Safety First: Installing Seat Belts in Vintage Vehicles
Seat belts have been federally mandated equipment in new cars since 1966. They have saved countless thousands of lives and should be in every hot rod, street machine, muscle car, […]
Author: Jim Smart
Jim Smart is a veteran automotive journalist, technical editor, and historian with hundreds of how-to and feature articles to his credit. Jim's also an enthusiast, and has owned and restored many classic vehicles, including an impressive mix of vintage Ford Mustangs.
Rehinging: Installing Eddie Motorsports Billet Hood Hinges
The factory hood hinges on your classic American car or pickup were designed to do a simple task—hold up your hood when you’re working on the engine. After years of […]
Shift into Overdrive, Part 2: Rebuilding a Ford 4R70W Automatic Transmission
In Part 1 of our story on Ford’s AOD-E and 4R70W transmissions, we covered some development history and how to improve some of their shortcomings to make the transmission more […]
Shift into Overdrive, Part 1: Understanding Ford’s 4R70W Automatic Transmission
Ford’s 4R70W automatic transmission traces its lineage back to the AOD (Automatic Overdrive) four-speed automatic introduced in 1980. Designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce engine wear, the original AOD […]
Pony Car Folklore: Fact vs. Fiction on the First-Gen Mustang’s Production Launch
After 60 years of continuous production, there is plenty of myth, mystery, and misinformation about the Ford Mustang. Take the Mustang’s original 1964 production launch. While we know a lot […]
Rebuild and Recurve: New Life for Classic Ford Points Distributors
You may ask why anyone outside of a concours restorer would be using a points-ignition distributor in this age of electronically controlled everything. A properly rebuilt and tuned points distributor […]
Restoring Classic Fox Mustang Seats with TMI Products Upholstery
1979-93 Fox Body Mustang values have skyrocketed because they are terrific to own and drive. Cars that no one would have bothered restoring a few years ago are now worth […]
Fix Your Fox: Replacing 1987-93 Mustang Quarter Windows
When the Fox Body Mustang debuted in the fall of 1978, traditional Mustang enthusiasts were not on board. Old timers said the new Mustangs would never be collectible. We couldn’t […]
Ford’s Game-Changing 351 Cleveland Part One: Truths and Myths
Ford’s 351 Cleveland V8 is a legend in American high performance. A nice compromise between a small block and a big block, enthusiasts love it for its brute demeanor and […]
Upgrade Your Classic’s Electrical System with an American Autowire Classic Update Wiring Harness
When our classic cars and trucks were rolling off assembly lines back in the day, all we needed was a basic electrical system to power an AM radio, lights and […]