There are three types of truck buyers:

I can say from experience that the best road trip car I ever had or know to exist is a split window VW bus. Reasonable fuel economy, cheap and easy to keep running, you can stop anywhere to set up camp, and it’s just a fun car all around. I’ve owned a LOT of old cars, and different cars get different reactions from…

There’s a lot to be said for the owners’ personal responsibility to maintain their car. If you see someone with brake pads worn to the point of metal on metal, you don’t blame the mechanic, you blame the idiot who did that to their car. If your car is that terribly rusty, you are fully liable for your getting in it.

I don’t like being negative, but please stop for a minute and think things through. Tom and Ray would give you a big ol’ dopeslap here... There are so many rookie mistakes happening and about to happen, this should have a big disclaimer on it... At least seek help and advice before leading others blindly into…

Produce photographic/videographic evidence or it didn’t happen!

Having owned and daily driven a VW bus for years (though not at present), I can tell you with absolute authority that they’re as reliable as you make them. Screw in a lot of EMPI parts, treat it like a Chevy, and generally neglect it, yeah it’ll be a total turd. Bestow it with quality parts, engage in proper care and…

It’s like they took all the most distinctive element from a number of popular/stylish cars, melted them slightly, and tried to cram them into one space...

Late-50s VW Bus: a crunched up tin toy Mercedes 300SL also from the 50s up in the nose. Must have fallen out the back of the dash tray and behind the the trim panel.

The difference is essentially that the dealership network is the NOS parts hoarder versus a more dedicated individual(s). Fortunately, the old 4X4s were built with utility first design parameters. Few curves means easier metal work. Few electronics/moving parts makes that all easier as well.

First off, good on you for tackling what is certainly a daunting task for most people. I’ve known many a self-proclaimed car guy that wouldn’t even go that far.

I think the move en masse to aluminum will ultimately be a positive thing. Steel is good in that it’s easily worked with hammers and dollies and can be welded with inexpensive welders (MIG and lesser). The downside is, naturally, oxidation. Aluminum is lighter, can be just as strong (adjusting for gauge/thickness),…

1) Brakes first. Always. Stopping is way more important than going.

IHI may not be making cars, but you’re sorely mistaken if you think just about any other manufacturer still supports these sorts of things. The federal mandate is something on the order of 7 years for continued manufacturer support. Parts supplies will often last double that on some things, but when you’re dealing…

After I failed to fully seat a steering u-joint while helping my friend replace his power steering box and power steering pump, he was test driving it in the apartment parking lot (it did something odd, and instead of stopping to see what was up, he decided a stress test was the appropriate course of action) and it…

Until I know how it does with long term exposure to UV, heat, and general time I simply can’t get excited about all the carbon fiber everywhere... Brittle plastics are the bane of the car enthusiasts’ existence; making absolutely everything possible out of it seems like a nightmare of apocalyptic proportion for the…

I do pretty much all my work solo. Part of my vehicle acquisition routine is a hydraulic flush (and often brake system rebuild since no one seems to know how to maintain brakes). I’ve done/used just about everything imaginable for this. Those silly hand pumps that only work once, the big plastic vacuum pumps that…

Mine is a best/worst sort of affair... I’ll start by saying I married the best, most patient, and most awesome woman in the world...

With such a thin atmosphere, don’t you think the air cooling of the “low performance” option would be found lacking?

Mine is a best/worst sort of affair... I’ll start by saying I married the best, most patient, and most awesome woman in the world...

I have been harping on this for years!!! It’s probably my biggest automotive pet peeve. The remainder of this rant has been deleted.