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135. The Pile UP: Brain Buster 01

135. The Pile UP: Brain Buster 01

Car Krush Dec 05, 2025 20 min
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About this episode

A lively new segment called 'Brain Buster' kicks off with hosts posing automotive trivia questions to engage listeners. The first question revolves around a significant year when federal laws changed car body designs, while the second delves into the complicated ownership history of Jeep. The conversation flows into personal anecdotes about car modifications, particularly on a Chevy Astro, and reflections on the unique culture at AMC. The hosts share their experiences and insights, making for a fun and informative episode that blends trivia with storytelling.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"this week it's a Corvette not deliverable to you by males you'll have to imagine this Corvette as it's made of thin air very lightweight won't rust won't no rust those rusty Corvette woes over you know"

The Corvette is a famous sports car made by Chevrolet. It's known for being fast and stylish, and many people love it for its performance.

Term

headers

"...thinking about getting headers for the..."

Headers are parts of the exhaust system that help the engine breathe better. They can make the car run faster and sound different than the original parts.

Car

Chevy Astro

"...the Chevy Astro I was thinking about getting some headers for it and I'm a little up in the air..."

The Chevy Astro is a type of van made by Chevrolet. It was popular for carrying families and cargo and was made for many years.

Company

Sanderson

"...there's some Sanderson and some Headman maybe that are like 400 and 460..."

Sanderson is a brand that makes parts for cars, especially parts that help the engine's exhaust system work better.

Company

Headman

"...there's some Sanderson and some Headman maybe that are like 400 and 460..."

Headman is a brand that makes parts for cars, especially parts that help improve how well the engine works.

Term

sandblasted

"...with the sandblasted silver intake the raw aluminum intake it looks pretty good..."

Sandblasting is a method of cleaning metal parts by blasting them with tiny bits of sand. It helps remove dirt and old paint so the metal can be treated or painted again.

Part

air cleaner

"...I'm gonna get a better air cleaner for it and the valve covers look fine..."

An air cleaner helps keep dirt and dust out of the engine. A better one can help the engine run smoother and more efficiently.

Part

valve covers

"...and the valve covers look fine yeah so it'll look tidier..."

Valve covers are like lids for the engine that keep oil inside and protect the parts underneath. They help keep the engine clean and running well.

Term

oil

"...I just learned that oil goes inside the motor..."

Oil is a liquid that helps keep the engine running smoothly by reducing friction and cleaning it. It's important to have the right amount of oil in the engine.

Term

dipstick

"...I didn't have a dipstick and it would just blast out of the dipstick tube..."

A dipstick is a stick used to check how much oil is in the engine. You pull it out, wipe it clean, and then put it back in to see the oil level.

Term

proving grounds

"...that van was like me putting the astro back through the proving grounds again..."

Proving grounds are places where cars are tested to see how well they work. They help manufacturers make sure the cars are safe and reliable.

Term

leak down test

"...but I like burned a valve or something I've never done a leak down test to determine whether it's an exhaust valve or it's an intake valve that's damaged..."

A leak down test checks if air is leaking from an engine's cylinders. It helps find problems like broken parts that can cause the engine to run poorly.

Term

valve guides

"...or if it's just the valve guides that got it smoking so bad whether it's like an intake valve and it's like smoking out that one cylinder..."

Valve guides are parts in an engine that help keep the valves in the right position. If they wear out, it can cause problems like oil burning and smoke.

Term

fouls the plug

"...it fouls the plug out constantly and just blows smoke all the time that's what's going on that's why we're doing swap..."

When a spark plug gets fouled, it means dirt or oil has built up on it, making it hard for the engine to work right. This can cause the engine to run poorly or not start.

Car

American Motors Corporation (Amc) Pacer

"... ears all ears letter rip I talked about the AMC Pacer and something that I didn't mention was one of th..."
Car

AMC Pacer

"...I talked about the AMC Pacer and something that I didn't mention was one of the..."

The AMC Pacer is a unique-looking car made by AMC in the 1970s. It was designed to be a family car and is known for its unusual shape.

Car

AMC Gremlin

"...I mean really cool cars yeah Hornet you know I didn't know the gremlins just like a chopped off Hornet for a long time oh yeah yep and the hornets really cool..."

The AMC Gremlin is a small car that AMC made in the 1970s. It had a unique look and was known for being different from other cars at the time.

Car

AMC Hornet

"...nothing but respect for yeah AMC I mean really cool cars yeah Hornet you know I didn't know the gremlins just like a chopped off Hornet for a long time..."

The AMC Hornet is a small car that was made by AMC in the 1970s. It was popular for being affordable and practical.

Car

Hudson Hornet

"...espect for yeah AMC I mean really cool cars yeah Hornet you know I didn't know the gremlins just like a c..."

The Hudson Hornet is a classic car that was made a long time ago, from 1951 to 1957. It was known for being fast and stylish, and it even won many races. People talk about it because it's an important part of car history and has a cool design.

Term

finding parts

"...he was like you're not gonna be able to find parts and he knew that I couldn't like totally work on it..."

Finding parts means looking for replacement pieces to fix or maintain a car. Some cars, especially older ones, can be hard to find parts for, making repairs difficult.

Part

drum brakes

"...it was drum breaks and like they were just not great and I was like let's put discs on this..."

Drum brakes are a type of brake that uses a round drum to stop the car. When you press the brake pedal, shoes push against the inside of the drum to slow the wheels down.

Part

disc brakes

"...let's put discs on this so we did manual discs like s10..."

Disc brakes are a more modern type of brake that uses a flat disc to help stop the car. They work better than drum brakes, especially when the car is going fast.

Part

Aerostar rotor

"...an aerostar rotor on it and then s10 calipers sounds really involved well it was cool because the aerostar rotor has the hub built in..."

An Aerostar rotor is a part of the braking system from the Ford Aerostar minivan. It includes a hub that makes it easier to install when replacing brakes.

Part

S10 calipers

"...an aerostar rotor on it and then s10 calipers sounds really involved..."

S10 calipers are parts of the brake system from the Chevrolet S10 truck. They help squeeze the brake pads against the rotors to stop the vehicle.

Term

bearing

"...the bearing would go in where it needed to go because the inside bearing was identical..."

A bearing is a part that helps things move smoothly, like wheels on a car. It reduces friction, making it easier for parts to rotate or slide against each other.

Car

Econoline

"...the disc brake kit I had on the Econoline used four by four Jeep rotors oh there's Jeep again..."

The Ford Econoline is a type of van made by Ford that people often use for work or to convert into camper vans. It's known for being spacious and practical.

Part

AC Delco signal flasher

"also my vintage AC Delco signal flasher holding upgrade I'm so happy with the purchase that I have highlighted another one on eBay to get a backup because all those flashers I kept buying at Napa and O'Reilly's were trash"

An AC Delco signal flasher is a part in your car that makes your turn signals blink. If you buy a good one, it works better than cheap ones that might break easily.

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