When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Im getting conflicting advice on winter storage for my 82 vette
I live in south jersey and we can get brutal winters
I dont have a garage one person told me they just use a car cover and run the car when the weather is nice during the winter
others says the snow and cold weather will destroy on old vette pretty quickly
I will rent a garage if I have too but would like to keep it home
please help
Thank You in advance
If you have the resources, you might do well to rent garage space or storage space. We can drive all year (minus a few rare and random ice days) and I still won’t leave my Vettes out in the elements. The garage at home houses two vehicles and the storage unit near our house is home for the toys. Good luck with your decision.
You can get a car tent that has a vinyl floor and the drive though opening that zips closed so the critters don’t get in.
They Make car storage bubbles that are inflated and can withstand the elements.
A forum member Doorgunner built a storage shed just large enough to push his C3 into.
If I remember correctly, it sits on 4X4's and doesn't have a permanent foundation.
It works great for him, would cost less than renting a garage for several months and you would have year round protection.
Last edited by OldCarBum; Oct 27, 2018 at 01:12 AM.
Do whatever it takes to garage your classic C3. They are epic, legendary sports cars. As you already well know. But, even when new they were poorly designed to withstand even minimal elements, especially heavy seasonal rain (most t-tops leak even a little) or snow. Keep the winter elements far away from your car. They are not designed to take it
I do this and do not have any problems in the spring.
First, I give a good wash with a minimal amount of water and then let it dry thoroughly. You do not want contamination on the paint to sit all winter.
Second, I fill tires to proper inflation from tire sidewall recommendations and have some special rubber pads that I drive the car onto to prevent flat spotting. 3 Carpet tiles piled up under each tire works good too.
Third, I fill the tank with the highest octane gas and add lead additive and Sta-BIL in the gas and run the car 20 minutes or so to get this concoction to the motor. Filling the tank to the very top prevents moisture from settling inside the top portion of the tank which can lead to rusting the tank out from the top. Especially from the crappy ethanol gas which loves to wick moisture from the air.
Fourth, park the car in the garage where I’m going to leave it for five really depressing months...pop the hood and while the engine is running spray some fogging oil down the carb and snuff out the motor. This will place a oilly film on all the internal parts to prevent corrosion. I then pull the battery out of the car. Batteries gas out when charging and I don’t like that to destroy the interior. Battery goes on the shelf with a trickle charger.
Fifth, I place some steel wool in the exhaust openings to prevent critters from going in, then give it a once over with my California duster and a big fat juicy kiss on the hood and then cover her up. Place some dryer sheets, some Damp-rid moisture pads in some pans on the floor boards, and a couple of moth ***** to prevent little critters from living in the hot rod. I dream of Corvette rides in the spring.
I do not start the car during the winter. A clean running engine makes water condensation and that moisture can build in the engine, engine fluids, and in the exhaust pipes, and mufflers. If not heated up properly this can cause more bad then good. This is why I fog the motor.
In the spring I simply remove the cover, insert the battery, give it three pumps on the gas peddle and VAROOM she starts right up.
I have been doing it this way for at least ten years and was taught this from my friend Scott who has a very nice collection of all things automotive. I have never had an issue
ever doing it this way and she is always ready in the spring.
Last edited by midigike; Oct 27, 2018 at 08:59 AM.
If you can store it in doors that would be best.
If you can't and have a little bit if property to put up a shelter logic portable garage, this would be better than just a cover.
I put mine up in the back yard and put my sea-doos in it for the winter. That way nothing sits on the covers. I left them outside one year and the build up of ice was brutal on the covers.
winter car storage
