CLASSIC CAR STORAGE
Tips to help you avoid damage
The retired Vancouver architect was excited to get his prized 1956 Thunderbird out for a drive after nearly five years of garage storage. He hadn’t touched the car in all those years because of a busy life.
He knew enough not to try to start the engine with old fuel in the tank. In fact, moisture inside the tank had eaten through the metal and the tank needed replacing.
With that done and some fresh gas, the car was started. He thought a drive would smooth out the engine that ran poorly. But the engine got worse during the drive as the years of poor storage, with moisture in the air, caused the valves to stick.
The result was a bent pushrod, a bent valve and a twisted connecting rod.
Once the heads were removed, it was determined that a complete engine rebuild was necessary. Years of storage without the car being given the proper attention proved to be an expensive proposition.
“The worst problem is leaking gas from tanks that rust because of moisture on the inside,” says Vern Bethel of Vancouver’s False Creek Automotive, which repairs and stores classic vehicles. “Drain the tank for long-term storage and make sure the vehicle is stored in a dry environment.”
He points out that fuel-stabilizer additives don’t prevent moisture buildup and corrosion inside gas tanks.
Art Carty, co-proprietor of Fawcett Motor Carriage in Whitby, Ont. — arguably Canada’s oldest restoration shop — has seen all the horror stories. He once bought a beautiful yellow 1959 Cadillac convertible as part of a large collection in Washington state. The decision to drive it away proved to be a challenge when the old gasoline in the tank caused the valves to stick.
Carty, a seasoned mechanic, poured some transmission fluid down the carburetor with the engine running, which eventually cleared up the problem. But he easily could have been sidelined, seeking roadside assistance with severe engine problems.
“If gas has been in the tank for two years or longer, we always dump it,” he says.
His tips for proper storage of classic vehicles deal with two situations: heated indoor storage and unheated indoor storage. Of course, valuable classic vehicles should never be left outside over the winter. And the big killer is outside storage with a car cover, trapping moisture that eats the vehicle.
“Owners should assess their storage situation and take appropriate measures to protect their investment in collector vehicles,” Carty says. “Each situation will be different and will warrant a specific list of precautionary steps.”
With heated storage, gas tanks should be filled with premium fuel that contains no ethanol. Ethanol is notorious for damaging gaskets and rubber parts in fuel systems. The tank should be full to limit moisture buildup.
A gasoline-stabilizer product should be added to the full tank and run through the engine for a few minutes so the stabilized gas remains in the entire fuel system, including the carburetor.
For longer-term storage, Carty recommends pouring a small amount of engine oil or transmission fluid down the carburetor to fully lubricate the valve train. This will go a long way to preventing sticking valves when the engine is started.
He recommends engines be started once a month and run for about 10 minutes to get any moisture out of operating components. Move the car back and forth to exercise the clutch and brakes to prevent sticking from lack of use.
Vancouver’s Vern Bethel recommends plastic over cars stored in parkades, even with car covers to prevent paint damage from dripping overhead pipes or leaks through concrete. He also recommends coating chrome surfaces with Vaseline to prevent corrosion.
“I see the problems of poor storage every year,” Carty says from his Whitby restoration and repair shop.
“Everything from pimpled paint — because poor storage has allowed moisture to get into the primer under the paint — to engine problems that are 100 per cent preventable,” he says.
“It’s all about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure.”