The fuel system on a classic car deserves more attention than it typically gets in restoration guides that focus on the engine and bodywork.

The tank: clean if the car has been sitting, regardless of how it looks from the outside. Rust and varnish inside a fuel tank clog filters quickly and get to injectors or carb needles within miles of driving. Tank cleaning is a morning's work; pulling an injector or rebuilding a carb because of tank debris is a longer job.

The fuel lines: rubber fuel line degrades from the inside when it's been exposed to ethanol-blended fuel for years. The rubber breaks down and the particles travel to the carburetor. Replace rubber fuel line if you don't know its age.

The pump: a mechanical pump on a classic V8 has a service life. If you don't know when it was last replaced, replace it before a road trip.