Mike Owens
PCS Member
So PCS Gurus, what should you always carry with you in your tool box, and especially if your doing the parade venue with your classic car???
Suggestions from a retired towman.
#1 three gallons of water in plastic jugs
#2 Good set of jumper cables (NO Chinese cheapies Cadillacs draw a lot of amps)
#3 three quarts of transmission fluid in bottles not cans
#4 a funnel to put it in with
#5 a combo phillips strait slot screwdriver
#6 Cheapie Walmart/Harbor Freight 3/8 drive socket set
#7 Spare Alternator/Generator belt
#8 Spare Power Steering belt
Advanced Care
#1 top Radiator Hose
#2 Bottom Radiator hose
#3 three feet of correct size heater hose (this way you can bridge entire heater system in the event of failure)
#4 Spare fuel filter
That all may sound like overkill but will get you back on the road quick without AAA and "you expect me to haul that??" and you all have the room in your coaches. Plus walking into NAPA with I need a fan belt for a 1958 Cadillac is sure to get you "We can have it by Tuesday" not good when you are 50 miles from home.
I find that I don't prepare the same for daily driving as I do if I'm traveling. If I break down in my daily travels, help (and my own toolbox / parts) are generally just a phone call away, and I really don't carry much in the car. A trip out of the area, or a parade, I definitely give more thought to. Pete's list is a pretty good one - I would add a roll of good electrical tape (not the cheap stuff) - I've made it a hundred miles on an upper radiator hose repaired with a few wraps of the stuff, and don't overlook your spare tire - make sure it's aired up, and you have an appropriate jack and lug wrench. While the original scissor jack that came with most of our cars may win us originality points at the show, I've tried to lift my car with it, and much prefer the convenience of a hydraulic jack.WOW, guess Im under prepared, don't like the clutter. 24 years of driving them daily, and Im lucky if I have a screw driver and a quart of oil in one
Suggestions from a retired towman.
#1 three gallons of water in plastic jugs
#2 Good set of jumper cables (NO Chinese cheapies Cadillacs draw a lot of amps)
#3 three quarts of transmission fluid in bottles not cans
#4 a funnel to put it in with
#5 a combo phillips strait slot screwdriver
#6 Cheapie Walmart/Harbor Freight 3/8 drive socket set
#7 Spare Alternator/Generator belt
#8 Spare Power Steering belt
Advanced Care
#1 top Radiator Hose
#2 Bottom Radiator hose
#3 three feet of correct size heater hose (this way you can bridge entire heater system in the event of failure)
#4 Spare fuel filter
That all may sound like overkill but will get you back on the road quick without AAA and "you expect me to haul that??" and you all have the room in your coaches. Plus walking into NAPA with I need a fan belt for a 1958 Cadillac is sure to get you "We can have it by Tuesday" not good when you are 50 miles from home.
I find that I don't prepare the same for daily driving as I do if I'm traveling. If I break down in my daily travels, help (and my own toolbox / parts) are generally just a phone call away, and I really don't carry much in the car. A trip out of the area, or a parade, I definitely give more thought to.
I was entered in A professional car class,but 2 newer hearses and 1 limo got those. Apparently the Cadillac club considers an ambulance to be a modified vehicle. I think they do not understand the concept of a "commercial chassis", even after I explained how the car was built.
the best tool box addition will be between your ears. but the only part one will ever need is the one you don't have. you can't bring the parts car with you. as stated a good jack that you can store, a good lug wrench and a spare with air are about the most necessary things. if you change the belts before they brake then you can roll the old one up and put it in a bagge under the spare. (why would you buy a new one and put it, in not on the car? ) it's out of site and yet a good limp home insurance. so the best thing to do is, think to your self county road, dark of night, wind howling, rain coming down. under those conditions what could I do to fix this thing if it brakes down. if the answer is call for help, then make sure you have a charger or spare battery for your phone, know were you are and a credit card thats not maxed out. that's all you will need.