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133. The Pile Up EP21: The Beast of Science

133. The Pile Up EP21: The Beast of Science

Car Krush Nov 26, 2025 60 min
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About this episode

A lively discussion unfolds around the restoration of a 1988 Chevrolet, filled with humorous anecdotes about wrenching and the challenges of working on vintage engines. The hosts share their experiences with engine swaps, the quirks of their vehicles, and the camaraderie found in the van community. The episode also features an intriguing segment on a unique hot rod powered by a WWII Spitfire engine, detailing its history and the eccentricities of its creator. The conversation takes a poignant turn as they address the tragic murder of a young woman in the welding industry, highlighting the challenges women face in trades.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

4.3

"...it's already 40 over the that was the engine that was in my 67 before..."

The 4.3 is a type of engine that is 4.3 liters in size. It's a V6 engine, meaning it has six cylinders arranged in a V shape, which helps it produce a good amount of power while still being efficient.

Term

horsepower

"...they make about 200 horse and the 88 makes 160 better be zippier..."

Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. The more horsepower an engine has, the faster and stronger it can make a vehicle go.

Term

camshaft

"...it's got better heads and more lift on the camshaft and I put the throttle body intake on it..."

The camshaft is a part of the engine that helps control when the valves open and close. This is important for how well the engine runs and how much power it can produce.

Part

throttle body

"the throttle body is from a 5.7 so 350 oh so more air and fuel and it needs it"

The throttle body is a part of the engine that controls how much air goes in. It helps the engine run better by adjusting the air flow when you press the gas pedal.

Term

OBD I

"...OBD one OBD one you're my only hope OBD one I had the pleasure of taking off some of the exhaust manifold bolts..."

OBD I is an early version of a system that helps cars check their own performance and emissions. It’s mostly found in older cars and gives basic information about how the car is running.

Part

exhaust manifold

"...of taking off some of the exhaust manifold bolts and one of them there was one that really took me a long time..."

The exhaust manifold is a part of the car that collects gases from the engine and sends them out through the exhaust. It helps the engine run smoothly and efficiently.

Part

ratchet

"...I had an ideal setup I had a long handle snap on quarter drive ratchet and a 916 snap on quarter drive socket..."

A ratchet is a tool that helps you turn bolts and nuts without having to take it off each time. It makes it easier to work on cars, especially in tight spots.

Term

accessory drive

"I was on the front side getting the accessory drive off it was cool it's just messy and the it had dealer add-on air..."

The accessory drive is a part of the engine that helps run things like the air conditioning and the alternator. It makes sure these parts work properly.

Term

serpentine belt

"...it had dealer add-on air so it's a four-rib serpentine system with a v-belt for the sand and air compressor..."

A serpentine belt is a long belt that connects different parts of the engine to help them work together. It makes it easier to run things like the air conditioning and the alternator.

Term

v-belt

"...for the sand and air compressor which we would put those on the street rods and they're good to mount..."

A v-belt is a type of belt shaped like a 'V' that helps connect different parts of the engine. It helps power things like the air conditioning.

Part

air compressor

"...because the smog pump used to be there and the air compressor you know and you're taking both those out right..."

An air compressor is a device that pushes air into a system. In cars, it can be used for things like the air conditioning to help cool the inside of the car.

Part

smog pump

"...because the smog pump used to be there and the air compressor you know and you're taking both those out right..."

A smog pump is a part of a car's system that helps clean up the exhaust gases to make them less harmful to the environment. It adds air to the exhaust to help burn off more pollutants.

Part

pulley

"...I think I'm gonna put a pulley where the smog pump was why don't go back and just change the belt back to that way..."

A pulley is a round wheel that helps move belts in a car's engine. It can help turn other parts of the engine, like the alternator or water pump, to keep everything working smoothly.

Term

four-rib belts

"...I think that the belt became really hard to find I mean the four-rib belts are hard to get..."

Four-rib belts are a type of belt used in cars that have four grooves on the inside. These grooves help the belt stay in place and work better with the engine parts it connects to.

Car

Delorean DMC-12

"...but did just listen to the DeLorean one and enjoyed it a lot we'll"

The DeLorean is a unique car known for its shiny body and doors that open upwards like wings. It's famous from the movies where it travels through time.

Car

Hyundai Accent

"...e are just like you know just our heavy Kentucky accent yeah where did you go I don't know but it affect..."

The Hyundai Accent is a small, budget-friendly car that is great for getting around town. It's known for being easy to drive and saving money on gas, making it a good choice for many people.

Car

Chevrolet Corvair

"...I think that the year that John Jackson gave me a ride in his Corvair to the van oh you know what I think I got stuck in the bleachers at some point there was a"

The Chevrolet Corvair is a small car made by Chevrolet in the 1960s. It had a different engine setup than most cars, which made it special and unique.

Term

burnout

"...the trading card for Spencer's van is a huge burnout that he did at Midwest on the the county road that runs along the event..."

A burnout is when a car's tires spin while the car is not moving, making a lot of smoke. People do this to show off the power of their car, and it's common at car events.

Term

350

"and had a rebuilt 350 and the five speed behind it and I don't know it"

The 350 is a type of engine made by Chevrolet that is known for being powerful and used in many cars, especially performance ones.

Term

383

"on his 383 but maybe Taz judged it maybe it was Taz's thing hmm I thought you wanted but"

The 383 is a type of engine that is bigger than the standard ones and gives a lot more power. It's often used in modified cars to make them faster.

Term

373 rear gears

"...I have to drive 55 it's all because I had 373 rear gears and the..."

373 rear gears are a way to describe how the car's wheels turn in relation to the engine. A lower number means better fuel economy, while a higher number usually means faster acceleration.

Concept

unibody

"...mine's unibody oh so it means that they put a separate chassis under the unibody structure oh okay all right I didn't realize that the I didn't realize they..."

Unibody means the car's body is made in one piece with the frame. This makes the car lighter and stronger, which is why many cars today are built this way.

Car

Ford Ranger

"...n't realize they were unibodies I think it was a ranger chassis yeah yeah it doesn't have a chassis it's..."

The Ford Ranger is a small truck that you can use for work or just driving around. It's known for being tough and good on gas, making it a favorite for people who need a reliable vehicle.

Term

V12

"...what we're gonna talk about is a 27 liter that's 1650 cubic inches v12 spitfire..."

A V12 engine has twelve cylinders arranged in a V shape. It's known for being powerful and smooth, often found in luxury and sports cars.

Term

Rolls-Royce Merlin engine

"...it's powered by a Rolls-Royce 27 liter v12 Merlin engine..."

The Rolls-Royce Merlin is a powerful engine used in planes during World War II. It's well-known for helping planes like the Spitfire fly fast and perform well.

Term

supercharger

"...that's the significance of having a supercharger is that it can take thinner air continue compressing it and that allows it to fly at a higher altitude..."

A supercharger is a part that helps an engine get more air, which means it can make more power. It's especially helpful when flying high up where the air is less thick.

Term

Allison transmission

"...I'm assuming it probably an Allison world transmission I don't know but do you think something that was just built for a car could withstand..."

An Allison transmission is a type of automatic transmission used in big vehicles like buses and trucks. It's built to be very strong and can handle heavy weights.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"...f it and it looked like the back of like late 60s Camaro just it had that little like duck tail on it sor..."

The Chevrolet Camaro is a sporty car that looks cool and goes really fast. It's been around for a long time and is loved by many people who enjoy driving powerful vehicles.

Car

Chevrolet Monte Carlo

"...asically had like the shotgun they called it the Monte Carlo approach I guess the what their Monte Carlo meth..."

The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is a car that was made for many years and is known for being stylish and fun to drive. It was popular because it combined a comfortable ride with a sporty feel.

6 cars featured

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