How to Use IMG Tool 2.0 to Mod GTA San Andreas

Modifying your vehicles in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas can significantly enhance your gameplay experience, allowing you to drive your favorite cars around San Andreas. While there are automated tools available, using IMG Tool 2.0 provides a manual method that many experienced modders prefer for its reliability and control. This guide will walk you through the steps on how to use IMG Tool 2.0 to add or replace cars in GTA San Andreas.

Understanding IMG Tool 2.0 for GTA San Andreas Modding

IMG Tool 2.0 is a utility designed to work with IMG archive files, which are commonly used in older Rockstar Games titles like GTA San Andreas. Unlike automated mod installers like SAMI, IMG Tool 2.0 gives you direct access to the game’s archive files, allowing for precise manual modifications. This method is often favored because it tends to be more stable and less prone to crashes, especially when dealing with complex or conflicting mods. While SAMI (San Andreas Mod Installer) offers an easier, automated approach, it can sometimes lead to compatibility issues. IMG Tool 2.0, though requiring a bit more manual work, ensures a cleaner and often more reliable modding experience.

Using IMG Tool 2.0 interface to modify GTA San Andreas game files.

Prerequisites for Manual Car Modding

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

1. IMG Tool 2.0: Download and install IMG Tool 2.0 or a more recent version if available. You can easily find this tool by searching online for “IMG Tool 2.0 download”.
2. Downloaded Car Mods: Find and download the car mods you want to install. Websites like GTAinside or GTA5-Mods (while primarily for GTA V, some older mods are available) are good resources. Mods typically come in ZIP or RAR files.
3. DFF and TXD Files: Car mods for GTA San Andreas consist of two main file types:
   • .dff files: These are the 3D model files of the vehicle.
   • .txd files: These are the texture files that define the car’s appearance.
     Extract these files from your downloaded mod archive to your desktop or another easily accessible location.
4. Readme File (If Available): Some mods come with a readme file containing specific installation instructions or optional handling line codes. Check for this file and review it for any special instructions.

Step-by-Step Guide: Replacing Cars Using IMG Tool 2.0

Now, let’s proceed with the steps to replace a car in GTA San Andreas using IMG Tool 2.0:

1. Launch IMG Tool 2.0: Open the IMG Tool 2.0 application on your computer.

2. Open gta3.img: Navigate to the game directory to open the primary IMG archive file.

   • Click File in the IMG Tool menu.
   • Select Open.
   • Browse to your GTA San Andreas installation folder, typically located at C:/Program Files/Rockstar Games/GTA San Andreas/models/.
   • Open the gta3.img file. This file contains most of the game’s vehicle and object models.

   File -> Open -> C:/Program Files/Rockstar Games/GTA San Andreas/models/gta3.img

3. Locate Files to Replace: Identify the original game files you need to replace with your modded files. In this example, we will replace the Faggio scooter (Vespa) with a custom scooter mod. The original files are typically named after the vehicle, for example, faggio.dff and faggio.txd.

   • Press F2 to use the Find function in IMG Tool.
   • Type the name of the file you want to replace, e.g., faggio.dff, and click “Find Next”. Repeat to find faggio.txd.

4. Backup Original Files (Highly Recommended): Before replacing any files, it is crucial to back up the originals. This allows you to revert to the original game files if you decide to uninstall the mod or if something goes wrong.

   • For each file (faggio.dff and faggio.txd), right-click on the file name in IMG Tool.
   • Select Extract.
   • Choose a safe directory to save the backup files, for instance, a new folder on your desktop named “GTA Backup”.

   While backing up is optional, it is strongly advised, especially if you are new to modding. Skipping this step means you won’t have an easy way to restore the original vehicle if needed.

5. Replace Files with Modded Files: Now, replace the original files with the new mod files.

   • For each original file (faggio.dff and faggio.txd), right-click on the filename in IMG Tool.
   • Select Replace.
   • Browse to the location where you saved your downloaded mod files (e.g., your desktop).
   • Select the corresponding new .dff file (e.g., new_faggio.dff) and click “Open”.
   • Repeat the replace process for the .txd file, selecting the new .txd file (e.g., new_faggio.txd).

   Using the “Replace” function is preferable to “Delete” and then “Add” as it is generally more stable and less likely to introduce bugs.

6. Rebuild Archive: After replacing the files, you need to rebuild the IMG archive for the changes to take effect in the game.

   • Click Commands in the IMG Tool menu.
   • Select Rebuild Archive.
   • Wait for the rebuild process to complete. This may take a few moments.

7. Launch GTA San Andreas: Start your game and find the vehicle you replaced (in this case, the Faggio scooter). It should now be replaced by your newly installed mod.

Optional: Fine-Tuning Vehicle Handling

In some cases, you might want to adjust the handling characteristics of the newly added vehicle to better match its model or your preferences. This involves editing game configuration files.

1. Locate Configuration Files: Navigate to your GTA San Andreas data folder within the game installation directory (C:/Program Files/Rockstar Games/GTA San Andreas/data/). The key files for vehicle handling are:

   • handling.cfg: Defines vehicle physics like speed, weight, and handling.
   • vehicles.ide: Lists vehicle IDs, model names, and game categories.
   • carcols.dat: Defines vehicle color palettes.
   • carmods.dat: (Less common) Defines compatible modification parts.

2. Edit Configuration Files: Open these files with a text editor like Notepad. Often, mod download packages include lines of code to replace in these files within a “readme” or installation guide.

   For example, you might find instructions like:

   handling.cfg:

   Uranus 1400.0 2998.3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 -0.3 75 0.80 0.85 0.47 5 200.0 20.0 5.0 RP 8.0 0.45 0 30.0 1.3 0.15 0.0 0.28 -0.10 0.5 0.3 0.25 0.60 35000 c0002800 4.0 1 1 0

   vehicles.ide:

   558, uranus, uranus, car, Uranus, URANUS, null, richfamily, 7, 0, 0, -1, 0.7, 0.7, 1

   carcols.dat:

   0,56,53
   # 114 flash red green
   0,2,10
   # 116 med.sapphire blue blue firemist
   95,10,21
   # 117 med.garnet red red poli
   greenwoo, 116.116, 117.117, 114.114, 111.111, 125.125, 103.103, 100.100

3. Apply Changes: Find the corresponding lines in your configuration files (e.g., search for “Uranus” in handling.cfg) and replace them with the provided lines from the mod’s instructions. Save the files after editing.

Important Notes:

• Always download mods from reputable sources to avoid viruses or corrupted files.
• Read any included readme files for specific instructions related to the mod.
• If you encounter issues, double-check each step and ensure you have correctly replaced the files and rebuilt the archive.
• Experiment with mods carefully and always keep backups of your original game files.

By following these steps, you can successfully use IMG Tool 2.0 to add new cars to GTA San Andreas and customize your gaming experience. Enjoy cruising around San Andreas in your newly modded vehicles!