Danny Hopkins

Basic Engine Maintenance For Classic Cars

Danny Hopkins
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  • In-depth Instruction; over 83 mins
  • On-demand video access anytime
  • Bonus downloadable PDF resources
  • Access to class Q&A
  • Available for purchase: £29.99
During this course, Danny and Ed will demonstrate the following basic engine maintenance techniques you’ll need to keep your car’s engine in peak condition:

- Basic engine servicing - Checking an engine for wear - Setting valve clearances - Timing the ignition/replacing and gapping points - Checking the carburettor
In this class, you will learn how to change your engine’s oil, which oil to use, how to inspect and replace oil and air filters, coolant advice 
and how to diagnosing your engine’s health from its spark plugs.
In this class Ed explains how you can learn a great deal about you engine’s general health by inspecting a few key components and completing a test or two. You will learn how to: - Assess an engine’s oil consumption
 - Listen for rattles 
- Make sure you’ve installed the correct oil filter 
- Monitor ignition timing and diagnose simple faults
In this class, Ed teaches you how to inspect and adjust valve clearances to guarantee they are set correctly. You will learn how to use a feeler gauge and correctly set the tappits using the rule of 9 (on 4 cylinder engines).
In this class, Ed teaches the techniques you will need maintain your classic’s ignition system. You will learn how to set and change contact breaker points,
 assess and replace a condenser and time the ignition.
In this class Ed takes you step by step through the servicing of an engine’s carburettor. You’ll learn the basics of the carburettor and discover how to make sure it is in proper working condition.
 
 
6 Lessons
1  hrs 23  mins

Basic engine maintenance is essential for guaranteeing a long and healthy life for your classic car. As long as you provide the engine with regular checkups, careful inspection and timely parts replacements, you can rack up a ton of miles and see the world in your classic car. So in this multi-part instructional video series from Skill Shack, we’ll help you discover the basic engine maintenance methods professionals use to keep their classic cars running in tip-top shape.

How does it work?

With each step in this video series on basic engine maintenance, Practical Classics editor Danny Hopkins and restoration expert Ed Hughes will teach you a new technique for caring for your car’s engine. Follow along as your instructors progress part by part through some of the key components on our test engine, introducing five necessary items that should be on every car maintenance checklist.

What will you learn?

During this course, Danny and Ed will demonstrate the following basic engine maintenance techniques you’ll need to keep your car’s engine in peak condition:

  • Basic engine servicing
  • Checking an engine for wear
  • Setting valve clearances
  • Timing the ignition/replacing and gapping points
  • Checking the carburettor

    • Naturally, what you take away from these videos is entirely your choice. If you’ve already completed steps 1-4 and you just need some help on the finalities, feel free to skip ahead. However, if this is your first time working on an engine, you’re better off starting with the very basics. When you feel sure you have a technique down, move right along to the next step.

    We try to be as clear as possible in our instruction, but we don’t expect you to nail every technique on the first go-around. We encourage you to stop, start and rewind at any point in the lesson. After all, there’s little sense in advancing to the next step if you feel uncomfortable with the ones that precede it.

    Now, if there are no questions, pick one of the classes on the right-hand side and let’s get our hands dirty.

    Danny Hopkins

    As Editor of the biggest selling ‘hands-on’ classic car magazine in Britain, Danny Hopkins has led the restoration of hundreds of vehicles at the Practical Classics magazine workshop. In a journalistic career spanning two decades, he has reported on the restoration of cars of all eras and types and has, himself, owned and restored a wide variety of classics. His current projects range from a venerable 1960s Volvo 164 to a Jensen Interceptor.

    Danny Hopkins

    Bonus materials available after purchase

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    Basic Engine Maintenance For Classic Cars Join Skill Shack to continue watching for £14.99 per quarter / £49.99 per year or purchase this class for £29.99.
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