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Caring for Your Classic Car

A classic car is a joy to own for anyone who appreciates the history of the automobile and the wonderful details of the class. Classic cars do not come cheap, however, and if you are to part with good money in order to put one in your driveway you need to remain fully aware that it will hold that value only if you put in the required effort to keep it in the condition it was in when you bought it. Bear in mind also that as a classic car it may not have been driven much over the years, so hopping right in and going on a Kerouac-inspired road trip will only end one way – and no-one will want to read the book you write about the car pulling up lame at the first sign of a steep climb. 

A lot of people who by classic cars do so for the joy of having a car in the condition of a museum piece, and maintaining that condition is not an easy job. It can, however, be quite a relaxing way to spend a weekend morning, if you take the right approach. The paint job is the most immediately noticeable part of the classic car. This is something that has stood the test of time, seen off at least four US presidents and may well have lived through rainstorms, hailstorms and all sorts of adverse conditions. Taking the wrong approach to cleaning and waxing it now could see all of that rendered worthless in very short order. Use the proper tools and follow the stated procedures for cleaning, drying and waxing. Do not skip anything because it seems excessive, because you will soon find that it is not. 

If a bird has gone to the bathroom on your paintwork, then shaking your fist angrily will make you feel slightly better, but will do very little about the potential damage caused. A popular tip endorsed by classic car owners is to carry a fresh bottle of unsalted seltzer water in the trunk. If you can catch the bird droppings (metaphorically speaking) before they harden, then a quick spray of the seltzer water will clear them away without the acidic content of the gift from above causing any damage. You can even imagine you are a victorious rally driver with a bottle of champagne. If you did not get there in time, then you need to apply a fine polish or scratch remover before waxing the affected area. 

There is work you can do under the bonnet of the car to keep the engine running at something approximating the quality it had when it first left the showroom. The extent you should go to depends on your familiarity with car engines and engine bay components. It is commonly said that classic cars are the only ones which hold their value for a significant time. That time could become very insignificant if you try maintenance work with which you are unfamiliar. Ensure before you begin that you are certain of what to do, how to do it and what to do when it is finished.

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how to find a short in a1985 caprice classic?

My son has a 1985 caprice classic that has a new battery, and his alternator is good, but for some reason after he has driven it for a few minutes it just stops and needs to be jumped. My friend seems to think it has a short somewhere causing the battery to be drained(he lives in another state so he can't really look at the car). Does anyone know a quick easy way to find where the short could be? Help! He needs this car to find a job. Any help would be appreciated.

disconnect the negative battery cable and put a multimeter between the battery cable a terminal of the battery. the draw should be zero or very close to it. if it's not a zero start pulling fuses out one at time till you find the circuit that is shorted. at least your search will be narrowed down to that circuit.

2008 San Diego Super "Low Rider" Classic Custom Car Show #3