Car Start: Bringing a Car Out of Long-Term Storage
Mark SimpsonDescription
As we’ve stated before more can go wrong with a car sitting still than when used daily, but by developing a plan to do a thorough inspection of the car, address any issues discovered, and replace all fluids, we could avoid causing any new damage to our car when we started it.
Any car that has sat for more than a couple years deserves the same amount of care that we used in preparing to start our classic after resting in the back shed for nearly 30-years. To recap our long-term storage project, we’ve cleaned the entire fuel system, repaired the tires, rebuilt the brake master cylinder, re-packed the water pump, replaced an expansion plug, replaced ALL fluids, replaced the battery, installed new battery cables, and replaced the spark plugs.
Of course before starting any of the real work we took a moment to wash the car down and remove as much of the dust and dirt that had accumulated on it over the years. This is an important step as the dust can act like sandpaper on the car’s finish and chrome. It’s not necessary to fully detail the car out at this point, just remove the bulk of the debris from the areas you’ll be working. Of course any vehicle that has been sitting for some time can become home to insects, birds and rodents, so when doing your initial assessment take the time to address these issues as well.
Explore Videos by Mark Simpson
You may be interested in
Premium Membership
Unlock exclusive member content from our industry experts.
- 24/7 Access to Premium Videos, Tips, and Techniques
- Step-by-Step Instructional Demos, Guides, and Tutorials
- 50% Off Video Downloads Purchased in the Classic Car Restoration Shop
- Access to Ask the Expert Program
Unlock exclusive member content from our industry experts.
- 24/7 Access to Premium Videos, Tips, and Techniques
- Step-by-Step Instructional Demos, Guides, and Tutorials
- 2 Full-Length Video Downloads to Watch Offline
- 50% Off Video Downloads Purchased in the Classic Car Restoration Shop
- Access to Ask the Expert Program
Gold Membership
$304 Value
Get everything included in Premium plus exclusive Gold Membership benefits.
- 24/7 Access to Premium Videos, Tips, and Techniques
- Step-by-Step Instructional Demos, Guides, and Tutorials
- 10 Full-Length Video Downloads, added to your account, to Watch Offline
- ‘Wheel Bolt Circle’ Downloadable Guide, added to your account
- Discounts on Purchase-to-Own Content in the Classic Car Restoration Club Shop
- Access to Ask the Expert Program