Back in the late 60’s when I was learning to paint cars, we used acrylic lacquer and regular, not acrylic enamel … oh yeah, I can almost hear you guys thinking: Oh great, Old Carl is on another nostalgia kick and he is going to rant on about “way back when” again. Well, yes and… Continue reading Spot Painting … Melting in the Paint Edges by Carl Brunson

Here are a few things that I do around my restoration shop  that may or may not be useful to those of you doing your own body and paint work. Hopefully some of them will save you some time, a few dollars and get your job to turn out better.   Carl Brunson 1. Have you… Continue reading Paint and Body Tips from Carl Brunson

Story & Photos: Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) ZyBar is a new product in a full line of underhood and under car thermal insulating coatings for the automotive aftermarket. It’s an economical alternative that outperforms conventional tapes, wraps, and ceramic or powder coatings. It improves scavenging to increase horsepower and fuel economy (performance validated… Continue reading Affordable High-Temp Coatings for Exhaust-Systems

Story & Photos: Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) Emergency brakes in most modern cars are generally relegated to duty as just parking brakes, because modern braking systems are so efficient.  On older hot rods and classic cars, the roles are often reversed, because early braking systems leave much to be desired. The automotive aftermarket… Continue reading Emergency/Parking Brakes for Hot Rods

Story & Photos: Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) Emergency brakes in most modern cars are generally relegated to duty as just parking brakes, because modern braking systems are so efficient.  On older hot rods and classic cars, the roles are often reversed, because early braking systems leave much to be desired. The automotive aftermarket… Continue reading Emergency/Parking Brakes for Hot Rods

A trailer alarm may seem like just another horn-blowing device that just irritates people in the area when it goes off.  However, this Pro-Tec trailer security system from Trailer Alarms in New Braunfels, TX offers five different ways to alert you to someone trying to move or break-in to your parked trailer. On the basic… Continue reading Installing Trailer Alarms

Exhaust System Insulation Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) If you are building a highly polished showpiece, controlling heat radiation from the drivetrain and exhaust is not something that you will have to address.  However, if you plan to drive it, shielding sensitive components like the brake system and wiring from… Continue reading Exhaust System Insulation

Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) The turn signals on a vehicle are four separate lights that serve three different functions.  The first function directs power to the left front and left rear light to signal the intent to turn that way.  The opposite pair is energized to indicate a right… Continue reading Turn Signals for Early Hot Rods

Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) Many articles have been written about installing a new or modifying an existing braking system.  But they usually just show a diagram of where the lines need to be routed and which valves and hoses are need to make the system function.  However, when it… Continue reading Selecting Brake Fittings

Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) Modern Headlamps are required to produce both a low and high beam. This can be accomplished by using an individual lamp for each function or by a single multi-function lamp. Individual lamps must be positioned as close to the outside edge of the vehicle, in pairs, at… Continue reading Headlights Part 2: Low/High Beams