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Bill Ganahl of South City Rod and Custom

Bill Ganahl of South City Rod and Custom

Oil and Whiskey with Roadster Shop Oct 06, 2025 134 min
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About this episode

Bill Ganahl from South City Rod and Custom shares his journey from a young car enthusiast to a renowned builder. He discusses his experiences working for Roy Brizio, the challenges of running a custom shop, and the nuances of building cars that balance style and functionality. The conversation touches on memorable interactions with celebrities like Eric Clapton and Neil Young, and the pressures of meeting customer expectations while maintaining artistic integrity. Ganahl also reflects on the evolution of the automotive industry and the importance of mentorship in his career.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Concept

overlanders

"Transform your vehicle into a true travel rig. Perfect for outdoorsman, overlanders, off-roaders and everyday trailblazers."

Overlanders are people who go on long trips, usually in rugged areas, using vehicles that can handle tough roads. They often camp and explore new places.

Part

roof basket

"Roof basket is made from high-strength plastic that's durable and designed for years of use."

A roof basket is a storage container that you put on top of your car to carry extra stuff, like bags or equipment. It's made to last and can handle different weather conditions.

Car

Charger

"I mean, the charger may be a little departure because it's out of the realm. I think of what you're usually putting out."

The Dodge Charger is a large car that looks sporty and can be very fast. It's known for having strong engines and a design that many people find appealing.

Concept

historical restoration

"So it looks, it could be a historical restoration, you know, of an old custom. But it's new. And that's hard."

Historical restoration is when you fix up an old car to make it look just like it did when it was first made. This means using the same parts and styles that were used back then.

Car

Volkswagen Type 1

"I got my dad's Volkswagen is 60 and then promptly sold it to buy a shoe box."
Car

Ford Model A

"I remember like week, the first week, I was taking apart disassembling a 32-3 window that now we would look at and be like, that's a holy grail."

The Ford Model A is a classic car made by Ford in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It's very popular among collectors and car lovers because of its unique style and history.

Part

suspension components

"...who would buy all of the original suspension components from the cars that we turned into street rods."

Suspension components are the parts that help a car's wheels move up and down smoothly. They make the ride comfortable and help the car stay stable on the road.

Part

tie rods

"...working on the lathe like making drag links and tie rods and stuff like that."

Tie rods connect the steering part of the car to the wheels, helping you steer. They are important for keeping the car aligned and handling well.

Part

drag links

"...working on the lathe like making drag links and tie rods and stuff like that."

Drag links help steer the car by connecting the steering part to the wheels. They are important for making sure the car goes where you want it to go.

Term

springs

"...because he'd have those springs, let her settle."

Springs in a car help absorb bumps in the road and keep the car at the right height. They make the ride smoother and help the wheels move up and down when driving.

Part

dropped spindles

"I think I put dropped spindles. Well, they call them spindles."

Dropped spindles are parts that help lower a car's height. This can make the car look better and handle better when driving.

Car

Buick Grand National

"...at was the latest that's latest debut that was it grand national right debuted at grand national we debuted it at ..."

The Buick Grand National is a special version of a Buick car that was made in the 1980s and is known for being really fast. It's a favorite among car lovers because of its cool design and powerful engine.

Concept

mild custom

"...it was really cool to see you're kind of mild custom take on 68..."

A mild custom is when a car is changed a little bit to make it look or perform better, but not so much that it loses its original style. It's a way to keep the classic feel while improving the car.

Term

autocross

"...we had to do the autocross and it's we're sending it shipping it to Texas after we're done with this run..."

Autocross is a type of car racing where you drive through a course marked by cones. It's all about being fast and precise, and you usually compete one car at a time.

Car

Mercury Cougar

"...there was a black mercury cougar there and I it was rolling..."

The Mercury Cougar is a car that was made by the Mercury brand, which was part of Ford. It has a sporty look and was popular in the past, especially in the 60s and 70s.

Term

OBS GM

"...could have been an OBS GM fucking Chevy I looked at it it had six co-holders in the six really..."

OBS GM stands for 'Old Body Style' General Motors vehicles made between 1988 and 1998. They're known for their classic look and are often modified by car fans.

Term

assembly fit and finish

"I look for the good on the assembly fit and finish when you see things that you know were absolute nightmare to be able to draft in and to hang this and so and you you can't find any imperfections because either one there wasn't there or they did a really good job of like filling that buffing that..."

Assembly fit and finish is about how well different parts of a car fit together. If everything is aligned perfectly and looks nice, it shows good quality in the car's build.

Car

Jaguar XK

"...foos built that xk the convertible or roadster yeah and that car that car caught a lot of flack..."

The Jaguar XK is a stylish sports car made by Jaguar. It comes in both hardtop and convertible versions and is known for being fast and comfortable.

Term

SEMA

"...because he showed up at semen you could tell he oh when it was down to the water..."

SEMA is a big car show in Las Vegas where companies show off new car parts and accessories. It's a place for car lovers to see the coolest custom cars and products.

Concept

GNRS

"...I have a booth at GNRS every year with room for three cars but two kind of minimum..."

GNRS is a big car show where people show off their custom cars. It's a popular event for car lovers and builders to meet and share their creations.

Term

custom wheels

"...do I want to have evod custom full wheels on it when the customer doesn't want to spend more than 20 grand on the wheels..."

Custom wheels are special wheels made for cars that can make them look unique. They come in different styles and sizes to fit different cars.

Part

alternator

"...let's take the alternator apart and let's polish the case and machine that don't do that..."

An alternator is a part of a car that helps generate electricity while the engine is running. It keeps the battery charged and powers things like the lights and radio.

Term

automatic transmission

"...and don't take a part parts your alternator"

An automatic transmission is a part of a car that helps it change gears by itself, so you don't have to do it manually. This makes driving easier, especially in stop-and-go traffic.

Term

warranty

"...not familiar with the concept of warranty no dude and I'm like what do you do and he's like well like there's these like inherent issues..."

A warranty is a promise from the car manufacturer that they will fix or replace parts of the car if something goes wrong within a certain time frame.

Term

horsepower

"...the horsepower that they're saying is a problem just drive the car why was his first the first thing that he wanted to modify on the car the transmission..."

Horsepower is how we measure the power of a car's engine. The higher the horsepower, the faster and more powerful the car can be.

Term

dipstick

"...nowadays they don't even have fucking dipsticks like new the eight speeds in the 10 speeds they're dipstick no it's the drain on the side..."

A dipstick is a simple tool that checks how much oil or fluid is in your car. You pull it out, wipe it clean, and then put it back to see how high the fluid is.

Car

Ford Bronco

"...it was you and Vinnie and the white Bronco..."

The Ford Bronco is a tough SUV that can handle rough terrains and is often used for off-roading. It's known for being a fun vehicle to drive, especially in outdoor settings.

Car

Volkswagen Beetle

"...the 60 Volkswagen was my dad's Volkswagen Carming you no bug bug 60 bug I mean I put surfboards for sure..."

The Volkswagen Beetle, often called the 'Bug', is a famous small car with a unique round shape. It was made by Volkswagen for many years and is loved by many car enthusiasts.

Car

Ford Mustang

"Oh, 100%. Oh, with the Mustang he's got. That's a sick car with the Pantera whee..."

The Ford Mustang is a famous sports car that people love for its speed and cool looks. It's been around for a long time and is often seen as a symbol of American cars, making it a popular topic among car fans.

8 cars featured

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