Get your paint ready before starting.

First of all, decide on the type of paint you hope to use on your car. It could be a water based color or solvent based color or even acrylics. You will also need thinner, hardener, stir sticks, a measuring stick, strainer and if necessary mixing additives to get the correct viscosity to give your car a perfect paint job.

If your decision is based on using a water based color, it will be much easier since the paint can be used straight from the tin. However, it would be better if you add at least 10 percent of a mixing additive to help smooth the flow of the paint for ease of application. Tap water should never be used for this purpose and distilled water is also not recommended as a mixer. Make sure you have everything ready before you start your paint job since you would not want to be leaving your car half way painted to run down to the store to get what you are missing.

If your car is being painted with a solvent based paint of a metallic color, you will need a standard base coat thinner to thin down the mixer to a ratio of 2:1. With metallic colors there’s no need to add a hardener. You must make sure that the instructions given on the back of the tin of paint are followed exactly or it could cause you problems.

When you are using metallic paint, attention should be paid to the settings on your paint gun since metallic paint becomes lighter if the pressure is up and darker if its down. The fan as well as the flow of paint in the gun also contribute to this effect.

If you are using two pack Acrylics, you will require a hardener and a fast speed thinner to help with the flow and drying time. A mixing ratio consisting of 2:1:10 made up as 2 parts color, one part hardener and 10 percent thinner will be suitable for this type of paint.

When using clear coatings such as lacquer, it should be mixed at a ratio of 2:1:10 with 2 parts of the lacquer, one part of hardener and 10 percent thinner to assist in the flow of the material.

Once you have your selected paint mix ready, make sure it is thoroughly mixed with the use of a paint stirrer and if necessary, the reducer added before proceeding. Now you are ready to transfer the paint to the paint gun to start spray painting your car.

Photo Credits: aresauburnâ„¢

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All tripped out.

First of all, to avoid draining the battery of the car, make sure you disconnect the negative terminal. This will prevent your car from having problems starting later on. It is also a good idea to avoid a potentially costly short-circuiting of your car’s electrical system.

Secondly, make sure you read all the information that came with your new speakers. Familiarize yourself with the various parts included in the box with all the hardware. With a set of full-range speakers, the box will come with two speakers, some speaker wire, speed clips, mounting screws and the much-needed instructions. The box may or may not contain grilles, if it does not, then use the factory ones.

With the installation of component speakers, you’ll also have the tweeters to install, which include mounting hardware and crossovers. You have to consider where you are going to install your tweeters and the type of mounting you plan on using. The best place for the tweeters is above the woofer. The tweeters should be “aimed” towards the area where your ears will be. This ensures the best possible sound. Never install the tweeters very far from the woofer and it is recommended that it be--at the farthest--one foot from the woofer.

The next thing you need to do is uninstall your current speakers. You should use a window crank removal tool to pry off the speaker crank cover. Remove all the necessary screws from the door panel and door pull cup. The door pull cup should easily come off now, with maybe just one or two more screws to remove beneath the door pull cup. The door panel should now easily slide off the door. Unscrew and pull out the speaker from its opening. You might need to use a tool to pop off the factory speaker.

Due to the fact that component speaker systems all use external crossovers these divide frequency bandwidths between the woofer and tweeter; you will need to solder the wiring harness to the input wires of the crossover. Cut the wiring harness slide connectors and strip the wires. Then, before twisting them and the wiring harness wires together, place some heat shrink tubing on the wires. Solder the wires and then use a heat gun for melting the heat shrink tubing and protecting the connection.

Next install the woofer and the tweeters. You may have to use special mounting brackets to secure the woofer in place. A tweeter requiring angle-flush mounting requires you drill a hole in the door panel.  Connect the leads from the tweeter and woofer to the crossover using the attached quick slides. Put the door panel back and replace all the needed screws.

You can now enjoy your new sound if you remembered to re-connect the negative terminal back to the battery.

Photo Credits: robad0b

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Car Stereo

Stereo Trim

Most car stereos have a plastic trim that goes around the head of the stereo. It looks like a picture frame that fits tightly around the stereo. The trim normally snaps into place and is held in with small plastic clips. You can purchase a special stereo removal tool, called a DIN tool. This is basically a thin strip of metal that is used to release the clips. You can also use a small flat head screwdriver to gently work the trim loose so that you can pull it off. If you are going to reinstall the stereo trim, you should use care when removing it so that you do not crack it or break off the clips.

Mounted by Spring Clips

The most common method to holding a stereo in place is with spring clips. Typically there are four clips that hold the stereo in place. You will need a DIN tool so that you can remove the stereo. Insert the DIN tool on the side of the stereo. Once properly inserted, listen for a “click” and the stereo should slide out. Normally you can see where to insert the tool. There are clips on each side of the stereo. If the car stereo is factory, you may be able to locate a diagram in the owner’s manual that gives detailed instructions on removing the stereo.

Once the stereo pulls out of the mounting bracket, you can unplug the antenna coax and remove the wiring harness. Normally a wiring harness is held in by a clip on each side. Using a small screwdriver, you can lift the clips up so that you can unplug the wiring harness.

Mounted by Bolts

Some stereos may be bolted to the dashboard, which makes it a little tougher to remove, but not impossible. With this type of installation, the brackets that mount onto the stereo are secured with bolts, instead of spring clips. If the stereo has trim, you will need to remove the trim as mentioned above. Once the trim is removed, look for any visible bolts that may be holding the stereo in place. Normally there are four bolts that are located under the stereo trim. Remove those bolts and attempt to pull the stereo out. If the stereo doesn't pull out, look for additional bolts that are attached to the bracket. Once all of the bolts are removed, the stereo will slide out and you can disconnect the wiring harness and antenna.

Photo Credits: hardwarehank

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Car Restored

Calculate the costs

Before you ever begin a restoration project, sit down and calculate the anticipated costs of finishing the project. Include the expense of not only car parts and other materials, but the cost of any tools you may need to purchase as well. And don’t fool yourself into underestimating the costs of restoration – these processes are time consuming and expensive, and there are few shortcuts if you want to do the job right. If you have calculated these costs and are still determined to invest the money and considerable time that the restoration project will require, the chances that you will successfully see the process through to completion will be dramatically higher.

Choose your parts wisely

Using collector magazines, books, and internet research, identify the parts you need to restore the vehicle to its original state and shop for them with an eye toward quality. It is always best to have the opportunity to see any parts with your own eyes prior to buying them, but there are times when the distance may prevent that. In those times, make sure that you have sufficient photographic evidence to reassure yourself that the part is of the desired quality. You can also visit salvage yards to attempt to locate some of the more common parts that you may need.

Space is important

When it comes to the restoration process, recognize that you will require adequate space to complete your work – and you will need that space for some time to come. That means that if you are opting to store the car in your garage, be prepared to have it there for months and months while you go through the process of acquiring parts, restoring them, and reassembling the vehicle. You may think that your current vehicle is a good example of how much space your restoration project will need in your garage; in actuality, you may need twice that space to do the job comfortably.

Forget your pride

You may reach parts of the process where you feel uncertain about how to proceed. Don’t be too proud to seek out advice or counsel from friends or restoration experts in your area. The time you save will pay off in the end, and you will have the comfort of knowing that the job is done correctly. In the process, you will learn valuable lessons that will help you in future restoration jobs as well.

Photo Credits: juhansonin

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Closed Shipping

There are two methods of car shipping or auto transport: the closed shipping and the open shipping method. But before we discuss the best type of shipping method suitable for you let's check on your car first. Here are some tips you should consider before handing it over to the transport company.

Wash your car and take note or even take a picture of any chip or damage to avoid blaming the company for an incident. A complete report of preexisting damage is very important to both the car owner and the car transport company. Next remove all personal items or valuable belongings from your car and make sure that you disable the car alarm. You may also want to remove special items from your car like spoilers or fog lights. Filling you car with gas is not necessary, just be sure to leave at least ¼ of gas in your tank. Consider also your battery and tires. Make sure that your battery is completely charged and your tires properly inflated. Let the car transport know of any leaks.

Now let's discuss the transportation methods. The first type is the closed shipping. This type is basically for expensive or vintage vehicles. Covered freight trailers or boxed trailers (as some would call it) will protect your expensive vehicle from natural elements. Very suitable if you will have to cross the desert. With closed shipping your car will be protected from wind, extreme heat and sand along the way. This method however is more expensive because of the extra protection it provides to your car.

The next type of transportation method is the open shipping. Your vehicle is placed on the trailer with no protective covering or box. Choosing open shipping allows your car to be exposed to natural elements such as sunlight, rain, sand and extreme heat. Open shipping is more frequently used and is much cheaper than the closed shipping.

Some shipping companies will offer to transport your car in large batches. It is a less expensive way but may be very inconvenient because delivery time may be prolonged.

Choosing the right shipping company is very important. You can use the internet to choose from a large number of car transportation companies. Different companies offer different deals so it’s important to choose the right shipping company to get the best deal, check all the insurance they offer and its coverage. Get as much information you can from the car transportation company you’ve chosen.

The security of your car when being transported is extremely important. You put the life of your car in the hands of the car transport company so choose the right company to transport your car.

Photo Credits: L2F1

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Leased Car

Many people have broken their car lease with the least amount of collateral damage.  The idea behind breaking your car lease is to pay as little as possible, while avoiding the pains and the anguish of having to pay off the entire lease, which is usually quite burdensome. Let’s look carefully at some ways to break your car lease without the pains of paying off these high fees.

Terminating the Car Lease

The first option that you could consider is terminating the car lease. Now let me warn you about this option. This option is not recommended, mainly because it is the most costly of all the options. In other words, this option won’t help you out if you are on a tight budget or you have lost your job. This option is expensive because when you return the car to the dealership, you will be faced with the responsibility of paying all the remaining payments including an early termination fee. This would force you to dig deeper into your pockets. Therefore, if you terminate your car lease you could end up paying a few thousands of dollars in one lump sum payment.

Transferring the Car Lease

Another option to consider in breaking your car lease is transferring the lease. I must advise that this particular option of breaking your car lease is less expensive in comparison to terminating the lease. However, you will need to get someone who will willingly assume responsibility for your car lease. Getting someone to take over your car lease may prove to be challenging, but if you look on the brighter side, there is always someone in need of a car, who probably won’t mind dealing with lease payments. Another thing that you might need to do when you attempt to transfer your lease is pay a credit application and skillfully negotiate with your car dealership to ensure that your car lease is properly transferred.

It’s a good idea to seek help from major companies that specialize in helping people break car leases when you decide to break your car lease. Seeking help from these companies will be beneficial to you as they could tell you of any other necessary steps to take. If you are lucky, they may even get someone to take over your car lease for you. However, these companies usually have fees in place that you will need to pay before they help you in breaking your lease. Therefore, before you choose a company, you should do some shopping around to find a reputable company to assist you in breaking your car lease.

Photo Credits: nateOne

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Simply put: don’t risk it, there’s far more than just your own life at stake.

But if you ever find yourself on the wrong side of a critical error in judgment and about to be pulled over by law enforcement, there are certain steps that you can take to increase the likelihood of you avoiding the permanent stain of a DUI on your driving record.

In the process of being pulled over and questioned by the police, do not offer them probable cause. Law enforcement officers who suspect a driver has been drinking will employ a host of tactics to bend the laws that keep you from being your own worst enemy and incriminating yourself. They will ask you if you’ve had a drink, but more importantly they will ask you when you had your drink. You’ll be tempted to try and spit out the “magic” timeframe but it wouldn’t matter, because the officer likely asked you that question in anticipation for the next tactic: the Breathalyzer.

First off, understand that the Breathalyzer test is optional and at no point will you be forced by law to take one, despite what the officer says. If you answered their questions about the last time you had a drink, they will time the test so as to ensure the most incriminating result. Never agree to a Breathalyzer test. Not only is their reliability in consistent dispute across American courts, but if you agree to one and it says you were above the legal limit you may be facing the even worse charge of ` DWI. The police might haul you to the precinct if you refuse to blow, but understand that being detained for suspected DUI is far less incriminating than failing the Breathalyzer.

After being released from the police, get yourself a good DUI lawyer. More importantly make sure you get a lawyer from the area, as DUI laws vary from county to county – a Phoenix DUI Lawyer is going to do a better job handling a DUI case that happened within the city limits than a lawyer from your hometown an hour away.

Avoid a DUI by never doing it, but if you do, know your rights and get professional help as soon as possible.

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At a MSRP $46,725, the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 is available as a 2 door coupe and convertible. This powerful muscle car is an all-aluminum fast car with increased performance and efficiency. Performance features include: a 5,411 cc 5.4 liters V 8 front engine and has a power of 540 HP SAE @ 6,200 rpm; 510 ft lb, 691 Nm @ 4,500 rpm, premium unleaded fuel 91 and petrol Multi-point injection fuel system. The fuel economy estimates of the 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 are 14 MPG city and 22 MPG highway. It is the first modern Shelby without a gas guzzler tax. This high performance fast car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 sec and 0 to 100 mph in 10.3 sec. So finding the cheapest auto insurance quote for this muscle car will be a daunting task. The top speed is 155 mph and braking is 70–0 mph: 172 ft. As well, Ford has made significant changes to the GT500 drivetrain, tuning up the final drive ratio to 3.55:1 while lowering the fifth and sixth gear ratios to .74 and .50.

One bit of Ford-exclusive technology that helped to make this muscle car a little slimmer was the addition of a Plasma Transferred Wire Arc cylinder lining. This technology helps to reduce its weight by 8.5 pounds. It also reduces friction in the piston rings and cylinder bores by coating the inside of the cylinder bores with special nanoparticles. The 2010 Shelby GT500 also features AdvanceTrac, Ford’s stability control system with several options for performance. As well, a number of aerodynamic upgrades, including a redesigned splitter, were made to the front end.

The 2010 Shelby GT500 has a unique head turning design that includes a Aluminum hood w/single large heat extractor, the unique signature coiled Cobra badges on the front grille and front fenders, a more aggressive front splitter and lower-drag rear spoiler, improved aerodynamic features, 19" x 9.5" painted forged aluminum wheels, stainless steel dual exhaust system w/4-inch tips, Unique rear fascia, unique rear decklid spoiler, and racing stripes and GT500 side stripes, unique Shelby front and rear diffusers, and black power mirrors. George Saridakis, Exterior Design manager of the Mustang and Shelby GT500 says the 2010 Shelby GT500 “is all about power and expressing power.” With the tremendous power and cool features, it is easy to understand that the cost to insure 2010 Ford Shelby GT500 per month is approximately $2,186 per month.

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Car Storage

Fluids

Before putting your car away, you should check to see that the fluids in your vehicle are stopped up at an proper level.  This includes fluids found in any part of the car such as engine oil, hydraulics, coolants, and brake fluid.  Since cars are meant to move around and run, the engine assumes it should be functioning all the time.  When it is not running, additional oxidization can occur, subsequently leading to the breakdown of the car's inner parts.

After these items have been checked, be sure the fuel system is in order as well.  This basically means that the gas tank should be filled, but before this is done, it would be wise to buy a fuel stabilizer, which can be found at any auto parts dealer.  If the fuel is left sitting too long when parked, it can oxidize and breakdown to the point of going bad.  Bad fuel will not let the car start-up and could potentially bring damage to the fuel system.  Stabilizers put chemicals into the fuel to preserve it.

Exterior

Now that the inner working of the car is in order, you should inspect the outer working to make sure they are in shape too.  To do this, you must clean your car to keep it sparkling like new.  If you are putting your car into storage, chances are that not only will dust develop, but also any leftover dirt and trash will increase the growth of mold and bacteria.

Storing

Once the vehicle has been checked for any potential dirt and engine problems, it is ready to be put into storage.  If you place the car on top of a waterproof barrier wrap, it will prevent any water vapor from coming up from the ground and into the engine, which would have otherwise caused it to rust and grow mildew.  This will also keep the moisture of the fluids within the car.  The car should be put on multiple jacks to make sure the entire car is suspended.  This puts less pressure on the tires and shock while the car is not in use.  Start up the car for a moment to cut off the fuel pump connection.  This will leave the tank empty once the car dies out, making it ready for the storage process.

Sealing

Take a look around the entire car and making sure any entry points are sealed off so that no animals can crawl in and damage the interior.  You can tape up all of your pipes temporarily to avoid any foreign objects flying into there.  Although this might seem like a great deal of work, later on it could save you lot of money.  Money that would have been spent on repairing these damages.

Photo Credits: octal

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What is the Year and How Many Miles Are on the Odometer?

Whether it’s a personal seller or a dealership, you should still check the odometer and age of the car. This will help you determine the base value of the car before purchasing it, which will be especially helpful later if you want to sell it or take out a title loans. Check out some of the sites online that will help you assess the value of a car after factoring in this detail.

Why Are They Selling the Car?

This question is mostly intended for personal sellers, although it can apply to dealerships if the price of the car is uncharacteristically low. If the seller is highly motivated to sell, there may be something wrong with the car. If the person is dishonest they might be trying to sell a stolen car or hide past damages and accidents. Check out CarFax to see the history of the automobile. Also, ask about the mileage of the car, and check the validity of the answer before you purchase.

What Condition is the Car in?

You’ll want to ask the seller what condition the car is in, but don't take someone’s word for it. Personally take a look at it to check for dents, water damage, and any other interior damage. Ask who owned the car previously, and if you can have the car inspected before you purchase. If the owner is hesitant, this may be cause for concern.

Can You Test Drive The Car?

If a personal seller is hesitant to let you test-drive it before buying then you’ll know that something is wrong. Even if you are allowed to drive the car, make sure to take the vehicle onto the highway to see how it performs under different circumstances. Notice how the brakes work, check for warning lights, and notice how well the car can be steered. You want to know what kind of car you’re buying.

Is the Car Certified?

You really want to ask the dealership or seller if the car is certified. Every car has to go through an inspection before it can be certified. Ask for the paperwork, because this information could help you later if something goes wrong with the car.

Don’t sign or agree to anything before you ask these questions, because it will end up saving you a lot of money in the long run. Be a wise shopper and remember, if someone says trust me, you shouldn't. Know what you’re purchasing beforehand, because you don’t want to end up with a lemon.

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