There are few things more satisfying than making your own automotive repairs \u2014 but once you\u2019re done, what happens to those old, spare car parts? Maybe a tire gets made into a swing for your kids, but let\u2019s face it: Most of those old parts just end up cluttering the garage or the back of the shed. There are plenty of ways to transform those otherwise-useless objects into nice additions to your shop, home garage or house. Here are a few ideas for repurposing your old car parts that go beyond the everyday tire swing.<\/span><\/p>\n Quick<\/strong> Squeegee<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve recently replaced your<\/span> windshield wipers<\/a><\/strong> and still have the old ones lying around, consider attaching them to a broomstick or short handle. When it comes time for spring-cleaning, they might come in handy for hard-to-reach windows. A worn-out wiper makes for a quick squeegee in a pinch when you are washing windows, and can also be used as a handy sweeper to get dust and dirt off your work bench.<\/span><\/p>\n Landscaping Possibilities<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We all know that tires can be recycled or turned into the aforementioned swing, but why not use a few for landscaping projects around the yard? Paint the threads and sidewalls in a mix of colors, then lay them on their sides and fill them with dirt. The result is a unique planter for your garden. You can even cluster tires together and paint patterns on them to take your design up a notch. If you have a lot of tires, dig steps into a hill. Lay the tires in pairs filled with dirt for some decorative landscaping steps.<\/span><\/p>\n Riding the Bench<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n If you replaced the bed on your truck or ended up with an old tailgate from your last truck, hang on to it. Using some pipe for a frame and some spare sheet metal or wood, you can make a pretty cool outdoor bench. Start by making a frame and then cut part of the old bed for the seat. Of course, the tailgate itself should be saved for a decorative back. You can either weld the pieces together or drill holes and secure with nuts and bolts.<\/span><\/p>\n Take a Seat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Upgrading your ride with a racing bucket seat is a popular modification for cars, but it leaves the stock seat lying around your garage. By building a frame and mounting your old car seat to it, you can build a pretty sweet gaming chair. You can even extend the frame out to hold your game system\u2019s steering wheel and pedals for racing games.<\/span><\/p>\n Headlamp Enlightenment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Nothing finishes off a garage hangout spot like great lighting. No matter<\/span> what kind of headlamps you have<\/a><\/strong>, any spares can be transformed into cool lamps with a bit of creativity. Mount the lamps on an old strut or some pipe for a standing lamp; connect them to some tubing and run the wiring inside for some sweet-looking ceiling lights. You could even mount them to the wall; the possibilities are limitless.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a lot of things you can do with spare car parts. A little of creativity goes a long way, and when you consider the value of repurposing over putting something in a landfill, being creative with your old parts never was so worthwhile or so much fun.<\/span><\/p>\n For more information on spare car parts, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local<\/span> NAPA AUTO PARTS<\/a><\/strong> store.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo Credit:<\/span>\u00a0Untitled<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0by<\/span>\u00a0iquanyin moon<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(<\/span>CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a><\/strong>).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n