We’re currently building a chopped and channeled ’32, 5 window coupe. We need to use a chopped grill shell, but all of the ones we’ve found are just too low… so we’ve decided to take a full size grill shell and lower it to the height we need by trimming the sides. Once we determined the height ...

Read On

By Evan Griffey / Originally Published December 8, 2014 / Hagerty Winter roads are tough on wheels. It’s the moisture: Rain and especially snow seem magnetic in their ability to attract contaminants to wheels, and it’s usually the thick, crispy kind of grime that likes to hang around until spring. Here’s a tip to give your rolling ...

Read On

The secret to good soldering is to use the right amount of heat. Too little heat will result in a cold solder joint; too much heat can seriously damage a component. The key factors in quality soldering are time and temperature. Generally, rapid heating is what you want. If heat is applied for too long, ...

Read On

By Jeff Peek / Originally Published November 17, 2014 / Hagerty VEHICLE: 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia WHAT WENT WRONG: We aren’t sure if fictional lumberjack Paul Bunyan ever owned a classic car, but considering that his best friend was a big blue ox named Babe, we’re guessing ol’ Paul had all the horsepower – oxpower? – he’d ever need. ...

Read On

By Jeff Peek / Originally Published September 17, 2014 / Hagerty VEHICLE: 1971 Ford Maverick WHAT WENT WRONG: Timing is everything, and sometimes it’s almost too much to bear – literally, as it turns out, for the owner of a 1971 Ford Maverick and a stray cat. After having the floor of his garage redone, the Ford owner ...

Read On

A customer pulled into my shop with his ’65 Big Block Corvette.  He was having issues with the steering and wanted me to replace the steering box.  First, I looked under the hood and noticed that the steering coupling, normally referred to as a “rag joint” was damaged.  Generally, this is caused by considerable misalignment. Next, I ...

Read On

Alright, so we don’t actually have seasons in Southern California. In fact, as I write this, it’s a beautiful 72 degrees and clear outside. But, we know a lot of you have to suffer through some tough winter months… so this one is for you! If you live almost anywhere else in the United States ...

Read On

By Larry Printz / Originally Published September 8, 2014 / Hagerty Hitting the road this fall for a color tour? You know what that means: lots of time in the car and many miles of boredom. These days, many of us will watch a flick on our iPad, or text nonstop. But this turns a family car ...

Read On

Selling a classic car can be tricky and can take time. While plenty of people need and are looking to buy a practical, everyday ride, a classic car is not a necessity. Fewer people can afford a nonessential second (or third or fourth) car so it can be more difficult to find just the right ...

Read On

By Griot’s Garage / Originally Published August 29, 2014 / Hagerty Leather is an expensive, upscale option in most cars so caring for it is essential. There are two vital facets to leather care: cleaning and conditioning. Cleaning is obvious. Conditioning has to do with the nourishment of the leather: the penetration of product into the ...

Read On

By Tara Hurlin / Originally Published August 25, 2014 / Hagerty It’s hard to tell your significant other that you want to buy another car when the garage is packed full, or perhaps when you have unfinished projects and the house could use a few repairs. Time and time again the phrase “It’s easier to ask ...

Read On

A problem we often hear about in the hot rod world is hot starting, or rather not starting, issues.  If your Chevy engine doesn’t want to start when it’s hot, there are two things that could be causing the problem: a faulty solenoid, or poor or inadequate wiring. To determine the culprit, start by jumping ...

Read On