Vert Opinions: up or down storage ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 1
From: Refineryville Texas
Vert Opinions: up or down storage ?
I store my Vert in the garage with the top up. My bud insists this is bad for the top, so he stores his with the top down and covers it.
We both live in the south, so not much ice or freezing conditions to consider. I don't care who is wrong or right, I just want to do what is right for the long term care of the top.
Your opinions please....
Daneaux
We both live in the south, so not much ice or freezing conditions to consider. I don't care who is wrong or right, I just want to do what is right for the long term care of the top.
Your opinions please....
Daneaux
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I have always stored mine up and locked in place.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 0
From: Palmdale CA
St. Jude Donor '06
For me, it just depends if the top was already up or down when I park it. If I was going to park it for an extended period of time though, I'd probably just do it with the top up and the windows up. I think it all depends how long it's gonna be parked.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Up or down? I personally don't know that one or the other is the best. I have seen others argue that leaving the top down during long term storage will promote wrinkles setting in, making them harder to remove. Perhaps a third alternative that another member once mentioned may be the best; i.e., leave the top up, but unlatched so as to take the tension off the top. (I assume your friend's concern was the possibility of the top stretching due to the tension being left on it when stored with the top up.)
HTH
HTH
Last edited by GrayC5; Sep 9, 2006 at 01:02 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 6,101
Likes: 44
From: ABQ NM
Cruise-In II Veteran
Up.
A friend that collects pretty exotic cars (and basically doesn't drive them except for maintenance purposes) keeps the top up but not latched along the windshield header. Tougher on the fabric folded. Also doors closed but not latched. This way the weatherstripping (which is of course coated with silicone grease) isn't being compressed.
A friend that collects pretty exotic cars (and basically doesn't drive them except for maintenance purposes) keeps the top up but not latched along the windshield header. Tougher on the fabric folded. Also doors closed but not latched. This way the weatherstripping (which is of course coated with silicone grease) isn't being compressed.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 0
From: PA
Originally Posted by rws.1
I have always stored mine up and locked in place.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
(I just deleted his number 3...I don't do that)
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by rws.1
I have always stored mine up and locked in place.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,080
Likes: 0
From: Dardenne Prairie Mo.
Originally Posted by rws.1
I have always stored mine up and locked in place.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 35,769
Likes: 148
From: Northern NYs Adirondack Mountains,http://www.visitsacandaga.com.
Originally Posted by wamara
Up.
A friend that collects pretty exotic cars keeps the top up but not latched along the windshield header. Tougher on the fabric folded. Also doors closed but not latched. This way the weatherstripping (which is of course coated with silicone grease) isn't being compressed.
A friend that collects pretty exotic cars keeps the top up but not latched along the windshield header. Tougher on the fabric folded. Also doors closed but not latched. This way the weatherstripping (which is of course coated with silicone grease) isn't being compressed.
) that is the way I store for those long NY winters. My purchased in April 98 Vert was traded in June 05, I got top dollar and the top was in very good shape. The dealer even said to me dont you ever put the top down.That made me
)Normal driving for me is top down and thats the way the car is most of the driving season in garage or on the road (7 months)
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 10
From: Oakville ON "Real Corvettes have folding tops..."
Originally Posted by rws.1
I have always stored mine up and locked in place.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
1. It prevents shrinkage
2. It keeps it exposed to the air so there are no folds for mold or mildew to grow.
3. When it is up and the windows are up, I place 2 cans of desicant in the passenger compartment ensuring that no mold or mildew can grow on interior surfaces.
I have had convertibles since 1981 (C3,C4 and C5) and always store them with the tops up and latched. I have not experienced any problems.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
So I guess that's ONE (and perhaps the only) advantage to living in SoCal. There's no such thing as "long term storage" here. Just get out and drive whenever you want. Park with the top up, top down, whatever. It ain't gonna be sitting in that garage for long, either way, NO storage!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 12
From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Originally Posted by daneaux
I store my Vert in the garage with the top up. My bud insists this is bad for the top, so he stores his with the top down and covers it.
We both live in the south, so not much ice or freezing conditions to consider. I don't care who is wrong or right, I just want to do what is right for the long term care of the top.
Your opinions please....
Daneaux
We both live in the south, so not much ice or freezing conditions to consider. I don't care who is wrong or right, I just want to do what is right for the long term care of the top.
Your opinions please....
Daneaux
Read the manual - even it suggests keeping the top up for prolonged periods of storage.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
Originally Posted by WKMCD
If I know I'm taking it out later or the next day I'll leave it down. Any longer than than it goes up...
Keeps the dust off the interior also.
Keeps the dust off the interior also.
I own 3 Corvettes which are Convertibles...I store them
all with the TOPS UP..... The 2 older ones with vinly tops
look a lot better with tight tops they rinkle if kept down..
C5?...old habits never die so the top is up in the garage
Bob G/