OnAllCylinders (Summit Racing Equipment)

In this episode, we revisit Summit Racing's popular "Project 1000" LS build and answer some of the common viewer questions around the build. Summit Racing LS experts Brian Nutter and Mike Schmidt provide additional insight on the engine build, as well as general LS tech questions.

Any experienced gearhead will tell you that a professional-quality paint job doesn’t happen overnight—it’s the result of hours of training, practice, and prep work. And while that might dissuade a lot of folks from tackling a paint project themselves, the truth is, you can do a pro-spec automotive paint job in your home garage and—honestly—it’s a pretty straightforward process. We hosted automotive paint expert Kevin Tetz to answer some common questions surrounding at-home paint projects and also get some valuable tips for better results.

Cleetus McFarland has become one of the biggest automotive performance personalities. From his popular YouTube videos to his on-track success, unique builds and fantastic events at his own track, Freedom Factory, Cleetus always has something going on. But who is the real Cleetus McFarland? And how did he come to be? We get the story behind the rise Cleetus McFarland and talk about some of his legendary project vehicles...and even get some advice for aspiring automotive social media personalities.

Automotive wiring has been cited by our customers as one of the most intimidating portions of a build or project. But it doesn't need to be. Armed with the right tools and know-how, DIY gearheads can tackle automotive wiring with less stress and get the right results. In this episode, we talk with the wiring gurus at Painless Performance and get some valuable wiring knowledge and insight.

While the annual SEMA Show might be the most visible component of the Specialty Equipment Market Association, the SEMA organization does a lot more to benefit the automotive aftermarket industry. Perhaps SEMA's most important efforts center on its involvement in government affairs. From emissions regulations to off-road trail access, SEMA makes sure that automotive aftermarket industry members and consumers (that's you) have a voice in these political conversations. Karen Bailey-Chapman,  Senior Vice President, Public and Government Affairs with SEMA, leads the charge to protect your hobby and our industry. We sat down with Karen to learn more about her role, as well as the key issues currently in play.

Engine Power hosts Pat Topolinski and Frankie Forman get to build engines for a living. And they get to do it for an audience as part of PowerNation's Power Block. Sounds awesome, right? Well it is...except there's much more to it than people realize. So what happens behind the scenes when the cameras are off? What much time really goes into each project? And are there certain projects that stand out above the others? Pat and Frankie share insight into a day in the life of a TV host/engine builder and provide some background on how they got to where they are today.

Casey Currie of Currie Enterprises doesn't just develop axles and components for off-road vehicles, he's out there putting his products to the test. When you buy an axle from Currie, you know it's field tested and proven...perhaps by Casey himself! Hear all about Casey's journey in the axle manufacturing business as well his experience in the world of off-road racing.

There are plenty of good reasons to build a kit car. For some, it’s the chance to own a replica of a super-rare ride—one you won’t fear racking up miles and paint chips with. For others, it’s an opportunity to create a unique vehicle tailored to your precise specs, making sure everything on the car is exactly the way you want it. And still others simply enjoy the challenge of taking boxes of parts and transforming them into a complete, running automobile. But what do you need to know going into your first kit car build? We talked to builder Michael Craven about his experience assembling kit cars to get some advice for inexperienced kit car owners.

Learn how automotive trade shows bring an important benefit to the industry, and offer a collaborative space for networking, innovation, and comradery. Get some tips on how to navigate your next event successfully with the folks behind the HPX High Performance Expo. 

We sat down with the car care experts at Malco to get some vital tips and techniques to help you wash and detail your car like a professional—inside and out. You'll also learn about which products work best for specific detailing jobs, and how to avoid some common car washing mistakes. 

Eric Franz, chairperson of the Cleveland chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers, brings awareness to the Formula SAE program. Formula SAE and Baja SAE programs are designed to develop the next generation of automotive talent. Offered by colleges and universities across the country and around the world, Formula SAE teams engineer and build vehicles and compete against one another at various events. How do the programs work? Might they be a good option for someone in your life? Give this episode a listen!

We’re going to take a closer look at some of the hardware you’ll need to start building a pro-spec racing simulator rig. And to do that, we’ve enlisted the help of Howard Yang. Not only is Howard the founder of GTR Simulator, he’s an experienced racer with plenty of seat time in the cockpit of serious race cars, particularly in the former Grand Am Road Racing Series. Now retired from racing, Howard spends his time designing professional-spec racing simulators. Better still, he’s got a Rolodex full of current race car drivers that he calls upon to offer insight into his racing sim development.

Hear the harrowing story behind Matt Maier's overlanding Toyota Tacoma, the overlanding truck he built twice! Plus, get a few tips for getting started in the world of overlanding!

Piston expert Trey McFarland from RaceTec Pistons joins an in-depth discussion on high performance piston tech. Learn all about piston technology & the different piston alloys available, so you're able to choose the best pistons for your hot street or race engine. You'll also learn how things like wrist pins, connecting rods, and rings all work together for optimum engine performance. 

If you're an AMC enthusiast, chances are, you already know what makes the AMC Rebel Machine a great car. Our guest Randy Masters, owner of a rare Rebel Machine, provides some added insight about the car and talks about what it's like to own and restore one.

We sat down with respected author Joseph Potak to learn how he became the go-to resource for LS Engine tech. We'll cover topics like the Gen. 3/4 LS and Gen/ 5 LT engine design and evolution, along with LS engine swap solutions. If you've got an LS or LT engine swap in your future, check this one out. 

We talk all-things Studebaker with Studebaker owner and aficionado Malcolm Berry. A current owner of seven Studebakers, Malcolm's knowledge and love affair with Studebakers goes back to the 1960s. Learn more about what makes these cars so unique and loveable in this episode. 

Get a recap of the 2022 SEMA Show from some of the Summit Racing team that covered the show. We talk news, new product releases, noteworthy project vehicles, trends, and more from the aftermarket's biggest show!

Summit Racing is celebrating 55 years in business in 2023. So we enlisted respected and longtime automotive journalist Jeff Smith to talk about the evolution of automotive technology over those years. Where has the aftermarket been and where is it going in the future? Jeff shares his unique perspective on the ever-changing automotive performance landscape.

In our initial "What Makes this Car Great" episode, we cover the ins and outs of the Mustang Fox-Body. Summit Racing in-house car encyclopedia Tom Lynch makes the case for why the Fox-Body demands more respect. Agree or disagree?

Thinking of getting your start in drag racing? Or maybe you're looking to up your drag racing game? Frank Hawley, owner of the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School, has been instrumental in helping the careers of big name professional drag racers. And he's accumulated some awesome stories along the way. We catch up with Frank and reflect on his racing and instructing careers and learn about what it's like to instruct today and tomorrow's drag racing stars.

Drag racing team owner and car builder Jim Oddy and driver Fred Hahn had legendary careers in Pro Modified drag racing. With their passion and love for racing, you knew they would never truly retire from the sport, and now the duo is back at the track. Find out what they're up to now and reminisce with them about their iconic careers on the dragstrip.

The SEMA Show is the aftermarket industry's biggest show. It's where new products are introduced, emerging trends are uncovered, and important news is broken. So, what were some of the highlights of the 2023 SEMA Show? Our Summit Racing roundtable discuss the show and talks about some of the things that stood out when we attend the event in early November. Listen in and see what's in store for '24!

As seen on YouTube, Instagram...and events across the country! Alex Taylor has quickly become a familiar face at Drag and Drive events like Sick Week and the Summit Racing Midwest Drags. She's also participated in Motor Trend events and raced with Cleetus McFarland at the Freedom Factory. Yes, she's relatively new to the hot rodding and racing scenes, but she's been around cars all of her life and grew up in the shop helping her dad, Dennis Taylor. And she had probably the coolest car in her high school parking lot! Learn more about the fast rise of Alex Taylor, get more details on her now-high profile "Quest for the Sixes" '55 Chevy, and hear about what she might be up to next!

Grab your figgy pudding, pour a glass of nog, and crank up the Ray Conniff Singers, because it's time for the star-studded OnAllCylinders Holiday Podcast Episode Spectacular! And of course, by star-studded, we mean the staff at OnAllCylinders and some pals from Summit Racing. 

From our OnAllCylinders family to yours, enjoy this peppermint-flavored podcast episode as we reflect on holidays of yesteryear, a few of our favorite Christmas traditions, and what gifts the automotive aftermarket has given us over the decades (along with some that we hope Santa brings us soon). It's 30 minutes of hotrod holiday fun. 

Chevrolet Performance is bringing the ZZ632/1000 to SEMA this year. Chevrolet Performance's Bill Martens joins the podcast to provide some insight into Chevrolet Performance's most powerful crate engine ever!

From his history on the track--Le Mans, Daytona, Sebring, and more--to his current role creating cutting-edge suspension products, John Hotchkis is a racer and performance car enthusiast through-and-though. We talk with John about his racing experiences, suspension technology, new products and more!

We sat down with Matt Zapp to learn all about his street legal, all-steel 1984 Chevy S-10 drag race project, which is poised to run a sub-10 second quarter mile. Get details behind the built LS engine under its hood, along with all of the other chassis and performance upgrades that make this truck a track monster. 

As much as we enjoy making big power on an engine dyno, keeping it pointed in the right direction is just as critical. So we sat down with our old pal Lee Grimes from Koni North America to talk all about performance suspension tuning 101.  Lee's not just a guy who knows a lot about Koni suspension parts, he's also serious racer with around 40 years of track experience under his tires. Suffice it to say, when he offers insight and tips on suspension tuning, we're inclined to listen. We invite you to listen as well!

Clay Millican is a six-time drag racing world champion. But, for Clay, the real story lies in the journey and not the championships themselves. In this episode, Clay talks about his life in drag racing...and about cars in general.

Dallas Glenn made his NHRA Pro Stock debut earlier this year in Gainesville and has already notched his first career victory. In this two-for-one episode, we share our conversation with him leading up to the first event--and then after the big victory! So where is he keeping that first Wally? What has been the biggest challenge? Listen to find out!

If you love stock car racing or land speed racing, you'll love the story of Aaron Brown! Aaron is a true trailblazer. He's set multiple land speed records and dominated as a race car builder for decades. Then, he decided to take his passion for speed and start the GarageShop, a well known race car fabrication shop. Some of his latest projects include a pair of Aero cars, a Daytona and Talladega, which he took land speed racing at the ECTA in Blytheville, Arkansas.

We'll talk about car building, fabrication, racing...and little of his history in stock car racing, too! Listen in!

With the high costs of fuel, Race Gas fuel additives are a cost-effective alternative to racing fuels. How does it work and is it right for you? Race Gas owner Dan Muldowney takes us through the science behind Race Gas. Take a few minutes to listen to our conversation with Dan, and you could save big on fuel for your racing needs!

John Grounds of Proving Grounds Racing talks Ultra4 racing and what makes it so fun to compete in--and watch! He provides advice for getting started and gives an overview of the vehicles and projects he is currently building. John also offers a recap of his season, which was the first in which he managed multiple vehicles.

Always passionate and energetic, NHRA driver, team owner, and champion Antron Brown talks about his rise through the ranks of NHRA drag racing and what it's like to own his own team.

Don't be intimidated...you can get excellent DIY paint results right in your home garage. Whether you're considering doing your first automotive paint job or just looking to get a better finish, Sherwin-Williams' Ted Swan provides tips and tricks to help you achieve the desired results. From spray gun selection and usage, to application techniques and pitfalls to avoid, Swan offers up expert advice developed from his decades of experience.

We're ramping up for season two of the OnAllCylinders podcast beginning in October 2022! Get ready for more celebrity interviews, expert technical advice, industry insider info, automotive culture and more!

Media personality and car guy Rutledge Wood joins the show to chat with host Justin Weideman. The episode covers many of Rutledge's car projects, the hunt for new projects, and even the host's quest to own a hot air balloon (and Rutledge's interesting reaction)! No script here...this episode is delightfully all-over-the-map. Enjoy!

We get into the nitty-gritty of performance and racing engine oil with the experts from PennGrade 1. Learn about important topics like zinc/phosphorous additives, viscosity, synthetic and mineral blending, and the science behind motor oil formulations and additive packages.  

We gathered a small panel of industry veterans who've attended plenty of SEMA Shows in the past to discuss the 2024 event, offer some insight into the current automotive trends, and highlight some incredible custom builds. We'll also reveal a few predictions about the future of the automotive aftermarket industry in 2025.

FarmTruck and AZN have become fan favorites from the popular show, Street Outlaws. In this episode, we take you behind the camera to get to know the guys a little better. What are there favorite projects? How did they get into the racing scene? Find out answers to those questions and more!

When two-time NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Doug Gordon refers to his race team family, it’s the literal truth. From his father, former racer Mike Gordon, to his daughters, Maddi and Macie Gordon, the Gordon family is all-in on drag racing. Hear the full story behind this family racing operation!

Mike Copeland, CEO of Arrington Performance, has been involved in some key engine innovations and concept cars during his career. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes of some of his most memorable projects, including notable hits and misses. If you love engine tech, you'll love this episode!

Michael Callahan's Cyclone isn't just any Mercury Cyclone. It's a Cyclone Spoiler II...a rare vehicle that was Mercury's entry into the NASCAR Aero Wars. Together with its cousin, the Ford Torino Talladega, this car was designed to battle Mopar's legendary Charger Daytona and Superbird twins on the NASCAR Super Speedways. But that's just the start of the story. This particular Cyclone Spoiler II has seen time on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Listen in as Michael Callahan shares the unique story and experiences behind his '69 Cyclone Spoiler II.

From brittle speakers to fuzzy reception, older car radios can present some vexing problems, so we sat down with our pal Joe Rock from RetroSound to talk all about some basic troubleshooting and install tips for these vintage jamboxes. We also discussed a handful of solutions for folks that want to add modern audio capabilities to their classic car—without chopping up or otherwise upsetting the vintage aesthetic of their dash. 

Go-Kart racing or “Karting” is growing increasingly popular across the United States, with more and more racing events dotting the map from coast-to-coast. But if you’ve got images in your head of rickety, shaky Go-Karts bumping through a cobbled together track on some back lot somewhere, you’re in for a big surprise.

Karting is a serious endeavor, and counts Danica Patrick, Juan Pablo Montoya, and a host of other top-tier race drivers among its alumni roster. In fact, Karting is essentially a feeder system for a lot of professional motorsports organizations. (But plenty of drivers simply race recreationally too.)

To get the inside scoop on Karting, we sat down with Kevin Williams, President of the World Karting Association—the premier organization for Go-Kart racing.

Is one of your new year's resolutions to try road racing or Autocross? Aaron Quine is an instructor at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and is an expert at teaching both basic and advanced driving skills. In addition, he competes in the Trans Am TA2 and International GT circuits. We chat with Aaron Quine about his racing career, his role as driving instructor and advice for new racers.

Magazine editor, TV show host, and all-around hot rod enthusiast David Freiburger shares stories of his journey to one of the most recognizable names in car culture.

It's a Major Award! "A Christmas Story" house owner Brian Jones talks about owning the iconic house, as well as one of the period-correct cars that goes with it. Jones discusses why he bought the house in Cleveland, Ohio, why it's up for sale, and the process of tracking down one of the actual on-screen Oldsmobiles from the movie.

The shortcomings of vintage, old-style ignition systems are well documented. But what about modern ignition systems? How can they perform better to spark modern high-horsepower engines? That was the question that drove RIPP Superchargers' Ross Esposito to develop a new line of coil plugs for modern ignition performance. In this episode, we look at modern ignition shortcomings and see how RIPP has found ways to overcome them. Listen and learn!

The OnAllCylinders podcast launches with an overview of what you can expect moving forward. We'll cover everything from news, product and tech information, celebrity interviews, car profiles, and more. Anything and everything from the world of automotive performance! 

If you've participated in the Pro Touring movement (or even just heard of the term "Pro Touring"), you can thank Mark Stielow.  Mark was instrumental in ushering in this new style of car building via his stable of first-generation of Camaros. But Mark's involvement in the automotive industry goes way beyond that. He has held key roles at General Motors, most recently helping to oversee its racing programs. This is all to say, he's got stories! Listen in to our conversation with Mark Stielow in this episode of the OnAllCylinders podcast!

Ian Lehn from BOOSTane fuels talks about how he challenged his Dad—and his Ferrari 360 Modena—to a race against a worn-out 1969 Mustang in the Big Bend Open Road Race. Hear how it all went down, and learn some interesting tech behind octane boosters, fuel additives, and synthetic fuels in this special Father's Day episode.  

Ian Johnson has worked hard to become one of the faces of the four-wheeling and off-roading scenes. From a guest appearance on Monster Garage, to a full-time hosting gig on Extreme 4x4 on Spike TV and later on Motor Trend's Four Wheeler, to owning a shop and production company, he's seen and done it all. And he's always looking for the next big thing. Ian Johnson joined us to talk about the hobby, his passion, and some of his projects over the years.

Catch up with the legendary "Big Daddy" Don Garlits and get his thoughts on motorsports past, present, and future!

We catch up with professional Motocross and Supercross racer Shane McElrath, who won the 2022 FIM Supercross World Championship in the SX2 class.

Restoring or upgrading a vintage Datsun 240Z, 260Z or 280Z? Get some expert advice from one of the leaders in Nissan reproduction parts. Max McCroskey from Resurrected Classics explains why the Z makes such a great project car & what should look for when buying one. 

The year 2023 is in our rearview, and it's on to 2024. But first, a look back at the automotive stories, new car announcements, new products, and other happenings that shaped 2023. And where do we go from here? We talk about the news we'd like to see in 2024. What is YOUR top automotive-related news items of 2023?

With Father's Day coming up, we're sharing the Father's Day story of a 1961 Ventura restoration completed to surprise one lucky dad. Why a Pontiac Ventura? Who's the lucky father bestowed with the car? And what are the nuts and bolts of this particular restoration? Listen to this episode, featuring Keith Blowers of Skipco Auto Auctions.

Whether it's for recreational purposes, like camping or overlanding, or to build a mobile worksite, a vehicle auxiliary power system can be a real game changer. In this episode, we talk with the experts at REDARC about some of the key things to consider when setting up an auxiliary power system.

We're back in the OnAllCylinders studio with plenty of hot cocoa, candy canes, and automotive-themed holiday stories. Hear our thoughts on what gifts Santa should bring to the industry, and what we hope is in our stockings this year. We also offer opinions on which automobiles best represent each of Santa's reindeer. 

We hear a lot of questions about torque converters. Truth is, choosing the right torque converter, especially as it pertains to stall speed, can be a bit complicated. So we enlisted the help of Nelson Gill of Boss Hog Torque Converters to cover what you need to know when choosing a torque converter. In this educational episode, he covers the key factors in selecting torque converter stall speed and gets into the nuts and bolts of manufacturing a quality torque converter. Listen and learn!

Holley took what it learned from its original Sniper EFI kit and applied those lessons to its Sniper 2 EFI system. Introduced late in the summer of 2023, the Sniper 2 EFI makes the process of converting to an aftermarket EFI even more hassle-free than ever before. In this episode, we look at some of the improvements made to the Sniper 2 kit and talk about how to get the most out of your Sniper 2 EFI system. 

While it’s easy to get excited about jaw dropping acceleration and massive towing power, let’s make one point clear: Stopping is just as important as going. To that end, we wanted to talk with a brake expert about everything from basic brake tech all the way to disc brake conversions for classic cars and towing upgrades for late model trucks. And we found the perfect guy for the job in Tom Reid. Not only is he president and CEO of a top-tier performance brake company, SSBC-USA, Tom’s also an engineer who grew up working with his uncle’s grassroots race team.

Vintage Air's Rick Love joins us to talk automotive air conditioning--specifically A/C for hot rods and classic vehicles. Rick shares tips for choosing an air conditioning system, offers advice troubleshooting issues and installation challenges, and provides insight into the installation process.

When Summit Motorsports Park, then Norwalk Raceway, opened in 1974, it had 800 seats. Since then, it's grown into "America's Racetrack" with over 30,000 seats under the ownership of the Bader family. As a child and teenager, Bill Bader, Jr. performed every possible task at the track in route to taking over as owner. And he seems to have the recipe for putting on the most entertaining events in drag racing--and beyond. What goes into planning the events? What are some of his craziest memories? Well...listen in!

Maybe you've heard the term Van Life or even seen the hashtag #VanLife. But what is it? And how does it differ from overlanding? Resident Summit Racing Van Life expert Dean Casanova introduces you to the concept and provides tips for getting started.

Drag Illustrated magazine's Wes Buck and Mike Carpenter talk drag racing, Drag Illustrated magazine, and Drag Illustrated's 30 Under 30 program honoring the up-and-comers in the world of drag racing.

We get to the bottom of some common exhaust system myths and talk through popular debates like X-pipe vs. H-pipe. To find definitive answers, we traveled to Magnaflow Exhaust and talked to Magnaflow's Rich Waitas. We also discuss exhaust system choice and go over some things to consider when buying an aftermarket exhaust system.

Jay Leno joins us to talk about his car and motorcycle collection, life during the pandemic, electric vehicles, and more!

Automotive brake system technical questions are among the most common questions fielded by the tech team at Summit Racing. So we brought in the braking experts to cover some of the most recurring tech questions and answers. In this episode, Bill Cummings and Dan DeKruger of LEED Brakes join us to talk brake system anatomy, braking questions, and brake system troubleshooting.

Ralph Moody Sr. was a major driver (pun intended) of racing innovation and design throughout the 20th century.
In particular, together with John Holman, the Holman-Moody race team helped develop and refine a veritable fleet of awe-inspiring machines, from offshore power boats to the legendary Ford GT-40. In fact, serving as Ford’s de facto tuning shop in the 1960s, the FoMoCo tapped Holman-Moody to design and build its entrant into the nascent NASCAR Aero Wars: the Torino Talladega. While Ralph Moody Sr. passed away in 2004, the Moody legacy carries on with his son, Ralph Moody Jr. Now an accomplished mechanical engineer, Ralph Jr. got his start by wrenching in the Moody garage. We sat down with Ralph Moody Jr. to talk all about his family’s history and get the backstory behind a specific restoration project for this podcast episode. 

Five-time NHRA Pro Stock World Champion Greg Anderson joins us. Even by Greg's standards, the 2021 season was monumental as he won his fifth championship and broke the NHRA record for Pro Stock wins, surpassing the legendary Warren Johnson. Greg looks back at 2021 and ahead to 2022. What does he see on the horizon for himself, the Pro Stock class, and NHRA in general? Listen in!

During a tennis career that stretched from the late 1940s to the early 1970s, González racked up a jaw-dropping list of Major Titles, records, and Pro and Amateur Championships. In fact, from 1952 to 1961, González was the No. 1 ranked tennis player in the world for ten years.
But with all his success on the court, González still found time to pursue his other passions, particularly hot rods and drag racing.
To learn more about this lesser-known side of the tennis legend, we spoke with his eldest son, Richard Gonzales and Pancho’s nephew, Greg Gonzales.

What is VINwiki...and how can you use it to your benefit? Founder Ed Bolian joins us to talk about the site and his own interesting background in the automotive world. If you like exotic cars, Bolian has a vast knowledge and experience to share with you. Listen in!

The voice of NHRA drag racing speaks with Summit Racing! From announcing at races, to NHRA TV segments, to his engaging articles (including his work founding BangShift.com), Brian Lohnes has become synonymous with motorsports journalism for many fans. And he's seen a thing or two along way! Hear Brian's unique insight, along with memories from past races and events!