Shop Store
Car restoration isn’t just for everyday folks. A love of cars is something that stays with you for life – if you end up becoming a famous celebrity, you can take that love to even greater heights. Read on to learn about some of the celebrities who like to restore classic cars as much as any other enthusiast.
Jay Leno
The former “Tonight Show” host is the standard-bearer for the celebrity classic car community. Leno’s collection consists of nearly 300 restored automobiles and motorcycles. It has everything from Doble steam cars to a 1960 Panhard PL 7. He’s also known for his car knowledge, which has led to the TV show “Jay Leno’s Garage” and a regular column in “Popular Mechanics”.
Tim Allen
Known for his role as Tim “the tool man” in “Home Improvement,” Tim Allen has collected a wide variety of both domestic and foreign classic cars over the years. His collection consists mostly of Chevrolets, such as the 1968 Chevy Camaro 427 COPO and the 1962 Chevrolet 409 Bel Air. He also collects several Fords, like the rare 1986 Ford RS200 only sold in the UK. His 1956 Ford F100 was….
Leave a comment 
Should I Paint a Scratch on My Car?
As hard as you try to take care of your car, scratches are seemingly inevitable. Falling tree branches, keys that miss their mark, and bumps from people or luggage can all leave unsightly dings and blemishes on your vehicle. But should you paint a scratch on your car? The Motor Bookstore weighs in below.
The Pros and Cons
The main arguments against painting scratches on a car are that A) it can potentially be expensive and time-consuming, and B) fixing scratches aren’t essential to a car’s performance. After all, if it doesn’t get you where you’re going and faster, then what does it matter? However, we ultimately come out in favor of painting scratches for a few big reasons.
To begin with, even minor scratches will hurt your car’s resale and trade-in value. You may not care about them, but dealerships certainly will. In addition, deep scratches that penetrate the base coat or primer are prime candidates to eventually develop into rust holes. Lastly, many automotive experts agree that scratches can adversely affect your own view of the car – and if you think less….
Restoring a classic car is similar to other major life undertakings such as home remodeling or a big vacation – no matter how much you plan in advance, things can change without notice. The Motor Bookstore is here with tips and advice to make sure your bank account, time, and sanity stay on budget during your next classic car restoration project.
Keep a realistic schedule
A full frame-off classic car restoration can take up 1,500 hours – at least a year of part-time work. Know this going in, and plan your work schedule so you’re never feeling pressured to hit a deadline, as rushing can lead to costly mistakes.
Know your financial budget in advance
Having a target number will help guide every subsequent decision. The standard budget-setting method is to estimate your expenses if things go perfectly, then add at least 30 percent for unexpected costs.
Record your expenses
Keep all receipts for parts and labor, along with a tally of your running total. This tracking acts as a form of self-restraint against impulse buys.
Make a good initial car purchase
Carefully weigh the upfront price against how much various repairs….
As any car owner quickly learns, car repairs are a fact of life. But The Motor Bookstore doesn’t want you spending a small fortune just to keep your car on the road. That’s why we’ve compiled five ways to save serious money on car repairs the next time you need work done.
1. Do as much of your own work as possible
As long as you have a good vehicle manual and a space to work in, you can learn to do a lot of basic maintenance and repairs. Changing your own oil, filters, tires, fluids, headlights and brakes will save you hundreds of dollars in labor costs while reducing the chances of major failures in the future.
2. Find good repair shops and mechanics
Be selective about who you bring your car to for work. Read reviews, talk to friends, or even visit a shop to see how things work there. Good shops should be ASE certified, clean, have good parts and labor guarantees, and get customers in and out quickly. Getting good work done now will save money later on.
3. Shop around
Even if you’ve found a repair….
Getting Your Bike Ready For The Winter
When the leaves fall and the temperature drops, it is a sign to start getting your motorcycle ready for the winter. That, of course, means doing a little more than simply parking your motorcycle in an out of the way corner of the garage or pulling a cover over it while it sits in a storage building. Proper motorcycle winter storage goes a long way in giving your bike a long, useful life.
The first step in getting your bike ready for its winter hiatus is reading the maintenance and repair manual. Repair manuals give you valuable tips about maintenance and tune-ups that can be done before storing the bike for the winter. Some of those tips can be found in the next section.
Winter Storage Tips
Here are a few tips for preparing your motorcycle for winter storage:
Clean and wax the bike. A clean bike keeps grease, oil, dirt and corrosive materials….
Engine Rebuild Cost Saving Tips 
Image by Matt
One of the big reasons to rebuild an engine is that, if done right, it can be significantly less expensive than purchasing a new one. If your budget is particularly tight, you’ll be looking to save every penny you can. Following these engine rebuild cost saving tips below will help your dollar go further when you’re working to get your favorite ride back on the road.
Do your research
When you have a limited budget, you can’t afford to throw away money on parts that don’t fit your engine or to make a mistake mid-rebuild. Make sure to do as much research as possible before beginning. Find out your engine’s model, year, displacement, etc. and determine what parts will match. Get an engine building manual as specific as possible to your engine with detailed instructions. And wait to order parts until you’re absolutely certain what you need.
Only replace what needs….
Car Restoration 101: What to Remember Before You Begin 
Whether you’re looking to repair a car that was in an accident, fix up a classic ride, or just want to learn more about vehicles, car restoration can be a fun and rewarding pastime. But if you’re new to restorations, the prospect of rebuilding an entire vehicle can seem daunting. This guide will help you get everything in order so your first restoration project goes as smoothly as possible.
Pick the right car
You don’t want your first project to be a total rust-bucket that’s nearly impossible to find parts for – especially if you’re doing this as a hobby. Search the classified ads and Craigslist, talk to local car clubs for leads, and keep an open mind. Make sure to get a car that’s solid, complete and rust-free. If you have a car you’re eyeing, learn as much about it as possible before you buy, including what parts are used. The internet and automotive manuals are a big….
Which Antifreeze is Right for Your Vehicle?
Vehicle antifreeze used to be simple. You went to the parts store, picked up a jug of green liquid, mixed it 50/50 with water and poured it into your radiator. But now with yellow, orange, blue, pink and red antifreezes covering the shelves, it can be hard to know what to get. This overview will help you make the right choice for your vehicle.
Green and Yellow Antifreeze: Photo by Anthony Easton
Types of antifreeze
For all the available colors, there are three basic types of antifreeze. Traditional green antifreeze uses Inorganic Acid Technology (IAT) and is fortified with silicates and phosphates such as ethylene glycol (EG) or propylene glycol (PG), which prevent acid buildup and prevent metal corrosion. This needs to be replaced every three years or 36,000 miles, as the additives are eventually consumed.
As for modern antifreezes, Organic Acid….
How to Learn Car Restoration
Car restoration is a leading passion among many vehicle enthusiasts – and is a booming industry in its own right. But how, exactly, does one learn the process of rebuilding an automobile? This guide from The Motor Bookstore offers a number of tips and places to look for information as you pursue your newest hobby.
Start small. Get a cheap-but-working clunker from a junkyard or auto auction that you can use to learn the basics – oil and filter changes, brake systems, etc. You’ll gain a lot from working on your own vehicle, and if you do make any big mistakes, they at least won’t be expensive ones. Get help from – and help – your friends. You’re sure to have at least one or two friends or family members in your circle who likes working on cars, and they usually have car-minded friends as well. Offer to help out on their next project, and consult them whether you run into a roadblock on your own project. Car enthusiasts are a tight-knit community, and they’re almost always happy to share knowledge. Read books. There are a number of automotive….
Toyota Camry Head Light Bulb Change Guidance Tips
The Toyota Camry is the best-selling car in North America, and one of the biggest reasons is that they’re easy to maintain. Oil changes, filter changes and other basic maintenance are easy to do in your own garage or driveway. Changing head light bulbs is no exception, and with this guide, you’ll learn how to do it without a trip to your mechanic.
Head light bulb guide
For the 2007-2016 generation of Toyota Camrys, you’ll need H11 bulbs for the low-beam head lights, and 9005/HB3 bulbs for the high-beams. Toyota Camrys made from 2000-2006 use 9006/HB4 low-beam head light bulbs and 9005/HB3 high-beam bulbs. Older Camrys use 9003/H4 bulbs. Consult your vehicle manual for more information about how to change head light bulbs.
Change the head light bulbs
After popping the hood, locate the low- or high-beam headlight that needs to be changed. Remove the….
Search Our Blog
