
Get ready for another high-octane session! In episode 36, Chris takes us down a frustrating rabbit hole of fixing the air conditioning on his 25-year-old Suburban, a saga involving a broken belt, a seized tensioner pulley, and the wrong parts from the auto store. Meanwhile, James shares his own car project updates, including a potential fan issue on his Firebird and the never-ending saga of his OBS truck.The guys also dive into the world of buying and selling cars on the side, from finally selling a Volvo to navigating the wild world of Facebook Marketplace. Plus, get the inside scoop on potential High Octane Dads merchandise, including custom hats and limited-run t-shirts. If you're a dad who loves wrenching on cars, sharing project stories, and balancing family life with your passions, this episode is for you.Drop a comment if you're interested in some HOD merch, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for more!Podcast Timestamps:0:36 - Chris details his Gen 4 fan upgrade on his Trans Am for better cooling.1:18 - The Volvo is finally sold! Chris talks about clearing out project cars to fund a trailer.2:05 - The beginning of a long story: Chris tries to fix the air conditioning on his Suburban.2:55 - The initial diagnosis: a missing AC belt.3:36 - After replacing the belt, the new one starts smoking immediately.5:10 - The real culprit is discovered: the tensioner pulley is completely seized.6:20 - The parts store saga: trying to find the correct replacement tensioner and the woes of cheap aftermarket parts.8:00 - Getting the job done in the parking lot and getting covered in grease.9:26 - Merch Talk! James announces a buddy is making custom High Octane Dads hats with leather patches.10:00 - The guys brainstorm ideas for limited-run t-shirts to celebrate subscriber milestones.12:23 - Shout-out to the regular listeners and the idea of doing something special for the OG supporters.14:47 - Call for listeners to comment if they're interested in t-shirts or hats.15:35 - Chris pitches a new "HOD" logo idea with a spinning tire and smoke.17:50 - James's Car Updates: Driving the Firebird more, but now the fan sounds like it's grinding.20:15 - Update on the high-mileage Tahoe trade-in and the struggles of selling on Facebook Marketplace.24:45 - Mower Talk: The difference a 54-inch zero-turn makes and embracing the "dad life" of lawn care.28:25 - The guys daydream about their next potential cars, from a C5 Corvette to a CTS-V Wagon.32:00 - The nostalgia and appeal of the 4th Gen WS6 Trans Am.33:32 - A proud dad moment: James's son gets excited about rat rods at a local cruise-in.36:30 - Juggling car projects and real-life interruptions.37:00 - Revisiting the idea of using an electric power steering pump from a Volvo on a project car.40:30 - Life Hacks for the Home Garage: Using old anti-fatigue salon mats for laying on the driveway.42:40 - The T-Shirt Dilemma: When you have too many old shirts you can't bring yourself to throw away.45:30 - The universal struggle of ruining good clothes while working on cars.51:00 - Family Movie Time: Discussing "How to Train Your Dragon" and the "Lilo and Stitch" live-action movies.53:16 - James shares his thoughts on the Earnhardt documentary on Prime Video.55:00 - Work Life: The pros and cons of working from home vs. the office and workplace dress codes.57:40 - An in-depth discussion on their favorite footwear: flip-flops, Crocs, and Vans.59:30 - James's new collection: mini F1 Lego car sets.01:01:00 - NASCAR talk: Recapping recent wins by Trackhouse Racing drivers Ross Chastain, Daniel Suárez, and Shane Van Gisbergen.01:03:00 - The mental health benefits of a change of scenery while working from home.01:06:24 - Wrapping up and looking ahead to future episodes and potential guests.