Featured

Let’s face it, most of us are working within the confines of a set of unwritten, yet clearly defined, rules of hot rodding. Stance, engine choice and wheels are for the most part selected from a menu of items that come “pre-approved” by our peers. Sure these rules work most of the time, and they provide a degree of certain acceptance when you’re building a traditional pre-’49 hot rod. But all in all, it also makes us a group of conforming nonconformists. However, for some hot rodders (and they are in the minority) building hot rods is about pure ingenuity, a total lack of peer pressure and joy of mixing parts from various sources and making it all work.

A Quick 95hp

So, you are the proud owner of a brand new Dodge SRT-4 and you love the sound of boost. Better yet, you love how quick your little four-door is. The only problem is … you want it to be faster. The need for speed is killing you and you will do anything and everything to get your adrenaline flowing. You have seen Mike Crawford and Shaun Carlson go down the track in their very fast SRTs and now you want the same thing.

Red, White, and Chrome: Dayton’s Strawberry Festival Cruise-In Drives Home the Spirit of Community

On Friday, May 9, the streets of downtown Dayton filled with the rumble of engines, the shine of polished chrome, and the unmistakable buzz of community. As part of the 78th Annual Tennessee Strawberry Festival, the Cruise-In Car Show once again proved to be more than a car show — it was a meeting place for car lovers, families, and locals who know small towns shine brightest when they come together.

Spotlighter

NO HAND SIGNALS

Add-On Turn-Signal Mirrors Just Like the Luxury Trucks

Rearview mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators are relatively new, but you will be seeing more and more of them, especially on luxury SUVs and pickups. They are already standard equipment on some models, and probably part of an upgrade premium package on others. They are also now available in the aftermarket.

Author

Bob Carpenter

BEFORE: The stock mirror allows you to see what’s behind you, and that’s it.

A backside view of the glass gives you an idea of how it pops onto the factory mirror. All the wiring and hardware is supplied in the kit.

They do make a lot of sense, as drivers behind you and just off to your side will have a much clearer idea of what you are planning, and that is especially true of the “blind” side. The Muth Signal Mirror System, distributed by MITO Corp., enables you to add flashing LED turn signals to your mirrors, and the system is available for a host of GM trucks: Chevy Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra, Yukon and others.

Installation of the Signal Mirrors is not overly complicated, but it does involve just enough disassembly, wiring and nervous moments that we were concerned about damaging the ’01 Tahoe that we used to help illustrate the install. So we turned the job over to a professional. Pierre Hoffmann at Auto Indulgence in Lomita, California, does this work for a living, and he sees this sort of thing all day long. He also has all the tools he needs, he knows the little tricks involved and he has the process down pat. We followed along so that you, too, could see just what is involved in upgrading to such a system. There are other kits available, marketed under other names and for different trucks, so check around and see what fits your needs. We were happy we did. These signals work every bit as well as claimed, and they are a terrific convenience and safety item. And should you ever leave your indicator on, you won’t miss it now!