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) 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

Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) Believe it or not, there are government regulations specifying how you must light your vehicle’s rear license plate.  The regulations are part of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 108- Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment).  Lighting the license plate is not actually a safety issue… Continue reading License Plate Lights, Third Brake Lights and Frames

Story & Photos: Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) LED Taillights are now available for many of the classic hot rod and muscle cars that we all lust after.  The new LED replacements maintain the original style while greatly improving safety. Original incandescent-style bulb taillights may maintain an authentic look to an early hot rod or muscle… Continue reading LED Tailights

Story and Photos by Jim Clark, The Hot Rod MD Choosing and mounting headlights on a hot rod is a three-step process. First step is deciding how and where you intend to mount them. Then you will need to select a style of housing. Lastly you will need to decide which type of headlamp that you… Continue reading Headlights Part 3: Choosing and Mounting Them

Story and Photos by Jim Clark, The Hot Rod MD Headlights, technically referred to as headlamps, are standard equipment on any new vehicle and only require that you know where the controls are located for operating them. However, when building or modifying a hot rod knowing how to select new headlights and mount them is necessary.… Continue reading Headlights Part 1: The Basics

Story & Photos By Jim Clark, The Hot Rod MD One of the most frequently overlooked items in an automotive electrical system is the grounding of the system and components.  Grounding is critical because current will not flow unless it has a path for it to return to the source.  In most modern systems the current flows… Continue reading Grounding Electrical Systems

INSTALLING A BATTERY IN THE TRUNKStory & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) Most cars and trucks have the battery located within the engine compartment.  This places it close to the starter, shortening the cables, thereby reducing the drop in voltage often caused when long cables are used.  However, this is often not… Continue reading Battery Installation – Installing a Battery in your Trunk article by Jim Clark

Calibrating a Speedometer Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD) Many of us “gearheads” have had the experience of being pulled over by our friendly local law-enforcement officer and being told that we were exceeding the posted speed limit.  We inform him of the fact that we couldn’t be speeding because our… Continue reading Calibrating a Speedometer

Updating To An Electrical Gauge Packageby Jim Clark, The Hot Rod M.D. The original gauge package that I selected for my roadster in the 1970s consisted of manual gauges for the oil pressure, water temperature, and speedometer readings because I was using a magneto in my Buick Nailhead-powered roadster.  I chose them because magnetos and electrical… Continue reading Updating To An Electrical Gauge Package