It’s hard to beat the exhilaration of heading down the road in a classic car and enjoying the thumbs-up approvals it receives from fellow enthusiasts. Unfortunately, old cars have a way of breaking down at inopportune times. That’s where an emergency roadside toolkit comes in.
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In some ways, old cars are easier to fix than new models: no trouble-codes requiring a scan tool, less crowded engine bays, and a lot less wiring. Fuel pumps run on relatively low pressures and carburetors can be rebuilt using simple tools.
A roadside emergency kit should include these items:
Digital-volt-ohmmeter: Fluke makes the best meters but even an inexpensive meter can help you determine the location of a short or open in the wiring.
Adjustable crescent wrench: Good for tightening battery cables or loosening a frozen bolt. We love the Craftsman Extreme Grip locking adjustable wrench with jaws (shown above) that open up to an inch and the ability to grab a round bolt.
Screwdriver with removable bits: Craftsman’s MACH series bit driver sets combine the functions of a whole set of screwdrivers and add a spinning handle to speed up repair times.
Craftsman’s MACH series bit driver.
Spark plug socket and wrench: Throw in a can of WD40 for loosening frozen plugs. If you can leave the plug to soak overnight after spraying it down, it should be pretty easy to loosen up in the morning.
Torque wrench: Over-tightening bolts is a great way to ruin a set of wheels, not to mention making it harder to change a flat tire sometime down the road. A torque wrench solves that problem, saving unnecessary aggravation and expense. Sonic, a high-end tool company new to the United States, has a great model that is easily readable with scales in NM and pound-feet.
Sonic torque wrench.
Duct tape: It’s not pretty, but I’ve used duct tape to repair cold air intake hoses, fix small radiator hose leaks, or tape a resistor block back onto the firewall: the original jack-of-all-trades.
Bailing wire and needle nose plier with wire cutters: Good for making an impromptu cable replacement should a carburetor need rebuilding or recalibrating.
Fuses, relays and flasher cans: A small box of these can fix everything from a horn to interior lighting.
Rechargeable under-hood work lamp: No need to explain this one if you’ve ever tried to diagnose problems under the hood after dark.
Blanket: Protects your legs and knees from gravel on the shoulder of the road.
Hydraulic jack: OEM car jacks vary a lot in quality and reliability. They might work for changing a tire, but if you need to spend any time under the car, the hydraulic jack is safer bet.
Shop manual: A must since classic car owners can’t depend on dealerships to have service information on their vehicles.
With the right repair tools, handling a roadside emergency shouldn’t be more than a minor inconvenience.
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