Automotive Youtubing

Alright everyone, Josh here, and let’s dive into this epic podcast episode featuring Liam from Jeep Sheep TV! We recorded this one live from SEMA, so you’ll hear some awesome background noise – think burnouts, horsepower, and the general buzz of Vegas.

First off, a little housekeeping. Alex and I have been busy! Alex had to do some serious maintenance on our revived ’77 Ranchero to get it ready for SEMA – think dash replacements, distributor swaps, carb issues, brake lines, the works. Meanwhile, I has been tearing into my ’79 Jeep Cherokee, chopping the top off, building a cage with the Affordable bender, and fabricating an M715-style windshield frame.

Now, onto Liam! We’ve been trying to collab for five years, and we finally made it happen at SEMA. Liam’s story is pretty unique – he wasn’t always a car guy. In fact, he had zero interest in cars growing up. He was more into computers and filmmaking, even creating some wild action videos with his friends (which he admits probably shouldn’t exist on the internet).

He went to college for engineering, and that’s where things started to change. A friend named Byron, a veteran with a garage, started showing him the ropes. Liam began to see the parallels between engineering and getting his hands dirty. He realized he needed a more interesting car than his trusty (but decidedly un-sexy) 1990 Plymouth Acclaim.

His stepdad and Byron both suggested he was a “Jeep guy,” and they were right. He bought a ’94 Wrangler, a four-cylinder automatic with square headlights and a ton of bondo. He didn’t even know how to open the doors or find the gas cap! But he was determined to fix it up himself, learning as he went.

Liam’s passion for Jeeps grew, and he eventually moved to Detroit to work in the automotive industry. He landed a job at a tier-one supplier, making interior door panels for the Jeep Wrangler JL and JT. He even helped launch the half doors during the pandemic.

In his apartment parking lot, he decided to try a four-liter throttle body swap on his 2.5-liter engine. He couldn’t find any videos on it, so he made his own, using his company-provided cell phone. That video blew up, and Jeep Sheep TV was born.

Liam’s story is a testament to finding your passion and the power of perseverance. He emphasizes that success is a combination of hard work and “divine intervention.” He also highlights the importance of grit and not quitting, even when faced with adversity.

We talked about the challenges of the automotive industry and the satisfaction of overcoming them. We also discussed the importance of giving back and using our platforms to make a positive impact.

Liam shared how he got involved with Gone Gpn, another YouTube channel. He basically asked to join, offering his skills and enthusiasm for free. He also talked about organizing events like the Backyard Overland Tour, which he did with Joe Shiggle.

During that Backyard Overland Tour, Liam took his ’72 Commando, after replacing the oil pan just three days before departure. The Commando, unfortunately, suffered a rocker arm failure towards the end of the trip, likely due to incorrect rockers installed by the engine builder. Despite the setback, the trip was a success, thanks to sponsors like Tyri Lights, Unofficial Use Only, Rancho Suspension, Dynamax Mufflers, Trails Off Road, and Tread Lightly. Liam emphasized the importance of networking and building relationships, mentioning how his connections through Maximus 3 and Greg Henderson from Unofficial Use Only helped him secure sponsorships. Greg, in particular, has been a strong supporter and introduced Liam to numerous industry contacts. Greg’s M715 with a Dodge V10 swap was also brought up as a highlight.

We then went on to talk about the challenges of being a micro influencer and putting on events. We talked about how we’ve done a Gambler 500, and the Under Powered Tour. We also talked about how we try to make our content family friendly.

For the fantasy build segment, Liam was presented with a 1981 AMC Eagle SX/4. Despite some initial ribbing with a rusty Jeep YJ, the Eagle, with its inline-six and four-wheel drive, captured Liam’s imagination. He outlined a plan to get it running, delete emissions, potentially add EFI, and fit 35-inch tires. He also considered modifying the fender wells and exploring long-travel independent front suspension using side-by-side parts. Alex then presented Liam with a Suzuki Every van, which Liam envisioned turning into a four-wheel-drive “B-Team” van with 31-inch tires, an exo cage, and potentially portals.

Liam also discussed his collaboration with Greg Henderson on Unofficial Use Only, focusing on manufacturing aftermarket Jeep parts in the USA. Their first product, door pockets for newer Jeeps, addresses the shortcomings of the factory net and includes features like a cup holder and tablet holder. Liam emphasized their commitment to investing in local communities and providing exceptional customer service, even offering to personally address any customer concerns.

Liam discussed the challenges of balancing his engineering career at Polaris Industries with his passion for Jeeps and content creation. He highlighted the importance of staying true to oneself and creating authentic content. He shared an anecdote about finding his niche audience within a 2.5-liter Jeep engine performance group on Facebook, emphasizing the power of connecting with like-minded individuals.

Liam’s life advice was to “look up,” both literally and metaphorically, encouraging listeners to appreciate the details and beauty around them and to maintain a broader perspective. He stressed the importance of learning from failures and not taking things too personally.

He provided his social media handles: Jeep Sheep TV on YouTube, @jeep.sheep on Instagram, [email address removed], Gone Gpn on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, and Unofficial Use Only on unofficialuseonly.com, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

It was an awesome conversation and I can’t wait to connect with Liam again! Wheel it, wreck it, wrench it repeat, until next time, see ya!

– Josh