Unique Auto

Archive for December, 2008

Wikipedia defines Learn Welding as “a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals.” This is done by melting the part of the materials to be joined and adding some additional molten joining material. When the molten material cools, it forms a strong bond or joint.

Welding is the most widely practiced way of joining metals together due to the efficiency and economy of the process. It has been estimated that approximately 50% of the Gross National Product of the USA arises from activities that are in some for or another related, perhaps remotely, to Welding . As an example, farming may appear to have nothing to do with welding, but the equipment the framer uses to grow and harvest his crops will have used welding in their manufacturing process.

Until the advent of the 20th century, welding was confined to blacksmith shops where two pieces of metal were heated to very high temperatures in a forge and then hammered together until the joining occurred. This is what is called forge welding.

The day that electricity was introduced into the industrial process is the day that welding beame quicker and easier. If you talk to welders today, they can agree that there are really on 4 different types of welding techniques that are used today.

· The most basic for is Arc Welder where the parts to be joined together are brought into contact with strong electrical current and heated. The molten parts are then joined together to form a weld. If you are looking for the least sophisticated and cheapest form of welding technology, this is it.
· Gas Welding is generally used for repair work especially in the case hollow items like tubes and pipes. Hot gas is forced onto the surfaces to be welded. This procedure requires the parts to be subjected to less heat and is suitable for material that may be damaged by exposure to high temperature. For this reason it is used in the jewellery industry which has to work with soft metal with low melting points.
· Resistance Welding requires that an additional sheet of material is used to cover the pieces that are to be welded together. This provides great strength to a weld, but the process requires expensive equipment and also the use of additional material to encase the weld which makes it expensive and not suitable for all applications.
· Laser Welding is the most modern technology available. High intensity lasers can be tightly focused and produce controllable heat on the surfaces to be welded very quickly. Whats nice about this is that if you have material that can be damaged by prolonged exposure to the heat, this will work well. Laser welding is very accurate and can be used to produce even the smallest of welds. However, because of the high capital cost involved in purchasing this equipment, the cost of welding is also high.

Although the perception of welding is that of a simple process of heating and joining, it is a high technology industry with huge amounts being spent of research and development to find stronger, more accurate and cheaper methods. The welding process plays a big role in metallurgy with a constant effort underway to find newer and more weld friendly alloys.

Welder World is a brand new community website for weldering to connect with one another and gather free information on welding. Stop by our new welding community, WelderWorld, and sign up for free to become a member and get your free Basic Welding Ebook. If you stop by Welder World you will see some of the things the community has to offer such as Welding Forums, Welding Blogs, and other Welding Community Members plus you can still get your free Ebook on Welding. Visit and become one of our Welding Community Members.

Vauxhall’s little Corsa started life way back in 1983. Back then it was known as the Nova in the UK and was a replacement for the ageing Vauxhall Chevette. I remember the Chevette well as my friend’s Mum owned one and we persuaded her to let us borrow it the day after my friend passed his driving test on the fourth attempt (you could tell he was a natural behind the wheel). The car was a pretty revolting shade of purple and showed a few battle scars as my friend’s Mum wasn’t exactly an expert driver either. This was a momentous occasion as the dreaded L-plates could come come off and we would be be free at last. We were then ready to hit the streets with our puny cassette radio blaring. What we did manage to hit within about ten minutes was a car full of rather large Rastafarian gentlemen who were none too pleased with the damage that we had caused to their bright orange Fiat Super Mirafiori. It took a considerable amount of diplomacy to resolve the situation but luckily we managed to escape with our dignity, and our front teeth intact. A few years later I got a job with a company that had a Vauxhall Nova “Club” as a pool car and I must admit I did not enjoy driving that thing around at all. It was not actually so bad to drive but the car was white with yellow trim and had a yellow and white checked interior that made you feel like you were driving a deck chair. This was finished off with some tasteful white windscreen wipers. It was truly hideous and I was glad the day when somebody stole it and set it on fire which was a very popular past time back in the late eighties. I’m not sure who left the keys in it making it easier to steal though. I’m sure it couldn’t have been me. Vauxhall dropped the Nova name in 1993 and adopted the Corsa title as everyone was getting confused, as indeed they always have been between Vauxhall and Opel names over the years. The more rounder Corsa B model was quite a departure from the previous squarer Nova but proved to be just as popular although the A model British Nova still has a loyal following although they are becoming rare these days. The Tigra coupe was based on the Corsa B but did not have the same sales appeal and was dropped. The new millennium heralded the appearance of the Corsa C model which was a more technologically advanced version of what had gone before. GM engineers dubbed the chassis "Gamma" which was developed to be a design platform for other models as well.This process was also used by other manufacturers. “Ecotec” engines were carried over from the previous model due to their proven reliability although a few alterations were made in particular to the old DI diesel engine which made way for the improved CDTI version. The Corsa C was a huge success in the UK consistently selling in large numbers and achieved best selling car status as well as best sales in its class of “Supermini” throughout the early part of the decade. As a result of this success Vauxhall even resurrected the Tigra again in 2004 although it is now known as the “Twin Top”. 2006 saw the arrival of the Corsa D which has a new Gamma platform that was co-developed with Fiat and also features on the Grande Punto. The latest Corsa looks and feels like a bigger car and is more refined than its predecessors. Sales have been good to date with the Corsa still ranking in the top five of best selling small cars. A clever option on the Corsa is the “Flexfix” integrated bike rack which can be pulled out from the car’s rear bumper and incorporates the number plate together with the lights; which are often obscured by traditional bike carriers.

Now that gas is almost three dollars or more a gallon, people will do anything to see some gas mileage improvement when they drive long ways from home. However, it is starting to hurt just driving back and forth to work as well. When gas prices go up, people stay home more and that means a loss for the travel industry and hotels. Along the same lines, people have to pay more for services that rely on gas like air travel and bus travel. Until the prices go down, if they ever do, you have to do a few things to save money.

The problem with gas mileage improvement is that there is not much you can do to save money other than stay home or carpool. You can keep your engine in top shape, and make sure all filters are clean and clear, but the difference is not going to add up to much. Some suggest that turning off the air conditioning and rolling down the windows will help with gas mileage improvement, but some think that having the windows down creates more resistance to the wind, and that means more gas is needed to travel at the same speed as usual.

You might want to skip the small things you can do to see gas mileage improvement, and go for the larger things that will show and immediate affect in your wallet. This means that you have to find a new way to get to work. You should find someone to ride to work with, and you can take turns driving and/or paying for gas. If you can get more than two people in on the deal, you are going to save more money. You could also ride a bike to work, but that is not always possible or reasonable for everyone.

Some are saying that gas prices are not high enough to effect true gas mileage improvement. They say that prices must get higher in order for people to make real changes and to become less reliant on gas. I can see the logic behind this, but I don’t think that is something that is fair for most people. However, it is really starting to hurt just driving back and forth to work. It would only serve to hurt those who are not wealthy and destroy the economy.

In today’s world, the skyrocketing prices of gasoline makes a huge dent in your expenditures, and we are always looking for ways to improve this situation.

Who wants to continue spending large amounts of their hard-earned money on gasoline? 

Nobody of course!

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you knew some tricks to help improve your current gas mileage so you can save some of your hard earned money?

In order to do this, you just need to keep in mind these simple solutions, realise their importance, and utilise them in your daily routine.

Here is a list of some of these important points:

Change the way you drive: this is the easiest way to save a lot of money as you don’t need to spend anything to make this method work; all that is required is to bring a few changes in you and see it showing wonderful results.

You must learn to slow down on freeways. You should not drive at high speed especially
when you are going on a short journey. Make an effort to maintain your speed and keep the use of brakes to a minimum.

Drive when it is cooler outside: driving at such a time will reduce the stress on the vehicle and that will help you improve fuel economy.

Coasting to stop signs and lights: if you drive fast and stop right at the last moment, you are using more gas than what is actually required. It is always better to coast up to a light or stop signal. You should use this tip to coast downhill also, whenever possible.

Use the traffic to your advantage: when you are driving at high speeds, it is better to drive behind a big vehicle like a truck. Don’t forget to keep a safe distance in doing so. When you drive like this, you reduce the wind resistance and this can increase gas mileage by 5% to 10%.

Take proper care of your vehicle: your vehicle should be properly maintained if you want good results in mileage improvements. Check that the air filter is not dirty and make sure that the tyres are properly inflated. Even doing these little things will make a massive difference.

Get timely oil change and tune ups done: they are a must for the improvement in mileage of your vehicle. You must get it done regularly at intervals of 3,000- 4,000 miles.

Use water to run your vehicle: yes it is possible to do so! Water is indeed a cheaper and better alternative to expensive gasoline. HHO generators are put in the vehicles that use water. It helps to save your hard earned money and is also beneficial in fighting global warming. The HHO gas extracted from water returns to its original state when it exits your vehicle. This method causes zero pollution and is affordable too.

You can follow any of these methods and enjoy the benefits of improved gas mileage.

The added advantage is that any of these solutions are successful in all vehicles, whether it is a car, truck, SUV or anything else.

Looking at buying a used car online, but aren't sure where to look? The Internet is a big place, and has numerous resources for used car buyers, but you need to know where to look to find the best deals.

First of all, you can find used car listings on your local newspapers website. These are nice, because they are all typically sellers in your local area which makes it easy to stop by and take a test drive, which is critical for getting the best possible deal on a used car.

Stepping out a little more, you can check online classifieds sites, such as Craigslist, which will expose you to a broad range of sellers, many of whom will be near you, though not to quite the same extent as a news paper might. These sites can be gold mines, though, so be sure to give them a look.

If you’re looking to broaden your scope further, try sites like eBay Motors, which brings sellers from all over the country into one convenient location. These listings are both auction format and fixed price, so you have multiple buying options. These sellers will be located all over the country, but you can search for listings that are in your area. Major scams can be prevented using eBay's basic buyer protection service. Definitely worth checking into.

If you’re looking at a very specific model of used car, try search on car enthusiast forums. For example, if you want to buy a late '80s Nissan Z car, then visit some Z car forums to find sellers. Buying from these sorts of sellers can be great, because they are often very knowledgeable and passionate about the cars. You will be able to get a really good idea as to the condition of the car if you go with a seller like this.

There are many other places to find used cars online. You can find used car listings on a wide variety of websites. However, the places I’ve listed above have the highest amount of listings, and are thus the most “bang for your buck” locations for buying a used car online.

As always, be careful when shopping online. Don’t throw away your common sense, and make sure that you’re getting a good car at a fair price. If you do your research, check multiple sources for pricing, and check the car over thoroughly for buying, you can certainly buy used cars online and get great deals for it.

paintless dent removal

Car dents are not something I appreciated by any means. Car dents lower from the value of your vehicle, both monetarily and aesthetically. Thus I was completely freaked out when I saw the most recent dent in my car.  For one fact for sure, car dents—no matter how tiny, will make the vehicle to look trashy and for another—it is not like I have got lots of money to spare.

Car dent repair can be expensive and I wasn’t too sure that I could afford to get my car fixed, but I didn’t appreciate driving around in a dented car either.  Car dents have a way of multiplying. 

I was hunting around for a auto repair shop and enquiring about quotes when I found Dent Masters.  Browsing through the site I was impressed by two things: 

1) that their dent removal approach was explained very comprehensively on their  site and

2) that they agreed to have one of their people come down to my house and repair the car for me.  Who doesn’t love a business that comes to you instead of having you to go to them? 

Do I even need to say that I hired them?

Here is the way the dent removal method works. Dent Masters employs a process called Paintless Dent Removal, or PDR. It is an approach by which the dents are fixed without using tools that require the car to be touched up or refinished. The technicians at Dent Master use hand instruments to work on the dent until the dent is totally gone.

Paintless dent removal used to be limited to only small dents but now it can be remove bigger dents as well as including dents that would normally need some major body work to repair. The technicians can even fix dents that has been  caused by hailstones.

The Dent Master technician who came to my home was very  nice and talked to me the entire way through the process and when he was done with his work (which did not take nearly as long as I thought it would) my car looked like it had never been dented at all! I had feared that there might be some residual damage—a couple of small scratches in the paint from the tools for example, but there was none!

After knowing a a bit more about Dent Masters, I realized that their business has existed for more than 30  years and it comes as no surprise. When you witness how this method works, you wouldn’t thinking of taking your car back to a body shop ever again. Instead, you’ll make Dent Masters your first option.

best hydrogen gas conversion kit

Hydrogen powered car. Doesn’t it sound too good to be true?

But it’s a fact that today this technology has seen a lot of improvement and has contributed to the invention of HHO generators that allows your car to run on water. These generators are not only used to make your vehicle move but they are also a significant factor in helping to lower the cost of operating your vehicle.

Understanding the principle on which this idea is based is the first step. We know that water is made of hydrogen and oxygen. The HHO or the Hybrid Hydrogen Oxygen generators work on the technology of using this hydrogen and oxygen.

The electricity from the battery of the car is obtained and then it is burned to produce a gas that is known as HHO. This gas creates the energy required to cause motion in a vehicle through combustion.

It follows a simple concept; to remove the hydrogen from the water, which leaves the oxygen behind, oxygen that is required for combustion, thus making it possible to generate energy that would drive a vehicle.

This idea is not a new one. It was actually developed many years ago but was not given much importance then. This idea has gained more popularity, especially these days, with the continuous increase in fuel prices. Though some still don’t believe that it is possible to use water as an alternate fuel, there are many who have been using it for some time now and are more than happy with the results.

This technology is relatively cheap, affordable and contributes significantly to the accelerated mileage of a motor vehicle.

When you think about making an effectively operational HHO generator, it sounds like a complex task. You feel that technicians and experts with experience only, can do it. But the fact is that it is not as difficult as it sounds.

It is better to learn how to build a HHO generator rather than going for the ready made ones. The ready made generators are not only hard to find but even if they are found, you will pay a huge amount for them.

Then, as well as, spending an exorbitant amount on it, you will also need professional help to get it installed. That means spending more and more money. It would therefore be advisable to build an engine on your own and install it too.

But before doing that, you should consult the various well reputed water fuel conversion guides that are posted on the Internet. The whole procedure is explained in an easy to understand, step-by-step approach. You can even get all your doubts cleared from them.

They definitely will help you save a lot of money that you would have otherwise spent on buying a ready made HHO generator and the cost of installation.

This technology is slowly gaining acceptance and popularity, as besides its affordability factor, it is also safe and reliable. The use of a HHO generator also increases gas mileage of the vehicle considerably, depending on the type and make of the vehicle.

It is also known to cause less pollution compared to other fuels.

You have to experience it to believe it!

extended warranty quote

Shopping online for extended warranty coverage isn’t as easy as shopping for, say, an MP3 player or even the car itself. Generally, when we’re looking for consumer goods on the web, we consult a trusted nonprofit publication like Consumer Reports; however, when it comes to extended warranty coverage for autos, Consumer Reports issued a report that they’re ALL a lousy deal! It’s easy for them to say, but some people aren’t that great at saving huge chunks of money or who worry incessantly “What will I do if I have a breakdown?” For these folks, finding a warranty company is critical for peace of mind. Even without Consumer Reports, there are many sites offering a free online warranty quote, in exchange for a little information, of course.

When you’re dealing with a warranty company online, there are a few things to look for. Be sure they’re BBB approved and that you can find their address or executive names somewhere on the site. Check to see if the warranty company is backed by an insurer or financial backer, which will guarantee that you’ll be covered even if the company suddenly goes belly up. You can then cross-check the financial backer with the AM Best website to see how reliable they are. Your State Insurance Commission can also tell you if any complaints have been filed with the company. Your warranty quote should deliver a clear, comprehensive detailing of what you will get for your money. If they can’t provide you with the level of detail you need or if they seem vague, then look elsewhere.

It’s important before you get a warranty quote to understand your vehicle’s defects and your driving habits. Are you the sort of person who brakes hard and needs new rotors several times per year? Do you wear out gaskets, calipers and seals? Does your engine ever overheat or does your coolant system break down? Did you buy a Jimmy, a Jeep or a Land Rover, which are cars with known problems? If you’re good to your car, then the manufacturer’s warranty (with an additional year or two, at most) may be just fine for you. If you beat on your car mercilessly, then you’d better go with the most comprehensive extended warranty coverage you can get!

Are you afraid of searching for a warranty quote because you don’t want to provide personal information or receive spam email? You can check MyCarIsCovered.com for a quick, free quote that only asks for vehicle make/model/mileage/state. Generally, it’s difficult to find free quotes without providing some sort of personal information because the businesses are, first and foremost, sales-oriented. This is how many businesses get juicy leads for solicitation purposes. However, on the bright side, if you’re willing to invest a little extra time, then you can research company websites that have ballpark prices and coverage details to comparison shop. Then you can follow up with the ones that seem legit. A little bit of reading can go a long way towards saving you thousands of dollars!

As gas prices continue their shocking rise, many individuals are searching for a way to save money on gas.  When you look for advice on how to save on gas you’ll more than likely be told to keep your car tuned up and schedule routine maintenance.  These maintenance tips usually include using the right oil grade in your car, checking the air pressure in your tires and changing the spark plugs to improve gas mileage.  These practices can definitely help, but only on a minimal scale.  People are searching for a magic bullet so to speak and many are finding it in a hydrogen gas saver.

The hydrogen gas saver will boost your cars gas mileage and also drop the emissions let out.  These little gas savers, known also as a hydrogen generator gas saver, are a fantastic way to fight high gas prices.  What this generator does is it makes oxygen and hydrogen gas, otherwise known as HHO.  How this works is it utilizes your cars electrical system, some distilled water and a little bit of baking soda.  There are estimates out that say using only one gallon of distilled water can bring about two thousand gallons of fuel for your vehicle.

The best part is, these generators can be built and installed by you in little time.This can be a great bonus by helping you cut the cost on installation fees that would be charged to you by your local mechanic.  There are only a few guides out there that show you how to build one of these hydrogen gas savers yourself.  These guides give you detailed instructions and even show you where to get the parts needed.  Upon installation of one of these generators, your cars fuel efficiency will rival those of current hybrids.

With the hydrogen gas saver installed on your car, it will also help lower your cars emissions.  This will also help your car run more efficiently thus providing up to seventy percent better gas mileage.Just imagine for a second what a 70% boost in your fuel economy could mean for your wallet?Think about it for a second, the money you would be saving on fuel would allow you to either save more money or spend it on what you see fit.

Listen, we all know that gas prices are not going to go down anytime in the near future, if not ever.  So if your like many and want to save on gas, purchasing a hydrogen gas saver guide may just be what the doctor ordered.  We all know that it is a good idea to keep your car maintained and schedule it for routine maintenance but this will only keep it’s efficiency at factory standards.  There is only one way that you can boost the gas mileage and it is done with technology and a little water.

Lexus is a name that is very easy on the tongue and seems that it took some long and hard effort to coin it. It sounds perfect and perhaps too perfect to the point of being unable to evoke real driver emotion.

The IS 250 range is the entry level model which hopes to compete directly against the German offerings BWM 3 series, Mercedes C class and Audi A4. Although the IS has been around since 1998 and is only in its second generation, it has done a steady job technically and does not lag behind the big three.

All in all there are three main choices for the IS range namely IS250 (153 KW) , IS 220d (130 KW) and the IS350(228 kW). Other models are the performance version IS F (V8 311 KW) and the convertibles(IS250 C and IS 350C).

South Africa has at present only the IS range with pricing starting at R328 900.00 (manual) with the  most expensive model being R410 700.00 (SE auto). In general the IS250 is a good car and technically perfect as it was indented but for some reason the human elements seem to have been left behind.

Lets begin with the engine sizes for the car. The entry R328 900.00 price is arguably okay for a 153kw engine but how would Lexus justify paying R420 000 for exactly the same engine?

Furthermore the difference to put it in very simple terms between the models costing R330 000.00 and R420 000.00 is really just extras for comfort and convenience. These are better headlamps, Electronic Multi Vision display with dvd navigation, seat heating, park distance control, Mark Levinson digital surround audio system, memory for seats and steering configuration. Nice and cool gadgets but what if a particular individual would rather compromise DVD navigation and smart headlamps for a more powerful engine?

Besides the odd(in my opinion) pricing arrangement, the rear seats are also a little too cramped. In fact some owners of the car feel the IS range is overall noticeably smaller than its German competitors.

Now the most important talking point, the exterior design. It is a little difficult to distunguish the IS 250 as more prestigious than say a Mazda 6. This is where things get odd for the Lexus IS. If the car was launched without the L badge it would be a little difficult to identify it as a competitor to the 3 series or C-class never mind as a Lexus. The car looks too sporty and with very little hints towards elegance and seriousness.

In the end you have a technically perfect car that wins quality surveys, does not break down nor causes any controversy in its styling but just a little odd to normal people. Normally people would expect at least a power increase if paying close R100 000 more on the base model. It is taken for granted that a mid-sedan priced at R430 000 should have huge interior space. And finally people expect a car at this price range to look the part without needing its badge.

There is not that much wrong with the IS range from an engineering perspective. The car just fails a bit to connect with buyers.