There are few things as enjoyable as taking a classic vehicle and completely restoring it If you consider yourself a classic Jeep enthusiast, you know the importance of keeping these vintage vehicles properly maintained. For most classic Jeep owners, taking their fully-restored CJ-7 or Commando out for a ride during the summer months is something they love doing.
Before you start to take your classic Jeep out to cruise this summer, you need to make sure it is in pristine shape. If you want to get your vintage Jeep ready for summer riding season, consider the great tips in this article.
Inspect Your Jeep For Cracks and Leaks
Current estimates are that over 5 million people in the United States own a classic car, truck or sport utility vehicle. Most people love older cars because they were built using the best materials and American ingenuity. If you are on a mission to get your classic Jeep ready for summer riding season, then you need to start by checking for leaks and cracks.
Thoroughly inspecting the undercarriage of your vintage Jeep can help you pinpoint problems with components like the fuel module, fuel pump and water pump. If you plan on doing a good bit of offroad riding in your Jeep, you probably need to upgrade your existing fuel tank with a more durable plastic option. As soon as you discover any leaks or cracks on the underside of your Jeep, you need to identify the part in question and replace it.
Stay On Top of Oil Changes
One of the most components of any automobile’s engine is the oil contained in it. The oil in your vintage Jeep is designed to keep internal engine components fully lubricated. As this oil starts to age, it will breakdown and become much thicker. The thicker the oil in your engine becomes, the harder it will be to avoid additional friction in your engine.
This additional friction can severely damage the internal parts of your Jeep’s engine. Rather than dealing with the high repair bills, this can cause, you need to make sure your oil is changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this work on your own, then hiring a knowledgeable mechanic is a wise move.
Check Out Your Ball Joints
When trying to take a ride over rough terrain, you need a fully functional suspension system. One of the main components of your Jeep’s suspension system is the ball joints. These components are designed to make a connection between your steering knuckles to your control arms. Over time, the ball joints on your Jeep will start to wear out and will have to be replaced.
The ball joints attached to most vintage Jeeps have grease fittings. These fittings allow you to provide the ball joints with lubrication. Allowing the ball joints to dry up will lead to them wearing out much faster. This is why properly maintaining this crucial suspension component is so important.
Now that you know how to get your vintage Jeep ready for summer riding season, it is time to get to work.