Pimping Project: Tyres & Wheels
Wheels, glorious wheels
The number one safety feature of a car is the tyres. A lot of things can go wrong with a car to prevent it from starting, a few things can prevent it from stopping, but while you're in motion they're the four most important parts of the car. When it comes to performance and safety the tyres pretty much rule the roost.

Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride is a TV show produced by MTV. Each episode consists of taking one car in poor condition and restoring it, as well as customizing it. The original American version is hosted by rapper Xzibit. A UK version of the show launched on 26 June 2005, presented by the DJ Tim Westwood. Source 

Pimp My Mighty Boy
The Pimp My Mighty Boy journey starts here...
This is a step by step, lens by lens account of what happening in transforming an ordinary looking Suzuki Mighty Boy into a pimped out ride.

Pimping Project: Tray Lining
Helps prevent dents, dings and damage
Rhino Linings is a world leader in sprayed-on protective linings for automotive and other commercial applications. When we were there Alex showed us some photos and examples of work that he's done. There was also a horse float there that had been done earlier. He told us of a job he done on a motor boat and the owners feedback was that 60% of the noise (from the bottom of the boat hitting the water as it skimmed across the surface) had been cut out. So this polyurethane is amazing stuff. Thei...

How to pimp a ride in 24 days
With a zero dollar budget. The details are coming soon!  (We'll be repimping this lens shortly with fresh content)

Pimping Project: Engine In
A new engine gets dropped in
After the bodywork and spraypainting at Mamics the Mighty Boy was transported back to Newcastle Auto Dismantlers to get the engine put back in. We've gone from a 500 to an 800. And I must say having driven it in since these photos were taken you can feel the difference. I won't be involved in any illegal drag racing any time soon with it still being a 3 cylinder, but it's got enough grunt to accelerate up a hill without suffering an automotive cardiac arrest. The engine block is still the sam...

Pimping Project: Windscreen
Windscreen time!
Next stop: Yates Windscreens at Belmont. We couldn't drive it there because it didn't have a windscreen. Not sure if that's illegal or not but one would probably need a motorcycle helmet to avoid facial collisions with bugs and other airborne debris. Al from Newcastle Auto Dismantlers drove it over on the back of their truck.

Pimping Project: Paintjob
It's amazing the difference a bit of fresh colour makes
After the engine was taken out the rolling chassis was put on the back of a truck and transported to Mamics Smash Repairs for major bodywork and also the paintjob. Gary Mamic got Johnny to strip down all exterior components then the interior. There were a bunch of repairs to do including the rust around rear windscreen and rust in firewall which was welded up and plated. Remove the dents (of which there were many). Then it was in the paint shop with Dean where it was prepped and rubbed back. ...

Pimping Project: Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
TPMS
Maybe it's just me, but sometimes when I'm driving, and especially when I'm alone and I do a lot of thinking, I imagine what it would be like to have a tyre blow out and how I'd react. Yes, I have a vivid imagination. But really, what would it be like? How easy can it happen? My fears (if I can call it that) are now alleviated that we have a TPMS installed in the tyres. Other than a catastrophic blow out from a high speed chase Hollywood style, the main cause of tyre failure is from incorrect...

Pimping Project: Steering Wheel
What did we forget?
Every bit of work and part is sponsored and supplied (though not yet finished) and in the meantime we forgot how the steering wheel and footpedals look. And they're looking standard, old and pretty worn. We needed something with a bit of zing and a lot of bling. But where to find it?