On a clear Tuesday afternoon, my phone rang with a call from an old friend.
“You have plans on the 4th?”
Walking outside to enjoy some sun while we catch up, I told him there was nothing on my calendar.
“Well, you want to drive in the parade together?”
Who can say no to something like that? Parades are fun, and any excuse to get out and drive a vintage car is a good one. Considering a parade is possibly one of the safer ways to drive a car—only one-way traffic, slow speed, otherwise shut down roads—it’s hard to see any downside. So of course I told him yes.
Given the chance, I’d encourage you to do the same, but you should know that your chances of having a good time increase dramatically if your car is as ready for the parade as you are. Unsure what that means? Here are six things to look into before you line up behind the high school band for a slow-speed tour of town.
If there is one common fear of vintage cars in parades, it is overheating, and for good reason. Vintage cars typically get driven differently than modern cars, and therefore some small issues get hidden or ignored. Many vintage car cooling systems are perfectly adequate for parade duty, but only if they are in proper running condition. Improper coolant, inadequate fill, no fan or fan shroud to help airflow, or a radiator blockage can all force a parade car to pull off to a side street in a hurry.
When thinking about temperature, it’s easy to jump to water pumps and radiators, but it’s just as important to think about the temperature of your fuel system, too. Vapor lock happens when fuel begins to boil in the lines or pump, the latter of which is designed to move fluids rather than vapors. Vapors in the pump essentially stop the flow of fuel and make the car act as though it ran out of gas while the tank is still full.
The key to curing vapor lock is keeping the fuel cool. There are no shortage of methods that work and even more that some guy at a cruise-in swears worked for his sister’s boyfriend’s cousin’s Camaro back in ’74. Two proven methods are insulating the fuel lines to help keep the heat from the engine compartment and exhaust from soaking into the lines, and another is adding an electric fuel pump. Electric pumps are often best placed near the tank—naturally away from heat—and therefore do not have the problem of getting vapor locked. Electric pumps also push any pockets of vapor that might appear in the lines with no problem. Be sure to match any fuel pump to the fuel system. Most carburetors do not like more than a few pounds per square inch of fuel pressure.
Speaking of carburetors, if your vintage car has one, be sure to take the air cleaner off and look around to make sure all the linkages and pivots move freely. The throttle linkage should snap closed quickly with no hangup. A sticky choke linkage or small vacuum leak can grow from a small issue to a large one over the course of a long, slow drive by putting extra fuel or air into the mixture. While that air cleaner is off, be sure it is clean and well-fitted. Of course, replace if necessary.
Engines transfer most of their power into the transmission to drive the vehicle, but there are also the driven bits hanging off the front of the mill to consider. The belts and accessories are critical to a smooth-running and reliable engine. Aging belts can slip on the pulleys, potentially under-driving items like water pumps or alternators, which can lead to problems. Look for cracked or stiff belts, along with rusty or corroded pulleys. Replace belts that are in bad shape and clean up any rough pulleys with some Scotchbrite or sandpaper. If a pulley is bent or wobbling, make sure it is properly attached, and if it is out of line, look into a replacement. A wobbling pulley can throw belts and cause real headaches.
If your vintage ride is of the convertible variety, take a little extra time to ensure your top is stored properly and that any passengers know not to sit on the top or frame while waving to the crowds on the route. The frames and rear windows in most convertible tops are delicate, and though top-down motoring is fantastic, it’s nice to be able to put the top back up if the weather turns on your drive home.
All of the things above are great starting points, but depending on the car, a parade might be the perfect excuse to do a full tuneup. Inspect and replace the ignition system components as the ignition timing can have a sizable effect on the engine’s running temperature. Fresh oil at the proper level in the crankcase never hurt an engine either. Toss in a set of spark plugs while you are at it, and your ride will not only perform great in a parade, but also drive like it should on the way home and anywhere else you might go.
BRAKES!
No matter how good the car runs if you can’t stop it matters little. Brakes are very important as is a clutch in a manual. I know one Mustang Cobra that lost his clutch as it was suited for parade duty.
