DJ Trava

Archive for the ‘Automobile’ Category

There’s a kind of rare sentiment that’s common among those who spend their time fixing up their old vehicles. It has to do with a reverence for the past, for the good quality of materials and construction that make some of the best vehicles classics today. It speaks to a sense of integrity, where maintaining objects by its nature makes them more precious. In these times, when it’s becoming necessary again to care for the things that we already have, auto restoration is gaining ground as a lost art that’s due for a revival.

One of the best things one can do for a car, besides the usual maintenance services, like changing the oil and keeping the fluids running clean, is to keep the tires in good shape. Since these are a wear and tear item, new tires are necessary to prolong the life of the vehicle. There are, thankfully, places where one can still find antique tires . They can add all the newest technology to keep the ride safe, but also enhance the integrity of the machine. Merging the new technologies with the old school design , antique cars can come to life again, and give a new life to the neighborhood.

It’s not necessary to sacrifice quality for integrity, either, as there are excellent manufacturers offering products that will make the car really stand out. It’s certainly possible to modify the look, to give it a contemporary spin and make the antique car truly original and striking. It’s also sometimes preferable to keep the look true to the time it was made. Careful maintenance, along with a designer’s eye, can add stunning and still subtle effects. This can give it a look that will give it extra appeal, bringing out its natural shine, while also putting a grin on the faces of those who still remember when.

It is always exciting to learn new things about the history of the American motor companies. Ford was such a pioneer of success with the Model T cars which spurred on a challenge for General Motors and the combined Chevrolet company. GM bought Chevrolet in 1911. It was so long ago it is always important to put this time into perspective. Geronimo was not captured until 1912. So on one side of the country there were Model T’s and on the other side of the country there were still gun fights going on around wagon trails.

The first truck that Chevy built came out in 1918 which was called the Ton Truck. It sold for 1245.00 and had a payload capacity rating of 2,000 lbs. Wow. Things have come along way since the first Ton Truck. The truck seems to be one of the great prides of America. This is the vehicle that built this land. Over the years, truck as seen its day out in the fields and on the ranches. Today, the old trucks are really worth a lot when they are restored correctly. One can pick up a chevrolet pickup repair manual and get all the info to make an old truck new. In fact, all automobiles have the chance to live along life when there is a good manual to refer to with mechanical questions.

Oldsmobile has some classic cars that many like to restore like the Cutlass. Nothing like an old convertible Cutlass to take a long Sunday drive along the California beaches or the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The classic cars and trucks of the 50’s will make everyone’s head turn as they are driven by in the great condition. Keeping these old classic cars alive puts a smile on every ones face. It seems to be a great reminder of the passion that has driven this whole country.

On a birthday surprise trip taken a few years ago to Puerto Penasco, or Rocky Point, Mexico more commonly known, motor cycle manuals would not have helped us out a certain predicament.  I had funded a trip for a friend of mine from Boston, Massachusetts.  He wasn’t familiar with the way of the desert, nor was he familiar of just what a Toyota Camry was capable of, or not capable of as the case may be, with regards to driving on sand.

The drive from Phoenix to Rocky Point, is pretty short.  In just about 4 hours one can be sitting on the beach eating fresh shrimps and relaxing, I thought–a perfect way to spend a birthday, no need for small engine repair manuals.  However, as we were camping, and my friend didn’t want to park and walk, he thought it would be an okay idea to just drive right out onto the sand…in a Camry, no four wheel drive and not thought.  I made mention that this may not be the best idea.  But, well—there we ended up.  A great spot on the beach for a few days, but no way to get the car out of the sand.

I tried my best to think of just how we would get home, and made the best of the three days on the beach.  It was fun, we painted pelicans and ocean landscapes, but on our last night, a tremendous storm happened and we were forced to take shelter in the stuck-in-the-sand Camry.  At some point during the night, he decided to run the heater, which was reasonable in a way…as we were soaking wet and very cold.  However, in the morning we woke up, not only stuck in the sand, but with a dead car battery as well.  A self-sufficient camper, a guy that spent most of his time in one of those old school silvermotor-homes accompanied by many dogs, came to our rescue.

This man knew about automotive repair and rescue.  He had a contraption that charge our battery through the cigarette lighter in his motor-home.  He then deflated our tires so we would be able to maneuver our way out of the sand.  We made it to the center of Rocky Point, re-filled the tires with air, and headed back to Phoenix.  We did get home in one piece, but next time I take someone on a trip for their birthday, I may just buy a ticket to Spain, and hire taxis for the entire weekend.

For many people, opening  small engine repair manuals and getting to work fixing their own car is a satisfying and rewarding experience.  They will become more familiar not only with the ways in which vehicles operate, but with their own car in particular.  Working on your own car at home has many benefits.  For one, it is sometimes difficult to find the perfect and trustworthy mechanic.  While living in Los Angeles, I found the perfect mechanic, many miles away in South Pasadena.  But the drive, and one time the tow, was worth it to me as my car was in their hands, and they were recommended, and reputable.  Secondly, in fixing your own car, the monetary benefits are great.

How many times does one look at the receipt, the part may have cost $42 dollars, but the labor was $380?  When one can open a car or motorcycle manual, and fix some of the engine problems themselves, they gain a certain independence and become a bit more self reliant.  One will need to build up their auto repair tool kit which should eventually contain the following items.  A basic tool kit with screws, pliers, fuses, and wrenches is a must.  As well as the proper safety equipment which will contain among other items, a flashlight and a first aid kit.  A hydraulic jack and fuel injection testers are a must.  The jack will allow you access to the under-body of your vehicle, and this is a must.

Whether you are simply changing a tire or working on the undercarriage a hydraulic jack will make things much easier.  The injector testers may be a bit more expensive than the other items you will be collecting but they are great for diagnosing the problems that may be occurring.  One item one may not think of are suction cups.  These are items that are very inexpensive, and very helpful.  They give you a second pair of hands so to speak, making it possible to keep up a window while repair the door.

For the battery, a charger is good to have around the garage, as well as terminal cables.  These too, are not very expensive and are good to have on hand.  One of the systems that is most essential to have working properly on you vehicle, is the braking system.  Your home automotive repair tool kit should include brake bleeders.  Home brake jobs are not very difficult, and the bleeders will make the repair go much quicker and much easier.  And then of course, with a compressive set of manuals, one is ready to begin the first day in their home garage, which will lead to hours of satisfaction, and miles of driving in a car that is in tip top shape.

New car sales are plummeting, including sports cars, but sports cars for sale sales are climbing. Considering the somewhat impractical nature of the sports car, some wonder if the high-performance of these vehicles add to the high cost of fuels, and the short answer is no, not really. Sports cars, unlike the big SUV’s, which is due to extinction due to poor gas mileage and recent hikes in gas prices, fill an entirely different role, one of being different from the pack, a freedom to move about easier, and they are faster and safer than the SUV. Plus, most sports cars now have fuel-saving technologies, which includes direct injection, variable valve timing, and cylinder deactivation.

With sports cars for sale, the younger crowd, those who haven’t started a family yet, allows the fun to begin and the imaginations run wild. The sports cars function is to serve, to make the owner look like James Bond, to fulfill a desire to appear to be cavalier and care free. Buying a sports car is like buying a new you for a day, a week, or even a month. Beware though, you might develop an emotional attachment to your sports car. It’s wise to stick with your budget and not over-indulge, but then again, wouldn’t be nice to take it for a spin around downtown, or to the countryside and speed along those curvy roads like they do in those commercials?

Even though times are tight for the auto-making industry, sports minded drivers can still save a bit, because not all sports cars are gas-guzzlers and if you want, consider the advantages to owning a sports car. Combined with lower gas cost and durability, the prestige and attention that comes from owning a sports car is unlike any other experience.

Manufactures of cars and trucks have been cutting down the weight of the vehicles that they are turning out these days, even down to the weight of custom car wheels. Usually the 20 rims had been made from steel, but now many are being constructed with aluminum and chrome.  These are much lighter and tend to have more shine, and are just generally more attractive than those made from steel.

However, these chrome rims are more easily oxidized and should be cleaned regularly in order to prevent damage to them, or to the tires.  When oxidation is allowed to build up, the rims may become disconnected from the wheel of the car.  The rims are very easy to clean, and this should be each time the tire is removed.  There is an inexpensive machine that spins the rim while you polish it with a die grinder.  The oxidation and the grime basically gets sanded off the surface.

It is best to let the disc spin a few times just to ensure that you do not miss a spot.  You should go all around the outer edges of the rim, as well as flipping it over and sanding down the other side before putting them back onto the car tires.  Oxidation causes bubbles to form on the under the surface of the chrome, but with proper maintenance this is easy to avoid.

Chrome will not tarnish however, which is one of the good aspects of choosing to go with rims made of this metal.  Chrome rims may chip over time, and while this can not be avoided, once a chip reaches the depth of the metal underneath the chrome plate, there is not much that can be done to fix it.  However smaller scratches and chips can easily be buffed out using special creams one may find at any auto supply store.

There are many things that make replacing one’s tires for their vehicle a bit confusing for some.  Which size is right?  What do things like carrying capacity and speed ratio mean?  Is bigger, better?  Well one way to answer these questions, is to simply go to one’s mechanic.  There are codes listed on all tires that a mechanic can explain, and where one chooses to buy new tires is important.

It is common for some people to return to the dealership wherein they originally purchased their vehicle, but this is an expensive, and often times, unnecessary maneuver.  While they will ensure that the original factory tires will be installed, this is, again, unnecessary.  There are many tire companies, and even local mechanics on the corner, that will replace the worn tires with ones that are appropriate for one’s vehicle.  And these places really are the best places to go.  The prices are often times very reasonable, and the service technicians are knowledgeable about the differences in the tires.

It is wise to always shop around a bit, as the prices will vary from store to store.  One option that has become widely used nowadays, is to buy tires at an extreme discount online. The trouble with this however, is that the tires will be shipped to one’s house, but obviously they will not be installed.  And unless one is a mechanic themselves, they will still need to find a facility to mount and balance them.  This can also be quite expensive.

However more recently, these discount companies will team up with local shops and offer discounts in the mounting of the tires.  For some, wanting to find speciality or exclusive tires, this becomes their only choice.  Hand down though, for the regular consumer that just wants a fair price and reputable customer service, the local options are often times the best options when replacing the tires for one’s vehicle.