All posts in Auto Restoration

How to Save Your Old Car from the Scrapyard

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/08/27 in Auto Restoration with Comments Off

Everyone likes an old car that keeps running great for years after its first use. For some car owners, it is better to have that new coat of wax than that new car smell. But what do you do when your old friend is getting long in the tooth, and seems more bound for the scrapheap than your garage?

Fix It Up!

The concept is simple—when your car stops working, get it repaired. Do it yourself or hire a mechanic to get the work done. There are plenty of guides available to help you find the right repair professional.

Doing your research is necessary to avoid running into any scam. If you know your information, you will avoid paying thousands of dollars more than what the car is worth. At the least, learn about basic auto repairs—what needs doing and how professionals should be doing it—along with the average costs of each repair.

Routinely inspect the large components for signs of obvious wear, but don’t neglect the little things either. There aren’t extra, back-up parts on your car, so each is important in its own way. List each part in order of importance, starting with the engine. If you really care about an old car, you will consider having these inspected regularly and replaced if necessary.

When you make repairs, rethink paying more than what your old car is worth. Research the average costs of the repairs and replacements before you visit the mechanic.

Pick Out the Parts for Repairs

Before you make repairs, find the right parts for your car. Make sure that the parts match the car because buying the wrong size is just a waste of money.

The cheaper, more convenient option is to choose old parts. You can either visit a u-pull-it or pick-apart scrapyard to find your parts. In major cities, there is usually a handful of yards, like U Pull & Pay, to make selections from.

Buying new parts is a little more sophisticated. You have a wider range of products to choose from online. The costs are higher, but the quality is guaranteed to be high. Another reason to buy new parts is to get a shiny look for your old car.

Contrary to what everyone thinks, an old car is not totally useless. You can still drive it around and use the parts like you did in the past. It may be a little rusted, but that rust is repairable. If you care about an old car and all of the memories you’ve had with it, you would continue to care for it. Do whatever you must do to keep it out of the scrapyard.

Overhaul Your Clunker: A Guide to Making Your Dream Car

by Carsurfer Admin on 2016/06/15 in Auto Restoration with Comments Off

Do you have an old clunker taking up space in your garage or backyard? Perhaps it’s taken you months or even years to muster up enough energy to finish the project. It may seem daunting and nearly impossible to complete a task like overhauling a vehicle. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it completely alone! If you follow the right steps you can end up with the car of your dreams.

Frame Restoration

Begin at the very bottom of the vehicle and work your way out when starting your overhaul project. If your vehicle is a frame and chassis then you will want to remove all interference’s so you can separate them. Once they are separated you will have the option to bead blast the metal chassis or hand sand it. Apply a nice base coat usually black or gray to protect the metal once it is cleaned and repaired if there was rust.

Body Work

Once you have the chassis repaired to your liking it will be time to move on to the body. Bodywork takes time in order to be done correctly. Some people choose to take their vehicles to a body shop for proper body filler, sanding and painting. You can shop around to ensure you find a body shop that meets your requirements and price range.

Engine /Transmission / Brakes

What better way to get your old clunker running than with a new or refurbished crate engine and transmission. Crate engines and transmissions come in different sizes and horsepower ratings. You will want to choose the one that best suits your overhaul needs. Will you be creating a high horsepower weekend drag car or one you can drive daily? Give all four brake calipers and pads a good check to make sure that they operating correctly. It can be fairly inexpensive to change the rotors and pads. Do your research when it comes to finding reasonable pricing for parts. If you’re worried your vehicle might be a little old for the latest auto gear, shops like Reggie’s Garage specialize in classic car parts.

Affordable Options for Repair

When starting an overhaul project the list of things to repair can be very long. You have to ask yourself if you’re capable of DIY work on the vehicle. Doing the repair work by yourself can save you a lot of money, but not everyone can do welding and bodywork. Your best option may be to shop around and see who has the cheapest rates to perform the work you need.

DIY overhaul projects can save you money and give a certain sense of ownership. The downside to repairing the vehicle yourself is the time it will take you to complete the overhaul. With a packed schedule, you may opt for hiring a professional. One thing is for sure, you won’t ever look at that old clunker the same way once you’re finished overhauling it!

7 Classic Cars Just Begging To Be Restored

by Carsurfer Admin on 2015/01/12 in Auto Restoration with Comments Off

If you like repairing old cars, there are seven classic cars that are begging to be restored. Locating parts for these vehicles won’t be very difficult, so major delays will never be a huge concern.

1963-1965 Buick Riviera

Although the Buick Rivera doesn’t have a typically size, it is still a fast and powerful vehicle. In its era, the Rivera was a well-designed car, which is why many people are now restoring it.

1953-1954 Chevrolet Bel Air

The Chevrolet Bel Air is a popular collector’s item because the replacement parts are quite affordable. Automotive part manufacturers also offer a variety of upgrades for the Bel Air that improve performance, such as disc brake conversions.

1971-1972 Pontiac GTO

If you are on a budget, the GTO should be considered since it is very affordable. However, if you have money to spend, purchase one of the earlier vehicles instead. Automotive parts manufacturers produce plenty of parts and components for the GTO that increase gas mileage. However, the vehicle is not in high demand, so it won’t have a great resale value when you list it for sale.

1961-1966 Lincoln Continental

Among collectors, the Lincoln Continental is a popular car. The replacement parts for this vehicle, however, are somewhat limited. Though, if you can find the components, you can purchase them at low prices.

1928-1931 Ford Model A

This car is a great choice for rookie restorers; the demand for the vehicle is low, and the parts are readily available. If you run into problems during the restoration process, you can easily contact an expert for advice. The only disadvantage is that you may not earn much money when you sell the vehicle. However, if you want to test your restoration skills, you can tackle this project without spending thousands of dollars.

1951-1954 Packard

In the 50s, Packards were efficiently-built cars. Today, replacement parts can be purchased at low prices, but trim components are not very easy to find. To restore the vehicle, you must join a car club so that you can get helpful advice and store recommendations. Tackling this project is high recommended because the Packard sells easily.

1964-1968 Ford Mustang

The Ford Mustang is another ideal vehicle for beginner car restorers. Parts for this vehicle are readily available in almost every city. Beginners typical buy early Mustangs since they are easy to sell.

Each of these vehicles are worth restoring. For additional advice about cars, contact the experts at Speedy Apollo Auto Service Centres or local service center.

5 Signs Your Vehicle Needs a New Engine

by Carsurfer Admin on 2014/12/26 in Auto Restoration with Comments Off

The engine is the heart of your vehicle. It is what gives your car or truck life. Most drivers are confident that they know their vehicle inside and out. With technology now in days you’re not as likely to have engine trouble, but it is still possible that it could happen. However, even if you’re at one with your car, it can be difficult to know when something changes. This is especially true when it comes to your car’s engine. Luckily, though, there are 5 signs that you can keep an eye out for which will let you know that your vehicle needs a new engine.

1. Gas is Gone in an Instant

One way to tell that your engine is breaking down is by how fast the gas in your tank empties out. If there is something wrong with your vehicle’s engine, there will be a quick decrease in the gas mileage. For instance, if you notice that you usually get 20 mpg on the road but are now limited to 15, it may be time to bring your vehicle to the auto shop. This does not mean that you need a new engine, but it does show a possibility. You may just have something as simple as a leak in your gas line or a problem with you fuel injectors.

2. Recent Knocking Noise

Another way to tell that your vehicle may be experiencing engine trouble is that all of a sudden a knocking noise develops. This noise will usually be brought upon when the car speeds up. The noise can be the result of something as simple as a bad tank of gas, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. That’s because this noise could actually be due to small detonations in the engine that could cause irreversible damage if not taken care of.

3. Car Turns Over But Doesn’t Start

If the engine is malfunctioning, it may be difficult to start up the car. Remember, if the car turns over, you can rule out the issue stemming from the battery. The same goes for the starter and alternator, as long as the vehicle starts. According to Mike’s Auto Towing, when the car starts hard, all fingers should point to the engine.

4. Vehicle is Backfiring or Stalling

Of course there are times where this doesn’t indicate engine failure, but when a car backfires or stalls there is a possibility that it is due to an engine problem. If it’s not the engine itself, it could be a problem that could damage the engine.

5. Odor From the Exhaust

Nowadays, most vehicles run without giving off any smell. However, if you notice that all of a sudden your exhaust smells bad or different from before, you should bring your car straight to the mechanic to get it checked.

It’s clear that if you experience any of the signs listed above in your vehicle, you need to get it looked at right away. After all, it’s better to be overcautious than not cautious enough. By getting your car inspected, you can avoid serious damage from occurring later on.

Top 4 Tips for Finding Replacement Parts for Your Truck

by Anica Oaks on 2014/09/24 in Auto Maintenance, Auto Repair, Auto Restoration with Comments Off

Nothing halts your plans faster than when your truck breaks down. Often older trucks are extremely difficult to find quality replacement parts for. If this is a problem you have not experienced yet, you are in for quite a lot of hassle and run around if you do not know where to turn to get the right parts. To avoid being hung out to dry, let us talk about some possible ways you can find the right truck parts to get your truck up and running again.

1. Searching Your Local Area

Often you can find parts for your truck by searching online ads in your local area. The great thing about online ads is that the sellers do not always want to charge you an arm and a leg for the part you are looking for. In some cases, they do not even want money for the part at all. Many online local ad sellers are just as happy to barter for other items you might have laying around the house that they either want or need for their own purposes. In a lot of cases, the part you are looking for has been taking up room in someone’s garage, and the person has been trying to get their garage space back. This can potentially give you a lot of room to negotiate for a low price.

2. Specialty Orders

Hunting around online, you might find websites that have been in business for a while, helping people locate hard to find parts for their trucks and industrial vehicles. Specialty shops like 99 Truck Parts & Industrial Equipment Ltd. make it easy to order parts you need online, both new and used. If these online businesses do not have the item in stock, they will likely know how to get the item or explain to you how you can find it, since dealing in hard to find truck parts is their forte.

3. Government Auctions

Another way to potentially run across replacement truck parts is by checking out a local government auction in your area. The government regularly makes information about these auctions available to the average citizen through online websites, such as USgovernmentauctions.net. Government auctions can be a great place for the truck enthusiast who needs or wants to find trucks to cannibalize or scavenge parts from.

4. The Boneyard

Every day people have their old car or truck towed off to the boneyard. A lot of times, these are wrecked vehicles, and they are good for little more than to salvage parts out of them. Sometimes this can be a roll of the dice looking for replacement parts in the boneyard, but it can also often be a good place to check, if all else fails—especially if the part you are looking for is not too uncommon.

Now that you have some idea where to look to find that replacement truck part you’ve been looking for, it’s time to make some calls and get that truck of yours up and running again. With a little effort and by showing off your mechanical abilities, you’ll have that truck purring like new in no time at all, allowing you to get back to those plans that were temporarily put on hold.