prep for winter lay up

[CompFi]

I dont mean to be a downer here, but despite the recent warm weather, winter isnt too far away.

So, I was wondering what tips and tricks that folks here have to prepare their cars for the long winter months between a late Fall drive and an early Spring drive.

I have an old boat that I store outside for the winter in Vermont. And winterizing that engine includes things like topping off with ethanol free gas to avoid condensation in the tank, draining all water from the cooling system etc.

While I expect no one stores their Cobra outside for the New England winter, wondering what has become Best Practice over the years. Also, how do you avoid flat spots in your tires?

How else do you prep your car for the winter?

Thanks!

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by CompFi

I dont mean to be a downer here, but despite the recent warm weather, winter isnt too far away.

So, I was wondering what tips and tricks that folks here have to prepare their cars for the long winter months between a late Fall drive and an early Spring drive.

I have an old boat that I store outside for the winter in Vermont. And winterizing that engine includes things like topping off with ethanol free gas to avoid condensation in the tank, draining all water from the cooling system etc.

While I expect no one stores their Cobra outside for the New England winter, wondering what has become Best Practice over the years. Also, how do you avoid flat spots in your tires?

How else do you prep your car for the winter?

Thanks!

Disclaimer: This worked in the northeast (various unheated garages in NJ/PA for 30+ years without an issue). I got the idea from a few people in VT,Maine, CT, Illinois, Utah and a host of other areas of the country, seems to work for them as well, long and short term.

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.

As for drivetrain, fuel stabilizer run through the system, over inflating your tires by 5-10lbs (cold), topping off fuel tank, cover like stated above, and be done with it.

Yes, it is that simple.


Bill S.

[patrickt]

Before I built a climate controlled garage for the ol' girl, she was in a non-climate controlled garage. Between Thanksgiving and Easter I would just pop her in a CarBag with desiccant packs. She would come out of the bag exactly like she went in. No surface rust, nothing. Other than putting 35 lbs. in each tire, all I ever did was put a bottle of Stabil in her and make sure the antifreeze is good. If you do that, you'll be fine. Here's a nice thread on the subject and an old pic of my car in a CarBag.

Good winter storage thread: Proper winter storage

[Mongoose930]

I pump the gas out of my tank at the end of the season and put in a few gallons of race fuel with Stabil Marine and a little Marvel Mystery Oil and run it through the fuel system. I put a few bars of Irish Spring in each side pipe, disconnect the battery, and throw a padded cover on it until spring. Unheated but insulated and finished garage in NH. This has worked for me for years. In my old barn, I would put a tarp under the car to reduce moisture and put 2x4 sheets of plywood under each tire. I don't do that anymore.

[Trevize]

I have so many projects lined up for the car in the winter....

Heated/insulated garage

It gets put up on jack stands and then:

- Oil change
- Coolant change

and this winter will be:
- upper ball joints
- new gas tank to replace the very expired racing fuel cell
- bolt check on every bolt under the car, in the car, side of the car, etc
- I have replacement body bolts that hold the body on the frame, replacing them all as the current ones are showing oxidation/tarnish and just look meh. New ones are oxidized black
- wiring up some front fog/driving lights
- wiring up a center brake light
- hoping to get gas'n go exhaust as well.

The car will be started many many times throughout the winter as I progress through projects.

Some day I may have to winterize like some of the above, but as it is thus far I have plenty of Winter projects to perform.

[LewisC]

Change oil, stabil gas, grease all joints and visual check, good cleaning. Then it goes in the bubble until spring.

[twobjshelbys]

If you change the oil before putting it to bed be sure to run it up to operating temp for a while before.

Other than that all you really need to do is put some stabil in the gas (and run it so it gets to the carb) and overinflate the tires to prevent flat spots. If you can a few times over the winter (once a month) run it up to operating temp.

Keep a battery tender on it but I did that all the time anyway winter or summer.

[SBSerpent]

Wow! Makes me really appreciate living in Southern California. ��

[LewisC]

Originally Posted by SBSerpent

Wow! Makes me really appreciate living in Southern California. ��

Ya but our ground doesn’t shake nor do we have massive wild fires….but your weather is second to none. As they say: nothing is free, you have to pay somehow!

[Hapnyny]

Hi,

Yes, I just put my Cobra away today. Fuel additive let it circulate and a trickle. I also have Good Year Billboards so lifting the car off the ground and a little over inflated helps. Car cover and a heated garage will get me until April.

[1985 CCX]

Lewis

Isnt your whole house under a bubble?

I add stabilizer and make an effort to get OH free fuel
Change oil and filter
Cover with cotton sheets, breathability
Disconnect battery
Clean, as its to help sheets avoid making scratches

Start praying for April....

[CompFi]

Thanks to all for your insights.

Lots of agreement in the feedback as well as some unique perspectives.

In particular, I noted the mention of Marvel Mystery Oil which is a common winterizing trick amongst boat owners.

Putting the car "to bed" for several months in a "bag" or "bubble"? That was a new one for me.

[incoming]

I run her till she's empty and run the tires up from 18-22 psi to 40psi on all corners. Prevents flat spots.

I can deflate and fuel and drive quickly if I want to.

[jts359]

I'm in N.J. , I just put the soft top on ours so when the weather is nice we can take a cruise , I will put some sta bil in it , Island Beach and LBI are great places to go this time of year , Ed