Automotive Spark

Many vehicle owners may be unaware it is not always necessary to buy a brand new engine when the old one in their car fails to work. As in clothes and furniture, there are also second hand engines that although may not have the newest parts can still perform its needed functions. These are the so-called rebuilt or remanufactured engines.

Rebuilt engines are those that have been dismantled, checked, cleaned and their parts repaired or replaced for upgrading purposes. Using this type of engine known as repowering is less expensive compared to purchasing a new engine or vehicle and it can even lengthen your car’s life if you choose the right one for your vehicle. Some parts may still be the original or they can be slightly used or they can also be brand new. What’s important to remember is to always ask for a warranty from manufacturers. Others may provide a certified staff and checks on used engines or a combination of both.
Involved in the process of rebuilding engines are the reforming of the piston-cylinder system, smoothing and lubricating of all bearings, regrounding of crankshaft or camshaft and connecting of rods that have been gauged. Replacement of other parts including the timing belt and gaskets may also be needed.

A big advantage of using rebuilt engines is its low cost despite the intensive labor that went into manufacturing it. There are many online vendors these days that offer cheap rebuilt and used engines or motors of various brands allowing vehicle owners to gain sufficient savings. Among the popular brands that are in demand are the Ford engines as well as those from Japanese-made vehicles such as Toyota and Honda.

Another benefit of rebuilding engines is the fact that they are now able to meet the latest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications. With improvements in OEM specifications different from the original, your engine has a good chance of running smoother and more efficiently than before.

In line with this trend of using rebuilt engines, the Automotive Repair Council (ARC) is taking steps to inform consumers about the advantages of installing a rebuilt engine and availing of machine shop services instead of buying a new or used vehicle or using a used engine. The council advocates that using a remanufactured engine is as good or even better than the original one. It is now distributing copies of its 16-page consumer booklet to its members in various states while providing relevant information on its website.

If you’re one person considering using rebuilding engines or rebuilding your existing engine, Low Mileage Engines can help you. This company sells only certified remanufactured used car and truck engines both domestic and foreign models to include Chevrolet, Cadillac, Audi, Hyundai, BMW, Jeep, Toyota, Nissan and Lincoln. Low Mileage Engines supplies engines with verified mileage via the Carfax mileage verification.

Paint your own Rims? Who would have thought something previously done by professionals could be done in your own home.

While, the concept of painting your own rims has been around a few years now, many questions pop up of how to do it and I thought I would share my own experiences with painting my Integra stock rims. I have read up many examples of how to do this, but my first time trying was this year when I chose to refinish my winter rims. I was quite please with the outcome.

First, what the hell do you need to paint your rims? Paint of course This is where Duplicolor comes in with their wheel paint. They offer paint colors to match your style coming in white, gunmetal, classic silver and bronze as well. I chose to do mine in gunmetal leaving my lip the stock polished style look. So here are your options:

So you chose your color, bought your paint and are semi-ready. First, you need to sand down your rims. Why? This gives the surface a rough texture so the paint has something to adhere to. Reference the article to polish your rims on how sanding of the rims works. The only difference with this is how far you want to go. In my case, being winter rims painted I chose not to go through the process of stripping the paint on the rims completely. I simply sanded down the surface with 300 grit sandpaper ensuring to make everything sanded equally. This gives the rough surface required for the paint to adhere, and as long as your rims had no damage it should be good enough.

Your rims are sanded; you have your paint and now are ready. First, make sure you clean all sanding dust off the rims and ensure a totally clean surface so the paint will stick and not flake off after your first drive out with your newly painted rims!!! Here are my rims washed and ready to completely dry before painting:

My rims are masked off with newspaper and masking tape. Of course you want to do this so you don’t turn your tires into the color you are painting. I don’t want gunmetal painted tires. Also if you look close enough, you will know that the lip has been masked off as well. So I carefully applied the masking tape on the lip to protect it from being painted as well. Also, you know the little thing you pump your air into, mask that off as well unless you want that to have a color change as well

The rims are dry, you have masked off what you don’t want painted and now you are ready. Put some newspaper on the ground and place the rim on top of the newspaper. You don’t want to paint the concrete underneath the rim so keep it clean with the newspaper.

Now apply your first coat of paint. Let the paint dry well and next day admire your handiwork and results.

A car with an excellent paint job is one of life’s true joys. It’s like being the kid with the best bike in the neighbourhood or the biggest piece of birthday cake. Whether you drive a ’47 Eldorado, a ’66 Beetle or an ’07 fortwo, a great paint job will take your vehicle from ho-hum to headturner.

Actually creating a great automotive paint job takes skill and finesse. Automotive painting is one of the most arduous and painstaking tasks in crafting an automobile. It can also be one of the most costly. If you are on a budget, there are options for you. Some paint shops can deliver a good paint job for a fair price. Your other option is to take on the task yourself. If the paint job is a success, you’ll have even more to brag about: a hot set of wheels AND a “do it yourself” tale to tell.

Achieving a great paint job is a step-by-step process. You simply can’t rush automotive painting. Follow the basic steps of preparation, primer application, blocking, final paint coat and detail application. This can seem like a daunting task for any beginner, but the entire job can be completed in just a few days.

Prepare
Before you begin, check with local bylaws and regulations regarding the use of spray paint in homes and enclosed areas. The last thing you need is a legal holdup delaying your painting job.

Cleaning the car is your next crucial step. The car must be spotlessly clean and free of dirt. Use detergents to clean the car top to bottom, and then follow up with grease removers. After the car has been cleaned, it’s time to begin sanding. An air sander (preferably a dual-action sander) should be used to remove the old paint from the car. This kind of sander will not cause body damage because it removes paint without digging like other sanders and grinders. Every trace of paint must be removed to create a perfect palette for your new paint job. Automotive detailing tape or even duct tape can be used to cover and protect other parts of the car, including plastic moldings and windows. In addition to removing the old paint, all traces of rust have to be sanded off. Rust will spread if ignored or untreated, and the last thing you want is body rot happening beneath your spiffy new paint. You can repair minor body flaws on the car’s surface using fillers. Shape the compound with care using a sanding board, then follow up with a glazing compound. This step will help to ensure a smooth-as-glass finish on your ride.

Mask
After the whole car has been initially cleaned, then sanded, a final cleaning takes place and the vehicle is ready to be masked. In this step, every part of the car that shouldn’t be touched by paint is covered and protected. Remember, you will be using high-grade automotive paint that doesn’t wash off with water. Cover your windows, every light and reflector, all window rubbers, all chrome, tires, wheels, door handles, wipers.. take a good look and what needs to be masked. If you don’t want even the tiniest bit of over spray on it, cover it up! The tools and materials needed for masking are available at automotive supply warehouses and hardware stores.

Prime
Priming is an essential step to providing a good foundation for your new paint. A flawless prime coat will help you to achieve a perfect paint job. Valspar epoxy is a good primer choice, combining dependable filling capabilities with minimal shrinking. After the primer has been applied, a second coat in a contrasting colour should be applied on top of the first layer. This will serve as a sanding guide. The primer should be sanded to a smooth finish, but don’t sand too vigorously or you could actually damage the body of the car. When the priming is complete, a sealer is applied and a final sanding takes place.

Finishing off
In finishing off the automotive painting, it is essential to achieve uniform colour. The spray gun should be held ten to twelve inches away from the body to avoid streaks and runs. This is necessary when applying the basecoat, final coat and clear coat.

Regardless of the type of car you drive, a new paint job can turn it into a real showstopper. Automotive painting can be a time consuming task, but you can do it if you take it step by step. The creative energy will be good for your soul, and the compliments you receive will be great for your confidence.