A million years ago I used to read Car Craft and then try to bolt-on the bolt-on parts I'd read about. About 2 out of 20 times it was possible without using a torch, cut-off wheel, etc. and about one out of 200 times it made my car better.
Then I became a journalist.
Now I pretty much make all my parts in my own shop, using scrap metal.
I do not know what the morrel of this story is.