The Underpowered Hour

Mendo Recce Mayhem: A Series 1 Head Gasket Bodge with Copper Wire & JB Weld

The Underpowered Hour

Show Notes

Steve Beres hosts The Underpowered Hour with Ike Goss, joined by Linus Tremaine and Jenna Fribley (with Liza Beres present), covering news and an event recap. They discuss Warn’s updated 8274 winch now rated to 10,000 lbs, joking about special editions and waterproof claims, and mention a restored 1967 Fiat Ferves Ranger listed for $48,000. The main story is Pangolin 4x4’s nine-day drive to the Mendo Recce gathering at Salmon Creek Ranch in Bodega Bay, including visits with Land Rover enthusiasts Terry Ann Wakeman and Tom Charters. At the event, their Series 1 “Cow” loses power and is found to have a head gasket blown between cylinders three and four; with help from friends, they attempt a field repair using fine copper wire and JB Weld, successfully get it running, and immediately test it on the trails while reacting to viral comments on Jenna’s video and hoping to get MacGyver’s Richard Dean Anderson to see it.

00:00 Show intro and crew 01:29 Warn 8274 gets beefier 04:30 Waterproofing and service debate 06:10 Fiat Ferves Ranger listing 08:21 Heading to Mendo Recce 09:18 Visiting Terry Ann Wakeman 13:03 Tom Charters stop and Highway 1 17:52 Arriving at Salmon Creek Ranch 19:43 Trail prep and tire chains 21:26 80-inch loses power 24:12 Field diagnosis head gasket 26:14 Camp Breakdown Drama 26:41 Diagnosing Blown Gasket 28:47 Copper Wire Bodge Plan 31:45 JB Weld Overnight Cure 33:43 Morning Start And Misfire 36:48 Trail Test And Recovery 38:48 Jeremy Stories And Turkey 40:07 Viral Reel And Merch Ideas 43:54 Mean Comments Readback 48:12 MacGyver Reaction Quest 50:26 Wrap Up And Next Time

Steve Beres hosts The Underpowered Hour with Ike Goss, joined by Linus Tremaine and Jenna Fribley (with Liza Beres present), covering news and an event recap. They discuss Warn’s updated 8274 winch now rated to 10,000 lbs, joking about special editions and waterproof claims, and mention a restored 1967 Fiat Ferves Ranger listed for $48,000. The main story is Pangolin 4x4’s nine-day drive to the Mendo Recce gathering at Salmon Creek Ranch in Bodega Bay, including visits with Land Rover enthusiasts Terry Ann Wakeman and Tom Charters. At the event, their Series 1 “Cow” loses power and is found to have a head gasket blown between cylinders three and four; with help from friends, they attempt a field repair using fine copper wire and JB Weld, successfully get it running, and immediately test it on the trails while reacting to viral comments on Jenna’s video and hoping to get MacGyver’s Richard Dean Anderson to see it.

00:00 Show intro and crew 01:29 Warn 8274 gets beefier 04:30 Waterproofing and service debate 06:10 Fiat Ferves Ranger listing 08:21 Heading to Mendo Recce 09:18 Visiting Terry Ann Wakeman 13:03 Tom Charters stop and Highway 1 17:52 Arriving at Salmon Creek Ranch 19:43 Trail prep and tire chains 21:26 80-inch loses power 24:12 Field diagnosis head gasket 26:14 Camp Breakdown Drama 26:41 Diagnosing Blown Gasket 28:47 Copper Wire Bodge Plan 31:45 JB Weld Overnight Cure 33:43 Morning Start And Misfire 36:48 Trail Test And Recovery 38:48 Jeremy Stories And Turkey 40:07 Viral Reel And Merch Ideas 43:54 Mean Comments Readback 48:12 MacGyver Reaction Quest 50:26 Wrap Up And Next Time

More from The Underpowered Hour

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On the penultimate day of the Rebelle Rally 2026, hosts Steve Beres and Brodie Peariso recap Team 155’s performance after a 305 km transit day to the dunes, where the rally will finish tomorrow. Despite a few mid-day mishaps, the team placed 13th on the day with 181 points (about 80% of available points), keeping them 4th overall with 1,210 points (86%); they sit 71 points off first and 34 points behind third, with only a 2% accuracy gap to third place. They discuss the public finish line event, family attending (including both moms), awards and the dinner gala, and touch on other competing Land Rovers, including a Series II Discovery that barely passed tech and a classic Defender that’s running strong, before previewing a final-day update depending on connectivity.

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Hosts Steve Beres and Brodie Peariso recap Day 5 of the 2026 Rebelle Rally in Johnson Valley, describing a “choose your own adventure” stage with scattered checkpoints over about 290 km, some technical difficulties and a possible detour, yet Liza and Jenna finish third on the day and remain third overall after finding 91% of checkpoints. They note strategy differences among teams, Barlow winning the stage with rookie Hurricane, and that an early arrival at CP6 cost half points, keeping the team just off second for the day while first place remains a close tie at 93%. They discuss team 122’s alternator and battery failure leading to a tow and walking in, broader vehicle wear and flooding risks, later start times skewing midday standings, and looming difficult days, dunes, and incoming weather. They also highlight Liza and Jenna leading the privateer Pennzoil Challenge with 202 points over 190.

Oct 13, 2026

Steve Beres and Brodie Peariso recap day four of the 2026 Rebelle Rally, praising major upgrades to the YB Tracker dashboard and explaining the 515 km, 2.5-difficulty route from Nevada through Las Vegas and historic Route 66 to Roy’s Motor Inn as the first day of another marathon. They highlight Team 155 tying for first on the day for their first stage win, noting their only notable points loss came at checkpoint 10, and that the result moves them into second overall behind strong competition including Laura Wanless in a Ford Racing Bronco Raptor. The hosts discuss rain, flooding, water crossings, and a rain delay, plus how Serac’s Defender modifications help protect vulnerable intercoolers in rough conditions. They invite viewer questions, preview base camp two and upcoming Southern California dunes, and share how to sponsor the team via theunderpoweredhour.com for a prize drawing.

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