When you consider the manual way we tuned cars for decades, it’s amazing how far tuning technology has come, and how intimidating tuning a modern vehicle can be. Having the right diagnostic tool that talks to the systems on these cars is critical, requiring something a little better than a code reader; something that gives you an indication where to go, what procedure to tackle next, and can pay for itself quickly. Haresh Gobin of Launch Tech USA joins the podcast to drop some wisdom on the guys about these innovative, yet affordable devices, whether you’re a DIYer or professional shop technic ..read more

According to Willie, there’s “not a better buddy to show up to your house on a weekend and say, ‘Hey, you wanna do some welding?!’” than the Wizard of Welding himself, Bob Bitzky. Trainer, teacher, professor, product developer; you name it, Bob’s done it. Today he joins the guys to lay down some serious knowledge about welding in general and TIG, chromoly, and aluminum in particular. “If you’re a steel welder and I’m gonna take you over to the aluminum side,” he notes, “I may have to remove your brain and turn it around inside your head.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/ad ..read more

Kyle Hyatali really knows how to build a hot rod and tee it up nicely. His purview at Vibrant Performance extends across the full life cycle of development, including everything from product design to tech support and marketing. Most recently, he’s been documenting a full customization of his personal ’87 Mazda RX-7 decked out with the full Vibrant catalogue. “We often consider ourselves similar to a Home Depot of car fabrication,” he tells the guys in this week’s podcast. “You could come to us, you could buy your stainless and your flanges and build what you want pretty much…. Bring your own ..read more

Having recently driven the new 2023 Roush Mustang, even diehard Mopar guy Willie B must (grudgingly) give Ford its due. This is music to the ears of both Kevin and today’s guest, Jim Kemp, 28-year veteran of Roush Performance and manager of its Crate Engine Program. As what was once unimaginable becomes possible and modern horsepower wars intensify, “Everybody’s trying to make the meanest, nastiest, just most unbelievable product out there,” notes Kemp. “And I get a front row seat to all of that.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices ..read more

From his early days at Chip Foose’s side on Overhaulin’, Kevin witnessed firsthand the art and skill of automotive drawing and designing on paper. Today, Kevin’s self-proclaimed “Favorite French Car Guy” and Design Manager at Ford Performance, Anthony Colard, joins the podcast to discuss the finer points of automotive design. “We don’t live long enough to drive boring cars,” says the man from TheModernRacer.com, citing his one-of-a-kind ’68 Barracuda Fastback build as a prime example. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices ..read more

Dan Millen of Livernois Motorsports is one of those guys that just eats, lives, and breathes motorsports performance, and over the years he’s figured out how to tap every ounce of power these machines can possibly produce. “We’re at the crescendo of high performance and what you can get out of cars; it’s only gonna last a couple of years longer,” notes Willie in his introduction, “and Dan has some real recipes and remedies to get that horsepower.” After all, as Dan freely acknowledges, “The more power [the OEs] give people, the more power people want.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ..read more

Kevin Tetz has been a professional painter, teacher, and well-known TV host for decades. His wealth of knowledge and easygoing delivery style have made him THE go-to guy for novices and DIYers. As he tells Kevin and Willie in today’s episode, “The difference between a painter and a paint gun owner is your ability to get yourself out of trouble,” which is something everyone should both expect and embrace. Don’t be afraid to mess things up, he says, because “experience is the ultimate teacher… just get in there and do it!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices ..read more

Brian Tooley of BTR Racing has been fighting for power and harmonics and everything that goes on in that valve chain for decades, and nobody’s been as aggressive. “There’s lots of smart guys out there that are doing phenomenal work. We are a tiny bit ahead of most of our competitors,” he tells Kevin and Willie, “and have been shockingly successful.” In his fifth appearance on the podcast, Brian leads a revealing deep dive into hydraulic roller camshafts that’s not to be missed. “I can’t believe no one else has thought of this and figured this out,” he says, adding, “I hope none of my competito ..read more

There’s a brave new world of cordless tools that come outfitted with high tech batteries and power cells, brushless motors, and a wide array of cool features for all types of applications. These new developments, new chemistries, and new form factors provide more energy for using tools longer, leading Kevin to observe that “our tools are better than our dad’s tools, by far!” Joey Gamber of DeWalt Tools joins the guys to discuss the evolution of tool and battery technology, and how the company builds-in features that give everyone “from the guy who’s a seasoned professional – all the way down t ..read more

A successful suspension upgrade does not have to break the bank and can be done on just about any ride over the course of a weekend. As Kevin points out, “Sometimes you just need to upgrade a couple of key components, add some stiffness, and wow, the fun factor goes flying!” Kyle Briese of BMR Suspension couldn’t agree more. “You can literally transform a car by just adding a couple simple bolt-on parts,” he tells the guys. “You can take it from boring to being way more exciting to drive just by simple stuff, and you can do it with just a handful of parts.” Stick around and find out how. Learn ..read more