Sometimes you have to Climb In
My father-in-law needed some help with his 85 GMC stepside pickup. The truck had been sitting for a while, and no longer started. He just replaced the battery, so that was a known good item. The pickup cranks over, but doesn’t make any attempts to run. There’s three things an engine needs to run; air, […]
Parts Bin Lotus
Having worked on mostly larger marques in the past (Honda, Nissan/Datsun, BMW, Subaru, VW), I’ve grown accustomed to finding parts relatively easily and when not in stock, they can be readily tracked down online. Same goes for aftermarket parts. The 280Z was fairly difficult to find aftermarket support for in the early oughts, but since […]
What is Book Autowerks?
I’ve been a car enthusiast since I could grasp a hotwheels, and have worked on cars since I was 8. As an exuberant DIYer and autodidact, I’ve developed a unique perspective on automotive maintenance. I hope to pass that passion, knowledge, and experience onto you. Cars are more than just personal transportation; they’re a confluence […]
Covering a Broken Dash
90s car problems require 90s solutions! Covering a busted dash with a dashmat is cheap and easy. Just like your mom.
The Rad Ram
Some things are just nostalgic. I remember when Dodge came out with their 2nd gen body style in 94 it was quite polarizing. I didn’t like it at all at the time. It just didn’t “look like a truck” to immature me. Now when I see one, I can’t help but fondly remember the 90s. […]
Sellers, clean your car!
It’s superficial, but the first thing I wanted to address on the Bertone was cosmetic. I don’t want to deride the previous owner too badly, but the car was filthy. A quick tip to anyone selling a car… Give it a good cleaning! Clean cars sell better. Not only was the car dirty, but it […]
Dirty Knobs
One of the most high-touch parts of a car is the shift knob, and this one was grody! It was such a travesty that I had to do something about it in the middle of the night. I tried degreasing it, but the nastiness wasn’t coming off. I broke out the sanding discs and went […]
Blue Baby Exotic
I was casually browsing Craigslist for 80s cars with a manual transmission and RWD as I often do, but wasn’t looking to actually purchase anything. As I mindlessly scrolled through the pictures, a familiar shape in a brilliant color caught my eye. An X1/9! A Bertone even! …And it looks to be in good shape! […]
Jagoff Tank Clips
Several months passed without me having time to work on the Big Kitty. It took a failure of the Manic Milano to spur me into doing it. Turns out the fuel supply hose had come unplugged from the tank. You’d think that would be a simple fix, and in a way it was but… watch […]
A Big Cat Followed Me Home
Normally I buy sports cars from mostly Italian or German makers, with a couple Japanese exceptions, but now I have something completely different. A 1993 XJ40! This is my first ever Jag, and only the second British vehicle. A friend of mine posted it for sale on FB with an attractive price, and the pictures […]
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Dan is a DIY zealot and autodidact. Real science, pseudoprofessional.
CMO, Editor
Dr. Yma E. Revuelta is an adult education professional, with expertise in student development and educational leadership.
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Nick is an automotive enthusiast with decades of DIY experience, and a wannabe renaissance man.