Spring start-up tips for a rookie.

[woodhouse]

Hey there...any tips on how to best bring the car to life after a long cold winter in the garage, aside from the usual oil change and lube? Recently i've noticed that i'm getting some leakage now that the weather is warmer-a little oil, and a little anti freeze-quarter size stains. is that the contraction, and expansion of seals and metal? I didn't have one drop last summer or fall. thanks in advance, w.

p.s. i'm seriously thinking about moving south to avoid cruising withdrawls.

 

[pasvorto1]

Hey, fellow Minnesotan. Mine will come out of hibernation, hopefully, today. Still cold, though. What happened to spring?

 

[woodhouse]

Hey, fellow Minnesotan. Mine will come out of hibernation, hopefully, today. Still cold, though. What happened to spring?

i'm bringing her out tomorrow, gonna rattle some windows. been seeing too many mopars out during the nice so-called spring weather.

 

[pasvorto1]

I hear ya. I'm getting my seats back from the upholsterer on Monday, so I have to drive her home today "on the floor". I hope I don't run into any cops on the way home.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Hey there...any tips on how to best bring the car to life after a long cold winter in the garage, aside from the usual oil change and lube? Recently i've noticed that i'm getting some leakage now that the weather is warmer-a little oil, and a little anti freeze-quarter size stains. is that the contraction, and expansion of seals and metal? I didn't have one drop last summer or fall. thanks in advance, w.

p.s. i'm seriously thinking about moving south to avoid cruising withdrawls.

Look around your radiator and heater hoses and see if they are leaking at the clamps before you move the car, that way you will get a pretty good idea of where they are.
Disconnect your coil wire and crank the engine a few seconds to get the oil primed. Then connect it and fire it up. Let it sit idling and warm it up good and see if you still have any leaks with the cooling system under pressure.

 

[GaryS]

Funny you should ask that. I just picked up my 72 after a four month hibernation. Since I use a battery cut off switch, all I did to start it was to connect my battery crank for 10 seconds until fuel was available at the carb and pump the pedal twice. Fired up nicely and let it idle for two or three minutes. I will drive it next week until all of the fluids are warm and then I will change the oil and filter. I will also check the antifreeze, diff level, etc. Drive until satisfied. I will say that I use a fogging oil in the carb and crank for 20 seconds when I store the car.

Nothing else.

Gary

 

[ruby76]

I just never put mine to sleep. She catnaps for 1 or 2 weeks at a time, then comes alive if for nothing else a 10 mile trip around the town to warm completely up - of course no rain/no snow. Most it's been not started is 3 weeks probably. Starts every time, first time. My holley carb is pretty tight and doesn't leak any gas like my old qjet did. It would only go about 3-4 days without losing the gas to evaporation from the bowls.