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Driven Radio Show #352: Kyle Smith and Chris Moyer at McPherson C.A.R.S. Show 2026

Driven Radio Show #352: Kyle Smith and Chris Moyer at McPherson C.A.R.S. Show 2026

Driven Radio Show May 07, 2026 92 min
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About this episode

McPherson C.A.R.S. Show 2026 blends a lively campus car-show walkaround with deep shop talk. The hosts admire rare metal like a Tucker, a blue Challenger, Corvairs, and early Corvettes, while also digging into McPherson College’s auto restoration program and its hands-on training in welding, body work, upholstery, and drivetrain work. From ice-racing studs and T56 gearing to power-antenna failures, LS swaps, and a bargain 1985 C4 Corvette, the conversation keeps bouncing between show-floor eye candy and practical garage problem-solving.

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Car

Dodge Challenger

"...was very excited because there's a beautiful blue challenger. Um, I think it's, oh good Lord, I don't even kno..."

A Dodge Challenger is a performance car with a big, powerful engine and a sporty, classic design. People talk about it because it’s meant to be quick and fun to drive. The podcast mentions a blue one because it’s an eye-catching example.

Concept

classic car restoration program

"The, um, the classic car restoration program is phenomenal. This isn't the type of program where you come in and you learn how to work on, uh, multiple, you know, ECU units and all the electronics that go into modern vehicles, uh, you learn"

A classic car restoration program focuses on returning older vehicles to a correct, functional, and often show-ready condition. Instead of training primarily on modern vehicle electronics, it emphasizes traditional mechanical skills and period-appropriate techniques.

Term

ECU units

"This isn't the type of program where you come in and you learn how to work on, uh, multiple, you know, ECU units and all the electronics that go into modern vehicles, uh, you learn"

An ECU unit is a computer in a modern car that helps control how the engine runs. It’s one of the key electronics that makes today’s cars operate correctly.

Term

upholstery work

"do you want to do welding, do you want to do body work, uh, upholstery work, interior [188.6s] work, you go through the whole program"

Upholstery work means redoing the interior fabric and padding, like seats and trim. In restorations, it helps bring the car’s interior back to how it originally was.

Term

welding

"do you want to do welding, do you want to do body work, uh, upholstery work, interior [188.6s] work, you go through the whole program"

Welding is a fabrication process that joins metal parts by heating and fusing them. In vehicle training programs, it’s commonly used for structural repairs, fabrication, and restoration work where new metal sections must be attached safely.

Term

body work

"do you want to do welding, do you want to do body work, uh, upholstery work, interior [188.6s] work, you go through the whole program"

Body work is fixing the outside of the vehicle—like dents and damaged panels—and getting it ready for paint. It’s a key skill for restoration work.

Term

aftermarket speed shop

"parlay that into, uh, restores into garages that specialize into speed shops, [219.6s] into aftermarket speed shop, the, the amazing amount of jobs that are out there for people"

An aftermarket speed shop is a shop that upgrades or modifies cars using non-factory parts. The hosts are saying there are jobs like that for trained people.

Term

restores

"learning everything about vehicles [212.4s] and then you can parlay that into, uh, restores into garages that specialize into speed shops,"

“Restores” means restoring vehicles—fixing up an older car or bike so it looks and works the way it should. They’re saying training in that leads to real job opportunities.

Brand

Honda XR

"You, you turn Greg Engold into a dirt bike weenie. I at least got him on Honda XRs. [280.6s] I'll give you that."

Honda XR is a line of Honda dirt bikes/off-road motorcycles. They’re comparing which bikes are better for riding.

Car

Mclaren 650S

"...ure, I'd probably be a liar. Do you have any 600, 650s? Did you get any big bikes? I've got a 600. Okay...."

The McLaren 650S is a very high-performance supercar. It’s built to be fast and exciting, not like a normal daily car. The podcast mentions it while discussing which versions someone has.

Term

compression

"Apparently self machined itself to no compression. Oh, yeah. Well, I know what causes that. I believe we just had an oiling problem or a machining problem on the piston rings."

Compression is how much pressure the engine builds inside the cylinder. If that pressure is too low, the engine can’t start or keep running.

Term

oiling problem

"I believe we just had an oiling problem or a machining problem on the piston rings. Abuse. So put it, put it together, got 500 miles on it, shut it off,"

An oiling problem means the engine isn’t being lubricated properly. If parts don’t get enough oil, they can wear or not seal correctly.

Term

piston rings

"I believe we just had an oiling problem or a machining problem on the piston rings. Abuse. So put it, put it together, got 500 miles on it, shut it off,"

Piston rings help seal the engine so the air/fuel mixture can build pressure. If they’re not sealing right, the engine can lose power or fail to run.

Term

inline 300

"but also had a white E 150 work van with the inline 300. I mean, you know, I'm a van guy."

They’re describing the van’s engine as an inline “300.” The main point they’re making is that it didn’t feel strong once it was overloaded.

Car

2008 Chevy Silverado 1500

"I brought it. I bought a 2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 off the showroom floor and drove it into the ground."

This is a Chevrolet pickup truck. The speaker is basically saying they bought a 2008 Silverado 1500 new and then used it a lot, and it didn’t turn out as well as they hoped.

Car

Chevy C10

"We always had Chevy trucks. He was a surveyor. They all had the big, you know, what was it? C 10s."

A Chevy C10 is an older Chevrolet pickup truck. The speaker is using it to explain the family’s truck background and why they were drawn to Chevy trucks.

Term

six cylinder

"cause it had the six cylinder in it. I mean, could have had that eight and I'm like, no, the six cylinder is bulletproof."

A “six cylinder” engine has six combustion chambers. The speaker is talking about whether choosing a smaller engine (instead of an eight-cylinder) would make the truck last longer.

Term

inline Chevy

"cause it had the six cylinder in it. I mean, could have had that eight and I'm like, no, the six cylinder is bulletproof... If it had been the old inline Chevy, probably would have been okay."

“Inline” refers to an engine layout where cylinders are arranged in a single straight line (an inline engine). The speaker contrasts an inline configuration with a different engine choice in their Silverado, implying the inline setup would have been more durable for their use.

Term

treks

"we made, are you familiar with the, with the decking material treks? We made a center console out of treks..."

“Treks” sounds like a type of decking board/material. The speaker is saying they used that material to build a center console inside the van.

Term

center console

"We made a center console out of treks that had a door twice the size of this notebook."

The center console is the part between the seats—often where you find storage or controls. In this story, they built one out of decking material.

Term

ice racing

"So explain ice racing to me because I don't know much of anything about it. I assume that you've got tube tires... Yeah, little spike things. Yep. So we stud them out..."

Ice racing is motorcycle racing on ice. Since tires don’t grip like normal pavement, riders use special studded tires and steering/body control to stay in control.

Term

studs

"I assume that you've got tube tires and before you put the tube in, you run screws. Yeah, little spike things. Yep. So we stud them out... Quarter inch is AMA stuff."

Studs are tiny metal spikes added to the tires for ice racing. They help the tires grab the ice so the bike can accelerate, brake, and turn more safely.

Term

AMA runs

"Quarter inch is AMA stuff. So if you want to run American Motorcyclists Association runs, that's all quarter inch studs."

“AMA runs” means races run under the American Motorcyclist Association’s rules. In this case, the rules affect what kind of tire studs you’re allowed to use.

Term

flat track

"You can countersteer. It slides just like a flat track bike. Chuck your hips, baby."

Flat track is a type of motorcycle racing where the bike often slides while turning. The host is saying ice racing can feel similar in how the bike moves.

Term

countersteer

"It's like riding on Velcro. It's amazing. You can countersteer. It slides just like a flat track bike."

Countersteering is how you start a motorcycle turning—your hands steer the opposite way briefly to get the bike to lean. The host says it still works on ice, even though the bike slides.

Term

glare ice

"glare ice, the strangest part about it is you got to go to clean ice. Okay. So if you run 250s on [708.0s] those, I've run 250s on ice."

Glare ice is a smooth, shiny sheet of ice. It’s extra slippery because it doesn’t give tires much traction, so cars or bikes can slide more easily.

Car

1985 C4 Corvette

"Let's talk about that Corvette. That thing is uglier than sin. [800.8s] It is. It is. It's an $1,800 1985 C4 Corvette. It was an 85. So it did have a [806.8s] tune port."

A 1985 C4 Corvette is a specific generation of Corvette from Chevrolet. In this story, the car is an L98 “tune port” version, meaning it uses a particular fuel-injection setup designed for that engine.

Term

tune port

"It is. It is. It's an $1,800 1985 C4 Corvette. It was an 85. So it did have a [806.8s] tune port. [812.6s] Yes. So it's L 98 tune port car."

“Tune port” is a type of fuel-injection system. It helps the engine get the right amount of fuel at the right time, which can improve how the car runs.

Term

L 98

"Yes. So it's L 98 tune port car. Okay. Right in the perfect pocket. And it was an entire impulse [812.6s] purchase. I was down in the office with a few friends who owned C4."

“L98” is a label for a specific Corvette engine. It tells you which exact V8 version the car has, not just that it’s a Corvette.

Term

turnkey

"Facebook marketplace ad says turnkey nothing happens. You cannot [823.8s] do anything. It's bricked. Bring a trailer in the old school term."

“Turnkey” usually means “ready to go.” In a car listing, it’s the seller’s way of saying you shouldn’t need to fix much before driving it.

Term

bricked

"Facebook marketplace ad says turnkey nothing happens. You cannot [823.8s] do anything. It's bricked. Bring a trailer in the old school term. Oh, wow. And they didn't."

“Bricked” is slang for “it’s basically dead.” Here it means the car was described as so broken it couldn’t be driven or fixed easily.

Car

Porsche Cayenne

"... you drive anything out this year? Yeah, Rhonda's Cayenne. All right."

The Porsche Cayenne is a Porsche SUV, meaning it’s a bigger vehicle than a sports car but still built to drive sporty. People mention it because it can be comfortable for daily use while still feeling quick. The podcast brings it up as a personal car someone owns.

Term

digital readout

"The digital readout at the bottom keeps going. Yeah. But the bar graph just flashes and the tack only goes to like 6,500."

A digital readout is the screen on the dashboard that shows numbers or messages. Here, they’re talking about what the dash display keeps doing.

Term

tack

"But the bar graph just flashes and the tack only goes to like 6,500. Well, I've got a cam in it that's good to 73."

A “tack” is the RPM gauge on the dashboard. It shows how fast the engine is spinning, and in this case it’s not going as high as it should.

Term

Piston sideways

"What did you discover that was the issue? Piston sideways. I still can't believe it."

“Piston sideways” describes a severe internal engine failure where a piston has shifted or damaged in a way that prevents normal operation. It typically points to catastrophic damage (for example, a mechanical interference or broken components) rather than a simple sensor or electrical issue.

Term

voltmeter

"Put it on a battery charger just because put a voltmeter on it had like six and a half volts. Or I think it was in the eights."

A voltmeter is a tool that measures how much electrical “push” is coming from the battery. They used it to check the battery was too weak.

Term

dead cell

"Or I think it was in the eights. So dead cell. Okay. Pretty lucky on that."

A “dead cell” means part of the battery has failed. That can make the battery unable to provide enough power, even if it’s brand new.

Car

Dodge Charger

"... relatively new code on it. I'll just put it on a charger. Let's see what happens."

The Dodge Charger is a performance-focused car that looks like a sedan but is built for power. People often talk about it because it can be modified and tuned. In the podcast, it sounds like they’re dealing with some kind of car electronics or troubleshooting.

Term

battery charger

"I'll just put it on a charger. Let's see what happens. Charge it overnight. Turn the key fired right up."

A battery charger powers up a weak battery so it can start the car and run the electronics. They charged it overnight to see if the problem was just low battery voltage.

Term

burnout

"Did you at least send him a video of you doing a burnout flipping off the camera?"

A burnout is when you spin the tires on purpose to heat them up. It’s usually done for fun or to get better grip, but it can chew up tires fast.

Part

power antenna

"It was the power antenna. The mast on those C4s. It's a plastic mast that goes up and down and they break. There's three things."

A power antenna is the kind of car antenna that moves up and down using a motor. On some Corvettes, the antenna mast can break and the motor may keep running, which can drain the battery.

Term

drivetrain swap

"I've done an entire drivetrain swap on the car. That antenna is still untouched."

A drivetrain swap is when someone replaces the car’s main moving parts that make it go. It’s a big job because the parts have to be made to fit and work together correctly.

Car

Corvair

"You have probably one of the slickest Corvares I've ever seen. And I love the inky wheels that you got on it... How's the Corvair? It's got to have been out this spring already."

A Corvair is a classic Chevrolet that’s known for its unusual layout compared to most cars. Here, they’re admiring a specific Corvair and talking about the owner’s experience with it.

Topic

finding a classic car in Texas

"So tell us a little bit about the Corvair. You said you found it in Texas. Found it in Texas. It was two hours north of Austin. Okay. See, it was a pretty good drive."

They’re talking about how they found a classic car in Texas and how far they had to drive to get it. It’s the kind of story car people love because it shows the effort behind the purchase.

Term

valve seat

"And that included the original motor that had dropped a valve seat and he'd put it in the trunk, which was a really bad idea in hindsight."

A valve seat is the part inside the engine head that the valve seals against. If the seat fails, the engine can lose compression and run badly, and it can even lead to bigger damage.

Term

air-cooled engine

"Yeah, because for the uninitiated Corvair air cooled engine in the back trunk is the front. It's up front."

An air-cooled engine uses airflow to keep the engine from overheating, instead of coolant flowing through the engine. It’s a different cooling method than most modern cars use.

Term

cross member

"And the gas tank is right above that cross. So if you mount an electric fuel pump, you put it right on that cross member."

A cross member is a strong bar under the car that helps hold the body/frame together. People sometimes bolt parts to it because it’s sturdy.

Term

electric fuel pump

"So if you mount an electric fuel pump, you put it right on that cross member."

An electric fuel pump is the part that pushes gas (or fuel) from the tank toward the engine. Where you mount it under the car can affect how safe and reliable it is.

Concept

fuel pump failure during a drive

"Two hours in that thing. Rip the fuel pump off on a bridge."

They’re talking about a fuel pump problem that caused the car to stop working. If the fuel pump isn’t working, the engine can’t get fuel and the car can’t keep going.

Car

Jeep Cj5

"You stop right then. I learned that with a CJ5 a long time ago. And he sends me a picture right ..."

The Jeep CJ is an older off-road Jeep designed for rough terrain. The CJ5 is a specific version of that model line. The podcast mentions it because someone learned something from driving one and is sharing that lesson.

Term

mitigate the weight problem in the front

"How did you mitigate the weight problem in the front? Or did you just drive green on the floor?"

They’re talking about fixing a front-to-rear weight imbalance. If the front is overloaded, the car can handle worse and feel less stable.

Part

suspension

"But thankfully I rebuilt all of the suspension under that car. All of it was bad. I bet it works ish."

Suspension is what helps the wheels move smoothly and keeps the car stable over bumps. If it’s rebuilt, the car usually drives much better and feels more controlled.

Car

2015 Chevrolet Express

"[1822.0s] So did you bring anything interesting with you? [1824.9s] Or did you just, would you drive down? [1826.8s] I drove a 2015 Chevrolet Express. [1828.9s] Oh, your van. [1830.3s] Extended. [1830.8s] Okay. [1831.3s] Red."

A Chevrolet Express is a big van. The 2015 version is the model year they drove to the show—more of a practical vehicle than a sports car.

Car

Toyota A90

"What's sitting in front of the Corvette? I've got a 90. I've got a 90 XR250R, but it's parts."

The Toyota Supra is a sports car that’s known for being fast and popular with car enthusiasts. The podcast mentions a “90” and “parts,” which usually means someone has an older one and is collecting parts to keep it going. It’s a common kind of project car for people who like to work on cars.

Term

service manual

"I hope my service manual collection is worth something to someone at some point in my life. You got an 85 Corvette in there. You might want that rascal back."

A service manual is a step-by-step repair book for a particular car. It tells you how to fix things and what to check, and here they’re saying one of the manuals wasn’t very helpful.

Concept

part it out

"If that car would have been truly dead, if it wouldn't have started when it did, my plan was to part it out."

“Part it out” means taking a car apart and selling the good pieces separately. People do it when the car isn’t worth fixing as a whole.

Term

LS swap

"It was always going to be an LS swap or I was just going to part it out."

An “LS swap” is when someone takes a GM LS V8 engine and puts it into a different car. People do it because the LS engines are affordable, powerful, and there are lots of parts and guides to make the swap work.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"I sold it to a buddy who immediately dropped it in a third gen Camaro."

A “third gen Camaro” is a specific older Camaro generation from Chevrolet. The point here is that the person sold the engine and a friend put it into that Camaro.

Concept

Roadkill vet kart

"In fact, you could have done a vet kart, chopped everything like they did on Roadkill."

A “vet kart” is a silly custom project where you make a go-kart out of a Corvette. The host is referencing the “Roadkill” style of cutting and rebuilding cars into something totally different.

Car

Morgan 4 Plus

"...ed in an OQ4. So I pulled the L98 and the Dugnash 4 plus 3, which... Oh, the 4 plus 3 is..."

The Morgan Plus 4 is an older-style sports car made in the UK. It’s known for having a distinctive look and a fun, old-school driving experience. The podcast mentions it while talking about parts from related Morgan models.

Term

T10 4-speed

"So yeah, you got a T... I believe it's a T10 4-speed. Yeah."

A T10 4-speed is a particular kind of manual gear box with four forward gears. The hosts are saying it’s paired with extra shifting hardware to change how the car behaves at speed.

Term

overdrive

"So it's a 4-speed with an electric 3-speed overdrive. Yeah. Let's just make it more complicated."

Overdrive is an extra gearing mode that helps the car cruise with the engine spinning slower. They’re saying this overdrive is controlled electrically and can be a problem if the special parts wear out or aren’t available.

Term

filters

"That's extremely common because they are unique parts. I think the filters stop being available in like 94. Because they're crap."

Transmission filters are parts inside the transmission that help keep the fluid clean. If the correct filters are hard to find, it can be difficult to keep that transmission working properly.

Term

clutch

"you need to talk to John Fakara about doing the clutch on a ZR1, on a 4th gen ZR1."

The clutch is what lets you smoothly connect and disconnect the engine from the gearbox. If it’s worn out, shifting gets worse and the car may not pull as strongly.

Term

ZF6

"The L98 and the Trans. That's a big, long, heavy Trans. The ZF6 is not that much better."

“ZF6” is a name for a 6-speed manual gearbox made by ZF. They’re saying even with that transmission, the job is still difficult and not a big improvement.

Term

brake fluid so opaque

"I've never seen brake fluid so opaque. Is that milkshake? That's a milkshake."

Brake fluid is supposed to look clear. If it looks cloudy, it can mean water got into it or the fluid is breaking down, which can make the brakes less effective.

Term

milkshake

"Is that milkshake? That's a milkshake. The clutch had like a timed release."

“Milkshake” is what people call a creamy, mixed-looking fluid. It usually means water has gotten into something that shouldn’t have water in it.

Term

slave cylinder

"It's a slave cylinder. So naturally we took that autocrossing twice last year on the stock drive train."

The slave cylinder is a small hydraulic part that moves the clutch. If it’s not working right, the clutch can feel delayed or sluggish when you press or release the pedal.

Term

autocrossing

"It's a slave cylinder. So naturally we took that autocrossing twice last year on the stock drive train. And had an absolute riot."

Autocross is a timed driving event on a cone-marked course. It’s a good way to find problems because you’re turning and braking hard repeatedly.

Term

Dana 44 diff

"I still got a Dana 44 diff. That's where it's like 900 bucks right now. That's half the car."

The differential (diff) is the part that sends power to the left and right wheels. The “Dana 44” is a specific, well-known differential model people talk about when they’re upgrading or swapping parts.

Term

T 56

"A six speed. Six speed T 56. Okay. T 56."

T56 is a popular six-speed manual transmission used in a lot of performance builds. People like it because it’s strong and there are lots of parts available to make it work with different engines.

Car

Dodge Viper

"So the whole concept of it was I really want a first gen viper and I can't afford a first gen viper."

The Dodge Viper is a loud, old-school sports car built for drivers who want a very direct, no-nonsense feel. The conversation here is about which Viper years and versions are the best to buy if you can’t get the earliest ones.

Term

nannies

"it is the closest thing to a modern day Cobra because there are no nannies. There's nothing to save you."

“Nannies” is slang for the car’s computer safety features that step in when you’re driving too aggressively. The point here is that the Viper doesn’t have as much of that, so it feels more raw and direct.

Term

ABS

"There's no ABS. [2475.8s] There's no traction control. [2477.0s] It's a very raw car."

ABS is a safety system that stops your wheels from locking up when you brake hard. That way you can still steer instead of sliding.

Term

traction control

"There's no ABS. [2475.8s] There's no traction control. [2477.0s] It's a very raw car."

Traction control helps prevent the tires from spinning when you hit the gas. It reduces power or brakes a wheel so the car can keep moving forward.

Term

ESP

"[2477.0s] It's a very raw car. [2478.2s] Certainly no ESP. [2479.2s] There's none of that crap."

ESP is a stability control system. If the car starts to slide or rotate the wrong way, it uses brakes and engine control to help bring it back under control.

Concept

swaps ends

"[2479.2s] There's none of that crap. [2480.8s] And if you screw up, it swaps ends on you. [2484.5s] You get to see where you've been."

“Swaps ends” means the car loses grip and spins around. The back end comes around so the car ends up facing the other direction.

Concept

"magical year" (1986) for option/system changes

"Oh, wow. Oh, it did 86 was the first year. 86 is the first year you're right. All of the VATS technology, all of the ANF stuff, all that's 86."

They’re saying 1986 is a special model year because it lines up with certain factory features. For car people, that can matter a lot because those features can change how the car starts, brakes, or what’s easier to modify.

Term

VATS technology

"All of the VATS technology, all of the ANF stuff, all that's 86."

VATS is an anti-theft system that stops the car from starting unless the key has the right coded information. It’s basically an extra security check built into the ignition.

Term

ANF stuff

"All of the VATS technology, all of the ANF stuff, all that's 86."

They’re talking about another factory system/feature that came with the car around the same time as the anti-theft setup. The transcript doesn’t fully spell out what ANF stands for, but it’s clearly tied to that model-year change.

Car

Cadillac Escalade

"...f them right. Well, one of them is going to be an escalade. Ford or Cadillac,"

The Cadillac Escalade is a large luxury SUV. It’s made to be comfortable and roomy, especially for families or long trips. The podcast brings it up as one of the big luxury choices being considered.

Concept

limited production

"Not, not tons, but, you know, first gen Viper is real limited production. Not a lot of them out there."

Limited production means only a small number of that car were made. If fewer exist, it can be harder to find replacement parts later.

Term

door gank

"If you take it to dinner and you're not looking outside, trying to make sure it doesn't get a door gank or something."

“Door gank” is slang for someone swinging their door into your car. It’s basically the fear of getting a door dent while parked.

Term

16 inch wheel

"Because you can't get a good tire for the 16 inch wheel. The salad shooters are really cool, but there's not a good repop tire."

Tire sizes depend on the wheel size. If you use a less-common wheel size (like 16 inches), it can be harder to find decent replacement tires.

Term

repop tire

"The salad shooters are really cool, but there's not a good repop tire. 16s have gotten to be like 15s."

“Repop” is short for “reproduction,” meaning aftermarket tires made to mimic older, period-correct tire sizes or styles. The speaker is saying there aren’t good reproduction options for the wheel/tire size they want.

Term

14s or 13s

"16s have gotten to be like 15s. They're just not out there. God forbid you got a car that runs 14s or 13s."

“14s” and “13s” are shorthand for how fast a car runs in the quarter-mile—like 14 seconds or 13 seconds. They’re bringing it up to explain what tire sizes people can realistically get.

Term

engine and trans

"And plus the 1800, I'm guessing you had two times that in the engine and trans. Easily."

They’re talking about the main power parts of the car: the engine and the transmission. Together, they determine how well the car can handle hard driving.

Car

2002 Camaro SS

"Radically worth it because it's 2002 Camaro SS gearing as well. Oh, nice. With the T56, a lot of people don't realize that there's a lot of different gear ratios."

The 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS is a performance Camaro that came with a manual transmission option. In this conversation, the big deal is the gear ratios—especially the overdrive gears that help the engine spin less on the highway.

Term

gear ratios

"With the T56, a lot of people don't realize that there's a lot of different gear ratios. You can get a T56 and the 02 Camaro SS is a 0.5 overdrive."

Gear ratios are the “multipliers” between the engine and the wheels. They affect how hard the car pulls in each gear and how fast the engine spins when you’re cruising.

Term

final drive ratio

"So you're turning 1800 when you're doing 65. I'm turning 1800 doing 76. Are you really? With four 10 rears."

Final drive ratio is the gearing in the rear differential that helps determine how fast the wheels turn versus the engine RPM. A “4.10” style ratio usually makes the car feel punchier but can raise RPM at highway speeds unless you have tall overdrive gears.

Term

first gear

"Right. And a 266 first gear. So it still runs like a scalded dog through third."

First gear is the lowest gear used to get moving from a stop. The ratio of first gear affects how easily the car launches and how it feels when you’re accelerating from low speed.

Concept

building a combination

"It's a it's the example of building a combination. You don't have to electric overdrive. Drive into the next transmission."

They’re talking about putting together the right mix of parts and settings so the car drives the way you want. It’s about trade-offs—what you gain and what you give up.

Term

load sensing

"It was really fun feeling it shift in because it had load sensing and whatnot. So you could put it in and if you afford it, it drop out of overdrive."

Load sensing is how the transmission “feels” how hard the engine is working. It uses that information to decide the best time to shift so the car doesn’t feel jerky.

Concept

"does this one run?"

"And she's like, God, I think the exact question was, does this one run? And who knows?"

They’re basically asking if the car actually starts and works. It’s the simplest “can you drive it?” question.

Term

Transmission

"And you're talking about drive trains specifically? Transmission. Transmissions."

A transmission is the part that helps the engine’s power get to the wheels in the right way. It controls how the car speeds up and how smoothly it drives.

Car

Pontiac Fiero

"And we had a group that brought in a Pontiac Fiero transmission. Oh, no. For all intents and purposes is obsolete."

The Pontiac Fiero is a small mid-engine sports car. Here, they’re talking about working on its transmission, and the point is that older, less-common cars can be tough to keep running because parts are harder to find.

Term

trans axle

"So the setup for it, is it a trans axle or is it transverse? [3888.6s] It's a trans axle. [3889.5s] Okay. So the setup on a trans axle has to be similar to a front wheel drive car."

A transaxle is basically the transmission and the final drive put together in one unit. It’s common in cars where the wheels are driven from the front (or sometimes the middle), and it changes what parts can swap between cars.

Term

transverse

"So the setup for it, is it a trans axle or is it transverse? [3888.6s] It's a trans axle."

Transverse means the engine and transmission are mounted sideways. That layout is common in front-wheel-drive cars, so it influences how the drivetrain parts are arranged and swapped.

Term

synchronizers

"Sometimes, you know, some of the gears might have been used in another transmission [3906.2s] or some of the synchronizers. [3907.6s] Sure."

Synchronizers are the parts inside a manual transmission that help gears “line up” in speed before you shift. They’re important for smooth shifting and can be a compatibility issue when mixing parts from different cars.

Term

bearings and races

"Some of those parts, bearings and races. [3910.7s] However, this was in a Suzu transmission."

Bearings and races are the precision components that allow rotating shafts to spin with low friction and controlled alignment. In transmission swaps or rebuilds, they’re often reused only if wear is within spec, because mismatched or worn bearings can cause noise, heat, and premature failure.

Term

Iron Duke

"And what was it hooked to, an Iron Duke? [3917.6s] You know, actually, I think it was hooked to a 3.4 liter V6 or a 3.7"

Iron Duke is a name for a GM inline-four engine used in older cars. It’s mentioned here because the transmission being discussed was originally connected to that kind of engine.

Term

fuel injected

"I think they were fuel injected. [3929.8s] The car was actually kind of sprightly 135 horsepower in a car that weighed 2,100 pounds."

Fuel injection means the engine uses electronically controlled injectors to spray fuel. It’s a different system than a carburetor and can change how the car runs and how the drivetrain was designed.

Term

sand casting

"I've seen guys in India who like, just, you know, do a sand casting, pour it, use some monkey parts, and then suddenly they've got something that works."

Sand casting is a way to make metal parts by pouring melted metal into a sand mold. People use it when they need a part that isn’t easy to buy new.

Term

custom fabricate

"Do you ever like, custom fabricate the parts? Or is it like, I got to find this somewhere else?"

Custom fabricate means making a part from scratch or modifying existing parts to fit a specific application. In automotive contexts, it often comes up when a discontinued or hard-to-source component needs to be replaced or adapted.

Term

threads

"So now we have fabricated bolts, you know, that didn't exist the right length or the number of threads that were on there."

Threads are the spiral ridges on a bolt. They’re what let the bolt screw into the matching part securely.

Term

thread count

"So now we have fabricated bolts, you know, that didn't exist the right length or the number of threads that were on there."

Thread count is basically the spacing of the ridges on a bolt. If it doesn’t match the nut or hole it’s meant for, the bolt won’t screw in properly.

Car

1972 Honda 250 XL

"So I actually do have a 1972 Honda 250 XL. Very cool. With about 5,000 miles on it."

This is a 1972 Honda motorcycle with a 250cc engine. The “XL” name generally means it’s meant to be usable both on regular roads and on rougher surfaces, like dirt.

Car

1975 Ford LTD

"Anyway, so him and I, in his 1975 Ford LTD. Yeah, baby. Fine iron."

A 1975 Ford LTD is a big, classic American car from the 1970s. Here they’re talking about one specific 1975 LTD that’s been customized, especially around the engine and the parts underneath.

Term

cubic inches

"He had a 351 modified that was kind of bored over to 400 something cubic inches."

Cubic inches is a way to measure how big an engine is. Bigger displacement often means the engine can make more power, and in this story they’re saying the engine was modified to be larger than stock.

Term

bored over

"He had a 351 modified that was kind of bored over to 400 something cubic inches."

“Bored over” means the engine cylinders are enlarged by machining. That makes the engine’s displacement bigger, which can help it make more power—though it’s also more work and can affect longevity if not done correctly.

Part

swing arms

"Just painted all the front end components, the swing arms and everything. And we're out somewhere on a dirt road."

Swing arms are parts that hold the wheel in place while still letting it move when you hit bumps. If they’re painted, it usually means the person cared about the suspension and wanted it to look (and function) right.

Car

Mazda Rx7

"I was like, well, I was driving my RX-7 because my first car was a Mazda RX-7."

The Mazda RX-7 is a sports car famous for using a rotary engine, not the usual piston engine. That’s why it feels and sounds different from most cars people drive.

Term

bias plies

"It's funny. And those, those old bias plies, they all make fun of you. Yeah, they just kind of follow whatever track in the road."

Bias-ply tires are an older tire design where the layers are woven in a crisscross pattern. They can make the car feel like it tracks along road grooves more than newer tire types.

Term

hard top

"And I had the hard top on it and I took it out and I did what the car said was 125. Holy Jesus."

A hard top is a solid, rigid roof piece. They’re saying they had the hard top on when they took the car out.

Term

power glide

"Now it was a 283 230 horse with a power glide. I guarantee you it wasn't going 125."

“Powerglide” is the name of an older automatic transmission. It’s a two-speed gearbox, and here they’re describing what kind of automatic the car had.

Term

283

"Now it was a 283 230 horse with a power glide. I guarantee you it wasn't going 125."

“283” is an engine size—283 cubic inches—used to describe a classic V8 from Chevrolet. They’re basically saying what engine was in the car.

Car

Lamborghini 400 GT

"Or a Lamborghini 400 GT, or a Jaguar D-type, or that really cool 59 Cadillac concept car."

The Lamborghini 400 GT is an older Lamborghini grand tourer—basically a classic “long-distance” sports car. People talk about it because it’s rare and important in Lamborghini history.

Car

GMC Cyclone

"I love it. The Cyclone. It's got Dagmars for days."

“The Cyclone” is the name of the weird, standout car they’re talking about. The big thing they’re pointing out is its exaggerated front-end styling with big chrome bumper ornaments.

Term

Dagmars

"The Cyclone. It's got Dagmars for days. Yeah. What were they thinking?"

“Dagmars” are those big, rounded chrome bumper pieces you sometimes see on older cars. They’re basically decorative (and sometimes tied to lights), and they scream mid-century styling.

Term

radar control

"I think it was like radar control, cruise control, or something. There was supposed to be something in those pods that would help it read the road."

“Radar control” means the car uses radar (like a sensor) to detect things around it. The host is guessing that the pods might contain tech that helps the car understand what’s in front of it.

Term

cruise control

"I think it was like radar control, cruise control, or something. There was supposed to be something in those pods that would help it read the road."

Cruise control lets you set a speed and the car tries to hold it for you. The driver doesn’t have to keep pressing the gas pedal.

Car

Volvo P1800

"I mean, there's a tiny little fiat sitting next to a BMW and a Volvo, one of the P-1800s. And then right over here, we've got a couple of older BMWs"

The Volvo P1800 is an older sports car, shaped like a small coupe. It’s the kind of car people collect because it’s uncommon and has a unique look. The podcast mentions it because it’s sitting among other classic cars.

Car

Model A

"And then it makes its own little circle too [5341.1s] of Model A's, Model T's. [5344.1s] There are a couple of fire trucks."

The Ford Model A is an old classic car from the early 1900s. Here, it’s mentioned because the show has a bunch of these vintage cars to look at.

Car

Ford Model T

"And then it makes its own little circle too [5341.1s] of Model A's, Model T's. [5344.1s] There are a couple of fire trucks."

The Ford Model T is a famous early car from the early 1900s. They’re just pointing out that the show has a section with these old cars.

Brand

La France

"There's a, well, not La France. [5349.6s] Hell, I can't remember the name. [5351.0s] Big massive fire truck. [5354.0s] It is La France. [5354.9s] Is it La France? [5355.6s] Yeah."

La France is the name associated with classic fire trucks. The hosts mention it because they like how the trucks look and because someone used to modify them into a smaller two-seat setup.

Concept

strip it down, and turn it into a two-seater

"is because there was a guy that we talked to, [5367.3s] this was years ago, that would take those, strip it down, [5371.4s] and turn it into a two-seater. [5373.3s] Gary Wales."

They’re describing a custom modification where someone takes a big fire truck and removes parts to make it into a smaller car with just two seats. It’s a special build, not something you’d usually buy off the shelf.

Brand

Auburns

"And then, but this was original. [5378.9s] And there's even a, there are like four Auburns here."

Auburn refers to Auburn Automobile Company, a historic American car brand known for distinctive styling and early-20th-century performance and luxury models. The hosts mention “Auburns” as part of the vintage lineup at the show.

Car

852 Supercharged Speedster

"Yeah. An 852 Supercharged Speedster. Oh God, that thing."

This is an Auburn Speedster with a supercharger. A supercharger helps the engine make more power by pushing extra air into it.

Car

Jaguar D type

"And the Jaguar D type. And it's here at McPherson College."

The Jaguar D-Type is a very famous old race car from the 1950s. It’s known for being fast and for winning major endurance races.

Concept

auto restoration degree program

"It's the only college in the country that has an accredited four-year degree program for auto restoration."

This is a school program specifically for restoring classic cars. It’s a full, accredited four-year degree, not just a short course.

Topic

Pebble Beach class win

"And let's not forget, a couple years ago, took a second in class win at Pebble Beach with over Mercedes 300. It took years for that Mercedes 300 to be done through multiple graduating classes. Seven years. And yet they came in second at Pebble."

They’re talking about Pebble Beach, where restored cars are judged. The point is that the school’s restoration work did really well there.

Car

Mercedes-Benz Mercedes 300

"...k a second in class win at Pebble Beach with over Mercedes 300. It took years for that Mercedes 300 to be done"

The Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3 (W109) is an older luxury sedan that was also built to be very powerful. People talk about it because it combines comfort with performance. The podcast mentions it in connection with a long restoration and a competition win at Pebble Beach.

24 cars featured

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