Hot Autos, Motorcycles & Planes Posts
How To: Swap out the 4.7L engine from a 2002 Dodge Ram truck
If you're the owner of a 2002 Dodge Ram Truck you may be looking to swap out the motor for one that works. This video is part 1 of a 2 part how-to, which will show you what to do to be out with the old engine and in with the new.
How To: Replace the drum brake shoes yourself
This tutorial gives you everything you need to know in order to be able to change the drum brake shoes yourself - and also how you can do so safely! Know when you can do it yourself and when it's a good idea to call a professional.
How To: Find out what your car is trying to tell you when the check engine light is on
When your car turns on, the computer under the dashboard runs a quick diagnostic of your car. If a problem is detected, the check engine light will turn on. Here is how you can diagnose your car to determine what has gone wrong, and how you can fix 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.
News: The Wall of Death (Thank God for Centrifugal Force)
We've seen it before, but India's Wall of Death never ceases to awe and amaze. Below, taken from the Guardian's Eyewitness photo series, a man performs the incredibly dangerous stunt during Jhiri Mela, in India ("a fair held every November in memory of a farmer who killed himself in the face of unjust demands from a landlord").
How To: Easily remove scratches from the paint job on your car
If the paint job for your car or truck has been lightly scratched, this tutorial shows you how to use Scratch Out to remove scratches. Make sure you do this in the sun, and remember to reapply your coat of carwax after you're done.
How To: Replace leaky clutch hydraulics on a Honda Civic
If the clutch hydraulics on your Honda Civic are leaking, you might find your clutch stuck on the floor. Here is how you can check to see if you have a leak, and then how to fix it if you find one.
How To: Replace the hydroboost unit on a Chevy Astro van
If your Astro van is performing poorly (or perhaps not at all), one solution is to replace the hydroboost. Fix your power brakes and power steering with a new hydroboost. You'll need some moderate familiarity with auto mechanics to do this.
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: Determine if you should buy an electric car with Electric Car Calculator
Are you thinking of trading in your 6mpg Hummer for something a little more efficient? Well, if you've got an electric or hybrid car in mind, this video will show you how to make a choice that works for you. With a little program called Electric Car Calculator, you can determine if the savings are worth it for you to get into one of today's hybrid or electric cars.
News: Movie Trailer – World's Smallest Mobile Cinema Seats 8
Not only does this solar-powered cinema have all the trimmings of a great movie theater — ticket booth, brick façade, Ionic columns, popcorn machine, fancy art deco signage —, it is itself remarkably trim:
How To: Prevent or fix your car when it begins to accelerate unintentionally
Does your car sometimes accelerate when you don't intend for it to do? Depending on if your car is late or early model, the culprit could be one of several things. Here's how to figure out what causes it, and more importantly, how to make it stop.
How To: Change the automatic transmission fluid on your car
You don't have to pay a mechanic to change your automatic transmission fluid, you can do it yourself at home! This video shows you how to execute a perfect fluid and filter change on your car or truck at home.
News: Can You Pass the Crazy Chinese Driving Test?
China is a hot mess of traffic and is stereotyped for spawning some of the craziest drivers in the world. The traffic jams are known to be so bad, drivers have been gridlocked for 9 straight days.
How To: Install a combination DVD player and Sat-Nav in your BMW
This tutorial shows you how to install a fun new toy in your BMW - a combination DVD player and sat-nav/gps system. You'll need a few parts you can get from any BMW dealer as well as a few basical hardware tools.
News: Ralph Lauren's Decadent "Garage" (Re: Luxury Auto Museum)
You can see why Ralph's daughter Dylan may have conceived of the $15 grand gingerbread house. Below, images of the fashion King's exotic car garage, via Vanity Fair.
HowTo: Fly the Harrier Jump Jet (World's First Vertical Take Off Fighter)
The Harrier Jump Jet was designed by the British military in the '60s, noted for being the first successful vertical take-off jet fighter, powered by thrust vectoring.
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.
News: Synchronized Drifting = High-Speed Motor Ballet
It's an auto freak's wet dream: the beauty of synchronization + the adrenaline rush of engines revving and expert vehicle maneuvering. Check out these incredible dancing Toyotas on Japan's Fuji Speedway. Inspired? Start small.
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: Fix trouble code P0141, the rear oxygen sensor, on a Dodge Neon
If you are the proud owner of a Dodge Neon with a check engine light on and it's showing error code P0141 on your scanner, you probably need to replace the rear oxygen sensor. This video will show you how to do that as easily as possible.
News: For $55K, You Can Have Your Very Own Tron Light Cycle
The release of Tron: Legacy is just two weeks away, and if our in depth guide to Tron-a-Sutra didn't get you revved up, perhaps the street legal Tron Light Cycle will. Via Wired:
How To: Replace a broken CV boot joint on your 4x4
When you're out offroading the bottom of your car takes a beating, and it's entirely likely that you could rip or otherwise damage one of the CV joint boots on your axles. This video will show you how to replace a CV joint boot and get your 4x4 back on the offroad.
How To: Pack a recovery kit for your 4x4 to ensure your safety while offroading
If you spend a lot of time alone or close to it in the wilderness, then hopefully you already know how important it is to bring a properly packed survival kit. This is true for offroading enthusiasts as well as pedestrian outdoorsman, but the kit requires some great specifically related to your being in a 4x4. This video will show you what you should pack in your 4x4 offroad recovery kit and explains why this stuff will keep you safe.
How To: Use a wheel winch to rescue your 4WD drive from the mud
If you and your 4WD Jeep or other offroading vehicle venture far enough afield, you will probably find yourself stuck in mud, sand, ruts, or some other sticky situation. This video will teach you how to use a wheel winch to self-rescue your vehicle from all sorts of situations and get your truck driving again.
How To: Remove and install the CV halfshaft / axle on a front-wheel drive car
The CV axles (halfshafts) on your front-wheel drive car can develop a rip or leak pretty easily, leading to noisy driving and eventually axle unreliability. Watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to remove and install a CV halfshaft.
How To: Diagnose a cracked cylinder head / blown head gasket
Oil is vital to maintaining the health of your engine, but if it's leaving the areas of the car where it's needed it can cause major damage. Watch this video to learn how to diagnose whether a misfire is being caused by a cracked cylinder head or leaking head gasket allowing oil to enter your coolant and spark plugs.
How To: Install a charging station in your home for the new Nissan LEAF electric car
November 29th marks the day of Nissan's triumph, not only as an automaker, but as an eco-friendly automaker. The new Nissan LEAF has won the 2011 European Car of the Year award, the first all-electric vehicle to be chosen for the award.
How To: Replace the cupholder in an Audi A6, A4, or C5
One of the many slick features on many German cars are articulating hidden cupholders. These break much more often than conventional cupholders and can have to be replaced. Watch this video to learn how to remove and replace the cupholders on an Audi A6, A4, or C5.
How To: Fix a broken back door lock on a Mitsubishi Endeavor
The Mitsubishi Endeavor, like most vehicles, has it's own list of common problems. One of them is the back door locks not working. Watch this video for a guide to diagnosing your door opening problem and, hopefully, fixing it successfully.
How To: Build a DIY automotive cylinder leak down tester to test engine seals
The seals in your car had best all be functioning properly if you expect your car to work right. To test the ones in your engine cylinders you'll need an automotive cylinder lead down tester, and if you don't want to buy one, you're in luck because this video contains easy-to-follow instructions on how to make one in your garage.
How To: Clean your car battery terminal for optimum performance
Your car is a well-oiled machine...when you first get it. Once the new car smell wears off and the excitement of driving the latest and greatest model lessens, car maintenance becomes a chore and some of us even forget to do it regularly.
How To: Make sure your car passes a smog or emissions test
Smog and other emissions tests are an annoying part of life for most American motorists. It can be surprising and even more annoying when your car fails, and even new ones can. Watch this video for tips that will ensure that your car passes.
How To: Replace your worn-out rear brake shoes on your vehicle
Are your rear brake shows worn out and making noise? Well, then today's you lucky day, because Scotty Kilmer is going to show you how to change brake shoes on a car. First, you'll need to jack up the car a few inches from the ground. Take of the wheel, then get a big hammer and whack the drum a few times to loosen it up. Take it off. For the rest of the repair instructions, watch the full video!
News: The 130 MPH Dining Room Table
Just the other day, we featured Perry Watkins' "Wind Up" mini car, plus his extreme lowrider, the "Flatmobile". Both impressive.