Why this exists
New-car pressure is overrated
You don’t need a $900/month crossover with more CPUs than your first data center. You need something you understand, can maintain, and actually like driving.
Every heap deserves a chance to be a rod.
Heap>Rod Motors is for the folks who love the car they already own — even if it’s rusty, weird, or worth less than the tools in the trunk. Keep it. Fix it. Improve it. Drive it.
Philosophy
Love the heap you have
What we believe
Every heap is a platform
Beaters, survivors, oddballs, and almost-forgotten models all have potential. Better cooling, better brakes, mild power upgrades, modern lighting, sane electronics.
Where it’s going
Old iron, new tricks
From junkyard upgrades to mild EFI, OBD-II hacks, hybrid rear axles, and maybe even semi-autonomous classics — we’re not afraid to experiment and document the ride.
Garage notes
First projects on the lift
Story
“Every Heap a Rod” – origin story
How a middle-school gearhead, a JC Whitney catalog, and a beat-up first car turned into the Heap>Rod mindset. This will be the first long-form post.
Experiment
Jeep Patriot CVT + hybrid assist
The CVT won’t behave, but the chassis is worth saving. Sketching out a rear electric-axle assist idea: half thought-experiment, half real-world project.
Rabbit hole
Performance Yugo and other unlikely heroes
If you gave us a Yugo for a week, we’d find a way to love it. A survey of strange cars with unexpected aftermarket and cult followings.