Automedia.com - Restoration Articles

Leaf Spring Resto

Everything tends to get saggy with old age, some things need repairs while others need replacement. Leaf springs, fortunately, can be repaired rather than replaced. This common type of suspension is commonly seen under various types of vehicles with straight- or live-axle rear ends. For this particular restoration, we'll focus on an older Jeep Grand Wagoneer...

Resin Redo

Car collectors usually strive to preserve the originality and authenticity of a classic Corvette, but in some cases it’s fitting to make it better than new. That’s the case of David Davies’ 1978 Stingray, which can be characterized as a “restomod” since he improved on the original in a number of areas...

Bolt Torque

Torque specifications frequent shop manuals. That’s a given. Today, you’ll sometimes find stretch measurements for certain fasteners along with torque angle figures but, generally speaking, “bolt torque” is still king. In many cases, the use of a torque wrench is the only way possible to measure the tension that is brought to bear on a fastener...

Child Seat Cleat Install

We’re not sure why—perhaps it was a difference between design year for the vehicle and implementation year for the law—but the ’98 Toyota Rav4 didn’t come equipped with the rear safety cleat necessary to properly install a child seat in its back seat. Hmmm...

Welding Practice

The wire-feed welders that have started to pop up in the aisle at your local auto parts store or tool house can be an affordable setup for the do-it-yourselfer. Falling prices make picking up a portable or compact welder an even more tempting choice. Before starting to daydream about building a land speed record motorcycle or racecar chassis in the garage, realize that these wire-feed welders have their limitations. Welding of any kind also requires a great deal of attention to safety...

"Time Machine" Hemi Dart

Longtime fans of musclecars fondly recall the heyday of Mr. Norm, the "King of Hi Performance." Norm Kraus, along with his brother and father, started Grand Spaulding Dodge in 1963 at the corner of Grand and Spaulding in the heart of Chicago. After years of specializing in selling used performance cars at this location, Norm believed that selling new performance cars could be the foundation for a successful dealership. Industry naysayers said that a new car dealership using this business model would never succeed...

1955-57 Chrysler C300, 300B and 300C

Ten years before Pontiac started the musclecar fad, Chrysler's first 300 (named for its powerful, 331-cid, dual quad-equipped Hemi that developed 300-bhp, a first in an American production car) was built to battle the new Corvette and Thunderbird. Often incorrectly called the 300A, the '55 C300 preceded a long line of letter cars, hence the confusion. Purists feel the first three years were the best and so do I...

1955-57 Ford Thunderbird

The Ford Thunderbird, named for a Southwestern Indian god of rain and prosperity, was a hit from the outset. Ford dealers received more than 4,000 orders on October 22, 1954, the first official sales day. Designed to resemble—and cast a halo over—Ford's passenger cars, early Birds shared wheel covers, taillights, engines, transmissions and many common interior pieces. The resulting 2-seater was clean, sharply profiled and very appealing. A host of affordable accessories meant 16,155 nicely loaded '55 T-Birds were sold, often for over $4,000. Chevy's planners had really missed the mark with the more Spartan and much slower six-cylinder Corvette. For 1955, they lowered the Corvette's base price and added an optional V-8...

1957 BMW Isetta 300

To qualify as "modern classics," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars that people see that still make them smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. Our focus is on cars at least 25 years old, so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections...

1964 Jaguar XKE

Editor's Note: Ken Gross, a well-known and respected automotive journalist whose expertise extends from new cars to vintage hot rods, may be best known for his knowledge of classic cars. He recently stepped down from running the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles to pursue his writing, so we asked Ken to select "affordable" classics and tell us a little about them and why we should consider owning one...

1964-1966 Honda S600

Honda's 2004 S2000 benefits from a displacement increase to 2.2-liters. This uncompromising sports roadster zips to 60 mph in well under six seconds, nudges the 150-mph mark and cheerfully revs past 9,000 rpm. "Car and Driver" voted it the best of five competing two-seaters last summer, calling it "a four-wheeler with crotch-rocket DNA."..

1967 Firebird Handling Upgrades

The quickest way between two points is a straight line or, one might say, as the crow flies. It seems that just about every 1st generation Firebird has been set up to do just that—fly straight and fast. Most of these street/strip Birds are set up with the emphasis on strip. Drop in more cubic inches, add some gear to the rear, slap on some traction bars, a pair of slicks, and you've got yourself a potent combination for straight-line performance...

1969 Camaro Z/28 Identification

The Chevrolet Z/28 is genuinely a legend in its own time. Conceived by Chevrolet engineer Vince Piggins, the car was Chevy's entry into the new Trans-Am racing series in the mid-Sixties. Battling against the Mustang Boss 302, Mercury Cougar, AMX and other muscle cars, it won the Trans-Am Championship in 1969. Today, the street versions are highly prized by Camaro collectors and restorers. But there is a caveat—the really valuable examples must be numbers-matching and factory-stock...

4-Speed Shifter Tech Tips

The name Hurst will forever be linked to the 4-speed transmission. Though in production prior to the 1964 introduction of the GTO, the coupling of the two validated the performance of one another. Today, the 4-speed transmission and Hurst shifter continue to dominate the drivetrains of musclecars...

A Celebration of Porsche Passion

It's no myth that half of all of Porsche's U.S. sales are generated in Southern California. Porsches are as common on the road today as sport-utility vehicles. And because of the very hospitable climate, many of the cars that last sat in a dealership showroom 30 or even 40 years ago are still in wonderful condition. They may no longer be daily drivers, but they occupy a cherished spot in someone's garage and see daylight for special events...

A/C Housing Repair

A big part of auto restoration is deciding which parts to restore and which parts to replace. If you have a very original numbers-matching vehicle, it makes sense to redo as many of the original parts as possible. If you're restoring a car that's been modified or rebuilt with different parts, then reproduction parts are a good way to go. However, there are some parts that aren't being reproduced and are very difficult to find—at least in better condition than the parts you already have. A good example is your air conditioning housing or "suitcase" as it's commonly called. Many are made out of fiberglass and are frequently broken during the engine changing process. As soon as there's a hole in the A/C suitcase, exhaust fumes and other engine-compartment odors can be circulated through the heating/air conditioning system, making the vehicle unbearable to drive...

Adding Legroom

Let's say you're a good 6-feet tall and you love the First Generation F-Body. You know, then, that driving one for any length of time will give you serious leg cramps. When the General first designed the early Camaro/Firebird, more than 90 percent of the male population stood less than six feet. Fortunately, John DeLorean is part of the 10 percent who stand taller than 6 feet...

Affordable Corvettes

One of the reasons Corvettes are so popular is that they've always been medium-priced sports cars with high-end performance. For instance, a new 2005 model costs about the same as a BMW Z4 or a Porsche Boxster, but has a level of performance commensurate with cars costing double its current $43,445 base price. Even so, that's a lot of money for a two-seat car, and prices for certain vintage Corvettes can easily exceed that figure, particularly for mint condition high-performance models from the 1950s and '60s. Original fuel-injected or big-block Corvettes often top $100,000 at auction...

Affordable Exotics: Ferraris

Although the concept of an affordable Ferrari sounds unlikely, there are a number of models that can be had for the price of less prestigious sports cars. New Porsche Boxsters, BMW Z-4s and Honda S2000s sell in the mid-thirties to low fifties, and there are used Ferraris that can be had in that same range, or even less. However, repairing or restoring any Ferrari re-defines expensive, and can be many times that of a Corvette, Mercedes or Porsche. A simple rebuild on a Ferrari V-8 can quickly exceed $12,000, while a V-12 can run double that or more, so leave plenty of extra cash in the bank for unpleasant surprises. Here are some of the best buys (along with a few models to avoid)...

Affordable Exotics: Jaguar

Jaguars have always held a special cachet for sports car fanatics. Jags offer superb performance allied with sumptuous styling and a reasonable price tag, at least when compared with Italian and German exotica. The 1948 XK-120 (along with the MG-TC) launched the sports car craze in America after WWII, and Jaguars have been popular ever since...

Affordable Exotics: Lamborghini

The idea of Joe or Jill Average driving home in a ravishingly lovely Lamborghini may come as a shock, but there are a few models by the famed Italian exotic car manufacturer that, although not cheap, are within the price range of many sports car buyers. While few can come up with the ransom for a new Gallardo or Murcielago, here are a few older charmers to check out. Note that these are not all the models that Lamborghini has built, just the best buys...

Affordable Exotics: Maserati

Maserati built some of the most famous sports and racing cars in the world during the 1950s and 1960s. Founded in 1914, this Italian marque won hundreds of races, including the Indy 500 (twice), the Formula 1 World Championship (1957) and scores of sports car races. Maserati also made expensive high-speed touring cars to rival the Ferraris made just across town...

Affordable Exotics: Porsches

In this series, Affordable Exotics, we'll be focusing on, well, exotic cars, but not those that are made of "unobtanium." Instead, we'll draw attention to high-performance machines that regular folks can afford...

Aftermarket Disc Brake Install

Decades before Jim Carrey's now famous "Somebody stop me" line was uttered in the comic movie "The Mask," many drivers were probably thinking the same thing when braking their early Pontiac musclecars. In fact, not until 1967 did Pontiac even offer a front disc-brake option. Rear discs were not an option until 1979, and then only with the WS6 package. In 1964, metallic drum brakes were available on the GTO, but suffered from a malady then known as "morning sickness." In other words, until you warmed up the brakes, the car was downright dangerous to drive in a must-stop scenario...

Air Cleaner Restoration

We've been restoring a '69 Buick GS 400 convertible piece-by-piece while we continue to drive and enjoy the car. Whether you are doing a full frame-off or attacking your resto one piece at a time, you need to have a plan to be successful and to make the best use of your time. First, assess the condition of the part or parts assembly you are about to restore. Ask yourself the following questions: Is this piece salvageable? Do I have the resources to do the restoration? Would I be better off finding a replacement or even a reproduction? If you decide to restore the piece you have, then you need to organize the process: what parts you need to order, what materials you need to purchase, and what steps are required to get from start to the finish...

Aluminum Paneling

Aluminum paneling is a great way to dress up the underside of your vehicle's hood and fenders. It also looks good in the trunk or on the firewall. It can be polished for a bright shine, or rubbed with a Scotch pad for a satin finish with a fine grain...

Anatomy of a Tri-Power Carb

If four-barrel carbs were good, then six barrels should be better! That was the thinking of automotive performance gurus in the late Fifties and Sixties. Manufacturers such as Pontiac, Chrysler, Chevrolet and Ford put the tri-power option (three two-barrel carbs) on their musclecar order sheets. While each manufacturer had subtle differences in the way the three carbs were activated, in general the process was relatively the same. Here we are using a Pontiac Tri-Power from 1965 and we'll show you the components that make it work. In this case, the only completely functional carburetor is the center unit. The carbs at each end are simply fuel-atomizing funnels to dump gas into the intake on demand. The throttle linkage on the center carb activates the other two. It's important to adjust the linkage so that all three carbs fully open when the pedal is on the metal. Other manufacturers used three completely functioning carbs with vacuum-operated linkage. Regardless of the brand, the end result was usually the same: a loud whoosh, the scream of tires and a big smile on your face...

Anatomy of the Musclecar

Editor's Note: Co-creator of the Pontiac GTO and several other Pontiac specialty cars, Jim Wangers, also known as the "Godfather of the GTO," helped establish the "musclecar" of the Sixties to its rightful niche in the history of American car marketing. As Pontiac's marketing man, Wangers was there, helping to steer Pontiac down the road of success during American musclecar glory days of the '60s and '70s...

Armrest Restoration

Someone came up with the process around the late '50s of applying chrome-like plating to plastic parts. (Most likely it was a vendor manufacturing parts for the Big Three car manufacturers.) The use of plastic over metal was increasing in various vehicles at this time, and chrome plating was a way to make simple parts look good at a reasonable cost. The use of plastic also removed weight from already very heavy vehicles...

Auto Trans Shift Kit Install

A quick way to improve your car's acceleration without modifying your engine is to add a shift kit to your automatic transmission. This upgrade makes for a crisper, more precise response when shifting. It also makes the shift from First to Second gear shorter for a better launch, but with no loss of smoothness. It also corrects, reduces, or prevents early shifts, soft shifts and stacked or late shifts...

Auto Vinyl Interior Dyeing

If your vinyl interior is in good or excellent condition, but stained or faded from the sun, there is an inexpensive fix you can do at home. Most large automotive paint suppliers carry a full line of professional vinyl re-coloring products that are both easy to use and will match your original factory color. For example, you have a 1965 GTO with a Teal Turquoise interior like the example shown here. Simply specify the correct year and color, if possible, and the dye can be mixed on the spot. The dye requires no thinning, but a compressor and spray gun should be used for best results. Both of these items can be rented for a day or weekend at your local rental yard. The results are incredible, and you'll save a bundle over buying a complete reproduction interior kit...

Automatic Door Lock Replacement

We made a list of all the subsystems on our old Mustang. It's pretty long. What does this mean? More subthings to break. It's Murphy's Law of Coincidental Failure. Parts will degrade and at the most inconvenient moment they'll break. The trick is to stay ahead of what we call the "inclined degradation and breakage curve."..

Automotive Artwork

It is always said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and like art aficionados everywhere, many auto enthusiasts publicize their passion—for their personal car, or one they may idolize, as well as their zeal for motorsports—through paintings, sculpture and other forms of expressions that can be characterized as art. Displaying these valuable and personal tributes is a perfect way to depict a favorite moment, a special memory, forever...

Automotive Diagnostic Tool Tips

Your engine is like your body: it usually tells you when something is going wrong. We get aches and pains; your engine starts making funny noises. Squeaking, grinding, pinging, chirping and the dreaded knocking are all telltale signs of trouble. Finding the source of the noise is sometimes very difficult under the hood with the engine running. There are so many different simultaneous mechanical sounds that isolating the problem with just your hearing is virtually impossible. So, let's play doctor and get a stethoscope...

Automotive Diagnostic Tool Tips

Automotive Heater/Defroster Install

Maybe it's because we're spoiled from driving our comfortable and reliable late-model vehicles, but it would be nice to have some of the creature comforts in our older, restoration project cars as well. To help make your old favorite a little cozier, here's a low-buck heater and defroster. It's fairly easy to install, works great and will fit almost any vehicle...

Automotive Preeminence in Paradise

For the car collector, restorer and enthusiast, there is one annual weekend in Carmel and neighboring Monterey that is comparable to other sports' Masters, the Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby, all rolled into one. It is where one goes to reach automotive Mecca. It is August and it's the weekend of the Concorso Italiano, Monterey Historics, Pebble Beach and the Concours d'Elegance. It is a good place to be. Expensive, but still a good place...

Automotive Sound Dampening

One of the most satisfying achievements for any car or truck owner is the act of finding and silencing the rattles, squeaks, drones and clunks that seem to emanate from the auto around you. They permeate the entirety of your motoring experience. We have a simple trick for you, one that requires minimal time and is capable of not only killing those annoyances (and handing you a satisfying accomplishment), but also deadening road noise, exhaust drone and that general state of in-cabin buzz that can send a driver off the proverbial cliff. What we're talking about is the installation of sound-deadening dampening matting, and it's just one step beyond kindergarten-simple...

Awesome Anodizing

Anyone who has peered into the engine compartment of a racecar has seen anodized parts gleaming in a variety of colors. Unlike chrome or gold plating, which are used on ferrous metals like steel, anodizing is a plating process for non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and magnesium. Commonly used on hydraulic fittings on racecars and airplanes, it can even be applied to entire aluminum bodies or interior panels. Some of the many aluminum or magnesium parts that can be anodized are wheels, fuel injection stacks, intake manifolds, interior panels, hydraulic fittings, hoods and grilles...

Battery Box Replacement

One of the first items to examine for possible damage when starting any resto project is the battery hold-down tray. That also includes the area under the tray that is inside the fender well. Years ago, all the hold-down trays were made of metal and, after years of being exposed to leaking water or battery acid, many of them have virtually disintegrated...

Battery Tray Restoration

Every vehicle has a battery tray of some kind. That heavy power source is usually secured to the tray with bolts, preventing it from shifting or falling over. The inherent problem with these trays is that they rust from water sitting in the bottom or are eaten alive by battery acid. Some trays are so far gone that the only thing holding them in the car is the weight of the battery they are suppose to support...

Battery Tray Restoration

Bench Bleeding

Fresh air is normally a good thing, except when it's in your brake lines. Just a bit of the air that keeps us alive can cause a loss of pedal pressure when it travels through your brake hydraulic system resulting in brake failure. Anytime the system is opened, the potential for air to enter is present. Allowing the brake fluid level in the master cylinder to drop, exposing the orifices in the bottom of the reservoir(s) to the air, will allow air to enter the system. The telltale symptom is a soft or spongy brake pedal or the pedal just traveling happily to the floorboard. NEVER drive the vehicle in this condition...

Blast Cabinet Parts Cleaning

One of the most daunting tasks with any restoration is cleaning parts. Grease, grime, rust and corrosion have taken over your car. Now it's time to reclaim it, making it look showroom fresh again. The best way to do that is by blasting components clean in an abrasive blasting cabinet. There are other options such as chemical dipping and stripping and the old wire wheel and brush method, but nothing seems to prepare a vehicle's various surfaces for refinishing as well as abrasive blasting. And with the price of home workshop blast cabinets and larger compressors becoming more affordable, many restorers either have the equipment or know someone who does...

Blast Cabinet Parts Cleaning

Bolt Restoration

Anyone involved in a restoration project knows its progress is almost always behind schedule. The proper restoration of even the simplest vehicle can take well over a year. Now don't get us wrong; the work is half the fun. But let's be serious—the real reason to restore that classic is to be able to drive and enjoy, not scrape grease...

Bringing a 1966 GTO Back to Life

Pontiac historians are well aware that the original GeeTO Tigers were part and parcel of a grand marketing scheme designed in the mid 1960s by Jim Wangers, co-creator of the GTO and former Pontiac marketing man, which emblazoned upon the consciousness of the car-buying public the GTO as the nation's premier street-driven performance car. It also solidified the overall image of Pontiac as the "coolest" marque in Detroit. Now, some 35-plus years later, Wangers has resurrected the GeeTO Tiger legend...

Budget Interior Restoration

So you were driving your old classic the other day, when your cell phone slips right through the giant gash in the seat and off into some netherworld. The next 30 minutes are spent digging through what seems like a spider-infested hay bale (German car owners, you know what I mean) to retrieve your communication link with the world. Hey, maybe it's time to invest in a new interior...

Build a New Garage

The person who coined the phrase "he who dies with the most toys wins" must have owned a gigantic garage. Anyone with a passion for collecting automobiles might very well believe that. In many cases, the need for multiple cars also attracts the various automotive accoutrements that help define a personality and prove vital to the hobby, or sport, of collecting. This further confirms (to all who share this fervor) that there is never enough storage space...

Building a Custom Drive Shaft

What do hot rodders, customized car builders, race shops and automobile restorers have in common? They all need to build custom-length driveshafts from time to time. Many project-car builders need specialized driveshafts if the part is out of production, or when mixing and matching oddball engine and transmission combos with non-standard chassis lengths. This also holds true for a front-engine project car with a shortened or lengthened chassis. Although you may get lucky and find a standard-length driveshaft that will fit, it is not likely to accept the heavy-duty larger-diameter U-joints that may be required to handle the power of high-performance engine upgrades...

Building Custom Car Parts

The befuddled counter guy has been looking at the computer for about 10 minutes now. Finally he looks up from his monitor and says, "Sorry, I don't even have a listing for a '69 BMW 1600, much less have a master cylinder." This incident happened to me at a mere 17 years old, while trying to work on my first car. Unfortunately, it would turn out to be one of many...

Buying a Classic Car Sight Unseen

Today, with our world becoming smaller and smaller, thanks to our ever increasingly sophisticated forms of communication, is it becoming any easier to buy a used car? In other words, with our ability to be in contact with virtually anyone, do we need to rely on the local dealership or newspaper classified when in search of that elusive vehicle—the one that must be just so?..

Buying a Hobby Car

The First Commandment of becoming a car restorer is deciding what car to restore. You must first love the vehicle or the project will be an exercise in frustration. Most people have a favorite make and model, possibly the first car they ever owned or one they always wanted but couldn't afford at the time. Before you begin your vehicle search, do your homework. Check the availability of reproduction or original parts such as exterior trim, interior seat-cover kits and engine and suspension replacement parts. The Internet is an excellent source for this research. Buying a car you can't find parts for is a major cause of project burnout. Carefully consider the vehicle, whether car or truck, and make sure you really want to emotionally and financially tackle the restoration. If you don't choose wisely and simply buy on a whim, the consequences can be costly...

Buying and Selling Older Cars

Buying a "normal" used production car isn't all that hard. When evaluating it, the checklist is pretty simple and straightforward. Check for overspray that would indicate a repainted repair job. Sight down the sides to make sure nothing has been bent. Listen to the engine for knocks or bearing whine. Do it all right and you can drive away in a car that will serve you well on the daily grind to work. For collectible older cars, however, ascertaining mechanical condition is just the first step in determining whether to purchase or not...

Car Paint Preparation

Whether amateur or pro, few collector-car restorers paint their own vehicles. Paint is so important to the overall visual impact of the car that it's usually better left to the pros. Here we'll show you the proper way to prepare a collector car for a show-quality paint job, detailing the materials used and providing some hints on how the pros do such a good job...

Carburetor Classics: The Hailed Holley 4150

Although Holley has churned out millions of carburetors to fit everything from the Ford Model T to DC-3 airliners, the one that became a hot rod legend and has been installed on untold numbers of resto projects is the Holley 4150. Knowing a bit about its design and construction is essential for anyone involved in the restoration hobby...

Carburetor Classics: The Humble SU

Ask many former owners of 1960s British sports cars about problem areas on their steeds, and they will likely digress into horror stories concerning the dreaded SU carburetors. In most cases though, they'd be wrong...

Carburetor Classics: The Notorious Stromberg 97

From the dawn of hot rodding to the present day, one carburetor has always been synonymous with traditional hot rods—the Stromberg Model 97. Although the Stromberg Company built millions of other carburetors from the 1930s to 1974, the Model 97 stood out as the carburetor that fed the hot rod movement...

Carburetor Classics: The Notorious Stromberg 97

Carburetor Refinishing

You may have been rebuilding your own carburetors for years, and while they may function perfectly, they just don't have the look of a new or professionally refinished carb. Now, thanks to some innovative restoration products, getting that factory-new appearance is as easy as spray painting any other component...

Carburetor Tuning

So why should we care about a low-tech item that no one uses anymore? Well, one reason is that there are a lot of cars running today that still use this old technology. Most collectible and resto vehicles rely on a carburetor to deliver the proper amount of fuel into the engine. And since these cars are older, the carburetors likely have problems...

Carroll Shelby's Racers

Since the early 1960s, Carroll Shelby has built some of the fastest, most outrageous automobiles ever to hit the streets. Yet the real reason he's a household name today is that he backed up his street creds with race wins. In fact, when the Shelby American company was formed, it was with the intention of winning GT races against the all-conquering Ferraris. Here's a short history on some of his more notable comp cars..

Changing Your Speedo Gear

Improving the overall performance of your favorite ride by changing rear-end gears is common, but it's not the only gear change required. Inside the tail housing of your manual or automatic transmission is another gear, which controls your speedometer and odometer. When you change the rear-end ratio, it throws off the gear in the transmission, so the speedo will read faster or slower until you get the correct trans gear. The various transmission gears are usually plastic and are color-coded to the ratio they correspond to. There is a great physical difference, as show here, comparing the early Super Turbine 300 Powerglide gear with a Muncie four-speed gear. Both are for 3.55:1 rear-end ratios; the four speed's is maroon and the Powerglide's is tobacco brown in color, but the shape change is dramatic...

Chassis Restoration

For certain rare cars, restoring the components exactly to original is essential to preserving the vehicle's value. For most car enthusiasts, however, modernizing a restoration project makes a lot more sense. Called a resto/mod (which also refers to modifying the car), this approach takes advantage of all the improvements in automotive technology. There's no reason you can't have contemporary performance to go with that nostalgic style. It all depends on your style. Though not everybody may want this level of performance, the '62 Corvette shown here is a good example of just how far you can take the process...

Chassis Restoration

Chassis Stiffening

The old truism that appearances can be deceiving is especially true when it comes to restoring an older automobile. That classic car that looks so nice may not be all that nice to drive anymore, even after installing the latest and greatest suspension components. Everything that could be replaced has been replaced, and yet it still just seems to rattle and bounce its noisy way down the road. Time and stress have conspired to weaken the very structure of your ride. Moreover, it may not have had a particularly strong platform to begin with, given the vehicle's older design and engineering. Before digging into how you can rectify these problems on your resto project, we should cover a few basics...

Chrome Job

No resto project is complete without a really righteous chrome job. When done right, it turns a dingy classic into a gleaming triumph. If you hit it wrong, though, the effect can be like a glamorous model with a big zit...

Chrome Plating Basics

Almost every restoration project requires re-plating various parts. Cars and trucks built from the 1950s to the 1970s featured bright, flashy chrome plating on interior and exterior trim, giving these vehicles their distinctive character. But with age, metal finishes get chipped, pitted and scraped until they must be re-plated to look like new. This process can present some special problems, especially when re-plated parts need to visually match older plated parts on the vehicle...

Classic Car Clock Update

Time. It seems lately that's all anyone ever talks about. The world is moving at triple-digit pace and everything is light years faster than it was even last week. And because time is such a precious commodity, every car should have a properly functioning quartz clock. Older collector cars can particularly benefit from a quartz-clock update to replace those whose small second-hands quit working within minutes of when the car was driven off the dealer's lot. Many vehicles' clocks probably haven't indicated the correct time for years. The fix is simple. Requiring no special tools, the repairs can be done in an afternoon; although, we recommend allowing a full day in order to clean behind the dash area and to spiff up the instrument cluster...

Classic Car Clock Update

Classic Car Evaluation - Purchase

"When did you get this—" you ask Buddy, your car buddy, while eyeing his glistening '58 Chevy in your driveway one Saturday morning...

Classic Car Restoration Management

That abandoned restoration job in your garage might just represent the classic "bad end to good intentions." It happens when the romantic in you buys a project car and then your inner manager falls down on the job. The cold, hard truth is that the ability to efficiently manage a restoration is just as important as the actual work you perform. Here's how to plan out your restoration so the job keeps flowing...

Classic Car Show Preparation

There are about as many types of shows as there are cars and trucks. Most shows are just for fun, a good excuse to drive around in your favorite ride and spend time with like-minded enthusiasts. However, many shows also involve some type of judging, which results in trophies for participants or the car clubs they belong to. Preparing your car for serious car shows can be as involved as getting ready for a race, but knowing what to expect is half the battle...

Classic Car Travel Preparation

Old cars are a delight to see in Museums, but for me the real fun involves taking one on a trip. It's always an adventure. You never know what's going to happen, and it can be a test of your perseverance and resourcefulness. A case in point involved my trip from Hamilton, Virginia, to York, Pennsylvania, in early June, in my 1934 Ford coupe. My goal was the National Street Rod Association's East Coast Nationals, which attracts me every year, along with about 5,000 other entrants and a huge crowd of spectators...

Classic GM Alternator Restoration

The alternator in your car is often the Rodney Dangerfield of the engine compartment. While we spend untold hours detailing the carburetor, air cleaner, manifolds, wiring etc., we generally just wait for the alternator to go bad so we can get a clean rebuilt unit and let the old one be an exchange as a core unit. However, if you're trying to keep your car numbers matching or just want a perfect, restored alternator ... paint it! The idea of taking apart that little electric dynamo is a daunting proposition, but it's actually not that hard. And by dismantling it, you'll get a better, detailed finish—plus you can do any tune-up work that may be needed while you've got it apart...

Collectible Sports Cars

You're driving along in your new computer-calibrated super-comfy techno-rocket, and all seems right with the world. But then you see it. A bright red roadster from the past goes zinging by in the fast lane, top down and the occupants grinning from ear to ear as heads swivel in each car it passes. Sure, you could easily outrun the roadster's antique European engineering with any number of modern Japanese imports, but, boy, does it bring back memories!..

Collectible Sports Cars: Activities

In the first two parts of this series we covered some of the better classic sports cars on the market, and explained how to check their condition prior to purchase. If everything has gone according to plan, you now have a new member of the family which occupies a warm spot in the garage where the SUV used to sit (it has a top, so park it outside). No reason to be rational, this is an affair of the heart!..

Collectible Sports Cars: Up Close

In the first installment of this series we went over some of the more popular used sports cars on the market, and some "rolling refuse" to avoid. Once you have chosen your dream make and model, it's time to pick out a good one that will live in your garage, not the repair shop...

Color-Sanding and Buffing

Paint isn't what it used to be, which is both good and bad. The old lacquer type emitted unwanted fumes. Today's two-part urethane is cleaner and healthier, but getting the same level of shine takes a bit more effort. That's where color-sanding, along with some extra clearcoats and buffing, can really bring out the gleam in this gold GTO...

Compression Check-Up

At some point in the restoration process, the engine will come into question—to rebuild or not to rebuild. An engine rebuild is a lot of work, and to do it right costs a lot of money. You certainly don't want to do it if the engine is internally in good condition. That $3,000-$5,000 could go for a new paint job, new chrome or even some rare number-matching parts you may be missing. Answering the usual diagnostic questions such as "How many miles are on it? How much oil does it use? Is it down on power—" will help with the decision, but a simple 30-minute compression test can answer a lot of questions if you know what to look for...

Compression Check-Up

Confirming a Matching Numbers Vehicle

For the purist musclecar collector or restorer, having a "matching numbers" vehicle is extremely important. A musclecar that still has all its original parts is more valuable than one that has been restored with reproduction parts. Originality is considered the basis for value, particularly when it comes to low production number vehicles such as the 1969 Trans Am or 1970 Buick GSX, both of which had less than 700 total units manufactured...

Control-Arm Bushing Replacement

The rear upper and lower control arms on the 1964-72 GM A-body vehicles (Chevelle, GTO, 4-4-2, Buick GS) not only provide suspension travel but also secure the rear end to the vehicle. Each control arm has two pressed-in bushings, one at each end. The bushing is a metal cylinder with a rubber center and a tubular metal core for the mounting bolt to pass through...

Converting to Electronic Ignition

Restoring, driving and maintaining older vehicles can be a lot of fun. Every car enthusiast has a favorite make or model that they would like to drive and restore, or possibly modify to personalize it. We're not talking about expensive classics—just special-interest vehicles. This current trend is being called "Restification" or "Restomod," and one of the most popular modifications is to convert the antiquated breaker-point distributor to a solid-state electronically triggered distributor. This easy conversion provides a solid boost in performance, eliminates breaker-point maintenance and greatly improves spark plug life while maintaining a stock appearance...

Converting to Electronic Ignition

Correct Date-Coded Plug Wires

You can have an 800-horsepower engine, but without the spark to fire it off, it's just another chunk of inanimate metal. Obviously, plug wires are an integral part of your ignition system but they can vary greatly in how efficiently they work. There are several thicknesses of wire from a measly 6mm all the way up to monster 12mm. But at some point along the way you are simply dealing with overkill...

Corvette Grand Sport

Corvette enthusiasts already know the story of the Grand Sport, but it's worth retelling. Back in the Sixties, the Ford-powered Shelby Cobra was just beginning to dominate road-course racing. In retaliation, GM engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov took the then-new Corvette Sting Ray and whacked 1,000 pounds off the car, throwing everything that didn't contribute to speed into the dumpster. He employed a tubular chassis with aluminum reinforcements, and was rewarded with the Grand Sport, a Corvette that quickly proved to be a Mongoose capable of eating a Cobra—alive. Even though there were plans for 100 more Grand Sports, GM management scrapped the program, and the five originals disappeared from the track, melting into private hands...

Corvette Resto: The Body

For the final installment on the restoration of the '64 Corvette Coupe owned by Milton Lewis, we get into an area that most auto enthusiasts may not be familiar with: fiberglass bodywork. Maybe you know how to grind and pound on sheetmetal, but how about those resin-impregnated fibers? Lack of familiarity with the material is not the only challenge here: back when these cars were built, the fiberglass finish just wasn't as good as the resin-transfer methods used on later-model Vettes. Smoothing out the surface isn't the issue since there are a lot of refinishing products on the market that can make a body look better than new...

Corvette Restoration: The Chassis

In our first installment about the restoration of a classic Corvette, we introduced you to Milton Lewis and his silver-blue '64 Coupe. We covered a bit about the history of the car, the engine, and the painstaking efforts to win the prestigious NCRS Mark of Excellence Duntov award. With the body removed and the engine being freshened, Milton set to work on the chassis with the assistance of Carlos Vivas of C&S Corvette Restoration. Vivas prefers handling the "mid-year" Corvettes ('63-'67). "I can do those blindfolded," he laughs. "But on the earlier cars, nothing was the same."..

Corvette Restoration: The Engine

When it comes to restoring a classic Corvette, making it "better than new" is not always the best approach, at least if you plan on entering a competition for the NCRS (National Corvette Restoration Society). Judges actually deduct points for an engine that's too quiet or a paint job that's smoother than the original. Imperfections such as noisy tappet valves or wavy fiberglass are hallmarks of an authentic Corvette because that's the way they came straight from the factory back in the '50s and '60s. For these and other arcane details about the world of restoration, we visited with Carlos and Sherry Vivas of C&S Corvette Restoration...

Courtesy-Lamp Lens Replacement

In the Fifties and Sixties, GM installed small opaque-white plastic lenses in convertible rear-armrest courtesy lights. These lenses have a tendency to yellow from heat and age, and many times crack as well. Years of internal heat trapped behind the lens causes the plastic to dry out and become brittle, and even the slightest tap from a person entering or exiting the back seat will crack a lens in this condition...

Courtesy-Lamp Lens Replacement

Custom Car Culture

Whether you call them Customs or Kustoms, these unique and unusual vehicles have carved out a colorful and fascinating niche in the hot rod arena since their roots in the 1940s. Today, they're more popular than ever, sculpted in a dizzying array of artistic and even eccentric designs. Whatever production car they started out as, most of them end up as low, long, and sleek shapes with "uninterrupted" lines...

Custom Car Part Fabrication Tools - Part 2

In our first installment on fabrication we discussed some of the reasons that a part might be fabricated. Some parts may no longer exist due to the rarity of the vehicle. In this instance a new part would need to be built or a similar part would have to be modified to work. In some circumstances, such as in the case of racing classic cars, the original parts might not bear up under the stresses that occur within the vehicle. The solution for this is to build a new part that is designed to be strong enough to survive when the going gets rough...

Custom Classic Painting Advice

Ask any rod, custom or show car builder what their toughest decision was during the buildup, and the answer is likely to involve the paint job. Not only are there thousands of colors, there are also hundreds of other options such as types of paint, graphics, flames, pearls, tri-coats and color-change paints. Some builders may decide to paint their cars themselves, while others will rely on a pro...

Custom Cooling Fabrication and Tubing Bead

Hot rods, racecars and customized vehicles frequently require extended hose runs to hook the cooling system components together. Often the engine is set farther back, well away from the radiator, or in some cases there are a number of radiators plumbed together in series or tandem. Whatever type of cooling system, some custom fabrication is usually needed...

Custom Cooling Fabrication and Tubing Bead

Dash Pad Restoration

Most people are familiar with the cracked-dash crisis caused by an older-generation formulation of a popular car-care product. People who prided themselves in their vehicles' appearances were disappointed to discover that this leather-vinyl-rubber spray didn't allow the vinyl to "breathe," and temperature fluctuations caused dash skins treated with this product to crack...

Dash-Knob Detailing

Many restorers concentrate on the large picture, but the smaller items are just as important. Intricately detailed dash knobs were used during the Sixties and Seventies, and they deserve restoration as well. Most were finished in chrome plastic and can be easily saved with a little gentle attention. Nicotine and dirt, accumulated from years of use, settle into the design of the knob, eventually turning your bright chrome to dirty gray...

Dent Repair

If you drive, your car will eventually get a dent. Body damage is one of the most frustrating parts of motoring, because our eyes always seem to lock onto dents...

Disc Brake Upgrade for GM 12-Bolt

Despite volumes written about the legendary prowess of '60s musclecars, the legends always seem to gloss over some serious engineering shortcomings of the era. Brake packages were often, in a word, terrifying. One good shot was most of what you got if you were lucky. After that it was white-knuckle time when it came to stopping fast and that was with a powerplant kicking out factory horsepower. Brake fade was the name of the game. Add a cam, some carb, headers and exhaust, and stopping becomes even more elusive. While drum brakes are great for stopping lumbering buses and dump trucks, they're no good for gas-huffing musclecars...

Driving the Porsche 917K

How often do you get a chance to climb into the cockpit of a Porsche racecar and run a few hot laps? And in a historically significant one no less, a breakthrough design that changed the image of Porsche forever. Mention the Porsche name among today's car enthusiasts and the first thing likely to pop into their heads is the $180,000 911 GT-2 that pumps out 462 screaming horses—and will blow past a Corvette Z06 like it's chained to a tree—or maybe the ferocious 200+ mph 935, 936 and 956 prototypes that dominated endurance racing for over a decade...

Drum Brake Restoration

Many restorers can only dream of taking their vehicle off the road to do a total ground-up restoration. For most it's too large a commitment of money, time and, quite frankly, the garage space to do it. A good alternative is to restore while you drive. The advantages are obvious—your favorite vehicle isn't off the road for years at a time and the drain on the family budget is more gradual. The key to being successful with the restore-as-you-drive-approach is to concentrate on one area of the vehicle at a time, prioritize the mechanical aspects to make it a safe and dependable driver first, then concentrate on the cosmetics later. Our '69 Buick GS 400 is a perfect example. It badly needed new universal joints so we removed the driveshaft, fully cleaned and painted it, installed new U-joints and put it back in the car. A couple of paychecks later we removed the trailing arms, cleaned and painted them, installed new bushings and hung them on a totally "ugly" rear end housing. In this installment we will clean, detail and rebuild the rear drum brakes, which leaves only the axle tubes and differential housing to clean and paint. By then, the entire rear end and driveshaft assembly will be restored and the car will have been off the road only one day at a time...

Early GM Dash Bezel Restoration

The early GTO dash bezels were painted-over chrome-plated plastic. The entire bezel was plated and then painted to match the interior color scheme. Certain areas were left chrome as decorative accents, but original factory plastic plating turns black with age. The early GTO's had a removable plastic instrument bezel, which also contained the heater/defroster controls. Normally, the surround areas of these were painted with a flattening agent added to the lacquer to provide a non-reflective surface. Replacement woodgrain inserts, and in some cases new gauge lenses, are available from most aftermarket suppliers and the instruments can be cleaned at home. Here is an overview of removing the original bezel with blackened plastic chrome and the installation of a new re-chromed and re-painted bezel shown above...

Easy Metal Cleaning

Internal engine parts that are constantly exposed to hot oil develop a burned-on brown patina during years of use. Trying to clean this coating with solvent is useless—the surface remains hard and dirty brown. But, from America's kitchens comes the solution: spray-on oven cleaner. It works great and is available at almost any market in the country...

Electronic Ignition Install Without Points

Over the years manufacturers have made a number of changes to the basic internal combustion engine. One of the most important advancements by far was doing away with the contact points and going to electronic ignition. Just as when carburetors were replaced with electronic fuel injection, going to a digital ignition improves drivability and eliminates maintenance...

Emblem Installation

While the glory days of the American musclecar have come and gone, the legend will live on forever thanks to those who preserve it through the restoration and preservation of classic performance rides. The basic formula of the American musclecar is simple: Stuff the largest possible displacement engine into the smallest possible car, factor in putting the gas pedal to the floor, and add it up to tire smoking fun...

Engine Compartment Detailing

Many times during an engine rebuild the attention is only on the motor and not on where it lives. While the powerplant is on the engine stand, you have a golden opportunity to renovate areas you normally don't have access to. Once that chunk of metal is reinstalled, the detailing process is much harder. Here are a few tips on areas to address and how to breathe new life into old parts that make up your GM engine bay...

Engine Rebuild and Refurbish

Anybody who's done a comprehensive resto project knows that it doesn't always follow a straight line, nor a precise timetable. You might thrash on it for several weekends in a row and then let it sit idle for months in a sort of automotive limbo-land. That's where Larry Weiner's '65 GTO has been up until recently, but now he's getting busy with it again...

Engine Rebuilding: Cylinder Heads

Most engine rebuilds for restoration projects fall short when it comes to cylinder head preparation. That's okay if you don't plan to put on many miles and peak engine performance is not important. Show cars or cars that will sit in a collection are perfect examples. A simple "quick and dirty" rebuilder special will do just fine...

Engine Rebuilding: Rods Pistons

Think about it: At 6,000 rpm, a piston accelerates, comes to a complete stop, and repeats the cycle more than a 100 times per second! We're not talking about an electrical process here where a sensor samples info 100 times per second—we're describing a mechanical process where a 3-pound piston/rod assembly is trying to launch into orbit 100 times per second. The forces on the piston, wrist pin, connecting rod and crankshaft are scary. It's amazing that an engine can keep from literally exploding at those speeds. All the more reason to get it right when installing rods and pistons in the engine YOU'RE rebuilding. The magazine articles make it look simple, but if this is your first attempt at building an engine, installing rods and pistons may seem overwhelming. We will outline a few basic steps here to guide you through the process...

Engine Rebuilding: The Camshaft

In spite of all the talk these days about engine management of the electronic kind, the camshaft is still calling most of the shots. Virtually every parameter such as peak torque, a usable power band, peak horsepower, manifold vacuum, fuel mileage and more are determined by the cam's timing specifications. No other single modification can produce as much horsepower per dollar. No other single modification can cost you as much power, efficiency and driveability if you select the wrong cam...

Engine Rebuilding: The Crankshaft

In Engine Rebuilding: The Preparation, we discussed various ways to rebuild your engine and how to find a competent machine shop to help you in the process. Part 2 will deal with the first step in putting it all back together—installing the crankshaft in the cylinder block...

Engine Rebuilding: The Preparation

Rebuilding the engine in your restoration project is a big commitment of time, energy and money. It can also be one of the most satisfying parts of the restoration process. Nothing beats knowing that the engine has been put together right and will be dependable for another 100,000 miles...

Engine Rebuilding: The Preparation

Exhaust Hanger Replacement

Most General Motors musclecar exhaust systems are secured to the underside of the vehicle with exhaust hangers. These metal brackets are attached to pieces of rubber, which flex and allow the pipe to move. Like all rubber items, smog, heat, cold, salt and constant movement wear these parts at an alarming rate. With GM's "over the rear axle" exhaust-tubing design, a loose exhaust pipe can contact several undercarriage spots, resulting in an annoying rattle or occasional bang (as experienced after driving over a serious pothole)...

Exhaust Hanger Replacement

Exhaust Manifold Restoration

For years restorers were at a loss about what to do with cast-iron exhaust manifolds. A few restorers of large, expensive classic cars would send their manifolds out to be coated with porcelain. Although they looked great all smooth and glossy, the porcelain was prone to chipping and, frankly, didn't look factory correct. Many others took the budget approach and simply painted their manifolds with high-temp spray paint. However, the colors never looked natural and the paint didn't last long before the rust started to show through...

Exhaust Manifold Restoration

Exhaust System Insulation

It can get pretty warm under the hood of a car. The engine gets plenty hot, and the radiator gives off heat as well. If you have performance equipment like a supercharger or a turbo, you're in for some extreme temperatures. This heat causes many problems, like drying out gaskets and premature leaks in coolant and vacuum systems. Heat also "cooks" sensors and electrical equipment, and can cause discoloration and peeling of metal and painted surfaces. Not to mention burned hands from groping around for dropped tools!..

EZ Tachometer Install

It's interesting to see how things come full circle. Back in the 1960s and '70s, very few, if any, cars came from the factory with a tach. Only the dragsters and serious quarter-mile racers invested in a tach. It was considered "cool" to mount your accessory tachometer on the dash so everyone could see it. Or you could mount it on the steering column so you could see it (without the glare)...

Fabricating Curves

Since it is becoming increasingly difficult to find small machine shops that are willing to design and make parts for a single application or resto project, it makes sense to tackle making these parts with the tools that a home machinist can afford. Just about anything can be made with big-dollar, computer-controlled machines, but the processes reviewed here use older (and less costly) technology...

Filler Finder

It's been said that rust never sleeps—unless it's completely removed—rust will continue to eat up good sheetmetal until it's no longer salvageable. Not surprisingly, some repair facilities fix rusted-out areas by simply patching the spot with body filler and paint. The same holds true for damage resulting from a collision. It's a lot quicker to use filler than to take the time to pull the panel and handwork the metal...

Filler Finder

Five Pro Restoration Tips

For every problem there is a solution! Some are right and some are wrong, and the wrong ones usually cause havoc. Here are five simple hints on how to save time, money or, in some cases, your original parts. There is a method to restoration madness; hopefully these will keep you off Prozac and assist in accomplishing your resto goals...

Flying Tigers - Pontiac GTO

When the Pontiac GTO was reintroduced a couple years ago, reactions were mixed, because the car didn't seem to come from the same end of the gene pool. That fact that the "new and improved" GTO was designed and manufactured by GM's Australian operation didn't help matters. All the more reason, then, to pair a '65 and '04 GTO, and see just how much DNA they actually share...

Ford Mustang: 1964-1966

In 1964 the American car scene didn't have too many stars. The expensive Corvette held sway at Chevrolet, but the much-hyped Corvair had more potential than performance. The lovely Avanti had generated reams of publicity, but Studebaker was too busy treading water to take advantage of it. The 409 Impalas, 427 Galaxies and Hemi-powered Chryslers were wicked in a straight line, but expensive gas guzzlers that rumbled like volcanos and stubbornly refused to either stop or turn corners. As a result they sold in insignificant numbers by Detroit standards. The Falcon, Valiant and Chevy II were selling respectably, but their austere "econo car" image did not appeal to younger drivers. All that changed with the Ford Mustang...

Ford Mustang: 1967-1973

From 1964 to 1966 the Mustang fired up the ponycar fad and blasted sales records for a new car introduction. Except for a weak challenge from the first-generation Barracuda, the Mustang had the sporty sedan genre all to itself, but in 1967 that would change as General Motors introduced its Camaro and Firebird models to take it on. Ford knew it would have to come up with a new car to meet the challenge, but without breaking the bank...

Ford Mustang: 1974-1978

By the end of 1973, the once-mighty Mustang was on the ropes. The ponycar segment was crowded with rivals from General Motors, American Motors, Chrysler and even Mercury. Also, with increased gas prices, the demand for big, powerful, clumsy dragsters was shrinking...

Ford Mustang: 1979-1993

Hard-core Mustang enthusiasts tend to think of the Mustang II era as the "dark ages" of Mustang history. Slow, gaudy and sloppily assembled, it did not live up to the image set by the earlier cars. When the all-new 1979 Mustang hit the showrooms, few could have guessed that it would one day return Ford's little pony to the top of the performance ladder...

Ford Mustang: 1994-2004

The all-new 1993 Chevy Camaro really got Ford's attention. It was fast, attractive and aggressively priced to take on the Mustang. Although the 1993 Mustang was a competent performer, the styling was getting dated and didn't resemble the classic Mustangs that baby boomers pined for. There was no budget for an all-new car, so the existing chassis would have to do, but on the outside the Mustang was in for some retro restyling...

Fuel Brake Line Installation

The 1964-72 GM Chevelle, GTO, Skylark (GS) and Cutlass (4-4-2) A-body vehicles contain basically the same undercarriage. The early versions had the fuel and brake lines running down the driver's side, and the later cars added fuel-return and emissions lines running down either and sometimes both sides of the frame rails. After years of abuse from rust and road debris, these lines should be replaced for safety, particularly if you're doing a major restoration on the car. There are several prominent aftermarket suppliers of pre-bent steel or stainless-steel replacement lines with the correct color-coded end fittings for the discriminating restorer. Here we will look at the basics of installing new fuel and brake lines down the driver's side frame rail on an early A-body. If you have lines on both sides, the process will be almost identical...

Fuel Pressure Gauge Upgrade

Basic law of hot-rodding: the more you choose to modify, the more you have to modify. Build a 400-horse EFI 302 and you're going to need to update the five-speed, the radiator, the clutch, the diff, (perhaps the axles), motor mounts, fuel, ignition, computer mapping, hoses, etc. What else? Surely we've forgotten something. Okay, you'll need a fuel pressure gauge...

Garage Lifts

If you're like many auto enthusiasts, you have more cars or, rather, you wish you owned more cars, than you have garages to house them. There simply isn't enough space, one laments. But, marvels of science and technology and the beauty of competition are readily available to solve the dilemma...

Gas Tank Fuel Line Replacement

Whether you're building a restoration down to the last date-coded radiator hose, or a budget street-strip weekend warrior, the one thing to take into account above all else is that these babies rolled off the assembly line almost 40 years ago. That's almost 40 years of winter and summer corrosion, wear and tear, and collected road grime bolted to those four wheels. One area of particular concern is the fuel supply system. That old stamped steel gas tank has likely been back there under the trunk deck a long, long time. There's no telling how much rust, crud, gummy deposits, and old rags used for gas caps are floating around in there. The last thing you need to do is bolt up a crud supply line to your fresh new crate or race engine combination...

Getting the Lead On

Customizing with lead body filler was so popular in the 1950s that it gave us a new term, Lead Sled, to describe a radically customized sedan slathered and smoothed with the soft, pliable metal. Today the advent of high-quality, easily applied plastic (polyester) fillers has reduced the number of experienced lead workers to a minimum, but lead still has benefits other fillers do not. In fact, "lead" doesn't even have to be lead any more!..

GM Gas Tank Replacement

Few of us ever dwell on the fuel we use to power our favorite ride. Except for price fluctuations and an occasional gas shortage, we pump and go. After all, the receptacle that holds that precious fluid is out of sight and out of mind. Over time, age, rust, road damage and other hazards can take a severe toll on this all-important part, and a gasoline leak is highly dangerous. At best, a regular inspection of that venerable old tank is a wise idea—don't wait till it's too late. If you smell gas in the garage, always check your tank for leaks!..

GM Gas Tank Replacement

GM Rear-End Rigidity

From 1964-67, GM offered a rear suspension-bracket package (#9777613) for their A-body muscle cars. This kit was specifically designed for cars equipped with the four-speed transmission option, but it will normally fit any of these model years with manual or automatic trans. The rear suspension consists of upper and lower control arms attached to the axle and utilizing coil springs. These brackets were designed to add extra rigidity and improve the load distribution in the frame rear crossmember and lower control-arm area. Obviously the design wizards at GM realized that some of these cars would experience hard acceleration on a regular basis, so these brackets (Part No. 3869875 for the left side and 3869876 for the right side) were made available over the counter for non-four-speed cars. The parts are relatively easy to install, and doing the job on a lift makes it much easier. Normal hand tools are required, and the upgrade shouldn't take more than a couple of hours...

GM Window Glass Decoding

Keeping a collector car as original as possible is very important to many enthusiasts. They search for the correct date-coded parts with the correct casting codes, etc. For the extreme stickler for originality, even the manufacturer's codes on the window glass are important. The codes should match the build date of the vehicle and are as important as any other correct part. But how can you tell if your codes are correct? It's easy—and we'll show you how with this batch of codes from 1963 through 1972. We are using both 1965 and 1969 GM intermediate musclecars as examples...

Great American Designers

Every mass-production car manufacturer has an army of stylists sculpting new models to match an image that hopefully will appeal to the public. There is simply too much that has to be designed for one person to pen the entire car by himself, so teams of stylists toil under the watchful eye of the head of the styling department...

GTO Upholstery Resto

We've already covered several aspects of the "restification" of this particular '65 Pontiac GTO, from suspension mods to bodywork; but, before we get into the interior (literally), we should step back a bit and explain what that term means, relative to this particular project vehicle...

Headliner Replacement

Tired of your original headliner disintegrating into your hair? Are exploded seams and dusty residue constantly fouling your interior? Too embarrassed to give people rides in your rig? Replacing the headliner in your driver is far simpler than you think, and you can do it at home. Follow along to see how to save money on do-it-yourself installation and have the satisfaction of accomplishing the task on your own...

High-Performance Ignition Upgrade

Let's admit it. Nearly anyone who can identify their tools by name can install aftermarket parts on their vehicle. Be it an intake, an ignition system, or something a simple as plug wires, it really doesn't take a genius to toss out the old and install the new. The challenge, it seems, is to install the parts in such a way as to make their appearance nearly invisible. Like a good haircut, we prefer add-on aftermarket parts to go unnoticed. We like the stock look, but prefer the modified performance...

Highlights in the History of the Pontiac GTO

The GTO was born in 1964 as a result of Pontiac being forced out of active participation in racing. They needed a news-making product. It was created by the simple installation of a 389 cu. in. V-8 engine in a car originally designed to be powered by a 326 cu. in. V-8 engine. The first GTO weighed approximately 3500 lbs., and—of course—it ran...

History of the Z-Car

As anyone who has seen "The Fast and Furious" movies knows, Japanese cars are now in the front lines of the performance wars. Super Supras, hellacious Hondas and massaged Mazdas are routinely running sub-11-second quarter miles and giving big-inch Detroit iron a run for its money. This turn of affairs dates back to the early 1960s when the Japanese were best known for their small sedans and traditional convertible sports cars. All that changed in 1969 when Datsun introduced the revolutionary 240Z...

Holley 4-barrel Carburetor Rebuild

It's pretty common for those of us building project cars to wind up rebuilding a used engine as well. And many of the engines come with a Holly four-barrel carburetor, so it pays to know how to work on one. A new unit starts around $290, but most carburetors last forever and with a rebuild kit (about $35) and an hour or two on the workbench, you will have a unit that perhaps runs even better than new...

Hot Rod Restoration Projects

Hot rodding may have started out as a Southern California fad, but it's now an international export. What was once perceived as an outlaw vice is now, more or less, socially acceptable—a mainstream lifestyle and big-buck business (more than $630 million in retail sales per year, according to some estimates). What once ran on the sun-baked alkaline clay of California's dry lakes is now found posing on the green, manicured lawn of the swanky Pebble Beach Concours. Owners of high-dollar hot rods who used to crack a six-pack in the garage now sip wine over their cars at museum openings. How is it that Southern California spawned so many hot rods? And more important, what sort of car should you consider for your resto rod project?..

How to Buy a Classic Car

You've done everything right. You've got the drive to do a restoration, the money and the time, and even "the vision." But your eagerness has led you into a simple but devastating mistake: You bought a trash heap to restore—a rusty money-trap that's going to take far more work to put right than it deserves...

How To Install Urethane Swaybar Bushings

Restification and Restomod are a couple of popular terms flying around the restoration industry for the past couple of years. These custom word contractions come from melding the terms restoration and modification together. And while they seem to be oxymorons in terms of language, in practice they fit together quite well...

How To Install Urethane Swaybar Bushings

How to keep Drum Brakes cool

When disc brakes first began to appear on racing cars in the early 1950s, there was intense speculation as to whether they would ever be as effective as drum brakes. Drum brakes had been refined until they were pretty efficient binders, even for big-bore road racers, hot rods and stock cars. Today, the brake battle is over, with discs emerging as the easy winner in terms of stopping power, longevity and weight. However, restorers, vintage racers and nostalgia rodders are still getting amazing results with drum brakes, using a mix of period technology and modern materials...

How to Make Trim Pieces

Since the dawn of the automotive age a century ago, gauges have been required to monitor the condition of an auto engine. Even the simplest internal combustion or steam engine needs a watchdog. Mechanical gauges were the first type used, and they were usually driven by the part they were relegated to check. For instance, early speedometers were driven at the hub of a front wheel on some powered buggies. Water temperature or steam pressure was monitored at the radiator with a Manometer (a water thermometer) or a direct-sight steam gauge at the boiler...

How to Make Trim Pieces

In restoring an older project car, one of the most maddening obstacles is replacing a worn-out piece of body trim. If you try to buy a replacement part, you'll probably find it's been out of production since the days of hand-crank engines, and all the salvage yards are picked clean of any used remnants. Which leaves you with only one option: fabricating it from scratch...

How to Make Trim Pieces

Hummer History

Even though the Jeep was the motorized symbol of the American army during WWII and the Korean War, by the 1970s it had become obsolete. The military needed a new general-purpose vehicle efficient at moving soldiers and light equipment to the battlefield. How that vehicle came into being and turned into a civilian model as well is a war story in itself...

Hurst Wheels

In January of 1965, a press conference was held in Los Angeles announcing the introduction of the all-new Hurst automotive wheels. George Hurst, the manufacturer of the famous Hurst shifters, and, later, inventor of the Jaws of Life rescue machine, teamed up with Harvey Aluminum to manufacture the wheels. It was the first use of aircraft-quality forged- aluminum centers combined with steel rims for automotive wheels. The combination proved to be super strong throughout rigorous testing on the "rotary fatigue tester," spinning the wheel at incredible rpm, and the 2,000-pound weight-dropping test for rim and spoke durability...

Independent Rear Suspension Install

In Ford's four decades of producing Mustangs, nearly all of them have come equipped with a live-axle rear end. Not that there's anything wrong with a straight axle—it's sturdy, inexpensive, and hooks up better in straight-line acceleration. So why even consider switching to an independent rear suspension (IRS)?..

Installing Oxygen Sensors

A number of hot rod and street rod builders are beginning to use engines with modern electronic fuel injection (EFI), largely because it offers improved drivability and requires less maintenance than a carburetor. The only downside is that EFI requires installing an oxygen sensor in the exhaust system. It's a fairly simple procedure, though, as shown here...

Installing Window Weather Stripping

Weather stripping is what keeps you warm, cool and quiet while cruisin' in your ride. On the assembly line, the factory sealed the side windows of most vehicles with two types of insulation. The outside is usually sealed with rubber against the glass, and the inside is sealed with what's commonly called "fuzzies." These pieces are similar to short hairbrushes that also rub against the glass as it goes up and down. The fuzzies mainly function as dust insulation and a support for the glass to keep it from rubbing on the metal door. Here's a quick overview of how to install these critical pieces on a 1964-72 GM A-body...

Interior Upholstery Developments

Have you ever checked out your car's reflection in a storefront window as you're driving by? You're probably like most people and like to see how your ride looks on you, like a new suit or a pair of jeans. Taking that car-as-clothing analogy one step further, the interior can reflect your fashion statement as well. There's a whole new range of products to make your upholstery reflect your personal taste so it's more stylish, enjoyable, and captivating. So what are the latest wrinkles in upholstery? Like that famous line from "The Graduate," it can be summed up in one word: "plastics."..

Jaguar XKE History

It's hard to imagine a car today having the kind of impact on modern culture that the XKE had in the early 1960s. It was a wild and free time—mini skirts, French bikinis, Andy Warhol and the Beatles were just some of the symbols of an era when creativity, not productivity, were in the forefront of the news. The automotive industry was lagging behind the times: the 1961 Corvette, the Porsche 356 and the various MGs and Triumphs were hold-overs from the 1950s. Then, suddenly, there was the XKE!..

Jewels in the Junkyard

Hunting parts in salvage yards is part of the fun of restoring or rebuilding older, classic cars. The thrill of finding that perfect part, the one the dealers have been out of since 1958, provides a sense of accomplishment that keeps your enthusiasm going on long projects. It's kind of like an Easter egg hunt for adults. But before you grab your wrenches and go trophy hunting, there are some things you should know...

Jewels in the Junkyard - Junkyard Types

In our first installment, we focused on the virtues of scrounging through a salvage yard for resto parts. Digging for automotive treasure in a junkyard can be rewarding and fun, as long as you can differentiate between precious metal and fool's gold. For this second part of the series, we'll show how not all junkyards are created equal, and how to differentiate among them...

Jewels in the Junkyard - Self-serve

In the first two installments of this series we talked about finding yards that have the parts enthusiasts are looking for, and how to conduct your salvage yard search. Now let's talk about scrounging tips on where you can find some of the best bargains—self-service yards...

Manual and Electric Trunk Access

Sometime in the early Sixties a Detroit whiz kid came up with the idea of offering a remote trunk opening gizmo—a device that would allow you to unlatch the trunk without getting out of the car. The implications were enormous, particularly during the days when the box boy at the market would bring the groceries out to your car. Drive up, pop the trunk and you're gone! WOW, what a concept!..

Modern Classic Spotlight: '67-'73 Maserati Ghibli

The toast of the 1966 Turin Show was a low-slung, finely chiseled Maserati coupe by Carrozzeria Ghia. Named, like so many Maseratis, for a swirling desert wind, the stunning Ghibli (pronounced Gi/blee) was the work of young Giorgetto Guigiaro, and it would not be the last of his designs to achieve enduring fame...

Modern Classic: '59 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz

Editor's Note: Ken Gross is a well known and respected automotive journalist whose expertise extends from new cars to vintage hot rods, although he may be best known for his knowledge of classic cars. We asked Ken to select 10 "affordable" classics and tell us a little about them and why we should consider owning one. This month's selection is the 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz...

Modern Classic: '63 Corvette Stingray

Editor's Note: Ken Gross is a well-known and respected automotive journalist whose expertise extends from new cars to vintage hot rods. He may be best known for his knowledge of classic cars. We asked Ken to select 10 "affordable" classics and tell us a little about them and why we should consider owning one. This month's selection is the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray...

Modern Classic: '64 Pontiac GTO

Editor's Note: Ken Gross is a well-known and respected automotive journalist whose expertise extends from new cars to vintage hot rods. He may be best known for his knowledge of classic cars and as the former director of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles...

Modern Classic: '73 Lotus Elan

Modern Classic: '73-'76 Lamborghini Espada III

Modern Classic: 1949-51 Mercury Coupe

To qualify as "modern classics," we've chosen vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars that people still see that make them smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. We're focusing on cars that are at least 25 years old so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections...

Modern Classic: 1949-53 MG TD

To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars that people still see that make them smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. We're focusing on cars that are at least 25 years old so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections...

Modern Classic: 1953 Jaguar Mark VII

Modern Classic: 1953 Sunbeam Alpine Sports

Modern Classic: 1955-58 Porsche Speedster

Porsche's beloved Speedster started life as a "stripper." New York Dealer/entrepreneur Max Hoffman convinced Ferry Porsche there was a market for a low-priced roadster that could easily be converted for racing. Priced at just $2,995 (heater and tach were extra), the Speedster was essentially a lightweight version of Porsche's 356 Cabrio, sans roll-up windows and heavy padded top. The Speedster's distinguishing feature was that impossibly low windscreen, chopped some 3.5 inches shorter than the Cabrio's. With its thin canvas top erected, the Speedster resembled a short, fattish man with his hat pulled down over his eyes. A minimalistic approach kept weight down, and the rear-mounted air-cooled boxer type engine maintained a low center of gravity...

Modern Classic: 1955-62 MGA

Modern Classic: 1955-63 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

Modern Classic: 1956 DeSoto Adventurer

To qualify as a "modern classic," we've chosen vehicles that are comparatively affordable now that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have—head-turners, trend-setters in their time—cars that people still see that make them smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. We're focusing on cars that are at least 25 years old so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections...

Modern Classic: 1956 Plymouth Fury Special 8

Modern Classic: 1957-59 Dodge Sweptside D100

To qualify as "modern classics," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars or trucks many people would love to have: head-turners, trendsetters in their time, vehicles that people see that still make them smile, those that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. Our focus is on collectibles at least 25 years old, so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections...

Modern Classic: 1962 BMW 1500

To qualify as a "modern classics," vehicles are chosen based upon comparative affordability now and that we think will increase in value over time. They are cars that many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars that people still see that make them smile, then want to hit the cruise circuit. They are cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. Our focus is on cars that are at least 25 years old, so they can be registered and insured cheaply, and aren't subject to annual inspections...

Modern Classic: 1962-'70 Datsun Roadsters

Modern Classic: 1967-74 Saab Sonett

Modern Classic: 1969 Triumph TR6

Modern Classic: 1976 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible

To qualify as a "modern classics," we choose vehicles that are comparatively affordable now, and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars people still see that make them smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. For this series, we focus on cars that are at least 25 years old, so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections...

Modern Classic: 1976 Porsche 912E

Modern Classic: 1982 DeLorean DMC-12

Modern Classic: Camaro Z28

To qualify as "modern classics," we're choosing vehicles that are comparatively affordable now which we think will increase in value over time. These are cars that many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars we still see that make us smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. We're focusing on cars that are at least 25 years old so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections...

Modern Classic: Fiat 124

Modern Classic: Lamborghini 350 GT

Modern Classic: Nash Metropolitan

Modern Classic: Vincent Black Shadow

Modern Classic: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

To qualify as a "modern classic," we choose vehicles, which are comparatively affordable now and that we think will increase in value over time. These are cars many people would love to have: head-turners, trend-setters in their time, cars people see that still make them smile, cars that were definitive in their own right, stylish and fun to drive. Our focus is on cars at least 25 years old, so they can be registered and insured cheaply and aren't subject to annual inspections. Tastes may vary, as may peoples' own definitions of "affordable." Our theoretical limit is $50,000 for a car in good to excellent condition, which rules out many of the traditional exotics. This month's selection is the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia...

Modern Classic: Volvo PV544

Monster Garage @ The Pete

You've probably seen them on TV, those bizarre Monster Garage creations by Jesse James—not the Wild West outlaw but the legendary Harley customizer. Touted by People Magazine as one of the sexiest men alive, this brawny bike builder turns perfectly good vehicles into Franken-rides: a Mustang that mows the lawn, a Porsche that picks up golf balls, a VW New Beetle converted into an airboat. You name it—Jesse and the Monster Garage can build it. And these oddball yet fully functional inventions were all on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum as part of a Monster Garage traveling exhibit...

Mopar Car Show

Each year in the San Fernando Valley of California, the Spring Fling car show kicks off a season of Mopar fun. The question that immediately comes to mind is what exactly does Mopar stand for? Back in the days when a Honda or Toyota was as rare a sight on an American road as a flying car powered by an atomic reactor, the big three American automakers ruled the roads of the U.S. GM was the monster. Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and GMC all fell under the umbrella of its manufacture. Ford was next, with Lincoln and Mercury lining up under the marque. Last but not least was mighty Mopar, with DeSoto, Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth sailing off the winds of the assembly line...

Mopar Muscle Cars

When Chrysler Corporation fans think about power, the first thing that comes to mind is the Hemi. Which is a pity, really, since Chrysler has made dozens of great engines without those famed hemispherical combustion chambers. But the Hemi is the engine that started it all, way back in 1951, and whose demise would signal the end of the musclecar era...

Mounting Pre-painted Fenders

When it comes to bringing an old classic car back from years of wear and tear there is nothing more satisfying than laying down fresh paint. A glass-smooth layer of deep, candy red, metal-flake blue, mirror-finish triple black, or even good ol' white paint seals up all the hard work and brings the project that much closer to fruition. In the ideal world of automobile restoration, the entire body would be assembled and lined up perfectly before any paint was applied. In the real world of automobile restoration, things seldom—if ever—work out exactly as planned...

Musclecar Ashtray Restoration

Whether you're a cigarette smoker or not, chances are you wouldn't smoke in your classic musclecar. The idea of lighting up and placing a cigarette anywhere near those new seats or carpet is more than an alarming thought. However, that old ashtray probably got plenty of use back in the '60s and '70s when looking cool at street races meant having a cigarette hanging out of your mouth. Years of nicotine stains, ashes and the dreaded wad of gum can leave an ashtray looking like, well, an ashtray. Here's how to get a factory fresh look from the oft overlooked part of your dash...

Musclecar Heaven

If you are a child of the '60s or '70s (or even an adult from that era), you likely have some great memories of a time when horsepower and passion ruled the roads. One such child is Steve Barcak. A man possessed with the heart-pounding, adrenaline-inducing horsepower of the musclecar era. Many of us lust after our favorite GTO, Chevelle, Cuda, or Mustang, but not many of us can brag about the hundreds of these cars that we have saved from the crusher. Steve Barcak made it his mission and passion to save as much of Detroit's grand sheetmetal as his postal worker's salary would allow...

Mustang Chassis Upgrade

Owners of late-'60s and early-'70s Mustangs know all too well both the bright spots and blemishes of these highly popular sports cars. They're strong on styling, speed and affordability. However, their suspension, steering and braking weren't particularly noteworthy. Engineering has come a long way in the last few decades, and the automotive aftermarket has developed a wide range of upgrades and retrofits for the Mustang's antiquated chassis design. If you own or are thinking of buying a vintage Mustang (or other related Ford models such as the Cougar, Comet, Fairlane, Falcon, Maverick, and so forth), here's a brief rundown of suspension changes you can make to modernize your pony car. Many of these are from Total Control Products, a company that built the stunt cars for the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" (particularly Eleanor, the flying Shelby GT500)...

Mustang GT350 Restomod Part 1

Actually, the car shown here is not an authentic Shelby GT350, but a re-creation like so many thousands of others produced over the years. In comparison to the paltry number of original GT350s produced in 1965 (562 in all), Ford manufactured a bazillion stock models, so it really makes more sense to focus on these sincerest forms of flattery. (Ironically, Carroll Shelby is now endorsing reconditioned GT500 Mustangs that look and perform like the "Eleanor" model that appeared in the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds." So if cloning is good enough for Shelby, himself, why not the rest of us?)..

Mustang GT350 Restomod Part 2

Having covered the mods on the drivetrain, chassis, and interior of Dan Holm's GT350-style conversion of a '67 Mustang, it's time to take a look at the tweaking directed at the exhaust system. As with many of the other upgrades Dan chose, there were more than a few ways that the exhaust could have been handled, allowing for personal expression of taste and preference. Choices made can affect a myriad of aspects, such as the peak horsepower, powerband width and range, exhaust tone, aesthetics, cost and durability. We'll address all of these factors starting from the exhaust headers and working back to the tailpipe tips...

Mustang GT350 Restomod Part 3

As mentioned in our initial installment, the Shelby GT350 wasn't known for its engine size, as is typical for many cars. Instead, back in 1965, Carroll Shelby had grown weary in a lengthy meeting about naming the car, so on a whim he abruptly decided to base it on the number of steps between two of his shops...

Oil Pump Restoration

Most high-production engine rebuilders simply replace the oil pump when rebuilding an engine. Reason? Oil pumps are relatively inexpensive, and for most popular engines, high-pressure and high-volume pumps are readily available. But for those rebuilding a less popular "fringe" engine, you will have to restore—or more accurately "blueprint"—the existing pump. Although it sounds technical, the actual process is relatively easy and requires only a set of feeler gauges, a flat surface and some sandpaper. Best of all, it should only cost you a couple of bucks for materials...

Oldsmobile History Part 1

According to authors Al Ries and Laura Ries, there are "22 Immutable Laws of Branding." Number 21 is the Law of Mortality, which states that "no brand will live forever. Euthanasia is often the best solution." In other words, it's all about "knowing when to quit." This is when there is a justification to terminate a brand. Doing so is never easy, but becomes necessary, as the brand manager, marketer, accountant, or CEO determines that a product line has failed to maintain its profitability margins or forecasted that future growth is nil or minimal at best, so sadly, there is no true opportunity to further nurture the brand. Thus, a decision is reached, a death sentence is set and a legacy comes to an end. Hard to believe that this becomes the wisest of all choices. As the Ries' declare, "Brands, like people, [know] there is a time to live and a time to die."..

Oldsmobile History Part 2

Among Oldsmobile's many vehicles, there was definitely one car that earned its own page in automotive history, and that was the Toronado. The first U.S.-built, "modern-day" car to offer front wheel drive, the 1966 debut of this two-door, long-bodied "coupe," a.k.a. musclecar, coupled with a 425 cu. in. V8 (later a 455) was as fast as it was beautiful. It was clearly unlike any other model in the GM parking lot, and it found its way into more than a few customers' garages...

Paint Chip Repair

Despite the technological advances in paint over the last hundred years, an automobile's exterior comes under heavy assault the instant the car rolls off the production line. Door dings, bird droppings, corrosive rain, winter road salt and ocean fog all take their toll on that thin layer of color that protects your vehicle's steel body from the elements. Rock chips are especially damaging, as unlike contaminants that slowly eat away at the paint, rock chips cut all the way down to bare metal without prior warning. That allows moist air immediate access and surface rust soon follows. Worse yet, the rust can spread like a cancer beneath previously undamaged paint, so it's best to fix the damage and seal the hole as quickly as possible...

Paint Secrets

Doing your own pre-paint body prep is a big job, but that effort pales in comparison to what you'll go through if you have problems with the shop that sprays your final color. In the "Paint Prep" article on this channel, we started from scratch prepping a 1970 GTO convertible for a complete repaint. Correct surface preparation and the use of quality materials are key to arriving at a stunning finished product. The boulevard bomber was taken down to its bare metal, its slight body damage was repaired and the whole car was brought to the final stages of sanding and primer. We did everything just prior to spraying the color. Shown here are steps on how to find a good body shop, the application of paint, sanding and polishing and some after-paint care. Best of all, a professional body man provides some excellent suggestions about what you can do yourself and what yout you should leave to the pros...

Paint Stripping Refined

Paint jobs have become one of the largest expenses of restoring a car. A quality total repaint, including jambs and all the areas necessary for a color change, starts at $5,000—and goes up from there. If you're making that kind of investment, you want the new paint to last for at least 10 years, if not more. To ensure a lasting paint job you need to strip the vehicle down to bare metal and apply the best paint/primer sealers available. The downfall of most paint jobs is the build-up of old paint, primer and body filler that is painted over. These old materials deteriorate with age and are sometimes incompatible with new paint materials. Deep cracks called "checking" and shrinkage around repaired areas are common problems...

Panoz Comparo

The Panoz Esperante is one of the few all-American sports cars on the market. From its aluminum chassis to the Ford Cobra 4.6-liter V-8 engine, it's all built in Hoschton, Georgia by a group of car fanatics who have made quite an impact on the racing world as well. Their front-engined prototypes were campaigned with moderate success until this year, when Panoz switched racing efforts to GT-class versions of the Esperante sports car...

Pedal Box Restoration

A number of street rod companies offer fiberglass bodies and kits at various levels of completion. Many of the bare-bones basic kits don't come with all the parts needed to complete the car. That's where swap meets, salvage yards and want ads come in. For many of us, collecting the parts is half the fun. Of course, a bit of elbow grease is necessary as well, along with some custom fabrication. One of the more common projects involves making and installing a box for the throttle, brake and clutch pedals...

Plastic Grille Repair

During the late Sixties, most domestic car manufacturers started using ABS plastic for many body parts. There were several reasons for this, the most blatant of which was cost. Why are you not surprised? Reducing vehicle weight was the second major reason, and plastic seemed the logical way to do it...

Plastic Taillight Lens Repair

Classic and collector-car light lenses are often damaged over the years by rocks or other road debris. Small holes or chips can be easily repaired instead of having to replace the entire lens. In some cases, replacement lenses are non-existent or extremely costly. Most auto parts suppliers carry a variety of kits for repairing plastic lenses at home...

Polishing Chrome

Chrome never goes out of style. Although it was less popular a few years ago when the trend was toward the "Euro" habit of painting all aspects of the car body, chrome is making a comeback. After all, it'd be a fashion felony to sport all that bling-bling around the neck and on the fingers with no light-bursts emanating from your ride...

Polishing Stainless Steel Trim

Porsche 911

It's been 40 years since the first Porsche 911 rolled out of the factory. For a single model to remain in production so long is a rare achievement, even more so considering that the 911 has maintained its character throughout. Someone who'd lost their memory after seeing the first model would instantly recognize the latest 911, should they suddenly regain their faculties. In terms of the 911, this is not a bad quality...

Port Matching Your Intake Manifold

Nearly every performance car guy has made an intake swap in the quest for better breathing and improved performance. The problem is that after spending a couple of hours making the swap, sometimes little if any gain is achieved. You scratch your head, yell at the dog, and are downright mad about investing your good time and money for relatively no performance gain. You wonder why...

Positraction Install

Ford's 8.8-inch differential is a strong and popular rear end for retrofitting classic or older cars. It can readily handle the power and torque of a modified 302- or 351-cubic inch Ford small block V8. And Positraction, or Posi for short, is easy to obtain because it came stock in the later-model Mustangs and many other late-model Ford cars and trucks. Positraction is Eaton's trade name for the company's limited slip differential. It was first introduced in 1961 and gained notoriety during the musclecar era as a strong, reliable unit...

Preserving a 1975 Porsche 914

Scenario: A 1975 Porsche 914 sits in your garage, the product of true impulse buying. The boxy little two-seater with its mid-mounted air-cooled 4-cylinder engine is a true European sports car enthusiast's delight, but possibly the least practical car ever built...

Professional Restoration Tips

Executing a complete restoration of a classic car involves several major stages. Most of these—paint and bodywork, major mechanical and the like—can be left to the professionals, but with simple handtools and a weekend afternoon, you can accomplish a lot on your own. The restoration parts aftermarket can supply almost any part for most popular makes, models and years of classic cars. Your best bet is to start with a catalog of parts devoted to your particular car or truck. Most of the items shown here pertain to 1964-72 GM A-bodies: GTOs, Chevelles, 442 Cutlasses and Buick GSs. We'll pass along some tips and products that will make your car a detailed showpiece and save you a few bucks in the process. Plus, you'll enjoy the satisfaction of restoring it yourself...

Professional Tool Storage Systems

The true nomads of the motorsports world are not the drivers, or even sponsors, but rather the mechanics. These are the guys (and more than a few women) who do the real day-to-day crunch work, and deserve far more recognition than they presently receive. Sure, the drivers always thank their crews (they better!), and most crews in the top ranks of motorsports get a piece of their driver's purse (thank you very much), but it's still a tough job. Day after day, weekend after weekend, they work to make the engines stronger and the cars faster...

Protecting Your Investment

After spending four days driving the California Mille Miglia over some of the most challenging roads in America, it became real apparent that vintage cars are spending less time in the museum and more time on the road. Thank goodness for that! While their grace and beauty can be admired in a museum, nothing matches the dimensional quality of hearing and seeing automotive legends in their true element on the open road. One of the big issues facing a car collector is how to protect his car and investment, especially if it is being driven. While anti-theft devices and on-board fire systems are a good idea, an ironclad insurance policy is the ultimate protection against catastrophic loss.

Pumping Iron

Many owners restoring their classic cars, street rods, or older vehicles want to in the process add modern features such as power steering. This type of project, often called a "restomod," since it includes restoration and modifications and/or modernizing, may also include improving the output and reliability of the engine...

Radiator Caps Restoration

One of the earliest pioneers of engine cooling was Carl Benz who, in the mid-1880s, devised what is called the Thermo-Siphoning system of cooling. No water pump was used, as the system utilized the principal that hot water, being less dense than cool water, will rise in a non-vented cooling system. This hot water will cool as it rises through the radiator and then gravity-feeds back into the engine. Primitive, but effective, for the low-performance engines of the time...

Ragtop Restoration

There's nothing, I repeat, nothing cooler than cruisin' in a convertible coupe—top down, wind blowing your hair, sun burning your nose, and sippin' a cold soda. Ah, the memories!..

Re-Carpeting Classics

Carpet is literally at the bottom of the resto-priorities list, probably because it involves the most un-doing. The optimal time to re-carpet is in conjunction with re-upholstering the seats and/or re-covering the rear quarter panels because these components must be removed anyway. However, no single interior revival pays off with such immediate gratification...

Rediscovering AMC Muscle Cars

If there ever was a company least likely to build hot street machines in the 1960s, it had to be American Motors. Back in 1954, independent auto manufacturers Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), but soon the Hudson name was dropped. Rather than battle directly with the Big Three in Detroit, little AMC (based in Kenosha, Wisconsin) designed a line of smaller, economical sedans. These practical, albeit boring, vehicles were called Ramblers, and no serious driver paid them the slightest bit of attention. But all that was soon to change...

Rekindling Side Marker Lights

While the restoration parts industry is booming for Chevy parts, the other three GM brands (Buick, Olds and Pontiac) sometimes suffer due to the small number of vehicles originally manufactured. Tooling to make repro parts is expensive, and if the sales numbers don't justify the expense, owners of these vehicles are simply out of luck for replacements. These side marker lights from a 1969 Buick GS convertible are original and in salvageable condition. The bare metal retaining brackets are covered in surface rust, but after light sandblasting, they'll be as good as new. The plastic lenses are mildly cracked and will polish out with a little elbow grease. The biggest problem is the surround bezels on the plastic lenses. Sometime in the dim past, probably during a repaint, some cretin with a sanding block scuffed the metal trim pieces. We'll attempt to restore all these items—no replacements are available from the restoration aftermarket. While we are dealing here with Buick lights, the basic resto techniques will work for most manufacturers...

Rekindling Side Marker Lights

Relocating a Battery

Think of your battery as a 60-pound lead weight—because that's exactly what it is. In most vehicles, it's mounted far forward and just low enough to clear the hood for easy access and maintenance. Performance enthusiasts and hardcore drag racers discovered that relocating this massive weight to the trunk improved the static weight distribution for better traction. OE auto manufacturers such as BMW place the battery under the rear seat to improve weight distribution and cornering capabilities. The mass of a battery doesn't sound like much compared to the overall 4,000 pounds of vehicle mass, but when you think of that 60 pounds out on the end of a 15-foot lever, its location takes on more significance...

Relocating a Battery

Repainting an Old Musclecar

In our first story about restoring a 1965 Pontiac GTO, we told about the project in general and then looked at the suspension upgrades and body prep. In this second article, we'll focus on the actual application of the paint. For some hands-on tips about how to achieve a flawless finish, we spoke with Mike Face of Mike Face Custom Paint in San Bernardino, who has done dozens of show cars for the owner of this GTO, Larry Weiner...

Repainting an Old Musclecar

Pontiac's GTO is enjoying a resurgence in interest of late, in part due to a cameo appearance as actor Vin Diesel's hot ride in the action movie "Triple X." Of course, musclecar enthusiasts have long admired the "Goat," as it's affectionately nicknamed. Larry Weiner of Performance West Group, a noted builder of late-model show vehicles, is no exception...

Replacing Coil Springs

Just as gravity makes the human body sag over time, it can also cause our cars to droop. More specifically, routine wear and tear causes metal parts to fatigue; and, suspension components eventually tire of absorbing road impact while also supporting the weight of the car's body. New springs can restore the vehicle to its original height and ride quality. The focus of this story is how to replace old coil springs on vehicles that have independent A-arm suspensions...

Replacing Coil Springs

Restoration Tires

Reproduction tires might be required for a concours restoration, but there is a price to pay for originality. The tire technology of the Fifties and Sixties leaves a lot to be desired when compared to today's high-speed radial designs and rubber compounds. But, when restoring a Sixties musclecar for show, adding the correct redline or small white letter tires is virtually mandatory...

Restoring a Classic Suspension

In the last article (Keeping You In Suspension) we discussed how to improve the deteriorating handling characteristics of an aging car. Let's start out by summing up what the repairs and restoration may involve...

Restoring a Rare '32 Nash

Certain types of resto projects have become so common that aftermarket companies now make specific replacement parts for them. The '32 Ford, '57 Chevy, and early Camaros and Mustangs are obvious examples. So many companies offer reproduction components for these cars that finding period-correct parts has become almost as easy as ordering a pizza...

Restoring Your Original Bumper Jack

Like most restoration endeavors, addressing the little details makes a huge difference in the finished product. The bumper jack supplied with your GM car is usually an overlooked item in an otherwise-pristine trunk area. Many resto enthusiasts look at a beat-up bumper jack and can't figure how to restore it—the ratchet assembly isn't removable. The process is relatively simple and can be accomplished in a few hours in the garage...

Returning a 1966 GTO to its Glory Days

In 1966 Pontiac campaigned two identically prepared GTOs at drag strips around the country providing the crowds with a show that became legend—the GeeTO Tiger Show. In "Bringing a 1966 GTO Back to Life: Transforming an Old Goat into a New Tiger," the restoration began of a '66 GTO destined to become a legend reincarnated. Completed was the search for a representative car, the gathering of parts and partners, and the resurrection of the beautiful body and requisite lettering and logos...

Reviving Old Paint with Wheel Polish

The car-care industry offers products that are formulated for almost every conceivable cleaning/polishing scenario: Modern waxes contain chemicals that are tailored to the specific paint styles (base/clearcoat, for example), and other compounds are designed for varying automotive surfaces, such as plastics and leather...

Reviving Original Emblems

If you're into parts originality for your restoration, then saving vintage badges and emblems is important to you. Many suppliers are now manufacturing reproduction items, but most don't carry those original part numbers so precious to many resto enthusiasts. New old stock (NOS) emblems are becoming scarce and expensive, so save those originals!..

Ritchie Clyne Auto Collection

Las Vegas has been remade so many times, regular visitors need a scorecard or a nav system to keep track of everything going on. Look overhead these days and a sleek new monorail glides ever so quietly past key casinos—just another addition to the city that never sleeps...

Rod Talk

You're hanging out at your favorite speed shop or resto barn, and you hear the staff bandy about an expression such as, "chopped and channeled, shaved and decked." You can't find this sort of slang in most dictionaries, and for those who are new to the resto hobby, it may be hard to decipher this lingo. Knowing it is valuable, though, because it can keep you from being misunderstood by dealers and repair shops, plus keep you from being taken advantage of. Also, it's fun to be an "insider" who understands the secret language of hot rodders and car restorers. Here is a glossary of some common terms you may hear:..

Rolls-Royce: A Century of Elegance

They are not the fastest, or the best handling, or the most technologically advanced cars in the world. Yet, almost every modern-day king and queen has been chauffeured in them. Movie stars are driven around Hollywood in them. Music and sports stars have flaunted them like the status symbols they are. They are what many luxury car aficionados consider the best motorcar ever produced: the Rolls-Royce...

Running Gear Resto

Nobody ever claimed that a 1965 GTO was a great handling car. Powerful and impressive, and smooth riding, too, but the chassis lumbered around corners and lacked sufficient braking power by today's standards...

Rust Never Sleeps

It starts with a benign-looking bubble and grows, like the malignancy it is, into a metallic carnivore with the potential to consume a Hummer and then go looking for dessert. It's rust, the bane of anything metal and one of the greatest challenges for auto restorers...

Rust Prevention

Just as Lex Luthor was Superman's archrival, rust is the main thorn-in-the-side to anyone who owns an older vehicle. As Neil Young reminded us, once rust starts, it never sleeps...

Rust Repair and Restoration

Considering just how popular the '32 Ford is for various resto and hot rod projects, it's no surprise that original tin, if you can find it, usually needs a lot of rust repair. Due to the puddling of water that mixes with road salt, the bottom areas of the doors are particularly vulnerable (which is true of many older cars, so these repair tips apply to a wide range of vehicles). For a collectible car, a repair with body filler is not the way to go. You've got to cut out the old rust and weld in a new patch...

Sandpaper Tech

Selecting the correct sandpaper grit for the job not only makes the work go easier, it produces a better finished product. Sandpaper has a literally a million uses, but we're concentrating here on automotive use, specifically body and parts finishing...

Saving Seatbelts

For many collectible vehicles, the restoration aftermarket offers almost every imaginable soft part to make interiors look factory-new. Carpet kits, OE-fabric upholstery and various interior panels abound. But after a complete interior resto, one particular loose end can be a glaring eyesore: dirty seatbelts...

Shelby Cobra Day at Petersen Museum

It all started on January 11, 1923 in Leesburg, Texas. That was the day one of the world's greatest racers and automotive entrepreneurs was born, Carroll Hall Shelby...

Shift Enhancements for Your Automatic

The term "slushbox" was coined to describe the less-than-optimum shift characteristics of factory automatic transmission. All major manufacturers between the '50s and '70s offered mushy-shifting two- and three-speed automatics. To increase performance for non-standard uses such as towing or racing, automatics often received internal adjustments, machining and other refinements...

Shipping Your Vehicle in Style

The search is over and you've finally acquired that one vehicle you have longed for, whether you bought it at auction, either online or on-site, or you ordered it from a dealership out of town. Maybe some benevolent relative or friend has bestowed or bequeathed a vehicular gift upon you. Or, you're simply making a personal move, and your second or third car, or that collectible family heirloom, the '57 Nomad, needs to find a way to get there. Whatever the reason, now your vehicle must get to its new home...

Single Wire Ignition Upgrade

If your classic GM V8 is throwing a spark across a set of points, then you've either become proficient at adjusting and replacing those points or have paid out a fortune over the years to a mechanic to maintain the spark in your classic. Well, toss out your dwell meter because M&H Electric Fabricators has an electronic ignition upgrade conversion that is so easy to install you'll be shocked...

Speedometer Cable Replacement

If your speedometer has been acting weird—the needle jerking wildly or not moving at all—chances are that its cable is bad. Like most other automobile parts, speedo cables eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Throughout the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, many vehicles came with completely mechanical cables that run from the speedometer in the dash directly to the transmission. The smaller end of the cable attaches to the back of the speedometer, and the larger fitting screws onto a housing on the transmission or transfer case...

Speedometer Replacement

Until the introduction of electronic instrumentation, most auto speedometers were cable driven. The drive cable has a square end and threaded bezel that simply inserts into a fitting in the back of the speedo and then travels directly to the transmission. After years of use, the square end of the cable occasionally rounds out and the cable spins noisily in the speedometer housing. Needless to say the needle just moves in a jerky, bouncing fashion. To replace the speedo the instrument cluster must come out of the vehicle...

Steering Joint Upgrade

Wear on your steering system may not show up all at once. You just adapt to it until one day you realize you've got a whole lot of play in the steering wheel; or, worse yet, too much play in the wheels...

Steering Wheel Install

Here is a great way to update an older car's interior for a small amount of money in a short amount of time. A new steering wheel is fairly easy to install and doesn't require a lot of expensive tools to get the job done. And it doesn't take a lot of time to do the change. There are several steering wheel styles to choose from, everything from the old Banjo wire steering wheels to the more modern spoke and woodgrain wheels...

Steering Wheel RR

Although I've worked on cars for more than 35 years, I've never removed a steering wheel—not that I shouldn't have. Some of the cars I've owned have had horns that didn't blow and signal lights that didn't cancel. And more than one of my resto projects needed to have the cracks in the wheel rim repaired and painted to finish off the project. If I had known how easy it was to remove and replace the steering wheel and hub assembly, I would have done it a lot sooner...

Stripped Bolt and Screw Repair

Ever try to tighten up a bolt and it just won't? Or maybe you are putting the final torque on one and suddenly it gives way to being loose again. Whatever the situation, it is almost always accompanied by a sinking feeling in your stomach. Now what do you do?..

Stripping Your Frame

When restoring an older car, you may find the frame has a nasty coating of rust and peeling paint. Sandblasting can strip bare corroded metal for less than the cost of chemical dipping, and with less complications. Another advantage of sandblasting is that it cleans off the surface so thoroughly, a more accurate assessment of frame condition can be made...

Suspension Installation 2

Our subject '67 Verdoro Green Firebird is a numbers-matching 400 car with 83,000 original miles. The car was cosmetically restored in the early '90s and retains its original interior and drivetrain. The car needs a mechanical update, and an improved suspension is critical to building a strong foundation for future upgrades...

Suspension Restoration and Modification

It was love at first sight, the sleek lines, the shiny paint. Underneath the hood sat a powerful engine, and the interior fit you like a comfortable pair of three-year old sneakers. And when you test-drove your dream classic, the car you had always wanted in high school, it felt perfect. A few quirks, but that's what makes owning a classic car fun, right?..

Swapping Rear-End Gears

In early September 1964, a southern Californian who loved the styling of the new 1965 GTO checked all the right boxes on the dealer order form except one: the rear gearing. This musclecar was delivered with a 3.23:1 non-positraction rear end, and it stayed that way until a recent horsepower upgrade and transmission rebuild demanded more low-end performance. The decision was made to yank the one-legger and install 3.55:1 gears and a posi...

Taillight Housing Resto

Safety should always be the primary concern while driving your car, particularly at night. Bright, functional turn signals and taillights play a key role in that safety. Especially with older muscle cars, the taillights don't shine as brightly as when new. Here is some illuminating information that every car restorer should know...

Taillight Housing Resto

The Advanced Avanti

The trend-setting Avanti was not only the product of the foremost industrial designer in American history, but also from an automobile company that seemingly couldn't do anything right. The designer was Raymond Loewy, the manufacturer was Studebaker, and the car was both sensational and influential in its day...

The Coveted Camaro: 1967-1969

When Chevrolet discontinued the Camaro in 2003, it broke the hearts of thousands of fans. (So much so that, as of this writing, GM is considering a re-introduction.) Despite the lack of current examples, or perhaps because of it, clean examples of earlier Camaros have taken off in value, driven by a renewed appreciation of musclecars in general...

The Evolution of the Pickup Truck

Some say Gottlieb Daimler's 1896 "vehicle no. 42," which looked like a horse-drawn wagon without the horses, was the first truck. Daimler claimed its four-horsepower, 1.1-liter, two-cylinder engine would haul a payload of 3,300 pounds. Imagine using a riding lawnmower to tow a trailer loaded with nine 55-gallon drums. The weakest riding mower on market today is about twice as powerful as old no. 42. Either Daimler was prone to grossly exaggerating payload potential or old-time horsepower was a lot more robust than today. Daimler later offered a 10-horsepower truck that boasted a dizzying top speed of 7.5 mph...

The Future of Auto Restoration

Thousands of Americans have restoration projects sitting in their garages, and hundreds of companies are working day and night to come up with products to help get these cars back on the road. Many of these companies were at the 2003 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas giving us a glimpse of new products for restoring classic American cars. The array of items on display tells us a lot about how the hobby has changed and where it's going...

The Immortal Corvette: 1953-1962

It's hard to imagine the American automotive scene without the Corvette. The Vette has sold by the tens of thousands, won hundreds of races, starred in the television show Route 66 and was hailed by Prince in his ode "Little Red Corvette." It has been the favorite ride of astronauts, race drivers and rock-n-roll musicians. Yet it wasn't always so glamorous. In its infancy, the Corvette was an underpowered, overstyled "sheep in wolf's clothing" that hung on to its existence by the narrowest of margins. How it survived to prosper is a tale worth telling...

The Immortal Corvette: 1963-1967

In the first part of this series, we covered the birth of the Corvette, and the changes made from the 1953 to '62 models. Here, we'll tell the story of the Sting Rays that followed. By 1961, the Corvette was in jeopardy. Jaguar had introduced its stunningly beautiful XKE, which not only looked sleek, but had fully independent suspension and four-wheel disc brakes as well. Next to it, the '61/'62 Corvette looked like a leftover from the Fifties (besides being saddled with a live axle in back and inferior drum brakes). Meanwhile, back at GM, Corvette chief Zora Arkus-Duntov and styling guru Bill Mitchell had been burning the midnight oil to bring out an all-new Corvette that could be built on a meager development budget...

The Immortal Corvette: 1968-1982

Corvette enthusiasts were expecting something big in 1968. The Sting Ray had been exciting and much-loved, but there were rumors of a mid-engine monster that would put the Cobras to shame. Instead, what they got was a modernistic facelift on the existing running gear. The general look of the new bodywork was previously revealed in 1965 on a Chevrolet show car called the Mako Shark II. The Shark's wild, exaggerated lines were tamed down for the new C3 Corvette, but the overall theme was still there...

The Immortal Corvette: 1984-1996

The all-new 1984 Corvette came at a painful time for General Motors. GM had been hemorrhaging red ink for some time and was reluctant to spend money on a re-design when the old Corvette was still selling in respectable numbers. Yet there was no denying that by the early 1980s the third-generation Corvette was slow and dated...

The Immortal Corvette: 1997-2003

The groundwork for the 1997 C-5 (fifth generation) Corvette was laid in 1989 when the Corvette design team began thinking of ways to make a more rigid Corvette. The 1986 convertible looked great, but the changes necessary to convert the coupe into a drop-top resulted in a weak structure that rattled and twisted...

The Mini Evolution

The new MINI has grabbed attention all over the world for its clever styling, excellent handling and reasonable ergonomics for such a small car. All of which sounds familiar to longtime fans who remember the debut of the original Mini 45 years ago. Despite the change in capitalization, the two cars share a lot in common. The first Mini was sold in 1959, and if you think the new MINI stands out from the crowd now, imagine how different it must have been back then...

The Murphy Auto Museum

Certainly if you are a car lover you have fantasized about amassing your own collection of fine automobiles. Well...if you had the means to create the assemblage of some of your favorite cars, what would you do with these treasures? You'd want to share them with your friends, right?..

The Rat Fink

Cars and what people do IN them and TO them are a large part of Los Angeles' culture and history. Beyond the obvious sitting in traffic and creating the unique color of our sunsets via the refraction of light off the exhaust, there are those in L.A. who take cars and car culture far beyond that of mere transportation...

Thread Repairs 101

With all of the reproduction parts available, vehicle restoration has become an R&R (remove and replace) operation. By contrast, old-time restorers of rare and early vehicles have always restored vehicles by refinishing the worn, tattered and crumpled parts that came on the vehicle. While most modern day restoration enthusiasts don't have the equipment and the skills to renew everything, repairing a part with stripped or crossed threads or a part with a broken bolt is a fairly easy. And although new reproduction parts may look inviting, the more original parts you have on your car, the more desirable it is...

Thread Repairs 101

Top 10 Collector Car Buying Tips

Buying a collector/hobby vehicle should be an exciting, fun thing to do. But—without the proper considerations—the results can be frustrating and financially disastrous. Always try to consider all the options available to you when planning a purchase. Here are some critical points to consider before you close any deal...

Top 10 Stolen Classic Cars

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (April 2003)—The Chevrolet Corvette was named the number one stolen collector vehicle in a recent study conducted by the Hagerty Protection Network (HPN) between July 1999 and December 2002. The report issued by Hagerty Insurance, the nation's largest insurer of collectible cars and motorcycles, indicates that vintage Chevrolets are the most stolen brand commanding close to 40 percent of collector cars stolen in the last three years...

Top Speed Amateur Racing

Auto racing is usually reserved for the wealthy. Sure, you can buy an older, less expensive car for sports car or stock car racing, but you aren't likely to write your way into the record books. Yet one of the few types of racing where an amateur can set records without breaking the bank is top speed racing, where drivers see who can go the fastest. All sorts of older cars are eligible to enter this type of competition, the ideal scenario for amateur racers on a budget...

Total Package GT 350 Set to Kill

The 1965 Shelby GT 350 was a trick ride right out of the box. You've read about them, seen them, heard the rollicking idle sing from the pipes like so much adolescent thunder. Lots of GT 350s were raced (that's what they were built for) and though some remain stock to this day, a bunch were (and remain) built to suit, built to please or built to the hilt. Frank Stagnaro's in particular is all three...

Traction Bars

Traction bars have been around for a long time. They are great for reducing or preventing wheel hop and spring wrap-up on cars with rear leaf springs, especially in drag racing situations. Not only do they add to the performance aspect of the car, but also these chrome traction bars look great on the car...

Trans-Am Racers: 1966-1972

Until the mid-1960s, road racing in America had been the province of European sports cars and the Corvette. They were nimble, sophisticated and attractive, with brakes that would slam you against the dash and cornering speeds that were only a tick slower than all-out racing cars. On the other hand, the typical American sedan was huge, boring and a potential accident from the moment you moved the steering wheel off dead center or mashed down on the spongy brake pedal..

Trans-Am Racers: 1973-1995

The Trans-Am series has been around for 39 years, and seems to be poised to continue for 39 more. In our first installment, we revisited the glory years of the series from 1966 to 1972, and gave some ground rules for restoring a classic pony car for vintage racing. Now we'll look at the changes that have taken place in Trans-Am since 1972, and how to get on a racetrack in your own vintage Trans-Am car...

Transmission Cooler Line Resto

Automatic transmission cooler lines will probably never make the top of the list when planning a restoration. They're just there—virtually hidden from view—and they don't attract any attention unless they leak. However, there are a couple of scenarios that will focus your attention on finding or making suitable replacements. Scenario #1: You go to remove the radiator and the first thing that happens is you round off the cooler line nuts (even with a line wrench) when you try to loosen them, leaving you with an ugly solution—Vise-Grips. Or, scenario #2: The last hack artist who did an engine rebuild on your car couldn't remember where the cooler lines were routed and just re-bent them to fit into a new location...

Trunk Compartment Restoration

Your car trunk is like a basement—it's a place to throw stuff! Mostly stuff you don't care to see again for a while. That is unless you have a flat and have to unload all that stuff to change your tire. Not fun, even on a sunny day! A restored trunk on a collector car becomes a thing of beauty to help in winning another car-show trophy. It's a simple process provided the trunk floor is sound and no metal replacement is required—and it's the same for almost any trunk compartment. Simply research what color the sheetmetal was painted and whether or not you need a trunk mat. Our subject here is a Sixties GM A-body (Chevelle, Skylark, Cutlass or LeMans/GTO) that has a sound trunk, except that somewhere along the line a carpet was glued to the floor. Not good! We'll begin by removing the goo and glue left from that unrighteous redecoration...

Trunk Latch Replacement

On resto projects, it's the little things that can make a big difference. For instance, by paying close attention to the details, a custom trunk latch and license plate frame can really set off a custom car or hot rod. Trunk latch kits and lighted license plate holders are available at most hot rod parts houses. If you want to save a few dollars, there are two other good sources for trunk latches at a big discount: automobile recycle yards (look for Triumph and MG sports cars), or use a Stanley garage door opener handle, available at any hardware store...

Trunk Weather Sealing

Have you ever opened your trunk and smelled a musty odor? Does the stench remain even after that gym bag is removed? Lifting up the carpet or mat might reveal mildewed carpet and rusted sheetmetal. There may even be small holes in the trunk floor...

U Joints - Installing New Universal Joints

Most rear-wheel-drive cars and trucks will need the universal joints replaced at least once during their service life and possibly more often if it's a high-performance vehicle or equipped with a manual transmission. U-joint life can be extended with periodic maintenance by greasing the zerk fittings (if so equipped), but general abuse such as popping the clutch and full-throttle power shifts will shorten U-joint life considerably...

Unusual Angles and Sine Plate Calculation

If you are making a custom part for your vehicle, in most cases it will not be shaped like a simple rectangle. Take a quick peek under the hood of even the simplest vehicle and you will find complex angles and curves due to the complex jobs that the parts accomplish. Most of us however, do not have access to a full machine shop with the most capable (and expensive) machines and computers. The equipment discussed below is the kind that you might find in a home machine shop, and will not completely break your budget...

Upgrading Torque Converters

If your vehicle is pre-'90s and has an automatic transmission, chances are it could really benefit from a modern performance torque converter. In its quest for more efficiency and performance, the auto industry has put an incredible amount of research and development into torque converters. The result is torque converters that provide much more torque multiplication (more on that later) and higher efficiency. These benefits are available for your older vehicle and will literally transform the way it drives and performs...

Upgrading Your Bushings

We all know what it's like to suffer from sore joints. Even if you're in good physical condition, without enough cushioning between your bones, ordinary motions can be difficult. Now, apply that same concept to the suspension on your old car or truck. The bushings found on the control arms, leaf springs and various mounts are like the cartilage between your joints. The manufacturer normally equips a vehicle with rubber bushings, which provide a soft ride. Over time, however, the rubber begins to wear from oil and other contaminants under your vehicle, and the suspension components start to bind. That's when the automotive equivalent of arthritis sets in, and your vehicle's performance suffers (not to mention your own level of ride and handling comfort). Worn bushings are one of the major reasons for road wander. Rubber bushings may crush down before the suspension can respond to a bumpy road, allowing for play or wobble...

Upholstery Restoration and Trends

In days gone by, one would only consider a re-upholstery of one's vehicle if the fabric were truly beyond repair (or reproach). Car seats, regrettably, are not like one's denim pants that can withstand a bit of patchwork or ironed-on covering. Typically, once a vehicle's interior began to show signs of extreme wear, slipcovers were the order of the day...