Before YouTube car builds and viral swaps took over the internet, there was a wild, chaotic era of car TV — and it shaped everything.

In this episode of prjct.POD, we look back at the shows that defined early 2000s car culture: Pimp My Ride, Top Gear, Horsepower TV, Overhaulin’, Monster Garage, Orange County Choppers, and more.

We talk about the practical (and often totally impractical) builds, how ridiculous some episodes got (lava lamps?!), and how today’s creators — from Hoonigan to Mighty Car Mods to Donut Media — built on that legacy.

Then we shift gears to modern YouTube. Why do low-budget garage builds sometimes outperform high-production channels? What makes a car video “sticky” in 2025? And where does prjct.Garage fit into all of this?

🎧 Whether you’re here for the nostalgia or trying to build a car YouTube channel yourself, this one’s for you.

We hit 100,000 views on our TikTok post asking “Where the f**k is Leon?” and this bonus episode is all about it. We dive into fan theories, wild comments, and hilarious hypotheticals on why Leon disappeared from The Fast and the Furious after just one movie.

From “he’s running the sandwich shop now” to “he joined the military and saw that Fiero in space,” the comments did not disappoint. We read through some of the best (and most ridiculous) ones, unpack a few Fast & Furious conspiracies, and even pitch ideas for a Racers' Edge photo booth in our dream garage.

Favorite fan theory:
“Leon’s been making tuna sandwiches this whole time—tuna, no crust.”

👉 Got your own Leon theory? Drop it in the comments or hit us up on TikTok.
 🎧 Subscribe for more chaos, car culture, and project garage talk.

#prjctpod #FastAndFurious #WhereIsLeon #100kViews #CarCulture #TikTokViral

Everyone’s got opinions on buying a prjct car, but most miss the reality of busted budgets, bad advice, and rookie mistakes. In this episode, John and Justin break down the real-world process of choosing your first prjct car—from what not to do when browsing Marketplace, to the myth of finding “the perfect platform.” They dive into advice from BigTime's recent video and challenge common takes around genre, budget, and aftermarket support. Whether you're building for drift, time attack, or just wrench time on weekends, this is your no-BS guide to picking a car that won't break you before it breaks down.

💬 Topics include:
✔️ Why your first prjct car shouldn’t be based on genre
✔️ Budget vs. community support—what matters more
✔️ Learning to wrench before learning to mod
✔️ Why most “cheap” cars are cheap for a reason
✔️ How to not get starry-eyed when car shopping

🎧 Tune in and remember: prjct.Garage—where we fk it up, not just on the cars.**

Let me know if you want a shorter version for Apple Podcasts or to include hashtags and tags for YouTube/Spotify.

In this episode of prjct.POD, we go full deep dive on Project Reanimate—Justin’s long-awaited E36 revival. From a bare chassis to a turbocharged vision, we walk through his entire build plan: paint strategy, bodywork choices, engine bay cleanup, full motor rebuild, tucked wiring, roll cage and interior styling, and even how he's embedding a Raspberry Pi-powered digital cockpit. With over $9,000 in parts stacked and more to come, this isn’t just a project—it’s a resurrection.

We talk:
 ✅ Fiberglass fender fails and why paint comes first
 ✅ Engine warpage woes and future turbo dreams
 ✅ Interior build with rare Hurricane-pattern Vader seats
 ✅ OEM+ vibes with race car intentions
 ✅ The color-coded plan: neon green + NRG purple accents

This is a blueprint for anyone dreaming big on a budget, and a perfect listen if your project car has been sitting a little too long.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you wrench!

In this episode of prjct.POD, John runs through the complete list of cars he's owned—from a humble burgundy Corolla with seat covers and Pet Boys subs, to a sound system-packed Ford Explorer, to a Lancer LS that shook Torrance with an L7. Joined by Justin, the duo recalls questionable mods, failed upgrades, and the chaotic joy of car ownership.

This isn’t just a trip down memory lane—it’s the beginning of a bigger vision. Each car sparks a future “buildaway” giveaway idea, blending nostalgia with wild what-if builds like a 1JZ Corolla sleeper or a Pimp My Ride–era Explorer with inverted subs and neon glow.

If you’ve ever had a beat-up daily you swore you’d turn into a drift car, this one’s for you.

👀 Topics Covered:
✅ The Corolla that may or may not have had an intake
✅ The Explorer that died doing 115 mph
✅ The Lancer that rattled glass with pride
✅ Future giveaway builds (yes, including that “JZ Corolla”)
✅ How each ride helped shape the dream of prjct.Garage

Stick around for laughs, lore, and the kind of car memories that only a real enthusiast can appreciate.

We're not millionaires yet (Powerball said no), so it’s back to wrenching—and in this episode, we debut the official prjct.Garage Mod Rating System. From G-rated beginner installs to Rated X madness you should definitely not try (unless you're crazy like us), we walk through the top 5 universal upgrades that apply to any project car. Whether you’ve got a Corolla, an Eclipse GSX, or an E36 that needs saving, this episode covers the best bang-for-buck mods—from intakes and coilovers to exhausts and short shifters.

Plus:
 ✅ Why coilovers made both our top 3 lists
 ✅ What your car’s shifter says about your confidence
 ✅ The “DIY, DIT, or Don’t” philosophy every builder should know

Don’t just mod your car—rate your chaos.
Hit play, take notes, and maybe don’t rebuild your engine in your driveway… unless it’s Rated X.

In this episode, John and Justin take a NOS-powered dive into the Fast & Furious franchise—from its culture-defining roots to its off-the-rails present. Was it the loss of Paul Walker that truly marked the decline? Or was the franchise always destined to turn into a heist-heavy, logic-defying Marvel wannabe? We debate timelines, character arcs, secret hero cars, and even pitch the perfect reboot (spoiler: it involves Baby Dom and Baby Buster). Whether you’re ride-or-die for the OG street races or just here to roast the moon-bound muscle cars, this episode hits every gear.

🔧 Topics under the hood:

• The “true” ending at Fast Five
• Brian & Dom: the original bromance
• Secret hero cars you missed
• How to actually reboot the series
• Why Leon is the real missing link

👊 Family, fandom, and fast opinions—let’s talk about what made the franchise legendary… and where it lost the map.

This episode of prjct.POD, we turn down the exhaust and turn up the volume—literally. Justin hijacks the episode to talk about building the perfect car sound system for his E36 drift project, and John (our resident bass-head) goes full send on speaker science, amp matching, and the long-lost art of trunk rattling.

We get into:
✅ John’s obsession with chest-thumping bass vs. Justin’s OEM+ sound goals
✅ Why modern tech makes even 6.5” subs sound amazing
✅ Budget DIY tips using junkyard speakers and marine amps (yes, really)
✅ How to actually choose the right amp and why matching RMS is crucial
✅ Why you probably don’t need 3 amps in your car... but we tried it anyway
✅ Clever speaker setups that won’t ruin your trunk space or weight balance

Plus, John teases his anti-gravity battery upgrade, and Justin shares his plan for a stealthy, roll cage-friendly setup. If you’ve ever thought about upgrading your sound without ruining your build—or just love the nostalgia of homemade bass boxes—this one’s for you.

🎧 Let us know in the comments: Are you team clean sound or team rattle everything loose?
#CarAudio #E36Build #SoundSystemUpgrade #DIYCarMods #prjctGarage #CarPodcast

In this episode of prjct.POD, John and Justin are joined by special guest Zeke to dive deep into the wild world of engine swaps—from budget junkyard builds to high-end plug-and-play kits. We talk LS swaps, 2JZ legends, the overlooked potential of BMW’s S50/S52 motors, and how the Internet made outrageous builds more accessible than ever.

We debate:
 ✅ Is the LS swap played out or still the smartest move?
 ✅ Could the S52 be the underrated 2JZ of the BMW world?
 ✅ Why don't more people build S50s—and should we change that?
 ✅ Is it sacrilege to EV-swap an Evo… or kind of genius?
 ✅ What happens when you drift a V10-swapped E30?

We even throw out a challenge series idea: 2JZ E36 vs. S52 E36—built, beat, and stress tested side-by-side.

Plus, John reveals his dream of building a sleeper EV Chevelle and a 1000hp Evo 8... because why not?

👀 Drop a comment and vote: Would you rather see us EV swap an Evo or a Chevelle?
#prjctGarage #EngineSwap #2JZvsLS #S52Power #BMWE36 #CarPodcast #EVSwap #ProjectCars

Is car culture making a comeback or spinning out of control? In this episode, John and Justin get real about the evolving car scene — from the return of underglow and body kits to the rise of sideshow takeovers that could ruin it all.

We talk about:
 ✅ Why aesthetics from the Fast & Furious era are back
✅ The real reason sideshows are dangerous (hint: it’s not just the cars)
✅ Street racing vs. skid pads — why controlled chaos is better
✅ Our favorite memories from Bimmerfest and underground meets
✅ What the next generation is doing right — and wrong
✅ How to bring car culture back to its roots

Whether you're an OG enthusiast or just getting into the scene, this one dives deep into the heart of modern car culture, safety, clout-chasing, and the community we're trying to protect.

👇 Drop your favorite car trend below — or tell us why we're wrong 👇
 #carculture #sideshows #projectgarage #bimmerfest #JDM #carsandcoffee #drifting #underglow