Storing car for up to 3 years?

[87gn-newbee]

Might have to store for a while due to moving up to Alaska. Don't want to take up there. I won't now until the end of the week. It's either Alaska or back to Hawaii big difference I know. I hope it's hawaii so I can bring my car.
Anyway it will be store up in Rochester NY at my mothers in a unheated garage. She will start up during the winter and might take it out in the summer/spring weather but I just can't see her driving the car so if it has to be stored for a year or so with out driving is there anything "MAJOR" to do?

Dan

 

[smallv6]

Rochester, NY
Thats about 20 Minutes from me!
Small World!!
I would say if it was to be stored for 3 years straight I would pull the battery, fill the tank and add stabilizer, get the tires off the car.
I know that when I winter store here I do all this every winter and never start the car until spring.
If your Mom needs or wants to drive it in the spring/summer, She would have to install battery, tires etc.
This is just what I do, others may do things differently. I would be happy to help you out if you need it.
-Rich

 

[chevyII]

hibernation

Id would just leave the car for the three years and not start it till you get back if possible. put it on stands,bag the tires,empty the gas but Id also back off the rockers to save the springs.Put a cover over it and try to keep the mice out. good luck

 

[Just a Six??]

Stored mine for 4 years but in a semi heated underground garage
Biggest factor was the dust. Came thru the car cover. Get the battery out & jack-stands so the tires are on the ground but hanging. Lots of Rust Check or WD-40 everywhere.
My uncle stored a 64 vette for 10 years & he says vaseline in all the areas you can get at!!

 

[salvageV6]

I'd take it with me.

Not much difference between Alaska and Rochester to matter to me.

If it's three years I would probably go with full storage and no starting assuming there was a warm dry basement to put things such as the battery and tires, especially if I wasn't going to be around much.

No way would I take one of these cars to Hawaii however.

 

[87gn-newbee]

I don't mind leaving the car for the entire time I'm gone. It probablly won't stay sitting for more than 1.5 years. I can go back for leave or something, maybe.

There is a big difference in Roch and alaska how about about 4-5 more months of winter especially if I go to Fairbanks Alaska.

Why not take it to Hawaii? there are a few GN's over there and a decent track. I used to live there about 4 years ago. If it's the salt I never saw a problem with it and I won't stay long enough to see any effects if any.

dan

 

[northeast400]

Bring it with you and put it in the living room

 

[snistrgn]

Put a plate full of baking soda in the floor board to keep things nice and dry.

 

[1bad85gn]

I stored my 85 GN in the back of a heated body shop for about 18 months. Car was never started during this period of time. Shortly after getting it out of storage I tore the motor down to do some "freshening" before I started modding it. Upon tear down I found all 6 cylinders with pretty severe rust/pits where the pistons sat over time. The machine shop that did the work on the block (.30 over to remove most of the pits) said the worst thing to do is to not start a motor for long periods of time. Dont know if this info helps but I wish I knew before letting it sit...

 

[ehopper302]

I'm in Kodiak, Alaska right now and I don't think I would bring a GN up here. By the way are you in the Coast Guard?

 

[87gn-newbee]

no I'm in the Army.

Dan

 

[TRFanatic]

I store my car every winter as well. Other stuff...plug the exhaust with rags, empty a box of mothballs in the interior, spray the hell out of it with WD40 or something including the wheels, release the parking brake.

 

[salvageV6]

Not sure what it costs to get a car over there but I do know you can't drive it there.

J/K about Hawaii, but remember all those bikini babes will be bothering you over there with a nice GN.

I'd think about going AWOL myself.

They wouldn't catch you.

 

[87gn-newbee]

Shipping would be free to either place the good old gov. takes care of that

Hey Rich I'll keep ya in mind if it stay up in Rottenchester.

dan

 

[TurboBuickSix]

My neck of the woods

Don't forget to lubricate the cylinders real good so they don't rust like the guys motor in the above post did.Mothball it too to keep the rodents away.A small jar of Vix vapor rub left open on the floor is a help too,rodents and even insects hate that stuff.Armorall the crap out of everything plastic and rubber to keep dryrot away.

 

[SuperSix]

Use copious amounts of fogging oil in the cylinders, use spray white lithium grease on any bare metal you don't want to rust, it can be tough to clean off though. I wouldn't use WD40 or any other penetrating lubricant - they are somewhat acidic and can dry rubber parts.

 

[Chris Cornett]

How nice of a car are we talkin here. If this is your prized jewel there is only 1 way to go. Check this thing out. www.classiccarcocoon.com I know it aint cheap but this thing is awesome. I keep my GS stored in one for the long Michigan winters. Keeps all dirt and moisture out. Trust me it is no B.S. When I roll the car out in the spring there is no dust and more importantly, no corossion anywhere. Simply fog the engine with fogging oil, drain fuids, remove battery, roll the car into the cocoon remove the tires and zip it up. I swear by this thing and will never be without one. And for the record, I have left my GS in there for over a full year before with same results. It is still a good idea to put mothballs around the outside of the cover to keep living things out.

 

[fitz3820]

I stored my GN in a barn for 2 years. Like others said, put some oil in the cylinders before and after you store it. You might want to replace your valve springs when you pull it out too (probably need them anyway)

I also parked the car on a thick sheet of plastic to keep moisture from coming up from the floor. Fuel stabilizer and jackstands are good too.

Rodents and rust are the 2 worst things. Wax it up good and leave the heavy wax on there. I sprayed the undercarriage with used motor oil. (Don't tell the EPA)

Prime the motor before you start it again and change all the fluids.

Should be ok.

Mark F. 87 GN 11.9 @ 115

 

[1badTTA]

3 years,

Jackstands, remove battery and discard, oil in cylinders, loosen rockers to save valvesprings, baking soda in interior (windows up), heavy wax, car cover with plastic sheet over the top, and a list on the dash of everything you did to put it into storage.

HTH

 

[87gn-newbee]

I'm actually pondering taking it with me. It will be shipped for free and can't imagine leaving it sit for 3 years. I should be able to drive it for 2-3 months up there. My buddy told me they set up a 1/4 mile strip on the airbase up there during the summer. I just might do it. nice cool air all the time.

Thanks for all the tips they will still come in hangy seeing it might be stored for 6-8 months at a time.

Dan