With cars becoming ever more reliant on electronics and driving aids, vintage and classic cars are becoming more and more popular, not just as an investment, but for the pure driving connection and mechanical response that comes with it. Whether yours is a future investment, or a means to escape you’ll want to make sure your car is properly maintained with a classic car tune up.

Serviceable Parts

Any auto repair tune up starts with replacing serviceable parts. Fortunately there are plenty of OEM and aftermarket manufacturers still producing replacement service parts, even if your car’s manufacturer has since stopped. A talented mechanic can even suggest modifying readily available parts to work on your classic motor to improve performance and reliability.

Ignition Service

Your vehicle’s ignition system consists of spark plugs, spark plug leads, various power cables, the battery, alternator and finally the coil or distributor cap. If any of these parts go bad, it can quickly lead to poor performance, misfires or even a no-start condition. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly, and as long as the electrodes are the correct length with the correct thread a good auto repair tune up mechanic will be able to adjust the gap to spec.

Upgrading an aging alternator and old cables with thicker gauge wiring can be an easy upgrade to insure your ignition system is getting enough power to keep your engine purring for miles to come.

Replacing Rubber

When people think of rubber on a car, their first thought goes to tires, and while we do recommend replacing your tires every five to six years if they haven’t needed to be replaced from wear, there are plenty of other rubber components that are worth having replaced.

The hoses and belts that run all around your car’s engine are made of rubber, and through wear, exposure to heat and age can become brittle and fail. A failed belt can lead to your alternator, air con compressor or even engine cooling fan no longer being driven while a failed hose will leave you with a nasty coolant leak. The six year replacement rule isn’t as strict for these components, so having your mechanic monitor the health of your belts and hoses and replacing them at the first sign of cracks or hardening will be sufficient to keep your car happy.

Another bit of rubber that is often forgotten about are the bushings in your car’s suspension and engine mounts. Manufacturers use rubber bushings between suspension components and in the engine mount to help isolate and reduce the amount of vibrations transferred to the cabin and its passengers. Replacing suspension bushings is one of the best ways to freshen up a tired suspension set up and make your car feel like new again.

Fluid Service

While you should be having your vehicle’s oil replaced at least once a year, twice if you use it regularly, there are plenty of other fluids that will need your attention as your car ages. Engine coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid and differential oil all have a select lifespan, and will become less efficient with age. An auto repair tune up specialist will know what fluid needs to be replaced when and with what.

Advanced Repairs

Some parts just aren’t replaceable, whether they just aren’t made anymore, would drastically reduce the value of the car if replaced or unfeasible to replace, a mechanic that can rebuild and restore parts becomes an invaluable asset in keeping your classic on the road. Some rebuilds a classic car mechanic may specialize include:

Carburettor Rebuilds

Before fuel injection was the norm, most cars used carburetors to mix fuel with air and dump the mixture into the cylinders. The wrong mixture could lead to your car running too rich or too lean and ruin performance or damage the engine if left for too long. Since carburetors aren’t favored outside of hot rods, it can be difficult to find a replacement for your specific engine. Luckily with a few seals, some springs and a lot of patience a talented mechanic can rebuild a carburetor back to original condition.

Engine Rebuilds

Nobody ever wants to hear that their engine needs a rebuild, as it usually means something catastrophic has failed. While swapping a newer or bigger engine is always an option, there is something special about having a numbers matching classic. The benefits of opting for a rebuild before you need one is all about prevention.

While not considered wear items, piston seals do wear with age, and worn piston rings can lead to reduced performance and rod knock, a condition where the piston has developed enough play in the cylinder to knock against the cylinder walls. Similarly there are bearings that if allowed to completely wear out could cause engine failure. If your car is reaching 200,000 miles on the original engine, its not a bad idea to consider a refresh.

Transmission and Differential Rebuilds

Similarly to the engine, the gears in your gearbox and differential are constantly rubbing against one another. While transmission fluid and differential oils do alot to minimize the wear the gear sets do to each other, it doesn’t outright prevent it. In some differentials, there are clutch packs to direct power to the wheel with the most load on it. These clutches wear with age and become less effective which leads to your fancy limit slip diff becoming a standard open diff. If your transmission is struggling to change gears, a rebuild may be necessary.

Classic Car Tune Up Specialist In Pompano Beach

From C1 Corvettes, to Porsche 930s and even a Toyota 2000 GT, our team at Foreign Affairs Motorsports have seen our fair share of classic cars come and go, and return for our A-grade repair and maintenance services. From oil changes to full rebuilds and restorations we offer a number of services to ensure that your classic car continues to age just as finely as it should. To book your classic in, or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at (954) 746-0488.