Author: DPVJosh

There is nothing quite like the feeling of watching a structure you’re building by hand finally start to reach for the sky. This week was a massive milestone—we officially have the trusses up! The Muddy Grind (The Pain) I’m not going to sugarcoat it: the property is a sloppy, muddy mess right now. We’re doing…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about building a 64×60 dream shop, it’s that “Victory” is earned one post at a time. This week was a massive milestone: we officially have posts in the ground and concrete in the holes. It’s starting to look like a building! The Backhoe: A Back-Saving Investment I said it…

There’s something special about a tool with a history. Every time you pick it up, you’re not just working on a car; you’re connecting with the guys who used it before you. I just got back from a road trip to pick up some incredible legacy tools from my family. These aren’t just shop upgrades;…

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of wrenching on old rigs, it’s that a plan is just a starting point. Last time I checked in, we were battling solid basalt rock at the original shop location. Well, after some reflection (and a little bit of a headache), we made a big decision. We…

I’m doing it. I’m building a new shop, and it’s going to be absolutely massive. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about the “Victory” side of this channel, it’s that it usually comes after a whole lot of “Pain.” The Vision We’re talking a 40×60 main bay with 16-foot walls and double lean-tos. One…

Well, I did it. I finally went out and got some real dirt-moving equipment. Meet the new toy: a classic Case 580E backhoe. As much as I love “Betty” (the tractor), she just isn’t built for heavy earth-moving. If we’re going to get this new shop started, I needed something with a bit more muscle.…

If you caught my last post, you know the Suburban’s 6L80E gave up the ghost. I had a choice: cough up between $6,500 and $8,000 for a shop to fix it, or roll up my sleeves and dive into the nitty-gritty. Since we’re all about the Pain and Victory cycle here at DPV, you already…

Well, here I am again. If you’ve been following the channel, you know I’m not exactly a “transmission guy” by trade, but life has a funny way of handing you a wrench and saying, “Figure it out.” The victim this time? The 6L80E out of my wife’s Suburban. You know, the one we just picked…

By Alex Nothing—and I mean nothing—beats the look of a split window VW bus. When my buddy Adam told me he’d acquired his grandparents’ 1967 Westfalia, my heart skipped a beat. This wasn’t just any bus; it was a family legend. His dad and four siblings (yeah, seven people total!) used to tour the country…

By Josh There are projects that you build for speed, projects you build for the trail, and then there are the ones you build—or in this case, inherit—because they carry a piece of history. This week, I took a road trip to my grandpa’s place to pick up one of the strangest, coolest, and most…