Two Guys Garage Podcast

The gauge cluster is more than just a functional panel; this precision instrument can also serve as fine jewelry for your ride. Classic Instruments COO John McLeod tours Kevin and Willie through the company’s ICU – Instrument Customization Unit – and answers the question, “How can we make it smarter and smaller?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

REVan Evan Smith is plugged into everything related to cool cars, cool projects, and wild builds. He’s constantly up to something new in the exciting world of motorsports, from testing prototypes and creating machines and equipment most of us only ever dream about, to snapping exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of the industry’s latest and greatest. Kevin and Willie have a long history with Evan d...

Brian Tooley of BTR Racing is like a master chef who brings together unlikely ingredients to create unique recipes for high horsepower systems. Willie and Kevin welcome “The King of Cams” back to the podcast for a professional grade discussion on boosted vs. nitrous in the HP wars, and whether nitrous and supercharging can work together. As Kevin observes, “The world is full of random facts, and t...

Much like anything else, it is true that not all oils are created equal. And with engines and metallurgy changing, producing higher pressures and temperatures in smaller engine compartments, there is a growing need for so-called miracle oils. This mixing of metal and lubrication is known as tribology, and it’s something that Darren Lesinski, Technical Director at Total Energies, understands better...

Engine builder Jon Kaase is all about winning. The 1977 NHRA Pro Stock Championship. 12X Mountain Motor Pro Stock Champion. 9X Engine Masters Challenge Champion. You get the picture. Jon recently sat down with Kevin and Willie to discuss his many accomplishments, most notably the revered Boss Nine automotive engine, and his many big engine battles in the marine world. Learn more about your ad choi...

Intellitronix is an employee-owned Ohio company best-known for its sleek and sexy LED gauges. The wide range of available colors and color selectable tech offers a state-of-the-art way to bring extra pop to many classic vehicles. And by using original bezels, Shawn Slenski and Mel Schneider can keep prices surprisingly affordable. “We’ve always been the bigger and brighter type guys; everything we...

When it comes to Chevy Blazers, Mark Sopko of Motor City K5 is THE go-to guy. “I did Broncos for almost 20 years; I knew Broncos like the back of my hand,” before deciding to change course and specialize exclusively in Blazers. “I was expert in the old world, I need to be expert in the Blazer world,” he tells Kevin and Willie, “so that’s what I did.” And in a big way, with his 4WD SUV walking off...

Not to be outdone by Kevin’s Mustang project, Willie brought his 1978 Firebird onto the TV show. Distinct from its “Smokey and the Bandit” counterpart, this Trans Am is white with a silver bird, has no T-tops, and is incapable of replicating anything from the movie. And while it hasn’t been fired up in 25+ years, it’s about to get a ton of go-power and a whole lot of handling. We’re talking LS swa...

The Firebird is considered by many to be GM’s red-headed stepchild; “a cool car with a beak,” compared to the cooler Camaro. Having recently brought a ’68 Firebird back from the dead on the TV show, Kevin and Willie take listeners inside the episode, detailing the upgraded PROFORM radiator, Mantic twin disc clutch and Fragola fuel lines they installed on this neglected classic. Learn more about yo...

The guys just wrapped work on Kevin’s Pro Touring daily driver project – a 1970 Fastback with Coyote swap – with a solid assist from Tom Peters of Mustangs to Fear. Having first staked a claim to fame with its “Gone in 60 Seconds” Eleanor-style fiberglass panels, MTF now offers a complete list of original products and straight up car builds. “Let’s face it, building a car is hard, and we don’t wan...

Cleveland Power & Performance is a one-of-a-kind hybrid: part salvage yard, part custom build shop, and all-around amazing. Kevin describes it as “a go-to place for nothing but the awesome stuff,” and second-generation owner Rick Fragnoli doesn’t disagree. In fact, his famed “Reverence” restomod – a ’69 Charger with a 6.2L supercharged Hellcat engine – recently sold for around $400K. “If it’s a $2...

“Diesels are the bomb,” raves Kevin, “but there’s some things that go along with owning a diesel that you’ve got to be aware of, and some days you can get bit.” To illustrate this point, Kyle Fischer of Hot Shot’s Secret joins the guys to drop some science and offer some solutions for avoiding common pitfalls such as fuel gelling. “Diesel fuel in America sucks,” opines Fischer, adding that “we loo...

Kevin and Willie love wheelin’ and everything that has to do with steering and/or suspension, so they’re pumped to get a master class in bumps and humps from Frank Vasquez of KW Suspensions. From entry level all the way up to professional racing, KW is the epitome of German precision engineering in the category. With over 16 different options for any particular car, Frank’s quick to point out that...

To say that not everyone enjoys wiring a vehicle is an epic understatement. Fortunately, Chris Squier of Hotwire Auto does, and he’s made it his mission to remove as much of the pain from the process as possible. Kevin and Willie chat with Chris about their recent experience using his simplified engine harness on Kevin’s 1970 Fastback project. “The end product Willie said looks factory, but I thin...

Today’s podcast is all about making beautiful noise, and no one knows more about this than Magnaflow’s Rich Waitas. Kevin calls it “the magnificent choir that comes out of the back of exhaust pipes… it’s an art form,” albeit one whose days may well be numbered as EV appears ready to displace IC and the sound it generates. Yet, for all those like Willie who believe that “the right sound means every...

As a professional Formula Drift driver, Matt Field rides on rails with controlled chaos underneath them. Essentially flying on pavement while going sideways at top speed, this occupation requires mad skills, intense concentration, and a warrior mentality. “These are full-blown race cars… it’s just a different form of race cars,” he tells the guys in a recent sit-down. “We want the stickiest tires...

Today’s podcast is all about rolling gears using the notorious third pedal. But make no mistake; it’s not all fun and games. “There’s so much going on with a clutch,” warns Kevin. “There’s a lot of pitfalls, you can go right down into a deep dark hole that you didn’t want to be in if you go down the wrong path.” Luckily, Geoff Gerko, owner of Mantic Clutch USA is on hand to guide the guys down the...

Kevin and Willie take listeners behind the scenes of the TV show as they discuss their respective paths to “Two Guys Garage” coming from two different directions, landing in one spot, and bonding as partners in crime. Trained as an engineer, Kevin reveals how stints working with the legendary Carroll Shelby on “Rides” and Chip Foose on “Overhaulin’” led to his 14-season stint (and counting) on “Tw...

John Kraman, the voice of Mecum Auctions drops in to chat with the guys about the exploding classic car auction scene. “We are on one heck of a roll, on pace to set another all-time record north of $600 million in the sale of collector vehicles as the world’s largest collector car auction company.” Learn firsthand about the ins and outs, what’s hot and what’s not, what to expect and what to avoid...

When it comes to thermal management, you’ve got to protect everything under the hood (not to mention the driver and passengers!) from extreme heat. The guys at Heatshield Products have been designing innovative items that make vehicles perform better, last longer, be more durable, safer, and more comfortable since 1985. Bruce Heye and Chris Schwartz are a couple of car guys committed to creating h...

Foo Dog Motorcycles in Denver, CO is the brainchild of traveling-musician-turned-classic-restorer Carson Allen, a die-hard fan of vintage 1960s to early 80s Japanese bikes, with a special affinity for those in distress. Of course, parts for these lost legends can be pretty hard to come by, and that’s okay with him. “Preserving the past is really my focus,” he tells Willie and Kevin. “I know that t...

In Part 2 of this ongoing series of podcasts, the guys do a deep dive on details of Kevin’s Mustang project, including the centerpiece Coyote swap he’s pegged to deliver 800-1000 hp. “It’s gonna be my track day car, for sure. It’s gonna be nasty but refined,” says Kevin, noting that a chunk of the build will be shot for an upcoming episode of the TV show. His plan is to build the car “like a ship...

There are all types of wheels for different applications from different processes at different price points. Casting, flow formed and forged; aluminum, steel, and composites; three-piece and monoblock. It can all seem overwhelming, especially since wheels have so much power to make or break everything about the driving experience. Joining the guys to demystify the confusion is Dave Schardt, Presid...

“There is nothing like nitro methane power, the kind that makes 11,000 HP and flames coming out of the pipes,” NHRA Funny Car Driver Alexis DeJoria tells the guys in a candid pre-race sit-down. “We accelerate quicker than a fighter pilot does.” High adrenaline and outsized levels of risk run hand in glove, putting tremendous pressure on the crew chief, the DC Motorsports team, and herself. The abi...

In this episode’s intro, Willie makes it abundantly clear that he absolutely hates wiring. That is, he did until he discovered American Autowire’s all-in-one kits that make what can seem like a daunting task as easy as possible. “Wiring (for) a lot of people is black magic, it scares them to death,” says Engineering Support Manager Don Bock, “and really, if you understand the concept of it, it’s r...