicles requires a serious truck and trailer combo. Search & Restore has teamed up for 2011 with Ford to roll in a new F-350 turbo diesel dually hauling a new Pace American tri axle enclosed trailer.
Truck
2011 Ford F-350 6.7 turbo diesel PowerStroke with APE/Avery vinyl graphic wrap, Warn HD winch-mount bumper with integrated grill guard and Warn 16.5 TI electric winch and wireless remote, Warn W400 HID driving lights, Mickey Thompson ATZ Plus LT265/70R 17 ten ply tires, B&W bolt-in fifth wheel hitch with turn over ball, Solar Solutions 3M window tint and Solar Solutions Xtreme spray in bed liner.
Trailer
Pace American 37 ft. triple axle enclosed car hauler with APE Avery vinyl graphic wrap, Miller Welding BlueStar DX 110/220v generator/welder and Warn M-8000 electric winch.
The Shop
For years Matco has been the Official Tool Supplier of the PowerBlock so it’s no surprise the Search & Restore shop uses the latest Matco tools and tool storage boxes. Our Search & Restore build team counts on Matco to get the job done right.
Matco Tools
Assorted hand tools and power tools, Matco “Muscle Cart” 440 tool boxes, MB 8530 three bay top chests, MB 8535 three bay roll arounds, MB 8501W side lockers, MB 8505 side boxes and Matco utility carts.
Miller Welders
The shop also includes lots of Miller welders and equipment: two 180 Diversion MIG welders, two 211 Autoset MIG welders, a 252 Millermatic MIG welder, two 375 Xtreme plasma cutters and two Miller ARC Station Deluxe welding tables.
Bend Pak Lift
The Search & Restore shop features a new Bend Pak XPR-10ACX two post clear floor lift with a capacity rating to lift vehicles up to 10,000 pounds. This asymmetric, 220V unit is also wider than most allowing doors to be opened while suspended.
Blast-It-All Media Blast Cabinet
The PowerBlock shops use media blast cabinets every day to clean and shot peen parts and Search & Restore is no exception. Search & Restore features Blast-It-All’s new Magnum 4436 unit with a 600 cfm media separator to get the best blast results.
Volunteer Welding Supply
On PowerBlock and Search & Restore there is a lot of welding and plasma cutting so for years we have relied on Volunteer Welding Supply to deliver the special welding gasses and welding supplies our build teams need to weld steel and aluminum.
Col-Met Prep & Spray Booths
The PowerBlock team does a ton of body work & custom paint so we need the best body prep and paint booths we could find. Col-Met provided us a fully lighted EZ Prep recalculating prep booth and their top of the line heated EZ Sidedraft spray booth.
Island Clean Air Prep Station
When we need to do some body work outside of our prep booth, we wheel in an ICA Duster 3000 Downdraft mobile prep station to filter body filler dust out of the surrounding air. These powerful portable filtering units clean and re-circulate fresh air.
PlymoVent Welding Gas Diffuser
Welding is a given in our Tech Center where we burn lots of wire from sheet metal repair to fabricating chassis and roll bars. To extract smoke and welding fumes Search & Restore relies on our Plymo Vent welding gas diffuser to clean the air.
Dake Shop Equipment
PowerBlock has been using Dake shop equipment for years. Our new Search & Restore shop features assorted Dake equipment including their commercial belt sander, chop saw, cold saw, horizontal band saw, vertical band saw and drill press.
Safety-Kleen Parts Washers
All PowerBlock shops, including Search & Restore, rely on Safety-Kleen cleaning systems to insure parts are properly and safely cleaned thanks to their recycling solvent parts washers and environmentally friendly aqueous heated part washers.
Accessible Systems Rotisserie
Total restorations require a bottom up rotisserie that allows complete 360-degree access for media blasting or other work to frames and unibodies. The PowerBlock Tech Center’s unit is fully adjustable (width, height & centering) to accept most cars.
Industrial Depot Hardware
When you build cars like we do, having a complete selection of the right new nuts, bolts, studs, washers and shop supplies is a must. Industrial Depot supplies us hardware assortment bins and refills them saving us time, money and frustration.
Gladiator GrageWorks by Whirlpool Corporation
Garage organization system with 8-foot modular workbenches with power strips, Premier storage wall panels with medium and tall storage cabinets, Pro series wall Gearbox, Gladiator Clean-Up caddy, project caddy and 19-cubic foot “Chillerator” garage refrigerator.
Kundel
When it comes to lifting just about anything in the Search & Restore shop, the build team uses a pair of Kundel SnapTrac overhead cranes. These electric units are ideal for moving chassis, rear ends, engine blocks, etc. Each is complete with Konecranes remote control electric chain hoists.
RTM Productions
Franklin, TN
Established in 1989 by Executive Producers Patty Bledsoe St. Lawrence and Joe St. Lawrence. In 2000, the company was purchased by Lagardere Active North America. The St. Lawrence’s continued to serve as President and COO. In late 2004, the St. Lawrence’s repurchased the company from LANA and is again a privately held corporation.
RTM Productions is a full-service television production company specializing in automotive, outdoor, and entertainment programming. The company employs a staff of 40 plus including executive staff, administration, sales, producers, writers, talent, videographers, editors, and graphic artists, website designers and programmers. RTM is vertically integrated providing all production services – studios, cameras and post-production in house.
In January, 2006 RTM consolidated its three locations and moved into a state-of the-art 50,000 sq ft facility located in Franklin, TN. This production tech center features five full production studios, five edit suites and all business offices.
RTM has supplied program series and specials to ESPN, espn2, CBS/TNN, The Outdoor Channel, Spike TV, Outdoor Life Network, as well as domestic syndication and international distribution.
PROGRAMMING
RTM's regularly scheduled half-hour programs have included new vehicle and how-to automotive series and outdoor lifestyle shows.
SOCIAL
© 2011 RTM Productions. All rights reserved.
