Auto Parts

New Beemer kisses a pole.

2007-09-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

This 2007 BMW 750 is going to need a heep of parts to get it back on the road. Truthfuly, I don't think that anyone in their right mind will even dream about repairing this one. This is most likely destined for the auto parts yard.

The auction in North Carolina had a few of these high end cars today. I will look out for the price next time so I can post it here. Wondering how much it sold for.

Finding Used Auto Parts Online

2007-05-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Actually finding a used part online for your car is very simple if you know where to look. From looking on Yahoo Answers site and the emails and questions I get, there are a lot of people that are having a hard time finding the parts they are looking for. I thought this was common knowledge but I was wrong. So this post is my attempt to make it common knowledge.

Car-Part.com is it. This site is the most usefull used auto parts locator on the internet. If you go to their site you will see that you can enter the criteria into the form, click Search and you have an extensive list of parts that you can filter through by price, location, description, etc.

The nice thing is that you can sort the search by location, where you will get a list of salvage yards and auto parts suppliers in your town that carry your part.

I have used this site for over 6 years and it is still the most powerful used auto parts locator tool.

Trademark Infrigement

2007-05-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Opened up my email this morning and got a not-so-pleasant surprise.

SATA wants my domain, because I infringed on their trademark. This domain - satagun.com, was a good domain, good traffic producer. Haven't made a cent from it but nevertheless, was fun to own a good domain. When I got it I didn't even think about the trademark issue. I guess I should have.

Oh well, next time I'll think twice before getting a domain that has a trademark in it.

So remember 2 things boys and girls, 1 - SATAgun.com is closed and 2 - Don't buy a domain that has a trademark in it.

I think I heard a story about someone getting their mcdonaldssomethingsomething domain taken away by mcdonalds, so be careful about picking your domain.

1998 Toyota T100

2007-05-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

Here's my Toyota T100. Finally done. This is the photo of what it looked like when I just bought it.

And here is the photo of it now.

To see more photos of the build go to www.mirru.com. I was going to use it as my shop truck but when I closed the shop this truck became my toy.

One Hot Looking 1967 Ford F100

2007-03-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

So I'm done with this 1967 Ford F100. Was a lot of work. Soo many dents and peeling paint, scratches. So much blocking, sanding and smoothing out. It was quiet a job but ended up looking so hot.

We used a Lamborghini orange color:

Color Name: Arancio Atlas
Orange Metallic
PPG Code: *0058

Plus over the top of that we applied Radiance candy coat, well actually five coats. Five coats of clear and this baby is awsome looking.

Check out the complete "photo documentary" of this project at www.mirru.com/f100

I don't care if you are not into cars, you were obviously interrested enough to get this far, I am telling you this is awsome photos! I keep coming back to this page to look at this color. It is amaizing.

For this project I used one gallon of orange base coat for the body, one quart of cream base for the top, 3 quarts of PPG Radiance candy and one gallon of clear (the 4CR clear that I wrote about before, awsome clear).

Orange Metallic Paint Job

2006-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

1967 Ford F100 is my new patient. It has rust here and there, dents and dings on almost every panel. It's antique custom orange paint is peeling off, the body panels do not line up with each other very well. I was entrusted to beat it back into shape.

After all the body panels are cleaned up and straightened, this baby is going to get a orange crush with gold pearl paint job. I can already see it.

Innitially I was going to paint it orange metallic but after talking to my paint supplier, I found out that orange paint is to dense and will not let the metallic be all that it should be. So even better, now I will have to use gold pearl to get the somewhat same, maybe better effect.

The original idea was a 2002 Lamborghini Diablo/Murcielago Color, Arancio Atlas.

Color Name: Arancio Atlas
Orange Metallic
PPG Code: *0058

This is the same color that the Orange Toyota Supra from The Fast And The Furious has. I actually have a whole page built about this Supra if you are interrested in reading about the build and specs of this car. Go to http://www.mirru.com/fastAndFurious.html

Clear Coat from Germany, CR4 Brand

2006-09-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

I have discovered this clear about six months ago. My paint supplier brought it by one day and asked me to try it out. Ever since then my paint jobs have changed. This clear is so easy to work with and it lays down so nice. Plus it buffs easy too. About 3 weeks ago I put half as much reducer into the mix by accident and my clear came out like glass. No orange peel. So next time I did it again and it came out perfect again. Ever since then I have been adding very little reducer to the mix and coming otu with perfect glass like clear coat.

I would reccomend to anyone that paints cars to try this clear if you've been having problems with orange peel.

4CR 7100 Automotive Clear Coat
The mixing ratio is 4:2:1 - clear:hardner:reducer
This is a 2 coat clear.

I wanted to write about this before but couldn't find the manufacturer's website or any information on it, so now I did.

The web site address is www.4cr.de, it is a German product, their web site is in German but you can change the language on the top to English.

They also have a 7200 version of this clear which uses no reducer at all, and it is a single coat clear. I just got this one this week and will try it out. We'll see how it does.

Roll pan for 1998 Toyota T-100

2006-09-12T19:56:00.000-07:00

On my new (used) T-100 I decided to install a roll pan and get rid of my rear bumper. After spending hours online and looking through magazines, I could not find even one for a T-100.

I looked up a company here in town that does sheet metal fabrication to have it fabricated. I traced out the patern from the quarter panel sides that come over to the back, under the bumper onto a paper and cut it out. Transfered the patern from the paper to a piece of cardboard to give to the fabricators.

Them guys at the fabricator shop just tossed the patern. When I got the roll pan a week later it was way off of what I needed. The pattern I gave them was MIA. The rolled bends I needed them to make, they made with a brake, so now the bends that are suppose to be nice and smoothe, they have ridges on them, they made a bunch of brake bends to bend the metal into shape.

I didn't take a pictures of it but I should have. Now I have to bondo the roll pan to make it smooth like I need it to be.

More on Paint Jobs & Paint Guns

2006-09-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

Having a nice paint gun sure helps a lot. I have used a cheapie, Sharpe gun for a long time before finding out the night and day difference of using a nice SATA gun.

If you don't have a SATA or iWata gun and unsuccessful to get a nice paint job done, I can tell you, you're not going be able to do it.

SATA is my choice. Never again will I use anything else. The rest is all garbage. If you've been painting off and on for a while, as soon as you get yourself a nice SATA gun you will have success!!! As soon as you start spraying you will see the difference. You are getting a nice spray pattern, the paint is getting distributed a lot more efficiently, you will feel a lot more confident spraying. It is life changing.

The gun I use is SATAjet NR2000 digital. I bought it thinking, "digital, cool", now I see it really makes no difference if it has a digital pressure display or not. The gun performs just the same without. I think I looked at this display twice. You will be spending extra $50 to $100 on this luxury. No need.

I recommend SATAjet NR2000. It will cost you from $420 to $550 new or about $290 used.

There is a new gun that SATA has just released, it is SATAjet 3000, which should be pretty nice. But like I said, unnecessary. You will spend more for luxury.

Also there is a SATAjet RP that is a nice gun, but I don't like the feel of it. I can't quiet explain what it is about it, but I just love my NR2000. The RPs are a little more expensive than NRs but not much to make a big deal about. If you don't know which one to get, get the NR2000 and you will be happy.

There are three ways of getting a nice SATAjet gun.

One is buying it brand new from your local paint supply store. You are going to get a nice setup for about $550 to $699. Your local supplier will be able to tell you all about it. Most of which will be true. A great product needs no salesman.

Second way you can get your SATA is online. You can get it from an online store. Online as you know it, you can get things cheaper, about 10% to 20% off retail price. Here is a place you can buy one. The address is www.SATAgun.com. All the places online that you can buy these SATAs will be different but the product is the same. The prices and the shipping fees are what you are looking for a deal on. You will get a good deal at www.SATAgun.com without loosing confidence. The shipping is $15.00 for most gun setups. This store specializes in SATA guns so you can expect a nice selection.

The third and the way you should get one is on eBay. Used SATAjet NR2000s sell for about $260 to $300 in good condition. These things are like Hondas, used only means it's been broke in, now you get to enjoy the benefits. Now you have to be careful about who you buy from on eBay. Make sure you read all the description and the terms. Make sure you count in the shipping fee before you bid, so you don't over spend. Make sure the gun is not broken and it has all the components, like the gun and the cup are there. Some guns I see sell without the cup and some people over pay for those.

There you go, now you have some info to take to the store with you. Get the nice gun and stop driving your self crazy with the cheapie. Maybe your blood pressure will even drop. :)

After Market Fiber Glass Parts

2006-05-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

A customer brought in a car this week that needed a little work repairing a set of fiber glass after market bumpers on a 2000 Nissan Sentra. These bumpers were trashed. There were cracks everywhere and chunks were missing.

Once I started working on it, one by one I kept finding new cracks. More and more, they are everywhere. These bumpers needed to be thrown away. This being a used car lot car, I had to do what they want me to do, even when it is crap work. So I used fiber glass resin to fill all the cracks and this turned out to be a bigger job then I expected. Next time I'll look closer, do a better inspection before bidding a job.

These after market bumpers were secured with 4 screws each. They were flimsy just hanging there. I can only imagine what happened when this car was on the freeway or hit a bump.

When installing an after market bumper that has no holes or attachment points on it, the best way to secure it is going to be matching the attachment points on the original bumper. Drill holes in the same places. Install any brackets that were on the OEM bumper onto the aftermarket one. It will need all the support it can get. I would even go further if you want it to stay on permanently and last longer then a week.

Once all the brackets and screws are in, see if the bumper is still flimsy in some spots. Since this bumper is shaped differently than the original, you may need to fabricate some extra brackets to secure the areas that are not supported.

One Expensive Air Bag Module

2006-04-06T23:14:00.000-07:00

After a while I decided to just go ahead and shell out the $800 (not $700 as I previously thought) and get the brand new air bag module. When I ordered the module at Nissan, they told me I had to wait for it for a week. When I went to pick it up, I asked about their refund policy on it in case the module is not causing the problem my car is experiencing, they said "There isn't one". I asked, "So it's mine as soon as I walk out that door?", he goes, "more like it's already yours".

Alright... I took it down to the shop, plugged it in, stick the key in, turn it to the on position and start the car. The air bag indicator light on the dash is on. After about 5 seconds it goes off. YEAH!!!! It worked. That's all it took. Well $800 is all it took.

After all the time I spent fiddling with the wires, checking the resistance and checking the connectors. It is finally done.

I built a page where you can see the photos of my Altima before and after the repair. You can see it at www.mirru.com.

Bad SRS Module - '05 Altima

2006-03-21T10:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, problems again. The air bag module that I received with the air bags is off a different car. I took my '05 Altima to the Nissan to have the SRS indicator light turned off. The tried and told me it won't clear.

I did some testing and it appears the module wants a off switch for the passenger side air bag. Well my car doesn't have one.

If I didn't thrrow the old SRS module away I could have had it reprogrammed. I now find out that there is a guy in Texas that can reprogram the "blown" SRS modules. He charges $150, you send him yours, he reprograms it and sends it back to you.

That's a great deal compared to buying a new one for $700+. I can't even find a blown one used. I don't know what I am going to do now. Waiting is the name of the game now.

If by chance you have a SRS module for a 2005 Nissan Altima (production date 6/04) with front airbags and no side bags, please sell it to me!! Or if you have a blown one with the same specs, let me know. The part number is 28556ZB29A.

Email me valik@mirru.com

The SRS Module Reprogrammer:

Airbags-OEM
Kevin Ashworth
7722 Calypso Dr.
Rowlett, TX 75088
1-877-636-2247

2005 Nissan Altima Door Handle Removal

2006-03-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

Once I start assembling the car I seem to find out the procedures that I was suppose to follow to disassemble it. In my earlier post I wrote about the problems I ran into while trying to remove the door handle on my 2005 Nissan Altima. Yesterday as I was assembling the car, I found out that I didn't have to take the door completely apart to remove the handle.

Here is an easier way to do this.

1. Remove the interior door panel.
2. Remove the electric window switch panel from the interior panel and hook it back up to the wiring harness.
3. Peel off the round stickers covering the openings in the door "guts" cover plate. One towards the front of the car and one towards the back, about the middle of the panel vertically. The stickers may be the same color the panel is so you will need to look closely.
4. Adjust the window so you can see the screws through the round openings, by opening or closing the window.
5. Remove the screws, but make sure you are holding the glass from the top in case it will want to slip down.
6. Once the screws are out, pull the glass out, rear first.
7. Remove all the screws that hold the cover panel in. Those are the ones around the edge of the panel. Should be 4 on the top, one on each side and 3 on the bottom. (I am writing this from memory, so there may be 3 or 4 on top and bottom. I just went through this yesterday, it's still fresh in my mind but can't recall the number of screws, sorry).
8. Pull the panel bottom first, straight out about an inch or so and then slide the whole thing down to clear the window slider rails.
9. Now you should have a clear way to remove the front screw of the door handle.
10. To remove the back screw, stick the socket through the opening in the door body right above the lock. You are going to have to guide the socket with your hand through the rubber seals and to the screw. Guide it back out when the screw is loose because the socket will get stuck trying to get back out through all the rubber weather stripping.
11. You will notice that the handle won't want to come right out even with the screws out. You will need to push it from the inside, top first.

At least this is an easier way than what I had to go through not knowing how this thing is put together.

Good luck.

Painting - No Orange Peel

2006-03-11T12:03:00.000-08:00

Painting cars is not as hard as it seems, painting cars well is a whole different story. I've been painting cars for about 6 years now off and on. Maybe about 4 to 5 per year. Having such big gaps of time between paint jobs really prevented me from really getting the hang of painting well. Some things I remember some I forget.

In September of 2005 I started my own body shop, now I get to paint a lot more and I seem to be learning a lot more, faster. I built a make shift paint booth in my shop, made 2 openings for filters. One in, one out from the booth into the shop. It didn't work so good. The over spray stayed in the booth and created streaks in some metallic paint jobs. I finally invested in a nice exhaust fan, now everything gets blasted out of the booth and the shop.

Back to the topic of this post. I have always had problems with having more than descent orange peel effect in the clear coat. Even after buying a nice SATAjet 2000 paint gun, I was still seeing more orange peel than I want. It just creates more wet sanding work afterwards.

A couple of days ago while painting I accidentally turned up the pressure on the gun and while laying down a coat of clear I noticed it that it was laying down differently. It was laying down flat. So I conclude, to get a flatter clear coat in your paint job, turn up the pressure of your gun so it "mists" the clear on instead of spraying it on. I mean it will break down the solids to where they will lay down nice and straight.

I wish I could have found an article like this when I was having problems with my clear. I hope this helps someone.

DuPont Exploring New Horizons

2006-03-01T00:10:00.000-08:00

DuPont has entered joint venture with a Russian auto finishes manufacturer, Russkie Kraski Corp. They are creating a new company, DuPont Russian Coatings LLC, which will supply automotive coatings to manufacturers of automobiles in Russia and former Soviet republics. They will use both parties' technology to create a better product for Russian automotive industry.

Russkie Kraski is the largest manufacturer of automotive finishes in the Russian Federation. They have a sophisticated research and development, sales and marketing capabilities.

DuPont Russian Coatings will supply the carmakers of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine with high quality coatings for passenger cars, trucks and buses.

More Info

How Cars Work 101 - Animated

2006-02-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

Inner Auto Parts has put together a very interesting "How Cars Work 101" page. An extensive animated illustration of how different components and systems work in a typical car. From the engine to the Safety Restrain System (SRS), Fuel Injection, Drive Train.

I have spent about an hour going through these and haven't even got through half of them. Had to share it.

These animations do use Java so you'll need to make sure you have it installed.

Inner Auto Parts - How Cars Work 101

Crappy Replacement Parts by GM

2006-02-26T11:45:00.000-08:00

Replacing the door hinge pins.

1. Grind off the bottoms of the pins.

2. Use the hinge pin removal tool to press the pin ou tof hte bracket. Do not pound the pins out like the manufacturer instructs you to do. It will bend the brackets and they will no longer rotate on a true axis. The bushings, pins and brackets will wear out in a short time and the complete bracket will need to be replaced. The cost and labor can come out to be about $800 (8 hours of labor and $130 for the replacement kit).

3. Remove the bottom pin first for easier access to the upper pin.

A lot of complaints have been received about the only pin replacement kit that was on the market. The pins snapped when tightening the nuts drawing the pin into the original factory bracket.

The brackets are made of 1018 steel that is rated at 58,000 psi. The replacement pin is made of 12L 14 screw stock, which is rated at 57,000 psi. The pin is suppose to cut groves into the bracket to resit properly. So, how is the pin that is softer suppose to be able to cut into the harder bracket?

Another problem is that the pins and nuts even though zinc plated, will in a short time wear off and rust. The pins also have rough machining groves that will wear out the bushings a lot sooner.

GM has put out a bulletin about these very replacement kits being available to the repair shops. Makes me wonder if they cared to test them before endorsing this stuff.

Total Automotive, an OEM Parts Specialist has performed testing on these replacement kits and has designed a better replacement kit, that will last a lot longer. These pins are made of stainless steel and rated at 90,000 psi. CNC machined smooth to rotate without drag. The kits come with a 12 month or 12,000 mile parts and labor warranty providing the pins were correctly removed using the Total Automotive pin removal tool.

For the repair shops that have the original replacement kits in stock, Total Automotive has established a product buy back program that will let you trade in the original kits in for credit.

Total Automotive has put together an extensive presentation about this on their website. You can also contact the by phone at 1-800-450-750.

Total Automotive

Altezza Lights Myth

2006-02-25T11:55:00.000-08:00

Altezza euro taillights are rear brake/taillights that have a clear lens over top of red or amber lamps. Their sleek design gives vehicles a sporty and modern look and can be easily installed to replace your factory taillights. This unique style was first introduced by Toyota in Europe on its Alteeza model sedan. Due to their popularity they are now usually referred to as European Altezza, Euro taillights or simply Euro tails.

The Altezza was marketed in North America as the Lexus IS300, but the Altezza name stuck, once the brake light design was adapted to other vehicles. Since then, many companies have begun manufacturing aftermarket taillights for trucks, cars, vans and SUVs, making euro tails a must have when customizing your vehicle.

Some people still confuse altezza euro taillights with "completely clear taillights" (no red at all). In fact, completely clear taillights are illegal in most places and no longer available to the public. Most of euro tails now are manufactured to be D.O.T and SAE compliant.

Many taillights are available in 4 styles which are: Crystal Clear, Carbon Fiber, Bermuda Black and Platinum Smoke. The color refers only to the housing of the taillights, because the lenses are almost always clear. Choose the crystal clear style lights for light colored vehicles (especially white), bermuda black or carbon fiber for dark colored vehicles and platinum smoke for grey or silver vehicles. Of course it's all up to your own personal style!

Euro Taillights are one of the easiest aftermarket accessories to install!

TYC, APC and In.Pro Car Wear are currently, the main manufacturer's of altezza euro taillights. Tons of makes and models are now available (Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Jeep etc.) for most years, new and old. Whether your vehicle is an older model 1973 or a brand new 2005, chances are altezza style euro tail lights are an accessory option for you. It's hard to imagine a "tricked" out ride without them.

This article was written by - Coolights.com

14 HP Gain Plus 5 FT LBS of Torque

2006-02-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

An article from the S3 magazine about MagnaFlow's auto parts, bolt-on exhaust system tells you how to obtain an extra 15 wheel horsepower by letting your ride breathe better. Here is the first part of that article, you can read the rest on their site at MagnaFlow.

Straight from the think backward department comes the news that when it comes to getting more fuel and sir into the engine, the most efficient and cost effective route is to make a bigger path available for spent exhaust to get out of the engine. The faster the exhaust can get out the way, the more air and fuel the engine can take in. The more air and fuel the engine can take in the more power it can make. And so on. This news is especially true for a turbo quipped ride. When considering an exhaust upgrade the entire exhaust path all at once. Improvements from the exhaust port on the head all the Way to the tip on the muffler will clear the path to performance. To take advantage of the new and improved exhaust path out of the engine some steps should be taken to improve intake flow as well. While a muffler upgrade on its own may not yield any noticeable horsepower improvement, a manifold or cat-back system can bring noticeable results from the old butt dyno, along with the sweet sound of engine music to your ears. The best kind of exhaust upgrade is the one you can feel and hear when you mash the loud pedal.

MagnaFlow Performance Auto Parts

More Nissan Nightmares

2006-02-23T08:15:00.000-08:00

A couple postings back I wrote about my Nissan Altima. I was frustrated with it, because of the airbags issue and the door handle removal procedure.

I don't think I mentioned the door handle. To remove the door handle from the front doors, the inner door panel has to be removed, which is normal. But there is no access to the two handle screws. All you see is a big sheet metal panel that covers all the inner mechanics of the door. Once you loosen the panel, you find out that you can't remove it. The window motor and all the power windows system is attached to this panel. You loosen all the "guts" from this panel, then you can easily remove the panel. Now you have all these "guts" hanging everywhere out of this door. It is easy to remove the handle at this point.

I don't think I am the only one that finds this procedure a little uncomfortable.

I am starting to think that when they design cars they actually try to make it complicated to change parts so you would take the car in to the repair shop. So they then can charge a bunch of money because it is a complicated procedure.

'57 Chevy Trunk Lid

2006-02-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

Sherman & Associates has designed a complete trunk lid for the 1957 Chevrolet. These trunk lids include complete welded inner and outer panels as well as all the cut outs, mounting holes, and components to mount the trunk latch and emblems.

“The result of our design,” said James Sherman, president of Sherman & Associates, "is a one piece trunk lid just like the original". Now restorers of these classics have an option that produces a much better looking finished product than the outer trunk lid skin which was formerly the only part offered to those with rusted trunk lids. “All they have to do,” Sherman continued, “is prep, paint and hang the trunk lid.”

All components for the new Sherman “Exact-Fit” trunk lid are die formed from electro-galvanized steel which is phosphate treated for immediate paintability. These trunk lids are produced in the U.S. by an experienced automotive stamping supplier. They are freight shippable anywhere in the world. Like all Sherman repair panels, they provide the high standards of fit and finish both amateur and professional restorers have come to expect from Sherman products.

In addition to the 1957 fully assembled trunk lids, Sherman stocks a full line of exterior and underbody sheetmetal repair panels for these classic Chevrolet and other General Motors vehicles, as well as vehicles built by Chrysler, Ford and many import cars and trucks.

Sherman’s giant 2005-2006 catalog contains thousands of autobody sheetmetal panels, header panels, radiators, condensers, and many hard to find specialty items and accessories. Sherman’s full catalog is online at http://store.shermanparts.com.

Sherman Parts

2005 Nissan Altima Parts

2006-02-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

Replacing the SRS on a 2005 Nissan Altima is a bit complicated. If you happen to have a 2005 Altima that needs the SRS replaced, it will be quiet obvious that your dash board is toast. That's right, the whole dash board is ruined.

Ususally, at least in my experience, when the air bags blow out, the passenger side is always in it's own little removable section of the dash. Well, Nissan designers went beyond that. They desided it will be much more fut to have to replace the whole dash instead of a little insert.

This is one of a list of problesm that Nissan has that really bother me. I am pretty sure that I will never own another Nissan. Even though I really like the body shape and stance of the new Altima.

One nice thing about working on the front end is that when the car is hit in the front, the whole core support is plastic and is completelly removable from the front of the car ($185).

The headlights are not that expencive ($185 ea) either, considering their size.

The fenders and the front bumper reinforcement is available aftermarket, interchangeable with 2002 and up. Front bumper cover is about what you would expect, $214.

Overall, I like the desent parts prices and aftermarket parts availability for a brand new car. I would not want to work on it again though.

Cars Living Longer

2006-02-20T09:20:00.000-08:00

The average age of a car in the US last year was 9 years.

Ten years ago it was 7.5 years.

In 2005 almost 35% of passenger cars on the roads were 11 years old, compared to 29 percent in 1996. 4.3% of all passenger cars were destroyed for scrap or parts which is the lowest since 1949.

With car manufacturers improving technology and quality of the product they produce it is no wonder the cars are getting better and better.

The parts are made of better alloys and finished with the proper primers and sealers. Automotive paint is improving too, protecting the cars from UV and moisture.

The engines are designed with perfection and built to last.

Replacement auto parts are also becoming better and more affordable for car owners.

"As vehicle durability and technology continues to improve each year, we expect the trend of increased vehicle longevity to continue." said Dave Goebel, a consultant for Polk's Aftermarket Solutions, in a company announcement.

Adjustable Coilovers

2006-02-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

Lowering your vehicle not only gives the aggressive look of a sports car, but it increases cornering and provides a quicker response to ground-to-steering ratio.

Dropzone Suspension is the leading manufacturer of performance coilovers and lowering springs. The newly engineered coilovers made of pure stainless steel are powdercoated red and will never rust, fade or strip.

Here is some of it's features.

- 0-4" adjustable drop
- Adjusting wrenches included
- Lifetime Warranty from Dropzone Suspension®

Carefully configured spring rates and height adjustability provide incredible handling, response, control and balance. With a drop rate of 0-4 inches, you can instantly slam your vehicle onto the ground in the summer, and raise it back in the winter with no extra tools. Dropzone has eliminated the bounce and flicker of competing coilovers to develop the world's finest in handling and style. And with our warehouse direct prices, we can offer them to you 30% below retail price. As seen in hundreds of car shows nationwide.

DROPZONE is one of only coilover companies that offers a limited LIFETIME WARRANTY on the product!

Composite Auto Parts

2006-02-18T07:56:00.000-08:00

This day there are so many composite materials that the car's parts consist of that it is hard to keep up with it. I as a body shop owner address all the issues the same way. I use the plastic bumper filler to fix any scratches of damage on bumpers ro any other plastic/composite material auto part. The article at ABRN tell the story a bit more in detail. I learned a lot from it and hope you pick up some techniques and ideas from it.

Repairability of Composites
With an understanding of why the OEM manufacturers have increased the use of composites in todayÂs automobiles, this question must be asked: Can we repair these materials and if so, how do we repair them?Â The answer to this question is a simple Âyes.Â Any composite being used on an automobile today can be repaired. This statement can be made because of the improvements adhesive repair material companies have made throughout the past few years. They no longer need a wall chart that only an engineer is able to understand. Several years ago, you needed anywhere from five to eight products sitting on the shelf just to address bumper cover repair. With the demand for simplicity placed on the adhesive repair material companies, the materials needed on hand have been reduced down to one or two products. The OEMs are also leaning in the direction of specification-based repair and repair materials that meet a spec set by the automobile manufacturer. This will help reduce the possibility for failed repairs even further. DaimlerChrysler has introduced its composite repair deck, a tool designed to identify repair methods and products that meet its standards. Ford Motor Co. and GM have Tech Service Bulletins addressing their specs for products and repair procedures. Read More >>

This article is written by Ed Staquet
Automotive Body Repair News

Airbag Covers

2006-02-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

Replacing an airbag system (SRS) after it has been deployed in an accident can be very expencive. You can spend from $800 up to $3000 on replacing the SRS. Besides the airbags you also need to replace the sensors, the SRS controller computer and sometimes the seatbelts. Some people like myself would never spend that much on an airbag system. I am thinking, people have survived driving with seatbelts for so long so this extra safety precaution is a luxury, to me anyway.

I prefer airbag covers. It is a cover that is the same shape as the original airbag bu it is an empty shell. They cost a lot cheaper. I am talking about $45 to $85.

Now this place that I've been getting my airbag covers from is offering to even paint the covers to your specifications. So when you get it you just need to bolt it into the opening where the airbag used to be.

Hicks Airbag Covers is where I've been getting my covers. They deliver fast and provide great customer service.

Hicks Airbag Covers

Aftermarket Auto Body Parts

2006-02-16T09:31:00.000-08:00

I've been repairing and restoring cars for about ten years and dealing with aftermarket auto parts has been frustraiting. Most aftermarket parts are ok but some of them just do not fit. It seems to me that at least one part for each vehicle that aftermarket parts are available for is going to be out of wack. The body lines don't match, the gaps between parts are wavy or bowed. I've seen a hood that was an inch shorter on one side, a fender that was too short and annother too long. Sometimes the headlights do not fit into the openning in the fender. This can be frustraiting, to say the least.

My brother-in-law (a bodyshop owner too) just finished repairing a 1997 Honda Accord. He had to use aftermarket fenders, hood, front bumper reinforcement and a cover. He did a perfect job on this car. The right fender is bowed though. The gap between the hood and the right fender starts and finishes with a nice 1/8" gap but in the middle it is bowed out to about 1/4". Nothign he can do. Beating it in will ruin the fender.

I am tempted to start a registry for messed up aftermarket parts so people can reffer to it and if they do not want to deal with these problems they can choose to buy an OEM part that is registered as bad.

Pontiac GTO Performance Parts

2006-02-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

SLP Performance Parts now has performance parts specifically designed for 2004 and 2005 Pontiac GTO.

In their body components they have a "Ram Air H.O." hood that is now on sale. Grab it while it is.

SPL also has a complete performance pack. It includes a complete exhaust system, ceramic coated headers, rocker arm package and a bunch more parts that will give your GTO a 455 HP boost.

Cylinder heads and crate-engine-assemblies are also available.

SLP Performance Auto Parts

Plastic Film Instead of Paint

2006-02-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

First GM used the thermoformed color plastic on the stone shield on it's Chevrolet SSR pickup. Now they are using it on the Chevrolet HHR wagon. Also they are making the rocker panels form the plastic for some models of Buick and Cadillac. This year, GMC Envoy is going to have a thermoformed plastic bumper fascia.

Charles Buehler, a technical integration engineer in GMÂs materials group says there is not much change for the collision repairers. If these parts have scratches in them, they just need to be sanded down, filled and painted, just like regular parts.

One of the reasons of introducing these parts is the durability. This plastic is better at withstanding stone impingement and impact damage.

Read more at Auto Body Repair News Website
ABRN.com

New Supercharger from Saleen

2006-02-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

Saleen Series VI integrated TwinScrew supercharger with two-stage water-to-air intercooling system.

A second cooler located in the airdam below the engine radiator assists the intercooler integrated into the supercharger assembly. compact, light weight and high efficiency - Essentially, the Saleen design integrates the previously separate intake manifold, blower housing/assembly and intercooler into one compact unit that nestles neatly into the valley between the heads. This allows for a much wider intake manifold.

The shape of the "snorkel" opening for the intake air tube is designed for maximum flow. And to maintain a constant volume of air as the air flows toward the rear of the engine, the housing widens and lattens-out over the engine. All bends are opened up to provide smooth airflow.

The blower assembly contains twin screws, which push 2300 cc of air per rotation As a result, the supercharger turns slower for equivalent boost, producing lower stress and lower air charge temperatures. The higher supercharger efficiency, along with the lower air charge temperatures, allows for an intercooler that is smaller, lighter and more compact and which has virtually zero pressure drop from inlet-to-outlet side.

It features an integrated bypass for low-speed running; when you are driving at low speeds and don't require boost, the bypass helps reduce heat buildup in the engine. The Saleen design provides for optimal runner length, resulting in more torque and better low-end drivability.

It features long, beefy downdraft runners with minimal bends for maximizing torque and horsepower. The new design provides a straight, direct shot into the cylinders which maximizes airflow.

This design is much more maintenance-friendly. It has only one sealing surface and you only have to remove the eight screws that bolt theair tube to the plenum for access to all of the blower components. The overall efficiency gains-in the engine, the supercharger and the intercooler-mean the Saleen supercharged 3V-V8 produces more horsepower and torque at a less stressful 4-5 psi boost - 400 horsepower, and 420 lb-ft of torque,

The Saleen-SC kit also includes benefits from a specific Saleen PowerFlash performance computer.

Read more at Saleen, Inc. Website
www.saleen.com/supercharger.htm

Discount OEM Bumpers

2006-02-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

Bumpers.com is offering OEM bumpers up to 75% Off retail price. I'm sure going to save the link to that place. They have bumpers for the following cars:

FORD, LINCOLN, MERCURY, MUSTANG, CHRYSLER, DODGE, PYLMOUTH, JEEP, GMC, BUICK, CADILLAC, PONTIAC, CHEVROLET & BMW.

Also they have shock absorbers, grilles and lights.

I hope you find this place usefull.

OEM Bumpers Online at savings up to 75% off retail.
Bumpers.com

Plastic Auto Parts Standard

2006-02-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) Collisions Operations Committee is examining the benefits of primed versus unprimed auto parts. They are trying to establish a standard for the OEM manufacturers so all the plastic bumpers & other plastic auto parts that are shipped out to the automotive collision repair shops are primed.

ASA determined that unprimed bumpers can cost the repairer an additional $14 to $23 in materials and 1 to 1.3 hours of labor.

Another issue that they saw was the ability of the estimating programs to account additional repair and material costs associated with unprimed auto parts. This requires repairer to make a manual line entry for the additional costs.

Jerry Burns, the assistant division director and owner of Automotive Impressions Inc. said that he's hoping SAE will adopt the recomminded standard and that all vehicle manufacturers will provide all plastic bumpers and other plastic parts in primed state. This will also eliminate the adhesion problems paint manufacturers and shops have with raw plastic auto parts.

Local auto parts search

2006-02-12T19:50:00.000-08:00

Car-Part.com has been my major tool for looking for auto parts. When I need a part, I call around to the local two used auto parts suppliers here in town, just because it is easy and I remember their phone number by heart. But when I am out of luck here in town, my next stop is car-part.com.

You enter your car's information into the form, choose the part you want to find and submit. The results will list the parts you are looking for sorted by the distance from your celected location.

I found Air Bags for my 2005 Nissan Altima there. Not close by though, but still a hard part to find.

For parts, use car-part.com

Brembo & DaimlerChrysler JV

2006-02-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

Brembo and DaimlerChrysler started a joint venture on January 22, 2004. They each hold 50% of shares of Brembo Ceramic Brake Systems. This new company is established in Stezzano (Bergamo) Italy.

The two companies are going to apply their specialist expertise in the manufacture of ceramic brake discs. As a startup company the first order of business for Brembo Ceramic Brake Systems is to develop and produce ceramic brake discs. Long term plans are going to include the development, production and sale of supplementary components. They estimate the volume of production will be about 15,000 units per year in ceramic carbon by 2006.

Ceramic Composite Material Brake Disc

The advantages of the CCM are:
· performance
· weight
· comfort
· wet braking performance
· corrosion resistance
· high lifetime
· technical image

Carbon material is being used for more than 30 years:
· 1970’s: braking systems for aerospace vehicles
· 1980’s: braking systems for aerospace vehicles and the racing world
· 2000’s: braking systems for sport cars.

The applications are: Ferrari Enzo, Ferrari Challenge Stradale, Ferrari F430, Ferrari 575 HGTC, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Mercedes SLR.

Read more about Brembo at Brembo Cars Site.
Brembo Cars

Finding parts for a 2006 Civic Si

2006-02-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

Nothing I've ever seen that is more stunning than this new 2006 Honda Civic Si.

A powerful 197-horsepower 2.0 liter K20 engine, a close ration 6-speed manual transmission, stock 17" wheels and this thing is ready to race like no other.

Once this beast settles down (the hype and newness will wear off), this car will still be as popular as Civic has been since it first came out.

As for now, the new owners of these beauties will have to wait for Honda and aftermarket parts manufacturers release the bolt-ons and swap-outs.

This car is still too new, so very few parts are available to purchase. After an hour of searching the best place I found that you could have luck finding any parts and the soonest that you can find them is going to be at the honda store website.

After you enter all the information about your car and input your zip code, it will open up a list of dealers in your area, once you select a dealer you will get an online auto parts store where you can then order your part.

Follow the link to that web site.
eStore.honda.com

OEM vs Aftermarket Auto Parts

2006-02-10T11:55:00.000-08:00

I am going to go through a series of examples of why it is beneficial to use an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) auto part rather then an aftermarket one.

Here is and exapmle of GM parts.

Reaon 1. The design of the OEM part is far more advanced.

The GM energy absorber has thicker cell walls in the main crush zone than the non-OEM part. Crush zones help absorb the impact of the crash thereby reducing damage to the vehicle.

The non-OEM rear beam is missing the reinforcement channel, which is designed as a stiffener and helps keep the part from unnecessary flexing in a crash.

Reason 2. The OEM auto part is made of quality material.

The GM beam is formed from a single piece of metal while the non-OEM beam is made from two overlapping, spot-welded pieces. This design allows the GM beam to better distribute energy in a crash.
The walls of the energy absorber are up to 2.3 mm thicker on certain areas of the GM part. Wall thickness helps dictate how the impact of the crash is distributed throughout the part and to the vehicle.

Reason 3. OEM auto parts have better welds

The GM beam has six significantly larger welds while the non-OEM beam has ten smaller welds. GM engineers specifically locate welds in certain areas so they will
help to absorb and distribute the energy from an impact.

Reason 4. The fit of an aftermarket auto part is rarely right on.

Before assembly, the rear fascias look similar, however, after installation there is a noticeable difference in the trunk lid and fascia fit. The poor fit requires additional labor to position the part and may affect your vehicle’s resale value.

Reason 5. The OEM auto parts are much more durable.

Replicating the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s 5 mph rear-into-pole test caused a large dent on the decklid and trunk floor panel of the vehicle using non-OEM parts. The non-OEM parts were significantly deformed after the test, causing an incorrect fit.

Reason 6. Non-OEM auto parts create more damage in an accident.

Engineers found that the differences in bumper components greatly affected part performance. The use of non-OEM parts resulted in more damage to the vehicle, increased costs $1,500, and extended repair time.

The Facts about these auto parts.

Genuine GM Parts
❑ Proper fit and same materials as original parts
❑ Larger welds
❑ Efficient repairs

Genuine GM parts provide the opportunity to return your GM vehicle to pre-accident condition.

Non-OEM Parts

❑ Missing features
❑ Greater potential impact damage
❑ Different design and materials
❑ Damage exceeds vehicle equipped with genuine GM parts by approximately $1,500.

Clearly not “functionally equivalent” to genuine GM parts.

This information is from a GM Goodwrench
Impacting Collision Repair Consumer Brochure.
GM Goodwrench Web Site

Auto Parts

2006-02-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Auto Parts Blog.

As an auto body shop owner I find this sinformation pretty valuable. Keeping up with the news, changes and issues in the auto parts industry is a must. As auto parts locating, purchasing, repair, installation and finishing is a major part of a body shop operation.

I thought all in this business and others could use a place where auto parts is the main topic aside from auto parts sales.

Daily updated roomors and news about the auto parts manufacturers, new, used and aftermarket parts distributors, wholesalers and retailers.

Enjoy.

And make sure to leave your 2 cents, or tell me I am full of it, if I am. :)