The Steps Used to Modify a Car

• For some drivers, buying the right car is the last step in acquiring reliable, enjoyable transportation. For others, buying a car is the first step in a long process of modifications that will result in a unique vehicle that expresses a personal style and includes custom features for better performance or a stand-out appearance.

Engine Swap

• Replacing the stock engine in a car is an expensive, time-consuming and messy job -- so place it near the top of a to-do list when modifying a car. A new engine can give an old car new life or bring a high-performance powertrain to a vehicle that used to have more modest abilities. To perform an engine swap you'll need a strong knowledge of engine mechanics, as well as specialty tools such as an engine hoist. Swapping the engine is also the best time to make related modifications, including installing a turbocharger or supercharger and installing a new transmission.

Body Work

• Body work and exterior accessories can make your car stand out from similar models and give it a particular shape that may indicate speed or power, or liken it to a specific brand, model or era of automobiles. This can include modifications such as adding a rear spoiler, attaching a body kit and side skirts and lowering, or "chopping" the roof panel.

Interior Mods

• Interior modifications make a car more comfortable and convenient to drive. Once the body modifications are finished, you can go to work inside the car. For a high-performance modification, add sport seats or a racing harness for added safety and security while driving. Features like a hands-free phone, premium stereo system and interior colored lights all contribute to a car's interior character.

Paint Job

• A paint job should be one of the last steps in modifying a car. Saving it for the end means you can work on the body, lean into the engine compartment and drill holes for installing new interior and exterior equipment without worrying about damaging the paint. Custom paint jobs require many layers and patience, along with an air brush that features interchangeable tips for creating patterns and lines of different shapes and sizes. You can also blend custom colors if you have access to a supply of paint and knowledge of the chemicals it contains.

Finishing Touches

• While you won't want to polish a new paint job, apply decals or exterior badging, along with new wheels and tires, to give the car a completed look. The last step in modifying the car should be submitting to an inspection to make sure that it's safe and legal to drive.