Category: Automotive

How to Dispose of Automotive Fluids the Right Way

Although many people do it, it's never been okay to dispose of hazardous waste by dumping it in the gutter or on the ground. Get caught doing it by the wrong people (as in police officers or health officials) and you're in for a very nasty and costly surprise. The penalty can range in places from a simple fine of a few hundred dollars, up to fines of several thousand dollars and jail time. From what I've seen, the closer you get to either a drinking water supply, like a well or reservoir, or to the ocean, the stiffer the penalties become. Oil & Oil…

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Choosing the Right Diameter Exhaust Pipe

Who needs a size chart? The bigger the pipe the more the powaaahhh, right? Well, up to a certain point. So if you're getting ready to install a new system that's as wide as a Brontosaurus' tail, you may want to hold up a sec. The best size for your application depends on both engine output and displacement. As a general rule the higher each of these components, the larger the pipes should be. Larger diameter pipes reduce backpressure by allowing more exhaust gas to exit so your engine can breathe more efficiently, giving you more output and better fuel economy. But there comes a…

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Recommended Gauges for One-Wire Alternators

Like most car enthusiasts, you'll want to add some modern comforts to your classic or muscle car - and that means an alternator upgrade to power them all. In the early days, there wasn't much need for high-amp alternators because the only accessory they really had to deal with was an additional pair of speakers in the back. But after the 1980s, accessories became more popular as fog lights, sound systems, electrical fans, air suspensions, sophisticated alarms, cameras and more slammed the market. With many older alternators, the 14-16 gauge wiring alone can't handle more than the 45-60 amps factory alternators were putting out -…

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Epoxy vs. Self-Etching Primer for Painting Bare Metal

Visit any automotive forum and you can't help but stumble upon a long running debate on which direct to metal product is better, etch primer or epoxy primer. You will hear all kinds of technical facts, personal experiences as well as flat out unsubstantiated opinion. Then throw in the thousands of products available for the job, each with their own recommendations, and you'll find yourself overwhelmed. But after the smoke finally clears the fact remains that both types of primers will give you successful results - if used correctly. The route you choose depends on the condition of the metal you're starting with, the time…

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Wheel Tech: What Size Wheel is Right for You?

When it comes to exhaust systems, we know we want headers and turbo mufflers. When it comes to suspensions, we usually want it low and stiff. When it comes to the engine, we want the biggest, baddest cam we can afford, with the biggest carburetor (or injectors) that we can manage. But the question of what wheels and tires to put on almost always stumps us. Wheels is one area where many enthusiasts completely ruin their car's potential performance because it has an enormous impact on ride quality, handling and acceleration. How big you can go is largely governed by your suspension, and what driving…

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How to Store Your Classic Car for Winter

Inactivity can be detrimental to a classic car. A car lying dormant can lead to numerous and potentially expensive damages: rubber rot, interior mildew, outer rust, engine parts seizing, short circuit wiring, paint bubbling, fiberglass cracking, chrome pitting, brakes freezing, and batteries dying. Many car collectors are shocked, after spending all winter long California Dreaming of cruising in the spring, to find their dream car has become a nightmare of problems over a short time in storage. Here's how to give your "baby" the love it deserves ...even when you're not behind the wheel. Materials You'll Need Car wash and wax Rubber lubricant Old gallon…

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How to Repair Surface Rust on Your Car

Whether you've got a classic 65 Mustang, or a 2005 Chevy Impala, surface rust is not something to just shrug off. Left untreated, it can continue to eat away at the metal and eventually eat all the way through it. The quicker you attack it and get rid of it, the easier it will be to do so. What can be a quick thirty minute and ten dollar fix today, can end up being a full day and several hundred dollar ordeal later down the road. As long as it's just surface rust, treating it is easy. Here's how it's done. 1. Test the Extent…

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Simple DIY Car Upholstery Cleaner That Works

As we become a lot more conscious of the ingredients in household products many of us are looking for more ways to keep toxins out of our lives. You can find a variety of recipes for homemade cleaning solutions online and while some are more effective than others they're easy to whip up and frequently cost less than store-bought cleaners. From harsh winters to outdoorsy summers, my floor mats take a beating so I was happy to stumble upon this "tough on stains" recipe where most if not all the ingredients are already in your supply closet. And if you have messy passengers, it works…

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DIY Boost Leak Tester

Make Your Own Boost Leak Tester with Spare Parts

Boost is a precious commodity and you don't want to lose any of that horsepower-generating pressurized air to leaks in the system. Even if you're fairly confident that you're pretty air tight, it's still a good idea to double check before getting a tune. With a few parts you may have lying around the garage, find those sneaky boost leaks and make all the power you're supposed to with this El Cheapo DIY boost leak tester! In order to build the right size leak tester, start by measuring the diameter of your turbo inlet. You can identify the inlet side if you see the compressor…

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