While the rest of the world meanders back and forth through life in nearly identical SUV’s or egg-shaped electric cars, most of us with a car addiction dream of driving our classics every damn day.  Why fit in when you can stand out?  And besides, if classic cars were built to be driven, then why the hell aren’t we driving them on the daily? Well, a few things, honestly. First, safety concerns. Second, reliability issues. Third, it takes a sizable investment. But in all reality, those are issues we can overcome, and that’s exactly what we’re going to figure out today: how to fulfill the daily-driver dream on a budget.

Muscle cars and hot rods were built for a much different world than the one we live in today. So the trick is to strategically modernize your ride as best you can to ensure you can keep up in today’s fast-paced world. So when you’re searching the web and pulling out the parts catalogs, prepare to budget for these must-haves.

Electrical – A Shocking Difference

• New Wiring Harness: There is no reason in this world not to update the wiring if you’re planning on daily driving your classic car. There’s only one reason and one reason alone to maintain original wiring, and that’s if you’ve got your hands on an unrestored ride.  Otherwise, that half-century-old wiring is brittle, dangerous, and one bad spark will burn your dreams to the ground!  So do yourself a favor and save yourself an ulcer by buying one of the modern rewiring kits on the market.
• Headlights, Taillights, Blinkers & Switches: While you’re tearing out that old nasty wiring, make sure you pop out those headlights and tailights. An LED conversion kit is the best way to go, if you can. Otherwise, get better headlights on the shelf and make sure those taillights light up when you smash the brakes. Ensure that all switches and modules are updated as well, so that when you decide to hang a larry, that 5,000-lb electricric SUV doesn’t end up plowing your rear.
• Ditch the Point Ignition: The benefit of a new wiring harness is that most of them allow additional aftermarket parts to be added seamlessly like an HEI upgrade. Consistency and reliability are key to having a car that will make it to work on time, or not, and this is the best place to do it!
• High-output Alternator Conversion: Those old 50 amp alternators barely kept original motors alive, but with today’s upgrades, you can bolt on a 100 amp, 1 wire alternator. In fact, this upgrade is so simple that you can buzz down to your local hardware store to pick it up and the few parts you need to install it. Trust me, you need to recharge your battery even when your A/C, wipers, and headlights are all on!

Fuel-Feed The Beast

• Replace Fuel Tanks, Pumps & Lines: This is one area that is often overlooked. Decades of corrosion rot away old lines, and that’s before you pump your tank full of modern fuel that has rubber-eating ethanol coursing through your ride’s veins. So drop the old tank, insert a new fuel pump (preferably an electric one if your budget allows), and reroute the fuel lines to make sure your car is never starving.
• EFI Conversion: I know, I know, I know that I said these were budget build ideas and they are. But to be honest, the upside of adding an EFI system to your old motor is by far one of the best investments you can make in your daily driving. The reliability of always starting, increased performance, and never experiencing vapor lock on the freeway in the middle of July is well worth the install.

Brakes: Bring This Thing To A Stop Quickly

• Ditch The Drum Brakes: When your muscle car rolled off the assembly line, the freeway speed was probably 55 MPH. And even then, drum brakes were inadequate, which is why so many of these cars ended up around an electrical pole.  With drum-to-disc brakes being so plentiful these days, this is a must. Get rid of your drum brakes, install a disc brake conversion kit, and skip the light posts dilemma.
• More Reservoir: Your firewall might be ugly, or it might be beautiful. But one of the best things to bolt to it is a power booster, along with an updated master cylinder and reservoir. Outdated and antiquated ones are just going to fill with bubbles, rust, and holes, which are only going to break your heart if you can’t come to a stop in time.
• Update Your Lines: Those old rubber lines start to bleed out over time and leak. This is a no-go. Get online and purchase a set of replacement brake lines and redo them ASAP!

Tires: Where The Meets The Road

• Bye Bye Bias Ply: Bias-ply tires belong only on trailer queens and survivors. Radial tires (especially Radial T/A’s for the old school look) will upgrade your performance and drive satisfaction immediately. Plus, a new set of shoes is always sexy!
• Buy a Pressure Gauge: Make sure you buy a tire pressure gauge and toss it in your jockey box. I like to check my tire pressure every few months. A lot of radials have a “soft” sidewall look that can be deceiving. Keep in mind, driving a classic means that your safety is your responsibility.  

Steering: Keeping Things Straight

• Steering in the Right Direction: In terms of steering, do what’s best for you and your budget. Yeah, a rack-and-pinion will be best for performance,, but you don’t need that for a daily. Power steering conversion kits abound in today’s world and are an easy weekend project. But ultimately, you need to ensure that your steering is tight! Loosey goosey is dangerous, especially with today’s speeds.  

Suspension: Bouncing All Over The Road

• Shocks: Whether you’re looking for a softer and more comfortable ride or a car that can hang tough in the corners, you’re going to need to update that old, worn-out suspension sooner or later. But since we’re ballin’ on a budget, get a set of gas shocks from the local auto parts dealer and bolt those in. Your rear end will thank you.
• Sagging Springs: Most leaf springs will have taken a gnarly beating after 50 years and leave your ass sagging. If needed, pull those old ones out and bolt in new ones. This also gives you a chance to stance your ride if you want to.

Radiator: Keep It Cool

• Cooling is Cool: Replace that original and heavy radiator with a lightweight aluminum radiator. The last thing you want to see while camped out on the freeway is the fuel gauge drop and your temp gauge rise.

Scouts Motto: Be Prepared

It’s always best to have a kit ready to go for when, not if, something breaks on your classic car. Here’s what I always keep handy:

• 1 gallon of premixed coolant
• 1 quart of motor oil and funnel
• Spare fan belt
• Spare fuses
• Digital multimeter
• Basic socket and wrench kit
• Jumper Cables
• Fire extinguisher

Daily driving your classic isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. It’s honorable to keep something alive and on the road instead of ditching the old for something new and shiny. Besides, you’ll always be the coolest person on the road when behind the wheel of your classic car.