18 Jan 2011

Coyote Cobra

Coyote Cobra: Superformance MKIII roadster powered by the Mustang's
5.0L V8 http://tinyurl.com/4rmrc9r
13 Jan 2011

Rolling a Reliant Robin - Top Gear

25 Aug 2009

DIY: Scosche FM-MOD02 FM Modulator

Audio_input

 

Disclaimer:

These are some tips that have worked for me. If you follow these tips, you do so at your own risk. Please be careful and take all appropriate safety measures. 

Last month I bought a used vehicle. Being a 2002 model year truck, it was not yet outfitted with any means to play an "iPod" like device. Since I am into the iPod Touch, I really wanted a way to play audio through the truck stereo. Some folks might suggest an FM transmitter. My experience with FM transmitters has been less than impressive. They are just not strong enough to keep a constant signal to the radio. In my opinion, don't waste your time with the transmitters. Also, I did not want to spend a ton of money on a new head unit, nor did I need anything more than the ability to play decent quality audio.

To solve this problem, I chose the solution I used in my Mustang. The solution is a Scosche FM Modulator. An FM modulator is a device that is installed in-line with your car antenna. Unlike the FM transmitters you sometimes see, this requires you remove the radio. That may sound daunting to some, but with a little research and patience it is well worth the time and effort.

The FM modulator provides a direct feed into the stereo on one of two modulation frequencies (87.9, 88.3). You will have to choose which one works for you in your area. There is a tiny switch on the side of the unit that lets you choose which frequency to use.

There are three basic things to hook up: the antenna, power and ground wires. I tapped into my fuse box for the power and used a self tapping screw on a metal support behind the dash. Probably the hardest part is sliding the radio out. For this you might need to consult a repair manual (like a Chilton's) at your local library.

The last thing to consider is the switch and input (pictured above). Compaired to previous Scosche versions of this product, this new one unit design integrates the switch and input jack in one little module. In past versions, there was s seperate switch and then a wire with a mini stereo jack that hung down behind the dash. This model is much cleaner.

To sum it up, if you want to hook an MP3 player to your stereo and are looking for a step above an FM Transmitter give this unit a try. I have been very happy with it. It is not fancy and the audio quality is not "pure" digital but for podcasts and audio books it is fantastic (music is not bad either). It is a nice middle ground for getting the audio into an older car stereo.

PS. I got mine at Amazon. Here is the link ...
24 Aug 2009

DIY: Disconnecting You Car Battery

0820091806

Disclaimer:

These are some tips that have worked for me. If you follow these tips, you do so at your own risk. Please be careful and take all appropriate safety measures. 

I do a lot of work on my own cars. As such, when dealing with electronic items, the rule of thumb is to disconncect the battery. I suppose this is to prevent an accidental short, or shock. Anyway, the battery cables in my Mustang are kind of stiff and have a tendancy to flop back onto the battery when disconnected. I found that a spent toilet paper tube (or paper towel roll) fits nicely over the end of the loose battery cable. This insulates the battery from an accidental touch in case the cable flops over and hits the terminal(s).

After I discovered this, I also assume any plastic bottle (with the neck cut off) would work well too. So, for those of you who want a little peace of mind when you disconnect your battery consider the TP roll, or a plastic bottle.
14 Aug 2009

Corvette Chase Video

Great Corvette video by http://www.autocar.co.uk/co...
6 Aug 2009

A Favorite Commercial

5 Aug 2009

The List

Hello. My name is Jon and I am addicted to cars. Some time ago I composed a list of all the cars I have owned in my life so far. I have since lost that list so I am re-constructing it here. So here we go, in chronological order.

1974 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1978 Chevrolet Camaro
1983 Dodge Shelby Charger
1987 Dodge Shelby Charger (Turbo)
1988 Chrysler Lebaron
1991 Ford Mustang LX 5.0
1976 Ford F100
1974 Ford Mustang II
1995 Dodge Caravan
1989 GMC Sierra 1500
1996 CMC 427 Cobra Replica
1991 Ford Mustang GT
1989 Ford Taurus LX
1990 Ford Taurus LX Station Wagon
1993 Ford Taurus SHO
1999 Ford Taurus SE
1973 Dodge Challenger
2001 Dodge Intrepid R/T
2001 Dodge Grand Caravan
1977 MGB
1974 MGB
2003 Ford Mustang GT
1976 Ford F100 (same truck as owned earlier)
2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Wow. Now that I see the list all I can think about it the time and money wasted on some of these. There are certain ones I wish I kept and others I wish I never bought.
7 Jul 2009

Second Post

Img_1058-copy2

I wanted to try out Posterous because it sounded too good to be true. Simply send an email and it is posted to the net? Wow. I had to try it. So here is a snapshot just for fun.

Jon Stepro's Space

"A place for my stuff"
- Credit to George Carlin

About me ...
- Web / Multimedia Developer
- iPod Touch / Android User
- Automobile Enthusiast

Likes ...
- Technology
- Top Gear
- Joe Satriani
- Golf

User of ...
- Adobe ColdFusion
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Flash
- Adobe Premiere