Protecting Your Project Car From The Elements
Posted on: 19 October 2015
If you have a project car sitting on your property, you want to make sure you keep it protected from outdoor elements. Not only can the cold, wet weather cause damage to your vehicle, the sun can bleach the interior's colors, and rodents and other pests can get inside your project car and make it their own home. Here are ways you can protect your project car from all kinds of outdoor elements, from the sun to the wind to moisture.
Keep rust at bay
If your project car already has rust, you need to do what you can to keep more rust at bay. Moisture from rain and condensation can make rust worse. There are rust protection tools out there that you can place directly on your rusted areas. These sealants contain elements to stop the rusting process and provide a layer of protection for your vehicle's metal parts so moisture and rain exposure can't cause more rust to occur. Rust protection can be purchased in spray paint colors or in a clear application for all-over rust protection. When using a rust sealant, it's best to use a paint gun to apply an even layer of the spray (it comes in a paint-style can), especially when applying it to hard-to-reach areas such as your vehicle's undercarriage. If you are placing rust undercoating or sealant over old or original paint, make sure it is well-scrubbed and clean so the sealant can adhere to the surface.
Keep the sun out
The sun can irreparably damage your car's interior. The sun's rays not only cause your interior to bleach and fade, it can actually cause your steering wheel column, dash, and other plastic-coated areas to dry out and crack. Keep the sun off your car's interior by placing a blanket over exposed areas or placing a car cover with UV ray blockage and multiple layers to block the run entirely over your project car when you are not working on it.
Get rid of critters
The longer your project car sits out in your yard or driveway without attention, the more inviting it is going to become to wasps, mice, and other unwanted guests. Keeping critters out of your project car is tricky, but it can be done. Keep debris away from your vehicle, such as drop cloths, weeds, high grass, and any food items to help keep rodents from making your car a home. Bees and wasps can get into even the tiniest of seams in your hood or windows, so keep your project car covered with a vehicle cover to help prevent their entry.
Avoid putting poisons in your vehicle to kill existing pests, since rodents often consume poisonous items and then die elsewhere. This means you risk having little carcasses crammed deep in the crevices of your project car that you can't get to, and you can only imagine the smell and mess that you will have to deal with. Live traps are a wiser route for catching rodents who have already made your house a home.
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