Modular Vehicles have revolutionized transportation in Rust, offering players unprecedented mobility and customization. But finding a driveable car isn’t as simple as hotwiring a pristine vehicle. You’ll typically encounter a rusty chassis, sparking and smoking at the roadside, begging for repair. Before you can cruise across the map, understanding what you need to repair a car in Rust is crucial. This guide will walk you through the essential steps and components to get your modular vehicle up and running.
Finding a Rusty Chassis: Your Starting Point
Your car repair journey begins with locating a rusty vehicle chassis. These aren’t hard to spot; look for the telltale signs of smoke and sparks emanating from abandoned vehicles along Rust’s roads. These chassis often come with some modules already attached. These existing modules might be damaged, but they can be salvaged, repaired using materials like Metal Fragments, High-Quality Metal, and Wood, or replaced entirely.
To move these chassis initially, you can use Low Grade Fuel to power them for short distances or resort to pushing. However, be cautious when pushing – these vehicles can roll back and cause significant damage if they hit you!
Essential Components for Repairing Your Rust Car Engine
The heart of getting your modular vehicle moving lies in repairing its engine. Several basic engine components are absolutely necessary. You can acquire these parts through various means: purchasing them from vendors, looting them from toolboxes scattered around the map, or crafting them yourself if you have the blueprints. Remember, you can craft low, medium, and high-quality versions of each part. The quality directly impacts the engine’s performance and longevity. Engine parts blueprints can be researched at a research table using scrap. Here’s what you’ll need to focus on when considering what do you need to repair a car in rust:
Key Engine Parts for Rust Car Repair:
- Spark Plug: Essential for ignition.
- Carburetor: Mixes air and fuel for combustion.
- Shift Stick / Crankshaft: Translates piston motion into rotational motion. (Article mentions “shift stick/crankshaft” – assuming it means crankshaft)
- Valves: Control the flow of air and fuel in and out of the combustion chamber.
- Pistons: Move within the cylinders to create power.
To install these parts, simply interact with the engine compartment of the vehicle. Blueprinting and crafting these components requires a significant amount of scrap, so efficient looting and resource gathering are key. Investing in higher-grade parts significantly boosts your vehicle’s max speed, fuel efficiency, and acceleration, making a noticeable difference in performance.
Sourcing Engine Parts: Air Wolf Vendor and More
For readily available, medium-quality components, visit the Air Wolf vendor located in the Bandit Camp. This vendor is a convenient source for essential car parts. They also offer vehicle lifts for sale, which are crucial for vehicle modification. Medium-quality blueprints from the Air Wolf vendor cost approximately 125 scrap each. While high-quality components aren’t sold by Air Wolf, you can find them at vending machines in the Outpost, offering an upgrade path for your vehicle’s engine.
Upgrading Your Ride: Utilizing a Vehicle Lift in Rust
While basic repairs can be done with a Hammer to install engine parts, truly modifying your vehicle requires a vehicle lift and a power source.
Building or Buying a Vehicle Lift
The Air Wolf vendor sells vehicle lifts for around 175 scrap. Alternatively, if you have Workbench Level 2, you can research the vehicle lift blueprint for 125 scrap and craft one yourself. Crafting requires 1000 Metal Fragments, 10 High-Quality Metal, and 3 Gears. Placing a vehicle lift requires a substantial flat area, at least a 6×3 foundation space, and it needs one unit of power to operate. Ensure the location is easily accessible for vehicles.
Modifying with Vehicle Modules
Once your vehicle is on the lift and powered, you can access the lift’s power station to add or remove modules. Gather or craft the modules you desire and attach them to customize your vehicle’s functionality. For security, craft a Metal Key for 15 scrap to prevent unauthorized players from driving off with your hard work. Remember to keep the key with you!
Exploring Vehicle Modules in Rust
Vehicle modules are what truly allow you to tailor your car to your needs. Here’s a breakdown of available modules and their crafting costs:
| Vehicle Module | Crafting Cost | Research Cost | Workbench Level Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armored Cockpit | 250 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 50 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 3 |
| Cockpit | 250 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 100 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Cockpit with Engine | 250 Metal Fragments, 8 High-Quality Metal, 100 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Engine | 250 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Fuel Tank | 400 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 100 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Passenger Module | 500 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 250 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Rear Seats | 250 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 100 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Flatbed | 250 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 100 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Large Flatbed | 400 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 250 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
| Storage | 250 Metal Fragments, 5 High-Quality Metal, 250 Wood | 125 Scrap | Level 2 |
Maintaining Your Modular Vehicle
Keep in mind that vehicle components left outdoors will decay over time. Regular maintenance is essential to keep your car in good condition. Chassis size also matters; they come in three sizes, occupying two, three, and four Socket slots respectively, influencing the number of modules you can attach.
For a visual guide on modular vehicles and car repair in Rust, check out this helpful video:
Rust Beginner’s Guide – Everything you need to know about Cars
With this guide, you’re now equipped to tackle car repair in Rust. Gather your resources, find a chassis, repair the engine, and customize your ride to dominate the roads of Rust!
