Two Guys Garage Podcast

After months of neglect and distractions, Willie and Kevin are finally digging their project cars out of mothballs to begin wrenching on them again. They share some pre- and post-winter storage tips to ensure a smooth transition back to the open road and pull back the curtain on the slow and steady progress – and occasional behind-the-scenes struggles – that come with resurrecting sidelined automotive projects. From unexpected repairs that muck up the works to the satisfying (and sometimes frustrating) world of custom fabrication, they highlight the very real setbacks and victories that many car enthusiasts face.

The Horsepower Wars are back! President of Callies Performance Products Heath Norton takes Kevin and Willie deep behind-the-scenes on the massive collaboration between Callies and Stellantis/Direct Connection to bring the new Aluminum Gen 3 Hemi block to the masses. Heath reveals the "racing dust" he’s baked into the tooling for dry-sump flexibility and why the 52-hour torture test at the Chrysler Tech Center proved that the Hemi is far from dead.

Are we witnessing a "gas resurgence"? Willie and Kevin tap into the expertise of Dan Millen from Livernois Motorsports & Engineering to dissect the surprising sales struggles of modern muscle alongside the intriguing sleeper potential of vehicles like the Durango Hellcat. They delve into the aftermarket's ongoing battle with OEM tuning restrictions and the unexpected realities of EV adoption compared to traditional gas power, ultimately questioning the future landscape of high-performance modification.

You might want to wait on dropping $8,000 on that blower you’ve had your eye on until after you’ve heard this week’s podcast. Willie’s twin brother Billy from Warlock Tuning joins the guys to expose the hidden horsepower buried in factory torque limiters and explain how modern “neural networks” in Dodge and GM platforms are changing the tuning game. From optimizing your engine’s "ecosystem" for maximum output, to the sleeper appeal of an all-wheel-drive, cammed-out police interceptor, Billy explains why these AI-based decision-making systems are leaps and bounds ahead of the old-school way of tuning.

Although the guys normally talk about four wheels, today they’re shifting gears to focus on the evolution of sophisticated electronics that are transforming modern motorcycle technology. Along with Dylan Bolton from Tri-City Cycles, they marvel at how innovations like phone-based tuning and anti-slide systems give riders more control and confidence, whether they're tackling a race, a trail, or just weekend riding, effectively changing the game forever.

The gap between OEM performance and the aftermarket is closing fast. Tremec’s Mike Kidd joins Kevin and Willie to reveal their latest billet-cased prototypes. From rev-matching fixes for '19+ Mustangs to a manual gearbox solution for the C8 Corvette platform, Tremec is rewriting the rules for the aftermarket. This week, we dive into the science of triple-cone synchronizers, 80-millisecond shift times, and why the "Terminator" of transmissions is moving into the transaxle world. Whether you’re a pro-touring veteran or a modern muscle fan, this is the hardware update you’ve been waiting for.

Willie and Kevin welcome the innovative Bryan Fuller of Fuller Moto to discuss his latest audacious project: a five-day build to create a car body from scratch. Fuller recounts the inspiration behind this seemingly impossible feat, stemming from a shattered Hot Wheels model and a desire to push the boundaries of automotive fabrication using the newest technology available. He details the challenges of assembling a dream team, including the legendary Chip Foose, and utilizing cutting-edge technology to shape metal in ways never before attempted. Hear about the intense, almost deafening atmosphere in the shop, where "it was literally like a frickin’ jet plane" with dozens of metal shapers at work alongside a 10-man film crew, and the camaraderie that fueled this unprecedented automotive achievement.

When Willie’s Jeep twists an axle in the middle of a desert ravine, the right gear becomes a literal lifesaver. He and Kevin welcome Kris Scherm from ESAB to recount a "clutch" trailside repair using a battery-powered portable welder. From there, the conversation expands to include "plasma gouging" and the massive technological leap that has occurred in metal fusion since 2020; exploring the science of Pulse Stick welding; the 'one-knob' simplicity of modern Rogue MiG systems; and the productivity gains of moving from stick to high-speed wire. From toaster-sized pocket welders to waveform electronics that make beginners weld like pros, listen in and learn how the perfect welder for your garage or shop is more attainable than you think.

Kevin and Willie dive into the world of car appraisals with former homicide-detective-turned-appraiser Burke Payne of BP Appraisals, revealing the often-harsh realities and surprising windfalls of the collector car market, where "condition is everything”. Burke discusses his process, which can expose the gap between perceived and actual vehicle values. He also explains how a professional appraisal provides concrete documentation, justifying a vehicle's value to potential buyers and insurance companies, proving that appraisals are more than just opinions, they are data-driven evaluations that help protect your investment.

What happens when 15,000 hours of elite craftsmanship meets the high-stakes reality of the auction block? Kevin and Willie trace the journey from the prestigious Grand National Roadster Show to the main stage at Barrett-Jackson as they talk shop with Bryan Fuller about the “psychological threshold” – the exact moment a car becomes too valuable or too detailed to actually use. As the level of craftmanship rises each year, is the goal to create unique automotive art or to win an event? From the “rub-throughs” of fresh show paint to the challenge of valuing one-of-a-kind art, the guys explore the thin line between a driver’s dream and a museum piece.

Willie and Kevin uncover the secrets of "EyesOn Design" with Glen Durmisevich, the Design Director & Chief Judge for this one-of-a-kind automotive design showcase. Held on Edsel Ford's lawn, the unique Detroit car show celebrates the artistry of automotive design, where vehicles are judged on their proportions, line work, and surface development, offering a distinct departure from traditional concours events. "These cars normally are judged by lineage, by pedigree,” Willie explains, “and here it's something really different."

Most people know Dorman for the "Help!" aisle at the local auto parts store, but today they are a design powerhouse launching on average 21 new products every day. Kevin and Willie sit down with Lester Kovacs, Director of Ideation, to pull back the curtain on the "OE Fix" philosophy. From replacing Ford’s leaking plastic oil pans with improved aluminum versions to re-engineering oil drain angles, learn how Dorman uses a nationwide Technician Advisory Council and "scrap bin research" to solve the industry’s most annoying repetitive failures.