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Shop Talk

Shop Talk is where the garage stories live. The wins the fails the late night fixes and the parts we swear made a difference even if the science says otherwise. It is our corner of the internet for updates new releases and the kind of car talk you only understand if you have ever chased a squeak for three hours. Pull up a stool and read what the crew has been up to.

Shop Talk

Lowered 2015-2020 Ford F-150 street truck in downtown Austin at night
Builds

2015-2020 F-150 Mod Guide: Street Truck or Off-Road Build?

Building a 2015-2020 F-150? Two paths: lowered street truck or leveled off-road rig. How to choose and what to bolt on first.

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2024+ Ford Mustang S650 profile against a Texas sunset
Builds

S650 Mustang Mod Guide: First Bolt-Ons for the 2024+ GT and Dark Horse

Just picked up a 2024+ S650 GT or Dark Horse? Here are the smart first bolt-ons and how to keep fitment right on a fresh platform.

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Ford F-150 Raptor kicking up dust in the West Texas desert
Builds

Ford F-150 Raptor Upgrades: What to Do First

The Raptor is capable from the factory, so you are tailoring, not fixing. The smart first upgrades and what to leave alone at first.

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Clean blacked-out Ford F-150 in a Texas industrial district at dusk
Builds

Building a Sleeper F-150: Quiet Looks, Real Power

How to build a sleeper F-150: subtle looks, real power from breathing and tuning, and sound on your terms.

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2021+ Ford F-150 parked by a Texas ranch gate at golden hour
Builds

Best Mods to Wake Up Your 2021+ F-150 (14th Gen)

The best first mods for a 2021+ 14th-gen F-150, from sound to stance, for both street and off-road builds.

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Grey S650 Ford Mustang in a race circuit paddock with a helmet on the seat
Builds

Prepping Your Mustang for Track Day

First track day in your Mustang? The prep that matters most: brakes, fluids, tires, and cooling, plus a checklist.

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Silver Ford F-150 on an open Texas prairie road at sunrise
Builds

F-150 EcoBoost vs 5.0: Which to Build and How

EcoBoost or 5.0 for your F-150 build? How each engine responds and the mods that play to its strengths.

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Metallic blue Ford Mustang GT with the hood open in a home garage
Builds

Coyote 5.0 Bolt-On Order: What to Do First

The smart order to bolt on a Coyote Mustang so each mod complements the next, from breathing and sound to the big stuff.

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Deep red S197 Ford Mustang GT on an autumn tree-lined East Texas backroad
Builds

S197 Mustang: The Smartest First Mods

Just got a 2011-2014 S197 Mustang GT? The smartest first mods for sound, response, and handling.

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Green 2021+ Ford F-150 lifted on all-terrain tires climbing a rocky West Texas desert trail
Builds

F-150 Off-Road Build Guide (Non-Raptor)

Build a capable off-road F-150 without a Raptor: tires and clearance, protection, recovery gear, and lighting, in the right order.

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Silver 2009-2014 12th-generation Ford F-150 on a rural Texas ranch road at golden hour
Builds

The 12th-Gen F-150 (2009-2014) Build Guide

Build guide for the 2009-2014 12th-gen F-150: stance and tires, engine mods, protection, and lighting, organized by how you use the truck.

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White 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with the hood open over a 5.0 Coyote V8 in a garage
Builds

F-150 5.0 Coyote Truck Build Guide

Build your 5.0 Coyote F-150: breathing and sound, a tune for response, and matching the rest of the truck to how you use the V8.

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