EP0158 - Cranking My Hog

The Volkswagen Bora is a compact/midsize sedan that’s closely related to the Golf platform, depending on the generation and market. It’s discussed in the podcast as a project car tied to “hunting down” rarer parts or a specific build direction. That makes it notable as a less-common base compared with more widely known Volkswagen models.

The Volkswagen Caddy is a compact van used for work and everyday transport, often customized in enthusiast circles. In the podcast, it’s specifically referenced as a van brought over for a “dub shed” setup, highlighting its role as a platform for projects. That makes it notable as a common base for customization rather than a performance car.

The Audi SQ5 is the performance-oriented version of the Q5, typically using a stronger engine and sport-tuned setup than the standard Q5. In this segment, the host is talking about SQ5-specific 20-inch wheels and also mentions battery/electrical issues on a Q5, tying the wheel choice to their Audi ownership experience.

In wheel talk, “20s” means 20-inch wheels (the wheel diameter). Larger wheel sizes are common on performance trims and can change ride comfort, tire cost, and how easily you can find replacement tires.

“Budget tires” refers to lower-cost tire models rather than premium brands or performance-focused tires. They often prioritize price over grip, tread life, and refinement, which can matter a lot on a heavier SUV.

“Four mil left” is shorthand for remaining tire tread depth measured in millimeters. Tread depth affects wet grip and braking distance, so knowing how many millimeters are left helps estimate when the tires need replacement.

“Fully refurbished” wheels are restored by repairing damage (like curb rash), refinishing, and reconditioning the wheel surface to look and function like a renewed unit. For buyers, it’s a way to avoid the cost of brand-new wheels while still improving appearance and corrosion resistance.

“Battery issues” refers to problems related to the vehicle’s battery and/or its charging system, which can cause hard starts, warning lights, or electrical glitches. The host also calls out “electrical issues,” suggesting the problem may have been more than just a dead battery.

The Audi Q5 is the mainstream compact luxury SUV in Audi’s lineup. The host specifically mentions prior battery/electrical issues on their Q5, which is the kind of ownership problem that can affect day-to-day reliability and troubleshooting costs.

The Nissan Skyline is a long-running Japanese sports-car nameplate known for performance variants and a strong enthusiast following. In the podcast, it’s referenced in the context of working on an R32, showing how the Skyline line is tied to hands-on projects. The mention highlights the Skyline’s role as a popular platform for tuning and restoration.

Kia is a major automaker known for offering a wide range of cars and crossovers. In this segment, it’s referenced as the previous vehicle the speaker compared against.

“Bleepy thing” is a casual reference to an audible driver-assist warning or alert chime. Many modern cars use beeps for things like seatbelt reminders, collision warnings, or lane-departure alerts.

SSRs refers to SSR wheels, a Japanese aftermarket wheel brand known for motorsport and enthusiast builds. The host is guessing that the car’s wheels were SSRs, which matters because wheel choice affects fitment, weight, and the overall “show build” look.

The Chevrolet SSR is a distinctive U.S.-market vehicle that blends a pickup-style body with a retractable hardtop, creating a “sport truck” concept. It’s significant because it’s unusual and visually memorable, which is why it often comes up in enthusiast discussions. The podcast references SSRs as part of a “show build” context.

The RB30 is an engine family from Nissan’s RB-series inline-six lineup. In this context, it’s being described as a stroked RB26, meaning the RB30 uses a longer-stroke crankshaft to increase displacement and torque potential.

The RB26 refers to Nissan’s RB26DETT engine, famous from the R32–R34 Skyline GT-R era. Here, the host says the car uses a stroked RB26, which is a common tuning approach to boost displacement beyond the stock RB26.

“20 inch wheels” means the car is running larger-diameter rims than stock. Larger wheels usually pair with shorter sidewall tires, which can change ride comfort and make the suspension feel harsher unless the setup is tuned well.

“Static low” refers to how low the car sits when it’s not moving—its ride height at rest. It’s a common stance/fitment goal, and going very low can affect clearance, comfort, and how the suspension behaves over bumps.

Coilovers are adjustable suspension units that combine a coil spring and shock absorber in one package. They’re often used to fine-tune ride height and damping, which is why they’re central to how a very low car like Marty’s Mark 6 can still ride smoothly.

“Ultra deeps” is stance slang for an extremely low ride height and aggressive fitment. It implies the suspension is set for maximum visual drop, which can make ride quality harder unless the damping and alignment are dialed in.

“Mark tune up” likely refers to a specific tuned setup or configuration for the Mark 6 (Marty’s car), rather than a generic maintenance “tune-up.” In context, it’s contrasted with how people react after getting in the car, suggesting the suspension/stance setup is the defining change.

Ground clearance is the distance between the road and the lowest part of the car’s underbody. Lowering it can make the car scrape or bottom out over speed bumps, driveways, and uneven roads, so it directly affects real-world usability.

“Mark twos” here appears to refer to a specific generation/variant of a car line (often called “Mark II”) that the speaker says is especially bad for scraping from the bumper. The key idea is that some older designs have less forgiving front-end geometry and underbody clearance.

“Rubber band tires” is a slang way to describe very low-profile tires—short sidewalls on large wheels. Low-profile tires can improve steering response, but they also tend to make the ride harsher because there’s less tire sidewall to absorb bumps.

This appears to be a garbled reference to a common enthusiast complaint: that a car can feel “tank-slap” or “sloppy” over bumps when suspension geometry, damping, or mounting stiffness isn’t well matched. The underlying idea is that some setups can lose composure on rough roads.

Heated leather refers to leather upholstery with built-in heating elements, usually controlled by a multi-level switch. It’s a comfort feature that can be tied to specific trim levels, which is why the hosts are comparing which models in the “sport line” have it.

“Sport line” is a trim/option package name used on some Volkswagen Group cars, typically bundling styling and equipment. Here it’s important because the hosts are comparing which “Sport line” variants include heated leather and which don’t.

Bose is an audio brand known for premium sound systems. In this segment, “Bose headrest” implies an audio setup integrated into the headrests, which is a higher-end option compared with standard speakers.

The Skoda Superb is a large European sedan/wagon known for offering a lot of interior space and comfort for the money. In this segment, it’s used as the “bigger car” baseline before comparing to an Octavia.

The Skoda Octavia is a compact-to-midsize car that’s especially popular in Europe for its practicality and space efficiency. Here it’s contrasted with the Skoda Superb to highlight how the cabin and “feel” changes when you step down to a smaller model.

In car terms, the boot is the storage compartment at the rear of the vehicle (the trunk in North America). It’s where you’d typically load luggage and where custom storage boxes are often built.

A partial shelf is a structural or trim panel in the rear cargo area that partially covers or separates space. In audio builds, it can define how the subwoofer enclosures fit and how the enclosure lines “follow” the bodywork.

A hidden door in a custom boot build is an access panel concealed within the enclosure or trim. It’s typically used to reach wiring, service points, or components without leaving the area looking unfinished.

A press fit is a mechanical fit where parts are held together by interference—one piece is pushed into another so it stays without screws or glue. In car audio enclosures, it’s often used for removable panels that still need to be secure.

A valve block is a manifold-like assembly that houses multiple valves and routes fluid or air to different circuits. In automotive builds, it’s commonly associated with systems like air suspension or other pneumatic/hydraulic control setups.

Hard lines are rigid tubes used to carry fluid or air, rather than flexible hoses. They’re often used in performance or custom systems because they can be routed cleanly and maintain consistent geometry under load.

A manifold is a distribution block that combines or splits flow paths to multiple outlets. “VU4 style manifold” suggests a specific design/variant used in this builder’s setup, where the manifold block is integrated with the manifold itself.

A circuit board is the electronic platform that connects components and routes electrical signals using traces and soldered connections. In this segment, the solenoids are mounted/soldered to the circuit board, and the board’s internal connections route power to the plug.

A plug delete is a modification where an existing electrical connector/plug is removed or bypassed, typically to simplify wiring or eliminate a factory connector from the harness. The host is investigating a plug-delete approach because there’s little online information about how to do it for this specific setup.

Solenoids are electrically controlled valves that open and close to move hydraulic fluid on command. Here, the solenoids are soldered to a circuit board, and the host reroutes their wiring to a remote plug while keeping the same power/control function.

A remote plug is a relocated electrical connector that’s extended away from the original module so the wiring is easier to route or less visible. Here, the host runs the solenoid leads down the back of the V stand and mounts a remote plug out of the way.

“Low miles” refers to how many miles (or kilometers) a car has been driven. In enthusiast buying, very low mileage often matters because it can imply less wear—though condition and service history still matter more than the odometer alone.

A “chop” is a custom-car body modification where the roof is lowered (often by removing a section of the body) to create a sleeker, more aggressive profile. The host is saying the car’s low mileage would have made it a better starting point for that kind of custom build.

The Porsche Boxster is a mid-engine two-seat sports car known for its balanced handling and open-top (roadster) style. It’s often discussed as an entry point into Porsche’s sports-car lineup and as a benchmark for “classic” roadster character. In the podcast, it’s used as a reference point for how something can be “still” a sports car in spirit.

The Porsche 911 is a rear-engine sports car known for its distinctive silhouette and long-running design. In this segment, it’s used as a reference point for comparing how different models feel and look, specifically against a Boxster/Cayman-style alternative.

The Porsche Cayman is a mid-engine sports coupe that’s closely related to the Boxster platform. Here, the host says the car they were looking at is “Cayman type,” meaning it’s in that same general Porsche mid-engine family rather than something more extreme.

A “1200cc Harley” refers to a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with a 1200 cubic-centimeter engine displacement. Engine displacement is a rough indicator of how much air/fuel the engine can move per cycle, which often correlates with the bike’s typical torque and cruising feel.

“Fully comp” is shorthand for fully comprehensive insurance, which typically covers damage to your own bike as well as theft and third-party liability. It’s usually more expensive than basic third-party coverage because it pays for a wider range of incidents.

A “named rider” is an insurance policyholder listed by name as an approved driver/rider. Insurers use it to price risk based on that person’s age, experience, and claims history, and coverage may not apply if someone else rides the bike.

“3000 mile a year” is the estimated annual mileage used by insurers to calculate risk and pricing. Lower expected mileage often reduces the chance of an accident, theft exposure, and wear-related claims.

“Tax” here refers to annual vehicle tax/road tax, a recurring government fee to legally keep a vehicle on public roads. The cost can vary by vehicle type and emissions/engine characteristics, so it may surprise owners when comparing it to insurance.

“Smoked indicators” refers to turn-signal lenses that have a dark tint (often from a smoked film or lens coating). The tint changes the look and can slightly affect how bright the signal appears in daylight.

A “smoke tail light” is a rear light lens that’s tinted dark for a smoked/blackened appearance. Many aftermarket or custom parts use this to change the visual style while keeping the same basic lighting function.

Fork seals are the seals inside a motorcycle’s front suspension fork that keep fork oil from leaking and help maintain correct damping. If they wear out, the front end can feel “bouncy,” and the bike may also show oil seepage around the fork tubes.

“Pull the front wheel out” is a service step for removing the front end components so you can access the fork assembly. It’s part of many fork-seal replacement jobs because the wheel and fork must be separated safely.

“1200 customs” refers to a motorcycle custom model/variant associated with a 1200cc engine class. In practice, it’s a way of describing the bike’s displacement and trim/custom spec rather than a generic “custom” idea.

A “bigger front wheel” usually means a larger wheel diameter or different wheel/tire size than the standard setup. That can change steering feel, ride comfort, and how the bike rolls over bumps.

“Chrome” here means the shiny plated metal trim on the motorcycle. Condition of chrome is mostly cosmetic, but it’s also a quick indicator of how well the bike has been cared for (rust, pitting, and corrosion show up fast).

A “21 inch front wheel” refers to the diameter of the motorcycle’s front rim. Wheel size affects steering feel, tire options, and how the bike rolls over bumps.

“Torquey” describes an engine that produces strong low-to-midrange torque, making it feel punchy when you roll on the throttle. It’s different from horsepower: torque is about pulling force, especially at lower RPM.

“Big twin” is a motorcycle term (most associated with Harley-Davidson) for large-displacement V-twin engines. It’s used to distinguish bigger V-twin variants from smaller ones, often implying different torque and power characteristics.

“1340” refers to a 1340cc engine displacement, another common Harley-Davidson V-twin size. In this discussion, the speaker notes a tradeoff: the larger engine is described as having less horsepower but more torque.

Horsepower is a measure of an engine’s power output—how much work it can do over time. It’s commonly used to compare how strongly different engines can accelerate a vehicle, especially at higher speeds.

“Factory aftermarket” refers to parts that are sold through the manufacturer’s own accessory program or are closely tied to the factory brand, even though they’re not part of the original build. They’re often designed to fit properly and may be more consistent in quality than random third-party parts.

Screaming Eagle is Harley-Davidson’s performance and accessories brand, known for engine upgrades and exhaust systems. When someone says “Screaming Eagle,” they’re usually talking about parts intended to improve sound and performance while staying within the Harley ecosystem.

In this context, “pipes” means motorcycle exhaust pipes. Exhaust pipes strongly affect the bike’s sound and can also influence performance depending on the design and how they’re paired with other exhaust components.

Hand grips are the handlebar coverings you hold onto, and on motorcycles they’re often customized for comfort, control feel, and style. Because they’re visible and easy to swap, they’re also commonly part of branded “look” packages.

Foot pegs are the platforms the rider’s feet rest on, and they’re frequently customized for ergonomics and aesthetics. Like grips, they’re easy to replace and can be part of a coordinated aftermarket look.

“Willy G” is referenced here as a specific person associated with Harley-Davidson-style branding and customization. The host describes him as a tattooist and also as connected to the founders, implying he’s a recognizable figure in the custom culture around these parts.

“Kettled for rallies” appears to refer to a rally-prep or rally-eligible setup, where a car is prepared/modified for rally use. The host then contrasts it with not being eligible due to “what’s in the engine bay,” implying rules about allowable components.

“Brake” here means brake horsepower (bhp), a traditional way of quoting engine power measured at the engine output (not at the wheels). It’s often used in the UK/Europe and is a useful shorthand for comparing engine output across builds.

The “Temerario” mentioned in the podcast is described as a rebodied Lamborghini, meaning the car’s body has been changed to resemble a different model. That kind of build is significant because it can turn a more common base into a visually specific, rare-looking project. The podcast frames it as a pronunciation uncertainty while discussing that rebodied concept.

“Rebodied” means the vehicle’s body panels and exterior styling were replaced or redesigned, while the underlying chassis and/or mechanical components may remain from another car. In car shows, this often describes prototypes, coachbuilt one-offs, or cars built to look like something else.

The Audi R8 is a mid-engine supercar known for its V10 (in many years) and all-wheel-drive layout. In this segment, it’s used as a visual reference point for how another car looked.

“Electric presence” refers to how prominently electric vehicles (EVs) and electrified powertrains are represented at an event or in the lineup. It’s not a technical term by itself, but it’s a specific way to describe the balance between EVs and traditional cars.

The phrase “holy grail of the Jap world” is used to describe an extremely sought-after Japanese car or collectible. Here it’s tied to the discovery of a bare R34 GT-R body shell with paperwork that could make it registerable as new.

The Nissan Skyline GT-R is the famous “R34” generation, known for its twin-turbo inline-six and strong motorsport heritage. In this segment, the host is talking about a body shell being found and offered with paperwork that could allow it to be registered as a new car.

“Body in white” means the car’s metal body structure is assembled and ready for finishing, but it’s not yet painted or fitted with many exterior/interior components. It’s essentially the bare shell stage used in manufacturing and restoration projects.

Japanese registration papers are the official documents that identify a vehicle in Japan’s system, including its ownership and legal status. In this case, the host claims the paperwork is from Nissan, which is what makes the seller’s “register it as new” pitch possible.

“GTR” is shorthand for the Nissan GT-R, a Japanese sports car known for its all-wheel-drive grip and fast, repeatable performance. In this segment, the host compares the price of a rare car to what some GT-Rs have been selling for, implying the market is unusually hot for certain models.

E-coat (electrocoat) is a factory paint process where parts are dipped and an electric current helps the coating evenly cover metal surfaces. The host’s “original e-coat” reference implies the car has its factory corrosion protection and paint system intact, which matters a lot for value and restoration decisions.

“Reshell” means swapping a car’s mechanical components onto a different body shell—often to restore or preserve a valuable drivetrain while replacing a damaged or rusted body. In this context, it’s the idea of taking a rotten car and moving its good parts onto a better shell.

A “rally shell” is an incomplete rally car base—typically the body/chassis without the full drivetrain and interior—intended to be rebuilt into a competition car. The host contrasts finding a clean rally shell versus starting from a rotten one, highlighting how the base condition drives both cost and what kind of build you can realistically do.

A “concourse vehicle” is a car built and maintained to win judged shows—typically restored to look exactly like it did when new, with correct details and immaculate presentation. The host uses it to frame the choice between preserving a pristine shell as a showpiece versus building a more personal, usable car.

“Die-building” here is shorthand for building/restoring a car to an extremely exact, show-quality standard—essentially treating the build like a meticulous “specimen” project. The host contrasts that with building a car you’ll actually enjoy, even if it’s not a perfect museum-style example.

The BMW M2 is a compact performance coupe from BMW’s M division, designed to deliver “smaller car” agility with serious power. It’s often brought up by enthusiasts because it’s positioned as a more focused, driver-oriented alternative to larger M models. In the podcast, it’s described as a “curveball,” implying it’s an unexpected but notable choice among performance cars.

The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the 3 Series, built by BMW’s M division for drivers who want a track-capable sedan/coupe experience. It’s significant because each generation has helped define what “M” performance means, and it’s frequently used as a reference when talking about tuning and performance potential. The podcast specifically frames it as the start of “the current M3” era.

A “six cylinder petrol version” means a gasoline engine with six cylinders, typically referring to an inline-six layout in BMW’s case. This is a specific engine configuration that affects smoothness, power delivery, and packaging compared with four-cylinder or V6 setups.

“Narrow ring” is a reference to the Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany’s famous long, twisty track. It’s widely used for development testing because it stresses cooling, traction, and stability over many different corner types and speeds.

The S58 engine is BMW’s modern high-performance inline-six used in recent M cars. It’s known for being turbocharged and for delivering strong output with an M-tuned character, so tying the prototype to the S58 suggests BMW is leveraging an existing performance engine architecture.

A “twin turbo straight six” describes an inline-six engine (straight six) that uses two turbochargers. Twin turbos are used to improve boost response and power output by forcing more air into the engine for more efficient combustion.

“RS6” refers to the Audi RS 6, a high-performance wagon/sedan (depending on generation) built around a powerful turbocharged engine and all-wheel-drive traction. The segment highlights how extreme power levels (like “700 brake RS6”) can feel dramatically different from stepping down to an RS3, emphasizing that power and calibration changes can transform the driving experience.

“Tunable” in this context means the car’s engine and drivability can be altered via calibration changes (like ECU tuning) and supporting modifications. The host contrasts “tunable” cars with ones that are “restricted,” implying modern cars may have tighter limits that reduce how far you can push power safely or legally.

The BMW M5 is BMW’s performance flagship sedan, combining everyday usability with very high power and advanced chassis tuning. It’s often discussed alongside other “tunable” performance models because owners look for ways to increase performance beyond stock. In the podcast, it’s mentioned in the context of how the M3/M5/other performance cars compare in terms of tuning potential.