Proper winter storage

[Tim7139]

Out of curiosity, what do you folks, particularly above the Mason Dixon line, do for winter storage? Any under the radar techniques being used?

[1985 CCX]

Folks out this way use heated storage in NH

Historic Motorcars
Historic Motor Sports | Classic Car Storage, Restoration, and Repairs

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by Tim7139

Out of curiosity, what do you folks, particularly above the Mason Dixon line, do for winter storage? Any under the radar techniques being used?

Simple solutions I used to use for my concours trailered show car(s):

For garage space prep
1: 10X20 HD plastic tarp
2: 2-4X8 sheets of 1/2" plywood
3: 4 scrap pieces of carpet
4: Decent (soft) car cover

Place tarp on floor to prevent ground moisture from wicking up from the concrete/dirt floor. Place 2 sheets of plywood on top of the tarp, scrap carpet where the tires will be. Do your maintenance on the car (ask if you are not certain), park it on the prepped storage spot, remove or disconnect the battery (a quality trickle charger will do if you do not want to remove the battery from the car). Throw the cover on (after cleaning the car), and forget about it until spring.

Yes, it is that simple.


Bill S.

[motordean]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Simple solutions I used to use for my concours trailered show car(s):

For garage space prep
1: 10X20 HD plastic tarp
2: 2-4X8 sheets of 1/2" plywood
3: 4 scrap pieces of carpet
4: Decent (soft) car cover

Place tarp on floor to prevent ground moisture from wicking up from the concrete/dirt floor. Place 2 sheets of plywood on top of the tarp, scrap carpet where the tires will be. Do your maintenance on the car (ask if you are not certain), park it on the prepped storage spot, remove or disconnect the battery (a quality trickle charger will do if you do not want to remove the battery from the car). Throw the cover on (after cleaning the car), and forget about it until spring.

Yes, it is that simple.


Bill S.

Perfect suggestion..... OR, just drive it once a week!

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by motordean

Perfect suggestion..... OR, just drive it once a week!

Right, because that's a viable option for those in the frozen north. Even if I could fit winter tires, an open cockpit doesn't seem like a good idea when the temperature is -20 deg. C, the snow is falling and the wind is howling.

[rodneym]

Some people use large ziplock bags, nitrogen flushed, dessicant pouches, guard dog, etc.
Patrickt may be able to help. Surprised he's not here.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Some people use large ziplock bags, nitrogen flushed, dessicant pouches, guard dog, etc.
Patrickt may be able to help. Surprised he's not here.

So long as there is no mouse problem to deal with, just put a bottle of Stabil in her, fill the tires up to about 35psi, throw a big sheet over her for the winter and push her over in to the corner of the garage. Yes, my desiccant in the hermetically sealed car bag keeps her absolutely pristine, but it's probably just a waste of effort.

[Tim7139]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

Folks out this way use heated storage in NH

Historic Motorcars
Historic Motor Sports | Classic Car Storage, Restoration, and Repairs

Hard to beat that kind of setup, I was more thinking about home storage.

[Tim7139]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Simple solutions I used to use for my concours trailered show car(s):

For garage space prep
1: 10X20 HD plastic tarp
2: 2-4X8 sheets of 1/2" plywood
3: 4 scrap pieces of carpet
4: Decent (soft) car cover

Place tarp on floor to prevent ground moisture from wicking up from the concrete/dirt floor. Place 2 sheets of plywood on top of the tarp, scrap carpet where the tires will be. Do your maintenance on the car (ask if you are not certain), park it on the prepped storage spot, remove or disconnect the battery (a quality trickle charger will do if you do not want to remove the battery from the car). Throw the cover on (after cleaning the car), and forget about it until spring.

Yes, it is that simple.


Bill S.

In you're neck of the woods, I suspect that's just fine. In my neck of the woods, it's insufficient, unfortunately.

[Tim7139]

I guess. Should have asked what the guys in snow country believe the major storage issue tends to be, or the big issues.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Tim7139

I guess. Should have asked what the guys in snow country believe the major storage issue tends to be, or the big issues.

Is she going to be inside some sort of garage, barn, or the like? Or is she outside?

[1985 CCX]

FYI

Light on mothballs and heavy on standard scented dryer sheets... Keeps the mice away!

[rodneym]

Pat,
Was the bag a joke or do you really use one?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by rodneym

Pat,
Was the bag a joke or do you really use one?

I really do. It absolutely eliminates any rusting over the winter -- the rotors are as shiny coming out as they were going in. It also eliminates the "ding danger" of, say, dropping a broom or snow shovel on it accidentally.

EDIT -- I put 'er in around Thanksgiving, and take 'er out around Easter. Every few years there's one or two days in between that would have been nice to drive, but usually the roads are covered in that snow melt stuff that the transportation department puts down anyway.

[Tim7139]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Is she going to be inside some sort of garage, barn, or the like? Or is she outside?

Outside??? WTF? Seriously, what bag are you using, out of curiosity. The weather looks pretty crummy up here most of the time from here on out so, actually, I bagged it last night and plugged everything in.
I've had several before and they've worked great, now the 14' car capsule is about perfect.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Tim7139

Outside??? WTF?

I mean like an outside garage that will go down to below zero. Really, the only things you absolutely have to guard against are the temperatures dropping below your antifreeze level, vermin, gooing up your gas, and surface rust from the temperatures going up and down around your condensation points. Even on a "kind of heated" inside garage, this is what I use: CarBag - Protective Jackets for Storing Your Car or Motorcycle. Made in the USA. I'm actually on my second one. One year I had a brake fluid leak that dumped a sizable amount of brake fluid in to the bottom of the bag, so, obviously, it couldn't even be reused. Yep, that was a pissssser.... Antifreeze, Stabil, and a Car Bag with desiccant and your car will come out exactly the way she went in.

[Tim7139]

I got you, I'm sure those provide protection but probably not enough up around here.
IMHO you've got to have something with an air exchange system. The issue is that in mid/ late winter when you get major temp change drops at night, you get lots of condensation on metal, particularly metal in closed systems.....like inside engines, etc. the exchange systems, with fans purge moist air....keep air moving...pretty much crush corrosion on bare metal, fasteners, etc.
One of the principle reasons I started this was to see if anybody subscribes to the engine bump, valve spring relief thoughts, anybody ever have issues?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Tim7139

One of the principle reasons I started this was to see if anybody subscribes to the engine bump, valve spring relief thoughts, anybody ever have issues?

There's the occasional "I pulled my valve springs" post but, personally, I think that's nuts. There are guys that fog the cylinders too. Again, nuts. Starting the car up for just little turns of the engine does more harm than good... and I think turning it by hand is wasted effort. BTW, that car bag with fresh desiccant in it will keep your car bone dry even if you're storing her in the rain forest. Do not underestimate its effectiveness.

[cycleguy55]

I have a neighbour with a large garage that is generally unheated, though it does have a radiant heater I may be able to use for some over-winter work on the beast.

Any value in putting the car on jack stands and getting it off the tires?

[Tim7139]

It is supposed to help if it's off the ground and suspension, however the big thing is off the cold concrete with less tire patch and potential for flat spotting.
My bag has a heavy fluid proof mat, but still, I pump tires up to 35-40 and roll them up on thick plush carpet squares before everything gets zipped up.