Winter storage

[jon laing]

I will be storing my stock 1939 ford in a garage in northern Michigan in the winter. I will only drive it in May thru Sept. less than 500 miles/year. I will put a car cover on it. Is there anything else I should do for storage? How critical is it to store in a heated space. My garage is not currently heated. Jon Laing

[oldbugger]

Jon, Temps get cold there on the Island, so I would make sure your coolant is a 50/50 mix. I like to remove the battery and store in a heated space, or go out and start the car at least once a month, a dead battery that gets frozen is junk. Some don't say it needs it but I like to put Stabil in the gas according to the instructions( needs to run to get to carb). Do what ever you have to to keep the vermin out and pray for an early spring. Friends of ours have a place out there also, not many roads there, good luck, Paul

[oldford2]

Here is what I do for our 46:

* Change the oil and bleed the brakes
* Add dry gas And Stabil to the tank
* Back it out of the shop, remove the air cleaner and drizzle MMO down the carb throat till it smokes heavy
* Jack it up with stands on the frame so the springs are relieved
* Add mothballs and dryer sheets inside the car
* Cover car and set mouse traps/poison in the shop
* Remove battery and store in my cellar
* Pat the old girl on the trunk and tell her to have a good rest

Probably have forgot a step or 2 so will edit when my memory kicks in. No heat in the shop

John

[jon laing]

Thanks gang. I will do it. Jon Laing

[Lawrie]

I feel for you folks who cannot drive all year round,here in Queensland Australia we can,sometimes in the summer(our wet season) you get caught out and have to drive in the pouring rain,but it is still warm weather.
last week we got caught in the 33 and had to drive about 50miles in the pouring rain,found a few leaks around the windscreen but no other worries.
Lawrie

[Planojc]

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Drive it, don't store it.

[oldbugger]

easy to say living in Texas.

[oldford2]

Well, if we didn't go south in the winter I would keep it road ready and drive it all winter. Look at Old Henry, drives his all winter and he is in a harsh climate. But that warm weather, golf, ocean fishing and biking is tolerable. Plus I get my flathead "fix" by meeting up with the Cigar City Flatheads.

John

[toby]

Make sure your cooling system is good for at least -30 (50/50), change oil and filter, Stabil in gas, remove battery to a warm environment fully charged, cover and tell it you'll see it in the spring. If there is a chance of critters; your choice of mothballs(ich) or dryer sheets.

[VeryTangled]

Hi Everyone, Try to keep an eye on your battery tender. Sometimes they can cook your good battery out of electrolyte.

-VT/JeffH

[Reisterstown Ray]

Hi, Here in Maryland when the snow starts to fly, so does the salt. Our State Roads people lay the salt and it can lay on the roads until the Spring rains wash it away. RR

[Joe/Ct]

The only thing that I would add to the list above, especially in a non-heated garage, is to lay a tarp on the floor underneath the car. (Lay the tarp on the floor, then drive that car over it.) It really works for me.

Joe

[billwill]

Put Irish Spring under your seat.

[jon laing]

What are DRYER SHEETS and where do you get them? What function does a tarp under the car serve especially if my garage has a cement floor? Jon Laing

[31chevy]

Originally Posted by jon laing

What are DRYER SHEETS and where do you get them? What function does a tarp under the car serve especially if my garage has a cement floor? Jon Laing

They are the sheets your wife uses in the clothes dryer I put them in all three of my cars & have for many years, they have worked so far & have a nice aroma. The tarp is for condensation, in the spring thaw concrete will let moisture come through unless when it was poured you installed a vapor barrier first. As for the sheets put one one front floor board one on rear & trunk I even put one under the seat of my 34 pickup.
Gary.

[3340]

all good advice, thanks to all

[bigvince]

John,

Dryer sheets (Bounce, Downey) apparently keep mice at bay due to aroma. As far as a tarp, I simply put a plastic sheet purchased at any hardware store for painting under the car to avoid the constant "sweating" of the cement. It helps keep the moisture off the underside. I store my 48 Woodie in Northern MI.

[30six]

Block the clutch so it is not hitting flywheel. Nothing worse than trying to get it unstuck.

[FL&WVMIKE]

What in the world are you people talking about ?
It's 81* out, today !
MIKE

[Vic Piano]

My winter preparations for our Flatheads is to put the tops down.