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HOW TO BUY, MAINTAIN AND REPAIR CLASSIC CARS

In this +500 page / +290 chapter book, you will find everything you need to know about buying, maintaining and repairing a classic car!

Check out the +290 chapters here!

Home

What's in it?

  • All my +20 year of experience and knowledge of classic cars
     

  • How to successfully buy a classic cars
     

  •  Tools and skills you'll need
     

  • Understanding combustion engines
     

  • The cars systems and components 
     

  • How to troubleshoot and repair a classic car
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  • How to correctly maintain a classic car
     

  • ...and a ton of tips & tricks as well as how-to's

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Who is this Ebook for?

  • Are you a classic car enthusiast?
     

  •  Do you like to work on cars?
     

  • Do you like to restore old things?
     

  • Are you a fan of "Young- and Oldtimers"?
     

  • Are you thinking of buying a used, old or classic car?  
     

  • Do you want to get more insights into combustion engines?
     

  • Do you want to troubleshoot and diagnose classic cars? 
     

  • ...or do you simply want to have a professional conversation about cars with other enthusiasts?

If you are a car enthusiast and want to maintain and repair your own car without being too dependent on your garage, mechanics, or other peoples help, this book is perfect for you.
 

Many garages take advantage of unknowing people and sell unnecessary maintenance, repair and parts.
 

I know the feeling too well when they tell you something expensive needs to be fixed, and you have no clue if that is right or not. It feels helpless and exposed. This happens more often than you would think, and I have seen it so often with friends and family.

 

If you like to be in charge and know exactly what the problem is and how to repair it, this book might be perfect. 
 
Every car, brand and model has its specialities, and it is nearly impossible to learn and know everything. But if you understand the basics, it is possible to diagnose, troubleshoot and even repair most problems yourself. 

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You might know a lot already, but I can promise you that you definitely will learn many new things and details about cars and mechanics. 

As a German, I’m always looking to find out how I can do it myself. It is a big part of our culture and I believe we are all very alike. So I compiled all my experience and learnings about mechanics and cars in this book.

WHO I AM

Hey! My name is Nils; I'm a classic car enthusiast, engineer and passionate wrencher!

I am 34 years old and have been working on cars, motorcycles and boats since I was 14. I never bought or owned a brand new car but always wanted to drive old and classic vehicles. I love everything vintage. I believe that we don't need to always buy new stuff just because there is some minor imperfection or damage to it. 


I was born in Munich, Germany and grew up in Switzerland. I have a Swiss engineering degree and used to work for many years in the machinery and maintenance industry as a service engineer and project planner.


My private passion lies with classic cars and vehicles where I can spend most of my free time with. I feel most comfortable with dirty hands in a workshop and with a wrench in my hand. Others like to go to the gym; I like to pull on wrenches and rusty bolts.

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DON'T GET FOOLED BUYING A CLASSIC CAR

If you follow the checklists and recommendations in this Ebook, you eliminate the chance of getting fooled when buying a classic or used car. 

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SAVE THOUSANDS
IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS

With this Ebook, you will avoid unnecessary repairs which might be suggested by your garage or dealership. You will understand and know the issues and which repairs are essential.

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UNDERSTAND THE FUNCTIONALITY OF COMBUSTION ENGINES

You will understand the basics of a combustion engine and the mechanics of cars. You will be able to understand your car and its problems to interpret symptoms and find the best solutions.

EBOOK
PAPERBACK / HARDBACK
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*You also get access to all future releases

*You also get access to all future releases via PDF file

ONLY €30

ONLY €60 / €90

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WHY THIS EBOOK?

  • Save thousands in repair cost and unnecessary garage bills
     

  • Don't have to believe dealerships and garages anymore blindly
     

  • Understand the basic functionality of every car and combustion engine
     

  • Make informed decisions when buying a classic car
     

  • Lose fear from the complexity of cars and engines
     

  • Learn from all the mistakes I and others have done already
     

  • Enjoy your classic car without all the unnecessary complications and problems


This book will not give you the education of a professional car mechanic but will teach you how to avoid all the common traps and mistakes, so many car drivers and enthusiasts make. It also empowers you to own, maintain and repair easy things on your car. 95% of the time, you can easily repair things with some time, dedication, and the right tools. 

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EASY TO UNDERSTAND 

All the basics of classic cars are covered and explained thoroughly. There are no confusing insider terms used, and if so, they are explained. You don't need any preexisting mechanical knowledge.

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EBOOK SIZE +500 PAGES / +290 CHAPTERS

You will get over 500 pages and 290 chapters of inside knowledge around buying, maintaining and repairing classic cars. The first chapters explain the basic theory of vehicles and engines, while later chapters go deep into the detail of components, aggregates, symptoms and solutions.

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FREE CONSULTATION

I will answer all the questions you have after regarding the eBook/Paperback. You can send a message via Instagram DM or Email, and I will get back to you as fast as possible. 

BOOK CONTENT AND TOPICS

The cars anatomy
 

  • Engine Block

  • Coolant Passages

  • Cylinder Walls, Liners and Sleeves    

  • Cylinder Head

  • Cylinder Head Bolts

  • Valves

  • Cylinder Head Gasket

  • Crankshaft

  • Camshaft

  • Hydraulic Valve Lifters

  • Overhead vs Pushrod (OHC vs OHV)

  • Interference vs Non-Interference Engines

  • Camshaft Pulley and Timing Belt/Chain

  • Maintenance on Timing Belts and Chains

  • How to Assemble and Adjust the Timing System

  • Timing Chain and Belt Tensioners

  • Piston and Piston Rings

  • Motor and Transmission Mounts

  • Oil Pan

  • Engine Lubrication

  • Dry Sump versus Wet Sump Lubrication Systems

  • Wet Sump Splash Lubrication System

  • Oil Filter

  • Exhaust Manifold

  • Intake Manifold

  • Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV)

  • Throttle Body

  • Airflow Sensor (MAF)

  • Idle Air Control Valve (IAC)

  • Cylinder Head Cover

  • Transmission

  • Automatic Transmission

  • Clutch

  • Toque Converter

  • Differential

  • Viscous Coupling

  • Driveshaft

  • Distributor

  • Symptoms of a Malfunctioning Distributor

  • How to Install a New Distributor

  • Distributor Vacuum Advance

  • Ignition Timing, Delay and Advancing

  • Spark Plugs

  • Spark Plug Heat Rating

  • Spark Plug Gapping

  • Different Types of Spark Plugs

  • Ignition Coil

  • How to Test an Ignition Coil

  • Ignition on Modern Cars

  • Compression Ignition

  • Diesel Injector Nozzles

  • Glow Plugs

  • How to Check the Glow Plugs

  • Replacing Defective Glow Plugs

  • Fuel Injection 

  • Carburettors vs Fuel Injection

  • Gasoline fuel injection

  • Electronic Fuel Injector

  • Fuel Pressure Regulator

  • Carburettor

  • Adjusting the Air and Fuel Mixture of a carburettor

  • Fuel Tank

  • EVAP Aystem

  • Gasoline Fuel Pump

  • Troubleshooting a Bad Fuel Pump

  • Diesel Fuel Injection

  • Diesel Fuel Injector Nozzles

  • Diesel Common Rail Fuel Injection

  • Adjusting Diesel Injection Timing

  • Exhaust System

  • Lambda Probe / O2 Sensor

  • Catalytic Converter

  • Diesel Exhaust System

  • Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

  • Muffler

  • Resonator

  • Exhaust Gas Recalculation (EGR)

  • Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)

  • Turbocharger

  • Turbocharged Diesel Engines

  • Diesel Runaway

  • Supercharger

  • Roots Supercharger

  • Centrifugal Supercharger

  • Pros and Cons of Superchargers

  • Cooling System

  • Air-Cooled vs Water-Cooled

  • Radiator

  • Water Pump

  • Coolant Expansion Tank

  • Thermostat

  • Heater Core

  • Coolant

  • Drive Delt Aggregates

  • Alternator

  • Rectifier

  • Coal Brush

  • Battery

  • Trailer Connector Wiring

  • Power Steering System

  • Power Steering Pump

  • Rack and Pinion Steering Gear

  • The Air injection system (AIS)

  • Braking System

  • Master cylinder

  • Vacuum Booster

  • Brake Disc and Calliper

  • Braking Pads

  • Brake Fluid

  • Brake Lines

  • ABS

  • Suspension

  • Damper Strut

  • Radius Rod

  • Stabiliser Bar

  • Springs

  • Ball Joint

  • Upper and Lower Arm/Bushings

  • Alignment

  • Toe In or Out

  • Positive and Negative Camber

  • Tyres and Wheels

  • Summer, Winter and All-Season Tyres

  • Tyre Sizes and Labels

  • When to Replace Tyres

  • Starter Motor

  • Lighting System

  • Headlights

  • LED Retrofit Headlight Bulbs

  • Adjusting the Headlights

  • Instrument Cluster

  • Stereo System

  • The On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Standard

  • Indicators, Taillights & Warning Lights

  • Fog Lights

  • Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

  • Interior Lighting

  • Air Conditioning System

  • Compressor

  • Condenser and Fan

  • Dryer

  • Expansion Valve

  • Evaporator Core and Blower

  • Refrigerant

  • A/C oil

  • How to Change from R12 to R134a

  • How to find Leaks in the A/C System

  • How to fill your A/C System Yourself

  • Electric Windows

  • Side Mirrors

  • Odometer

  • Unibody vs Body-on-Frame

  • Water-Methanol Injection

Introduction​​
 

  • Who I am

  • Who is this book for?

  • What is a classic, vintage and antique car

  • The joy of a classic car

  • The pain of a classic car
     

Buying a classic car
 

  • The classic car market

  • What classic car to buy

  • Where the car was made

  • When the car was made

  • Looking for classic car ads online

  • From whom to buy a classic car

  • Buying a car from a dealership

  • How to keep your feelings and excitement in check

  • Key questions to ask the seller on the phone

  • Seller phone call checklist

  • What you have to bring to the viewing

  • When you meet the seller for the viewing

  • Test drive process

  • Before the test drive

  • Body checks

  • Engine bay checks before warm-up

  • Interior checks 

  • Test drive checks

  • After the test drive

  • Negotiation

  • Final words
     

Skills and considerations
 

  • Skills required to own and maintain a classic car

  • Workshop garage or do it yourself

  • Mistakes people make when they first buy a classic car

  • List of tools you need

  • List of consumables you need

  • Things to carry in the car

  • Some basic mechanical and electrical concepts

  • Newton Metres

  • Horsepower

  • Bolt grades and strengths

  • Gear Types

  • Electricity

  • The electrical circuit

  • The car's wiring diagram

  • The multimeter and how to use it


The basic functionality of a combustion engine
 

  • The combustion

  • From chemical to kinetic energy

  • Diesel vs Gasoline

  • The 4-stroke cycle

  • The 2-stroke cycle

  • Advantages of two-stroke engines

  • Disadvantages of two-stroke engines

  • The efficiency of combustion engines

  • The compression ratio 

  • Combustion vs Electric

  • Different types of fuel

  • Octane numbers

  • Leaded vs Unleaded

  • Biofuels vs regular fuels

  • Standard vs Premium

  • The Expiry Date of Gasoline

  • Sulfur

  • ​
     

Troubleshooting and repairs
 

  • Where to find spare parts

  • How to jumpstart a car

  • Leaks

  • Identifying leaks

  • Copper and aluminium crush washers

  • O-Rings

  • Paper and cork gaskets

  • Sealant compound

  • Special rubber and metal gaskets

  • Conical seals

  • Rotary shaft seals

  • Symptoms of a blown cylinder head gasket

  • Low power / rough idle / misfire 

  • Low coolant level

  • Milky oil in the oil filler cap

  • Water or oil leak from the cylinder head gasket

  • Excessive blow-by gasses

  • White smoke coming from the tailpipe

  • Testing for low compression

  • Dry and wet compression test

  • Relative compression test on gasoline and diesel engines

  • The blow-by gasses

  • The blow-by test

  • Bubbles in the coolant expansion tank

  • Blue smoke coming from the tailpipe 

  • Testing engine vacuum

  • Testing cylinder head and block for straightness

  • Oil in coolant

  • Conclusion head and gasket failure

  • Rust

  • Hidden rust

  • The right underbody and caveat protection

  • The right paint

  • Stripped nuts, bolts and threads

  • How to check your battery

  • Battery capacity test

  • How to recondition a battery

  • How to test the alternator

  • How to find a short circuit

  • How to Pass the Emissions Test

  • Testing Diesel Injectors

     

Maintenance
 

  • Cleaning

  • Self-service car wash vs automatic car wash

  • How to use the manual car wash

  • Oils

  • Why changing oils

  • Oil grades

  • Single grade oils

  • Differences in oil quality

  • Build-in oil additives

  • Additives you can buy

  • Oil approval codes

  • The engine oil

  • How to check the engine oil

  • How to change the engine oil

  • What if your engine is leaking or burning oil?

  • Automatic transmission fluid (ATF)

  • Oil change in a manual transmission

  • Oil change in an automatic transmission

  • Changing the power steering oil

  • Hydraulic suspension oil

  • How to test the coolant for corrosion protection

  • How to check the brake fluid

  • How to change the brake fluid

  • How to change brake pads

  • Changing the differential oil

  • How to store a classic car​

  • Maintenance Log

  • Fuel Log

  • Tyre Pressure

Content
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AFTER YOU FINISH READING THE EBOOK...

You’ll receive 90% of the information and knowledge to go and buy, maintain and repair your classic car. The remaining 10% of the information is up to you to research. There are around 10% differences depending on the car brand and models. This book will give you most if not all the tools to make an informed decision and helps you to understand the technical challenges of classic cars.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

The eBook only costs €30, the paperback version costs €60 and the hardpack is priced at €90, excluding shipping. The payment is made via Paypal or Credit Card for ease and buyers protection. After purchasing the Ebook and the paperback, you get a link via email to access and download the Ebook as a PDF file. (Please give it up to 24h for the email to arrive) Future releases will be provided via email and through the member's area. The price will go up over time while new chapters and versions are released. If you don't have a PayPal account or a Credit Card, please send me an email, and we can find another payment option.

PRINTING & SHIPPING

If you order the paperback book, it will take around 2-3 weeks to arrive. The book is printed on demand which takes approximately seven days. After the book has been printed and shipped, it should arrive in your mailbox in 10-14 days. If you haven't reived the book after four weeks, please send me an email, and I will take care of it. Please note that this book can't be returned because it is custom made for each order.

FEARS

Fear is a daily companion in our lives, especially when we have to make significant and crucial decisions about money, time and commitment. Buying and maintaining a classic car doesn't have to be scary if you know what you are doing. Every person should be empowered by the learnings and experience of others and via access to reliable information. After reading this Ebook, most fears will be gone, and you won't see a car as a black box anymore, which you don't understand. 

IN WHAT FORMAT IS THE EBOOK?

The eBook is in PDF format; it works on any device with a browser, both online and offline. You will receive the eBook as soon as you have purchased it with a link to access the member's area. You will find an online PDF viewer and a Google Drive preview and download window in the member's area. If you want to download and print the PDF, there is a high-quality file with better resolution available. You will also receive all future updates, changes and improvements. You can download the new version whenever you want. The version numbers are in the format: "VX.X". The ebook is in version V2.6 and was released on the 11th of January 2022.