When it comes to custom made-to-order lightweight forged aluminum performance wheels, David Schardt and the team at Forgeline Motorsports “make some of the top wheels you’ll see on just about anything,” notes Kevin, “from full-on race cars and supercars, down to just cool street machines.” David rejoins the podcast to compare notes with the guys on some of their past wheel decisions, discuss wheel technology and manufacturing from the past to the present, and consider the impact of proper wheel choice on the entire look of your vehicle.
Modern diesel engines are unbelievably powerful machines, and Bert Bonilla of Alliant Power knows a lot about them and the huge selection of new and remanufactured diesel parts they offer. “These guys really live in the diesel world, really cut their teeth in the diesel world,” Willie observes by way of introduction, “and that nowadays is big power, big performance and big issues.” The guys tap into Bert’s deep knowledge of the process of remanufacturing and fixing issues with used parts, common diesel engine problems, major failures that Alliant sees in their service shops, and what to do to maintain that engine for longer.
Brian Wolfe from Willis Performance joins the guys on the podcast to discuss his work with the Godzilla engine. Known as a Godzilla engine guru, Brian helped guide the 7.3-liter Godzilla engine while at Ford and is now able to create this engine in a way that makes it affordable for anyone. Willie asks, “Is it really out there and affordable to the point where you could go get your hands on one?” Brian counters with the full formula, describing the parts and the process of how he’s making 627 hp and 647 lb-ft with an affordable Godzilla engine for under $4,000! You don’t want to miss this episode!
With Two Guys Garage sister series Truck U now celebrating its milestone 20th season on the air, Kevin and Willie welcome longtime hosts and best buddies Bruno Massel and Matt Steele for a fun and insightful conversation featuring memorable moments, bloopers, and anecdotes from their two-decade history together. “We had all this stuff in common and we just both wanted to make the television product the best that it could possibly be,” Matt recalls about their initial meeting, “and as a result of that, the work relationship was just really good from the start.” It’s a fun-filled trip down memory lane as twin sets of automotive television’s longest-running duos look back at how far the industry has come and muse about what lies ahead.
A professional full vehicle paint job can be very expensive, so it can be tempting to save cash by doing it yourself. However, there are a ton of pitfalls to beware of, not to mention a learning curve that can be quite steep. But with time, patience, and a clean working environment, you can achieve a shiny result to be proud of. “There is no better feeling in the car world than spitting out a great paint job,” Kevin tells Willie as they cover some tips and things to look out for when attempting a DIY paint job. Mobile Environmental Solutions’ Tom Williams joins the conversation to offer his insights on the merits of mobile paint booths and advancements in the paintless dent repair (PDR) market.
REVan Evan Smith is back on the podcast to once again discuss all things horsepower with the guys. As a driver, builder, professional photographer, writer, and video host who covers everything automotive, “This guy is sheer chaos on wheels,” muses Willie. Evan’s got a lot on his mind today, including his ‘68 Mercury Cyclone build with a Godzilla engine, Paul Svinicki’s famous 2000 Mustang Cobra R that resurfaced, was rebuilt, and once again ran on the track, and plenty of thoughts on industry trends both past and present.
Renowned race announcer, event correspondent, and car builder Tim Strange returns to the podcast to talk shop and catch the guys up on what’s new in his world. As a fixture in the automotive industry, Tim is known for building “in your face hotrods”, and in this episode he discusses all things automotive, from trends in the industry to what he’s currently working on in his shop.
During a recent visit to the 2024 ISN Tool Dealer Expo, Willie discovered a group of products from a company called GripEdge Tools that positively blew his mind. He could hardly wait to get back and tell Kevin about their new Rounding Prevention Technology – RPT – that’s quickly changing the stripped fastener game. With Kevin sufficiently intrigued, the guys welcome Dan Styer to share his tools with listeners… and test Kevin’s skepticism.
It’s been nearly 5 years since the inception of the podcast, and Kevin and Willie can hardly believe it. Yet, here they are, celebrating episode #300. “It’s been a fun little journey, but I don’t see it ending anytime soon,” observes Kevin, adding that “there’s so many things out there that are still evolving and still ready to dive deep into.” It’s the perfect launchpad for revisiting some of the major changes that have impacted the auto industry – and the guys’ personal lives – during this period. “The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately,” says Willie. “What an epic time to be alive, to be able to drive, and just enjoy all the offerings that are on the table!”
Designer Murray Pfaff is renowned for his creative and wild projects, weird stuff you can trip out on that makes your jaw drop. Murray makes his third appearance on the podcast fresh off a pair of amazing back-to-back events: the 1,000-mile Hot Rod Power Tour – which saw him field both an Explorer ST with Petty’s Garage and a Meyers Manx SR kit car – followed a mere two days later by EyesOn Design, where unlike any other show in the country, one of the judging teams is legally blind, reviewing the cars purely by touch with white gloves on. It’s a fun and fascinating conversation you won’t want to miss.
Much like the host city of Las Vegas, the annual automotive aftermarket celebration known as the SEMA Show continues to get bigger and better every year, and this year promises to be no exception. From its first-ever live stream of all 31 hours of the show, to music acts and industry events, SEMA is THE place to be the first week of November. “This is where the future of automotive is being dictated,” Tom Gattuso, VP, Events, SEMA, tells the guys, themselves veterans of more SEMA Shows than they can count. “As a car guy, it is heaven,” Willie exclaims. “For four or five days, it is like nothing else!” Listen in and get the scoop on all that’s in store for this year’s event.
Bryan Fuller and Mark Prosser are back on the podcast discussing the science and art of welding and fabrication. Mark muses, “At the end of the day, every weld is the same thing, you’re welding two pieces of metal together man”, the difference is “it’s all in the prep”. From Inconel welding to an advanced metal shaping project in the works for 2025, today we’re talking metallurgy. Listen in and learn, with this continued conversation with two legends of the industry.
