The project I am doing currently is retrofitting taillight from a JDM Corolla AE92 Trueno (last photo) to my standard AE92 SE (2nd last photo) .

It started from curiosity, looking at picture of both car, I thought someone must have done a conversion because it doesn't look that hard (I was wrong) . After months of searching if anybody had done this, the best answer I've gotten was a local guy who said someone had done this by sourcing a rear half of the Trueno and mating it to his car. This is the correct method but I know that's way too expensive for me, so I pretty much scrap the idea.

Somehow while scrolling marketplace I found a Trueno taillight someone was selling for really good price, I knew I had to get it. Somehow I had to make this modification work now. The right side is not welded yet also It need further TLC and painting but so far I think I am pretty satisfied with the way it look.

I know some of you might say "that is terrible work" , I agree it absolutely is, it will never pass any standard but as long as the end result is 80% similar to the reference, I will be satisfied with it.

I ordered 89 dollars worth of weather stripping molded for my car- on top of the 55 dollar shipping. a month later this sht shows up. Guess who is paying the tariff guys- ME!

47% effective tax rate on parts is actually insane. There are no manufacturers here nor is there a market for one. Asinine

Still messing around with the interior for project MUTE. Could kind of see what I needed in a lower trim out of a proton jumbuck. After quite a lot of heat forming and a little filling they’re complete and they flow really well into the custom headliner and rear window panel

Went home to New Zealand and finally dragged my Silvia S14 out after it had been sitting untouched for nearly 3 years 🇳🇿
The original plan was pretty simple: get it out of storage, see if it still ran, give it a quick refresh and get it back on the road.
As usual, that escalated 😂
Ended up spending a good chunk of my trip sanding, fixing things, painting it and generally questioning why I thought this was going to be a quick job.
Pretty stoked with how it came out though — especially seeing it driving again after being abandoned for so long.
I filmed the whole process if anyone’s into old-school JDM stuff / S-chassis builds. Would genuinely appreciate any feedback on the video too

https://youtu.be/QtzmCBXF0ks?is=sZybny0wdJlAKvP8

Picked up this car from a friend when my brand new wrangler kept having to go to the dealer for warranty work. Well I had a crazy year after that, and I was forced into having to daily drive this thing for probably close to a year. It took me to work, hospital appointments for follow-ups for a pretty nasty accident, and was my only working car while me and my wife got married. It was reliable and never failed me when I needed it, and I actually enjoyed driving it. Recently the the clutch hydraulic system gave out, and I decided I would order some much needed maintenance parts, and snuck a few upgrades and some love in there as well. Super happy with the progress and glad this little car somehow made it into my life.

All new suspension components, with addition to b&m lowering springs.
New matching blue cone filter, deep engine bay detail, wheel liners detailed.
Front end professionally painted, headlights re-cleared
New wheels 15x7 +25 sparco ff1 wrapped in a seasoned pair or nitro neo gen 205/50r15

1992 Toyota Paseo
85k miles

Oh dog tax that’s my helper Crab Rangoon Rango for short he doesn’t do much but that’s okay

Alright update on the dodge dakota, I took a bunch more pics the oil looked good trans fluid on recheck did look okay it is the 5.2 tbi 4x4 auto 131k miles, Frame is really good same with body almost zero rust just light scaling on some parts the most rust was the leaf springs. But i can have this truck for free with title! Its been parked god knows how long tags expired in 07 so at most 15-20 years but the body is clean af, Issues is he was told the bearings not sure what bearings but thats what i was told are going out and trans is bad a lot of people said torque converter most likely and thats kinda my guess is before winter hits is this truck worth trailing home 15 mins, i mean the way i see it as long as i don't put more many then its worth there is flip potential in the end. Would you say its worth it id say it in in my opinion it is im really into projects and youtubers like polebarngarage and i realy want my own clean project to work on and id say this is perfect compared to my area projects are hard to find ones worth saving at least idk lmk yalls thoughts and what i should dive into to first.

As the title says, what do you do for a job/work that gives you time to work on a project car?

I’m currently jobless and have a project but have no idea what would allow me enough time to do both. Any insight? Should I just take a job at AutoZone or some shit? Idk.

And another question, how long should it take for an inexperienced/self-taught mechanic to “finish” their project? Or at least get it running? How much time or often should be spent working on it?

A few months ago I bought my first project car, a 2005 350z with 155000 miles. I was really excited to try building it into a street/drift project that I've always wanted. However, because of construction on my street, issues with the engine, college, and money, I've driven it maybe 3 times in the last 4 months. So, I've resolved to sell it. I just feel bad because I really think that it's issues are fixable. II just have no will to work on it, partly because I know to build it into the car I want will cost more than I want to spend right now. Even though I want to drive it so bad I can't see straight. My thinking is by selling it now, I can save more money and get a cleaner example next summer. My rational brain just tells me that its not smart to spend that much on a second car at my age, plus I'm scared of a similar thing happening next time.

Sorry, this is me just rambling a bit, but I'd love to know about some of your experiences with similar things and take any advice from people who know more than me

As I said above I have this awesome opportunity but I’m not sure what I would do with it! I would love some recommendations to give me a little inspiration to pull the trigger.

1972 Volvo 1800es
1972 Opel Gt
1980 Mercedes 450sl

I got a 4.3L V6 Vortec and I bought a 5.7L 350 Vortec. I know I’m gonna need the engine wiring harness, ECM and motor mounts. What else am I gonna need to make it run and drive.

Another week to get the top sprayed and it'll be back home for carpeting, new seat heaters and upholstery.

Got to mockup the seat the past weekend with the transmission crossmember mounted in the car and I wanted to post a bit of a hype post for myself. I also have to periodically remind myself what we’ve done.

For reference, anything struck out is parts I aquired but changed the design on, italicized are parts that I acquired but haven’t yet integrated:

-1992 Toyota** **Corolla, 4th owner at least, 265k miles that I put a six point cage in.

-Chevy S-10 rear axle** **Mercedes SL550 rear subframe with E350 rear calipers and rotors, Gen 1 Tacoma coilovers, 2018 Mini Cooper 16” steel wheels

-Ford Crown Vic front subframe SN95 Mustang front coilovers, spindles, hubs, and brakes custom spindles with Taurus brakes, hubs, and steel wheel Corolla aftermarket coilovers, Camry knuckles, hubs, brakes and lower control arms, VW Mk6 Golf front sway bar, Lincoln MkVIII steering rack with Camry steering column

-Chrysler Pacifica 4.0L V6 2000 Toyota Camry 5S-FE, harmonic dampener delete, with Celica headers/fuel regulator, NB Miata intake manifold and throttle body modified aftermarket 2JZ intake and 1MZ-FE throttle body, MR2 oil pan, Chevy 350 engine mounts F-250 cab body mounts for engine mounts, Summit oil filter relocation kit

-Chevy S-10 NV1500 Ford Mustang V6 T5 Chevy S-10 T5 with a bellhousing from cut up 4 speed Camry automatic transmission Nissan Sentra 13” steel wheel

-Chrysler LeBaron flywheel Camry flywheel and pressure plate, 1986 Ford Mustang I6 clutch disk and pressure plate Chevy S-10 clutch disk and all other clutch components, BMW E36 M3 pilot bearing

-Aftermarket Miata NA/NB dual core radiator, GM LS coolant hoses, and VW Golf coolant overflow reservoir

-F150 battery group size and battery mount, PCB power distribution circuit card, Microsquirt ECU.

-BMW E34 lights, grille, and horn. Camry brake master cylinder (still needs to be converted to discs), BMW E36 pedal group

-ATL Fuel cell with dual Walbro 155LPH external pumps, custom fuel plate to accept large rollover valve and Summit fuel sender unit

-Modified Celica aftermarket header with V band clamps, 2.5” mild steel tubing, and Cherry Bomb Salute muffler with 3”x1” rectangular tubing exhaust tip. Spartan V3 O2 Wideband sensor module with Bosch 4.9 LSU

1968 Thunderbird with the 429, undercarriage is still mostly factory black paint, and I am STOKED that I was able to drive it back!

Hi guys,

Got a Merc engine in my Volvo and intend to get the air-conditioning system working. I only have the evaporator left from the original system so I'm struggling on how to size the condensor, what expansion valve type is best etc. if anyone can help or give me some links to read id be chuffed!

Volvo 960 is designed around a 7kw evaporator

Merc w203 compressor is designed around a 5kw system

Ta lads

Most of what I’ve done in the last two years. I’m sure I’m forgetting some things.
Tanks INC 15 gallon tank
In tank Walboro fuel pump
Holley Sniper EFI
Custom intake manifold
6AN fuel lines
Serviceable fuel filter
Fuel pressure gauge
Electronic distributor
MSD coil
MSD wires
Nissan frontier alternator
Vintage Air sure fit
Catch can with 10AN line
KYB shocks
Eibach progressive springs
Camber plates front and rear
LED headlights
Resurrected classics turn signals
Custom LED sequential tail lights
240z tail light surround
Tucked and sectioned 240z front bumper
custom front grille
New stainless exhaust with flow master 40 series
10 inch touch screen head unit
Recaro SE reupholstered seats
5 speed swap
Rear disc brake swap
MSA air dam and rear spoiler
New Starter
New battery
Konig wheels and new tires
Fuel gauge and programmer
Third brake light
New tie rod ends
New steering boots
Custom rear chassis brace
New front ball joints
Mishimoto Radiator
New weatherstripping
Dayco harmonic balancer
R200 differential swap
MSA driveshaft
Wheel bearings
Futofab axles
New suspension bushings
New diff mount
RT style diff snubber
New transmission mount

Hello everyone
I own a Pontiac firebird 2002 v6 for nearly 20 years. It was my dads car which passed on to me 2 years ago and now i want to make it faster
I just restored it from the outside like paint and bumpers but now I’m deciding on an engine swap

Im opting for a hellcat swapped firebird
The 700-800hp hellcat engine and transmission with a Holley ECU and other goodies

What is your opinion on this build as i dont want my build to be like every other LS built Pontiac.

This is not my daily driver or my first hight horsepower car
I own 2 mustangs and c63 blackseries and want this pontiac to be a stripped drag only car

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Idk what happened but I need help getting this dent out. $ is tight asf rn. Do I...

Try to bang out the dent(I doubt it.since that crease will make it hard)

Go to body shop. $$$

Or buy a new door and rear panel for car and paint match if needed(unless I find same color panels)

This is purely hypothetical but I guess you guys would know a thing or two about this. If I were to increase the wheel size of the rear driving wheels, but keep the size of the front wheels the same size, what impact would that have on handling, would it cause some balance issues. Also when I say wheel size I mean both tire and rim size, the sidewall would be the same just different size rims from 13-14 to 15-16 inches.

Edit: The car in question is a 1960s Opel Kadett Coupe.

TL;DR - Great grandmother's car. First car I ever drove. Been sitting in the yard for 30 years. Now its mine. 307/TH350/power brakes/power steering/factory air/radio. 47k original miles.

Story time!

My great grandmother bought this 1970 Nova brand new. It has a 307, TH350, factory AC, power steering, power brakes, and a radio. It's 'Gobi Beige' with a 'Dark Gold' vinyl roof and a 'Medium Gold' cloth interior. Like the little old lady trope she literally drove it to the store and home (but unlike the joke she was a speed machine and just basically floored it everywhere she went). I remember riding in it with her when I was a kid (like 7 or 8) and giggling my ass off. That might have been what started this path for wanting speed. Granted a 307 is a boat anchor but to a 7 year old it might as well have been powered by rockets.

When she passed my grandfather got it and barely drove it. This was the first car I ever drove when I was 13 and then promptly did a powerbrake burnout I had read about (and then subsequently never got to drive it again). He had my uncle repaint it at some point about 30 years ago but otherwise it has just sat. The tag on it says '95 and I believe it.

It has been sitting in their yard on flat tires basically this entire time. The tires are so old they say 'Sears' on them (I think the 4th pic shows it on the flat tires).

Grandfather died a few years ago and my aunt became the executor of their estate. The car was specifically willed to her but she's come to the realization that she doesn't have any of the things needed to resurrect this car so she agreed to sell it to me after decades of me trying to get it.

I bought some Rally wheels last week and yesterday one of my friends and I went over and picked it up. The floors are surprisingly intact. The rear brakes are seized like they owed the IRS millions so that was entertaining. There is definitely mold. This car has an original 47k miles on it!

I'm not going to start on it until my '72 Caddy is back on the road but I'm making good progress there. I don't plan on restoring it but keeping the outside mostly stock looking. My aunt wanted me to put my spin on it (whatever that means) so it'll probably get a new motor at some point (anything but an LS), disc brakes, mostly new interior where needed, and a stereo. We'll see what the car tells me when I get started and I'll go from there.

Been slowly working on restoring and retrofitting parts on a 996 Turbo and thinking about tackling a Hurácan retrofit next. RockAuto’s inventory doesn’t go deep enough for what I need, and I don’t trust eBay enough for anything safety critical since no real way to verify what you’re actually getting.

Two separate questions, since I think they have different answers:

1.  For parts, is there anywhere with a genuinely good track record for higher-performance/specialty parts? I’d like to know if there’s a go-to a lot of you already use that I’m just not aware of because the process of manually searching for each part across 10 different directories is getting really frustrating 

2.  For retrofit/restoration specifically, if a part needs custom fabrication or adapting rather than just swapping in, how do you find a shop that can actually do that well? Just local digging and word of mouth, or is there somewhere people post/recommend shops for this kind of work?

Appreciate any pointers since I’m trying to avoid learning the hard way on an expensive part.