MAKE Asks: Roadside Hacks
MAKE Asks: is a weekly column where we ask you, our readers, for responses to maker-related questions. We hope the column sparks interesting conversation and is a way for us to get to know more about each other.
Cars
Being a maker doesn’t stop at the doorstep. There are tons of DIY car hacks you can use to upgrade, restore, or optimize your ride – all without relying on expensive mechanics! Whether it’s installing a hands-free device for your entertainment center or adding additional lighting for headlights, these do-it-yourself car hacks are just perfect for makers who enjoy customizing their automobiles in unique and innovative ways.
Making a Bike Out of Car Parts
There is a kernel of a really cool idea in the Carma Project, sponsored by ad firm Leo Burnett Lisbon. They made a bike with as many reclaimed car parts as possible, and it looks kinda sweet! That said, I really would have preferred that it had been made out of 100% car parts, even […]
Turn Old Netbooks Into Animated Car Taillights
Jason Torchinsky had this “admittedly goofy idea” about turning an old netbook into a highly customized taillight. He’s sketched up the basic plan, and is now daring one of you to go through with it! He says that animated taillight units cost from $100 – $500, so why not go whole hog by “leveraging […]
Motor Mashup Master
Randy Grubb has one sweet job: working from his Grants Pass, Ore., garage, he builds hot rods. His rides, however, are far from ordinary — he builds from supersized truck, jet, and tank parts.
Vehicular Hacking, From Art Cars to JEEPuters
While DIY automotive projects are nothing new, the options for modifying your vehicle are becoming increasingly diverse and accessible. As the Owner’s Manifesto states, “If you can’t open it, you don’t own it,” and this should apply to your manufactured vehicle as much as any commercial object.
Stop-Motion Triumph Spitfire Engine Rebuild
This stop-motion of a car engine being stripped and then put back together, titled “11 Months, 3000 pictures and a lot of coffee,” is magnificent.
WiFi RC Car Has Camera and Force Feedback
From maker Blair Kelly: “Arduino Wifly Mini is a remotely operated vehicle that communicates over a WiFi network, can be controlled with an XBOX 360 or PS3 controller, or G27 steering wheel, or any other controller that can be manipulated with Processing’s ProControll library.”
