Motor Sri Lanka – July 2019

Motor

maglanka.lk

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V&C DIY

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Doing your own thing

The tools you will need to maintain that Classic or Vintage car

Y

ou found that dream set of wheels and now you intend to become the owner of a Classic or Vintage car.

Great! Owning and driving an older car will be a hugely satisfying experience, BUT a basic knowledge of

maintenance (of old cars); and indeed having the confidence to actually do the maintenance and basic

repairs yourself will not only enhance that experience, but will also save you huge amounts of money; not

to mention being disappointed with sub-standard work done by modern day mechanics who do not have the

patience or the knowledge to deal with such old-tech cars.

As a first step in doing some of the work yourself, it is essential that you have some basic tools - not only in

your garage at home, but some to carry around in the boot of your classic or vintage car.

Of course what you will need by way of tools will depend on your ability and willingness to do the work

yourself – which I would say can be acquired by anybody who is willing to learn.

So here goes...

Set of Sockets

Again - like spanners - sockets come in various ranges in terms of the number

of sockets and the quality. A typical versatile set of sockets would consist

of say 12 sockets – ranging from 8mm to 19mm – and a reversible ratchet

handle. Half inch drive is the most popular, and easier to find replacements

in case you break a socket. A set with two extension handles – one short and

one long – will also come in handy.

Set of Spanners

The most basic of necessities for the home mechanic is a set of good spanners. There are

many brands of spanners in the market. Generally the price determines the quality. Higher

the price, better the quality. For a starter, I would recommend a mid-range set which would

last reasonably well over a period of time. The downfall with the cheaper spanners is that

they might break under heavy use or indeed wear quickly and start slipping around nuts/

bolts. “Combination” spanners are more versatile; although slightly more expensive than

“Open ended” spanners. A combination spanner is a simple spanner made up of a shaft and

two spanner heads: one open-ended head and one ring-head. The heads are usually at a 15

degree angle to the shaft to allow better access to the nuts or bolts.

Remember that old British made vehicles used nuts and bolts that came in AF sizes.

These nuts and bolts cannot be worked on with millimeter size tools and vice versa.

Lighting

It goes without saying that being able to see what you are doing is pretty

much essential. There are a lot of lighting options for your garage workspace

available for every budget. Overhead fluorescent, shop lights on tripods and

hand held work lights can all have their advantages, but I suggest having a

hand held work light at a minimum to help illuminate the darkest corners and

crevices of your vehicle.