The 2026 Repair Challenge: It's Project Time

Some things are worth saving. That busted-up motorcycle in the garage. Grandpa's old workbench. The truck that's been "almost running" for three years. The WD-40_® Brand Repair Challenge exists to reward those who don’t surrender to the junkyard. For 2026, it's back with a bigger spotlight, more inspiration, and another shot at the $5,000 grand prize.

Whether you're a professional mechanic, a weekend tinkerer, or someone who just refuses to let a good thing go to waste, this is your invitation to roll up your sleeves, document the process, and show the world what you can bring back to life. 

Getting in on the action is simple: 

1. Document your project. Capture video and clear before-and-after photos. The more of the journey you capture, the better the story. 
2. Show your work step-by-step. Showcase what you did, and how you did it. Include a written description along with your captured photos/video. 
3. Tell us the "why." What made this project worth doing? A little personality and detail go a long way with our judges. 
4. Submit your entry at repair.wd40.com. Entries close by midnight on August 14th, 2026, so don't wait until the last bolt is turned to start telling your story.
5. Watch for winners. After the deadline, judges review every submission and announce winners later in the summer.

Judging of entries will be based on the following: 

• 25% for video content 
• 20% for content showcasing the before AND after condition of the project/item repaired 
• 20% for content clearly showing the item(s) repaired 
• 15% for showcasing a WD-40 Brand product in use 
• 10% for a description of the project clearly identifying the steps taken to repair 
• 10% for overall quality of the content.

Prizes range across multiple tiers — from a $5,000 grand prize down through several runner-up awards including $3,500 & $2,000 cash and $500 & $250 gift cards to Lowe’s. Give it your best shot – a strong entry has a good shot at winning something! Full prize details and official rules are posted on the Repair Challenge site.

Every year, the Repair Challenge reminds us what people are capable of when they commit to a project. One of the standout stories came from the 2024 contest, when an entrant named Bryan entered a 1987 Ford Bronco that had sat, motionless, under a tree for two decades. Bryan didn't know if the engine would even turn over. After freeing the stuck motor he went on to salvage, swap, or repair many parts and finished with a fresh coat of blue paint.  

Bryan's Bronco took first place, but it's far from the only inspiring build in the Repair Challenge archives — past entries have included restored motorcycles, mended antique furniture, revived heirloom tools, and everything in between. Browse the  Repair Challenge gallery  to see the full range of stories from past years. 

If Bryan's Bronco shows what's possible in a home garage, the WD-40 Brand's 2025 partnership with  Throtl  reveals the potential of that same spirit pushed to the extreme. 

Last year, WD-40 Brand and Throtl took on the most ambitious build either team had ever attempted: a wrecked, written-off and barely recognizable 2005 Ford GT. The team found one of America's most storied supercars, stripped it down to a bare chassis, then rebuilt it from the ground up. With no service manual and a tight timeline to finish before the sheet pull at the SEMA Show, it required an automotive miracle. 

The Throtl team tore the car down, tackled seized fasteners and corroded components, and rebuilt it with a Doran GT2 carbon fiber body kit, HRE wheels, Wilwood brakes, and a full custom suspension and cooling package. Throughout the build, the team leaned on WD-40 Multi-Use Product and WD-40 Specialist_® formulas — Penetrant for stubborn seized bolts, Silicone for rubber seals, Contact Cleaner for electrical connections, and the Precision Pen for detail work — to solve real problems on a car that had every reason to stay in the junkyard.  

On bolts that haven't moved in years, a penetrating oil spray gets the job started. The penetrating fluid will work its way into threads and help prevent hardware getting over-torqued and broken. For rubber seals exposed to the elements, a water resistant silicone lubricant keeps them supple instead of cracking under weather and age. 

Notsure what to enter? The Repair Challenge welcomes projects of every size and category. A few ideas to get you thinking:

From a Bronco left for dead to a supercar rebuilt for the SEMA show floor, the Repair Challenge exists to celebrate the people who look at something broken and see potential instead of scrap.  It's not about proving how well WD-40 Brand products work — it's about proving what you can do with a little time, the right tools, and a project that means something to you.

So find that thing in your garage, basement, or backyard that's been waiting for some attention. Document the journey, tell your story, and enter the 2026 Repair Challenge today. You might just walk away with a prize — and either way, you'll walk away with something saved.