Tips For Bringing Your Classic Car Out For Spring

Photo by Flickr user: PMC 1stPix

Article by: Mike Signorello

Now that Spring is here it’s time to take the covers off and ladies and gentlemen…. start your engines!

In order to make sure your car, truck, bike etc. is ready to go cruisin’ or just make a pass around the block, some important steps must be taken. If you followed the tips on putting your vehicle away you could simply go in reverse order, but make sure these tips are followed and not taken lightly:

1. Remove covers and tarps.
2. While being stored, the battery should have been disconnected, taken out, or had a battery tender hooked up. If not put a slow charge (trickle charge) on the battery to help bring it back to a full charge. MAKE SURE the battery cables are disconnected during the charging process.
3. Check ALL FLUIDS before attempting to start the engine. If possible change the oil and filter with the proper filter and your choice of oil. Make sure the coolant level is up and make absolutely sure the brake and or clutch fluid is up to the proper level. Too many people take for granted the brake fluid is good, but you will have problems if the fluids are low or empty
4. This step seems like a no-brainer, but check and make sure there is gas in the tank. A lot of times fuel gauges work incorrectly and you would be surprised how many people think there is a major problem with the engine and it turns out to be simple as having no gas in the tank. (Duh!)
5. Check the air pressure in the tires, and make sure there are no leaks. Sometimes from sitting and temperature change tire pressure can become low.
6. After all fluids are checked and brought up to the proper levels, take the coil wire off of the distributor cap and set it off to the side. Now that your battery is charged up and all your levels are correct; connect your battery cables and tighten them. Turn the key on and crank the engine and count to ten (10). Stop and turn the key to the off position. Go and put the coil wire back into the distributor cap and make sure it’s pushed into the cap all the way. Now you have brought the oil pressure up to start lubricating the engine parts and also this brings gas up into the carburetor so the engine will start fairly easy.
7. After your vehicle is started, let it warm up to operating temperature before moving it.
8. Once everything is operating properly, now is the time to move it slowly and check the brakes to make sure they are in working order. Don’t blow the tires off it immediately. Go for a short cruise and make sure everything is proper working order.
9. Now that you are back in the saddle and having a blast and you feel winter was never here, enjoy your vehicle as much as possible.
10. The last and one of the most important things is to clean your vehicle and make it shine and look its best for the first cruise night or show.

Thanks and have a great cruising season from all of us at Cruis’news and Jax Wax.

Remember if you need assistance with your cleaning products, or would like to have your vehicle professionally cleaned, call Jax Wax for all your cleaning needs at 586-405-9916 and ask for Mike. 

• Login or register to post comments