Welding and fabrication legends Bryan Fuller and Mark Prosser join the podcast to catch everyone up on what’s going on in their worlds. Speaking on projects, Mark muses, “Everybody is into a cool project until there’s a bunch of work to be done. They love seeing the parts come in, the shiny chrome and the polished aluminum but now we gotta work guys…“. Enjoy this first of a two part podcast journey as they discuss past, present, and future projects and everything in-between.
Factory Five Racing President and CEO Dave Smith has made an indelible mark in the component car, kit car, and hot rod industries. Once again leaping headfirst into automotive design, FFR’s latest is a remarkable prerunner truck kit that can double as your daily driver. As Dave explains it to the guys, “The idea was to use our chassis engineering and manufacturing skills in chassis and suspension, which we’re good at, and leverage it into a build-it-yourself Raptor on steroids with rabies.” And best of all, it comes at a very affordable price.
Aerosol paints have evolved considerably since Ed Seymour first invented them 75 years ago, and the company that bears his name remains at the forefront of the aftermarket, turning DIYers into artists. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, the guys welcome Rodion Galperin for a conversation about all things aerosol, including the latest breakthroughs in the tech and some helpful tips for mastering your own technique.
On a recent episode of the TV show, the guys were intending to rebuild a ’66 Charger’s 440 block as well as a 4-speed 833 overdrive transmission, but what they found was something neither had expected. “The first warning signs of an engine that is not a runner,” notes Willie, “is when you see (paint) overspray on push-rods, internals, and on the valley pan.” It became pretty obvious pretty quickly that the supposed drop-in runner of an engine was not at all what it was supposed to be. What happened next is the focus of today’s podcast.
The guys welcome Kyle Fischer of Hot Shot’s Secret back to the podcast to talk not about diesel, but gasoline additives. Gasoline is a more highly refined product than diesel, so are additives really necessary, and are they effective? With so many available options on the market, Kevin asks, “Is that really a secret sauce or is it just a sauce? What is in there and what is it doing for me anyway, do I need it?” You may find the answers surprising.
With summer upon us, Kevin and Willie share personal stories of overheating and give listeners tips, tricks, knowledge, and know-how to help stay cool! From OE cooling systems to your weekend hot rod’s system, the guys talk common mistakes and ways to maintain a proper cooling system. Kevin states, “What we end up doing as hot rodders, we obviously increase horsepower, but we build our own cooling systems, we chose a radiator, and we chose a fan, and you know what? There’s a lot of little details that sometimes we miss”.
The guys have learned a thing or two about blasting over the years, dating back to the days before PPE was commonplace and the effects of prolonged exposure to various media was of little concern. Now with dozens of “Blasting with Byrd” TV segments under his belt, Kevin has become something of an expert on the subject, and today he and Willie welcome Dustless Blasting Marketing Director Kaylyn Starr to the podcast. The company was first to market with a mobile blasting platform that provides environmentally friendly solutions for a plethora of applications and occupations, leading Kevin to attest, “It’s mind-blowing to compare it to anything else.”
The guys discuss buying and selling at Barrett-Jackson, Mecum, and local automotive auctions with Rick Fragnoli the owner of Cleveland Power and Performance. They also trade stories as well as tips and tricks for getting what you want at swap meets. Kevin asks, “So what is your top piece of advice for scoring big at a swap meet?” Rick states, “Cash in hand, you gotta have cash”.
From selling glitter out of a suitcase to traveling to European manufacturing and mining facilities chasing the perfect pigment, today the guys talk all the things that bling when it comes to paint with Manny Martinez the owner and founder of Tropical Glitz paints. Referring to customers and their desire to find the perfect paint, Manny states, “you guys have a vision, you have a dream so we’re here to give you a solution for that vision.”
Kevin and Willie discuss the current evolution and transitioning of the Automotive Industry to electric vehicle technology. From hybrid to full autonomous electric vehicles, the guys discuss it all. Kevin states, “It just keeps getting better and better and we love it, and now we’re at this crossroad…” Do you like electric vehicles or are you a muscle car purist? “After enough beat downs on the track, you’re gonna change your mind!”
The world has somewhat transitioned from solvent based paints to water-based paints but that doesn’t always agree with the art form that is painting a vehicle, especially when you’re trying to get that perfect look! Willie agrees with Henry Ford stating, “A customer can have their car painted any color they want, as long as that color is black”, but Kevin feels that “a color of paint wants to be on certain cars”. Often the paint for your vehicle can cost more than the vehicle itself. So, what to choose?
Willie recently received an excited phone call from his twin brother exclaiming, “You’ll never guess what I found three miles from my house!” What he found is possibly the pinnacle small town elusive barn find – a 1970 Plymouth Superbird! It’s been stuffed in the back of a garage and the doors to the vehicle haven’t been opened since 1989. You can guess that this is one six-figure car that Willie really wants to get his hands on. The guys discuss the history of this classic, talk shop about many other classic and current rides that have always caught their eyes, and get emotional about some of the cars that got away… almost!
