How To – Make Working On Your Classic Easier

Difficulty

What Do I Need?

Common sense
Correct tools and equipment for working on your classic
A clean and tidy workspace
Camera/phone and something to write with

Why Should I?

Working on your classic is fun. At least it should be. It’s a large part of why many of us own old cars and bikes. It allows us to be self sufficient, save money and enhance our skills as well as giving us the opportunity to learn new ones. The sense of achievement we feel when we fix, maintain, modify and improve our classics is an intoxicating one. It inspires us to carry on, to take on perhaps larger, more complicated tasks and even help friends and family with their cars and bikes. From changing the oil to replacing a head gasket there are myriad jobs we can carry out, but there are things we can do to make the entire process easier and more enjoyable.

There’s nothing more frustrating than getting half way through a job only to realise you don’t have the correct tools, or your workspace is so dirty and haphazard that even finding the right ones becomes an ordeal in itself. We’re sure there have been times when you’ve lost a critical bolt or it’s been so long since you removed it that you can’t remember where it goes. We know because we’ve been there. Well, we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little research, a few hours having a good tidy, and a healthy dollop of common sense any job you tackle can be made a lot less frustrating and a lot more pleasurable, so join us as we share some proven tips and tricks that will stand you in good stead when it comes to working on your classic.

Talk Me Through It

1) Do your research. Times have changed and there are so many rich veins to mine for information nowadays. Yes, Haynes manuals are still a great source but we also have YouTube and Internet forums so get involved and use them. Watch videos and ask questions – like-minded enthusiasts are usually more than happy to help. The classic vehicle community is a wonderfully friendly place, generally speaking.

2) Maintain a well stocked and properly organised tool box. Having the proper tools that are easy to locate and accessible will save you time and irritation. There’s nothing more demoralising than spending precious fettling time hunting down the right tools. Not only that but being disorganised will cause resentment to creep in making future fettling feel more like a chore rather than quality time to look forward to.

3) Stock up on peripherals. Alongside the meat and potatoes tools mentioned above it’s also worth ensuring that you have the correct safety gear and any other equipment pertinent to working on old cars and bikes to make things go more smoothly; overalls, safety gear, mats and the like.

4) Keep your workspace clean and tidy. Nobody wants to be rolling around underneath a car on a dirty floor in dim light surrounded by random tools. If this sounds like your usual spannering sesh then spend a morning having a good clean and tidy and organising your workspace. Install some decent lighting (even a good inspection lamp or torch will make a big difference) and the next time you work on your classic it will be a much more pleasant and efficient experience.

5) Document everything. Most of us by this point will have a phone or tablet that includes some type of camera. Take advantage of this personal recording device and take photos of the area or part you are working on so that when you come to reinstall or replace you’ll have a reference point. If you’re working on anything in pairs; brakes, suspension etc. always do one at a time so that you can refer to the opposite side if needed.

6) Label everything. Grab a Sharpie (NB: other brands of writing implements are available) and some masking tape and label everything you remove. Future you will be eternally grateful when you come to put everything back together.

7) Keep fixtures and fixings in containers. Whether it be the cap off of a can of brake cleaner, an old flower pot or your other half’s best Tupperware, keeping nuts, bolts, screws and washers grouped together will save you a whole lot of hassle come reassembly time and will prevent them from rolling off into the fifth dimension, never to be seen again.

8) Relax and have fun. For most of us this is a hobby, and hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable. Following all of the advice above will definitely contribute to this feeling but it’s important to remember it’s not life or death. Try not to get too stressed out. We are fully aware, however, that this is easier said than done in some cases but the sentiment still stands.

Conclusion

With a clean and tidy workspace, along with all of the correct tools and a head full of the prerequisite knowledge to attempt the job in question, any time spent working on your classic will not only be more effective but it will also be a lot more pleasant and satisfying, keeping you motivated to continue indulging in this most wonderful of passions. The big bonus here is that most of the advice imparted above can be put into effect with little financial investment. Cleaning and tidying doesn’t cost anything and most people already have a lot of the peripherals mentioned, so what are you waiting for? Get out there and get to it.