73-84 IMSA Widebody

For those in cold weather, I could use some advise on winter storage. As we don't run antifreeze, I've drained the rad and block. She is up on stands. Anything else needed?

VetteDrmr

When I store my boat for the winter I drain and then fill with red RV antifreeze used for potable water systems, just to keep the seals and rubber parts that are normally wet lubed. Otherwise I've had problems with rubber parts gluing to the adjacent metal and subsequently tearing on the next startup; also minimizes cracking. Flushes out easily with water, no problem draining it into the yard, and is available everywhere.

Put the battery on a maintenance charger (Battery Tender is a popular brand), change the oil (to get rid of any acids sitting in the bottom of the engine), put a cover over her and say "Goodnight, Gracie".

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

redvetracr

besides removing the rocker shafts to save the springs (I do that between races) I remove the plugs and squirt some light 10W oil in the cylinders, turn the motor over a couple of times, repete and put a set of old used up plugs back in...I also store my carb inside a plastic bag in the basement.
redvetracr

Bill Hetzel

I like to pull my batteries and store them inside with tender.
I also drain the water out but I refill with 50/50 antifreeze because of the rust inhibitors. I don't know how much this helps but it makes me feel better.
I drain the 50/50 in the spring and save it for the next year.

Aardwolf

I always make sure there is rat bait in the corner of the shop. I also take care of the battery, a tender is nice. Changing the oil is best before storage. I throw some nox ice in the tank too. That is about it.

I am not sure I would leave the coolant system drained, rust could develop quickly.

C5 XTC

Change oil, hook up the CTEK and turn on the heater in the garage to keep it at a snug 65 degrees all winter. In-the-wall propane heater was the best investment I made in the garage. C5 XTC

yakisoba

I've heard some folks run marine oil (AMSOIL makes such a product) in anything that doesn't run that often (like a racecar). It might make sense to run it in your corvette if you are going to put it up for the winter. Such oil has more rust inhibitor than regular.

davidfarmer

if you are storing in cold climates, you absolutely need to put antifreeze back in. Water will sit in the block, in spots you can't drain, and can cause major damage.

My car is currently stored in an covered, yet open shed, so when it get's cold, I want to make sure nothing cracks. Antifreeze is the safest bet. Just flush it out with clean water in the spring.

btw, I don't know about yous guys up north, but we'll be back on track mid Feb at VIR. They race all year in Florida. Instead of going into storage, just come down south and race.

AU N EGL

I am with David.

Snuckley

Moth ***** or toilet cakes with the wire hanger from dollar store are handy to hang in engine compartment to keep mice out.. mice love to feast on wiring and make homes in autos in storage...

Z06 Whisperer

Braggers!!!

Seriously, I did a dumb thing last week--I drove my Vette to the airport and parked it in the parking deck on the lowest level (still exposed to the outside) there while I was gone. The temps did get into the teens briefly a couple of nights I think. And yes I forgot I only had water in the rad! I got lucky and had no damage.

I'm going to now ignorantly ask what happens if the water does freeze radiator? Is there some kind of plug? How long does it take to freeze (I'm sure that depends on the temp/wind, etc of course)?

My car's gonna be inside but I will need to switch to coolant if I drive it on nice (non snowy ) days!

Thanks!

Anita

redvetracr

A, a frozen radiator would be the least of your problems...how about a cracked block?....
redvetracr

Z06 Whisperer

Hmm, that sounds much worse!

(OH! I should be clear too! It wasn't 100% water in there, but the mix was not 50 50, so definitely not optimal. See I'm not totally mental LOL)