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CLASSIC & VINTAGE CARS · COLORADO SPRINGS
CLASSIC CAR REPAIR IN COLORADO SPRINGS
Carburetors, ignition, brakes, cooling and wiring on classic cars, muscle cars and vintage trucks. The same care we give modern vehicles, applied to the ones built before computers ran everything.
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✓ 24-month / 24,000-mile warranty
✓ ASE-certified technicians
✓ Female-led, family-owned
What we do
MECHANICAL WORK FOR CLASSICS
Older vehicles need a tech who knows how they were built, not just a scan tool.
01
Fuel and ignition
Carbureted engines and points or early electronic ignition need tuning by hand and by ear.
✓ Carburetor tune-up and rebuild
✓ Ignition points, distributors and timing
✓ Fuel system pumps, lines and tanks
✓ Hard starts and rough idle
02
Brakes and chassis
Old brake and suspension systems deserve modern attention to safety.
✓ Drum and disc brakes serviced
✓ Brake lines and master cylinders
✓ Steering boxes and linkages
✓ Suspension bushings and joints
03
Cooling and electrical
Heat and old wiring are the two things that sideline classics most often.
✓ Radiators and water pumps
✓ Overheating in traffic diagnosed
✓ Wiring and grounds repaired
✓ Charging systems generators and alternators
UPGRADES & CONVERSIONS
CLASSIC CAR UPGRADES WE INSTALL
You can keep the look and the sound of a classic and still have it stop, steer and start like a modern car. These are the upgrades owners ask us for most. We do all of them in-house.
BRAKES
Should I convert my classic to disc brakes?
If you drive it in traffic or in the mountains, yes. Front disc brakes stop shorter, fade less when they get hot, and recover faster after a wet road than the original drums.
WHAT GOES INTO IT
Front disc conversion: new spindles or brackets, rotors, calipers and hoses on the front axle, the most common upgrade we do.
Power brake booster and master cylinder: a dual-circuit master cylinder so one leak doesn’t take out all your brakes, and a booster for a lighter pedal.
Proportioning valve: balances front and rear braking so the rear drums don’t lock up first.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We match the parts to your car and wheel size, bleed and test the system, and road test it before you pick it up.
Colorado Springs: coming down Ute Pass or Gold Camp Road, drum brakes fade fast. Discs are the single biggest safety upgrade for a classic that gets driven.
STEERING
Can you add power steering to my classic?
Yes. We convert manual steering to power steering, which makes parking and slow turns far easier without changing how the car looks.
WHAT GOES INTO IT
Power steering box or rack: a power gearbox or rack sized for your car.
Pump, brackets and lines: a pump mounted to the engine with the right pulley and belt alignment.
Quicker steering: many conversions also tighten up the loose, slow feel of an old manual box.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We install the system, set the alignment as part of the job, and road test for straight tracking and return.
FUEL SYSTEM
Should I convert my carburetor to fuel injection?
If you want easier cold starts, steadier idling and an engine that doesn’t care about altitude, fuel injection is the answer.
WHAT TO KNOW
Self-tuning at any altitude: fuel injection adjusts itself as you climb, where a carburetor jetted for one elevation runs rich or lean at another.
Better cold starts: no more pumping the pedal on a cold morning.
What it takes: an electronic throttle body or port system, a higher-pressure fuel pump, a return or regulated fuel line, and sensors.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We install the system, set up the fuel supply, and tune it on the road here at altitude.
IGNITION
Is an electronic ignition conversion worth it?
Yes. Replacing points with electronic ignition gives stronger spark, steadier timing and far less tune-up work.
WHAT TO KNOW
No more points: no gap to set and no points to burn.
Stronger spark: better starting and a smoother idle, especially at altitude.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We install electronic ignition, set the timing, and check the coil and wiring it depends on.
COMFORT
Can you add air conditioning to a car that never had it?
Yes. We add A/C to classics that came without it, with a modern compressor, condenser and under-dash or in-dash controls.
WHAT TO KNOW
Cooling system first: A/C adds heat to the radiator, so we check that the cooling system can take it.
Electrical capacity: the charging system has to support the added load.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We install, charge and test the system, and make sure the engine still stays cool in traffic.
DRIVETRAIN
Should I swap in an overdrive transmission?
If you drive your classic on the highway, an overdrive transmission drops engine speed at cruise, which means less noise, less wear and better mileage.
WHAT TO KNOW
Automatic or manual: we swap in modern overdrive automatics and manual transmissions.
What changes: crossmember, driveshaft length, shifter and, on automatics, the controls.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We handle the whole swap: mounts, driveshaft, linkage and wiring.
COOLING
Why does my classic overheat, and can you fix it for good?
Old radiators clog, original fans can’t move enough air at low speed, and modern traffic keeps you at idle more than these cars were built for.
WHAT WE DO
Radiator upgrade: a higher-capacity radiator sized for your engine.
Electric fans: strong airflow at idle and in traffic.
The basics: thermostat, water pump, hoses and the right coolant mix.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We find the real cause, then upgrade what needs it.
ELECTRICAL
Should I rewire my classic?
If the wiring is original, probably. Old insulation cracks, connections corrode, and years of add-ons leave splices nobody can trace. Bad wiring is one of the most common causes of classic car fires.
WHAT WE DO
New wiring harness: a complete harness with modern fusing, laid in like the original.
6-volt to 12-volt conversion: for older cars still on 6 volts, a 12-volt system with the right charging, starter and bulbs.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We rewire circuit by circuit, fuse everything properly, and test it all before it leaves.
ENGINES
Do you do engine swaps?
Yes. We swap engines in classics, whether it’s a modern engine for reliability or a period-correct engine to replace a tired original.
WHAT TO KNOW
What goes into it: mounts, transmission adapters, cooling, fuel system, exhaust and wiring all have to be matched to the new engine.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We plan the swap with you first so you know everything it touches before we start.
CLASSICS AT ALTITUDE
KEEPING A CLASSIC HAPPY AT 6,000 FEET
Most classics were tuned at or near sea level. At Colorado Springs altitude, and on today’s fuel, they need a little help.
CARBURETORS
Why does my carbureted classic run rough at altitude?
A carburetor jetted for sea level runs rich up here because the air is thinner. You get a rough idle, sooty plugs, poor mileage and a fuel smell.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We re-jet and tune the carburetor for our altitude, or talk through fuel injection if you want it to handle any elevation on its own.
FUEL & VAPOR LOCK
Why does my classic stall when it’s hot?
Often it’s vapor lock: fuel boiling in the line before it reaches the engine. Today’s ethanol-blend gas and our lower boiling point at altitude make it more likely.
WHAT TO KNOW
Ethanol and old fuel lines: ethanol-blend fuel can break down old rubber lines and seals. We replace them with ethanol-rated parts.
Heat: fuel lines routed too close to the exhaust or engine.
WHAT WESTCO DOES
We reroute and insulate fuel lines, replace old rubber, and add an electric pump where it helps.
FROM OUR BAYS
CLASSICS IN OUR SHOP
COMMON JOBS
CLASSIC CAR WORK WE DO
From getting a barn find running again to keeping a weekend cruiser reliable.
WAKE-UP SERVICE
After years of sitting
• Fuel system cleaned out
• Fresh fluids
• Brakes freed up and checked
• Belts and hoses replaced
TUNE-UP
Carbureted engines
• Carburetor adjustment
• Ignition timing
• Points or electronic ignition
• Vacuum leaks found
BRAKES
Drum and disc
• Wheel cylinders and calipers
• Brake lines
• Master cylinder
• Road test
RELIABILITY
Weekend drivers
• Cooling system
• Charging system
• Wiring and grounds
• Leak repair
CLASSIC CAR QUESTIONS WE ANSWER
Straight answers from our techs
DO YOU WORK ON CARBURETORS?
Yes. We tune, adjust and rebuild carburetors on classic cars and trucks.
Warning signs
Hard start · Rough idle · Stumble on acceleration · Fuel smell
What we do
We check fuel delivery, ignition and vacuum first, then tune or rebuild the carburetor as needed.
Colorado Springs: Altitude changes how a carburetor runs. A car tuned at sea level usually needs adjustment here.
MY CLASSIC HAS BEEN SITTING FOR YEARS. CAN YOU GET IT RUNNING?
Often, yes. Old fuel, stuck brakes, dried-out seals and weak ignition parts are the usual problems after long storage.
What we usually find
Varnished fuel · Stuck brakes · Dry-rotted hoses · Dead battery
What we do
We clean out the fuel system, check brakes, belts and hoses, and get it running safely before it goes on the road.
Colorado Springs: Ethanol fuel is hard on old rubber fuel lines and carburetor parts. Check them if the car sits.
WHY DOES MY CLASSIC OVERHEAT IN TRAFFIC?
Older cooling systems have less margin. A tired radiator, weak fan or clutch, or wrong timing can push it over the edge at low speed.
Warning signs
Temp climbs at idle · Fine on the highway · Boiling over · Coolant smell
What we do
We pressure-test the cooling system, check airflow and timing, and fix the cause.
CAN YOU FIX OLD WIRING?
Yes. Brittle insulation, corroded connectors and bad grounds cause most electrical problems on classics.
Warning signs
Lights flicker · Gauges quit · Fuses blow · Charging problems
What we do
We trace the circuit, repair the damaged wiring and grounds, and test before it leaves.
DO YOU DO BODYWORK ON CLASSICS?
We focus on mechanical and electrical work, not traditional bodywork.
What we cover
Mechanical · Electrical · Brakes · Cooling
What we do
We keep your classic running and safe, and can point you to what it needs next.
Colorado Springs: Summer traffic and mountain climbs are hard on old cooling systems. Get it checked before cruise season.