Installing a Leveling Kit for a Smoother Ride In a Dodge Ram 1500

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY EASY UPGRADES THAT'LL GET YOUR TRUCK JACKED UP WITHOUT BUSTING A HOLE IN YOUR WALLET.

(LT)>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 2001 DODGE RAM 1,500. IT WAS THE FIRST OF THE BIG RIG RAM STYLE TRUCKS THAT MIMICKED ITS HEAVY DUTY COUSINS.

(JEREMY)>> STARTING IN 1994, THIS SECOND GEN BOASTED THE HIGHEST LOAD AND TOW RATINGS IN THE INDUSTRY, HELPING DODGE TRIPLE THEIR MARKET SHARE IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS. WE BROUGHT THIS ONE IN A FEW WEEKS AGO TO TROUBLE SHOOT SOME ENGINE CODES IN THE FIVE POINT TWO LITER MAGNUM VEIGHT. IT HAD SERIOUSLY FAILED EMISSIONS, AND ON A GAS ANALYZER WE LEARNED IT HAD SOME IGNITION PROBLEMS, REGISTERING WELL OVER THE 220 PARTS PER MILLION LIMIT FOR HYDROCARBONS.

(JEREMY)>> WE CHECKED THE CODES AND FOUND A FEW. WE FIXED SOME SERIOUS VACUUM LEAKS AND FOUND A DISCONNECTED INJECTOR WIRE. AFTER A NEW THERMOSTAT, A TUNE UP, AND NEW OTWO SENSORS, PHASE ONE WAS COMPLETE, AND IT PASSED ITS EMISSIONS TEST WITH FLYING COLORS.

(LT)>> WELL MAN WE GOT THIS TRUCK ALL TUNED UP. IT RUNS PRETTY SMOOTH, IT'S BONE STOCK. SO WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE A BLANK SLATE. YOU WERE TELLING ME YOU WERE TALKING TO THE OWNER OF THE TRUCK AND HE HAD SOME THINGS IN MIND HE'D LIKE TO DO TO IT?

(JEREMY)>> WELL HE HUNTS A LITTLE BIT, HE HAULS THE DIRT BIKE AROUND, STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I'M THINKING MAYBE A MILD LIFT, A LITTLE BIT BIGGER TIRE. THAT WAY NOTHING TOO AGGRESSIVE, BUT IF HE WANTS TO GET OUT ON THE TRAIL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THIS TRUCK WILL DEFINITELY HANDLE IT.

(LT)>> YOU KNOW IT'S PROBABLY TIME. THESE TIRES, THEY'RE ON THE OE 20'S FROM A LITTLE BIT LATER MODEL TRUCK, AND THEY HAVE AN ON ROAD TREAD. THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WOBBLE TO THEM, AND YOU KNOW I CAN TELL THERE'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE SHOCKS IS PROBABLY NOT WORKING AS WELL AS IT USED TO. THIS TRUCK BOUNCES A LITTLE BIT. SO I THINK SOME WHEELS AND TIRES, AND MAYBE SOME SHOCKS, WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO.

(JEREMY)>> ABSOLUTELY.

(LT)>> HEY STAND ON THE BRAKES, SEE HOW THEY WORK.

(JEREMY)>> WHOA, NOT THAT GOOD DUDE. THE PEDAL'S MUSHY. YOU CAN DEFINITELY JUST FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK JUST TAKE OVER. I MEAN IT'S LIKE THE PADS AREN'T GRABBING. I SAY WE DEFINITELY...

(LT)>> YEAH LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT TOO.

(JEREMY)>> YEAH I JUST SAY WE REDO THE BRAKES.

(LT)>> WELL LET'S GET BACK TO THE SHOP.

WE'LL GET SOME PARTS ORDERED, AND LET'S JUST BLOW THE REST OF THE DAY DRIVING AROUND.

(JEREMY)>> LET'S DO IT.

(LT)>> GOT SOME AIR CONDITIONING IN, GOT A NICE SUNNY DAY.

(JEREMY)>> NOT A BAD WAY TO SPEND THE DAY.

IT'S TOO BAD IT DOESN'T HAVE A LITTLE MORE POWER. WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE FUN.

(LT)>> WE CAN THROW A CUMMINS IN IT I GUESS.

(JEREMY)>> I GUESS.

(LT)>> WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A CUMMINS SWAP TODAY, AND SINCE WE HAVE SOME WEAKNESSES IN OUR BRAKING SYSTEM WE FIGURED WE OUGHT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE FUN STUFF.

SO TO GET RID OF ALL OF OUR HIGH MILE PARTS WE WENT TO RAYBESTOS. YOU CAN THINK OF THEM AS A ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL OF YOUR

BRAKE NEEDS, AND WE STARTED IN THE FRONT WITH A PAIR OF THEIR PREMIUM ROTORS. THESE THINGS ARE PRECISION MACHINED AND MILL BALANCED. SO THEY'LL INSTALL ACCURATELY AND THEY WON'T GIVE YOU ANY PULSATION IN THE PEDAL. THE FRICTION WILL BE PROVIDED BY THEIR ELEMENT THREE BRAKE PADS WITH ENHANCED HYBRID TECHNOLOGY. THESE ARE A BLEND BETWEEN CERAMIC AND SEMI METALLIC COMPOUNDS, AND THEY'LL GIVE YOU AMAZING STOPPING POWER UNDER THE HARSHEST CONDITIONS. THE PRESSURE WILL BE APPLIED WITH THESE NEW CALIPERS, AND THEY COME WITH THE SLIDERS ALREADY INSTALLED. THE OLD ONES OFTEN WILL RUST AND SEIZE INTO PLACE, GIVING YOU UNEVEN BRAKING. SO THAT'LL ROUND OUT THE FRONT. OUT BACK WE GRABBED THE OBVIOUS STUFF, LIKE NEW SHOES AND DRUMS, BUT WE ALSO GOT ALL THE SMALL PARTS YOU OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU DO A BRAKE JOB, LIKE NEW WHEEL CYLINDERS AS WELL AS THE ADJUSTORS, AND ALL THE SPRINGS AND HARDWARE NEEDED TO DO THE JOB RIGHT, AND WE'LL GET STARTED BY TEARING DOWN THE FRONT. FIRST STEP IS TO REMOVE THE BRAKE LINE FROM THE CALIPER,

AND LET THE FLUID DRAIN INTO A CONTAINER. NEXT THE CALIPER IS UNBOLTED, AND REMOVED ALONG WITH THE OLD PADS. THE CALIPER BRACKET IS NEXT, AND THE ROTOR SLIPS RIGHT OFF. I LIKE TO CLEAN UP ANY RUST WITH A WIRE BRUSH TO MAKE SURE THE NEW ROTOR SITS FLAT ON THE HUB, PREVENTING ANY CHANCE OF VIBRATION. NOW I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. NO, I DIDN'T PUT IT ON BACKWARDS. MOST MACHINED PARTS LIKE THIS ARE COVERED IN A LIGHT COAT OF OIL SO THEY DON'T RUST DURING SHIPPING, BUT YOU DON'T WANT THAT OIL TO CONTAMINATE YOUR FRESH BRAKE PADS. SO ALWAYS CLEAN IT OFF. I'LL CLEAN UP THE CALIPER BRACKET BEFORE IT GOES BACK ON. THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT SURFACES TO KEEP CLEAN CAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BRAKE PADS ACTUALLY SLIDE ON. AND ONCE I DAB SOME SILICONE ONTO THE CONTACT AREAS OUR NEW RAYBESTOS PADS CAN SLIDE INTO PLACE.

(JEREMY)>> MAN YOU'RE NOT ABOUT TO PUT THOSE ON ARE YOU?

(LT)>> WHY?

(JEREMY)>> WELL YOU KNOW PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THE TRUCK GETS OUT ON THE ROAD I IMAGINE THEY'LL RUST OVER.

(LT)>> WELL THAT OIL ON THERE, THAT'LL STOP THEM FROM RUSTING WON'T IT?

(JEREMY)>> YEAH MAYBE FOR A DAY OR SO.

(LT)>> LET ME MAKE YOU A DEAL.

(JEREMY)>> WHAT'S THAT?

(LT)>> SINCE I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE GETTING YOUR HANDS VERY DIRTY, YOU PAINT THESE AND THE BACK BRAKE DRUMS AND I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE REAR BRAKES.

(JEREMY)>> I'LL MAKE THAT DEAL WITH YOU, BUT YOU KNOW YOU'RE THE ONE THAT HAS THE GLOVES ON.

(ANNOUNCER)>> AHEAD WE'RE BACK ON THE DODGE FOR MORE UPGRADES!

(JEREMY)>> WE'RE BACK ABOUT TO GIVE A NICE COAT OF PAINT TO OUR NEW RAYBESTOS CALIPERS AND DRUMS. IS THIS ESSENTIAL WHEN REPLACING BRAKING COMPONENTS?

WELL NO BUT EVENTUALLY THE FACTORY COATING WILL WEAR OFF AND THESE WILL BE COVERED IN RUST. SO A LITTLE PREP AND A COAT OF DUPLICOLOR CALIPER PAINT WILL PROTECT THEM NICELY.

(LT)>> NOW THERE'S A LOT GOING ON BEHIND THE BRAKE DRUMS OF THESE NEWER TRUCKS. SO ONE THING I LIKE TO DO IS TAKE A SMART PHONE OR A DIGITAL CAMERA, AND SNAP A BUNCH OF PICTURES OF WHERE EVERYTHING GOES. THAT WAY WHEN IT'S TIME TO REASSEMBLE IT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

I'LL REMOVE ALL THE SMALL PARTS THAT HOLD THE SHOES INTO PLACE. THERE IS A SPECIFIC ORDER TO ASSEMBLY. SO PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE EVERYTHING GOES. UNSCREW THE BRAKE LINE, AND THE WHEEL CYLINDER CAN COME OFF, COMPLETING THE DISASSEMBLY. PUT EVERYTHING BACK IN REVERSE ORDER, STARTING WITH THE NEW WHEEL CYLINDER AND THE REAR SHOE, CONNECTING THE

PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR. PUT IN THE AUTOMATIC ADJUSTOR AND THE LOWER SPRINGS. UP TOP THE CABLE AND MORE SPRINGS GO IN, AND FINISH UP WITH THE ADJUSTMENT RATCHET. NOW WHEN YOU PUT THESE ON YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DRAG, AND WE'RE PERFECT. IF NOT WE COULD JUST SPACE OFF THAT ADJUSTOR, WE'D BE GOOD TO GO. WE'VE GOT ALL OF OUR NEW RAYBESTOS BRAKE PARTS INSTALLED, BUT SINCE WE TOOK THE BRAKE LINES OFF THE SYSTEM IS NOW FULL OF AIR. SO WE'LL USE THIS MOTIVE POWER BLEEDER TO FLUSH OUT ALL THE OLD FLUID AND GET RID OF THE AIR BUBBLES.

(JEREMY)>> WITH THE RESERVOIR FILLED WITH NEW FLUID, LT CAN ATTACH THE BLEEDER TO THE MASTER CYLINDER AND PUMP IT UP. THIS TOOL MAKES IT SIMPLE FOR ONE PERSON TO BLEED THE BRAKES. IT'S RECOMMENDED TO PERIODICALLY CHANGE YOUR BRAKE

FLUID, AND WHEN IT RUNS CLEAR WITH NO BUBBLES YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOOD TO GO. AND WITH THE BRAKES TAKEN CARE OF NOW WE CAN ADDRESS THIS SOFT SPONGY RIDE, WHICH I'M TOLD MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THESE ORIGINAL SHOCKS STILL UNDER THE TRUCK, BUT WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT WITH A NEW SET OF SHOCKS WE PICKED UP FROM SUMMIT RACING, AND TO PROVIDE JUST ENOUGH LIFT FOR THE TIRES WE HAVE PLANNED WE'LL INSTALL THIS SUMMIT TWO INCH SUSPENSION LEVELING KIT. NOW WHAT'S AWESOME ABOUT THIS, JUST A SIMPLE BOLT IN. BUT BREAKING LOOSE A SHOCK BOLT THAT HASN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN 15 YEARS REQUIRED CUTTING IT OUT, AND WITH THE BRACKET LOOSE, ALONG WITH THE SHOCK, I'LL LOWER THE AXLE, SLIDE THE OLD SHOCK OUT AS WELL AS THE COIL SPRING. THE NEW TWO INCH COIL SPACER IS BOLTED IN FIRST. THEN THE SPRING, FOLLOWED BY THE NEW SHOCK, AND WITH THE AXLE RAISED, THE UPPER SHOCK MOUNT GOES BACK IN, AND EVERYTHING IS SECURED. UP SHE GOES, AND THE REAR SHOCKS ARE SWAPPED OUT, EASY AS PIE!

(LT)>> WITH THE FRONT OF OUR RAM LEVELED OUT AND NEW SHOCKS ON ALL FOUR CORNERS, IT'S TIME TO GET SOME RUBBER ON THIS BAD

BOY, AND WE WANT A TIRE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT LARGER TO FILL THE WHEEL OPENING, AS WELL AS SOMETHING THAT'LL GET US BETTER TRACTION THAN THOSE OLD STREET TIRES. THESE ARE CONTINENTAL TERRAIN CONTACT AT'S, AND THIS NEW TREAD DESIGN IS GREAT FOR TRUCKS THAT SPEND MOST OF THEIR LIFE ON THE HIGHWAY. THEY'LL GIVE A NICE, SMOOTH, AND QUIET RIDE, BUT WHEN YOU

WANT TO GET OFF THE PAVEMENT INTO THE DIRT AND MUD THIS ALL

TERRAIN TREAD WILL GIVE YOU GREAT TRACTION OFF ROAD. PLUS YOU GET A 60,000 MILE LIMITED TREAD LIFE WARRANTY.

(JEREMY)>> LET'S HIT THE ROAD!

(LT)>> RIGHT AWAY WE NOTICE A BIG DIFFERENCE HOW THIS TRUCK DRIVES, ESPECIALLY THE HANDLING.

(JEREMY)>> HERE YOU CAN SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER, AND HOW A SIMPLE LEVELING KIT BROUGHT OUR FRONT END UP.

(LT)>> THE CONTINENTAL AT'S ARE SUPER QUIET ON PAVEMENT, AND PROVIDE MORE THAN ENOUGH GRIP IN DIRT, GRAVEL, AND GRASS, AND OUR HEAVY DUTY OE REPLACEMENT BRAKE PACKAGE FROM RAYBESTOS WILL GIVE US LONG LIFE AND SUPERIOR STOPPING POWER. JUST SEE FOR YOURSELF.

(ANNOUNCER)>> NEXT TURNING A TIRED BENCH SEAT INTO A COOL COUCH FOR YOUR MAN CAVE.

(JEREMY)>> WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH AND I'M REALLY DIGGING OUR NEW PIECE OF SHOP EQUIPMENT, THIS CONSO 206 RBFIVE SEWING MACHINE, AND WE'VE GOT SOME COOL PROJECTS

LINED UP FOR NEXT SEASON WHERE I CAN PUT THIS THING TO GOOD

USE CREATING SOME COOL CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY, BUT THAT GOT ME TO THINKING. EARLIER THIS SEASON MARC CRIST FROM THE DETROIT MUSCLE SHOW GOT CREATIVE WITH AN OLD SMALL BLOCK CHEVY THAT HAD BEEN LAYING AROUND THEIR SHOP. HE STRIPPED IT DOWN, CLEANED IT UP, SLAPPED ON A LITTLE PAINT, AND BUILT AN ENGINE BLOCK COFFEE TABLE THAT SITS IN OUR FRONT OFFICE NEXT TO A BORING BLACK CORINTHIAN LEATHER COUCH. SO I THOUGHT WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADD TO THAT VIBE TO GIVE THE LOBBY A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A HOT ROD FEEL? WELL WE COULD THROW SOME CUSTOM PAINT ON THE WALLS,

MAYBE EVEN BUILD A COOL SIGN TO HANG ON THE WALL, BUT THEN IT HIT ME. HOW ABOUT A UNIQUE COUCH MADE FROM SOMETHING

OUT OF THE JUNKYARD? ACTUALLY WE PICKED UP THIS FRONT BENCH SEAT OUT OF A '49 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD. WE'RE GONNA TURN THIS THING INTO A COUCH. NOW I'M GONNA TELL YOU IT IS HUGE. YOU COULD EASILY FIT THREE PEOPLE ON THIS THING, AND THE PLANS I HAVE FOR IT, I'M THINKING A RED VINYL UP TOP AND ALONG THE FACING OF THE CUSHION.

AND FOR THE INSERTS WE'LL DO A WHITE VINYL IN SOMETHING COOL LIKE TUCK AND ROLL. NOW SINCE THE LOWER CUSHION IS SOLID AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THIS UPPER STRIP, I THINK WE'LL ADD A FOUR OR FIVE INCH RED STRIP IN HERE THAT GOES INTO THE TUCK AND ROLL AND MAKE IT MATCH A LITTLE BETTER, BUT WE'LL GET STARTED WITH A CUSHION.

THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO BEFORE TEARING THIS SEAT DOWN IS VERY IMPORTANT. I'M GOING TO FIND THE CENTER OF THE CUSHION.

THEN MAKE LINES ABOUT SIX INCHES APART WHERE EACH PIECE OF MATERIAL IS SEWN TOGETHER.

THE LINES ARE WHERE WE WILL MAKE OUR WITNESS MARKS, WHICH ARE REFERENCES USED TO SEW OUR NEW MATERIAL BACK TO ITS PROPER LOCATION. IF WE DIDN'T MAKE THESE MARKS I'D STRUGGLE TO GET ALL THE PIECES LINED BACK UP. NOW I'M GOING TO MEASURE AND MARK FOR THE RED VINYL INSERT. THIS WILL BE MY CUT LINE. NEXT IS TO REMOVE THE SEAT COVER, TYPICALLY HELD DOWN WITH HOG RINGS. YOU CAN CUT THEM OFF WITH A PAIR OF WIRE CUTTERS OR SHEARS. WITH THE COVER OFF THE SEAT, NOW IT'S TIME TO SEPARATE ALL

THE PIECES WITH A RAZOR BLADE. NOW THIS CAN BE A LITTLE TIME CONSUMING, BUT THIS IS A GOOD TEST OF PATIENCE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST TEAR IT APART AND RUIN THE MATERIAL. DESTROYING THE MATERIAL MEANS YOUR TEMPLATE WILL BE CADDY WAMPUS, NOT A GOOD THING. ALL RIGHT, SINCE OUR COVER IS SO TORN UP AND I WANT TO TRY TO KEEP IT TOGETHER AS GOOD AS I CAN FOR A TEMPLATE, I'M JUST GONNA TAPE OVER SOME OF THESE SPOTS AND TRY TO HOLD IT TOGETHER. NOW I CAN MAKE MY CUT TO SEPARATE THE TWO PIECES. REMEMBER THE PIECE ON THE LEFT WILL BE FLAT RED VINYL, ON THE RIGHT OUR WHITE TUCK AND ROLL. ALL RIGHT, THIS IS OUR INSERT THAT'S GONNA GET TUCK AND ROLL, AND THIS IS WHAT TUCK AND ROLL LOOKS LIKE. IT LOOKS REALLY COOL BECAUSE ALL OF THE STITCHES ARE HIDDEN. NOW I CAUGHT EACH ONE OF THESE CHANNELS, AND OUR INSERT, IT GETS ABOUT 40 OF THEM. NOW WHEN YOU SEW TUCK AND ROLL IT TENDS TO SHRINK A LOT. SO FOR EVERY FOUR CHANNELS WE'RE GONNA LOSE ABOUT AN INCH. SO I'M GONNA CUT MY MATERIAL WAY BIGGER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE, AND ONCE WE GET IT ALL SEWN UP WE CAN COME BACK, LAY OUR INSERT OVER THE TOP OF OUR TUCK AND ROLL, TRACE IT OUT, WE'RE GOOD TO GO. FIRST I CAN CUT OUT THE WHITE VINYL AND GET IT TO A MANAGEABLE SIZE.

THEN THE SAME WITH THE SCRIM FOAM. TWO COATS OF THREEM TRIM ADHESIVE ON BOTH SIDES WILL HOLD IT TOGETHER NICELY. NOW WE CAN LAY OUT THE LINES TO SEW THE PLEATS, STARTING WITH THE ABSOLUTE CENTER.

I'LL MAKE MY MARKS TWO INCHES WIDE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE WIDTH OF MY RULER. OVER TO THE MACHINE I CAN BEGIN LAYING DOWN STITCHES. ALL I'M DOING IS MAKING A TOP STITCH ON THE MATERIAL FOLLOWING EACH OF MY LINES I JUST MARKED. THESE LINES OF STITCHES WILL END UP BEING OUR GUIDES FOR THE NEXT STEP.

AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO RUNNING A STITCH ON ALL THE PLEATS I CAN START WITH THE ACTUAL STITCH THAT PROVIDES THE TUCK AND ROLL EFFECT. IT STARTS BY FOLDING THE MATERIAL RIGHT WHERE THE STITCH LINES ARE, AND I'M SEWING A QUARTER INCH TO THE INSIDE ALL THE WAY DOWN THE MATERIAL. MORE PATIENCE THAN PLAY HERE. THESE ARE THE ACTUAL STITCHES YOUR BUTT WILL REST ON.

SO THEY BETTER BE STRAIGHT. ONCE THE LAST CHANNEL IS SEWN I CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP. WITH THE OLD INSERT LAID DOWN ON THE NEW PIECE, I'LL TRANSFER MY ALIGNMENT MARKS. THEN CUT IT TO SIZE. THESE WITNESS MARKS ARE MADE ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TUCK, AND WON'T BE SEEN, BUT THEY WILL HELP ME LINE EVERYTHING UP. MOVING ON TO THE FRONT PANEL, I'LL LAY OUT THE OLD PIECE AND TRANSFER IT OVER TO THE RED. THE PROCESS IS THE SAME HERE, TRANSFERRING MARKS TO HELP LINE EVERYTHING UP. AN EXTRA HALF INCH TO THE TOP FOR SEAM ALLOWANCE WILL GIVE US PLENTY OF MATERIAL TO SEW TO WHEN WE STITCH THE TWO PIECES BACK TOGETHER.

AT THE MACHINE I'M RUNNING A BORDER STITCH RIGHT ALONG THE EDGE OF THE MATERIAL JUST TO LOCK THE FOAM AND VINYL TOGETHER. NOW THIS STITCH WILL NEVER BE SEEN AND WE CAN FOLLOW THESE SAME STEPS FOR THE FACING MATERIAL.

(JEREMY)>> WE'RE BACK ON TRUCK TECH RESURRECTING AND CONVERTING THIS ORIGINAL '49 CADILLAC BENCH SEAT INTO A NICE TUCK AND ROLL COUCH FOR OUR FRONT LOBBY. THE ASSEMBLY OF OUR PIECES, IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE. I'M SEWING THE TWO INSERTS TOGETHER, LAYING THEM FACE TO FACE, MAKING SURE TO KEEP THE EDGES EVEN, AND I'VE LINED UP THE STITCH A HALF INCH IN ON ALL THE PIECES. NOW THIS HALF INCH IS REFERRED TO AS SEAM ALLOWANCE. NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG, UPHOLSTERY IS DEFINITELY A LEARNED SKILL, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT ANYONE CAN DO WITH A LITTLE PRACTICE AND A DECENT SEWING MACHINE. OH, AND DON'T FORGET PATIENCE.

MOST FOLKS ARE INTIMIDATED BY SEWING MACHINES, BUT IN MY

OPINION RUNNING THE MACHINE IS PROBABLY THE EASIEST PART OF THE JOB.

BUY A GOOD USED MACHINE, GET SOME MATERIAL, THEN GO TO TOWN. NOW THE WEB IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR HOW TO VIDEO, ALONG WITH OUR SHOW OF COURSE. TUCK AND ROLL LOOKS PRETTY COOL. WELL ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO.

(JEREMY)>> I WENT AHEAD AND PROGRESSED THE PROJECT.

I'VE SEWN THE BACK REST TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING'S COMING TOGETHER PRETTY NICELY, BUT THERE'S ONE THING I STILL NEEDED TO ADD, AND THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A LISTING. IT'S BASICALLY ONE PIECE OF MATERIAL THAT'S FOLDED OVER AND SEWN TOGETHER.

IT GIVES ME A CHANNEL TO RUN A PIECE OF ROD THROUGH. NOW WHAT THIS ALLOWS YOU TO DO IS PUT A HOG RING IN, AND IT REALLY BITES DOWN ON IT AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR HOG RING RIPPING THROUGH THE MATERIAL IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A ROD. YOU'D SIT DOWN, YOU'D RIP IT, IT'D JUST BE A BIG MESS, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT THERE'S SOMETHING PRETTY COOL I WANT TO SHOW YOU. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE ORIGINAL SEAT COVER THAT CAME OUT OF THE '49 CADILLAC, AND NORMALLY WE'D RIP THIS OFF, AND WE'D REFOAM IT, AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF, BUT MAN SINCE IT'S SURVIVED THIS LONG WE'LL JUST LEAVE IT FOR THE NEXT GUY. THIS SEAT COVER AND MANY COVERS FROM BACK IN THE DAY WERE HOG RINGED IN. SO WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT SAME PROCESS. HOG RING FASTENERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

THEY'RE REALLY CHEAP, AND YOU CAN GET THEM AND THESE SPECIALTY PLIERS AT PRETTY MUCH ANY HARDWARE STORE. THIS PAIR FROM MATCO TOOLS ARE SPRING LOADED. SO WHEN YOU OPEN THEM UP AND PUT A HOG RING IN THEY CLAMP DOWN ON IT AND HOLD IT IN PLACE. THEY MAKE ATTACHING FABRIC TO A FRAME SUPER SIMPLE.

LOOKS GOOD, I REALLY LIKE THAT, THAT'S A COOL LOOK! WHAT DO YOU THINK LT?

(LT)>> LOOKS PRETTY SWEET!

(JEREMY)>> I LIKE IT A LOT. MAN I KNEW I'D FIND YOU SITTING DOWN SOMEWHERE.

(LT)>> HECK YEAH, I GOT THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. YOU KNOW THIS IS A PRETTY COOL ADDITION TO ANYBODY'S MAN CAVE

OR DEN, AND IT REALLY WASN'T THAT MUCH WORK WAS IT?

(JEREMY)>> NAH, I MEAN THIS ISN'T REALLY A BEGINNER PROJECT WITH THE TUCK AND ROLL CAUSE QUITE A FEW HOURS IN THAT, BUT I MEAN IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE PATIENCE YOU CAN KNOCK IT OUT.

(LT)>> WELL IT'S A GOOD LOOK BUT LET'S GET BACK TO WORK.

(JEREMY)>> LET'S DO IT, I'M GONNA PUT ONE OF THOSE IN MY LIVING ROOM.

(LT)>> YOUR WIFE WOULD KILL YOU.

(LT)>> IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL YOUR CLEAN UP JOB IS AROUND THE GARAGE. GUNK ALL PURPOSE CLEANER AND DEGREASER CAN HANDLE IT.. IT'S HIGHLY CONCENTRATED, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN DILUTE IT DOWN TO 35 TO ONE FOR LIGHT DUTY CLEANING, OR FOR THE HEAVY STUFF YOU CAN USE IT STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CONTAINER. THIS GALLON JUG GOES A LONG WAY FOR CLEANING OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT, YOUR BARBECUE GRILL, OR EVEN AUTOMOTIVE PARTS WITH A GREASY OR OILY SURFACE. GUNK ALL PURPOSE CLEANER AND DEGREASER IS AVAILABLE AT YOUR FAVORITE AUTOMOTIVE RETAILER.

(JEREMY)>> LEAVE IT TO THE ENGINEERS AT DUPLICOLOR TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAINTAIN YOUR FACTORY FINISH WHILE PROTECTING IT AT THE SAME TIME.

THIS IS THEIR NEW CLEAR TRUCK BED COATING.

IT LAYS DOWN AN IMPACT RESISTANT COATING THAT HAS NO PIGMENT TO IT. SO YOUR FACTORY COLOR SHINES THROUGH. IT CAN BE APPLIED WITH A ROLLER, SPRAY GUN, OR AEROSOL CAN. IT COSTS WAY LESS THAN A DROP IN BED LINER, THAT'S GREAT FOR RUNNING BOARDS, BED RAILS, INNER FENDER

WELLS, YOU NAME IT. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO DUPLICOLOR DOT COM. THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCK TECH, SEE YOU NEXT TIME.