Hot Rod How To & DIY Project Guides ~ Roadkill Customs

Hot Rod How To & DIY Project Guides — From the basics like How To Test an Ignition Coil to more advanced subjects like How To Select Proper Rear-End Gear Ratio to the more exciting like How to Build and Install Exhaust Flame Throwers or productive, like How To Install a Universal Rear Step Notch Kit — Whatever you do, Build Something Cool…

How to Build and Install Exhaust Flame Throwers

January 7, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

There are a lot of ways to bring attention to your vehicle but one of the most popular and controversial ways are flame throwers. Watch as the show Trucks and Stacey David take a closer […]

Portawalls - Firestone Style White Wall Tire Inserts

How To Install Portawall White Wall Tire Inserts

January 16, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Portawall White Wall Tire Inserts ~ (Sometimes Port-o-walls, white wall inserts, slap-ons, Mickies, fake white walls, etc.) ~ Firestone Tire Style White Wall Tire Inserts make a great accessory for your Custom Car, Truck, Hot […]

GM B-Body Chassis Narrowing for Body Swap

How To Narrow a GM B-Body Chassis

March 28, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

The General Motors 4th Generation B-Body Platform is perfect for a lot of 40s, 50, and 60s cars and trucks, except… its frame rails are too wide for most of these Classic vehicles. The tins […]

How To Plus Size Wheels and Tires

January 7, 2015 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Plus Sizing your wheel and tire combination was designed to enhance vehicle performance and appearance by allowing fitment of larger diameter rims and lower profile tires. The theory is that while making these changes, you keep the overall tire diameter within 3% of the original equipment tires. […]

How to Give Your Old Car a New Look

October 2, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

You don’t have to buy a new car or truck to get a new look. Drivers can transform the appearance of their vehicles quickly, easily and affordably. Whether the goal is to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, or simply to give a vehicle a fresh, new look, a few simple steps is all it may take. […]

How To Convert a 1955, 56 or 57 Chevrolet From 4 Doors to 2 Doors

March 15, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

This video is a journal of the steps involved in converting a 1955, 1956 or 1957 Chevrolet 4 door post car into a 2 door… Also of Interest: Chassis / Body Swaps ~ An Overview […]

How To Build A Hot Rod

July 18, 2012 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

Learn how to build a hot rod with these resources that help facilitate your build from inspiration and planning to building and customization. These tools help locate donor vehicles, project cars, and can determine what other cars have the parts you need (a big help at the salvage yard). Start you build here! […]

How To Use Body Filler

May 13, 2016 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Shop Basics

When working with body filler, what ever tools you use, the trick is to not add the last “skim coat ” till you KNOW that it is all you need. Don’t try to block out that first coat, just use it as a base for the LAST skim coat. […]

Tire Size? How To Read A Tire Sidewall

July 30, 2016 Roadkill Customs Automotive Basics, How To & DIY

The side of your tire — known as the tire sidewall — contains all of the information you need to know about your tire size. Regardless of the manufacturer, all tires are required to show […]

How and Where To Score a Cheap Junkyard Engine

June 12, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

For generations hot rodders have pulled bigger and more powerful engines out of other cars to use in their DIY hot rod projects. Back in the ’50s gearheads would spend hours hunting for Cadillac and Oldsmobile engines to use in their rods. In the ’60s builders started pulling Hemis, Pontiac 455s, Ford Cammers, and of course the big-block Chevys out of cars to power their gassers, T-buckets and other custom powered street machines. […]

How To Install Rear 4-Link Suspension for Air Ride and Coil-overs

May 31, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

How to weld-in a 4-link rear suspension system onto any hot rod or custom chassis. Covered in this video: axle location, panhard bar fitment, and
theory and shock absorber angle… […]

How To Install a Train Horn

January 6, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

A full overview and how to video of installing an air-powered train horn… Alternate Video: You may skip ahead below to view different sections of: (00:00) Intro (01:10) Wiring (04:07) Train Horn Overview (08:58) Tank […]

Understanding Alternators – How To Test and Troubleshoot

July 5, 2017 Roadkill Customs Automotive Basics, How To & DIY

When most people think of the engine, they do not take into consideration the importance of alternators. The alternator is one of a few indispensable auto performance parts that the engine cannot run without. […]

How To Make an Inexpensive Spot Welder

April 29, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Spot welders are used to fuse thin sheets of metal together and can cost hundreds of dollars to buy. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make an 800 amp Spot Welder from common, […]

How to Test an Ignition Coil

October 7, 2015 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

This testing procedure is valid for just about any automotive ignition coil coil. Using an ohmmeter, check the resistance between the side terminals of the coil. Do this with all of the wires to the coil disconnected. You should see 0.75 to 0.81 ohms of resistance… […]

How To Rebuild Brake Cylinders

August 8, 2014 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

In order to properly distribute the hydraulic pressure so that the brakes will be most effective, step type wheel cylinders having a smaller diameter piston in the rear than the front are used. […]

How To Polish Aluminum Wheels to Look Like Chrome

May 6, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Mike Phillips along with Oley Jentzsch, the President of Flitz Metal Polishes, show you how to remove years of oxidation and corrosion on aluminum Mag wheels the quick and easy way using the Flitz Mag […]

How To Detail with Citrus Cleaners

September 12, 2009 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Are you amazed at how many specialty cleaners are available to clean your vehicle? Ever wonder what the pros in Dealerships and Detailing Shops use? In those businesses, concentrated citrus cleaners have replaced them all and taken the center stage. […]

How To Bleed Brakes By Yourself

March 17, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

This How To video shows you how to bleed or purge the air from your brake system by yourself. ?Tools and Supplies Used in this Video: SAE / Metric Wrench Set Drill Drill Bits Cloth […]

How To Build a Budget Chevy 350

June 1, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

El Rey’s Blue Collar 350 El Rey’s Garage demonstrates a typical low buck Chevrolet 350 engine build including the step by step process and parts used (+ part numbers)… From friend of Roadkill Customs, Brutha […]

How To Make PVC Train Horns at Home

March 6, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Why spend hundreds on a train horn kit when you could build your own? Making your own train horns is cheap and easy. See how to make simple DIY horns here so you can stay safe by announcing your presence to oblivious pedestrians. […]

The Importance of Torquing Lug Nuts / Lug Bolts

How To Properly Torque Lug Nuts / Lug Bolts

June 15, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Shop Basics

Over the years, we’ve seen wheels come off and much worse, all for one simple reason – they failed to properly torque (tighten) the lug nuts on their vehicles. Torquing lug nuts to the right torque specs and in the correct torque sequence is critical. Learn how to properly torque your lug nut / lug bolts here. […]

How to Tint a Back Window on a Classic Truck

June 13, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Automotive window film (often called window tint) can not only reduce heat and glare in your vehicle, it can also protect you from damaging rays from the sun. Not only does window film protect you […]

How To Select Proper Rear-End / Differential Gear Ratio

May 7, 2015 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

A number of factors must be considered when selecting a rear-end gear ratio (ring & pinion set). Tire diameter, transmission choice (with or without overdrive) and desired highway cruising speed. […]

How To Prepare a Vehicle for Shipping

June 15, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Large numbers of vehicles are transported daily by shipping companies to different cities, states, and countries. When shipping vehicles, they should be properly prepared and inspected. The reason why cars are inspected is because sometimes the vehicles get damage during shipping. […]

Metal Forming with a T-Stake

May 9, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Kent White shows how to make a quick radius bend using a T-stake mounted on a post… Also of Interest: Metal Work / Welding Videos DIY Metal Brake for Bending Sheet Metal Equivalent of Wire […]

Old Car or Truck? How To Boost Performance

July 14, 2016 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Whether it’s because of the economy or simply because today’s vehicles are more durable, an increasing number of people are driving used cars and trucks longer. Those looking to re-energize these rides with a bit more power may want to consider installing a performance-enhancing aftermarket product. […]

How To Wire Your Rat Bike or Motorcycle

March 22, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Generally, building a rat bike or custom motorcycle project involves stripping the bike down to only the necessary functions. You can see that the original wiring looks extensive and complex. You don’t need to get scared because building a rat bike means that you can eliminate a lot of it… […]

How to Measure for a Drive Shaft

June 2, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Greg Frick from Inland Empire Driveline Service in Ontario, California offers information on how to properly measure for a custom or refurbished stock or aftermarket performance driveshaft. In this video you learn to: Measure from […]

Tinting Windows – DIY Tips and Secrets

October 15, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Looking to tint your own windows? Window tinting is a relatively difficult endeavor, but with patience and proper coaching, you can achieve your desired results – DIY Tips and Secrets. […]

How To Hot Rod a Vintage GM Straight 6 Engine

April 29, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Everybody knows that the engine is a central key component to ANY Hot Rod project. But is a V8 the only way to go? NO WAY!! Stacey David shows you why. He takes a vintage […]

How To Determine Engine and Pinion Angle

June 13, 2016 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Engine and pinion angle are relative to the ground. Most engines are set at 3 degrees, this allows the carburetor to sit level. The main purpose of having an engine angle is to allow for more room in the passenger compartment by having a smaller tunnel. […]

How To Replace Ball Joints

September 14, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

With a good set of instructions, a small amount of mechanical knowledge and a bit of patience, you can change the ball joint yourself and save a tremendous amount of money in labor costs. […]

Metal-shaping with Simple Hand Tools

May 9, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Metal-shaping with Simple Hand Tools… […]

How To Use A Multimeter

February 19, 2018 Roadkill Customs Automotive Basics, How To & DIY, Shop Basics

How To Use A Multimeter ~ The digital multimeter is the go to tool for dealing with electrical problems in a car, and is the proper tool to measure voltage, current, and resistance. In fact, […]

Hot Rod and Custom Motor Mount Considerations

June 2, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY, Technical Info

There are many factors that affect the location of the motor in a hot rod or custom car or truck chassis: Plan ahead. The tech session produced several points to consider when mounting a motor in a hot rod or custom car or truck project… […]

How To Repiar Your Chipped or Cracked Windshied

How To Repair Your Windshield

July 2, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

If your car window has been cracked by a rock, you don’t have to replace your entire window. You can just repair it at a fraction of the price that you’d pay if you were to report it to your insurance company or if your insurance agent was to send you to an inexpensive repairman. […]

How To Sharpen a Twist Drill

April 30, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Shop Basics

How to sharpen a twist drill bit using a bench grinder… Also of Interest: How To Make an Inexpensive Spot Welder How To Powder Coat At Home How To Install a Universal […]

How To Insure, Appraise, Title and Register Your Hot Rod

September 15, 2015 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Getting your hot rod properly titled, registered and insured can be one of the most demanding aspects of the project and will vary according to the vehicle and your state. In some states it’s quite a challenge to register a newly built rod, so it’s a smart idea to do some preliminary research early into the project. […]

How to Degree Your Camshaft

May 14, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Lots of gear-heads skip degreeing in the camshaft, some because they are unaware of it, or because they think the practice is too complex, too difficult, or just not needed. The method of degreeing a […]

How To Determine Proper Exhaust Tubing Size

August 14, 2015 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Technical Info

This table below was supplied by Flowmaster. It’s intended as a basic reference guide to give you an idea of the general exhaust-pipe size needed to balance the prevention of excessive back-pressure while maintaining adequate exhaust-gas velocity. […]

Welcome - Chevrolet 3100 Fitted with Suicide Doors

How To Install Suicide Door Hinges

February 20, 2018 Roadkill Customs Builds / Projects, How To & DIY

Suicide Door Hinges, arguably made best known among today’s hot rodders and customizers by the Lincoln Continental four-door convertible of the 1960s, are a popular customization. Not only do they add a high level of […]

How To Fix and Prevent Drive Shaft Vibration

How To Fix/Prevent Driveline Vibration

June 2, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Drive-Shaft/Universal Joint Cancellation Problem: Driveline / drive-shaft vibration. Driveline geometry incorrect. Drive Shaft Harmonics The process that can be used to address a condition called drive-shaft/universal joint cancellation, often referred to as adjusting pinion angle. This […]