Godzilla is Ford’s latest monster engine, their supersized response to the wildly successful LS platform. Kevin likens it to an LS on steroids with more cubic inches, while today’s guest Doug DeLong of Well Sorted offers it up as further proof of the adage, “there’s no replacement for displacement.” Recently relocated from Denver to Atlanta, Well Sorted is on the forefront of installations and different applications for this powerful beast, “the culmination of a lot of lessons learned” along the way.
Finding a powerful powertrain for an old hot rod or truck is no longer the difficult challenge it once was. Nowadays it’s finding the right rear end that’s the real challenge. Have no fear though, Jon Henson of Currie Enterprises has a plan. “We want to take the voodoo out of a rear end and basically make it an easy purchase, an educated purchase, and something that now you can spec out based on your build and how you’re gonna use the vehicle,” he tells Willie and Kevin. “The ultimate goal is to make sure that at the end of the day when the customer gets in his car and he’s driving and he just wants that freedom, that he’s gonna get that feeling.”
Kevin’s on a mission to not just rebuild but to reconceive the iconic 1970 Mustang Fastback he missed out on in his youth. In this first installment of an ongoing series, Kevin reveals his ambitious gameplan for the project, including how he came up with it, what he’s doing with it, and the direction he’s taking it. “It’s gonna be a daily driver hot rod that rips,” he tells Willie, “I’m gonna just hammer the bank account and I’m gonna get ‘er done!”
Frank Vasquez, Chris Atkinson, and Joseph Torres of KW Suspensions check in with the guys for a Master Class in making old cars new again. “Nothing wakes a car up like putting new suspension components, parts, and pieces under it,” notes Willie at the outset, enabling them to drive like they were meant to be driven. “You would not believe the difference in the right spring and damper combination,” adds Kevin, “and the technology is through the roof.” Learn why friends don’t let friends cut springs or bump stocks; why shock speed is specific to how fast the shock is being either collapsed or extended; and why making too many changes at once can cause all manner of unforced errors.
Back in the day, steering columns offered only rudimentary functions like three-on-the-tree. Nowadays, you can retrofit just about any vehicle with state-of-the-art tech featuring spectacular upgrades. IDIDIT President/GM Trever Cornwell joins the guys for a discussion about the evolution and ergonomics of steering columns. “We tell people, ‘If you can dream it, we can build it,’” notes Trever, citing everything from aluminum to 24k gold-plated columns for very specific steering applications.
Having a lift in your shop or garage was once something people could only dream about. Today they are not only readily available but also quite affordable, and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations for a host of applications. Mark Israel of Atlas Automotive Equipment joins the guys for an in-depth tutorial on the features and benefits of 2-post, 4-post, scissor, and motorcycle lifts. “One of the biggest, baddest, coolest tools you could have is a lift,” raves Kevin, “and at a really attainable number.”
Ross Berlanga of TMI Products joins the guys to discuss a real pain in the butt for drivers: uncomfortable seats. It may be a little-known fact that outside of paint, high quality upholstery is one of the bigger costs you can incur on a car, and as Willie notes, “Nothing changes the game like getting that seat when it’s fit right, that you feel secure in.” From the virtues of molded foam vs. cut foam, to demystifying low back seats and converting truck benches to buckets, get ready to learn everything you ever wanted to know – and then some – about seats!
On the eve of his retirement from Hot Shot’s Secret, Chris Gabrelcik joins the guys for one final conversation, touching on how best to prep and store the toys of summer, and busting some longstanding myths on the longevity of engine oil that’s been left sitting for months on end. “There’s no reason to not use a fuel additive always… not only do they clean out the system and lubricate it, they also make the storage much better because they have fuel stabilizers that keep it fresh for two years.”
Today’s paint jobs – both factory and aftermarket – are expensive. Exposure to the elements and improper care can wreak havoc and leave your ride looking sad. Adam Pitale has made it his life’s mission to perfect automotive protection with a fleet of easy-to-use products bearing his name. “So many people want an easier mousetrap,” the creator of Adam’s Polishes tells the guys. The secret is “a simpler process they can drive a clean car all the time and don’t have to spend all their free time cleaning it.”
This Monte Carlo SS was rolled into the shop, literally. The rolling chassis is incomplete, and the body needs work, but the owner wants the guys to focus on the underside first. They’ll mockup a new engine and transmission along with new EFI and build a Ford 9-inch to get the suspension complete. They’ll then tackle the brake set up to get this chassis closer to being finished.
