Hot Rod How To & DIY Project Guides

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…

Portawalls - Firestone Style White Wall Tire Inserts

How To Install Portawall White Wall Tire Inserts

January 16, 2018 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY

Portawalls make a great accessory for your custom car, truck, or motorcycle and the whitewall inserts are available in various sizes. [More…]

5 Super Easy Spray Paint Tricks and Effects

February 19, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

From Commando Designs, these are 5 super easy spray paint tricks and effects that will add another layer of cool to your project. [More…]

How To Cut and Buff a Clear Coat

February 15, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Jeremy goes over how to cut and buff a freshly sprayed clear coat on a vehicle just pulled out of the paint booth. [More…]

How To Easily Fill Gaps In Metal

November 23, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Metalworking Basics

Matt shows how he likes to fill gaps in metal that are too small to create a filler piece and too large to just weld as you normally would. [More…]

How To Set the Kick-down or TV Cable on GM Transmissions

February 13, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Holley offers tips on properly setting up the transmission kickdown levers and how to properly set the throttle valve or TV cable. [More…]

Slapper Files ~ Auto Body Work's Magic Wand

How To Make Slapper Files ~ DIY Metal Shaping Tool

August 31, 2020 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY

Slapper files make raising a dent while knocking down high spots a piece of cake — the file marks appear in the low spots. [More…]

DIY Front Disc Brake Conversion for 1947-59 Chevy and GMC Trucks

March 12, 2019 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY

Restoration Expert and Custom Car Builder David Welch shows us step-by-step how to easily convert a 1947-59 Chevy/GMC Pickup to disc brakes. [More…]

How To Align Body Panels

July 31, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Perfect paint can’t hide poorly fit panels any more than it will sloppy bodywork. Here is how to get your panel gaps and body lines right. [More…]

How To Shave Door Handles

December 7, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Matt goes over some tips and techiniques he uses when shaving door handles. [More…]

How To Repair and Restore Vintage Trailer Tail Lights

February 9, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

How to repair and restore vintage travel trailer tail lights with VHT Nite Shades Red tail light spray paint and clear lacquer. [More…]

How To Make Auto Rubber Trim with Silicone Molds

January 30, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

We recreate a rare trim gasket for a 1958 BMW Isetta — Setting up a silicone mold, casting with flexible urethane, plus tips and tricks. [More…]

How To Choose Automotive Hose

January 17, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Holley Performance looks at the different styles of Mr. Gasket hose available, and when to choose one over the other for your project. [More…]

Bare metal painted to look like bare metal

How To Paint a Bare Metal Effect on Any Surface

March 1, 2021 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY

A concise and easy-to-follow DIY that shows you how to can make any surface; Wood, Plastic, Fiberglass, etc. look like bare metal. [More…]

How To Make A DIY Pipe Vise

February 7, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Mistry Make Tool demonstrates how to make a very useable heavy-duty 2″ pipe vise from scrap and discards. [More…]

How To Refinish a Carburetor ~ Cadmium Dichromate Plating

How To Refinish a Carburetor with Cadmium Dichromate Plating

December 19, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Carburetor Plating with Harold Demes ~ How carburetors are plated and dichromate conversion coating is applied. [More…]

DIY Engine Performance ~ How To Port Cylinder Heads

July 29, 2020 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY

Davin Reckow walks you through the ins and outs of how to port your cylinder heads at home with some fairly basic tools. [More…]

How To Get Perfect Panel Gaps in Doors, Fenders, Hood

December 12, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

TC Penick of Bay One Customs shows you his trick to get perfect panel gaps when building or restoring a car or truck. [More…]

How To Make DIY Gaskets From Scratch

April 23, 2021 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Kyle Smith gives you offers tips and tricks to make your gaskets using a kit from your local auto parts store and everyday household items. [More…]

How To Clean, Whiten, and Restore a Coolant Overflow Tank

February 19, 2021 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY

Here’s a tutorial video showing how to clean and whiten (remove the yellow color) coolant expansion or overflow tanks. [More…]

How To Make an Inexpensive DIY Fab Table

December 6, 2018 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY

Justin demonstrates a very useful design of a fabrication table using inexpensive and strong materials to make a table more versatile for fab. [More…]

Common MIG Welder Faults And How To Fix Them

November 29, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Welding Basics

Matt Urch shares a few tips on how to troubleshoot common problems that often impact MIG welders. [More…]

How To Make a Radius Bending Fixture for Sheet Metal

January 3, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Metalworking Basics

Ron Covell shows how easy it is to build a radius bending attachment that mounts to a workbench. [More…]

Inexpensive Universal Hot Rod Disc Brake Conversions

May 20, 2020 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Dan at DD Speed Shop is putting fresh binders on the ’57 Chevy Bel Air with a Right Stuff Products universal disc brake conversion kit. [More…]

How To Shrink Stretched Sheet Metal with a Propane Torch

February 6, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

The condition known as an “oil can” is common in automotive bodywork — the panel position is bi-stable and can flop in or out. [More…]

How To Fabricate and Install Ford Model A Floor Pans

How To Fabricate and Install Floor Pans

June 8, 2018 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY, Low Budget Builds

Matt fabricates sheet metal floor pans for his Model A project and offers several tips to keep the metal moving where you want it to. [More…]

How To Install A Transmission Temperature Gauge

June 14, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

A Transmission Temperature Gauge allows you to monitor the operating temperature of your transmission by measuring the transmission fluid’s temperature. Overseeing these temperatures assists in ensuring that your transmission does not overheat causing major damage. [More…]

How To Read a Tire Sidewall ~ DOT Tire Numbering System

Tire Size? How To Read a Tire Sidewall and What it All Means

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

The side of your tire, or tire sidewall, contains everything you need to know about your tire size, rating, and manufacturer. [More…]

How To Keep Your LS Engine Healthy While You Beat The Snot Out Of It

August 10, 2020 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

If you’re planning to beat the ever-loving snot out of your LS engine, consider these modifications to make it reliable in extreme and competitive circumstances. [More…]

Wheels: Measure Twice, Buy Once

June 7, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Learn The Right Way To Measure for Wheel Size Before You Place An Order: Bolt Pattern, Wheel Width, Backspacing… [More…]

How to Winterize Your Collector Car & Daily Driver

November 23, 2018 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY, Roadkill Muscle

Scott goes over how to prepare your collector car or daily driver for storage over the winter. [More…]

How To Select a Torque Converter

December 5, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Technical Info

A torque converter is a fluid coupling device that transfers power from engine to transmission. Here’s how to select the right one for you. [More…]

How To Beat Any Speeding Ticket During COVID

December 2, 2020 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Mark Gold, founder of The Ticket Clinic fights speeding tickets for everyone, but even he sometimes has to fight his own. [More…]

How To Determine Your Chevrolet Water Pump Type ~ Long or Short

May 19, 2017 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Technical Info

A quick way to check if you have a long or short water pump is to stick your fingers behind the timing cover, you can’t with a short pump. [More…]

How To Make Tools To Stretch Sheet Metal

January 16, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Kyle Voss of The Fab Forums demonstrates a tool he made to help stretch sheet metal. [More…]

Metal Shaping with Simple Hand Tools ~ Hammer Forming

May 9, 2018 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Metalworking Basics

Hammer forming is one of the oldest, simplest, and least expensive ways to shape sheet metal and a fabrication technique you need to learn. [More…]

How To Repair and Polish Damaged Hubcaps

June 25, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Matt breaks out a handheld planishing hammer and hammer and dollies to correct the damage before taking them to a near mirror polish. [More…]

How To Apply Gold Leaf To Your Paint Job

February 5, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

One art that seems to be slowly dying off is Pinstriping. So this pinstripe trick is one that will make your ride pop – gold leafing. [More…]

Welding Patch Panels with a Harbor Freight 125 Flux Core Welder

March 25, 2021 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY, Welding Basics

Chicago Electric Flux Core 125 Welder from Harbor Freight is used to weld an automotive patch panel into place, repairing a fender rust hole. [More…]

How To Motorize A Bead Roller For Under $40

October 13, 2018 Roadkill Customs DIY Projects, How To & DIY, Metalworking Basics

Broke Bastard Garage shows how to motorize a bead roller for under $40 using an inexpensive drill and good ideas. [More…]

How To Install a '55-59 Chevy Truck Coil Spring Front End

How To Install a Coil Spring Front End in a 1955-59 Chevy or GMC Truck

January 4, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Watch a complete installation of the new Total Cost Involved Engineering ’55-59 Chevrolet and GMC truck coil spring front end. [More…]

How To Remove a Wheel Lug Nut Lock Without a Key

May 15, 2020 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Here are 8 ways to remove a wheel lug nut lock without a key, starting off with 3, +5 more from viewer suggestions on 4 different lug lock types… [More…]

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

How To Appraise, Title, Register, and Insure Your Hot Rod or Custom Car

September 15, 2015 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

Getting your hot rod or custom car 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. [More…]

How To Choose a Fuel Pressure Regulator for Carbureted Vehicles

September 6, 2019 Roadkill Customs How To & DIY

When choosing a fuel pressure regulator for your ride, you need to take into consideration several factors. The regulator is a critical piece and should to be matched to the type of fuel delivery system and the fuel pump that you are using, or plan to use. [More…]