• Consider re-tuning the engine regularly.  This will help improve the cylinder scavenging of the exhaust gases and will lead to a leaner burn.
• Convert from a 6-volt electrical system to a 12-volt.  This will help upgrade the system for better performance.
• Perform regular maintenance on your hoses.  Check for signs of “ballooning” in pressure areas and look for physical damage.  It will be easy to spot.  Studies show that most hoses fail because of internal issues.  Therefore, make sure your engine is cool and check for failure with your hands.  Look for signs of weakness in the walls of the hoses.
• Buy an ignition re-curve kit.  This will help improve your horsepower and can make a huge difference in the performance you receive from your car.
• While we are on the subject of the ignition, consider changing out the wires.  This will only cost you around $50.00 and can help increase the energy that gets to the spark plugs.

• First, determine why you are customizing it.  If you want to enter a competition there are guidelines you will need to follow.  If you are just looking to have some fun on the weekends, they you don’t have as many rules.
• Figure out if you are keeping the original engine or if you are going to switch it out for a newer model.  This will help you determine if you can do the work yourself or if you need assistance.
• Think about an overall color scheme for the car.
• Determine what accessories you want in your car.  If you are thinking of putting many modern features in the car, like LED lights, you may need help from a professional mechanic.

Remember, when you are thinking about customizing your antique car, it is important that you research and plan accordingly.  Make sure you set a budget and keep all receipts for work and dates of the work as it is performed.  Doing this will help you with insurance purposes.

This is a huge task and it will require time and effort and patience.  You need to consider this area of the car the heart of the entire vehicle; therefore, it should be handled with care.

First, start by photographing the engine bay of the car.  Never start work without making sure you know how it should look.  This will help provide you with a point of reference to work off of.

Next, once you have removed the parts from the engine, you can start cleaning the area.  Remember, this is the most time consuming piece of the entire process, especially if this is the first time it has been cleaned.  Give yourself the ability to try different cleansers.  Usually your local auto parts store will have a variety for you to choose from.

When you have cleaned the area completely, there should be a certain level of shine.  Parts that are in bad condition should be replaced.  The rest of the parts should be painted or chromed before they are reassembled.

Believe it or not, bird droppings can be more hazardous to paint than the sun’s rays could ever be.  The reason being is because bird droppings are acidic and the longer that this is left on the paint of a car, the more damage it will ultimately cause.  Furthermore, because birds eat a lot of dirt and gravel to aid in their digestion, you have to be careful when you remove the droppings because you could inevitably scratch the paint.

The best tip to combat this is to carry a bottle of no-salt seltzer water when you out in public with your classic car.  Before applying, shake it really well.  This will allow you to “blast” the substance off of your car without having to wipe it off and cause further damage.

On the flip side, if you only noticed the droppings after it was dry and hard, realize that you can fix the damage to the paint by applying a high-quality paint polish and wax.  Through careful application, you should be able to remove any visible damage.

Swap meets and classic car restoration tend to go hand-in-hand. In fact, meets are often held in conjunction with localized, regional and national car shows. At these events, owners and dealers show up in droves to offer up their parts and wares to buyers and traders alike.

If you’ve never been to an automotive swap meet before, think giant flea market. Instead of generalized wares, however, these meets involve tons and tons of parts and accessories for classic and antique cars. Here you will find private owners who have extra parts after completing their own restoration jobs. You will also discover some dealers on hand at most shows.

In the spirit of the “swap” part of the meet, expect some owners to be looking strictly for trades on parts. Others, however, will accept cash. It doesn’t hurt to have some items for trade if you have come across extra parts during your own restoration job, too.

While you can never be guaranteed of finding the parts you are after at a swap meet, they do deliver some advantages. In many cases, these meets have unusual parts available at very good prices. In addition, even if a desired part is not found, these are great places to network. When you make friends and contacts at meets, these people might just keep their eyes open for what you need to finish your own job.

Swap meets are a different way to get the items you need for a restoration job. In many cases, they prove to be valuable experiences for classic car owners.

When time and experience are in short supply, hiring a professional classic car restoration garage can make a great deal of sense. These professionals often specialize in both under-the-hood and body work on a variety of older cars. As long as a reputable restorer is hired, owners are likely to discover these benefits of hiring a pro to get the job done right: 

    * More expediency – Classic car restorers worth their salt do know their way around under the hood of an older car. They can speed up the restoration process and put an old car back on the road faster.

    * Better access to parts – Pros who specialize in classic restoration know where to look to find factory original or proper aftermarket parts. They can make this leg of a job go much smoother than an amateur.

    * Better end results – For owners who have never worked under the hood of a car, the end result of going with a restorer can far outshine a self-performed project. The fact is trained mechanics are often better able to get older cars back into running condition more efficiently. Many even guarantee their work for a time on certain engine systems.

While there is no replacing the fun of restoring a classic personally, time and know-how don’t have to stand in the way of this dream. Restoration garages can speed up the process while ensuring professional results.

There are certain things you need when you own a classic car. First, in order to care for it properly, you need to make sure you have an area that is enclosed, like a garage, or have the ability to cover it when you are not working on it or using it.  You cannot allow your classic car to be exposed to the elements, it’s too risky.

Next, once it is in the garage, make sure you disconnect the battery when you are not using it, this will prevent corrosion or other internal damage.

If you are storing your car for the long term, you also need to drain your cooling system and replace it with anti-freeze.  Look into a brand that promotes the fact that it will not cause rust then take the cap off the radiator in order to promote air circulation.

Another helpful tip for long term storage is to remove your tires and prop the classic car on jack stands or cinderblocks.  Not only will this technique protect your suspension system and your tires, it will also discourage theft while you are away from your investment.

First, never enter into any restoration project without knowing just what you need in order to complete the project.  This means making a detailed list of all the pieces that you believe is important to making your restoration a success.  This will also allow you to start building a budget for your project. Make sure you consider items like seats, dashboard, carpet and other internal parts housed in the engine compartment.

Next, once you know what needs to be replaced and restored, start with the transmission and engine, as well as the electrical and suspension system of your car, before moving onto some of the cosmetic features of your project.  The former repairs typically take longer than interior or body work and can make or break your project if not done correctly.  Always remember to deal with the tires and wheels last.  While those parts can be expensive, they can also be worked on at any time.  It is much more important to make sure the internal workings of your classic car are finished before worrying about these pieces.

Restoring a classic – no matter its country of origin – can prove to be an exercise in frustration at times. Just step back, breathe and try to relax. There are a few tricks and tips that might just help you locate the parts you are after.

When you run into a proverbial brick wall trying to find a door handle, a motor part or even a bumper for your foreign classic, try doing these things:

Run want ads – Buy ads or even place free ones in classic car trader magazines, on web sites and in other locations that classic car owners frequent. The more people who know what you are looking for, the more likely it is your parts will turn up.

Enlist the junkyard network – Get very friendly with your local junkyard and let them know what you are looking for. While they might not have the parts you are after, they may know of another yard that does in a different part of the country.

Check with car clubs in the country of your car’s origin – Do a little research to see if there are classic car clubs in the country where your car was made. Chances are there are. If so, contact the clubs directly via the Internet or telephone and let them know what you are looking for. They just might be able to help.

Look for aftermarket parts – If worse comes to worse, settle for aftermarket parts if they are available. Better yet, check with the original manufacturer if they still exist. They might have some ideas to help.

Restoring a foreign classic can present its own challenges. Exercise some patience and persistence and you should be able to get the job done.

The salts used on roads to prevent skidding, sliding and accidents and wreak havoc on a car, classic or not. To stop rust in its tracks, make sure to:

• Fully clean the car before going out – This can be done before the first snows fall, but if it has not been performed, do so before dragging an antique car out into the snow. Make sure to completely clean the car and pay extra attention to the underside.
• Seal the undercarriage – This is something a garage can do for you to save you time and hassle. Just make sure the fuel and brake lines are properly sealed to avoid corrosion.
• Wax – Apply a nice and thick coat of wax with sealant to protect the paint from salt.
• Rinse it off – Once you get back home and have your baby in the garage, take the extra step to rinse off any road debris. Take care to get any deposits that might be on the undercarriage or in hidden places, too.

Winter and classic cars do not necessarily go hand in hand. To avoid damage to the paint and metal if a car must be taken out in the elements, plan ahead and take the right preventative measures.