By Josh
Man, sitting down in the shop with Alex for our latest podcast episode really put things into perspective. We’re officially back where it all began—two years since we kicked off this wild ride—and looking back at 2025, I’m struck by one thing: the “Pain” is just the seasoning that makes the “Victory” taste so much better.
If you haven’t caught the episode yet, Alex and I took a deep dive into the highs and lows of the past year, and I wanted to share a few of those thoughts here with the DPV family.
The Pain: Lessons in Transmission Fluid and Cardboard Boxes
We started the year low, and let’s be honest, nothing says “Pain” like being stranded in a random Arizona parking lot [02:50]. We were resurrecting a Suburban for an 1,800-mile journey, and finding out we didn’t have third gear or overdrive right out of the gate… that’s a gut punch.
We had that moment of “Victory” where we thought we fixed it—it shifted perfectly for one glorious minute—and then it crashed right back down to second gear [03:22]. But you know what? We didn’t let it ruin the trip. We laughed, we ate some great pastries, and we powered through. That’s the DPV way.
Then there were the motor homes. Man, I had this vision of an epic tandem revival, getting them airborne and building go-karts [05:17]. The reality? It took double the time just to tear them down [05:54]. But now we’ve got two 454s ready for new life, and that’s a puzzle I’m excited to solve in 2026.
The Victory: The Rubicon and Beyond
On the flip side, 2025 gave me a bucket-list win: The Rubicon [11:12]. I’ve been dreaming of those trails since I was playing 4×4 games on the GameCube. Seeing the Jeep hold its own—even if I did run out of gas once due to “poor fuel management”—was the ultimate payoff for all those hours in the Build Bay.
And I can’t forget wheeling with Dirthead Dave [15:57]. Having a legend like him check out the Chief was a “pinch-me” moment. Even if he told me to swap my carb and I didn’t listen (sorry Dave, the Edelbrock eventually made it!), it was a masterclass in the community spirit that makes this hobby so great.
Stop Watching, Start Wrenching
We want 2026 to be the year you get your hands dirty. We put together a Stop Watching, Start Wrenching Starter Kit [17:15]. It’s got a budget tracker and a checklist to help you stop wishing and start driving.
In the “Fantasy Build” segment of the pod, we talked about a $1,000 El Dorado and a $550 Pontiac Catalina [27:07]. These deals are out there! You don’t need a pro shop or a massive bank account to have a cruiser for the summer. You just need to pick up the wrench.
What’s Next?
2026 is looking like a busy one. Between finishing my shop, swapping engines in Grandpa’s truck [20:28], and finally getting that Bronco on the road, the “Pain and Victory” cycle is already spinning.
Thank you guys for being part of this journey. Your support validates our passion and keeps us motivated to keep filming the mess and the magic.
Wheel it, Wreck it, Wrench it, Repeat!
— Josh
Days of Pain and Victory 
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