Two Guys Garage Podcast

Back in the day, you had maybe two options for hoses – rubber and steel braided. Today, with so many different combinations to choose from, it can be downright overwhelming. What, why, and how to run the right lines is the domain of Brint McLellan, Technical Analyst at Fragola Performance Systems. Brint joins the guys to discuss the big mistakes, pros and cons, dos and don’ts of selecting and plumbing a wide array of fluid lines, from fuel to power steering, cooling to brakes, nitrous to racing. 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

Photojournalist and die-hard magazine guy “REVan” Evan Smith’s had his finger on the pulse of performance and racing for as long as he or anyone else can remember. In this all-new chat with the guys, he talks about making the transition from print to video to digital, and the need to keep pace with rapidly changing technology and the distribution systems central to reaching car folks wherever they are. And for folks wondering how to get your car into your favorite publication he offers some great dos and don’ts you’ll definitely want to hear! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second of a two-part project for the TV show, the guys really upped the ’69 Camaro’s game, converting it from fully carbureted to fully fuel injected, and doubling the original two-speed Powerglide to a four-speed. In this podcast, they explain how they did it and why this is a true DIY project almost anyone can do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Gabrelcik, aka the Additive Alchemist and Guru of Goo, returns with more insights about “the cholesterol of your engine,” stiction. As CEO of Lubrication Specialties, Inc., a custom lubricant company breaking World Records in NHRDA racing, he’s proud to note that “the same thing we’re selling to our racing car guys is the same thing a diesel truck owner can buy for his truck.” It’s also a cost-effective product for keeping vehicles on the road longer, especially amid soaring inflation. “You’re reducing the friction and the wear, which is one thing, but you’re also doing the cleaning,” explains Kevin, “so it’s really the combination of those two things that’s kind of magical.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin and Willie kick off Season 19 of the Two Guys Garage TV show by reconfiguring a 1969 Camaro from a strip car to a born-again daily driver, and in this companion podcast they detail the setup change and performance upgrades that propel the Gen 1 classic from fight to fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin and Willie welcome back Dave Smith, President/CEO at Factory Five Racing and one of their first guests from the podcast’s inception. A lot’s happened since then, but enthusiasm for FFR’s kit cars hasn’t waned a bit. “When you think about the satisfaction you get just from mowing your yard,” observes Kevin, “just magnify that by 10 bazillion!” From mistakes made and lessons learned to what’s new on the horizon, the guys have a lot of catching up to do! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Chris Small of AkzoNobel leads the guys on a deep dive exploration of different types of automotive paint and how to successfully apply them. Noting that “cleanliness is pretty much everything,” Small makes the case for waterborne over solvent based paints. “Less experienced painters can have better results blending and things like that right out of the gate.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Willie’s view, it represents “everything outside the car that means more than the car.” It’s your own personal Garage Mahal, “the getaway spot where you go to find your soul,” says Kevin. “My garage is where I go to find myself.” Today the guys welcome Brian McNamara of Gearhead Homes to lead them through the ins and outs of searching for, identifying, and purchasing the perfect place. “I find people a garage with an attached house,” he tells them. “You need the bedrooms for the toys, too.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode the guys get a step-by-step crash course in powder coating from Lee Goldenstein of Pristine Powder Coating outside Denver. “I’m self-taught and self-trained,” says Lee, “and it’s just incredible what you can do now.” Header coatings in particular have become very popular, he notes; in addition to their killer looks available in hundreds of colors, they’re very strong and extremely durable, supplying a major reduction of radiant heat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to acceleration, Brian Tooley is the man that knows it all. He’s the King of Cams who’s figured out how to make 2+2=5. As Kevin points out, “You can pick a big cam, but what you match it with can really dramatically change your end results,” and Brian is on hand to explain the how and why of it. From the latest R&D at BTR Racing to the future and limitations of EV and hydrogen fuel cells, there’s a lot to learn. 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

Willie and Kevin firmly believe that races are won with quality braking, as they extol the virtues of old school ABS. To prove their point, they enlist the expertise of Terry Fair, owner of Vorshlag Motorsports and a pioneer in ABS swaps for older platforms. “The better OEM systems have gotten really good,” Terry explains, “and not only does it improve your braking performance 20-30%, it improves driver confidence immensely.” 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

Kevin and Willie each have a serious case of Spring Fever – especially after two years of Covid – and can hardly wait to break out their toys and get back out there: Willie in his ’69 Charger and Kevin in his fully stripped-down Miata. Car shows, race days, road trips, marathon drives, autocross; you name it, they’re all revved up and almost ready to roll. A little maintenance and boom, it’s off to the races! 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

RECARO Automotive is renowned for the ergonomics and design of its seats, highly engineered to ensure optimal safety and comfort. Global VP of Product Development & Brand, Nicole Longhini-McElroy, stops by to enlighten the guys about a whole lot more than just derrieres in chairs, especially the “importance of your body and fatigue in a vehicle, and how can you prevent that and give people the ultimate enjoyment of their vehicle.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone’s heard the old adage, “There’s no replacement for displacement,” right? Well, Henry Bueno and Carsten Wagner of Wagner Tuning have gone to considerable lengths to thoroughly debunk this myth. Their intercoolers are a must-have for boosted applications, offering the largest application list of plug and play units in the aftermarket. With the company’s roots in Germany having recently expanded to a sprawling 60,000 square foot facility in Texas, Willie and Kevin are fired up to hear all about the art and science of cooling down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Livernois Motorsports & Engineering is the Detroit area’s one-stop shop for performance, service, and tuning. With all 22 lifts in the air and additional vehicles waiting underneath – driven largely by overwhelming demand for F-150 upgrades – the place is busting at the seams. Company president Dan Millen grabs a moment to catch his breath and talk with the guys about everything from supply chain related back orders, to crate engines, the EV evolution, and the future of ICE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the future of car audio look like? To answer this question, Kevin and Willie welcome John Myers of Kicker back to the podcast. Noting that the OEMs “do stuff to that audio signal that would just make an audiophile cringe,” Myers explains, “you’re really not buying car audio; you’re buying emotion.” Understanding the nuances and complexities of sound dynamics is the key. “You don’t know what you’re missing until you hear what you’re missing and then you gotta have it!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the top builders in the world, Levi Green of Hammer Fab is clearly on another level, crushing the stance on his unique creations with bad-ass attitude. The winner of the Ridler Award, Street Rod of the Year, Legend Cup and Barrett-Jackson Cup two times each(!) joins Kevin and Willie to discuss his work, his art, the state of 3D printing, the high cost of new technology, and his passion for training other professional builders how to reach their full potential. 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

Kevin and Willie groove about the first five project vehicles they’ve completed on Season 21 of the TV show – upgrading a ’68 Camaro to EFI; repairing a ’12 Super Bee with serious piston damage; decking out a pair of ‘22 Broncos; and equipping a brand-new Jeep Gladiator for overlanding. Along the way they share some of the personal projects they’re working on and provide a few tips from lessons they’ve each learned over the years, sometimes the hard way. 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

Wannabe builders Willie and Kevin welcome National Rod & Custom Car Hall of Famer Tim Strange for a personal tour through his storied career. From farm life to hot rod hero, from owner of Strange Motion to host of TV’s “Search & Restore”, Tim has amassed a prolific and wide-ranging body of work that is the envy of many… not least of all Willie, who recently debuted his first official SEMA build and eagerly awaits Tim’s appraisal of the finished project. But will it measure up? 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

Steve Johnson of Induction Solutions returns to the podcast to address the question, “Is nitrous the forgotten power adder?” (Spoiler alert: That’s a resounding, “No!”) As Willie is quick to point out, “Bang for buck, you can’t do it more affordably and safer than nitrous nowadays,” to which Kevin adds, “And it’s a heck of a lot of fun!” From the evolution of the I-S Holey Moley nitrous plate system that delivers 625+ hp, to direct port systems and progressive controllers, the guys reveal common hurdles and myths about nitrous and offer these sage words of advice: Beware the internet! 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

For nearly 60 years Detroit Autorama has hosted one of the most coveted competitions in custom car building, the prestigious Ridler Award. Recently returned from this year’s edition, noted designer Murray Pfaff regales the guys with all there was to see and do, including his very own D Lot – a 7,000 square foot “3-ring circus, portfolio, showcase, and epicenter” featuring a curated display of 9 one-of-a-kind vehicles and a Make-a-Wish Michigan online auction that awarded $40,000 in amazing gearhead prizes. 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

From science and engineering to technology and design, Bob Bitzky has seen and done everything there is to see and do in the mysterious world of welding. Over the course of his nearly half-century career as a professional welder – including 35+ of them at ESAB – he has become one of the foremost experts at torching molten steel. Kevin and Willie tap into his massive knowledge base for a lesson that will absolutely blow their minds. 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

Radford Racing School in Chandler, Arizona is the official High Performance Driving School of Dodge//SRT plus a whole lot more. “R-A-D defines the school,” raves Willie. “It’s a playground with four tires,” extols Kevin. With 85 Dodge vehicles on campus – everything from Demons to Hellcats to Vipers – plus Lotus Evora GT and Formula 4 cars – GM Mike Kessler has one of the best jobs in the business. He’s also got amazing stories to share, including the incredible tale of Hellcat Granny that you’ve got to hear to believe! 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

SVTPerformance.com is THE go-to online forum for anything performance-related in the Ford world. Launched by Travis Hill in late 2000, today it numbers nearly 200,000 members and counting. “It is just a massive community of Ford enthusiasts who share a passion for just going fast,” Hill tells the guys, compelling even lifelong Mopar fan Willie B to take notice. “Make it, break it, build it better; get out there and have some fun!” 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

Reggie Wynn returns to the podcast for the first time since our inaugural episode and suffice it to say, there’ve been some pretty big developments in turbo tech since then. Turbonetics and Precision Turbo are now making units capable of producing up to 3000 horsepower, and their parent company is the only aftermarket manufacturer offering class-specific turbochargers. “This is the Golden Age of four-digit horsepower,” Kevin excitedly notes. “We are drug addicted with this stuff!” 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

Believe it or not, there’s another Willie B in the world – his mirrored identical twin, Billy. They’re two chips off the old engine block, each having inherited the car bug gene from their dad. Despite Willie’s well-known affinity for Mopar and Billy’s for GM, the brothers are otherwise symbiotic best friends, competitors, and passionate car guys. Kevin is anything but the third wheel in today’s conversation, chatting with the brothers about all things automotive, including Billy’s new venture in the tuning and dyno business. 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

Kevin’s buddy of 25 years, Doug DeLong, left the frozen tundra of Detroit for the great outdoors of Colorado, where he founded Well Sorted Automotive to celebrate the wide world of overlanding. As he tells the guys, “Most of what we’re doing is kind of that lifestyle of living the off-grid camp life,” largely by converting vintage trucks for off-roading, adventuring, and camping. Putting modern power in some of these old school platforms and bringing them back to life combines nostalgia with a cool factor that Willie and Kevin absolutely love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RaceQuip has been producing fire protection and safety gear for the racing community since 1975. Patrick “The Badger” Utt bought the company out of bankruptcy in 2006 and nurtured it back to life. The root of his success? “It’s all about building quality gear and coming in at that price point that that grassroots racer is looking for and being competitive at that.” And while this life saving equipment isn’t always top of mind with his customers, as he bluntly explains to Kevin and Willie, “Safety gear is less expensive than skin grafts.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Horsepower is like a drug; you race somebody and beat ‘em, you can’t wait to race the next guy.” So says John Meaney, the man behind the powerhouse that is Big Stuff 3. A trained engineer and passionate hot rodder, he makes some of the biggest power you’ve ever seen. According to Kevin, “it’s like a whole vehicle management rocket ship computer,” something Willie knows all about firsthand from running the products on his own cars. So, strap in for this one, it’s going to be a very fast ride! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The design work of Motofab’s Ernie Miyamoto spans a wide spectrum of creativity that can truly be defined as art. His one-of-a-kind ’72 VW Super Beetle hot rod is a triumph of fabrication and style, not to mention “the funnest car you’ll ever, ever be in in your life!” Building a car with the exhaust in mind, Ernie works freehand without the benefit of renderings. He’s learned a lot of lessons over the years, and as he tells Kevin and Willie in this podcast, “the hard part is visualizing it and making sure it fits; the other part is just fabricating.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jake Hawksworth and Jon Miller are at the forefront of what many expect to be an enormous explosion in the motorsports community: electric conversion kits. Electron and proton-produced power, performance and range are the order of the day at Hypercraft, causing die hard traditionalists Willie and Kevin fits wrapping their brains around the sea change now upon them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Willie and Kevin are going vintage, beyond old school, to a time when Ford’s phenomenal flathead engine with its iconic V8 brought affordable parts to the masses – and gave birth to the original hot-rodding era in the process. Joining them on their journey is Bill Jagenow of Brothers Custom Automotive, who has an unbelievable eye for details and knows these engines inside and out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At 6’5”, Cooper MacNeil is not your average race car driver. With numerous wins and championships to his credit – ALMS, Ferrari Challenge, Petit Le Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring – he’s run some of the world’s most iconic races, from Daytona to Le Mans. Noting that “you’re pretty much 100% every lap for 24 hours straight” has Willie and Kevin green with envy. “There’s nothing quite like doing 200 miles an hour – legally, that’s the key!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Godzilla is no longer just King of the Monsters – it’s also the latest engine from the Ford Motor Company, a 7.3L 446 V8 monster available on E-Series vans, Super Duty pickups and as a standalone crate engine. Brian Wolfe, retired Director of Global Engine Engineering at Ford, joins the guys for a revealing conversation on how this gamechanger came to be and what it means for the future of racing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From crankshafts to connecting rods, cams to engine blocks, Callies Performance Products is known for its trademark excellence, precision tolerances, high grade materials, demanding specs, and benchmark quality control standards. Direct from PRI, Heath Norton returns to the podcast for a chat with the guys on a wide range of topics, chief among them the challenges facing the performance industry from both the pandemic and the rising prominence of the EV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tommy Boileau is a consummate Throttle Jockey: racing go karts at age 7, Spec Miata at 14 and SCCA World Challenge at 16; eventually testing in Indycar and NASCAR before moving up to V8 Supercross, Rallycross and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb, an event he describes as “the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve ever had or probably ever will have.” In this podcast, Kevin and Willie tap Tommy’s professional expertise to get tips for Weekend Warriors, from setting tire pressure to adjusting sway bars and tuning shocks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices