Two Guys Garage Podcast

Will Dover, Director of Category Management, Undercar at CarParts.com joins the guys to discuss one of the two most essential aspects of driving – stopping. While not everyone sees the fun factor of brakes, those who do can really appreciate how great stopping power enhances vehicle performance and driving pleasure. Selecting the right kit can be daunting, posing this challenge for Will: “How do we make it as simple as possible for the customer to find the right product for their car so that we can get them back on the road as quickly as possible?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Navigating a virtual rat’s nest of wires can drive just about any DIYer to the breaking point of gutting their electrical system and starting from scratch. Willie and Kevin know this drill all too well, and in this podcast they turn to American Autowire’s R&D Manager Don Bock for help with hassle-free wiring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former co-host Bryan Fuller joins Kevin and Willie to celebrate Two Guys Garage’s 20th Anniversary and chat about the trio’s recent reunion with original hosts Dave Bowman and Sam Memmolo on the milestone season finale. They also go deep on one of Bryan’s latest and most unexpected projects, outfitting a ’69 Cougar convertible with Tesla underpinnings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Willie B is deep in the throes of his first solo SEMA build on a rare 1966 Dodge Charger “slapper” car that is most definitely NOT a General Lee. With the clock ticking down, he’s sliced, diced, cut, chopped and wide-bodied it, learning firsthand that “most nightmares occur while you’re awake.” In this final installment of our five-part series, he begins to question whether all the lost sleep, high stress, and hurdle after hurdle will be worth it in the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As president of Factory Five Racing, Dave Smith is the poster child for pride in ownership. The “Built, Not Bought®” kit car company has weathered its share of storms over the course of 27 years, with the last year-and-a-half being “both the most challenging and maybe a lot of fun, too, but not in the way I thought.” Consider this: There are 4500 parts in one kit, and with 10 kits sold in an average week, that’s 45,000 parts leaving the building in a single week. Add a global pandemic to the mix and, as Dave tells the guys, things get complicated real fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Ida is a third-generation car builder and, in Kevin’s estimation, one of the most talented designer-builders on the planet. His penchant for Tuckers is renowned, and he also tackles an incredible array of projects from the most modern to most archaic and just about everything in between. In Part 4 of our five-part series, Rob chronicles the hurdles and headaches of restoring a rare 1962 Holman Moody Ford Falcon/Challenger 3 for SEMA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once upon a time, old school hot rodders had to sacrifice cabin comfort for horsepower. Today, there are zero reasons for any cool car not to have AC. Much of the credit for this can be attributed to the folks at Vintage Air and its Chief Innovation Officer, Ryan Zwicker. The company’s SureFit and Front Runner systems have revolutionized the industry, leading Willie to dub them “the panacea of pulleys,” and Ryan to note that the “best way to judge a fan’s capacity to do work is how much motor it has on it.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As owner of the successful Girl Gang Garage and co-host of MotorTrend’s long-running hit series All Girls Garage and Garage Squad, Bogi Lateiner has earned an enviable reputation in the automotive world. Now deep into her third all-female SEMA build – “I did not expect to be building a SEMA car, ever!”– she takes time out to chat with Kevin and Willie about the project in the third installment of our five-part series. “It’s the biggest undertaking that I’ve ever done; it is absolutely insane, it’s just an unreal project!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geoff Hacker and Guy Dirkin have dedicated themselves to preserving the legacy of cars that most people have probably never even heard or dreamed of… including Willie and Kevin! “I don’t chase cars; I chase stories,” says Hacker. Over the last 15 years he’s invested more than 15,000 hours of work into Undiscovered Classics and curated a huge library of archival materials on rare handcrafted American sportscars. “We’re revising the stories that no one’s heard in 60 years; that’s what makes it fun.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second podcast of this five-part series, Willie goes deep on his first gen ‘66 Dodge Charger build for this year’s SEMA Show. Not exactly renowned for its natural beauty, this labor of love (emphasis on labor) is inspired in part by Kevin’s own kick-ass 1990 LS-powered BMW M3 build several SEMAs back. “Ugly cars get really cool at SEMA,” notes Willie, “and sometimes really gorgeous cars get really ugly at SEMA!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cleveland Power & Performance is a one-of-a-kind hybrid: part salvage yard, part custom build shop, and all-around amazing. Kevin describes it as “a go-to place for nothing but the awesome stuff,” and second-generation owner Rick Fragnoli doesn’t disagree. In fact, his famed “Reverence” restomod – a ’69 Charger with a 6.2L supercharged Hellcat engine – recently sold for around $400K. “If it’s a $20 part or a $20,000 part,” Rick tells the guys, “we’ll work with whatever parameters people need.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If SEMA is the Super Bowl of car shows, the Ring Brothers are the Lebron and Michael of car builders. Yet even Jim and Mike are up against the wall trying to get parts for the three projects they’re bringing to this year’s highly anticipated event, the first since the onset of the pandemic. In the first of a five-part series leading up to SEMA, Kevin and Willie go two-on-two with the legendary siblings who modestly describe themselves as “just guys that like cars and [are] lucky enough that people like what we’re doing.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s podcast Kevin observes that once you truly understand the way it moves, “the amount of things that you can go make with metal is incredible!” Much of the credit for this can be attributed to the good folks at Woodward Fab, purveyors of fine industrial grade sheet metal equipment at affordable prices. “The tools are very old and technology, they’re very, very simple,” says Manager Darren O’Brien, “but the right tool can make the difference in speed and quality of your project.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second of their two-part interview with Gale Banks, Willie and Kevin get deeper insights into the man who changed the history of the internal combustion engine. “I’m hopelessly addicted to horsepower,” exclaims the racing legend who cut his teeth on gas and is now largely known for diesel. On predicting what lies ahead, the born to run competitor anticipates “it has to have a higher energy density.” And that’s just the beginning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Established in 1967, Kinsler Fuel Injection is all about stacks and individual throttle bodies. From vintage to state of the art, restoration to the latest and greatest, their specialty is and has always been classic stuff in modern interpretations. “My job is to burn up as much fuel as I can,” GM Greg Murchison tells Kevin and Willie, “because fuel is power.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gale Banks is a force to be reckoned with – a legend with 11 patents and hundreds of copyrights, he has literally changed the world of hot rodding. In the first of a two-part conversation with Kevin and Willie, the self-described “full-blooded nerd” reflects on numerous milestones throughout his 50+ years in the business, concluding that “the underlying theme for my whole career is the turbo charger.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to Chevy Blazers, Mark Sopko of Motor City K5 is THE go-to guy. “I did Broncos for almost 20 years; I knew Broncos like the back of my hand,” before deciding to change course and specialize exclusively in Blazers. “I was expert in the old world, I need to be expert in the Blazer world,” he tells Kevin and Willie, “so that’s what I did.” And in a big way, with his 4WD SUV walking off with First Place at 2020’s Detroit Autorama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin and Willie ponder the science, the mystery, the voodoo behind the harmonic balancer that holds an engine together. They invite Fluidampr’s Ivan Snyder III to school them on the three types of vibration to be aware of – unbalanced, axial and torsional – starting with Lesson #1: You know you’ve gotta have a damper, but what the hell is it? The answer: It’s crucial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin and Willie are about to geek out over history, old stuff, and cool things they learn from Matt Anderson, Curator of Transportation at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. “We’re really about the impact of the car on American culture and how it’s changed everything,” Matt tells the guys. “Before the Model T you could get a good car, you could get a cheap car, but you couldn’t get a good, cheap car; the Model T hit that sweet spot, and that changed everything.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Driveshafts take a relentless beating, constantly applying load with substantial torque. Repairs, upgrades and modifications are always top of mind for Lee Mejia of The Driveshaft Shop. Citing expensive custom builds that completely neglect driveshafts and axles, Lee regales Willie and Kevin with stories of destructive and real-world testing, like what happens when a heavy projectile made out of steel suddenly pole vaults or grenades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Believe it or not, there was a time when “a record player in the car was the ultimate in fidelity and entertainment,” notes Ted Cardenas, VP of Marketing at Pioneer Electronics. From record players to 8-tracks, cassettes to digital, satellite radio to car Wi-Fi and beyond, the 25-year company veteran excitedly tells the guys the best is yet to come. “The stuff we’ll have 5 years, 10 years, 15 years from now will eclipse everything that we have today, which is the coolest thing!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They may not be all that sexy, but when it comes to pneumatics and air tools, a compressor is the first and most critical big tool you’re likely to buy. Today the guys learn from Jarrett Affolter of Ingersoll Rand all there is to know about air compressors – the different types, what the fail points are, how to make them last forever, and what size you need to do what you want to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Livernois Motorsports and Engineering is making great modern horsepower come alive in your car, and they’re doing it in the easiest and simplest of ways. “Everything today starts with the tuner, it’s the cheapest mod you can do,” co-founder Dan Millen tells the guys. With 27 lifts and 45-50 cars in the shop at any given time, this self-described die-hard Ford guy turned die-hard everything guy is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible both on and off the track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cut-and-stick-on sound deadening materials are effective, but can be a slog to install. In this episode, Kevin and Willie detail how LizardSkin’s spray-on insulation eliminates the misery so often associated with thermal management and noise reduction DIY projects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the Car Guy’s Ultimate Dream Staycation. Located right off world-famous Woodward Ave outside the Motor City, sitting on 87 pristine acres housing 250 private garage condos ranging in size from 560 to 3000 sq ft, M1 Concourse is also home to a 1.5-mile, 11-turn high performance driving track and several world class events. As Willie exclaims to newly minted CEO Tim McGrane, “This is a place where your fun side gets to shine!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Advances in technology are breathing new life into old hot rods and muscle cars, in many cases allowing them to do things they were never intended to do. Consider the massive performance capabilities in bolt-on suspension packages now leading an explosion in the restomod and truck categories. In this episode, the guys discuss developments with diehard car guy Mike Ruth, Chief Application Engineer leading the charge at Heidts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vorshlag Motorsports owner Terry Fair knows the ins and outs of every type of go-fast car. Autocross, open track events, time trials, wheel to wheel road racing, drag racing; you name it, he’s done it at a high level. As if that’s not impressive enough, Kevin has dubbed him “the Christopher Columbus of LS swaps,” having been at the forefront of a movement that has gone from laughed at to lauded. Strap in for some fascinating conversation as Terry shares his wealth of knowledge with the guys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A near-death experience incorrectly strapping a car on a trailer taught Willie a hard lesson on the rights and wrongs of vehicle transport. On this episode of the podcast, Joe Parks of industry leader Pilot Transport shares his observations and experience moving everything from a Ford Escort to a Bugatti Veyron across 49 states and Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh off a nine-day, 1600-mile cross country bike ride, Kevin’s a little raw but raring to go swapping stories with noted custom bike builder Kevin Dunworth. Add Willie to the mix and you’ve got a trio of diehard motorcycle fans shooting the breeze on everything two-wheeling past, present and future. “We are in the last of the gasoline era in cars and bikes,” observes Dunworth, before adding, “I might get beat up at the bar for saying this, but I think electric’s cool!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For pure sub-9 second, factory direct, mega horsepower drag racing, nothing beats COPO Camaro. Just ask Rich Rinke, multi award-winning driver and owner of COPO Parts Direct. Kevin and Willie do just that as they get the inside scoop on the latest and greatest. From battles royale in the staging lanes, to the next evolution of the Central Office Production Order, one thing remains constant, says Rich: “We’re a bunch of overgrown Hot Wheels lovers!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the day, instrument clusters had some very cool designs and architecture, albeit limited functionality due to the available technology of the times. Today, getting the gauges just right for your resto mod project is the sole mission of Classic Instruments. As owner John McCleod puts it, “We really want that old school look and feel, but being able to run modern,” to which Willie replies with awe, “It really is a craft and a skill; it’s straight up art.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a fairly simple equation: More Air + More Fuel = More Power. A supercharger can boost that power by as much as 50-85%. Now ProCharger has changed the game with its F3X capable of generating 3500 HP @ 70,000 RPM. Sergio Shifman joins the guys to explore the company’s lineup of full kits that can add hundreds of horses to late-model vehicles in a single weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of the legendary Ken Lingenfelter, Willie says, “I bet more hours of his life have been dedicated to speeding up our rides and our cars and our events than probably anything else in his world.” And a most remarkable world it is! Noting that “there’s so much passion and enthusiasm with this whole car enthusiast side of things,” Ken engages the guys in a lively discussion touching on some of the top VIP moments over the course of his illustrious career, as well as the best, worst and most underrated Corvettes of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lots of folks love a car or truck that looks old but drives like new. Crate motors, overdrive transmissions and big brakes have blown open the resto market, and that’s been good for business at Auto Metal Direct. GM Mike Gray gives the guys a primer on how AMD’s sheet metal is better than OE, why quality matters, and the reason muscle car guys love trucks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Kevin and Willie set out to shed some light on the inherent mystery of, and awesome tools available for, tuning your vehicle. Noting that 1000 hp is the new 350, they enlist Jay Payson of HP Tuners to address both the ease and complexity of a successful tune. “We make the tools to tune with and our customers are doing the tuning,” says Jay. “And it’s absolutely remarkable what these guys are able to accomplish.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The future creates the present.” So Google’s top-rated futurist speaker Thomas Frey tells the guys in this fascinating podcast. From predictions of the death of the internal combustion engine and the emergence of the 1000-mile range electric car, to the impact of autonomous vehicles on real estate values and how the Covid era will fundamentally change mankind, “We’re gonna try to stretch people’s thinking a little bit here, so let’s jump right in!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The aftermarket is a $300 billion industry powered by 270,000 independent shops driving massive amounts of inventory. When COVID swept in, it required an immediate need to pivot. As Chief Merchandising Officer, Dave Morris was at the forefront of navigating those rough seas for CarParts.com. In an insightful and candid conversation, the 30-year industry veteran takes Kevin and Willie behind the scenes of how the company not only survived but thrived throughout this unprecedented crisis. “We’re a very analytical company,” he explains. “We sell jobs, not parts.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rambler Ranch in Colorado is, in a word, unique. THE destination for all things AMC, Nash (and Kelvinator appliances) is home to, as Willie puts it, “one of the most amazing car collections on Earth.” Started in 1992 with 30 cars and now numbering upwards of 800, rarities include a 1955 Pinin Farina Speciale, 1948 Nash Tow Truck, AMC Marquesa prototype, and the only AMC Concord Touring Car in existence. “I have seen grown men cry,” says caretaker Ben Hamilton, “and I’m not joking.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Gabrelcik, CEO of Lubrication Specialties, maker of Hot Shot’s Secret, returns to the podcast to update the guys on the latest developments in additives, and he’s got a lot to talk about. From the promise of new nanoparticle technology to predictions of fill-for-life oil and forever-running engines within 10 years; next evolution solutions for RVs, ATVs, marine and more; additives to make generators last 2-3X longer and ways to increase fuel economy and lower greenhouse gases at a much higher level. Says Kevin, “I feel smarter, but melted inside a little bit!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Troy Ladd has a special love for old school hot rods, especially 30’s-era hot rods. Ever since he built his first car in high school – a ’66 Mustang – the visionary behind Hollywood Hot Rods has made his bones on new stuff that looks like old stuff and makes you feel like you’re back in 1936. From one-of-a-kind barnyard finds to the one that got away, Troy tells the guys, “I wish I had the ability to keep them all and never sell a car,” but unfortunately that’s no way to run a business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Generations have been trusting Dupli-Color and its sister product VHT for everything from oops-type fixes to full-on paint jobs since 1938. From prep and cleaner to undercoating, wheel coating, engine coating and truck bed coatings, Product Manager Brian A. Suter certainly has a lot on his color palette. Kevin and Willie caught up with him on a recent break to talk about the latest trends in the industry, his top tips for DIYers and how formulation is key to the continuing success of the brands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fabrication is essentially the Architecture of How – how to manipulate materials to maximize form and function. Deryck Griffith of Vibrant Performance refers to the process as using “LEGO pieces made out of metal,” as he explains to Kevin and Willie how the company “consolidates the needs of the artist” with high tech engineering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

zMAX Micro-lubricant is well known for its ability to soak into metal on a molecular level, dispersing nasty engine carbon build-up. Because the movement of metal is a constant engineering challenge, all types of companies have found uses for the product, from locomotives to small aircraft and large diesel engines. “Cars and speed are in our DNA,” notes VP and GM Dan Chittock, as epitomized by the company’s state-of-the-art 4-wide dragways in Charlotte and Las Vegas, a topic Willie and Kevin are all fired up to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the old pole barn in the woods to the custom multicar garage and the ultra-modern car condo, gearheads have been searching for the perfect Man Cave / Mechanic’s Dream since time immemorial. Brian McNamara of Gearhead Homes joins the guys today to answer the call as he reveal the tricks of the trade and hottest trends in auto-centric real estate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skrape is up for anything and everything. The former co-founder of Tapout is known to pick up normal family-style cars on the cheap and transform them into horsepower heroes. His quirky fascination with wagons is well-known…as is his company. Black Widow Exhaust offers a unique line of mufflers with names like Venom, Widowmaker, Neighborhater and Angry Housewife. “It’s all a marketing thing,” he explains to Willie and Kevin, “but you have to have a good product to back it up, which we do.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For Kevin and Willie, driving is all about the fun factor, and that means throwing gears – we’re talking huge left thigh, major heel-toe clutch action. More discs = more torque, and that means twin, triple and now even quad disc clutches. On this episode, Geoff Gerko of Mantic Clutch exposes surprising ways clutches are wrecked, and reveals best practices for preserving them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gilmore Car Museum bills itself as North America’s largest auto museum, and for good reason. Located on 90 acres in southwestern Michigan, the sprawling campus features 7 partner museums; 190,000 square feet of exhibit space; 435 unique vehicles; 3 miles of pavement; and 100 rustic camping spaces. As summer approaches and the pandemic eases, Kevin and Willie welcome Executive Director Josh Russell to talk about pent-up visitor demand and the exciting attractions awaiting guests eager to experience everything from the latest Corvette exhibit to the popular chauffeured Ride the Classics program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wonder what it’s like to spend your working hours conjuring visions of cool custom cars and then seeing them actually brought to life? Designer Murray Pfaff has been doing exactly that for years, and in this episode he regales the guys with tales of dreams made real that are absolutely to die for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Diesel’s here to stay, there’s no question about it now that diesel’s gotten so clean,” says Clint Cannon, and he would know. Willie and Kevin welcome the President of ATS Diesel Performance to the podcast to dissect the popular misconception that EPA-mandated emissions technology is somehow killing performance, instead making the case that OE trucks delivering 500+ hp and 1000+ lb-ft of torque is a clear indication that one is not at the expense of the other. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many in the hot rodding world, the sport is much more than a hobby, it’s an obsession; the passion is in the blood. Case in point: Dan Millen and the gang at Livernois Motorsports and Engineering. As Willie and Kevin discover in this podcast, these guys buy and drive only what they can modify… which is just about anything and everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices