Kyle Tucker is widely acknowledged as a groundbreaker in the development of pro-touring, although he admits that he didn’t quite see it coming. “It was really just good timing and some luck,” he tells Kevin and Willie. “We were just out there being geeky engineers wanting to test our parts, but we were marketing at the same time, and it did a lot for the company in the early days.” The evolution of Detroit Speed from grassroots beginnings to industry juggernaut, on this episode of Two Guys Garage Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 technician. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/adchoices

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 turbo, but we got everything else.” He’s also got some great tips to avoid mistakes building your own exhaust, thermal management, and fuel systems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

Acknowledging that “we’re always learning,” Kevin and Willie embark upon a fond trip down memory lane, citing some major lessons they’ve learned along the way. Like the importance of strapping down whatever it is you’re moving, and why not to use a fire extinguisher on an engine. Or the danger of running nitrous at the wrong temp, and the wisdom of making everything foolproof. “There’s so much strength in the struggle, and typically one of your best means to educate yourself is your last mistake,” notes Willie, “and isn’t that really what makes the story so great?” Adds Kevin, “There is no better way to learn and never forget than to just screw something up.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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 competitors are listening to this podcast, because they’re going to be redesigning their camshafts as soon as they get done listening to it!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 22 of the Two Guys Garage TV show kicks off with Kevin and Willie executing an LS swap on a ‘94 Chevy Old Body Style pickup, complete with EFI from FiTech. VP Mike Wahl joins the guys for a deep dive on how surprisingly simple it is to upgrade to fuel injection, which for a long time was considered hugely intimidating. “We definitely pride ourselves on trying to make the simplicity side of the user end as easy as possible,” notes Mike, as well as affordable. And with 500 new parts numbers unveiled on April 1, that’s no joke! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 to someone’s who’s just starting – the availability to tailor it.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fresh from a chance encounter with Kevin at the recent Rolex 24 at Daytona, Nicole McElroy of Recaro Automotive joins the podcast for an in-depth discussion about butts in seats. Not just aftermarket and racing seats, but OEM seats, commercial vehicle seats, stadium and swivel seats, 8-way power performance seats, and even haptic seats. They all fall under the company’s four pillars: quality, comfort, safety, and innovation. As Nicole tells the guys, “We’re making breakthroughs in things that we thought were gonna make a difference, but you don’t know until somebody actually experiences it.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Visner’s life took a hard right turn when he altered his career path from pre-med to engine building, and in the process forever changed both his life and the future of racing. As Kevin says while introducing Dave in this episode, “When you want to win, you call this guy,” especially when it comes to the advantages of billet versus casting. As Dave tells the guys, “The more we learn, we realize how little we used to know.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin’s former Overhaulin’ pal-turned-politician Cherielynn Westrich joins the podcast direct from the Iowa State Senate Chamber for a frank conversation about her remarkable career trajectory. From a singer in The Rentals with Maya Rudolph (“If there was a band playing in ’96, we played with them”) to automotive TV (70 Overhaulin’ builds in 15 years) to politics (four years into her initial six-year Senate term) and automotive entrepreneur (manufacturing under-dash hydraulic swaps at MalWood USA), meet a bona fide renaissance woman with a true passion for building cars and grinding gears. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Willie set SEMA abuzz back in 2021 with his ’66 Charger build, a handcrafted labor of love he nicknamed “Sick Six Six” that he and his pal Mike Ruth displayed at the Heidts booth. Today the pair reunite to reflect on the project and its impact, while also delving into a host of related aftermarket topics. “It’s fun getting to design new stuff,” says Mike, but “the best part is getting to drive it!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things are getting serious in the EV performance, racing, and aftermarket spaces, and it’s only a matter of time until they morph in with the OEs. “There’s a large portion of us out there that is trying to fight this tsunami wave of electric power and performance, but I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” notes Willie, “you’re gonna lose!” Kirk Miller and Jake Hawksworth of Hypercraft USA join the podcast from King of the Hammers, where they’re pushing the boundaries of EV with their advance hybrid and all-electric powertrains. “Imagine being able to throw 100 hp or 200 hp virtually across the entire rpm range, and no impact on emissions,” says Jake. And that’s not including their 1967 Mustang all-electric, all-wheel drive Fastback, capable of delivering 1200 hp and a theoretical 0-60 mph in 1.2 seconds! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Kevin and Willie address how to get the best quality air for the job you’re doing, while saving some big bucks in the process. Mitch Halverson of RapidAir is on hand with key pointers about the right ways – and more importantly, the wrong ones – to plumb air. From home garage kits to large scale manufacturing facilities, find out what you need in terms of fittings, hoses, connectors, and a whole lot more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1995, “Speedvision was this new discovery,” Kevin says at the top of this week’s podcast. “It was like kind of discovering the Playboy magazine in your buddy’s dad’s closet and going, ‘What is this?’” As the first 24/7 national cable television network devoted solely to cars, bikes, boats, and planes, “It was home for so many of us for so many hours,” adds Willie. Flash forward to today, and the recent relaunch of the storied automotive brand for the streaming era. One of the original network founders and now CEO of the new FAST channel, Robert Scanlon, is in conversation with the guys about his extensive career in automotive television, the paradigm shift to free streaming, and the “universality of the appeal of the auto”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices