168. The Pile Up EP40: This That and The Other
About this episode
Rose and Emily bounce between tech trivia, hot-rod culture, and practical wrenching. They debate how updates and code might “talk” between Tesla systems, then pivot to a quirky remote-control lawnmower concept built from PETG via 3D scanning/printing. The conversation turns to classic van conversions—what looks cool vs. what turns into droopy, trashy “fishing van” vibes—and the nostalgia cycle of vanners. They also swap library/handbook finds, praising factory manuals and how to use them for real troubleshooting.
Emily and Rose wanna remake Maximum Overdrive, someone prints a 3d Porsche and Rose strong mans books against the internet.
Recorded @iapdx
Recorded & mixed by Emdognightmare & Queen of the Vans
Editor: Emdognightmare
Production & research Queen of the Vans & Emdognightmare
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Hugs, thank you & high fives to Greg Meleney for the killer tunez!
over-the-air updates
"We will use Tesla. 'cause I know that they do all of the updates and like, everything like that."
Over-the-air updates are like updating your phone, but for a car. The car downloads new software wirelessly, so you don’t have to go to a shop.
Over-the-air (OTA) updates are software updates delivered to a vehicle via cellular/Wi‑Fi without visiting a dealer. They can change vehicle behavior, add features, and fix bugs after purchase.
Tesla
"We will use Tesla. 'cause I know that they do all of the updates and like, everything like that. And I believe they can talk to each other."
Tesla is a company that makes electric cars. Their cars can get software updates remotely, and the show is talking about how that software might be connected or coordinated.
Tesla is an EV (electric vehicle) brand known for frequent over-the-air software updates. The discussion references the idea that Tesla systems can communicate and that code writers can push changes into the vehicle software.
digitally scanning
"...constructing the car entirely from PETG filament by digitally scanning."
Digitally scanning means measuring an object with a scanner so a computer can copy its shape. That digital model can then be used to print parts.
Digitally scanning refers to capturing the shape of an object (or vehicle part) using sensors or cameras, then converting that data into a digital model for manufacturing. Here, it’s used to enable 3D printing of the car components.
3D printing
"...who had no prior 3D printing experience is constructing the car entirely from PETG filament by digitally scanning."
3D printing is a way to make parts by building them up in layers. In cars, people sometimes use it to prototype or manufacture specific components.
3D printing in automotive contexts can be used to prototype parts or even produce components by building them layer-by-layer from plastic or other materials. The segment specifically mentions constructing a car using printed material.
PETG filament
"...constructing the car entirely from PETG filament by digitally scanning."
PETG filament is the plastic “string” used by many 3D printers to make parts. It’s chosen because it can be printed fairly easily and tends to be more durable than some other plastics.
PETG is a common 3D-printing plastic (a glycol-modified polyester) known for being relatively tough and easier to print than some alternatives. The segment ties PETG directly to the material used to build the car.
rear bumper
"At the top of this key details, a single rear bumper, which costs nearly 19,000 Austral. Cost only 165 Australian to print material."
The rear bumper is the part at the back of the car that helps protect it in low-speed crashes. The show is pointing out that printing one might cost far less than buying one.
A rear bumper is a structural and protective component designed to absorb minor impacts and protect the rear of the vehicle. In the segment, it’s discussed in terms of cost to print, highlighting how specific parts can be expensive or cheap depending on the manufacturing method.
clone car
"...what's the difference between this and like a clone because he is using a lesser model, which is usually a clone car is made out of a lesser model."
A clone car is a car made to look like a more expensive or rare one. Usually it’s built using other parts or a different base car, not the original design.
A clone car is a vehicle built to resemble another model, often using different underlying parts or a different base car. The segment contrasts a 3D-printed approach with the typical idea of cloning using a “lesser” donor vehicle.
nine inch rear
"...it had a height super saver front end, and it had a nine inch rear."
A “nine-inch rear” is a type of rear axle used in many hot rods. It’s popular because it can handle a lot of power and has lots of upgrade parts available.
A “nine-inch rear” usually refers to the Ford 9-inch rear axle, a popular aftermarket choice in hot rods and drag racing due to its strength and wide parts availability. The segment mentions it as part of a chassis setup, indicating a performance-oriented build.
van conversion
"...when somebody takes all the fucking stripes off of them and then they like repaint their van and then you're like, oh, that's a cool, solid color painted van with a bunch of windows in it. And you're like, oh, it must be a conversion... 'cause you could be doing like handicap van conversions... Or you could be doing work van conversions."
A van conversion is when someone modifies a regular van to turn it into something like a camper. It can include things like special windows and a raised roof so it looks and works more like a travel van.
A van conversion is when a base van is modified to add interior features—often windows, insulation, and a raised roof or “topper”—so it can function like a camper or lifestyle vehicle. In the segment, they’re talking about how certain conversion styles look “finished” versus unfinished.
fiberglass topper
"Well, this fiberglass top looks like that and some people know Doogie from Canada. He has a a seventies van and he put a fiberglass topper like that on it where it's like short and then kicks up... and so it kinda looks like a locomotive..."
A fiberglass topper is an aftermarket roof-mounted shell (often camper-style) made from fiberglass. It changes the van’s silhouette and interior space, and the segment describes a style that looks like a locomotive or speedboat because of its shape and windows.
vanner
"...if you ain't a vanner, you ain't shit. If you ain't bluegrass, you ain't shit..."
“Vanner” is slang for someone in the van-camping/community scene, often tied to specific styles of vans and meetups. The speaker uses it as identity shorthand to describe the culture around these vehicles.
O2 sensor
"...is it, is it adding, is it pulling? Like what it think it's the wrong outside air temperature? Is it, is the O2 sensor stuck? And like they, you know, they should oscillate between a high and low reading."
An O2 (oxygen) sensor measures exhaust oxygen content so the engine control system can adjust fuel delivery. The segment notes that O2 sensors should “oscillate” between high and low readings; if they don’t, it can indicate a stuck sensor or related issue.
outside air temperature sensor
"...is it, is it adding, is it pulling? Like what it think it's the wrong outside air temperature? Is it, is the O2 sensor stuck?"
This sensor tells the car how hot or cold the air is outside. If it’s wrong, the car may add too much or too little fuel and act weird, especially when starting.
The outside air temperature (OAT) sensor feeds ambient temperature data to the engine’s control system. The speaker suggests the car might be using the wrong temperature, which can affect fueling and starting behavior.
OBD1
"...eventually it starts if you have an OB one car So, you know, is it, is it adding, is it pulling? Like what it think it's the wrong outside air temperature? Is it, is the O2 sensor stuck?... But anyway, you like with those OBD one books, you can have a table and it will tell you things that happened..."
OBD1 refers to early On-Board Diagnostics systems used on older vehicles. The speaker mentions using OBD1 “books”/information to interpret what the car is doing—like whether a sensor is stuck or readings should oscillate.
Chevrolet Corvette
"Emily EP40: yeah, factory manual. I got my Corvette one for $19, but my TransAm one was like $135."
They’re talking about the Chevrolet Corvette, a popular sports car. The point is that repair manuals for different cars can cost different amounts.
The Corvette is Chevrolet’s long-running sports car line, and factory/service manuals are commonly used by owners to diagnose issues and perform repairs. The mention here is about how pricing and availability of manuals can vary by model.
Chilton's
"Rose EP40: It's not even matter. What's it called? Oh, fuck. I had it, I, I wanted to say climber, but that's one of the books, you know, Chilton's Climber Hanes."
Chilton’s makes car repair books. They’re meant to help regular people do repairs, with step-by-step guidance.
Chilton’s is a well-known publisher of aftermarket automotive repair manuals. These books are often written for DIY mechanics and can be more “how-to” focused than factory manuals, which assume a professional shop environment.
Hanes manuals
"Rose EP40: Um, I will say that I don't like Hanes manuals. ... Emily EP40: Yeah. It's not that there's a pattern, you know, there's a pattern for a certain size cam and you know, sort of stock engine."
They’re talking about a type of repair manual brand. The speaker doesn’t like it because it may not give the exact details you need for every engine/part setup.
Hanes (often referring to “Hanes” automotive manuals) are another aftermarket manual brand. The speaker critiques them for not always matching the specifics needed for certain setups—especially when non-hydraulic valve lash and detailed measurements are involved.
bore sizes
"Emily EP40: ...there's all kinds of info. Um, and there's bore sizes and there's oil gap, uh, numbers and tables, you know, to see what your crank should be."
Bore size is the width of the engine’s cylinders. It matters because it affects how big the engine is and is important when rebuilding or checking specs.
Bore size is the diameter of an engine’s cylinders, and it directly relates to displacement when combined with stroke. Manuals often include bore-related specs and measurements for rebuilding or verifying engine condition.
valve lash
"Emily EP40: It's not that there's a pattern, you know, there's a pattern for a certain size cam and you know, sort of stock engine. Um, but there's valve lash info for things that aren't hydraulic..."
Valve lash is a small gap inside the engine that has to be set correctly. If it’s too tight or too loose, the engine can run poorly or wear out faster.
Valve lash is the specified clearance between a valve and its actuation components (like the rocker arm) when the engine is at the correct position. It matters because incorrect lash can affect engine noise, performance, and long-term wear—especially on engines that use non-hydraulic lifters.
GM distributor, like the big caps
"Rose EP40: They, they had a, they had a GM distributor, like the big caps that I like. They had a poster of servicing those, but they wouldn't come off it."
A distributor is an ignition component used on many older engines to route high voltage to the spark plugs. The “big caps” refers to the external distributor cap design, which is a common service item (cap/rotor) on many GM-era setups.
air suspension
"Rose EP40: ...be like, let's take a look at the air suspension, uh, handbook or whatever."
Air suspension is a suspension system that uses air bags instead of regular springs. It can raise or lower the car, and it usually needs the right manual to troubleshoot.
Air suspension uses air springs (instead of steel coils) to adjust ride height and sometimes damping characteristics. It’s a system that often benefits from dedicated handbooks because it involves compressors, valves, and sensors that must be diagnosed correctly.
factory manual
"Rose EP40: Um, also the factory manuals sometimes can be like inside baseball. They're not, like you said, like the Chiltons and the Hanes, and those, I think tell you a little bit more of what you have to do physically to do something."
A factory manual is the official repair guide made by the car maker. It’s usually very detailed and includes exact specs, but it can be written for people who already know how to work on cars.
A factory manual is the OEM’s service information, typically including wiring diagrams, torque specs, diagnostic flowcharts, and step-by-step procedures. The speaker contrasts it with aftermarket manuals, noting that factory manuals assume you’re already a mechanic and may be more technical.
Pontiac Trans Am
"va. Yeah. Um, it's a really rad book though, because it, it's from either, I think it was, I think it's from 1988 or 87, which I was like, great. My Trans Am was in 89. But for a beginner it was, it's like a college book or a high school book, whatever."
A Pontiac Trans Am is a classic American muscle car. The speaker is saying they had one around 1989, and they’re talking about books/manuals for that era.
The Pontiac Trans Am is a performance model from Pontiac’s late-’60s through ’90s era, best known for its muscle-car heritage. In this segment, the host mentions having one from 1989, which places it in the late-generation Trans Am years.
Ford
"sure. Uh, I've got some factory Ford manuals for the mid Ford that I'm like missing some of the collection and that pisses me off."
Ford is a car brand. The speaker is talking about having official Ford manuals, which are helpful for doing repairs the right way.
Ford is the automaker referenced here in the context of factory service manuals. Factory manuals are valuable because they document correct procedures, specifications, and troubleshooting steps for specific model years.
spiderwebs
"Wow. How do you think they get those spiderwebs?"
The segment shifts to a discussion of spiderwebs/spider silk strength, using it as an analogy for material performance. Spider silk is often cited because it combines high tensile strength with flexibility, which is why it’s compared to engineering materials.
MPA
"numbers. Spider silk has an ultimate tensile strength of approximately 1500 MPA compared to about 500 MPA for typical carbon steel, making it significantly stronger per unit of weight. Whoa."
MPA (megapascals) is a unit of pressure/stress used in material science. It’s commonly used to quantify tensile strength and other mechanical properties in engineering contexts.
carbon steel
"Spider silk has an ultimate tensile strength of approximately 1500 MPA compared to about 500 MPA for typical carbon steel, making it significantly stronger per unit of weight. Whoa."
Carbon steel is a common type of metal used in lots of things. They’re comparing it to spider silk to show spider silk can be stronger for its weight.
Carbon steel is a common steel alloy category used in many structural and mechanical applications. The transcript compares spider silk’s tensile strength to typical carbon steel to highlight relative material performance.
ultimate tensile strength
"numbers. Spider silk has an ultimate tensile strength of approximately 1500 MPA compared to about 500 MPA for typical carbon steel, making it significantly stronger per unit of weight. Whoa."
Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) is the maximum stress a material can handle while being stretched before it breaks. In the transcript, it’s used to compare spider silk to carbon steel on a strength-per-weight basis.
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