What You Need to Know About
Storing Your Classic Car
It can be a fun experience driving around your new classic car. You get to experience the feel of what cars were like back in the '50s or '60s. Once you're done having fun riding it around for the day, then it's time to do something very important. It's time to properly store it away. Properly storing your classic vehicle will help you keep it preserved and continue to be valuable for however long you choose to own it. Here are some tips you can follow in storing your classic car.
1. Use the right indoor storage facility
Whether you're storing your classic car for a few months or a few years, it's necessary to put it in the right kind of indoor storage facility. You should never leave your vehicle out in the elements to face rain, snow, heat, or ice. The sun can damage the rubber and vinyl while fading the car's paint, and the rain and snow can cause rust and water spots. An ideal indoor storage facility should be dry, temperature-regulated, insulated, and ventilated. Fluctuating temperatures can affect your car's rubber, oil, and detailing. If your classic car has vinyl material, exposure to extreme heat or cold can cause it to expand and contract, which will eventually make it crack. Ideally, you want your classic car to be stored in a heated storage area with the temperature kept at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. If possible, avoid keeping your classic car on a dirt floor. If the floor in the storage facility has dirt, place carpet or plywood under the tires to prevent any dry rot.
2. Get the right materials
Properly storing your classic car involves much more than just an indoor facility and throwing a cover over the vehicle. There are different types of maintenance required for short or long-term storage. The engine, the interior, and the exterior all need to be prepped. A few things you'll need to do this include baking soda, engine oil, wax, battery tools, and other materials. It's all to keep it maintained while you're putting it away for a while.
3. Prepare the engine for storage
After some time of storing it away, you want to be able to start your car just like you did before you stored it. The way to be able to do that is to do pre-storage care for your engine. If you don't do pre-storage care, your engine will wear down over time. It will deal with rust, clogging, corrosion, deterioration, and potentially even rodent infestation. Be sure to change all the fluids such as fuel, oil, coolant, brake, and transmission. Seal the vent, add protective compounds, and perform battery maintenance. Taking these steps will keep your classic car ready to hit the road again when you're done storing it away. In the event you plan to store your classic for more than three months, you should drain the fuel tank completely, and run the car to get all excess gas out. Stagnant fuel can oxidize, which leads to clogged engine valves. If you're going to store your classic for more than a year, you should also take out the spark plugs and spray motor oil in the cylinders to prevent rusting in the engine's bores.
4. Prepare the exterior for storage
The key to maintaining the exterior is attention to detail. Wash and wax the exterior of your classic car, inflate the tires, and set wheel chocks. Be sure to grease joints, bearings, and fittings, and also cover all the outlets. In addition, you should install jack stands, depress the clutch, and cover your classic car with a car cover. If you plan to be storing the car for as long as a year, you'll want to remove the wiper blades and place aluminum foil or a bag over the air cleaner to keep insects or animals out. If you store the car for more than a year, you should take off the tires and cover them with a car cover.
5. Prepare the interior for storage
It's a good thing to consistently clean the interior of your classic vehicle even if you're not storing it away. Nonetheless, when you do store it, you should clean the interior upholstery, the windows, the flooring, and the dashboard. Wipe down the steering wheel and vacuum the flooring. All personal items should be taken out of your vehicle as well. For long-term storage, use a dry cloth to remove any dirt or dust on the fabric. If that doesn't clean things up enough, use cheesecloth with neutral soap and warm water. You want to make sure the interior is all dry before you store the car away. If it's not completely dry, you risk your car developing musty odors or mold. Use a dehumidifier to dry the inside of your classic car to ensure there's no remaining moisture. Once you have the engine, exterior, and interior all prepped, you're ready to keep it stored. During the time you're storing it, make sure you keep the battery voltage maintained, check the fluids, lubricate engine parts, and repair tarnished sections.
How to bring your car out of storage
You'll probably be really excited to pull the cover and take your car out of storage again. You'll want to do a full inspection of the car before you drive it. Each system should still be functioning as it was before you stored it. You should test the battery and examine the brake system. Additionally, check for any damage, inspect undercarriage, refill your car with liquids, grease the chassis points, and perform any other general maintenance. Take the coverings off the air cleaner, inlet, and exhaust pipes, inspect for any leaks in your car, and be sure the tires are at the right pressure. When you start the engine, let it idle. As the car warms up, check the internal mechanisms, listen for any odd sounds, and if everything appears normal, you can take it for a drive.
Storing your classic car in a proper facility is an important part of maintaining its condition. Following these tips will help you keep your classic vehicle in the best condition while storing it away. When you take it out again, you might be interested in upgrading your classic car with a new part, such as a coyote engine. You can learn more about coyote engines at this link: https://shop.revologycars.com/products/crate-engine-roush-5-0l-coyote-rsc-supercharged.