He Built A Lifted Subaru Forester XT To Handle The AZ Heat

Transcript

Speaker: All right, we got us a freaking doozy this week on the Dirt Subies podcast. My friend Eric, he is an OG, Lifted Imports featured build person, and I'm super happy to have him on the podcast. I'm obviously sick, as you can tell, so editing took a little bit longer than normal. We'll see how this one turns out. As usual, you guys definitely want to be checking out the Subie and You podcast. There's a bunch of good episodes over there that you can check out, but let's jump into this episode. It's good to meet new people, but also really enjoy talking to, you know dudes or ladies or whoever that i already know. it's like a little reunion. so I'm super stoked to have you on. Yeah, you're an OG.

Speaker: Like you're literally one of the OGs, bro, of of lifted imports and dirt Subies. So can you introduce yourself to people? Let them know who you are and where they can find you. My name is Eric Krieger.

Speaker: I have a 2017 Forrester XT touring and I go by bearded pixel all one word on Instagram. I believe it's all one word for sure.

Speaker: I hope so. Actually, let me let me double check. I can check that. now I just never look at my own name. oh a Bearded underscore pixel. Sorry. Oh, good. I'm glad we caught it. Probably send somebody to like an OnlyFans page or something, like some beard porn something. Yeah, right. Well, I mean, I think that was like the one social media platform where somebody already had that name. Okay, so you you bought the Forester in 2021, you said, right? ah Yeah, I believe it was August of 2021. And it was funny at that time. and it was actually probably a couple of days to a week away from getting a 2020 white sport. I had that in my sights, and then i was looking CarGuru and just kind of perusing, you know, and I saw the Turbo, of the XT, and i was like, it's the color I want. the blue. And then, you know, I do wish it was a little bit more of the WRX blue. I will admit that, you know. It still looks good. little bit of the brighter.

Speaker: But then it's like, you know, I saw this thing the right price point, and it only had 25,000 miles on it. It was one owner from, think, Jersey. Oh, what? I don't know if they bought it in Jersey and had it brought here. Okay.

Speaker: Because no rust whatsoever. Like, it was never driven in snow. Maybe like a snowbird car? i It could have been. And... you know I was just like you know going between them. and my wife was like, which one do you want? I'm like, what i'd rather have the turbo. so i'm like I jumped on it, and I went down to get it. and It was funny because one dude in your state in Washington wanted it shipped to him.

Speaker: He wanted to buy it and ship it. and Then there was another couple from Prescott, you know a couple hour or like an hour away from here, that were driving down when I went and bought it. Like when I was sending my paperwork, they were sitting in it and I was like, hey dude, what's going They're like, they just wanted to check it out. I'm like, so it's still mine. They're like, yeah, you're good, dude. It's not theirs. like, okay. Don't have to go home. Right, right.

Speaker: But it's it's it's one of those things that I've always wanted the turbo, like, you know, the WRX or whatever. And then I was like, oh I something more capable. So I got that. And then lo behold, find out, you know, everything I've done to it, like,

Speaker: Could have done it to a WRX too. So, but more room and you don't get pulled over as often. That's true. Uh, you know, you know, knock on wood. I have, uh, I've never had a ticket. I've been, no ah I dude, I've had lot of warnings, even with a deputy. What's that guy's name? Deputy Frank lo dude. Yeah. yeah that's That's down on, that's not a Tucson. I don't go down there much, but, okay you know, but yeah, I mean,

Speaker: The only thing I'm finding out, though, is the turbo Arizona heat is not a good thing. A of heat soak. Yeah, i've I've actually thought about getting an Subaru just to have something to drive in the summertime. Because it gets hot, man.

Speaker: Yeah, oh, dude. i You know, when I met up with you and and Ryan back, at when would that have been? June or something? When was that? That was...

Speaker: Yeah, I think it was like June or July when you were here. I think June, end of June, somewhere in there maybe? Yeah, probably. um I'd have to look at the Instagram for posts. Yeah. Dude, it was 116 degrees one of those days when I was there. the fudge? like like I'm used to 100, 105, but there's something about crossing that 110 mark that just changes everything. Yeah. I don't notice it too much with the turbo. Well, I mean, I shouldn't say that.

Speaker: there's There's a distinct difference. You know, like the temperatures out now, like when, you know, it kind of sucks where we're at now. This, I guess, winter, if you want to call it that, is, you know, 30, 40 degrees in the morning.

Speaker: And then by noon, it's 70. Yeah. yeah But, like, it's still not super hot. So, you know, the thing drives great right now. Summertime, there is...

Speaker: that that heat soak. But the only time I really see it is I try not to is like I'm on like the 101 or something like that, you know, because then, you know, if you're holding 80 miles an hour driving there, it's like, it's weird because temperature doesn't get too hot.

Speaker: I monitor that, but like the oil temp, like that, that climbs, that climbs pretty good. yeah i could imagine yeah guess it gets kind of scary sometimes like we drive with the wife going like i'm like couple more degrees i'm pulling off like it gets up there have you have you ever explored any external cooling improvements like from i have a i have a i have the the training cooler and then which I left the stock one in, so it goes to the stock cooler into the external cooler. then So kind of that double cooling.

Speaker: I looked at like an oil cooler, but the problem with those is how it's got the top mount filter. It's kind of like its own little cooler, and then you have to, like everything I looked at said you had to cut that Like cut the metal to get the cooler to fit. I'm like, I'm not about messing anything up like that in the engine to where i'd have to replace things.

Speaker: Because really, pretty much everything I've done to it, I can revert back to stock. Yeah. Can you kind of set the stage or give us an idea of kind of what the market looked like back when you bought that thing? Because at least out here.

Speaker: In 2021, the market was crazy. People were just... Dealers were paying over Blue Book to get used cars. People were paying over Blue Book to buy them. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. was crazy. don't think the market... The market out here, used car market, I think...

Speaker: when everything went apeshit with that i think it was more 2022 to 2023 i think was the like kind of the peak if i'm not mistaken i roughly paid basically like a thousand dollars a mile i think it was like 25 grand or something like oh that's not bad dude and then i think it was like right away i noticed like just same year like like with like a hundred something thousand miles we're going for like the same price i'm like yeah so i looked up i booked mine and it was like with something like, you know, if i private party was like almost $40,000, I'm like the hell. right It's like, I did, I did have that thought. I'm like, you know, like should I should get rid of it, but then it's like, then i got I had a lot of stuff done to it. So I was like, I'm just in the same market, but I'm paying a higher price for the car.

Speaker: And then if I'm doing that, it's like, do I want to go a different route? yeah i did look at like trucks, but I'm like, that's just ridiculous. Those are just still ridiculous, man. Oh, trucks were the worst, at least out here. it was It was absolutely crazy. Oh, they're still stupid. You know, like a ZR2 Chevy, you know, was it the Colorado Path Road Package is still like $80,000, $90,000. And I'm like, I can go i can buy a Stingray Corvette for cheaper than that, you know?

Speaker: Yeah, to me, those Colorados, they do have some pretty cool packages, like some of them with the little Cummins motors. But it's like, dude, yeah this is like a $40,000 car on a good day, like at least in my brain. I'm like, you know, this isn't even a full-size truck. What are we doing spending almost six figures on it, dude? It's crazy.

Speaker: And then they're not, you know, I don't think they're as cool as like, back in the day, my brother had a 96 S1002 pickup. And, you know, i remember those things, you know, you know were great they're fun trucks and i'm like i don't think they hold the same yeah yeah not even remotely now is this um this is not your first subaru right you've owned yes it is is it really yep for some reason i had it in my head that you had owned a wrx but no no no i i mean now with what came out at the japanese auto show over yeah like dude i'm like

Speaker: You know, I'm like, you know, I don't want payments anymore, but i'm probably going end up having him they come out. You know what I mean? i need I need a summer car. i don't learn anything. It'll still be a turbo, right? Right. Yeah.

Speaker: yeah But it'll be a manual, so that'll be better. Yeah. Well, what, um, you know, out in Arizona, I mean, unless you live in like Prescott or, um, like flag up that flag staff. Yeah. It, you don't get really snow and it, it, to me, it it's crazy that there's still such a big Subaru community where you guys are at, but what sort of drew you to the car or even to the brand as a whole? You know, what's funny is, is I knew you're going ask that, uh,

Speaker: You know, I don't know. Like, I've always liked the WRX. I mean, my favorite is is the was the STI hatchback. like Yeah.

Speaker: I would love to get one, but the problem with it is most of them are three or more owner deep. I'm going to buy it, drive it down the block, it's going to blow up. Yeah, ring land failure. I'm trying to find one that hasn't been touched. Like that stock is just literally like, you know, the golden egg out there. You you know? Yeah. um But I've always liked Subur's. I mean, they've always had the reliability. I've had a couple of friends that have had WRXs and stuff and, you know, getting the drive them, you know, when I lived back in Illinois, like it was just fun as hell, especially in the wintertime in the snow.

Speaker: And then out here, I just wanted something, which was kind of funny when I got it, when I was looking for it. I wasn't, I didn't know about the off-road side of things.

Speaker: I was actually, a couple guys I follow on Instagram, I was going to go the street version. I was going to, I was going to slam it. Yeah. You know? And then it's like, you know, i was like, oh I can get like this tunes, you know, different turbo, like all this other stuff. And then I started,

Speaker: The more I write about it, the more i was like, yeah I don't want to touch that. That's when things start to go boomy. So yes yeah does it does it you know it's not even like the old Hezgasket thing. No matter what motor it is, you know i just I didn't want any issues. And then I started seeing you know posting online or whatever.

Speaker: the hashtag started seeing more of the off-road stuff. And I was like, oh, hell yeah, you know? So I was like, yeah, I'll go that route. And that's all of a sudden, you know, I found Mountain Rue and then Mountain Rue, Arizona.

Speaker: And they had a meetup. And I remember my first time out was funny enough, still on my stock tires, I think. Yeah, I on stock tires. because Somebody was saying like skid plates are the first thing. So I was like, okay.

Speaker: A buddy of in the group got was getting, they sold their 2018 Forester. Okay. So I was like, well, I'll take, you know, I'll take the skid plates. I got the full permanent set for like 300 Nice. And slapped it on.

Speaker: And then we went out with the group and we were going through a wash. And I remember it was like first time out. My wife was and I, we had our dog and we only had one at the time. And then ah I'm driving and and, you know, she does that thing where, you know, she sees something before I do, but she's like, oh, and it's like, when you see me say that, it's too late. Like I'm already hitting it. And I felt the rock in the wash because, you know, you're you're lower on the sides and higher in the middle.

Speaker: And that rock went straight down the middle or the front skate plate, missed the tranny one, actually went down my muffler, like down all the way to the back. And I was just like, dude, I'm like, if I didn't have that, dude, my oil pan should have gone.

Speaker: Like I would have got this new car. brought it out and then totally basically out there all in one day. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So the skid plates, you know, saved me pretty good.

Speaker: And then I think the, uh, what were they, the Falcons on the stock rooms were the Falcon wild peak. It's the trails where the tires are went with. Cause it was kind of like everybody was running those.

Speaker: Yeah. um not really a fan of them. Uh, yeah, they I mean, they're decent off-road on road, don't get me wrong, but like Sidewall, non-existent.

Speaker: Yeah. I went off... When I had those, I went off with the group and we did a more, it was a smaller group and we did more technical stuff through like rocks and everything.

Speaker: dad i mean It was like a razor blade to my tires. Like all the sidewalls, like I went and got rubber cement in because I could see all the steel belting. I'm like, holy crap, man. And then i you know, now I have the Sparco wheels with the the Geolander MTs. And when we went out, when you were here, i got one One slice in there yeah from what from what John hit. I i didn't get the John. I think at the jount that didn't tear the whole sidewall open. but

Speaker: um Well, what's interesting, if you think about it, we both hit it, right? I have a mark on the rim like him, but then it here's a slice in the tire because my tire...

Speaker: They sit a lot more flush with the rim. Okay. And it does have a slice. it's I can't see the belting or anything like that. It's a pretty thick sidewall. And then John has the 18-4's, I think. 4W's. And he's got that bubble. And I think that's where caught it.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, that was crazy. tried to patch it. we tried it was it was so cold up there i was like man how did we go from like you know it's 75 80 degrees yeah yeah like they like the other day you know it's 70 down here it's nine degrees up there right yeah it dude it's crazy um can i ask you about those uh about your wheel and tire setup yeah um Is there a specific reason that you went with sparkos other than they look super good?

Speaker: um And then the geo landers, I'd love to hear kind of your thought process on that. So i had those sparkles in mind for a long time. Cause I mean, with with my car being the blue and then I had the red, I had the red lights in the front that I've since changed. I'm going back and forth. If I want to get rid of the red slashes on there and get like a white or something.

Speaker: It was kind of a theme. and then ah But then I was like, the sparkles, I'm like, I love the gray. And then they have the blue lettering. I'm like, that goes with the car. It's perfect. It's you know And then I was thinking, OK, I could take all the red and make it gray. So it's got I like the theme.

Speaker: I really would love to do like a half wrap on the back or something, like pixelated or something like that. Oh, that'd be But then I get into wraps, dude, and they're stupid, stupid, stupid money.

Speaker: But like, and then the tires, like, I saw them. What was his name? Sly. can't remember his name now. He had the Crosstrek in Colorado. Okay. He just got like, that's his shop, and I got the Keep Rumbling sticker on my car from him. Sick. But it was hit it was him and Turbo Joe.

Speaker: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because they both had the same the same builds. Like they had like the full force, I think, bumpers on each one of them. um It was kind of like a a different version of each other. But I saw the wheel tire set up and i was just like, oh, my God, it's beautiful. And then, you know, it's one of the only MT tires you can get in in a size that would fit.

Speaker: um I would love to go down to the 15, 17s as far as I can go right now because of the – oversized front brakes. Yeah. You know, i did think about just, because everybody, like, what's interesting is everybody goes to the WRXs and gets the four-pot calipers. They didn't always switch, but I'm like, was talking to my mechanic, you Matt, and I was just like, why don't,

Speaker: Why can't I just take it off of a base model Forrester? And he's like, well, you could. My whole thing is I don't know if it's the reservoir or something. is it goingnna you know because Is it going to push more fluid? like How is that going to work?

Speaker: Yeah, I don't know anything about that. Doing all that stuff, I'm just kind of like, 17s are fine. I mean, yeah, I could get more meat, but 17s look good. I still have you know those tires have a decent amount of sidewall to them. As for the Geolanders, i love them.

Speaker: The only downside I've noticed, I think, is like rain wet, like when it's wet out, is when you turn. i have looked this up, and a lot of people say the same thing, is they don't do well.

Speaker: They tend to, when you go to turn, they tend to kind of go through the turn. You know what mean? They just understeer. Yeah, like pretty bad. But like off-road, everything else, like fantastic.

Speaker: you know Yeah. Yeah. Um, road noise to me is not bad. I mean, yeah, they're noticeable because of the way they are, but yeah, it's a mud terrain. Yeah. I mean, yeah, but like no, nothing really noticeable. Um, I have thought about like, you know, when the time comes to replace them, if I'm going to go with them again or not. And I think that fully depends on the price of tires at that point.

Speaker: Cause like when I, when I got those, um, the wild peaks i have five of those like i did the full size i ended up getting my original stock rim from ebay you know just so i had the same rim and everything which is on the roof of my car because i'm like i've never used it so i'm like it'll get me out in a pinch you know when i went to look at i got my you know the four i did the rim entire combo off of tire rack which i didn't know were bought out by uh discount discount yeah so when i had the tps and everything installed like they did it all for free like i just drove it over like couple blocks away and was like do it you know what mean tire rack tire rack is my jam du dude they came mounted bounced everything perfect i think it was like a few months later i'm like you know i should just get another rim and tires so i have it but then it's like dude the rim was like out of stock and then

Speaker: The tire went up like another like 50 freaking dollars. and Right. Like when I bought my Wild Peaks, I paid 115 tire. And then like one when everybody else was getting up, no, they were like two, so they were almost like $200. Oh, that's right. You're in 17 inch territory. That's different. yeah No, it was only when my I had my eighteens Oh, it's even worse. Yeah, because the original stock ones are 18s. Yeah, tires, I feel like everything's gone up at least 25% in the last five years, hands down, just across the board.

Speaker: so I mean, it's nice seeing a lot more coming out. I did look at, ah you were shouting out like the Mouse Stars. I looked at those. I think, was it the Patagonias? Mm-hmm.

Speaker: I think the, was it the AT? AT Pro. Oh, AT Pro. Yeah. I think they have the 17 in my size. Okay. Because they have a 225 and 235. Nice. Mine are 235, 55, or 235, 65. Yeah, everybody still nothing, you know.

Speaker: fifty five or two thirty five sixty five yeah everybody else still nothing you know It kind of gets me on this tangent of the aftermarket of the Subaru you know groups. It's like you look at like the older models, like I think the one you have and stuff, like they have a bunch of stuff for you. You can find a bunch of stuff. Oh, yeah. yeah and then And then you have like the 2019, so the SK, Foresters, and up.

Speaker: You can find stuff all day long. Same with the Crosstrek, you know? You have all these bumpers and stuff. But the SH and the SJ, No. Nothing. You got jack shit. You know what I mean? like Yeah.

Speaker: like Like me, I had to drive all the way to Tennessee you know to get my Rockslider. Oh, that's right. From Fort Worth Metalworks, yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was i was happy like to be, the one of the first I think, the first one in 2022 when I got him because mine are the prototypes. I think there was the Gold Forrester that has the front bumper and back. Oh, yeah. him Yeah. Wandering Files or... I can't remember his name.

Speaker: yeah But yeah, he got them. saying like He asked me, I put them in. He's like, oh, when did you get them? I said 2022. And he's like, okay. He's like, they're right before he did. Okay, so you got the OGs. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, they were bare metal. When I was there, you know ride aligned them right there. and Sick. Slapped them on and drove them all the way back home.

Speaker: That's what's up, dude. And then when I got back, he's like, you could do a front bumper, like the hybrid one, really nice one. He goes, you know, for cheap, you know, because with the XTs, the rock sliders on the driver's side, the bracketry is different underneath. Like there's different bends to it.

Speaker: Okay. Don't know why. ah But he said the bumpers are the same way. They're not the same as the base model because of the turbo. There's like ah some kind of sensor or something there.

Speaker: Okay, that makes sense. he's just like, oh, you know if you want to come back out, I'm like, nah. Because I mean, after driving out there in like the hotels, I mean, by my own man went with me, but... After doing that, everything with gas, I'm like, dude, I'm like, it costs about the same as getting it shipped out. Does it have something to do with the active shutter?

Speaker: see that's the thing is he said there's the active shutter. He said, yeah, it's that. But when I took my bumper off to put the SSD light bar on there, I don't remember seeing one.

Speaker: Because it was 2018 had a turbo, right? They had the XT in 2018. That was the last year. Yeah. Or maybe the SH models had that. okay i i remember because i was working for subaru when 18s were the current showroom models and i remember them talking about the active shutter thing to help them warm up uh so i wonder because i've looked at i see like there's ducting that goes down and it kind of like curves towards of the turbo but i don't see anything in there

Speaker: Okay. but Yeah, I'm not sure. I guess only one way to find out. Stick my hand in there to see what's going on. ah with your With your tires, did you, the top of my head, I don't know the overall diameter, but are they bigger than stock diameter, and did you have any problems fitting them?

Speaker: Okay, so the tires that were on my car when I got it were two 20 235 55

Speaker: Uh, so no, they're, I want to say they're, I think the ones I had were like a 28, 29 or something like that. Okay. And then the ones I got now are like 29 one.

Speaker: Oh, or 29 somewhere there. Yeah. They're very much identical. Um, the The only rubbing I had was on my Rockblox.

Speaker: Mudflown. My guards. When I looked at them too, is the the equal out. So my wheel, it was like five pounds lighter. than stock but the tire is five pounds heavier than stock so it works out to be exactly the same it's the same weight and everything the only difference is you know they're a narrower tire because like my old tires you know i have the uh it was the one inch spacer on them and they would poke out little bit i like that was like everybody likes a little bit of poke these these don't

Speaker: They don't poke. So the, it's the offset, the offset in the third tire. So, but you know, I did think about like, oh, I should just remove them then. But then they would like way tucked in and I'm like, nah. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah. I'm not against wheel spacers as long as they're torqued. Right. I've never had a problem. Maybe I should get like a couple more. just like Yeah. Stack them. Some whistling diesel action. Yeah. You know what's funny? you know what's funny is it makes me think like with, I see people all the time that they bad mouth the lifts on these, like the the puck lift, you know?

Speaker: Oh yeah, they're like all the time. like, oh, snapping axles, whatever. like, I don't understand that. And they're like, oh if you compound that with the wheel spacers, these are ball joints, snapping axles. I'm like... You know, knocking wood i'm this thing, I don't know how it was driven before I got it.

Speaker: It's got just about 60,000 miles on it now. All the original stuff. like I mean, don't get me lower control arms. Yes, I've replaced those because Arizona destroys bushings. but Anything with rubber.

Speaker: But the thing, yeah, which, you know, I got my new shocks. And then the first thing I hear clunk, I'm like, what's that? I look down. I'm like, it's been two years. I got to replace my freaking control arms again. Yeah. it's a heat man it sucks but like i'm still running you know i check my boots all the time i'm like there's you're still going good i just see people snapping axles just you know daily driving and i'm like i don't understand how they're doing because i've had the same experience as you in all my years driving lifted subarus i've only had one axle failure and it and it was specifically caused i know exactly how i did it

Speaker: is because I was up in the air at full throttle trying to climb up something because I had open diff at the time. And as soon as I crested over that, the wheel at full speed, oh you know, all that shock load down onto the,

Speaker: onto the ground and within a couple months, boom, starts clicking. i was like, oh, I know how that happened. I mean, it's one of those things. I came from like, you know, front wheel drive cars, so I know exactly what the clicking is. yeah Yeah. Usually I'm always like, it's always that passenger side, you know, the longer one. Like it's always that one.

Speaker: Yeah. But like, so it's like i don't want to hear that but the the thing is is is yeah like you're talking about the over diff it's like yes the one thing i'm still still want to do the torque lockers it's like the one thing i'll do haven't done that i want to do yeah you should well and i think the other thing too um i'm glad you mentioned that you check your boots nobody does that i think that's the biggest yeah.

Speaker: destroyer of axles is people don't check the boots then they take the the darn thing and they run it through a creek they run dry mud they run it through sand and it just stuffs a bunch of crap in there evacuates all the grease and grinds the the little You know, the machine surfaces up and then yeah having driven like a bunch of front wheel drive cars and having to replace, you know, CV axles in like parking lots and stuff like that. yeah they're Like, you know, it's it's I know the mess, the grease, you know, that that grease makes. I don't want to clean that up.

Speaker: Oh, dude. And it smells so bad. Oh, yeah. Especially on Subarus because it's always the front axles almost that that go bad. And it flings that grease right onto the manifold and you just get that that lovely smell. do There's one way to tell when it goes bad.

Speaker: Yeah, right? Yeah. I mean, I'd rather reboot it ahead of time, but yeah, a hundred percent. You see, that's the other thing I was like, uh, cause I remember I was like, I was talking to my mechanic and I was like talking to him about the CV axles. Cause I see so many people go with the aftermarket cause they don't want to spend the money or whatever. And it's like, no, you're going to fail.

Speaker: And then he was showing me, he got one of like the rebooters and I'm like, I'll just do that then. Yeah, dude. As long as the inside is not destroyed. Yeah. if the inside is still fine. And it's not. i mean, I've never done that.

Speaker: I've, you know, back in the day when I, you know people would reboot, I look at it and I'm like, no. Yeah. I ain't about fighting with that grease and all that crap. Yeah. Yeah, a little different on Subarus, but but no, I agree. And I mean, most shops will do a reboot for you for not, you know, not not too bad. But yeah, sure beats paying 500 bucks for an OEM axle. you know Yeah, no, thanks. Okay, let me ask you about, I know you got all kinds of goodies on that thing.

Speaker: To the best of your memory, what all do you have on the car? hey Let's see, I got the the full primitive skid plate set. I have the Sparko wheels with the Geolinder MT tires.

Speaker: SSD live bar up front. I have an ADF two-inch lift on it. I have an ADF... I have their Ditchlight brackets.

Speaker: I also have their rear the rear end stiffener. Those little... Little things you put in the rear end thing. Yeah. The bracket. Uh, well the, yeah, the two little puck things that slide in there. I got that. I have also have their, uh, anti-webble insert.

Speaker: Nice. ADS stuff. Yeah, I'm the same way, dude. Are you currently in the market for a lift kit for your Subaru? Or have you put a crappy Amazon or eBay lift kit on it and realized maybe you shouldn't have done that? Well, if you're in the market for that or skid plates, ditch light brackets, molly panels, any kind of other off-road Subaru stuff, make sure that you check out today's sponsor. Anderson Design and Fabrication. They are offering you guys a 5% off deal. If you use code DIRTSUBIES at checkout, all you got to do is go to their website, awdadventure.com.

Speaker: Use that code DIRTSUBIES when you check out and you will get 5% off. And I can't speak highly enough of their stuff. You guys know that I've been running their products for over 10 years at this point and have just absolutely beat the crap out of them. I've got their lift kit on my Forester currently, and I will probably never use another lift kit brand ever. Their stuff is just solid. So it means a lot to me the fact that Patrick was willing to do me a favor and sponsor the podcast and giving you guys a way to make purchasing a quality lift kit more affordable so go over there get whatever you need use that code and make sure in the notes section you tell him thank you because he doesn't need to discount any of his products he's literally killing it but again it's just a favor that he's doing for us and i really appreciate patrick I have the Full Force Metalworks rock sliders.

Speaker: I've gone back and forth with removing them, but I have used them quite a bit out here with some of those wedges, and they work really well. Also, great jack points. My cooling for my transmission, i dude, I just went with a cheap Amazon one. I'm not going to spend a bunch of money on Mishimoto's stuff when you don't have to. Did you use a Hayden cooler?

Speaker: ah I don't remember it was something like it was like 50 60 bucks, something like that. I do have another one that has a bigger, bigger flow, right? Flow rate with more baffling.

Speaker: Okay, the fins. Yeah, they haven't installed because I'm like, know, until I have really an issue. I don't really need want to mess with it right now. Yeah, because it is bigger too. But the cheap one I've got to been in there for four years or whatever it is now. And it's okay still fine. No leaks, no nothing. You got a ladder.

Speaker: I do have a widow ladder. Yeah. I have a different current charge pipe. Okay. I put that in. I do have some silico Grim Speed coming for my my intake piping. I'm not changing the stock intake. I'm just the the the rubber that's in there, the corrugated tubing. like yeah I kept having this issue. I kept like losing a big boost leak. I'm like, what is going on? okay my I changed my turbo inlet. I changed the turbo like bypass valve.

Speaker: Everything, you name it. And I was like, what is going on? And lo and behold, I'm like that. I even changed the clamp on it now, but like that, the back of the air box, there's the tube that, you know, connects to the rubber tube, uh, the post, uh, mass airflow. And it just, as soon as it gets hot out here, it, fuck it slips off.

Speaker: Oh, nothing I've done. Nothing I've done, like keeps it on there. So I'm like, I'm just going to get the silicone and just get, you know, the, uh, what are they, that the same hose clamps I got for my other,

Speaker: and Like band. Cooler stuff like that. i got the, uh, the torque clamps like the, yeah the bolt in there with the spring. Yeah. Those like band clamps. Is that what they call them?

Speaker: I you kind of like something like that, like more like high, like torqueable clamps, like they had more pressure. So I just use those. It's one of like the bigger fixes people tend to do with WRXs and Forster XTs.

Speaker: um I got the roof rack it with a different roof rack. Now it's bigger, was more aerodynamic until they put my new lights up top.

Speaker: Well, what is it? What kind of roof rack? It's just it's just ah cheaper. Well, not cheaper. Just an Amazon one. um The one originally had was a Max Hall. It was like the oh yeah one.

Speaker: okay I think everybody runs that little littler one. This one actually fits the entire top of the roof, side to side, and also lengthwise. um So I got my spare up there. and you know It would fit my attraction boards, but it's one of those things that like I can put them in my car when I go off-roading. I don't need to have them up there all the time. just causes more wind resistance. I do have my awning back up there. I'm always i'm always missing stuff. Same. same i mean i i got my you know I got the the ox yeah the the switch panel.

Speaker: I got the six-gang switch. and I think when I counted, if you count my lights individually, like the front and the bar light up top, it's 20 lights. Yeah. That's out of control. yeah Four on the front, two on the hood, six up top on the front.

Speaker: And then there's, I got three on each side of the rack and then two in the back. Okay. Some little side shooters. ah Then I got my nameless axle back. My, my entire exhaust is a resonator list STI exhaust.

Speaker: And those just bolt right on, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. You gotta be like, like the thing for me was like when my car, I had the name was like when I had the original stock exhaust and then it has that big flat pancake resonator and I'm like, okay, screw that.

Speaker: And then I was like, Oh, going to get this. There was a WRX exhaust. But to put it had like the resonator in the middle. I'm like, like I had that. And that's actually what I had when hit that rock that went underneath my car dented the whole thing. Okay. And I was like, but I'm like, still, it's like the exhaust ain't loud. Like there's nothing there.

Speaker: And then I was like, some guy had a, the resonator list, like the delete one that was on I think STRWX, it was on so like some of the whatever editions. Okay. Premium or touring.

Speaker: And he had it for like, you know, hundred bucks. And I was just like, did you take 50? He's like, he goes, you come today, you can have it for 20. I'm like, deal. I mean, I drove like 45 minutes to get it, but I'm like, hell yeah. That's a deal, bro.

Speaker: But yeah, I mean, that's just straight takeoff, put right back on. Um, the only thing I've noticed with mine, I don't know uh,

Speaker: The base models have this issue, but with the ADF lift, the back end, have the exhaust comes out, mine wise to the double, whereas stock goes single.

Speaker: Mine actually i I have to like, I put like a rubber like thing in there because it actually contacts the subframe. So when you're driving to get that rattle and I was just like, so had to put like my own spacer thing in there to try to stop it. Like I've tried different hangers. I've tried everything. It's like, unless I get hangers that drop my exhaust, like three inches, that looks retarded. Like, yeah. Well, that's because you've got multi-link spacers, right? And it's bringing the subframe down about an inch.

Speaker: Well, I think it leaves it stock, doesn't it? Well, same height. Well, yeah, it would be two-inch subframe spacer, yeah. Yeah, i can't I can't remember, but yeah, that sucks. I hate that sound, too. Like exhaust rattling. Because it keeps your subframe stock so that your CV angles are true.

Speaker: And your driveshaft angles, I think all that stuff is true. Yeah, it also keeps your rear wheels faster. Oh, yeah, I've seen people like, dude, I almost went with... ah What was that company?

Speaker: raised Was it Race something or something that had the two-inch lift that's really cheap. Okay. And I was like, oh, yeah, it's like Pocklift. I'm like, oh, I should do that. But then I was like, you know, all these other places have the subframe, like the spacers, like ADF and all that. And I'm like, they don't have that. And I'm like. Yeah.

Speaker: And then I noticed, I think it was, was it Rally Tech that was the same way? Because they didn't have it. And it said, like oh, anything under two inch or under, you don't need it. I'm like, well, going off the forearms, that don't seem right. But sure enough, i'm like there's people that see like buy it. And like that back tire is kicked out way way forward. I'm like, oh, my God. Well, and Subarus already kind of have like a tendency for the rear wheel to look pushed forward a little bit, even in stock form.

Speaker: Then you exacerbate it with a lift and it's even worse, man. Yeah. Yeah. No, no thanks. I want room for the, for the mud terrains, dude. Yeah. I mean, you know, it's so hard too, because like, uh, you know, coming from,

Speaker: Illinois, it's like, you know, I grew up with my buddies and everybody mudding. So, you know, you got like the 15 inch tires with like, you know, 40s on them. Yep. You know, what oh like the 1970s, like Ford and Chevys. I mean, just having a blast, you know? Yeah. And then here I am, like even my dad, my dad's got an Xterra, like with no freaking miles on like a 2014. think he's got like 50 miles on it, but he's got the Neato mud grapplers. I think they are. Oh yeah, dude.

Speaker: And I'm just like, dude, I'm like, look at his tire going, that's awesome. Look, I'm like, can I put it next to my car? It'll never happen unless I get like a seven inch lift. I'm like, come on. Yeah. You gotta, you gotta to put your forester on like a, on like a Chevy Blazer frame in order to make that work. I've seen those, that was it the, the, uh, Sibylift Oz, man, those, those huge ass lists for like the old cars and stuff. I'm like, I'd love to get an old one and do that.

Speaker: But I'm like, to me, it's just like when you're changing like the, the steering shaft, all that, I'm like, Oh man, there's so much shit can break. Yeah, exactly. Just a lot of work, you know, and unless you're doing a drivetrain swap to where you've got It'd be easier just putting a body on a freaking S10.

Speaker: Yeah. Yeah. It makes almost no sense unless you're going to do that. Get a, get a low gear. Yeah. It is what it is. Let me ask you about the lift kit. So you're running an ADF lift.

Speaker: Um, I've got a couple of questions there. How did you arrive at your final purchase decision with that lift kit? And then what was the install? Like, did you do it? Did you pay somebody to do it? ah So adf it was just like doing like a all the research on forums, Instagram, everything. And then just looking at the differences between what everybody else had to offer and what they had to offer. And I just, you know, there's,

Speaker: I think the main difference was i was finding a lot of like you know it coming with the two inch you know multi-link spacer. um And then also, i think what else I noticed too was people were talking about the touch to detail with the top portion you know, being tweaked, you know, because you have to keep that geometry the same.

Speaker: Yeah. For the the cat, the camera cat. Yeah. So it was a lot of that. Like I noticed a lot of touch the detail there. So and then finding, you know, a lot of like the the videos and and and the articles that Patrick was writing on there too, especially the articles like reading about the, you know different bills and they were kind of showing some of that stuff. Yeah. um You know, then also like they're one of the only ones I think that still to this day, where you go to their site and it'll tell you, hey, you got this vehicle, this gear, this lift, this is what you can fit on it. like

Speaker: Nobody else is doing that. like I mean, it's probably outdated. There's probably more tires you can fit, but that's kind of how I came to that conclusion. i thought about, I mean, there wasn't really, there's when I first said it, there wasn't like anybody out there doing suspension, really, ah except for, I think, Gorilla. I think Gorilla's one of them. And then yeah when Ryan's got- Flat out.

Speaker: flat out and i'm just like i am not spending that much money uh because of the fact that like you know when i got it matt uh my mechanic master when i installed it i helped him out you know i went over there because i was gonna do it until the subframe part of it i'm like that's kind of where i'm like i don't in my head i was like how do how would i do this in my driveway you know what i mean And then doing it at his place, in his garage, but watching how he does it, because he's done it before.

Speaker: And you know he works on so many of our Sebers, pretty much everybody's, not just Sebers, but every kind of car, new, old, classic, whatever you want. his I love his attention to detail, almost the OCD-ness of how he works.

Speaker: That's what you look for a good mechanic. know, taking out, stuff's lined up, lined up where it goes, it's all in bags, you know, it's just perfect. watching that process was nice too. And then, you know, obviously he's got badass Forester. Well, he's got an old Subaru. He's got two old Subarus, a Forester. He's got a K truck now. Like, I mean. Sick. Dude, and an outbag. He's Mr. Subaru to me. know, he's got the long travel stuff, but even like you saying, you're only – You've only gone so far. you know what I mean? There's a limitation there with you know your control arms and all that stuff. yeah Is the puck lift the best thing? no

Speaker: Because, you know, obviously you take your, I mean, I'd rather have a shock that's two inches taller than stock versus the pucks than you have more shock because this obviously brings it down. So you kind of limit that. But the only one on the market, I think at the time, even recently when I got my Bill Steen, I went to B6s and the Raleigh Tech Springs, not the overloads or anything. Yeah.

Speaker: Because, yeah, like I went to change my tires on one day, and i the whole tire just kind of sagged. i was like, that's not supposed to do that. And then top hats broke off from the shocks. Oh, dude. i was running in stock suspension for four years off-roading and everything, and it was working pretty good.

Speaker: Yeah. Until it wasn't. You know? Yeah. You know, if I wasn't rotating my tires, date I would never have even noticed it. It didn't make a sound. Nothing. Nothing.

Speaker: That's crazy. Stupid crazy, yeah. And then ah I went with the Bill of Steeds. I was going back and forth. Originally, I was going to go with the Iron Mans, but, dude, so much.

Speaker: So many issues with those things. i don't I don't care if they come out and say, like, oh, we fixed. No. I mean, after what I've seen, like, where, you know, people put them on and they bend right away, they're leaking. I mean, yeah I looked online. There was a set, like, a brand-new guy had them on for, like, two weeks that were leaking, and he had them on Facebook Marketplace. I'm like...

Speaker: no i'm like i'm not gonna do it and then after i got mine is when flat out came out with theirs which i think were the two inch taller ones but i think i think theirs were more expensive than the freaking long trail or the coil overs that like what ryan's got like they were like the same price or something i'm like that's ridiculous yeah the thing with uh struts and springs man like If you see a full set of struts and springs that are under $1,500, you can kind of guess, well, how did they achieve that price point? Well, probably by using stuff that they haven't dialed in yet with a manufacturer that...

Speaker: It's obviously not charging a lot of money. And, you know, I remember I've said this before, but when they first came out, I remember saying, this is cool. I appreciate that this is a new item.

Speaker: But if you're going to go this route, you just have to understand this is a new product that hasn't been tried and true yet. yeah and uh you know that they have to get a bunch of units back that have failed to find out okay where did this fail what what how can we fix this and improve it and here we are a few years later and there's still people with uh saggy know it's one of those things that like you know i'm not knocking their company or anything i mean it's just I mean, like ah anybody, you know, there's lot of people that have, you know, success with them and a lot of people that don't. I mean, it's just, you know, which batch did you get? i mean, yeah happens. Like, because, you know, the same thing with mine. I went with the B6s because they're tried and true, right? Doesn't mean I couldn't have got some that were bunk or whatever. But, truly, I was going to go with, what was it, the next one up with the B8s, I think they are.

Speaker: I think so. There's the B6 and the B8. Yeah, but the B8s, but there was people having issues with them when they came out. So that's the reason I was like, okay, I'm going to stick with the one that's trying to ensure. So I went with that one. You know, it's one of those things that like, am I ever going to get as comfortable as a ride of stock? I'm like, no, like, you know what i mean? Like, I mean, it was like running on a pillow out there half the time, but I'm like, but it's one of those things that like, I need something that's going to take the abuse a lot better.

Speaker: And sure enough, you know, since I've, since i've had them because i think when you were here when we went out i was on my stock one still i don't remember i don't remember either that was october of 24 when we did those trails no just it was last year just last summer yeah last summer i came out briefly yeah but when we went out with ryan and john Yeah, that, dude, that was October of 24. No, it wasn't. Like October or November.

Speaker: No, it wasn't. i promise. Hold on, hold on. We got to, now maybe I'm going crazy, but let me check. No way. Let me find that photo. It was either October or November of 24 when we went down into Sedona.

Speaker: Oh my God, it was. was 24. Yeah, because he did a throwback Thursday. of Yeah, I know. I saw that. I thought it was last year. Wow, that's...

Speaker: that was trip you came out briefly last year that we didn't go out because that's when we went to twin peaks and everything har yeah yeah we went and got food yeah yeah yeah here it is november 27th 24th isn't that crazy i was like holy crap well that that was before you'd lost all the weight and stuff that yeah that was before uh health issues Yeah, dude. Yeah. Look at you now, man. Making me look bad. here I'm looking, I'm actually like zooming in on my, on my picture here. And it's like, I do have, I do have the bill stuels in there.

Speaker: Okay. Okay, cool. Yeah. I was, um, oh yeah, I can see him actually. Yeah. I was pretty impressed with how well your car did.

Speaker: I think that might've been probably one of the gnarlier trails you'd had it on to that point. Right. um No, ah I wouldn't say gnarliest. I would say, dude, I love Ryan, but the least navigatable trail. was kind of like, just kind of look at you know, somebody's like, I know it's like the back of my hand. Oh, that's new. You know what I mean? Because we're driving. He's like, I think this was it. And we're going. But it a fantastic time, you know? yeah you know And we just we learned like you know how he you know he learned, like don't air down too far. but i love and i learned He was listening to my bad advice because I didn't realize he had eight-inch wide wheels. ahs And so you don't have enough clamping force.

Speaker: didn't know there were eights. Yeah, they' it's an eight-inch wide, right? Okay. his I thought... for whatever reason, it didn't occur to me that, Oh, I should check the width of his wheels. Like, Oh yeah, go down to like 15 PSI. Who gives a fudge? And you know, I've gone on a 15 and I'm fine, but he's, I think he went down. What did he go down to? Like nine?

Speaker: I don't think he went that low. I think he was in single digits when it first popped off. And then he went to 10 and it popped off or something. I gave him even worse advice then.

Speaker: Well, the the thing is, is you've got a way, the Sparko's, the Sparko Terra is a way more narrow wheel. And, you know, the wider the wheel, the less clamping force on the bead.

Speaker: Yeah. And, I mean, they're harder to, you know, set the tire. But, um yeah, I'm used to just running seven-inch wide wheels on the Subaru. But then I was like, oh, yeah, just air them down to 10 or whatever I said. think mine are like eight and a half. Wait, really? Hold on. Let me, uh.

Speaker: Dude, hold on. I got to. They're 17s, right? Now I got to know, dude. I don't want to be giving out bad info. By the way, those wheels look sick. Thank you. Yeah, I'm a fan. Oh, no, they're seven and a half.

Speaker: Okay, okay. But yeah, even like with those tires, like I've tested it like in my driveway. I went down to like, you know, normally with my Falcons on the stocks, I went down to 20, you know, 25, 20. And you can see like that, that bowl on the bottom.

Speaker: I mean, it's a so i i went down to like, I think the first I went down to was like 10. And I couldn't even tell they were aired down. Dude, just sitting there. I mean, you could feel it when you press, but I'm like, that sidewall is stiff. Yeah. Well, that's the thing, man. Every, because people will ask me what tire pressure should i run it's like i don't know man how much does your car weigh what's the load rating of the tires how wide are your wheels like what are you doing and uh it's it's all just an experimentation game you know with me it's like you know when i when i'm off road now it's like you know i got the little the valves that you screw whatever was just like you know i think 15 is where i feel comfortable it's soft enough i know it works i mean could they go lower probably but i'm like

Speaker: yeah I also don't want to de-bead anything, which I don't even know because looking at the tires I got, you know, with people buying them and you can actually see like the bead and stuff like that. Sidewall is pretty damn thick. They're almost like a UTV tire.

Speaker: It's I mean, it's a mud terrain. Anytime you're running a mud terrain, they're going to be. Because I've seen people that are on like, you know, they have them on Toyotas and stuff like that when they're off running. I mean, obviously.

Speaker: I don't even think they're real bootlocks, but I've seen people, like, they go down to, like, two and five, and they're still, and they're doing great. And that's heavier. I think that's heavier than my car. Yeah.

Speaker: Well, got a buddy. He had an XJ for a while, which the same kind of Jeep I have. And those are just unibody, like, super light budget. four by fours that that they started i was gonna say dude i know for the fact that like i went on this youtube kick yeah with my buddy because like you know obviously i told you i i've been up to vancouver washington where his son lives and i'm watching these tough truck competitions at ah at a fair where they're ramping stuff or whatever and they're all xjs and everything i'm like yeah and i find out it's five minutes down the five from his house

Speaker: which i'm trying was that at the uh clark county fairgrounds yeah yeah so yeah i love you um i'm like dude you know where i'm gonna be in fucking august i'm gonna come there i want to run it i want i i gotta get a vehicle and run it and now that you know i know you're there you're gonna do it too yeah dude yeah i'm about three and a half hours from there now but that's like 20 minutes from where i grew up i'll make a trip out there don't give a fudge i got a place to stay I'm like, right? like I just saw them doing that like in the fair you know ramp. and yeah I want to do that so bad.

Speaker: And then to find out it's five minutes down the road from his son's house, I'm like, come on now. That whole area, i i miss the forest out there. you know There's a lot of crazy wheelers that come out of that area. Dude, when I was out there, we went to...

Speaker: So I flew in there and then we went to you Cannon Beach and Astoria. Oh yeah, the Goonies house? Wife's a huge Goonies fan, so I made her dreams come true. We went, you know, state state you know Haystack Beach there Cannon Beach. Yeah, dude. We went to Astoria, did all that stuff, did the jail tour of the house and everything like that. And then stayed at the, it was Cannery Pier down there? Beautiful okay place. Beautiful place. And then obviously went to my, we stayed at my friend's son's house.

Speaker: in Vancouver and then left from there. That's kind of what we did. And okay I saw, i saw so many, so many Subarus, not one modified Subaru to be seen.

Speaker: Not one. that's That's so funny because there's a ton of them in that, even just in Vancouver proper. No, dude. I like load. i like We went out to eat all the stuff, driving down like all these streets, no then downtown Vancouver there a little bit, or if you want to call it downtown. yeah But like not one modified off-road Subaru. I'm like, this is the weirdest thing ever. Yeah, yeah there's a bunch of them out there, man. like They're hidden.

Speaker: Yeah, they must all been like, Eric's coming. We got to get out of here. I've been there twice. That's so funny. Yeah, there's there's actually like ah like a Subaru group that I used to do trails with out there. The P&W one?

Speaker: um Not that one. It's a different one. It's called Subi Adventure Club. SAC for short. Yeah. Nice, nice. We intentionally, well, they intentionally named it that, but... As you do. Yeah, but I think 80% of the people that are that are involved in that are like Vancouver area.

Speaker: I don't know what the deal is, but... uh i guess what i was gonna say though those xjs my buddy was running that same tire you mentioned the nitto mud grapplers yeah he was running those on an xj and you would think oh it's a four by four it's gonna be heavy dude he was running the 38 fives on that uh on that xj and he had to run open valve cores and run them down the street on the pavement just to break in the sidewalls enough to get them to squat even at zero PSI.

Speaker: Dude, I wonder if that's what I got to do. What's that? I said, I wonder if that's what I got to do. Well, the thing is is, is when I got them, when they were delivered, they were at 65 PSI.

Speaker: Holy, so they're just going off what the tire says, you know? Well, no, the tire says 80. ah so like you know so they were like 65 i brought him down i think i i was at 40 and i was like that's still a little bit stiff yeah so i think right now i run them at about 36 36 and a half somewhere in there okay did you try and test them at all no i did i keep i keep meaning to but like i i keep an eye on them

Speaker: You know, because they have, like, on the edge, like, the center and the edges, they have, like, the little dimples inside whatever. And, like, you know, like, kind of like the little seepers, I guess you could say. Okay. And, no, like, they're all wear pretty good. Plus, I rotate them and everything, so...

Speaker: And, you know, you'll kind of know when the tire feels right. Like, it doesn't feel right, you'll know. Well, the one thing I love about them is, so I know my dad's Nido's and then also the Wild Peaks, dude, they track some fears. Like, you hit, like, a groove in the road, and they just they follow that groove, you know. And these, nope, I haven't had an issue at all.

Speaker: Yeah, might be. I've intentionally gone into, you know, like that blacktop line or whatever. and nope h Not in the show. wonder if that's got anything to do with them being way more narrow.

Speaker: Could be. I don't... You know, as many tires as I've bought... I'm not tire expert. Right? Same. I should be with all the money I've spent on rubber, but, you know, here I am. But I did watch, like, when picking them, I've always wanted the mud tire. Like, I love mud tires. Oh, the same. When grew up, dude, it was super swampers. Yeah, dude. TSLs. If you have them out here, it's horrible because...

Speaker: yeah i've seen people have out here and it's like the desert because they think like oh the sand will work no it just rips them apart yeah and uh i mean if i was up in flagstaff or something i'd probably have something with them like it probably work up there it's lot more actual mud not clay like down here yeah but uh i watched uh i watched a bunch of videos from you know all different like uh tire manufacturers but also like you know when they do they're kind of like line up and then i've watched yeah a lot of off-road ones where they were doing different tires from different brands and what's good for what and uh you know i i do like the new style the rts i do like a lot of those yeah hybrids but you know they don't come in the size like they don't have ones that fit because i think the the open country rts that they have out now because my dad had

Speaker: he had open country mts which he didn't like like those things were really bad they were really really stiff tire he had like a dixie back tire also that was super like hard yeah what's nice about the neato's i've noticed that they're really soft tires so like you get some really good traction and everything mine are kind of like kind of like an in-between mean they're not bad yeah i love your tires yeah i mean you know if anybody's like on the offensive bottom like just you can get a deal and do it like they're yeah it's like it like even the thing is it's like i don't know how many miles can i'm on now but over probably over 10 000 miles on them and dude you can't even tell they're there's like nowhere whatsoever yeah yeah it's as long as you're keeping them you know aligned all that stuff but

Speaker: You know, they work great. You know, they're supposed to get like 50,000 mile or whatever's on them. It's a good looking tire and it performs like a mofo. I've got a buddy that he had a straight axle swap third gen four runner.

Speaker: was running 37s on those. I don't even know how many rear wheeler peelers he did in that thing. And so with a, with a welded rear diff, somehow they survived like 20,000 miles. renewing the tread on it. That's all he's doing. Yeah.

Speaker: yeah just heating them up ah okay let me let me pick your brain about um trail stories like where do you like to take the car if you're going off road and have you ever had any fiascos out on the trails that's a good one you you know what's funny is uh

Speaker: you know where I grew up and everything is, I would love to be where you're at. Um, I'm in the desert out here, bro. Well, I meant, well, okay. Yeah. The PNW proper. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. i guess like, like up, up that way. Uh, kind of, kind of like even like that Vancouver area. Like it's, Oh dude, I noticed like a lot of like trails that go off and like it's actual and proper mud you're going through. Yeah. Tree lines where you're having, you know, I used to like had so many friends that run farms and stuff. And I love like, you know, I used to ATV and stuff and you have like the the trails that are, you know, going through the grass and like, you know, like stuff like that. Like I love those kinds of trails out here.

Speaker: you know, I'm in the desert proper, you know what i mean? So the same it's, it's kind of hard. Like I have my go-to places, um, kind of nice little drive, nice little escapes, seeing people out there in Hondas, just you're, you're ridiculous. Like I'll see civics out there.

Speaker: like one, one day did like one day i was off road to with my dad and there was like a BMW loaded up with a bunch of people in it, like a car, like a three series. And I'm like, watch them. but Like they're driving slow.

Speaker: and you're really jumping. And he frees off the bottom of the front of the car. Like, just dump it. Because <unk>re you're going through rocks, like, you know, that big. I mean, yeah like, what do you... I think that's the biggest thing out here is you get a lot of people that tend to try to explore in cars they shouldn't.

Speaker: Like, when it says the road ends, like, it means the road ends. Like, don't go. Yeah. um yeah But anyway, so i In Flagstaff, I've been up to the Cinders. There was that photo I had I think, when I was up on the mountain.

Speaker: That was an interesting climb. CVT did not like that. Yeah, they don't like that steep stuff. was Especially so the x t my mo my version...

Speaker: You have the intelligent, you have sport, and then you have that sport hashtag, which is like... Sport sharp. Yeah, maybe it's like an eight-speed transmission. Okay. Which is what mine is always in.

Speaker: build that with the pedal commander, so it's like always like you barely... you know I always look at it like a like the old Disney cartoon, like the big toe just comes out and like presses the gas and he's just gone. like It's kind of how mine is in a way. Heck yeah.

Speaker: You know, no, no miles per gallon. So I, I had it in that mode with the pedal commander or the throttle controller. And it was the, it's the, um, I know we talked about it, but I can't remember. yeah I've had it for, you know, four or five years, whatever it is now. I learned actually like one is, you know, cause like when it was going up, like I had all, all kinds of boosts, all kinds of speed, you know?

Speaker: And that like as it got up, it started hitting that that eight speed thing or whatever it does. Like it didn't know how to shift, like where it was supposed to be. okay and then it like I got up and then just I had nothing. Halfway up, just nothing. No no throttle, no nothing.

Speaker: And then all of a sudden, just like, Revenant kicked in, and I went up. And I'm like, okay. So, computer obviously was like, didn't know what the hell was going on. Is it Ultimate 9? Yeah. Yeah. okay That's what it is. Yes. Okay, sick. I had to i had to look it up. I think they were bought out. I think they were bought out somebody else. But yeah, that's the Ultimate 9. And then, so that's when I kind of learned, like...

Speaker: When I do go off-road, it's in sport mode like regular sport mode, and the throttle controller is off. Because I did okay a test with the throttle controller, and anybody that has one can try this.

Speaker: I have ramps, like you're going to change your oil or whatever. And when I had it on like normal and I was just in sport or even I, you know, trying to get up the ramps, like I'd have to give it gas to go ramps. I'm like, what the hell? And it was like a lot more gas, than you know, throttle than normal.

Speaker: So I backed it down and I turned it off. And then I just kind of like went up the ramps without like touching the gas. And it just crawled right up. Yeah. dude that's so it messes it yeah with the throttle whatever it does like it yeah so i noticed a big difference like even now when i turn it off and go off road because most of the time when i go out there's a lot of people i know it's like in the cross tracks stuff that'll do the run-up they'll get that run-up and i'm like i don't know if it's because it's turbo too but i don't have to do that like it just kind of just goes yeah there's another reason i want that torque locker

Speaker: Yes. Yeah, dude. but um But going back to your question now, a lot of the desert stuff is kind of what we have. A lot of where John has been going, he goes up kind of like northeastern.

Speaker: up by like Payson up that area, which I want to get up with that way more. Cause you see what he goes through. It's a lot that foresty stuff. Like I want to get up that way more, but it's just two hour drive. And don't know how half these people have time to do all this stuff. Yeah. but um Yeah. I see people camping all the time. I'm like,

Speaker: You guys work? What the hell? I was going to say, do you guys have jobs? Yeah, and I've been through a couple of trails up there. I really like it up there. If I can move, I'd move up to Prescott area up that way because you've got all the woods and all that stuff. I love it up there. Down here, it's hard because me and Ryan have gone out quite a bit, me and him, exploring. And then used have a UTV, so I've been all over with my vehicle plus UTV.

Speaker: And it's it's kind of, to me, off-roading in the desert it gets kind of boring. Just the terrain, you know what I mean? like Yeah. Just a lot of like jarring. It's not actual just fun, like you know exploring trails, you know going through, because not really any mud. It's all just dry. Yeah. And then there's some other areas I went into UTV that I couldn't do in mine.

Speaker: I mean, I would explore trails, like because if I'm in my forester and I went on a trail, i like, oh, where does that go? But I'm like, I don't know if I want to go down there because I don't know if I can get out. You know what i mean? so Yeah, that's always the question. I would go back there and be like, now going down there. And then I would find out a lot of times, like, there was one me and Ryan hit.

Speaker: And he's like, oh, we should go this way. I'm like, you know, it was a huge drop off. Like, well, we went down one trail and we hit a drop off. And, like, he didn't rub anything.

Speaker: Cause he's a little bit higher than mine with the outback. And then my rock sliders hit and I was like, no big deal. Whatever it is, what it is. but Can you get up? That was the thing, dude. That was the, we got down there and I'm like, we came to a point across this, this little wash thing. And then it goes up to the right.

Speaker: And I'm noticing the rocks on that side are bigger. And I'm like, hold on. So I went over there and walked it. I'm like, look up there. I'm like, no like no i'm like i'm not going that way but to turn around like dude it was like a 20 point turn trying to get out of this you know especially with both of us and then it was like okay am i going to be able to get out now you know what i mean he's got the v6 so in little bit higher so he was able to get out you know he got out a little bit easier than me then again like you know i've also wanted i tend not to use x mode very much at all just I think it hinders more than it helps in some aspects. I've heard much reviews on it, yeah. It's just one those weird things. I've tried using it, and it's just like, dude, it revs so high for not doing anything. So I just try not to Because I was trying to use it, and I was getting stuck on this rock, so I just turned it off, and then, boom, right up. I was able to use it. One of the things I always have to remember is turning off the...

Speaker: eyesight stuff when i go out for a two because that'll cause issues it was one of those things like where we came out of on the trail and there was like another like two ledge drop off and it went out to like the bottom of this lake bed and he's like i think we can get out over there and i'm like no i'm not gonna do it and then i went out there to utv like like a week later and it was like yeah dude there's no way out on the other side and there was no way in hell we were gonna get back out the way we came in yeah there's no trees out there to winch off of even if you had one No, like, you know, that that's the one thing is, is one of the things like I have, you know, I think everybody has like the, the bookmarks of all like the different products that they want to get for their car down the line. Yeah. I'm systematically deleting them because I'm getting all this shit or getting better.

Speaker: i did find like a winch bumper that goes behind the stock. Cause I don't know. I like my stock book. I mean, I do like the off road bumper. I really want two bumper, but I just, they're just so damn expensive.

Speaker: Oh, yeah. And you got to sacrifice. Like nobody, i mean, you went through the thing where you reached out to somebody trying to get something made and you never hear from them. It is the worst. Yeah, that pissed me off real bad.

Speaker: You know, I'm one of those people, kind of when I got my rock sliders, I'm like, dude, Patrick, somebody wants to do something with an SJ. Let me know. I'll drive with the frick out there. You know what I mean? Yeah, dude. I'm like, I'll take time off and stay with you.

Speaker: Yeah, seriously. It's like, ah I did think about that, like, um the winch thing. You know, lot of them, like, you probably have to use ground anchors or or straps for, like, if you've got big enough rock or something. Mm-hmm.

Speaker: Um, that's one of the reasons I got, uh, the hitch with the, uh, and I got the hitch and I put the, uh, the shackle back. Just, I need a stronger tow point. Cause I've seen the, the horse from that tied out. it's It's just a hold down from like a container. shit on that thing That's all it is, dude. Like if you go straight on, you're pretty, you're, you're okay. As long as you're not buried. I mean, even that it's like, you know,

Speaker: looking at bumpers and stuff because like my biggest thing is if i was wondering and i can't find any information about it like the cross track has the rear bumper and the front bumpers that are made all the time and you can find them oh yeah decently priced not an xt sj but do those brackets are they the same width as the forester Until you buy one and park up next to each other with the fascia off, you're not going to know. well I think, don't you have the year where people are taking the Jeep bumpers and putting it on there? Or the Ford Ranger. Yeah, the Ford Ranger. But everybody, as far as I know, everybody's had to do fabrication work to make them fit.

Speaker: But yeah, yeah. No, I mean, I know how i know how to weld and everything, but my thing is, is when I see them done and there's like, you know, like the the way they line up and articulate, like the bending, like I don't know that. Like, yeah Do I want to try it? Kind of. but i'm like you know i did I did find a bumper in a junkyard near me, like 50 bucks for the exact same blue and everything that i have no kidding and i'm like oh i can get that cut that up so i don't have destroy mine but then i'm like my backyard's gonna turn into a junkyard with all my stock parts that are back there you know what i mean yeah dude that's what my backyard's starting to look like it's not good yeah uh you gotta tell me did you ever weld professionally or how much of that have you done No, no, I learned in school.

Speaker: Okay. What was really nice, which I noticed they don't have out here is when I was in high school, we had vocational classes in my high school, electric, welding, machine shop, all that stuff, automatic wood shop. We did all that. That's, that's where I, you know, aced everything and failed normal school.

Speaker: Yeah. But ah no, no. So like, you know, I just welded through school and stuff like that. Sometimes with friends on cars and whatnot. like Can you, are you pretty good at stick welding?

Speaker: Stick welding is the only one I know how to do. Really? alert on yeah Yeah. It's so hard to weld in weird spaces. call it yeah Yeah. Arc welding, stick welding.

Speaker: I can't remember. There's other names. Megan Tigger are the two that I don't know. I've never done that. Yeah. Tigger is, I just, I'd never welded. Cause I, dude, I didn't go to school, man. I i was homeschooled and then went to college as a junior.

Speaker: never did any kind of like shop class or anything. It's like a month ago. I was like, I'm going to buy a welder. I'm going to teach myself how to weld. And, uh, dude, it's stick welding is hard, bro. i see I mean, I found it easy, but the thing with the stick welding is like, if you're doing, I'm trying to think how to explain it.

Speaker: Like if you, if you have your bumper off, right. And you're doing like the bumper bracket to like a square tube you're doing the edging, like that's easy. Like that's kind of what it's there for. Now, if you're doing, you know, tubes that come down to a bar, like you're getting up in there and stuff like that, that's probably where like the mig tick, whatever, just come in. Yeah.

Speaker: If I were back in Illinois, like I'm never going to go back and back there, but like, oh, my lab my family, my son and everything are out there, but okay my old friends, but like, dude, I can go out there.

Speaker: you know, get some pipe and a buddy of mine could have one done, you know, for a case of beer. You know what I mean? Like, yeah you know, the old bartering, nobody barters anymore. I mean, Yeah, man. I'm hoping that I can, cause I, um, i just bought like an Everlast multi-process welder and it does stick. It does MIG, TIG. And then I bought it cause I also wanted to do flux core. I just, I don't want to gas.

Speaker: I just want to just run some dirt, nasty, trashy flux core. And, uh, dude, it's like point and shoot, but there's still, you know, you're still trying to like stuff the torch into these weird angles. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, i mean with when it comes to like all the the welding and stuff, like stick was like, you know what what stick are you using? What are you welding? you know The voltage, stuff like that. And then yeah when you get into, think it's MIGTIG whatever, it's like you have that same stuff because it's like what type of wire using. And then you have the voltage. But then you got the speed of which everything comes out. I'm like, wait, what now? People are using foot pedals, like tattoo artists. I'm like, what the hell's going on here? like I mean, don't get me wrong. like if you know My buddy's got a welder.

Speaker: You know, and I just got to get some stuff together just to practice on. But I think, you know, you give me a couple hours, I'll be fine. I'll make something that's going to stick together at least. Yeah. Right. Is it going to be pretty? No. Is it going to hold? That's what they make a bunch of, that's what they make like a rhino liner for cover. It goes in holes. Yeah. Stuff. ah That's what flapper discs and rattle cans are for, dude. Let me grind that down. It's, it's, you know, it kind of is like one of those things, like when I first got in my car, you know, like going off road and all that stuff, like I do, I used to watch, wash it, you know, it was shiny and like nice looking. Yeah.

Speaker: I'm like, now I'm like, I don't give a fudge anymore, man. Like, yeah like there's there's gouges, scrapes down it, you know, everything like that. I'm just like, somebody's like, you got to wash your car. like, why? It's going to be dirty in ah in a week.

Speaker: Well, it's Arizona, dude. Like, as soon as you're done washing it, there's a nice layer dust all on the top of it. Like, it's just pointless. We get the same thing out here, man. Like, dust nonstop. Those drive-through washes are just making a killing.

Speaker: Oh, next level. With all the stuff that's on mine, I can't go through one. I mean, I can go through a touch list, and I do that every, like, maybe a couple times a year. Yeah, yeah, same. i mean I have my own pressure washer, and the only time I use that is when things caked in mud, and, yeah you know, I destroy my driveway.

Speaker: Yeah, I do a foam cannon, but I really don't do anything else. I'm like, yeah, I'm just going to get the mud off, hit it with foam cannon, and call it good. That's the thing. I have the foam cannon, and have the underbody one.

Speaker: Oh, the sprayers? Yeah, yeah. I have the sprayer that goes underneath and stuff. Sick. I mean, that's great. all of it i mean I've seen like Ryan go out you know where he's got his tires off. I'm like, I ain't about doing that. But then, And it's funny because I thought about it the last time we went out.

Speaker: Like I was, I had so much like mud in my tires and stuff that, you know, hose it off. It's whatever. And then I'm like driving it. I'm like, why is it? It's just like this weird like vibration. And it's like, cause there's all the dry blood like inside the wheel. And I'm like, ah, so I'm out there like with like a scraper and like ah a wire brush, just like brushing it out. I'm like, okay.

Speaker: Like maybe he's onto something, but now I just like get down and like lean across and like spray up the wheel across and then go to this wheel. That's the extent of what I do. ain't taking wheels off. Come on. Yeah. Same. I'm just like, whatever's easy. Yeah, dude. Absolutely. Um, have you broke anything on the trails?

Speaker: now No, no. I've had some noises where I thought I've broken stuff. Okay. I've come down. hit, what was it? It was on the passenger rear controller. I felt that smack, and I was like, oh, that thing's dead, and that thing's whatever. But no.

Speaker: and it wasn't um those are things i'm still contemplating you know because like john's got the aftermarket ones and i know he's replaced his because like i think one of them broke like uh before they changed their design i think it broke it like the bolt or the bolt like threads into the arm and they made it thicker now or something is that the rally tech yeah yeah yeah i've seen that i've seen that yeah You know, I thought about it, but then I'm like, I mean, the stock ones hold up pretty well unless you're lets you really smack something. They don't really bend unless you, like, come down on a rock or hit them. But I'm like, I can get stock ones for, like, a quarter of that price. Yeah. Throw them in the back. So if anything happens, I can just go wham and just...

Speaker: There they are. Yeah. You know, because there's things like that that stick in my head. There's the control arms, not the front ones, but the back ones. And then also there is the the CV axles. Like I did think about, you know, should I put like a Pelican case that has like, a you know, I think the rears are the same.

Speaker: Yeah, I think so. think they're the same. So it'd be like one rear. And I think, are the fronts the same are they different? I can't remember. I'm not sure on the SJ. The way it lines up, I'm not sure if, But, you know, either either or was getting like one for the back and then one you know one for each other front just in case something you know drastic happens. But then I'm like,

Speaker: You know, the the hard part about, I think, off-roading for me out here is like how like what John does. He goes out by himself. I'm like, dude, you're crazy. dude, you're going to places that don't have cell signal, know nothing. And I'm like, it is so hard because, like, when I go out, like, got to get out of that mental state. But I'm always like, you know, something goes wrong. Like, what's going to happen? You know all this stuff. like And then you start getting in your head like, do I even want to go out? You know what I mean? Like,

Speaker: which which is hard it's it's hard to get into and well with me was what crosses my head now is back in uh marsh when i had my my heart attack you like two days before i was off-roading with my wife like we went out in the middle of nowhere to this lake and i'm like if it happened out there holy shit dude like you know So that's in my head now. Like, oh, I'm like, I don't want to go start with something happens. But I'm also like, you know i can't be that. I can't think that way.

Speaker: Because then that'll just limit it me through life. So i'm like, I can't think that way. So when it comes to my car, I go out with the group, you know with Matt and all them. And I'm like, something happens, they're there. and They'll help me. I got stuff.

Speaker: You know, if I got to tie up, you know, if a bolt breaks on my rear end, like my lower control arm, I can, you know, ratchet strap that thing up, you know, stuff like that. And, you know, it's it's nice about the community. You know, we haven't really touched on it, but everybody talks about the community and, you know, it's it's a real thing. Like, it's it's, we went out one time and, ah you know, it's how I met Ryan. And, you know, we've become really good friends. You know, I met you and you're, you're,

Speaker: you're in Washington, you know, all the way out, you know, for aware. yeah and And, you know, we connected. So, you know, it's it's one of those things like, you know, and I connected with a dude, you know, Tennessee that was making parts. Like I've connected with other people and, you know, met up with other people too. It's like, it's it's a cool thing.

Speaker: You know, it is one of those things that I do. i haven't been to the Off-Road Expo or Overland Expo, sorry. and flagstaff Yeah, Yeah, I've wanted to, but it's just like,

Speaker: You know, I like to off-road. Like, I do have my, have camping gear if I want to use it. I haven't used it. But I'm not, you know, rooftop tenter. i'm not like an overlander, I would guess the word is.

Speaker: Me neither, honestly. So if I went there, it'd be like, oh, you know, just meeting people. But it's like, it's not like, you know you know, it's kind of like I thought about Subie Fest in California.

Speaker: But it's like, you know, I always talk myself out of it because I'm just like, you know, that's a huge thing. and Like I'd rather go there, stay there, you know, so I'm not driving and all that stuff. And then I see people like, you know, Oh, we've been sitting in line and just to get into the parking for five hours. I'm like, what yeah, dude.

Speaker: You know, I'm like, I don't, I'm i'm old, man. I'm like, you know, my mid forties, I'm like, deal with that shit. Same, dude. Yeah. i mean, it's, it's kind of like what people have mentioned, like going off road, like, oh, you know, like Jonathan, I'm like, oh, I got like Tuesday or like Thursday off. I'm like, I'm not me, dude. I'm like, I'm not doing that. Like,

Speaker: Yeah, I'm kind of in the same boat, man. If it's more than two hours, I got to be able to sleep. I got to be able to sleep there. you know like I got friends like ah you know friends that have concerts that they play. I'm like, oh, when is it? you're like, oh, Thursday night at like 10. I'm like, nah.

Speaker: I'm going to be sleeping. I'm in bed, It's horrible, too. you know you Thinking about like you know you know teenage I don't go to bed until yeah Yeah, dude, not anymore. No.

Speaker: Yeah, not here. Okay, so i was I wanted to talk about this, but I was hesitant to bring it up, but you mentioned it, the whole heart attack thing. Can you lay that whole thing out as much as you're comfortable sharing?

Speaker: Yeah, ah you know, I'm 43, and yeah, i was just a normal day, like a Monday. I had it off. I was actually going to go to the dentist, and good thing I had it off, but I was ah a smoker, you know, 30 years, and didn't really drink or anything like that. But his family history of it was my dad's side.

Speaker: And then from the Midwest, so, you know, a lot of unhealthy food. Yeah. That's how was raised, really. I'm very aware. Steak and potatoes, you know. But...

Speaker: you know, I woke up, you know, getting ready to go, whatever, had a cigarette or whatever. And I kind of felt off nothing drastic, I guess you could say. And, um, I started driving, uh, to my dentist and I was just like about halfway there, which is only like, I don't know, 10 blocks away or some shit.

Speaker: And, uh, I felt a pain in my chest. It kind of did go up and it went down to my wrist and, pool there. They weren't kidding when you say you can feel it. It's a feeling I've never felt before, but I was just like, right away, was like, this is bad. So I called wife, I turned around and called my wife I'm like, I need you to take me to the hospital. And she's like, what? pulled in the driveway, got out.

Speaker: I'm like, take me the hospital. She's like, we call an ambulance. I'm like, it dead you're quicker. Let's go. Like, you know, which I understand the ambulance thing because they get you in there a little bit quicker too. But the amount of time it took them to get here, I'm already there.

Speaker: So went in and found out that I was 80% blocked on the my right artery and then 100% blocked on my window maker.

Speaker: My heart did what they, think it's called collateral. Is that what it's called? Something like that. where my widow maker artery created my heart created a bunch of tiny little arteries all around it. So it created it to bypass.

Speaker: Okay. But the problem with it is, is, you know, those are a lot smaller. So, uh, they put, um, and then also my widow maker was also, uh, let's get your led. That's the center one. It was also like heart disease, to obviously smoking, probably, you know, genetics.

Speaker: Um, So I had stints put in my right one. How the lot felt great after that. That's what I, what I met with you. um when we went out to dinner and everything like that, that was after my stints. Cause that was in the summertime.

Speaker: Yeah. I remember that was but not long. That was my last cigarette was that morning. Like that morning. That yeah priority that was the last one. haven't touched one since. I haven't wanted to. Nice. know, I'm doing good, eating better and everything like that. And then September 4th.

Speaker: So before that, they put the stints in because they couldn't do a bypass on my LAD because it was too small and diseased. So when they did the stints, they're like hoping they're like, you have a minuscule percentage of a chance that it'll do you anything to make that bypassable.

Speaker: So they might have to do like what they call full metal jacket, which is like a whole bunch of stints in there. Oh. And he didn't want to do that. But what happened was is the end of July, I went for another cath and they looked at it.

Speaker: And to have your cardiologist just go, yes, like that is a great thing, especially when the guy shows no emotions whatsoever. Yeah, it's because what happened was it supplied enough blood to where my.

Speaker: We don't make my L.A.D. was went from one hundred to eighty percent blocked. So there was blood getting through and it pumped it up enough for them to do the bypass. OK, so September 4th is when I had my bypass and luckily enough, I didn't have to have my sternum ripped open.

Speaker: Yeah, they did it eventually, which goes to the side and it's all done robotically. Okay. I have a ah bypass there. So. dude and here we are that is that's crazy and i told my brothers my two brothers and my sister like because you know even women i'm like it's a genetic thing if i gotta be a martyr in this in my age i'm like dude get check do something change something yeah and what yeah because you so you've lost a a butt ton of weight dude but i mean i gained a lot back during thanksgiving and christmas but uh yeah i so what it all happened and

Speaker: They put me, you know, cause they find out, you know, diabetes and all these things too. So they put me on a really strict diet. was like, uh, I think was at like 30 to 15 to 30 carbs a meal, which is like nothing.

Speaker: Yeah. And, uh, yeah. Borderline keto. Yeah. Yeah, it was a very high protein too. So, and then i was in the cardio rehab and also the gym doing stuff. So yeah, I dropped like 60 pounds within like a few months.

Speaker: That's sick. through Either through your own research or through stuff that the doctors were telling you, was there was there any like advice or anything where they told you, you know, if you'd have done this when you were younger,

Speaker: it probably never would have benefited you. Yeah. Never smoked. that That'll do a lot for you. It's pretty much to go to. I mean, which is funny because like, uh, I've been to like lung doctors and everything and they're like, yeah, you're good. Like can't even tell. Like you're good. I'm like, it's really, it's weird.

Speaker: So the lungs were fine, but the heart got smoked. Yeah, it's because it constricts your blood vessels and everything, so and it causes the heart disease. But yeah, it was the smoking. I mean, it's also the hardest thing this day and age, I think, for everybody is just what you're eating. I mean, it's so hard because as time goes on, the DoorDash, all this stuff, and the fast food is just so accessible. It's just insane. Dude. Yeah. mean, it's one of those things. Like I had a buddy that like, that's all he ate was McDonald's, but he was at the gym. So he was ripped, but you know, and he smoked like a chimney. And mean, there could be like a miss, you know, Mr. Universe contestant, but can't go to fly stairs.

Speaker: yeah when it his he dude Yeah. Yeah. but he's yoked man you know what i mean like Yeah. When I started lifting weights, I remember being like, yo, I'm glad I'm a little stronger now, but what the heck? Like, I got to really get my cardio up because now I can't even hardly do anything yeah without being winded because now I'm not just carrying around fat. I'm carrying around extra muscle that requires oxygen. Like this sucks. see it Oh man.

Speaker: No, that's crazy. Cause I, I didn't even know that it happened to you until you, me and Ryan met up for dinner. yeah yeah And I remember when I first saw you in the parking lot I was like, dang dude, Eric looks like he frigging, is prepping for a show or something. This dude, like, lost a buttload of weight. This is crazy.

Speaker: But, man, I hate cutting. It's literally the worst. Like, no carbs. It's so hard. I'm a breadaholic, dude. Yeah, sick I love carbs. d do you get Do you get fatigued, like, crazy when your calories and your carbs are down?

Speaker: so So, that was the interesting thing. didn't notice before, think before the heart attack and everything, or maybe it's, like, Cause they say like the way it was blocked in the, and the arteries growing around it is not an overnight process. It's years.

Speaker: And yeah I didn't notice like for few years, like I would nap, I nap a lot and it's like, I never used to. Um, but no, uh, when I,

Speaker: When I cut everything out, like all the carbs, I was eating pretty much like fish and chicken or whatever have you. um No, I had a lot more energy. When I eat carbs, which I freaking love carbs, that's when it's just like, dude, I'm like, I'm spat.

Speaker: I kind of started off as a carb podcast and started going into the whole health. I think it's fun, man, just talking about life, you know? Yeah, yeah. I mean, that's when I listen you know, you and Raf, it was great. Oh, yeah, dude.

Speaker: Yeah. Talking about everything like that, it's just, you know, it's a good time. Yeah. Because we see everything that has to do with the cars online, but you never really know much about the people, you know? It's one of those things, too, that it's it's interesting because, like, you know, when you look online, everything that goes on with the cars is – like a snowflake is so vastly different person to person.

Speaker: And then the people that, you know, you, when you look at Instagram, most of the time you're looking at a car because a lot people post cars or they have the personal account somewhere else. So you're looking at the personality of the person through the car.

Speaker: And then when you meet the person, you know, the personality is there, but it's also different. So it's like, it's so, it's such a cool community um you know it is one of those things that like there are other subaru communities that i've looked at that just not not for me this yeah usually like the wrx community is usually the tuners yeah they're um little different It reminds me of high school. Honda, the high school Honda scene? Yeah, yeah, Yeah, dude, back in the early 2000s. I was there. I was there. I had the fart can and everything. Yeah, bro. B-18s. Another community like I did back there. had a.

Speaker: Slam S10. That was a cool community there. Oh, the mini truck thing? Oh, yeah. yeah yeah Yeah, that's tight. let me Okay, let me think about this. I've got a question for you as it relates to...

Speaker: subaru You know, we kind of talked about how they sort of struggle on long, steep inclines. Are there other types of limitations that you found with the car that people would maybe want to be aware of before they start modding one of these cars or before they start planning trips for a Subaru that they've just bought?

Speaker: I've never, I mean, not to say I won't, but i've I've never gotten mine stuck. That's not to say that I never will. um There's some rock area, stuff like that. I've noticed what's nice about going out is you have different types of drivers in all different vehicles. I've noticed like the older ones with the actual, is it the 4LT? The 4EAT? Yeah, the transmission. Yeah, dude. Dude, they just rock it. Like I've seen people with that. I've seen people with the manual.

Speaker: and they just rock it too. But I've also seen them where they struggle because, you know, if they don't have the torque locker, you can see that. I see it in mine. The CVT, when you're off-roading, I would tell people, like, when you add skid plates, you add tires, you add stuff like I have on there.

Speaker: um If you have a tranny cooler, your normal day-to-day, you know, you don't really see the temperature high. I mean, I've seen people online talking about how theirs is, like, hot, really high, and I'm like,

Speaker: You're doing something wrong. Like something's not going on right because, you know, me even driving the way I drive, you know, I see people say there's is like the 220s and I'm like, that's the danger zone, man. Like, I mean, mine's gotten to like, think I think it was like 215 and that was coming from Colorado with four people in the car, AC on, going uphill through the mountains you know what i mean yeah and even then i was like i'm like watching it going that goes three more degrees i'm like i'm off like we gotta pull off because that's when it's i mean i heard it's actually like 230s or something but you know i'm err on the side caution right but if you take that scenario and go off road with it like i have and everything in the desert here especially even probably by you like you're going to put more strain so it's going to get hotter everything's going to get hotter quicker and then also i think um

Speaker: what's What's his name? um The guy that had the Forester that switched to the Honda Pilot. one they hand He goes out with Milton and them. But I remember when he had his Forester, he was out in the snow and he roached the transmission. Okay. Excuse me. um you know Thinking like, oh, it's the snow is there. It's not going to get hot enough before you get a scan gauge. and no No, dude.

Speaker: It's the opposite. Yeah. yeah like so That was one of the first things I got to was the scan gauge. Yeah. to monitor temps and then i had an extra one that i actually gave to ryan you know as i said you know even with his to being different than mine i'm like dude keep an eye on that stuff man yeah he's got it in there okay and that's um that's a scan gauge yeah scan gauge too i mean yeah there's there's cheaper ones out there you know amazon ones and whatnot

Speaker: that run off the ODB too, like mine does, but you know, ScanGauge has got that history and that credibility. That's why I have it. Like you said, they've been around forever. yeah People know they work.

Speaker: I know there's the newer version, but I'm like, you I like my little straight to the point, like four numbers, you know I got my, my temperature, water temp, because cd for some reason, my car doesn't have that.

Speaker: Dude, I was just talking about this. It's the weirdest ever. They just have the, you're F'd light. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it has the year AFT-Lite. It gives me my oil temp. Does it really? Yeah, and the top infotainment thing, like where my turbo is, it'll give you my oil temperature. So I have that up.

Speaker: I have that up with the with the boost and everything, so it tells me that. Okay. But my scan gauge is the water temp, air temperature, the air intake, my battery voltage, and my CVT.

Speaker: okay okay with all the lights that you have are you running a stock battery you run an ag i'm running all right give me a second i got to pull up my email here i can't remember what it is i can't is it an optima that you're running no no no i was going to but like my dad had uh been running an optima for a while know they sold johnson controls bought them out yeah they're way down yeah Yeah, that's been my experience. when I read out like four of a lot of people. Like, yeah, it's crap now.

Speaker: They were good 20 years ago. Probably the best battery you could buy 20 years ago. And yeah, like you said, they got bought out. Yeah. when I was, I worked in the commercial auto parts industry for a little bit. And I remember we would get tons of those back, like warrantied out. I was like, what the heck? This is an Optima. It's only three weeks old.

Speaker: Does your Subaru's engine bay look like crap? Mine definitely does or did. I recently, in the last couple of years, purchased a full set of engine bay caps for ah my daily driver. And then I purchased some other ones for my Forester from Melee Design Firm. They have full sets or you can buy just the oil cap if you want to just dress that up but they're billet aluminum they're small batch so again not every broccoli head with a wrx is going to have these and they look pretty thick i'm using the wrinkle red powder coat but they have them in all sorts of other colors that you can choose from and if you use code dirt subies at checkout you'll get 10 off pretty much anything in the store and that would really help us out to continue making these episodes for you and it would help out a small business. Mele Design Firm is the epitome of a small business. Mitch over there is absolutely grinding and crushing it and I can't say thank you enough for his willingness to sponsor what we're doing over here. So go check that out and let's get back into this freaking heater of an episode. What happened for me was I went out one day and the car wouldn't start.

Speaker: And then I was like, what the hell? So I put a charger out started. Okay. I went to work and everything fine. Next morning, go to start again. like, oh, crap. I'm like, the battery's toast, know? And i needed I needed to go to work. I was like, I need a battery now. Advanced Auto of Parts, that's who was.

Speaker: Oh, okay, okay. Yeah, who was just over here and I think, I don't know if they all closed. They closed out here too, man. I got like 10 grand worth of stuff.

Speaker: Yeah, I didn't get to go there when they were doing their freaking blowout like closing on sale. Dude, I got in real good. I went up to the counter. Once I finally got in through the line, I handed the lady like 40 bucks. I said, hey, I appreciate you being here today.

Speaker: me and my buddy are going to take care of you. we won't be a pain in the butt. We appreciate you. And dude, she got us so hooked up. i was like, yeah, bro. with I think I got like 10 grand worth of stuff for like 800 bucks.

Speaker: Nice. August of 2022, I got this battery and it's the Dynart Platinum AGM battery. It's a 650 cold cranking apps, 810 CA and 11 minute reserve capacity. okay And dude, this thing is still like like new. I mean, The lights on it, like, I don't use them very often. I mean, it's one of those things that I look at, like, I think, like, 80% of the people out there, I mean, you know, 80% of it is aesthetics. I mean.

Speaker: Oh, yeah, dude. Yeah. But now, have I used them? Have they come in clutch? Yeah. I mean, I used them when we went out the one time, and it actually helped Ryan see when I'm behind him. You know what I mean? Yeah, dude.

Speaker: Yeah. But it's it's one of those things like my my lights are like nightlight and stuff. they're They're like the cheaper Amazon stuff because I'm not and they work i'm not about the new dynamics or designs. I mean, more power to them.

Speaker: Don't get me wrong. But if I break mine, and do it takes me it's nothing for me to replace it. And yeah the light of the light output is plenty. Yeah, and it's either it's either I buy a cheap one or I don't buy any because I can't stomach spending $500 on fog lights. I can't do it. you know yeah and And I know they're worth every penny for what they are and what they charge.

Speaker: but it's I found this one guy on YouTube that was really cool. like he has a think it was Tacoma or something. His front bar is like an SSD bar. We take Baja Designs, Diode Dynamics, the new Harbor Freight ones.

Speaker: Oh, yeah. Yeah. And you get the same group, like size and everything. And he'd put them up and he would test them all, like long range, short range, size shooters, everything. A lot of the times, like, you know, I mean, even the Harbor Freight ones are, I mean, Harbor Freight's kind of like, to me, like McDonald's now. Like, you're pricing yourself like good quality and you're You know, 130 bucks a light. I'm like, really? But, yeah but like, I was watching his videos and, like, du they they tested really well compared to the the other, you know, two bigger ones. But,

Speaker: You know, yeah it's one of those things that also look at, like, you know, a lot of people are sponsored. I don't know what kind of deals they get, like when they're ordering them. I'm not sponsored by anybody.

Speaker: you know, all of my own money. I, you know, what's funny is I did try, um, a year after I got mine, I tried to be a Subaru ambassador because I was all about Subaru, man. Like when all these events doing everything and they said, nah, I had 2,600 followers, all this stuff, like more than like some of them only have like 200, you know? And I'm like, okay.

Speaker: That's funny. You know, I kind of just was like, you know, it is what it is. You know, let these other people have the shot and do their thing. And yeah, let them do all the dirty work. And I see like every, every, I think it's funny every time like Black Friday comes around or Thanksgiving and it's all these people are like, oh, 10% off. I'm like, dude, 10% off? Like $1,000?

Speaker: thousand dollars I'm like, come on now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'm like, ah. Yeah, dude. yeah should i Yeah. I didn't want my, it also didn't want my feed. You know, my Instagram is is me. It's me and my friends. It's like, you know, all that stuff.

Speaker: It was, you know, a photography page at one point. And then it switched after I got my car kind of took over. um But I also didn't want, you know, I never reached out.

Speaker: I reached out early on with brands. There was like whip lighting. There was, it was some led place and some other things, but, you know when when When you look at like what they want you to do, i was just like, dude, I'm not i'm not turning my page into you know a catalog. like Yeah, bro. I hate that. i don't want to be forced the post because like if you look at like there's some people that like i used to post. every day. now it's like you know, once a week, maybe once a month, like, you know, because, you know, with the hell and everything else, like I'm not out there every day. I'm not doing anything that, you know, and it's also hard. I think the biggest thing for me too is like, I'm a photographer at heart. Like I love photography and everything like that. But when I'm out on the trail, like when we're off-roading, I'm like, I want somebody else to take photos because I'm enjoying the drive, man. Like, yes you know, and I, and I did go out before Mount River, before going out with them the first time.

Speaker: I went out with a different group and not going to say who it was or anything, but I, bad time, you bad time. Like it was, it wasn't led very well.

Speaker: And then there was a lot of people, but it was like every, every, like maybe not even ah like half a mile, a a quarter miles to take pictures. It's like, Oh my God. yeah You know, what what what what was supposed to be like a, maybe a four hour outing was 12th.

Speaker: was twelve Oh, dude, it was, it was, it was a long time. Um, there was a part time where like the group got split up, the leaders trying to go down these trails. He's never been down. Like it was just, just not a good time. And it's like, um you know, it's funny because like ever, ever since then, and that was back in like 2022, whatever it was. And I'm like, I haven't been out with them since. I don't even, I don't even know if they still go out, you know, cause I haven't seen anything about it. So, but you know, you, you learn,

Speaker: And when we go out with like the monitor, when like Matt's out there, you know, John and everything, it's, it's lead and and mapped out. They go and map everything out. They go and take rides, you know, cause they'll go out, see what it's like, you know, do the trail themself. And then if it happens to rain or anything in between, they go back out.

Speaker: So it's, it's it's awesome. yeah It's awesome. That's sick. Yeah. Yeah, the so with with what I'm doing now, like the whole sponsorship thing, yeah I had no intention of of like asking anybody to you know sponsor of that. like that just sounds Yeah, but you're you're doing it with people that you know. like i mean, you're helping friends, right? Yeah.

Speaker: well that Well, they're helping me, actually. Well, yeah, yeah, yeah. i mean, it's... Scratch my back and scratch your back. Yeah, yeah, Yeah. For me, um I... So Mitch was the first... Melee, the guy that owns Melee Design Firm. He was the first person... was looking at their stra tower brace. Yeah. Oh, dude. The red one? I've been eyeballing that for years. That's the one I have. yearss Yeah, bro. That's the one I have. It's sick. And if you flip the little nameplate... Because I don't run any sway bars.

Speaker: all mine are removed and what was nice is i think the xt suspension from stock is stiffer than the piece model so i didn't have any body roll and then with the new suspension i still don't but i wanted a little bit more stiffness so that's why i was looking at that bar but i'm just like you know haven't pulled the trigger yet yeah well and the other thing too like my my biggest opinion on it is you know, you're off road and everything's kind of, you know, you're three wheeling it or whatever, it sort of just, um, reinforces the, the unibody on both sides of it.

Speaker: Yeah. With, with that stuff, you know, I told Mitch at first, I was like, no, no, no, I don't want to do a sponsor or anything like that. But my criteria now is like, if I wouldn't,

Speaker: if i haven't already spent money on your products because like dude i've spent thousands of dollars on melee products thousands of dollars on adf products like if it was just some random thing i'm not i'm not doing that dude if i if i lived where you were and like was that close to both of them how you have you live in there dude you have no idea how dangerous it is man the The amount of money, because now, like, you know, me and Patrick have become friends in recent years.

Speaker: And, you know, me and Mitch, we first met back in 2020. And, you know, now it's like. I have to like fight to give Patrick money if I want parts, but, uh, you know, at this point it's like, I've spent so much money on their stuff to where it's like, there's not really anything they have left in their catalog that I don't already own.

Speaker: Yeah. Uh, but it's like, yeah, dude, you don't, you don't own an SG bumper. I don't, I don't yet, but that's coming soon and I'm going to try to get my hands on one. Ford XT?

Speaker: Yeah. I'm, I'm thinking about, I think he's going to do an SG, uh, version when he, when they, cause they're. That's the one before they, age yeah, yeah. h Yeah. SG is like Oh three to Oh eight. Yeah.

Speaker: Before they turned it into like an SUV it was still a wagon. yeah like Yeah, my stepson, oldest stepson, he needed a car, and I found him in SG, dude. I found him in 2002.

Speaker: There's the green and tan. Yeah, dude. Dude, it's so clean, and it's like one of those things, I'm like, dude, if you ever sell this, I want it. like give yeah I got it for like nothing. And then now there's that guy that's like a couple blocks from me, and I've been seeing it sit out there, and it's the old SG...

Speaker: uh xt so all white and i just like the hood and i'm like it hasn't moved ever i'm like dude that thing's probably got blown head gasket but i'm like i'm like i kind of just want to go like you want to get it like it it's just it's been sitting there like 10 years it's been sitting there for 10 years just sitting there it's probably it's probably got a blown turbo that's probably what it yeah i'm like hell that's that's a great platform i could do lot stuff with that i'm like it's probably manual Yeah. Well, they, um, that's when they were doing those banjo bolt filters for the turbo oil supply line. Yeah.

Speaker: And, uh, yeah, those, that thing, that design killed a bunch of TDO fours and all those, uh, I've never read about that. Like reading about a lot of stuff, like what can go wrong and then kind of learning like, Oh, that's not me.

Speaker: That's not my, yeah. Yeah. They fixed that. you know me yeah yeah fix that but then there's this problem You know what I mean? Yeah. it's it's it's a trade-off you lose one problem because a lot of people talk about i don't think it matters what your subaru they always talk about the oil consumption thing and it's like i i don't have that um on a side note one of the coolest things was when i got my car i actually got it from used from a toyota dealership now the the salesman was actually a wrx owner so he was telling me he was talking about

Speaker: uh ra works out here there's a garage ra works and he's like if you need to go there but he also told me he's like you know he goes he got the turbo he's like you know moto oil in there and i was like really i'm like i never heard it at that time and uh and i was like okay so i'll run that oil that's why i've been running ever since and what is it the moto or oh yeah oh dude yeah yeah there's stuff that's all that's all i wrote in my car and then when i redid my um when i bled and refilled my uh my front rear diffs that's what i put in it you know i mean it was it was just nice getting a little piece of information that you know he didn't have to give me oh yeah dude no but he was chill when i took it for a test drive and you know and it was funny because when i took it for a test drive i didn't even put it in into like sport or anything i didn't even know that was on the steering wheel was in like i you know

Speaker: But I mean, yeah even if you're an intelligent, you smack that gas, it'll move. And I remember I'm like, I went through like a stop sign and a red light. Not even noticing. I was just, you know, it grinning ear to ear, man. I was just like, hell, I'm having a good time.

Speaker: Yeah. Heck yeah, dude. Yeah. Forrestra XTs are sick, man. And they just, like I said, they, you don't get tickets because they look like a grocery getter, bro. Tons of room.

Speaker: ah Especially when you take like when I took everything off mine, I was like, it's so hard to look at. It was so naked. Yeah, dude. Yeah. Okay, let me let me ask you this question. yeah Any future stuff you want to do to the car? I mean, I know it's pretty much...

Speaker: pretty much to that point but uh i know you mentioned torque locker um anything that's hard is the is is the question if i had you know money was no object blank check but i would that would have the baddest sd force you could ever have but now uh you know i mean i know you brought up earlier about the front mounted intercooler i thought about that but out here with like a lot of like the rock ledges not floating stuff i'm not gonna yeah i'm not gonna mess with the stock i mean the stock you know i'll do the piping because It's smoother airflow or anything like that, but not changing like the air filter, obviously, air box, because then you're changing airflow. Then you've got to get a tune. I don't want to any kind of tuning because then you've got to find somebody, then you've got to pay. I'm like, no I'm not doing the top thing and all that crap.

Speaker: Yeah, the torque locker is one of them. do want to get like ah the front rear bumpers. I do want to do the the bar style, like kind of like the desert runner style, free runner. Yeah, yeah. Like what Matt's got.

Speaker: Yeah, yeah. I mean, Matt Slofoss, dude, like his is so sick. And what you don't know is his front bumper, the the the metal plate inside that's in there? Yeah.

Speaker: There's a two-inch, there's a cutout where he goes behind it. so On the back of that, so it sits flush. You can see kind of like the lines of it, but it goes through and there's actually a receiver hitch behind it where he can pull it out and put in like a winch plate. Yeah, that's And I'm like, dude, I'm like, when he showed me that, I was like, I never would have thought of that. Never would have thought of that. Because then you can have the winch on...

Speaker: you know, on your hitch and then you can go to front back with it. And I'm like, never would have thought of that. You know what I mean? Yeah. You just have your wiring ready to go. Just walk it in and you're good. Yeah. Yeah. So it's like, you know, but just, just to get the bumpers. And I think the main one was, um, you know, for the rear, I I'd like to do, i saw somebody do one where bolts of the frame, you know, where the bumper bolts do. But then also goes under to where the, the hitch would go into the holes like underneath. Okay. So it's got the front and the underneath structure. So when you're pulling it, because some people have said like where my hitch goes underneath and it goes through like the holes that, yeah you know, with that undercladding, like it could pull through, like if there's too much tongue weight or it can,

Speaker: you know If you're pulling on it to like get pulled out, like it could actually like you know oblong the holes or whatever. So it gives it just that more structure. yeah I have images saved from like you know all these different companies that used to do it.

Speaker: They used to make badass bumpers, and them they don't do it anymore. What's the in California? it F23 or F... They're weird. F44. Yes, thank you. yeah like They did it, and then they stopped. I mean, I think they do...

Speaker: But I'm not going to drive to California to get bumper. Well, bumpers are hard, bro, because the shippers, the couriers always damage the piss out of them. Yeah. And then the customer gets mad at the company when in reality it's UPS's fault that they treated like football. I mean, worked.

Speaker: i've I've worked at like a pack of mail place. I know exactly how that happens. And it's like, I'm not mad at the driver because it's not him. It's the guy that loaded it. Like, you know. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. and You know, it could have been done before they even picked it up because like they just pick it up.

Speaker: But if it's like a bumper like that, who if it's dented, I don't care. Like. yeah i'm gonna do the same thing yeah but but people are unrealistic and so i can see why a lot of companies are like man we're not even gonna mess with this you know like getting phone calls every day i spent two thousand dollars and the powder coat showed up scratched i was telling my buddy like you know he does uh scaffolding and stuff and he knows i like doing all the welding and whatever and Measurements and all that stuff on my dude. I'm like use my car as a template like make a bumper like I'm like you do this for like on the side like I'm like you make a killing dude They're making like off-road bumpers. Yeah, stuff and he's just like but the same thing it's it's getting you know He's like the hard part is is basically what you're paying for he goes You're not just paying for the labor because it's a material cost and he goes now if I buy the material and then they you know pull out he goes

Speaker: screwed. Exactly. So yeah that's where I kind of started getting like, okay, now I understand. or you to just bunch. Come out with bumper that's all like crooked. Yeah. Yeah, that's probably yeah the level of my fabrication skills at this point. Probably come out looking like a Picasso.

Speaker: i mean, i know I know the design I want. I just, you know, I'm just doing it, I guess. yeah I've seen a lot of people on you know on YouTube doing Tacomas and different things like that and they you know garage welding and they come out pretty good for what they are. so I just, you know, my whole thing is, is I want something that's, that looks good.

Speaker: Something that's functional. It's hard to, because I always say like the SSD light bar I have in there was a gift. was my first Christmas gift from my wife was that. So I'm like, also don't want to just, you know, if I do a bumper like that, I'm like, it's gone. Like there's no purpose for it.

Speaker: Yeah. um And if anybody that has one of those things or think about getting one, it, you know, it goes in it's nice it holds a light like don't lean on it it's not a pull point yeah i mean you lean on it and you will bend it right down like it's but then again i mean it's so much better than like i've seen people with the like the license plate one i'm like oh yeah it's just horrible yeah those are sketchy reminds me when i used to work i don't know if you ever old enough remember jc whitney oh yeah dude i used to work there i worked there yeah back in utica illinois yeah and tight they're they're only place only i don't even know if they're still business i'm not sure don i don't think they are i think they've probably changed their business model a little bit but yeah i'm not sure that was way back there was like nine like 99 something like that holy crap okay yeah yeah that's og that just reminds me of that kind of stuff just like the almost almost kind of like the auto zone like thing i've seen like some of like the yeah the stuff where i'm like and it's hard too because i'm like always one of those people like it's the other super so like i you know do the way you know wave em or whatever wrx is like that they're not about it every once while i get one but like

Speaker: What's the I go to wave and I'm like, oh, it's like something like oh old grandma. She's not looking at me. Yeah, dude. She saw the she saw the crash ratings. But I do like to do like when I'm at a light and like across from me or whatever, I'll see the husband and wife over there and the husband pointing me at my car and I'm like, you see, he's saying ah he wants his to look like this. And she's saying no. Yeah, dude. Yeah. I love that.

Speaker: That's my jam. I got compliments. It's always nice. Yeah. My cars are too clapped out. People point at it and they're like, that's what I don't want it to look like. Nah, that's the difference. They'd be like, that guy knows what's, that guy fucks. That's what's going on there.

Speaker: Yeah. I can only hope. He knows what a tree feels like. ah Actually. Yes. yeah Very much. My old ass Ted, I know what a tree feels like. Yeah. Yeah. right I know what, uh, I don't know if you have them, but like, uh, you know, and I stuff, we had, uh,

Speaker: When you go into the fields, like you have the ditches and you have the culverts that like where the track is cross. Yeah. I hit black ice and I hit one of those at 20. I know what that feels like. That'll do it. In an 89 S10 dude, when you get the steering wheel ring around your chest cause you hit it. Like, yeah. Yeah. No airbags. No. Boom. I think I'd manual everything there. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah. Crank windows. every That's how my Jeep is. I specifically was like, I want crank windows. Yeah. Don't want anything automatic than it needs to beat the crap out of it, dude. Yeah, man. I had that thing for like three years. ended up melting a cylinder or into the cylinder wall.

Speaker: ah Yeah. did Did the rings, that like, was the... I don't know, dude. All I know is, like, I remember, like, I was driving back to, like, my aunt and uncle's house. It got on up in Chicago.

Speaker: And I was off the interstate. And it just, like, driving, bumping, you know, because I had this big 15 behind my seat. Yeah, that's a requirement. And couldn't hear anything. I'm just, like, driving all of a sudden. It starts, like, chugging. Like, what the hell is happening?

Speaker: I thought i ran out of gas and then like I pulled it over and I'm like, went Frank wouldn't do nothing and then towed it off the the interstate. Otherwise, you know, the city would have taken it. Got it back to the house and my uncle looked at it and goes, yeah you melted your cylinder to the wall. He's like, call the junkyard and have him take it. I got 50 bucks, you know, for them to come pick it up.

Speaker: Yikes, dude. Yeah. Catastrophic engine failure. I mean, it kind of sucks now, you know, because I was, you know, I was like 18 years old and then uh not and now you know having known i'm like oh man i wish i would have kept that thing just for the shell because i mean you could you know easily put a v8 in it you know no problem like no computers just all manual everything yeah i could have ran it off a freaking harbor freight predator engine in there yeah just throw the freaking the generator right yep i said we've been on a random tangent That's my favorite, bro. man I don't know how the hell you're going to edit this up. You know what I mean? I'm not. I'm just going to edit out any dead air and that'll be that, dude. Well, man, thanks for doing this. This is a long time in the making. I think when you were around here or something, you mentioned something, you have something coming down the pipeline.

Speaker: And then, you know, this showed up. And I was like, oh. shit You know, this is what he's doing. And then been listening to the Subie and You with Raph for, you know, shout out to them around him yeah dude for a while. a Dude, all I listen to in my car now, used to listen music, not just podcasts. Like, to and from work, it's like it's like, you know, like I'll listen to like, what's it, Creepcast, Time Suck, Scared to Death. It's like all the, you know, the creepypasta stuff or whatever have you or True Crime. Yeah, Listen me to that and then it's like but then I have my so you know, the see me new when it comes out with it I was like, you know, how are you gonna be different? You know, because that's that's all you want to look at is like, oh there's all these true cars like how are they different? Yeah, you come on. It's your personalities and the way you do things are so different.

Speaker: But yet you're you're doing the same community. So it's it's great. I mean, you know, and and not to mention you know, he's getting whoever he gets. And then, you know, you got, you know, the lower, lower totem pole like me. so yeah, that, that was kind of, so when I, yeah, I remember talking about that when I was out there with you guys, that was kind of the month where I was like, I'm just going to do it, you know, because I was super hesitant. Cause I didn't want Raf to feel like, oh my gosh, this dude's trying to come in and, you know, like snipe my viewers or whatever, i could see that you know, but he, he wasn't like that at all, no but I just,

Speaker: Out of respect, I didn't want anybody to think that was the case. I remember hearing you talking about it and you know kind of his take with no, and but how you felt because mean if you think about it, he's the only one doing it. So I could understand exactly where that that thought would come from. you know yeah It's kind of like, well, if I would start doing it now, it's like, oh, now he got three. Yeah. But I'm not going to. and I'm not that person. But the yeah thing is is, yeah, I mean, I've always wanted to do one basically kind of like, how did this get made?

Speaker: Like, love that podcast where just watching shit movies and just ripping them apart. Like, you know, I was trying to get like, at one point I had like five of my buddies and we all watched the and took notes and stuff, you know, but it's so hard to get people together to keep doing that. it's just like didn't go anywhere. dude, it does take a lot. And then like editing everything, making sure the sound comes through is like, Oh dude, like still haven't even finished the episode that's coming out in a few hours. That's like, it's one of those things that always look at. Like lot YouTube content I watch, you know, thinking to myself like, Oh, back in the day, I'm like, Oh man, when YouTube was like, not even a thing or when it was first, like just hinted at, I'm like, Oh man, me and my friends would killing doing,

Speaker: what these kids are doing or well now they're older but when they first started they were kids now they're older yeah you know millions of followers i'm like we could have done that but then i'm like thinking about it's like it's not only them as the entertainer of it the personality but the editor like my god man like yeah dude I mean, it's it's nice it's nice seeing editors you know coming up and getting and getting what they deserve because like I've seen a lot of them where they treat them really good because, yeah, they do lot of work, especially if you're doing it and if you're doing all yourself. I mean, you know that's great. But I mean, it also gets to the point if you get big enough, it's like how you know when do you start? You got hire somebody because it gets a lot. You're filming editing you know filming, interviewing, and then you're editing. So,

Speaker: that takes so much of time until you get to the point where, you know, you're, you know, hopefully you get to the point where you're interviewing somebody every day, you know, so you have that backlog, but then that becomes, Oh, now I got to get somebody to edit because I can't edit while I'm talking. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah, dude. Yeah. And it's kind of just like a passion project thing. Cause like, you know, I worked,

Speaker: eight hours a day minimum. And then I have other side businesses that I do. It's not uncommon for me to be working in some capacity for 12 to 14 hours. You know, it's like, eventually I'm like, oh man, I can't even look at my phone. I get anxiety. I did. I hope it takes off, you know, and like everybody, like for myself and everybody, hope, you know, win the lottery so you don't have to fucking work. You know what I mean? And now do what you want to do.

Speaker: That would be sick. Then I can work because I want to, not because I need to. Well, it's one those things I was telling my wife, they were driving and I said like, don't know, maybe this year, maybe next year, whatever. I'm like, you know, I talked to Ryan about it and I'm like, I want to drive up there. I want to.

Speaker: Instead of flying up there, want to travel for you. you know Go up there. That'd be sick. It's like figuring out time of year. Because I do want to play in the snow, but I also don't want get stranded. but yeah But it's one of those things. I'm like, what sucks is I can take like a week and a half off.

Speaker: But I'm like, the problem with that is like one to two days is just driving, you know depending on how you do it. yeah um And I'm like, i'm like ah which just a small lottery so I can quit and not have to worry about going back to work. Just go have fun again.

Speaker: You know, what yeah iqu it I equate it to the school summer break mentality. Like, I just, that just give me like two months off. Let me just go do what i want to do. You know what I mean? Yeah, bro. well I don't, I wish I'd gotten into software developing, you know, or like, you know programming as a kid.

Speaker: Because that's where the money's at right now. You create a an app or a piece of software. I wish I wouldn't have sold my Bitcoin when it was new. Right, bro. what But, you know, it's it's one of those things. We all have those. We all have those. Yeah. Like, oh, I should have done this or I shouldn't have done that. Because a lot of people are like, you know, i'd like your your parents or whatever. A lot of them have the, I sold this car store, you know. Yeah. A 60s Charger or something. Yeah. I actually, had one I missed out on it I could have got a 71 Mach 1 with a 428 drag pack for like two grand.

Speaker: That needed to be all like redone. And I'm like, I wanted to do it. like It would have been great. My dad's like, you'll kill yourself. And I'm like, okay. And it never happened. because yeah I was at that age where you know i dad had the money, not me. Yeah, dude. Yeah. And he said no. And I'm like, ah.

Speaker: and now i look back like even the shell now even astronomical you know what i mean oh dude yeah there's all kinds of stuff like that where i wish i would have like taken out a loan and bought every evo that i could find you know 10 years ago throwing them in a storage unit turn around and sold like 5 000 mile evos for 50 grand or whatever they're going for now but you know hindsight's 2020 right ah unless you're marty mcfly you know it's uh it's hard to figure out imagine if you would not just bought a bunch of like different wrx's and just left them stocks right yeah but original owner and like no miles he would oh dude you'd be cleaning the house you'd be winning the lotteries what you'd be doing

Speaker: Yeah, never never had the title punched. like Could you imagine that? Yeah, but then you'd still have people lowballing you. I'll give you a chicken nugget and four grand. Right.

Speaker: I just can't with that stuff, dude. Yeah, I just know. What the fudge. All right, man. Well, let's freaking jump off, dude.