More '49 Chevy 3100 "ClasSix" Episodes

Trucks! Builds

Parts Used In This Episode

Design Engineering, Inc. (DEI)
Heat Protection, Boom Mat, 12 in. x 23 in., Self-Adhesive, Set of 10
Dupli-Color
Paint, Primer Surfacer, Flat, Red Oxide, Rust Resistant, 12 oz., Aerosol, Each
Dupli-Color
Wax and grease Remover, 11 oz., Each
Loctite
Spray Adhesive, All-Purpose, 10.5 oz., Aerosol, Each
Super Chips
Performance Programmer, Ford, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Each
LMC Truck
Headliner, Chevy, GMC, 49-53

Episode Transcript

(ANNOUNCER)>> TODAY PROJECT CLASSIX IS GETTING A NEW INTERIOR MAKEOVER THAT MATCHES ITS STYLE AND ONLY COSTS ABOUT $100 BUCKS. THEN WE'LL MAKE AND INSTALL AN INEXPENSIVE PARTS STORE GLASS PACK EXHAUST. IT'S ALL TODAY HERE ON TRUCKS!

(KEVIN)>> HEY, WELCOME TO TRUCKS. WELL PROJECT CLASSIX HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE WE FIRST GOT OUR HANDS ON IT, AND MAN IS IT NEAT TO HEAR THAT ENGINE RUN. AND ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS PRETTY COOL, IT'S NOT QUITE DONE YET. IT NEEDS A COUPLE OF PROJECTS. WE NEED AN EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND WE WANT TO GET RID OF THE LAST REMNANTS OF THIS UGLY TRACTOR GREEN ON THE INSIDE. SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU GUYS A COUPLE OF THINGS. WE'RE GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO PUT AN EXHAUST SYSTEM ON USING A UNIVERSAL KIT AS WELL AS HOW TO DO A LOW BUCK CUSTOM INTERIOR THAT ALL IT TAKES IS A FEW DOLLARS AND SOME IMAGINATION. NOW WE'RE NOT GONNA COMPLETELY BLOW APART THE INTERIOR OF THIS TRUCK JUST TO PAINT THE PANELS. WE'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD ACCESS TO EVERYTHING WITH SOME TRIM AND THE UPHOLSTERY REMOVED, AND IT JUST DOESN'T REALLY FIT THE PROJECT TO BLOW THE DOORS APART, PULL THE GLASS BACK OUT LIKE YOU WOULD A HIGH END CUSTOM. CAUSE LETS FACE IT, THIS TRUCK IS NOT A HIGH END CUSTOM. IT'S A DRIVER WITH A CAPITAL "D". AFTER A THOROUGH WIPE DOWN WITH THE DUPLICOLOR PREP SOLVENT, NOW WE CAN START MASKING. WE'RE USING TYPICAL BODY SHOP SUPPLIES FROM AUTO BODY COLOR AND SUPPLY, MASKING UP THE GAUGES AND ALL THE SWITCHES JUST SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE. WHEN YOU'RE DOING A PAINT JOB LIKE THIS, THE MASKING PAPER AND TAPE SERVES TWO PURPOSES. NOW ONLY DOES IT PROTECT FROM OVERSPRAY, BUT IT ALSO PROTECTS FROM YOUR SAND PAPER, OR IN OUR CASE, THE RED SCUFFING PAD, WHICH IS PRETTY AGGRESSIVE. IT'LL RUIN YOUR CHROME. WITH ALL OF THE SHINY SCUFFED OFF THE HORRIBLE GREEN PAINT, I GIVE IT A WIPE DOWN WITH A RAG SLIGHTLY MOISTENED WITH THE DUPLICOLOR PREP SOLVENT, AND BLOW ALL THE DUST OUT OF THE CRACKS AND CREVICES. NOW THE PROCESS IS CALLED PAINTING, BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY USING A PRIMER. AND IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE WE'RE JUST SORT OF TRADING ONE HORRIBLE COLOR FOR ANOTHER WITH THE RED OXIDE THAT WE'RE USING, BUT IT REALLY WAS PART OF OUR PLAN ALL ALONG. THE RED OXIDE KINDA LOOKS LIKE TERRA COTTA AND REALLY REMINDS US OF THE SOUTH WESTERN FEEL THAT WE GOT FROM STEVE SILVA'S TRUCK WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE PHOTOS. WE KINDA MODELED THIS PROJECT, AT LEAST THE LOOKS OF IT, AFTER HIS TRUCK. NOW RATTLE CANS GET A BAD WRAP SOMETIMES BECAUSE THE PAINT FLAKES OFF IF YOU DON'T PUT ENOUGH ON. PUT THREE FAT COATS OF THIS PRODUCT ON AND YOU'LL GET GREAT RESULTS AND A LONG LIFE OUT OF IT.

NOW THAT'S GONNA SIT AND DRY FOR A LITTLE WHILE. THEN WE CAN UNMASK EVERYTHING AND INSTALL THE UPHOLSTERY. SPEAKING OF UPHOLSTERY, HERE'S WHAT WE PULLED OUT OF THE TRUCK. IT LOOKS KINDA LIKE THE REST OF IT, SORTA WORN OUT. AND YOU KNOW, TO FIT THE THEME, WE COULD PUT THIS BACK IN BUT IT LOOKS A LITTLE DATED. SO WE WANT TO UPDATE IT AND FOLLOW THE THEME OF THE REST OF THE TRUCK AND SHOW YOU GUYS HOW TO DO YOUR OWN CUSTOM UPHOLSTERY INEXPENSIVELY, AND LIKE THE REST OF THE TRUCK, EASILY WITH A FEW SIMPLE SUPPLIES YOU CAN GET JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE AND A LITTLE BIT OF COMMON SENSE. NOW THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND TO UPHOLSTER IT. THE COLORS ARE PERFECT WITH THE COLORS OF THE REST OF THE TRUCK. IT SORTA LOOKS LIKE A MID WESTERN, SORT OF A NATIVE AMERICAN FEEL, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, CHECK OUT THE FABRIC. IT'S GOT A BIT OF STRETCH IN EVERY DIRECTION. SO THAT'S GONNA MAKE IT EASIER TO PULL AROUND CORNERS, WHICH IS PRETTY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOUR OWN UPHOLSTERY. NOW THIS WAS QUITE INEXPENSIVE. I'VE GOT TWO YARDS HERE. IT WAS ABOUT $16 DOLLARS, WHICH IS PLENTY TO DO THE WHOLE INTERIOR OF THIS TRUCK, OR AT LEAST ALL THE PANELS WE'RE GONNA DO. IT'S GONNA GIVE IT A COOL LOOK, AND IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO DO. NOW SINCE THIS FABRIC ACTUALLY HAS A PATTERN, YOU CAN USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND LINE IT UP SO THAT YOU HAVE A SYMMETRICAL DESIGN. THAT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER TO DUPLICATE ON THE OTHER SIDE. NOW WITH A ROUGH IDEA OF HOW MUCH FABRIC WE'RE GONNA NEED, I TAKE THE REST AND PUT IT OFF TO THE SIDE SO IT DOESN'T GET DIRTY CAUSE THAT'S GOING ON THE HEAD LINER. FOLDING THE WORK PIECE IN HALF ALLOWS ME TO CUT THE PIECE IN TWO, AND THAT GIVES ME THE FABRIC TO COVER THE OTHER TRIM PANEL. NOW TO THE SID CHAVERS AND THE RON MANGUS' OF THE WORLD, I APOLOGIZE FOR MY TECHNIQUE. I DON'T PRETEND TO DO THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU GUYS DO. HOWEVER, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WATCHING CAN DO AT HOME. NOW WE'RE USING A LOCTITE HEADLINER ADHESIVE, WHICH IS A SPRAY CONTACT CEMENT. YOU CAN GET IT AT MOST AUTO PART STORES, AND IT'S PERFECT FOR THIS PROJECT. NOW YOU'RE GONNA NOTICE THAT WE'VE SPED A LOT OF THIS FOOTAGE UP, AND IT'S NOT TO HIDE ANYTHING. IN FACT IT'S TO SHOW YOU THE WHOLE PROCESS. IF WE PLAYED IT IN REAL TIME, IT JUST WOULDN'T FIT THE SHOW. NOW CONTACT CEMENT MEANS THAT YOU SPRAY BOTH SURFACES. I'VE GOT A LITTLE OVERSPRAY ON THE PAPER, SO WE'RE PUTTING DOWN MORE SO IT DOESN'T STICK. THE GREAT THING ABOUT CONTACT CEMENT, WHEN YOU LET BOTH SIDES DRY, IS THAT IT ALLOWS YOU TO WORK WITH IT AND STILL STAYS OPEN LONG ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU CAN APPLY AND REAPPLY AND CORRECT YOUR PATTERN, LIKE I'M DOING. WITH THE FABRIC LOCKED DOWN ON THE FRONT SIDE, I'M FLIPPING IT OVER AND JUST KINDA GIVING IT A REFRESHER COAT OF GLUE ON BOTH SURFACES. NOW THE TWO INCHES OF OVER CUT ON ALL SIDES, WELL THAT'S NOT AN ACCIDENT. IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE MORE FABRIC THAN YOU NEED SO YOU CAN PULL IT AND PUSH IT AND CORRECT AS YOU NEED TO. THIS IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE PROCESS ON THE STRAIGHT SIDES, AND IT JUST INVOLVES FOLDING IT OVER. THE GLUE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST. THE CORNERS ARE A DIFFERENT STORY BECAUSE OF COURSE, THE MATERIAL GATHERS. SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A SERIES OF RELIEF CUTS SO YOU DON'T HAVE A BULGE THERE THAT'LL HOLD THE PANEL OUT FROM DOOR, AND IT WRAPS AROUND NICELY AND YOU'VE GOT A GOOD GLUE CONTACT. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THIS IS KINDA HOW METAL ACTS TOO IN THE SENSE THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY EVER SHRINK IT. YOU CAN JUST WORK WITH IT AND MOLD IT AROUND TO WHERE IT DOES WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO. NOW DON'T GET INTO THE MIND SET TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE IN A HURRY, YOU DON'T. YOU'VE GOT TIME TO WORK WITH THIS, AND WITH THE GLUE FRESH, WELL YOU CAN APPLY AND REAPPLY. I'M USING SINGLE EDGED RAZOR BLADES TO TRIM, BUT A GOOD SHARP PAIR OF SCISSORS WILL DO THE SAME THING. IT'S JUST EASIER WITH THE BLADES. AND YOU'RE GONNA GO THROUGH ABOUT A HALF A DOZEN OF THEM BECAUSE THE FABRIC DULLS THE BLADE OUT PRETTY WELL. THIS TRIM PANEL TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES REAL TIME, AND IS THE MOST BASIC OF PROJECTS, BUT IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

(KEVIN)>> HEY, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS. WELL CHECK OUT OUR REUPHOLSTERED TRIM PANELS. I THINK THEY LOOK PRETTY SNAZZY, AND THEY'RE GONNA LOOK REALLY GOOD UP AGAINST THE PRIMERED INTERIOR, BUT WE'RE NOT DONE YET. THE HEAD LINER IS ACTUALLY THE ONLY OTHER PIECE IN THE CAB THAT NEEDS REUPHOLSTERED. AND THESE, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE REPRODUCTIONS, ORIGINALS? MY GUESS IS THEY'RE REPRODUCTIONS, BUT LOOK AT THIS. THAT'S MOLD, SO STRIKE ONE, YOU'RE OUT. NOW THE OTHER PART OF THE HEADLINER IS, WELL IT'S JUST PLAIN NASTY. THAT'S MOUSE DEBRIS. AND I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S SOME KIND OF AN INSECT NEST IN THERE. THOSE ARE SPORES FROM SOME ALIEN PLANET. WE'RE NOT GONNA TOUCH THIS BECAUSE REPLACEMENTS ARE INEXPENSIVE FROM LMC TRUCK. SO WE GOT NEW HEADLINER BOARDS THAT WE'RE JUST GONNA REUPHOLSTER KINDA THE SAME WAY. A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE SINCE IT'S SO BIG, PAY ATTENTION. THERE'S NO PREP WITH THE BRAND NEW HEADLINER BOARDS, BUT FOR APPLYING THE ADHESIVE TO THE FABRIC WE'RE ONLY DOING ONE SIDE AT A TIME. THAT WAY IT'S MUCH EASIER TO MANAGE AND YOU CAN FLIP YOUR OTHER SIDE OVER, APPLY THE ADHESIVE, AND THEN JUST GENTLY PULL IT AGAINST ITSELF. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO PULL ANY FOLDS OR WRINKLES OUT OF THE FABRIC AND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PATTERN IS ALIGNED. THE TECHNIQUE FOR FOLDING ONTO THE BACK SIDE OF THE HEADLINER IS THE SAME AS WITH THE DOOR TRIM PANELS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SMALL RELIEFS FOR THE SCREWS TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. SO WE'RE MAKING A SLIGHT RELIEF CUT AROUND THEM SO WE DON'T HAVE TO POKE AND HUNT FOR THEM. AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE FUNCTION OF A HEADLINER BACK IN THE '40'S WAS LITERALLY TO KEEP THE CONDENSATION FROM DRIPPING ONTO YOUR HEAD, UNLIKE TODAY'S LUXO BOXES WHERE IT ACTUALLY SERVES AS INSULATION. SPEAKING OF INSULATION, THE CAB OF THIS TRUCK USED TO SOUND LIKE AN EMPTY STEEL DRUM WHEN YOU WRAPPED ON IT. SO DEI'S BOOM MAT ACOUSTIC TILES ARE GONNA SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. HERE WE'VE CUT A COUPLE OF TILES IN HALF AND PLACED THEM IN BETWEEN THE BOWS ON THE BACK OF THE CAB, AND WE'RE USING FULL TILES, THREE OF THEM, ON THE CEILING. NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO COVER EVERY INCH OF SHEET METAL TO MAKE A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE WITH THIS INSULATION. ALRIGHT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THE SOUND OF THIS THING WITHOUT THE BOOM MAT, BUT LISTEN TO THIS. THAT'S DEAD! NOW SINCE THESE ARE NOT CUSTOM PANELS, JUST THE ORIGINALS REUPHOLSTERED, THE REASSEMBLY IS EASY, BUT HERE'S A TIP. USE A REALLY SMALL SCREWDRIVER TO FIND THE SCREW HOLES. THAT WAY YOU DON'T HAVE TO POKE AROUND WITH THE SCREW AND RISK PULLING FIBERS OUT OF YOUR FABRIC. THE PAINT ON THE WINDOW FRAMES WAS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. SO ALL WE DID WAS REINSTALL THEM. THIS IS WHERE IT PAYS DIVIDENDS TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SCREWS. NOW THE HEADLINER IS FAIRLY EASY TO INSTALL IF NOT A LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATING JUST BECAUSE OF GRAVITY, BUT IT HELPS TO PREALIGN AND PRETRIM YOUR HEADLINER BOARD BEFORE YOU UPHOLSTER THEM. THEY'RE HELD IN PLACE WITH SCREWS ON THE BACK SIDE AND PINCHED WITH THE WEATHER SEALS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. THE FRONT HALF IS HELD IN PLACE WITH THE SAME SCREWS THAT HOLD THE WINDOW TRIM IN PLACE, AND AGAIN PINCHED WITH A WEATHER SEAL ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. NOW WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ORIGINAL OR NOT, BUT THE CENTER SECTION WAS HELD UP WITH A STEEL BOW. IT DIDN'T REALLY LOOK ORIGINAL BUT IT SERVED ITS PURPOSE, SO IT GETS REUSED. AND AS FAR AS THE SEAT, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TOUCH IT.

(RYAN)>> HEY GUYS, WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOP. WELL KEVIN'S GOT THE INTERIOR FINISHED UP, AND THAT MEANS WE'VE ONLY GOT ONE PROJECT LEFT ON OUR '49 CHEVY, AND THAT'S ADDING AN EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOW ON A TRUCK AS OLD AS OUR '49, WELL FINDING AN EXHAUST SYSTEM IN A CATALOG SOMEWHERE CAN BE KINDA TRICKY. IF THERE'S LIMITED OPTION, WHAT'S AVAILABLE MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU WANT. SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS MAKE OUR OWN, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA SPEND A TON OF MONEY DOING IT. SO WE'RE GONNA AVOID THE STAINLESS STEEL AND GO WITH ALUMINIZED STEEL TUBING THAT WE PICKED UP FROM OUR LOCAL PARTS STORE ALONG WITH A PAIR OF CHEAPO GLASS PACKS. NOW OUR EXHAUST MANIFOLD KIT CAME WITH FLANGES. SO WE WERE OFF TO A GOOD START. AND AS FAR AS BENDS GO, WELL WE USED A PIECE OF TIG WIRE BUT A COAT HANGER WILL DO THE SAME THING. BUT THE TIG WIRE'S OBVIOUSLY REALLY SMALL IN DIAMETER AND THE EXHAUST TUBING WE'RE USING IS TWO INCHES. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME CLEARANCE ISSUES THAT WE RUN INTO WITH THE PIPE THAT WE DIDN'T WITH THE TIG WIRE. ALRIGHT, WE'RE HITTING THIS STEERING SHAFT. NOW TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE STEERING SHAFT WE BROKE OUT THE ROSE BUD TIP ON OXY ACETYLENE TORCH AND CREATED A NICE LITTLE CURVE FOR THE STEERING SHAFT TO FIT AROUND. A COUPLE OF TACK WELDS HOLDING THE PIPE IN PLACE, WE CAN CHECK FOR CLEARANCE. NOW THE SECOND PIPE IS NEARLY IDENTICAL AND ONCE WE GET IT BENT AND TACKED INTO POSITION, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WANT TO PLACE OUR GLASS PACK. LIKE RIGHT THERE!

AND WITH BOTH DOWN PIPES TACKED TOGETHER AND CUT TO LENGTH, WE CUT THEM OUT SO WE COULD FINISH WELD THE FLANGES. NOW THE TUBING WE'RE USING IS TWO INCHES IN DIAMETER, BUT THE GLASS PACKS WE PICKED UP ON SALE ARE TWO AND A QUARTER INCHES, BUT WE CAN MAKE THEM FIT NO PROBLEM. NOW WE DECIDED TO GO WITH GLASS PACKS FOR FEW REASONS. LIKE WE TOLD YOU, THEY WERE CHEAP, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A COOL, UNIQUE, AND DISTINCT SOUND THAT SHOULD WORK PRETTY WELL WITH OUR OLD STRAIGHT SIX. LASTLY, WELL THESE THINGS ARE SMALL MAKING FITMENT A BREEZE. TO KEEP THINGS SIMPLE WE DECIDED JUST TO RUN THE TAIL PIPES OUT THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK RATHER THAN GO OVER THE REAR AXLE AND THROUGH FOUR LINK SUSPENSION. AND THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS TRUCK, WE CAN LEAVE THE RAW METAL EDGES ALONE. IT'S ONLY GONNA ADD TO THE CHARACTER WHEN IT STARTS TO CORRODE A LITTLE BIT. AND DON'T LOOK FOR ANY FANCY CHROME EXHAUST TIPS EITHER. IT JUST DOESN'T FIT THIS TRUCK. AND WITH EVERYTHING MOCKED UP WE CAN REMOVE BOTH SECTIONS OF THE EXHAUST AND FULLY WELD THEM. THEN IT'S BACK ON THE TRUCK FOR FINAL INSTALLATION INCLUDING GASKETS, ADDING THE EXHAUST HANGER, AND FINE TUNING AND FINALIZING THE LOCATION OF OUR TAIL PIPES.

WELL I'VE GOT TO SAY, THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. AND CONSIDERING IT COST LESS THAN $200 BUCKS, WELL THAT JUST MAKES IT SOUND BETTER. [ engine revving ]

(KEVIN)>> HEY, WELCOME BACK TO TRUCKS. WELL EVER SINCE THEY'VE BEEN PUTTING COMPUTERS IN VEHICLES, THE AUTOMOTIVE AFTERMARKET HAS BEEN FIGURING OUT WAYS TO GET INSIDE THOSE SYSTEMS SO THAT GUYS LIKE YOU AND ME CAN TUNE OUR VEHICLES FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE. EVERYTHING FROM MORE POWER TO INCREASED FUEL ECONOMY, OR BETTER TOWING PERFORMANCE. AND SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF OBD TWO CONNECTIONS IN 1996, WELL THAT JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT EASIER AND AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY WAS BORN. AND THAT'S HISTORY, BUT TODAY YOU GET A GLIMPSE INTO THE NEXT GENERATION OF THAT INDUSTRY WITH THE SUPERCHIPS VIVID. THE VIVID IS AN INTERNET TABLET AND USES AN ANDROID OPERATING SYSTEM, AND GOES WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A TYPICAL TUNER. LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THIS THING CAN DO. NOW WITH THIS BEING A TABLET, WELL IT'S GOT AN HDMI OUT, WHICH ALLOWS US TO CONNECT IT TO A BIG SCREEN TV AND REALLY SHOW YOU THE FEATURES. NOW THE VIVID IS OF COURSE A TUNER, AND YOU CAN USE PRESET TUNES OR GO INTO THE ADVANCED SETTING FOR A MULTITUDE OF PARAMETERS AND CREATE YOUR OWN TUNE. THE WIRE FRAME GIVES YOU A VISUAL GUIDE AS TO WHAT SECTION OF THE VEHICLE THAT YOU'RE TUNING. NOW ONCE YOU'VE DECIDED ON THE CHANGES YOU WANT TO MAKE, VIVID TAKES A SNAP SHOT OF YOUR TRUCK'S STOCK TUNE, STORES IT SAFELY, AND THEN UPLOADS YOUR CUSTOM TUNE ONTO YOUR TRUCK'S COMPUTER. THE RETURN TO STOCK FEATURE SAFELY AND QUICKLY RETURNS IT BACK TO THE STOCK VEHICLE PARAMETERS IF YOU EVER NEED TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE.

(RYAN)>> NOW WITH THE CALIBRATION WE'VE GOT LOADED IN, WE'RE EXPECTING TO PICK UP SOME HORSEPOWER AND SOME TORQUE. THE TORQUE IS HANDY IF YOU TOW SOMETHING LIKE A BASS BOAT OR A RACE CAR. THE HORSEPOWER, IF YOU NEED TO FLAT FOOT IT TO MERGE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE, YOU KNOW YOU'VE GOT THE POWER THERE. BUT WE ALSO EXPECT TO SEE SOME FUEL ECONOMY GAINS BECAUSE OF THE MORE PRECISE TUNE LOADED INTO THE PCM. ANOTHER COOL FEATURE IS THE VIRTUAL GAUGES AND THE DIRECT CONNECTION THEY HAVE WITH THE PCM. A LOT OF THE TIME THE GAUGES THAT YOU SEE IN YOUR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ARE ELECTRONICALLY DAMPENED OR CONTROLLED, OR THEY JUST SHOW YOU A NORMAL RANGE. THESE GIVE YOU A DIRECT PORT OF CONTACT TO THE PCM SO YOU GET ACCURATE AND PRECISE INFORMATION.

(KEVIN)>> NOW ONE OF THE FEATURES OF VIVID IS THE INCLINOMETER, AND HERE IN THE TRUCKS SHOP, WELL IT MIGHT SEEM KIND OF GADGETY ALTHOUGH IT'S REALLY COOL. BUT WHEN THIS REALLY COMES INTO PLAY IS OUT ON THE ROAD IF YOU'RE PULLING A HEAVY LOAD AND YOU'RE GOING DOWN SOME STEEP GRADES. WASTEFUL DRIVING HABITS LIKE PANIC STOPS AND JACK RABBIT STARTS, THEY CAN LITERALLY BURN YOUR MONEY. WELL THE MILEAGE MENTOR CAN HELP YOU POLICE THAT DRIVING STYLE, MAKE YOU A MORE EFFICIENT DRIVER.

(RYAN)>> NOBODY WANTS TO BURN MORE FUEL THAN NECESSARY, UNLESS YOU'RE PLAYING AROUND. SO WHILE YOU'RE CRUISING AROUND, IT'S NICE TO GET THE BEST FUEL ECONOMY POSSIBLE, AND THE MILEAGE MENTOR TELLS YOU IF YOU COULD LET OFF THE GAS A LITTLE BIT AND COAST TO THE STOP SIGN. AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY OF GETTING YOUR ATTENTION THAN SHOWING A $20 DOLLAR BILL BURNING DOWN, AND THERE IT GOES. JUST FOR TESTING OF COURSE. NOW MOST PROGRAMMERS OR TUNERS WILL READ AND CLEAR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES, BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CODE MEANS, IT DOESN'T DO YOU MUCH GOOD. WELL THE VIVID GIVES YOU THE CODE NUMBER AND DEFINITION IN PLAIN ENGLISH SO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND YOU CAN FIX IT.

(KEVIN)>> NOW WHEN IT COMES TO UPDATES, UNLIKE IN THE PAST WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE YOUR DEVICE AND PLUG IT INTO A COMPUTER FOR YOUR UPDATES. WELL ALL VIVID NEEDS IS TO BE CLOSE TO A WIFI NETWORK OR A HOT SPOT AND IT HAPPENS AUTOMATICALLY. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT. BUT VIVID IS NOT JUST ABOUT FUNCTION. THERE'S SOME FEATURES IN THIS INTERFACE THAT ARE PRETTY FUN TOO.

(RYAN)>> LIKE THE VIDEO CAMERA. SAY YOU'VE GOT A TUNE LOADED IN AND YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF GAINS YOU'VE MADE, SO YOU HEAD OFF TO THE LOCAL DRAG STRIP. WELL YOU CAN RECORD YOUR RUN SO YOU CAN SHOW ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS WHEN YOU GET BACK HOME. SPEAKING OF WHICH, ON THE WAY THERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO MUSIC THAT YOU'VE LOADED INTO THE DEVICE FROM YOUR OWN PERSONAL MUSIC LIBRARY. NOW THE VIVID HAS LOTS OF FEATURES AND LOTS OF APPLICATIONS, BUT ONE THING THAT'S MISSING IS A COMMON SENSE APP. THAT'S UP TO YOU. DON'T USE THIS THING TOO MUCH WHILE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING, USE YOUR NOGGIN. GUYS, THANKS FOR WATCHING TRUCKS, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
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