Anna Barton

Classic cars are that represent a touchstone from an earlier era, a blast from the past if you may. However, modern cars are faster, better to handle, more reliable, more comfortable, and safer than classic cars. But, people still love classic cars more given the vintage feel that they give away and also because they have much more to offer than modern cars.
People often develop a personal relationship with their cars because they perceive their car as an extension of themselves. But, keeping your classic car maintained for a long time is a difficult task. Some people prefer to take their car to the garage, whereas some people love to work on it themselves. When working on a car, there are many things that people have to look after and one of those things is ‘how to jack up a car’. Many people believe that it’s easy to jack up any car, but that’s a myth.
The most common reason to jack up any car is to change a tyre, but there are other things too that cannot be performed without elevating the car off the ground. But, if you jack up a classic car incorrectly, it can lead to the car falling, damaging, or something even worse could happen. So, it’s important to know how to do this correctly and safely.
Here we have mentioned some points which can help you understand how to jack up your classic car carefully.

Types of Jacks You Can Use

There are many different ways to jack up a car and every person can choose the one that best suits them.

• Trolley Jack: This type of jack is more suitable for working on a car and can raise the car quickly than other jacks.
• Bottle Jack: It is almost similar to trolley jack, but smaller in size, so it can be stored in the boot of the car easily.
• Scissor Jack: Most car distributors or agencies often provide this jack with the car, but it is quite slow and takes up a lot of effort.

Jacks that come with most of the cars are usually designed to fix securely into specific indentations behind the front wheel and in front of the back wheel. It is necessary that the head of the jack doesn’t shift when the car is being raised and lowered. If you’re going to jack up your car then the most important thing is to find a flat and solid surface. Always avoid sandy, grassy and sloped surface as they could cause the jack to sink, slip, or the car to topple over.

Steps to Jack Up a Car

1. Before jacking up your car, make sure that you put the car in gear and have the handbrake secured. Ensure that the wheel is secured on the opposite corner to the side from which you are jacking it up.
2. After ensuring all these things, you can start the process by placing the jack under the part of the car that needs to be in contact when the car is raised. If you are using the jack stand, place it near the jack.
3. Once the stand is placed start lifting the car using the jack, also make use of strokes to take the jack handle from its lowest point to highest point on each stroke to cut down on the labour involved.
4. Place jack stands under the car and raise them until they are high enough to just fit in and then lock them in place.
5. To make sure that the car is resting securely on the jack stand, wiggle it and then remove the jack.
6. Once you are done with it, replace the jack, remove the stand and lower the car to the ground.

Use the jack only to get the car off the ground, but never use it to hold the car in place. Also, never jack up a car without blocking the wheels as to keep it from rolling. You can jack up the car with any of the jacks, but we suggest you to use a trolley or a hydraulic jack for a better and smooth experience.

Tips to Maintain your Classic Car

There is no secret to keep a classic car running and looking great. It is as simple as following a regularly scheduled maintenance routine and using the manufacturer’s recommended motor oil and fluids. Here we have mentioned some tips to help you maintain your classic car.

• Keep it Dry: Dampness is one of the main reasons that causes car rust, deteriorates electrics, eats interiors, and worms its way everywhere to often catastrophic effect. If you are looking for a superb and inexpensive way to solve the damp problem, then consider investing in ‘Carcoon’. You can also opt for a car cover, but the cover must be breathable and soft. This is to avoid the moisture in the air from getting stuck between the car and the cover.
• Keep it Clean: To keep your car maintained, it’s necessary to wash it regularly. Washing it regularly will ensure that you are removing any impurities that will eventually eat away your paint’s finish. Getting dirt on a car is normal if you drive it on the road. Salt and road grime are really good at finding their way into every nook and cranny of your car. So, make sure you clean the underside of your car really well to keep all the exposed parts clean and corrosion free.
• Change Oil Regularly: If the car oil is not changed regularly, it can destroy the car quicker than anything else. But, regular change in oil and oil filter will keep a car running smoothly. Oil is the lifeblood of every car and it should be the number one priority when it comes maintaining your car.
• Protect the Exterior: Car exterior is the most important part which everyone wants to protect. Usually, car paint is the most common thing which can be damaged easily due to scratches, dust, etc. and not to mention, damaged paint can also reduce the resale value of the car. So keeping the car paint protected is most important. To protect the car paint, you can use paint protection film, as it will keep the car paint protected from scratches and dust.
• Protect the Interior: Keeping the classic car out of the sun is one of the best ways to protect its leather, vinyl, and plastic from fading and drying out. There are many other options, such as leather creams, vinyl treatments and UV blockers. These treatments can help protect and preserve the interior of a classic car.
• Pump the Brakes: Brakes are really important when you drive a car, so regularly test the brakes to make sure everything feels right and it isn’t making any strange sounds. Bleed your brake system at least once every year. It is also a good idea to keep a close eye on the brake pads to ensure they are not unevenly wearing down your rotors.
• Repack The Wheel Bearings: The wheel bearings should be clean and repacked regularly with the recommended grease. Repacking your wheels is not the quickest but the cheapest thing to do. By repacking the wheels, you can save yourself a lot of money.
• Protect the Interior: Keeping the classic car out of the sun is one of the best ways to protect its leather, vinyl, and plastic from fading and drying out. There are many other options, such as leather creams, vinyl treatments and UV blockers. These treatments can help protect and preserve the interior of a classic car.
• Pump the Brakes: Brakes are really important when you drive a car, so regularly test the brakes to make sure everything feels right and it isn’t making any strange sounds. Bleed your brake system at least once every year. It is also a good idea to keep a close eye on the brake pads to ensure they are not unevenly wearing down your rotors.
• Repack The Wheel Bearings: The wheel bearings should be clean and repacked regularly with the recommended grease. Repacking your wheels is not the quickest but the cheapest thing to do. By repacking the wheels, you can save yourself a lot of money.

Protecting and maintaining your classic car is your responsibility because you don’t really want to lose its appearance and value. We have a lot of sentiments attached with our classic car and our love for it will never fade. Maintaining its overall condition will ensure longevity of your classic ride!