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How to Set Up a DIY Car Workspace in Any Space
Heads up: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, ProjectDaily may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend gear we actually use. Full disclosure Have you ever watched someone change their oil, replace a broken part, or completely transform a project car and thought, "I'd love to do that... but I don't have a garage"? Maybe you live in an apartment. You're working in a driv

Joel Thompson
Oct 189 min read
Maintenance Schedule for a High-Mileage Old Toyota (and How to Log It)
You don't know the history of a 30-year-old truck, so don't guess. Here's how I do a baseline service, set a schedule for a high-mileage daily, and log every job.

Joel Thompson
Oct 186 min read
What to Ask a Machine Shop Before an Engine Rebuild
Dropping parts at a machine shop for the first time is intimidating. Here's what to ask on the phone, how to prep your parts, what the services mean and how to read the quote.

Joel Thompson
Oct 186 min read
Buying a 1989 Toyota Pickup: A 22RE Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
The forum advice on buying an old Toyota Pickup is scattered across a hundred threads. Here it is in one printable order: engine, rust, cold start, test drive and seller questions.

Joel Thompson
Oct 186 min read
What a 1989 Toyota Pickup Project Really Costs (Real Build Numbers)
No ranges, no guesses. Here's what my 1989 Toyota Pickup Xtracab build has cost so far, what's still to buy, and how I decide what gets money first.

Joel Thompson
Oct 186 min read
FJ62 Pre-Purchase Inspection: What to Check Before You Buy
About to look at a 60-series Land Cruiser? Here's the walk-around I use on an FJ62: rust hot spots, the cold start, a 4WD test, and how to tell a walk-away problem from a fix-later one.

Joel Thompson
Oct 187 min read
How to Change Your Own Oil (Step-by-Step)
Heads up: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, ProjectDaily may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend gear we actually use. Full disclosure An oil change is the first real job most of us do on our own cars, and it's the one you'll do the most. It takes about an hour, it costs a fraction of what a shop charges, and every time you do it you get a look underneath your ca

Joel Thompson
Oct 188 min read


Car Pulling to One Side? Check Your Tire Pressure First
Heads up: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, ProjectDaily may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend gear we actually use. Full disclosure If your car starts pulling to one side, even a little, don't ignore it. That tug is one of the earliest warning signs your car gives you, and the most common cause is something you can fix in your driveway in about five minutes. W

Joel Thompson
Oct 184 min read


Is DIY Dead? (And Why It Matters)
Fixing things used to be normal. Here's why those skills are fading, why they matter more than the car itself, and why you'll never feel completely ready to start.

Joel Thompson
Oct 186 min read
How to Car Hack Your Way to Your Dream Daily Driver
Skip the big car payment. Buy a solid, cheap base car, fix what's worn, and upgrade it in stages into a daily driver you actually love.

Joel Thompson
Oct 185 min read


How to Choose a Car You Can Work On Yourself
Planning to do your own work but not sure what to buy? This framework helps you find a car that's easy to fix and fits your life and budget.

Joel Thompson
Oct 145 min read


How to Use a Torque Wrench (Beginner's Guide)
Heads up: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, ProjectDaily may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We only recommend gear we actually use. Full disclosure You're tightening the bolt that holds everything together, and that little voice pops into your head: "Is that tight enough, or am I about to snap this thing?" We all know that feeling. A torque wrench removes the guesswork, and i

Joel Thompson
Oct 143 min read
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