Customs Dusting off the winter storage cobwebs.

One day I'm tucking the roadster in for the long hot summer, the next day I'm dusting off the cars that slumbered over the long, cold Michigan winter. All went pretty well, the Diamond T started as if I'd driven it in the garage yesterday, the DeSoto wagon had a dead battery despite it being on a tender. I think I need to disconnect the battery to store it, it has a draw that must exceed the battery tenders capacity. No big deal.
The Impala had what looked like an ocean of trans fluid under it, and it wouldn't start. Cranked over fine, but wouldn't fire, even with starting fluid. I put a charger on it and went to the local O'Rielley's to get some trans fluid, and when I came back it dawned on me that the previous owner had put a separate toggle switch on the dash for the ignition, which I'd completely forgotten.
Duh.
When I switched the coil "ON", it fired up instantly. The trans didn't leak at all last summer, it had been rebuilt probably 25+ years ago with a shift kit, so I thought I'd just dump a bottle of Trans-Medic in and maybe the seals will soften up. That brought it up to "Full", so I think perhaps it was just a tad over-filled and some drained from the torque converter and overfilled the pan. TH400's and 350's will do that and leak out the selector shaft, I can live with it as is for now. Adding that 1/2 quart of goop brought it up full, it shifts great, barks the tires hitting second, so I'm not gonna stress about it.
The lawn mower and my little utility tractor both started easily, the lawn got mowed before todays rain and the winters downed limbs and branches gathered up into a pile, so maybe I'll work on the T'bird...

 

It's always nice getting the cars out of winter storage and back on the road. I have pretty good luck with battery maintainers and no dead batteries. But eventually batteries die for various reasons.

 

What’s this you speak of?

 

I spent yesterday getting ALL the taillights to work on the Impala, and the turn signals. The taillight problem was, of course, bad grounds, caused by the little metal spring clips on the sockets being "sprung" enough that when clipped in the housing they didn't make contact. I bent them out a little and cleaned them, they fit tight now and the lights stay lit.
The turn signals problem was the switch on the steering column wasn't adjusted properly. With some acrobatics and contortion I got my 70 year old, slightly plump body wedged between the seat and the steering wheel and got it positioned where the turn signals come on with the blinker stalk. They don't however, self cancel, which I blame on the ugly aftermarket steering wheel. Imma replace that so I didn't pull the wheel to try to make it contact the cancelling tang behind it.
The DeSoto's not cranking turned out to be, as my wife suggested, a failed battery. In my mind it was brand new, but no, it was 5 years old. 13.5 volts until a load on it, like cranking, then 9. So, $200 later, all the hot rods start and run fine. Ready for summer.
(edit) While under the wagon I noticed the engine mount pads under the Hemi have deteriorated and collapsed, leaving the engine setting directly on the frame pads. Which probably explains the vibration at speed. I looked and Steele rubber makes them to order, so they're busy right now molding me up a pair of those for the mighty Hemi. Nothing money won't fix...

 

Your boy looks pretty happy in the back seat. As well he should!

 

The T400 in my olds does that if it sits too long. The fluid seems to leave the converter, overfill the transmission and it leaks out the fill tube or anywhere else it wishes to. Put a pan under it next year.