How To

Undercoating in a Can: The Easiest Way to Protect Your Rig

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Protection in a Can Whether doing work on a vehicle new or old, or restoring and protecting an older vehicle rust must be prevented and stopped. For Project XJ we need a strong undercoating that can handle snowy, icy, and salty roads with 0°F temperatures in the winter. It also needs to withstand dirt, mud, sand, and gravel in the summer with 100°F + temperatures. While there are many undercoating solutions on the market. Each solution works, but each of them have flaws. Some companies will spray a recycled motor oil mix into every nook and cranny leading to drips …

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Project XJ Frame Stiffeners

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Stronger = Better Jeep Cherokee XJ’s are known for being capable off-road vehicles. However, they do have some short comings. The unibody frame makes the XJ lightweight and is plenty strong for stock applications. Even when modified with a lift and large tires the unibody is strong enough for daily driving and on road use. However, modifications along with significant off-road use can take it’s toll on the frame. So to go from this: To this: We decided to start Project XJ off right and reinforce the frame with a set of Iron Rock Off Road unibody XJ frame stiffeners. …

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Insider: 15 Solid Reasons to Bike Your Way Around!

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One of the most special things that you can do with your time is to go on a road trip. Taking the time to go out and see the world on your terms and at your pace is important, especially if you want to make memories and really build on something important for your future. Whether you go it alone or you go with friends, going on a long trip takes a lot of planning and preparation. You have to be ready for everything, prepared for anything and you want to think about why you should be going on this …

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Auto Industry Insider – Helpful Tips for Learner Drivers and Parents of Teens

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When you are first learning how to drive, or when you are a student driver, there are many things you need to be aware of, cautious of, and considerate of. Driving a motor vehicle is not something to take lightly. It is a lot of responsibility that could ultimately cause great harm if not done safely. Let’s discuss some tips and key points that every student driver should know before they begin the process of obtaining their driver’s license.    Tips for preparing to learn to drive Before you begin to drive, you will need to get a provisional license …

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Auto Industry Insider: 4 Questions To Ask Before Switching To Electric

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Let’s face it; there has never been a more attractive time to make the switch to an electric vehicle.  EVs are becoming more affordable. Chargers are more readily available. And the landscape is now more accommodating. Before buying your first EV, though, it’s important that you enter the process with a clear mindset. Use the following four questions for guidance and you won’t go far wrong.   1) Is all-electric the way to go? It’s great that you want to jump into the world of electric vehicles. However, you have to confirm that it is a practical choice. Depending on …

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Auto Industry Insider: 10 Questions to Answer Before Customising Your Ride

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Customizing a car may seem like the ultimate way to turn your vehicle into something completely unique, but it can also be a complete headache. So many questions need to be answered before you start customizing your ride. This blog post will answer ten essential questions that all car owners should consider before starting their project.   1) What Exactly Do I Want to Change on My Car? Customizing a vehicle can be an extremely long process, so you need to know what you are getting yourself into. Think about the paint job first and choose your own colors carefully …

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Auto Industry Insider: Don’t Enjoy Driving? Here’s How to Change Things

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Driving is great fun for some people. They love to get behind the wheel, maybe put some music on, and drive wherever they need or want to go. But it’s not such a pleasurable experience for a lot of drivers. Driving can be boring and some people can even find the experience nerve-wracking and frightening. When you don’t enjoy driving, you might try and limit how often you have to get in your vehicle. But this can affect various parts of your life, including your social life and your career. If you want to start enjoying driving more, there are …

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Insider: How to Make a Living Using Your Car (Without Uber or Doordash)

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Having your own car is, for many people, the quickest way to have your own business and this is why if you are looking for extra cash, you could use your car in numerous ways. Here’s a few ideas to get you brainstorming.   Wrapping Your Car in Advertising If you are not keen on becoming a taxi driver, there are many ways for you to promote items as you go. If you have a newer vehicle and a long commute, you may be the ideal candidate to wrap up advertising decals. There are a number of car wrapping companies …

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Safe Travels: How to Become a Better Driver for Road Trips

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If you’re here, you’re someone who loves to drive. Whether it’s your reliable family vehicle or your prized classic car, the idea of getting out onto the road and just driving is your way of cooling off and finding your happy place, no matter where that might be.  But, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been driving for a month or a lifetime, you might not be as good of a driver as you think you are. Once people pass driving exams, they find it too easy to fall into bad habits. While you think you’re in control, these bad habits …

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How To: Avoid Rookie Mistakes when Buying a Classic Car

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Classic cars have a universal appeal among collectors. Style and functionality blend together perfectly with many of these, which is why they’re still so popular. That doesn’t mean that buying a classic car is as simple as some people might think. Picking up a standard alternative can come with its worries, but these can be taken up a notch with a classic car. If you’re new to buying or collecting the vehicles, then you mightn’t know what to look for and consider. That could lead to you making a few mistakes during the process. With the amount of money on …

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Insider: The Right (and Wrong) Ways to Upgrade Your Classic Car

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Why do we buy classic cars?   You’ve all got a handful of reasons that made you buy yours, but it largely boils down to the fact that classic cars have a unique look and feel to them that modern ones can’t replicate. The car is different – it’s one of a kind.    With that being said, driving a classic car is a completely different experience from driving a modern one. Your vehicle could be decades old, meaning it doesn’t function as well as it once did. As such, classic car owners tend to do some upgrades to make …

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Car Shopping: What You Need to Know About Vehicle Depreciation

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When it comes to significant purchases, apart from a home, they don’t tend to get more significant than a new vehicle. However, unlike a home, a vehicle is a depreciating asset, which means that it will lose, not gain, value over time.    That’s why, if you’re planning to buy a new vehicle any time soon, you should know a bit more about depreciation and the factors that affect it.   What is vehicle depreciation? Vehicle depreciation normally refers to the drop in value between the time that you purchase the car and the time that you come to sell …

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Insider: 5 Tips For Dealing With Expensive Car Repairs

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Being hit with an expensive repair bill is every motorist’s worst nightmare. Depending on the size of the bill, you might find it difficult or even impossible to pay. If your car is currently off the road and facing hefty repair costs, don’t despair. There are a few things you can do to spread and even lower the cost.   #1 Check your warranty First and foremost, check the details of your warranty! New cars and even some secondhand vehicles come with warranties. Some repairs will be covered, at least up to a certain amount. If the repairs are covered …

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Insider: A Look at How Technology Has Changed the Driving (and Passenger) Experience

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The automotive industry has always been driven by technological advancements – no pun intended. Some could even say that it was one of the major catalysts for the industrial revolution. Carmakers are being pushed by market pressures to constantly improve the efficiency of their vehicles, but they’re also always competing against themselves to bring that brand-new feature to their customers. It’s easy for us to take those advances for granted, but they’ve profoundly changed what it feels like to drive and ride a vehicle. Let’s take a closer look at how technology changed the driving and passenger experience over the …

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Insider: How to Keep Boredom at Bay on a Long Car Journey 

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If you have a long road trip ahead of you, you’ll want to ensure you have some go-to activities on hand to alleviate the boredom. Traveling as a car passenger can certainly make for a fun road trip but, after hours on the road, it’s natural for the monotony to get to you. With these top tips, however, you can keep boredom at bay on a long car journey and arrive at your destination sooner than you realize: 1. Listen to an Audiobook Although many people don’t like to read in the car because it makes them feel unwell, you …

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Insider: Ways To Get Back Into The Swing Of Things After A Driving Hiatus

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Driving is a pretty straightforward thing when you do it often. Whether you’re driving a manual or automatic car, there aren’t really any tricks that are trying to catch you out. It’s like riding a bike – albeit a little more complex and expensive. If you have ever taken a break from driving, however, the idea of getting back behind the wheel might be a little daunting. This is especially the case if you weren’t driving all that much before your break, or if you have to re-enter a hellish commute with stressful traffic and weather. The good thing is …

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Auto Industry Insider: How To Ship Your Car Across The Country

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If you’re moving across the country, it can sometimes be more convenient to ship your car (instead of driving it). You might want to keep the miles off your car, you might have multiple cars, or you might just want to fly instead. Driving your car across the country, on top of all of the other admin associated with moving house, can be a real pain. But how do you ship your car across the country? We’ve heard this question countless times, so we thought we’d answer it. Here’s how to ship your car across the country. Work out the …

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Insider: Common Automotive Headaches You Might Face

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Let’s be honest here, we all have high expectations when we are learning to drive. We can’t wait to pass our test and get behind the wheel of our dream car and head out onto the open road. But, we often fail to forget that there are some instances with car ownership that can provide us with a right headache, both literally and figuratively.     No one intends to find themselves in a situation where they have to experience something dreadful. Or find you have a hefty bill from your insurance company or local garage. But it is always wise to …

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Auto Industry Insider: Turning Your Old Banger Into A Custom Classic

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There are few things worse than driving a car you don’t like. This part of life is almost as important as the place you call home, with many people spending hundreds of hours of their life sat behind the wheel. Of course, though, when you can’t afford the latest cars to roll out of the factory, it can be hard to be satisfied with the options that are available to you. To help you out, this post will explore some of the work that can go into making an old banger into a custom classic that you can feel proud …

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Insider: 11 Car Maintenance Checks You Should Never Do By Yourself

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Knowing how to perform essential maintenance jobs on your car, like replacing your oil and air filter, can save you hundreds of dollars. Do you have access to the right tools or a work area? With good knowledge and skill in vehicle fixes, you are all set up to cut down your car maintenance cost. However, there are some complicated vehicle fixes you should trust the professionals with instead of fixing them yourself.  With the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) attributing 20% of road accidents to poor car maintenance practices, it is crucial to check your vehicle regularly. While …

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Insider: Tips for Starting a Successful Car Collection

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There are lots of things that you may want to collect in your life. Some people will collect toys, others ornaments. It might not be the most obvious collection to start, but, if you are looking for a collection that is definitely a little more on the luxurious side, then you can start a car collection. Do you dream of a car collection of your own? If you do, but you are not sure exactly where to start, then we have the helping hand that you may need. To ensure that your collection gets off to the right start, we …

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Auto Industry Insider: What Makes An Off-Road Vehicle Great?

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Are you a gearhead who’s sick and tired of pounding the beaten path? Do you want to go out into the wilderness and explore? Good – all you need is an off-roader that can keep up with the demands of going off-piste. A quality off-road vehicle should easily skim over water barriers and bounce up and down steep inclines. With the right one by your side, there aren’t many mountains you can’t climb. Unfortunately, the market is full of faux off-roaders. These are trucks that look and sound like they have everything you need, but they are unsuitable after a …

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Auto Insider: 7 Digital Tools You Need for Your Auto Shop – Featuring C8.R

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Digital technology can be a real struggle for auto shops—curse that evil “Yelp” website for exposing your systematic overcharging of maintenance checks! Really though, there are plenty of great digital tools that can help your auto shop be more efficient and market itself better. Here are 7 digital tools you need to use at your auto repair business. 1.     Social Media So far as business goes, social media is a tool that’s easy to use but difficult to master. You should definitely set up pages for your auto shop on all major social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. …

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Auto Industry Insider: 5 Cool Car Modification Tips for Beginners

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Whether done as a hobby or a profession, the practice of modifying cars has been around for as long as cars themselves\. The market for modifying cars is huge, which gives us plenty of choice and room for creativity when upgrading our cars, but it can also be a confusing task for beginners. For those people, the best places to start are the simple modifications that will have the biggest impact. If you are considering making changes to your car either for performance and aesthetic reasons, here are 5 car modification tips for beginners to get you started. Swapping tires …

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Insider: Long Road Trip Ahead? It’s Time To Stock Up Right

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Do you enjoy driving for long periods of time? Maybe you love the concept of a road trip, or maybe you shudder at the thought of being inside a moving car for more than 10 hours at a time? Either way, we all have road trips to go on in our life times, seeing as the car is one of the most accessible and easiest ways to travel, and knowing how to pull a road trip off without a hitch is key. How do you make sure you’re sitting comfortably for hours on end? Do you know where to stop …

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Auto Industry Insider: Business Opportunities for People That Love Cars

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They say that getting a job in something you love is a bad idea because you slowly begin to hate it, but we just can’t see that as something that will come true. For instance, if you absolutely loved cars and had a job in buying and selling them for big profits, wouldn’t that be the dream? Car lovers around the world possess a lot of knowledge about vehicles. Whether it’s how to detail a car, vintage models or experience in repairing cars, there are countless opportunities that can lead to a full-time job or even your own business. So …

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Insider: A Guide to Starting Your Own Auto Repair Garage

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Starting an auto repair garage is the perfect solution for petrolheads with an entrepreneurial spirit. There’s great potential in the industry, but like starting any business, the endeavour doesn’t come without its own host of challenges. As the owner of an auto repair garage, you’ll need to wear many hats. Not only should you possess an intimate knowledge of how to work on cars, but also establish a strong grasp of daily tasks such as accounting, marketing, management and more. Many aspiring auto repair garage owners have found great success, and by keeping the following factors in mind, you too …

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Auto Industry Insider: How To Repair your Car’s Dents and Dings at Home with These Simple Steps

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Door dings, scratches and bumper scrapes happen all the time. Sometimes there just isn’t anything that you can do about it, but little things like this don’t always translate to big repair jobs. In fact, most of the time it’s possible for you to make the repairs yourself and without having to worry about a thing. Scratches A paint scratch might seem like a super-simple repair, but this is not always the case. If you have a scratch that is so deep that you can see the primer underneath, then you will almost certainly need to fill the scratch. If …

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