Classic Car Storage Tips for Hot Rod, Collector and Muscle Cars

You’ve rebuilt, nurtured and invested your heart and soul. This car is your pride and joy.

Now it’s time to store her.

Follow these tips to keep your hot rod, muscle or collector car running its best when the off-season ends:

Always fill the tank with fresh gas

Old gas breaks down over time and can lead to gummed-up or varnished fuel lines, carburetors and injectors. But simply draining fuel before storage is a bad idea, as it will expose bare metal in your car’s tank and fuel system to air and moisture. This is how rust, corrosion, dried gaskets and leaks begin.

To avoid both situations, fill your fuel tank 95% full with FRESH fuel. Then add a quality fuel stabilizer to keep the gas fresh for as long as 12 months.

Change your engine oil and transmission fluid

Over time, acids, dirt, and water accumulate inside engine oil and transmission fluid. Because engine oil acts as a waste collector for elements that break down while you’re driving, unburned fuel, unspent exhaust gases and water vapor are trapped inside your engine.

During months-long storage, some of these chemicals eventually break down the viscosity of old engine oil and transmission fluid, and can even begin to corrode metal surfaces.

Lubricate hood latches and door locks

Use a dry lubricant like a graphite-based cable lube or Dri-Slide.

Remove or protect the battery

When not being used on a regular basis, a battery will gradually lose its charge. Options for preventing this include:

• Removing the battery
• Disconnecting cables
• Attaching a battery maintainer — a small “smart” charger that automatically turns on and off as needed to prevent overcharging

Keep your tires out of direct sunlight

Rubber is sensitive to ultraviolet light, and prolonged exposure to UV light will cause tires to crack, split and fail prematurely.

In addition to avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, you can help prevent “dry rot” and flat spots by inflating tires to their proper level before storage.

Thoroughly clean all parts

Start when the engine is cool, and carefully remove all road grime, grease, tar, stains, and bugs from all painted surfaces, chromed parts, and wheels. Make sure you use high-quality cleaners. Once your car is clean and dry, apply a polish to all painted and exposed metal surfaces to protect your finish from color fade caused by UV light.

Store your car in a low-traffic area

Ideally, you should store your car in a garage or other enclosed area where it’s unlikely to get dented and will be protected from snow, ice, freezing rain and wild temperature variances.

If indoor storage is not an option, be sure to get a form-fitting, breathable car cover. Your local auto parts or service store should be able to help find just the right fit and material for your beloved beauty.

What tips do you have?

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