Rust killer is enviromentally friendly

Getting rid of corrosion from car parts usually involves soaking them in some highly toxic chemical stew, then scraping them with a wire brush to get them clean. Metal Rescue is a greener, water-based solution that the manufacturer states will start to work to mere minutes on even the most corroded part and will finish most jobs in a few hours.

But the best part is that you can use your bare hands (no heavy rubber gloves required) when working with this non-toxic product that does the job without the use of solvents or acids. Metal Rescue will also not remove the paint from any metal surface. Prices start at $12 for a one-quart jug and range up to $90 for a five-gallon container. The online store at www.metalrescue.com is the way to order your supply.

No more busted knees

Just about everyone who has had a trailer hitch installed on their vehicle has likely screamed in agony at least once after striking their shin or kneecap on the ball/receiver. A simple remedy involves the installation of the Shin Shield. This protective device is made from a special polymer compound that the manufacturer claims will remain soft all the way down to -40 F.

Shin Shield securely installs between the ball and most standard 2.5-inch (Class 5) receivers that are rated for up to 17,500 pounds of gross trailer weight and 1,700 pounds of tongue weight (other sizes are apparently under development). Order one for $25 from www.shin-shield.com.

Tube stake

There are plenty of high-performance air-intake systems available for modern vehicles that claim to improve airflow, which usually means more power and a very unique sound under the hood. But for older vehicles or extreme performance applications, it's doubtful that such a system exists and even if it did, it might might not route around your other engine modifications, whether it be a different battery or a supercharger or turbocharger system.

Rather than ordering up a whole mess of metal elbows and trying to weld something together, Airaid offers its six-inch-diameter UBI (U-Build-It) intake tube that includes a variety of bends and straight sections just waiting to be cut apart and made into an intake system that actually fits your vehicle and provides the necessary airflow. (Note that the tubing for most intake systems is 3.5 to four inches in diameter.) The six-inch UBI, part number 100-600, retails for about $180. Find out more about Airaid products at www.airaid.com.

Flex funnel fits

Adding oil or changing it on your own can save you time and money since no appointment is necessary in your home shop. The reason many people don't is because it can be a messy business where the car, you and the driveway end up covered in oil.

The Form-A-Funnel is highly flexible product made of thin lead that's encased in moldable rubber so it can be formed into whatever shape you need for directing used oil from your car's filter into a catch basin or when pouring a fresh quart into the crankcase. When finished, you just roll up the Form-A-Funnel until the next time its needed. Purchase one for about $30 from a number of storefronts or Web sites listed on the manufacturer's Web site, www.formafunnel.com.