Storing For The Winter

[69 Post Sedan]

I was wondering what everyone's opinion on storing cars for the winter?

I put mine up on jack stands this year.....which I haven't done in a long time. Someone commented that I'd is bad for the fram?

Kurt

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-4752-53520-20161203_132257.jpg

[earntaz]

I've never heard of that. But I've always put the jack stands under the rear axle and control arms ... TAZ

[69z28302]

Kurt, I'd think the way you have it would be great. It keeps the weight off the springs.
Mike
PS car looks great <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

[69 Post Sedan]

Thanks for the replies....... :bigthumbup

Here are a couple of comments.....

&quot;..........when I had jack stands under mine while doing some maint. I noticed that the frame with a BBC in it would start to sag. It comes back when you set the car back on the ground, but I wonder how much stress an extended storage would have on it.&quot;

&quot;Your actually hurting more then helping the car when storing it like that. Suspension wise especially.&quot;

I'm not opposed to other ideas but I can't see this being an issue. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif

Kurt

[napa68]

Kurt,

I am one for storing with the chassis loaded. I too have noticed how the body shifts around when it is not on its suspension points. I noticed that years ago with Corvette's.

While strictly my opinion, the overall good of the car exists in the car sitting the way it normally would while driving. I'd be happy to buy tires and springs all day compared to tweaking the rest of the car.

Tim

[Ryan1969Chevelle]

My 69 SS 396 (Hardtop) was perfect California survivor underneath (zero deterioration) and on jack stands like you have yours the nose would sag down slightly.

2 door post is more rigid in a lot of ways but same frame, same front clip, same big block out front.

I would keep the suspension loaded, not the driver:-)

Ryan

[Salvatore]

All I do is park them in the garage and cover them up. The nova is in a frame garage, plywood floor with a big vinyl mat and then carpet on the floor and the camaro is in the house garage on concrete but sitting on carpet. Never jacked a car up for storage or whatever in my life. Maybe disconnect the battery if you want. No worries! Kurt, no drive &quot;go fast&quot; car all Winter? Would be way to hard for me NOT to do with that car.

[WILMASBOYL78]

We have a routine that has worked for many years:

1...I try to clean the car and change oil/filter/check all the fluids.

2...add fuel stabilizer and run it thru the system

3...over inflate the tires to avoid flat spots...if you have wheel dollys that are 'rounded' they help a lot.

4...depending on the storage environment it helps to have a moisture barrier under the car...also de-humidity bags in and under the car. We also use some dryer sheets in and around to help keep away the critters.

5...the Novas are stored in a shop with radiant heat in the floor...so we don't worry about car bags...cars are covered and we keep a fan running to circulate air around the shop....in the summer we use the fan and a de-humidifier...we keep batteries on small chargers.

6...others are in heated storage and are in car bags...we have used the bags for 15 years without any problems...batteries are removed from these cars.

7...if I have time, I swap any bias plys for radials for extended storage.

I'm sure others have different ideas....but, these have worked for us.

Tuck them in tight Sammy...use a good sleeping bag <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

-wilma

[Salvatore]

waaay to much work Wilma. My wife does not even live that good. take em out, drive em like you stole em and put them in the garage with a dust cover. Nuff said, done deal.

[WILMASBOYL78]

Sammy...there are lots of ways to cook spaghetti <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[Salvatore]

not really. Gotta be al dente only brother.

[m22mike]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">not really. Gotta be al dente only brother. </div></div>

Holy crap, I started to post that and you beat me to it Sammy.. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif..and I am with you' I back Black Beauty in her winter spot, remove the neg battery cable, and done. She fires right up next spring.

Mike

[67 Nova Boy]

I'm with Sammy on this one...

Dave
67 Nova Boy

[WILMASBOYL78]

Maybe I should have said Irish Stew <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

[Salvatore]

don't count!

[olredalert]

----Im lucky to live so close to a serious boating area as there are several places to buy gas that is not infested with alcohol. My gas easily stays good over a winter. And also lucky to have heated storage a block from my house that can handle the overflow. The boats just eat up storage space, but theres lots of cheap storage around here because of so much job work has gone overseas. Thats the part I hate. Hopefully, a new administration will have some serious impact on this. No political rant intended! Go Trump (intended)!!!.......Bill S

[marxjunk]

needs to be on the suspension..the weight of the motor is pulling the front down..and its pulling on the fenders hard..in that position...the rear fender bolts are loaded..

personally, id never do it that way ever...but..for a couple months..i dunno..still..id never do that...ever

[Salvatore]

not sure why you would jack a car up for the winter. stress and strain for no reason.

[Verne_Frantz]

If there's any worry AT ALL about critters, put plastic sandwich bags with rubber bands over the tailpipe ends and the air cleaner snorkels.

Leaving the suspension hang is a bad idea. You don't tighten up the control arm bushings until all the weight of the car is on the suspension, do you?

Verne <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[Salvatore]

So there you have it KB. Take it off the jack stands and give the monster a hug. If you do what M22 and NovaBoy do, you are golden!

[69 Post Sedan]

Upon further discussion, I will make adjustments to the jack stands or put it back on the ground. Thanks again for all the information.

Kurt <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[novadude]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">waaay to much work Wilma. My wife does not even live that good. take em out, drive em like you stole em and put them in the garage with a dust cover. Nuff said, done deal. </div></div>

That's basically what I do. As long as there is not salt on the roads in PA, I'll still take it out and drive it in the winter.

[njsteve]

Out in the garage, I place plenty of old fashioned mouse traps and multiple trays of &quot;used&quot; kitty litter from multiple cats going #1. Mice don't like venturing anywhere that smells like cat territory. (I think it's a union thing).

The cats got the first mouse of the season last week. I came stumbling down the stairs at 6:00 am and barely missed this clump at the bottom of the stairs on the wood floor. It was a mouse head. Just a mouse head. It was like a miniature scene out of the Godfather. I then investigate further and find mouse parts scattered around the kitchen and dining room floor. Not a pretty sight. Of course the wife feigned sleep during the cleanup process. When she heard I was done she then called out for her cup of coffee...

Here's king mouser. (If I could only get him to venture out into the garage, the problem would be solved)

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-1359-53663-img_1028a.jpg

[Salvatore]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: novadude</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">waaay to much work Wilma. My wife does not even live that good. take em out, drive em like you stole em and put them in the garage with a dust cover. Nuff said, done deal. </div></div>

That's basically what I do. As long as there is not salt on the roads in PA, I'll still take it out and drive it in the winter.</div></div>

Well you are a &quot;dude&quot; novadude John! Clean roads and some good gas and we are rollin.

[tabooo]

Put fabric softener sheets (Bounce)with shreds of steel wool at the wall perimeter of your garage approx. every 8' and add new ones every 3 weeks.

[earntaz]

That fat mousehound looks like he has been doing an excellent job -- or you feed him well!! TAZ <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[cook_dw]

Winterized.. Also I fire mine up once a month on a day that there isnt any rain and get to operating temps and take them on a short drive. Even if its around the block. Also I change the oil in the spring after storage. I too do the dryer sheet trick..


http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-1263-53699-img_3615.jpg

[69 Post Sedan]

At minimum, I try and turn the motor over once a month and run it if possible.........when I remember. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/stupid.gif

I also change the oil in the spring. My cousin changes his oil just before storing it in the fall and then again in the spring, he feels there will be moisture in the oil from sitting over the winter. I run Schaefer's 20w50 Supreme 7000 Synthetic oil at $7+ a quart and a Moroso 7 quart oil pan......I just do it once a year.

Kurt

[HawkX66]

I double dose my gas and run it like that for a little while to make sure it all gets up into my carb then park it. I never start them in the winter unless there's a reason. I've always felt the potential damage you do to the exhaust system etc from condensation that won't get burned out isn't worth it. Then again, we're talking about a bunch of different climates here...
I change the oil in the spring before I start it.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">All I do is park them in the garage and cover them up. </div></div>

X2

[68l30]

Bag it...

BIG

[68l30]

One more time...

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-105-53799-camaro_winter.jpg

[Salvatore]

there you go BIG. Off the damp concrete floor too.

[68l30]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">there you go BIG. Off the damp concrete floor too. </div></div>

Always Sam, concrete is death to the underside, year round. Ton's of unnecessary moisture.

BIG

[cook_dw]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 68l30</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: [email protected]</div><div class="ubbcode-body">there you go BIG. Off the damp concrete floor too. </div></div>

Always Sam, concrete is death to the underside, year round. Ton's of unnecessary moisture.

BIG </div></div>

X2 I went the rubber backed rug route.

[WILMASBOYL78]

<span style="font-size: 11pt">Please don't show Sammy photos of the sleeping bags...he gets nervous <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/rolleyes.gif

</span>
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/12/full-105-53799-camaro_winter.jpg

[Donnie]

garage never gets below 60 deg. in the winter. so I just cover it and keep the battery tender on it.

[Crush]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Donnie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">garage never gets below 60 deg. in the winter. so I just cover it and keep the battery tender on it.</div></div>
Ditto!!!!

[m22mike]

Tom
I like your towel taped to the steel post, it works... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

Mike

[68l30]

That ones mine Mike....Low tech, but it works! Been there since I built......

BIG

[m22mike]

Got it Big... <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif