In the old days all a person needed to build a killer custom motorcycle was a bike, a set of tools, a little know-how, and a creative vision. But with the rise of the high-dollar, haute moteur Gucci choppers, the true custom bike has gotten out of most riders’ reach, right?

Dead wrong. In this book Jose de Miguel, a custom builder from way back, sets out to prove that those good old days never ended. In the clearest and simplest terms, he shows readers how they can turn odds and ends found around the shop into one-off motorcycle parts--and make a cheap, run-of-the mill custom build into a drop-dead show stopper. Following de Miguel’s lead, along with his straightforward illustrations, any resourceful owner with rudimentary mechanical skills, a basic tool kit, and--most importantly--a modicum of imagination can build the bobber of his dreams for less than the price of a new bike.

Welding is a skill that any do-it-yourself enthusiast needs in his or her arsenal. How to Weld is the perfect introduction for newbies and an excellent refresher for veteran welders--a work so comprehensive that most readers won’t need any further instruction.

In How to Weld, a bestselling installment in the Motorbooks Workshop series, AWS-certified welding instructor Todd Bridigum thoroughly describes process and art of fusing metals, including:

• Tools and equipment commonly used
• Types of metals and their weldability
• Welding techniques
• Shop and site safety
• Types of joints.

Suspension is probably the most misunderstood aspect of motorcycle performance. This book, by America’s premier suspension specialist, makes the art and science of suspension tuning accessible to professional and backyard motorcycle mechanics alike. Based on Paul Thede’s wildly popular Race Tech Suspension Seminars, this step-by-step guide shows anyone how to make their bike, or their kid’s, handle like a pro’s.

Thede gives a clear account of the three forces of suspension that you must understand to make accurate assessments of your suspension’s condition. He outlines testing procedures that will help you gauge how well you’re improving your suspension, along with your riding. And, if you’re inclined to perfect your bike’s handling, he even explains the black art of chassis geometry. Finally, step-by-step photos of suspension disassembly and assembly help you rebuild your forks and shocks for optimum performance.

The book even provides detailed troubleshooting guides for dirt, street, and supermoto--promising a solution to virtually any handling problem.

A large part of enjoying your classic Corvette is the weekends spent tinkering before a Sunday drive. Whether updating to a modern brake or suspension system, repairing wear and tear, or installing a custom audio system, it’s these projects that make your ’Vette unique and enjoyable. Tom Benford’s Weekend Projects for Your Classic Corvette walks you through a year’s worth of projects (52), step-by-step, explaining the special tools, tips, and tricks involved. Each project takes no more than a weekend and can be accomplished by enthusiasts of all skill levels.

For many people, a well-maintained automobile is a source of pride and peace of mind. But for others, the idea of routine maintenance is daunting. How to Make Your Car Last Forever will guide you through the minefield of preventative maintenance, repair, extended warranties, and magic elixirs that claim to cure everything from oil consumption to male-pattern baldness!

Author, car repair expert, and host of satellite radio show America's Car Show with Tom Torbjornsen, Tom Torbjornsen has seen it all in his 40 years in the automobile industry. Let him show you how to extend the life of your car indefinitely. In How to Make Your Car Last Forever, he explains the what, when, and why's of automotive maintenance and repairs in easy-to-understand terms. Simple how-to projects supplement the learning with step-by-step instructions that will save you time and money.

While you may not want your car to last forever, Torbjornsen's advice will help you preserve it indefinitely while maximizing resale value down the road. Preventative maintenance is the key to the automotive fountain of youth. Let Tom Torbjornsen show you the way!

The Mazda Miata is one of the most popular sports cars on the road today. In production for more than 20 years, the Miata’s popularity has grown, and the number of aftermarket components available to the Miata enthusiast has grown, too. This immense selection of parts has made it difficult for many would-be modifiers to choose the proper combination that will help them reach the goals they have set for their two-seaters.

• Mounting your new engine
• Configuring the EFI system
• Designing fuel and exhaust systems
• Sourcing the correct accessories for your application
• Transmission, torque converters, and clutches
• Performance upgrades and power-adders
• Troubleshooting, should problems arise

Turn your daily driver, weekend fun ride, or track car into a corner-carving performance machine.

Since its introduction in 1998, the water-cooled Porsche 911 has earned a reputation as one of the world's greatest sports cars - equal to, if not better than, the legendary air-cooled 911 it replaced. The 911 is a true driver's car, and it offers its greatest driving rewards when properly maintained, tuned, and modified. One of the principal drawbacks to owning a Porsche is the relatively high cost of maintaining it. You can literally save thousands of dollars in mechanic's costs simply by performing some of the work yourself. With 101 Projects for Your Porsche 911 996 and 997 1998-2008, written by renowned Porsche author Wayne Dempsey, you'll be able to get into the garage and work on your 911 with confidence. Created with the weekend mechanic in mind, this highly illustrated Motorbooks Workshop title offers 101 step-by-step projects designed to help you maintain, modify, and improve your late-model 911. Focusing on the water-cooled 996 and 997 models, this book presents all the necessary knowledge, associated costs, and pitfalls to avoid when performing an expansive array of projects. And besides the savings, when you personally complete a job on your Porsche, you get the added satisfaction of having done it yourself.

From hand-held, dedicated units to software that turns PCs and Palm Pilots into powerful diagnostic scanners, auto enthusiasts today have a variety of methods available to make use of on-board diagnostic systems. And not only can they be used to diagnose operational faults, they can be used as low-budget data acquistion systems and dynamometers, so you can maximize your vehicle's performance.



Beginning with why scanners are needed to work effectively on modern cars, this book teaches you how to choose the right scanner for your application, how to use the tool, and what each code means. "How To Use Automotive Diagnostic Scanners" is illustrated with photos and diagrams to help you understand OBD-I and OBD-II systems (including CAN) and the scanners that read the information they record. Also included is a comprehensive list of codes and what they mean. From catalytic converters and O2 sensors to emissions and automotive detective work, this is the complete reference for keeping your vehicle EPA-compliant and on the road!

• Shopping for a tractor and setting up shop
• Engine disassembly and rebuild
• Clutches and transmissions
• Final drives and brakes
• Steering
• Hydraulic, electrical, and fuel systems
• Tires and wheels
• Body repair, painting, and decals