Five Projects to Tackle on Your Classic Over the Winter

As the first day of winter descends on us here in the Northeast, we’re reminded that there are different ways to get through winter. Some people embrace it, taking in the unique beauty of the season. Others flea it altogether, heading for warmer climes until leaves return to trees and the roads are free of salt. But for many of us – car enthusiasts in particular – winter in the north is simply a time of survival. A time-out period to regroup and plan for better days ahead, back out on the road enjoying our favorite vehicles.

But winter doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Instead, it can be a period when enthusiasts turn wrenches into magic wands. It’s a chance to finally catch up on all the work we’ve been meaning to do but that we’ve put off in favor of driving. In the spirit of embracing winter in order to survive it, here are five projects to work through this season. They’ll keep you warm while you work and have you ready for the first drive when the warm weather breaks.

Wheel Refinishing

Wheels may be the first thing other people notice about your ride, a focal point that defines its entire attitude. They take a beating over time, and winter is the perfect opportunity to refinish them properly. It doesn’t matter if you’re rolling on steel, alloy, or wire wheels that are painted, polished, or chromed. Chances are if you’ve done much driving at all, they could use more than just a good cleaning. So why not take them off and give them the proper attention they deserve?

Winter is a great time to get them off the vehicle entirely for this kind of work. Put the car on jack stands and get all four wheels off together. Inspect the front and back sides for damage, along with the tires. Mark any damage or blemishes with a tire marker or grease pen, then develop your game plan. If there’s nothing that requires repair, give them a thorough cleaning and polishing, depending on the finish. Applying a coat of ceramic-infused wax or sealant now will make next season’s maintenance much easier.

If there is minor cosmetic damage, attack it with the right products and processes to get it back to new. This might include sanding out peeling clear coat and reapplying it using a more durable 2K aerosol clear. If you need to repaint the wheels entirely, consider doing all four (or five) at once the same time. More serious repairs may require media blasting to get to clean metal before refinishing.

This is also the perfect time to experiment with new finishes. Consider trying your hand at powder coating, for instance. If you start early, there will be plenty of time to get the perfect finish before driving season arrives.

Brake System Rebuild

Brake systems often need more work than we think about. Brake fluid gets old. Hard lines get rusty. Soft lines get weathered. Calipers needs attention. Instead of dealing with brake maintenance on a piecemeal basis, why not take care of everything at once?

Metal brake tubing can be replaced cleanly with the right tools and enough time to do the job patiently. If you’re not for bending your own lines, you can often purchase new pre-formed lines to make the job easier. Check out the rubber lines as well, replacing any that are showing leaks or cracks. Now might also be a good time to upgrade to stainless-sheathed nylon lines or perhaps a more period-correct material.

While the calipers or drums are off, give them a good cleaning and check the seals for leaks. Overhaul kits with new seals are inexpensive for most vehicles, as are wheel cylinders for drum brakes. Perhaps it’s time to give the bare metal a little attention with a mild media blast. Or you can clean and dress them up with a brake-specific caliper paint or powder coat finish.

Before you reassemble everything, gather up the routine maintenance parts you’d normally need such as pads, shoes, and rotors. And don’t forget new fluid; open containers of brake fluid may have absorbed water, defeating all your overhaul efforts. Grab a friend to help you bleed the brake system once it’s back together (or do it yourself with this tool). When frost gives way to sunshine in the spring, you’ll have brake that look as good as they stop.

Fuel Tank Overhaul

An older classic with a steel tank will eventually need service. Since dropping the fuel tank is a huge chore, winter is the perfect time. Start by draining the tank (a little pre-planning with your last fall drive will help) and remove it from the vehicle. Use a fuel tank sealant kit to remove rust buildup on the inside, then treat the tank with a rest-preventative sealant. Once you’ve dealt with the inner tank, go ahead and restore the outside by repainting it. Check out fuel lines and fittings before reinstalling it.

Rust Maintenance and Prevention

A warm garage and a long winter are the perfect pairing for treating rust. Get the car or truck up on jack stands and crawl underneath to see where rust has started. Depending on the extent of the corrosion and whether your vehicle is a show car or a driver, you may choose to either treat the rust in place or remove certain components for a more thorough restoration. This is also a great chance to perform any maintenance.

Treat in place with rust encapsulator to stop the corrosion process from spreading and seal the surface for future prevention. Once it’s been encapsualted, the part can be top-coated to match its original finish or simply left as it is if the finish isn’t critical. More extensive corrosion may need to me removed for blasting and refinishing.

Full Detail

Throughout the driving season, most of us probably take decent care of our exterior finishes. But how often do you really give your vehicle a thorough detailing? If you are lucky enough not to require any maintenance outlined above, at least give your ride a proper detail. The beauty of this project is you can work on different sections over the course of the season.

Get the vehicle on jack stands to clean the wheels (remove them, ideally), chassis, brakes, and wheel wells. While you’re under there, it’s also a great time to inspect for leaks, rust, worn parts, and other damage.

Clean the engine bay with a degreasing cleaner, nylon detail brushes, and a spray bottle for rinse water. Work every surface you can see, including the underside of the hood, plus the hinges and latches. Do the same with door jambs and trunk openings.

For the interior, take the seats out and clean the carpets completely. If you shampoo, rinse thoroughly and make sure you get all that moisture out of the carpet. Work methodically throughout the interior, cleaning each surface and panel completely before moving on.