Hot Car Mods How-Tos
How To: Use Plasti Dip Coat to Black Out Car Emblems
Plasti Dip coating is a rubber like coating that can be dipped or sprayed on. I first remember the coating available as a dip years ago. It was first introduced as a coating used to dip tool handles in to provide a grip. However, since then, the coating has became available in a spray can. It has also became popular on car parts, such as wheels, emblems, and even entire cars.
How To: Don't Smoke? Turn Your Car's Ashtray into a DIY Smartphone Dock
If you don't smoke, your car's ashtray is probably either unused or, if you're like me, full of loose change. And if your car is older, unless you've installed one, it probably doesn't have a place for you to plug in your phone. This quick hack by Jalopnik's Jason Torchinsky will solve both of those problems by turning your ashtray into a simple DIY smartphone dock that will charge your phone and let you play music through your car's speakers. After removing and cleaning the ashtray, Jason to...
From Studebaker to Nanobaker: How to Add a Touch-Controlled, iPod Nano Sound System to Your Car
How do you make a 1950 Studebaker even cooler? By installing an iPod Nano in the dashboard, of course! The folks over at MAYA Design hacked their way to a touch-controlled sound system with this project they've dubbed the "Nano-Baker" (or "Stude-iPod") using a pair of Apple ear buds, a USB cable, a voltage regulator and a set of speakers. Here's how they pulled it off.
How To: DIY Subframe Connectors
The guys at PMM show you how to make your own subframe connectors to help stiffen up the chassis, and potentially reduce vibrations in the car. All you need is a length of pipe, a drill, a vice, and some extra hardware! This can be one of the least expensive suspension modifications you can do to your car.
How To: Wrap Your Exhaust
Reduce your engine bay temperatures and improve the look of both your whole engine bay and your headers with something so simple as an exhaust wrap. It is really easy to do if you have the patience to do it. Just wrap it tight, clamp the end, and enjoy your work!
How To: Get Free Manual Electric Fans on Your Vehicle by Removing the AC Relay
Turn your stock fans into 100% manual fans by tacking out the AC relay. Doing so will stop the signal to your compressor telling it to turn on when you hit the AC button. However, the fans will still kick on when pressed, and when released the fans will turn off. This will give you 100% free manual electric fans whenever you want. If it's a hot day and you want the air conditioner on, all you have to do it put the relay back in.
How To: Install a Grounding Kit on Your Vehicle
Reduce the risk of blown fuses, blown sensors, shorted wires, and even possibly increase shift times on an automatic and possibly increase horsepower with a grounding kit! All you need is some wire, terminal ends and electrical tape or heat shrink. To make this work, all you have to do is run ground wires from essential components to a good ground area, such as the strut tower.
How To: Paint an Engine Block
Tired of your old engine looking... not so good? Clean it up and enhance the overall look with a simple paint job! In this episode, we show you how to paint your engine block, costing you only a few bucks and about an hour or two of your time!
How To: Vent Your Hood for Only $3
The guys at Poor Man Mods show you how to vent your hood to reduce engine bay temperatures, which can lead to lower intake temperatures and protection to components in your engine bay. To do this, they just take a few coupler nuts and screw them onto the studs on the hood where the hinge is. Doing so, they create about a 1 inch gap in-between the hinge and the hood itself, which raises the rear of the hood up, allowing hot air to escape. Near the turbo, this help reduce engine bay temps by 12...
How To: Paint Your Car's Interior for a Two-Tone Look
Painting your car's interior is a great way to enhance your driving surroundings and give you a new plush look. In most cases it can even increase the value of your car when you trade it in or sell it.
HowTo: Build a Poor Man's Chevy Volt
Wish you could make the shift to electric or hybrid, but you can't afford it? If you've got more than a few free weekends on your hands, you may want to consider undertaking Benjamin Nelson's ambitious (to say the very least) car conversion project.
How To: Fabricate and install passenger side bracing in a stock race car
Follow along in this instructional video as Jeri Ellsworth demonstrates how to fabricate and install the passenger side bracing on dirt track racecar being built from a 1981 Camaro. The materials and tools needed for this project include a 1 3/4 x .120 tubing, an "Affordable Bender" bender, a Millermatic welder and a Hypertherm 43 plasma cutter.
How To: Fabricate and install the halo and window post in a stock car
Learn to fabricate the halo and window posts with some tubing and a Millermatic welder into a dirt track racecar being built from a 1981 Camaro. The materials and tools needed for this project include a 1 3/4 x .120 tubing, an "Affordable Bender" bender, a Millermatic welder and a Hypertherm 43 plasma cutter.
How To: Fabricate and install door bars in a stock car
Fabricate and build door bars (aka sissy bars) for a full tube chassis 1981 Camaro racecar by following along in this instructional video with Jeri Ellsworth. The door bars are being built for a very rugged car, designed to withstand a large amount of side impact. Tools and materials needed for this project include 1 3/4 x .120 tubing, an "Affordable Bender" tubing bender, a Millermatic welder and a Hypertherm 43 plasma cutter.
How To: Fabricate and install a roll bar in a stock car
Learn how to fabricate and install a rollbar into a 1981 Camaro being converted into a racecar. In this video, Jeri Ellsworth bends and cuts tubing into a rollbar and welds it into place. Tools and materials needed for this project include 1 3/4 x .120 tubing, an "Affordable Bender" tubing bender, a Millermatic welder and a Hypertherm 43 plasma cutter.
How To: Tie subframe rails together in a stock car
Learn how to tie subframe rails together with a Millermatic welder as this 1981 Camaro gets rebuilt into a racecar. In this video, Jeri Ellsworth welds the rails and shows proper preparation and technique. Tools and materials needed for this project include 1 3/4 x .120 tubing, an "Affordable Bender" tubing bender, a Millermatic welder and a Hypertherm 43 plasma cutter.
How To: Disable the safety belt warnings on the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country
While safety belt warnings are there for a reason, the constant sound of "ping, ping, ping" can get pretty annoying. If you'd rather not deal with the constant reminders, check out this video to learn how to disable the warnings on your 2010 Chrysler Town & Country. Be warned - this modification may be illegal in your state, so proceed with caution.
How To: Install an iPad in your car
The iPad is the king of the tablet PC's. One of the reasons tablet PC's are so awesome is that their thinness and lack of folding allows them to be used in positions where normal computers and even netboooks cannot. This, it turns out, makes them perfect for installing in car! This video will walk you through the process of installing an iPad into the dash of a car, which is pretty freaking baller.
How To: Build the Neurotikart, a really fast electric go-kart
Does an electric racing go-kart sound like something you could have in your life? We thought so too. This video will walk you through how one man built what he calls the Neurotikart, an insanely fast DIY electric go-kart that will thrill you without making you cough up two-stroke fumes for a week afterwards.
How To: Install Recon LED Strobes and HIDs on a truck
In this tutorial, we learn how to install Recon LED Strobes and HIDs on a truck. You must first learn where each of the tires need to install and make sure they are placed in the right direction for what you want the lights to look like. After this, you will connect one side to the white wire on the positive. Then, you will leave the white disconnected on the other side for the flash to alternate between each of the lights. These will look great on a big truck! Just make sure to follow the di...
How To: Clean an automotive paint gun using a gun washer
If you've just finished your paint job on your vehicle, then you're not done yet— you still have to clean up, and making sure the paint gun you used is properly cleaned is the key to successful future spray painting. This video shows you how use clean the spray gun with a paint gun washer.
How To: Spray primer sealer and base coat paint on an automobile fender
If you're painting your auto yourself, you might need a little help if you've never done it before, especially when it comes to the primer sealer and apply your first base coat of paint. This video will show you how to do just that. An OEM fender was already prepped by sanding with 500 grit sandpaper on a DA with a soft pad and surfing the edges with a maroon scuff pad.
How To: Install a cold air intake (CAI) for a 96-04 Mustang
In this tutorial, we learn how to install a cold air intake for a 96-04 Mustang. First, you will need to lift up the hood and locate/disconnect all wiring harnesses. Then remove the bolt around the air filter housing and set aside. Separate the intake and the housing, then pull out the air filter housing. Reinstall rubber grommets that may have come out, then disconnect all hoses from the engine. Put the intake and the pieces together, then you will start to place it back into the car the way...
How To: Use hydrogen for better mileage
Hydrogen can be used to improve mileage. The hope with this method is that hydrogen will increase the amount of gasoline combusted and increase fuel efficiency, as you trickle hydrogen into the tank. Often propane is used to increase gas mileage. The studies are still being done. There's no official data at present, but there is significant experimentation.
How To: Install sequential (chase) tail lights on a Mustang
In this video, we learn how to install chase tail lights on a Mustang. First, you need to remove the rear trunk panel and trim piece. Next, prepare your tail light kit by following the directions that are given to you with the package. Next, cut the tail light wire. Now, put on your turn signal and take note of which light it still blinking, then mark it with electrical tape. Now, swap that light into the in board position and run the new wires by rewiring the new lights into the tail light. ...
How To: Adjust the mirrors on a motorcycle
Just like a car, having your mirrors adjusted to the right position can be a big help. They are important to use when trying to change lanes and can help prevent serious accidents.
How To: Tint Your 2003 Malibu Car Windows Perfectly
Objects Locate all the objects you need to remove before removing panel.
How To: Install a TRD supercharger on a Toyota Tundra
If you own a Toyota Tundra and are looking to change things up a bit inside your car, this tutorial may be what you need. In this video you'll find out how to install a TRD supercharger to your truck. More specifically, a 2008 Toyota Tundra 5.7L V8.
How To: Build a subwoofer for a Mini Cooper
In this tutorial, we learn how to build a subwoofer for a Mini Cooper. Start off by cutting the wood so it's to the exact sizes that you need. Next, attach the walls of the subwoofer together with a screwdriver and screws. After this, apply wood glue to the inside of the wood to make sure it's stuck together. Next, make a circular piece of wood for the speaker, then cut a hole in the back of the box. Insert your speaker to the subwoofer and string the wires through the back. When you are fini...
How To: Install an iPod into your car
If you're getting tired of all the commercials on the radio or want to listen to your favorite book while on the road, then this next tutorial might help. If you have an iPod, then listen up!
How To: Mix automotive or car paint
In this video, we learn how to mix automotive or car paint. To begin, you want to look at your car information to find out what kind and color of paint they used on it originally. Once you have this information, you can take it to an automotive shop and they can do a code search for what to mix together to get this specific color. You may have more than one option on how to make the color, depending on what it is and what year your car is. Next, you can have the paint made and tested to see i...
How To: Install a ham radio in a Jeep Liberty
I you are interested in installing a ham or cb radio in your car, this two part tutorial should help. In these videos, you'll find out how to install a ham radio in a Jeep Liberty. It's a tricky task and requires that you make a few holes here and there, but in the end the result will be a car that has a useful ham radio in it. So good luck, be careful not to cut any wires, and enjoy!
How To: Install HID headlights on a Ford Mustang
One great feature about cars, is the ability to customize certain parts and features that match your style. Headlights, steering wheel, tires, almost anything can be changed to match your personality. One of the easiest parts of the car to change would be the headlights.
How To: Install smoked headlights with halos on a Ford Mustang
One great thing about cars, beside the fact that it can get you from point A to point B, is the fact thatyou can customize it to fit your personality. This can be done in a variety of different ways, but one of the easiest involved the head lights. Before attempting this tutorial, check your state laws on what kind of headlights you are allowed to have.
How To: Install 120 Volt Plugins & USB Ports in a Car or Truck
With all the little gadgets people carry around these days, those little cigarette lighter outlets just don't cut it for in-car power sources anymore. Unfortunately, that's often the only option our cars and trucks come with.
How To: Change the time to a 2010 Kia Rio
It may not seem that important, but time is important for many people, especially those who can call their car their work space. So, knowing how to change the time in any vehicle is always important. And in this tutorial, you'll find out how to change the time to a 2010 Kia Rio using a few easy to follow steps. So good luck, enjoy, and drive safely!
How To: Change the time on a 2010 Nissan Sentra Spec-V
In this next tutorial, its something that not many people would think is that important, until they're late. Yes, it's the time on a car. Each car has a cool way of showing the time and it can take a few buttons in order to get it to the right time. In this video, you'll be finding out how to change the time on a 2010 Nissan Sentra Spec-V. It's pretty easy to do and will just take a matter fo minutes. So good luck and enjoy!
How To: Adjust tilt steering in your vehicle
Now before checking out this next tutorial, it's a good idea to read your owner's manual to find out if you have tilt steering. If you do, then this video is for you. Not all cars are the same, but one cool feature is the ability to tilt the steering wheel up and down. It's something that has been around for years, but has improved with time. Not only can you move it up and down, but now you can pull it and push it away. So check out this tutorial on how to adjust tilt steering in your vehicl...
How To: Program the radio presets on a 2010 Hyundai Tucson
Each year, new gadgets and features are being put into cars to help the overall experience when driving. Massagers, seat warmers, and mp3 player jacks are just a few of the new things. One thing that remains true, but has gone through a bit of a change, is the car radio. People can still tune in and listen in to their favorite stations with just a push of a button. But setting the radio stations is easier than ever. Instead of always switching back and forth from AM to FM, there are ways that...
How To: Use the rear stow 'n go on a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan
With so many cars, vans, and suvs storage is important as ever. Taking seats out used to be the only way you could ever get enough space for big bulky objects, but thanks to innovation and some smart people, it's easier than ever. And you'll see just that in this tutorial for how to use the rear stow'n go on a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. Good luck and enjoy!