1ST corvette need advice
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Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 260
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From: elgin il.
1ST corvette need advice
this is my first year with a vet, i'll be storing it in an un heated garage. If I start it every week to two weeks, should i keep the battery on a slow trickle, gas stabilizer, etc. I live in chicago.
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I would keep it on a battery tender and leave it alone unless you are able to take it for a drive on those rare winter days after it rains and the roads dry up. Just starting it and not really getting it up to full operating temp causes condensation in the motor. Your battery will die in no time if you "short charge" it by just running it for a few minutes periodically. Use a good battery tender like a C-Tek 3300.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
battery tender, or unhook the battery. Unless you plan on actually driving the car and really letting the oil get hot to burn off moisture there is no point in starting it what so ever, you are doing more harm then good.
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From: I love you & miss you Linda
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St. Jude Contributor
No need to run the car. The Battery Tender is a good idea. That's all I have done for the last 8 winters here in PA is hook it to the BT for 3 months.
Check out Battery Tender's website for more info. <=== CLICK
Check out Battery Tender's website for more info. <=== CLICK
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I'd put StaBil in the gas and keep it hooked to something like a Battery Tender Plus. Might want to put a piece of old carpet under each tire to keep them off the concrete.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 272
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From: Roseland NJ
The Ritual!
My baby is..
In the garage under the covers..
all 4 tires on a nice piece of carpeting
battery tender connected and working..
freshly waxed and armor all'd..
full tank of gas and sta-bil added
2 pieces of steel wool one in each exhaust pipe(KEEP OUT THE MICE)
and 5 bars irish spring in place ...two under the hood, one in the passenger compartment and one in the trunk..and one cut into 4 pieces with a small piece sitting on top of each tire..(MICE HATE THAT SMELL)
Treat her like a lady!
In the garage under the covers..
all 4 tires on a nice piece of carpeting
battery tender connected and working..
freshly waxed and armor all'd..
full tank of gas and sta-bil added
2 pieces of steel wool one in each exhaust pipe(KEEP OUT THE MICE)
and 5 bars irish spring in place ...two under the hood, one in the passenger compartment and one in the trunk..and one cut into 4 pieces with a small piece sitting on top of each tire..(MICE HATE THAT SMELL)
Treat her like a lady!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 272
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From: Roseland NJ
Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 443
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From: Niagara Region
Southern Ontario Canada - how we winter store the vette at home
inside the garage - unheated
lay 6 mil plastic on the floor with plywood over top
ceiling fan running all winter
clean syn. oil
stabil with full tank of fuel
charcoal inside to absorb moisture along with shavings of Irish Spring soap ( mice hate the smell - no joke)
Cover with Noah car cover
see ya in May - no touch.
inside the garage - unheated
lay 6 mil plastic on the floor with plywood over top
ceiling fan running all winter
clean syn. oil
stabil with full tank of fuel
charcoal inside to absorb moisture along with shavings of Irish Spring soap ( mice hate the smell - no joke)
Cover with Noah car cover
see ya in May - no touch.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Southeast, Tennessee
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get the tires up off the concrete floor. probably wouldn't hurt to drive it onto a larger thick plastic sheet in addition to the carpet to act as a moisture barrier of sorts if you aren't going to wrap it completely.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 539
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From: Rochester, NY
Ruben,
I store my car in my non-insulated garage
Here's what I do:
1) Run A/C for a while
2) Wash car and vacuum interior
3) Oil change
4) Fill gas tank and add stabilizer (be sure to run car for a couple of minutes after putting in fuel stabilizer)
5) Inflate tires about 5 PSI over
6) Remove targa and roll down windows slightly (helps wear & tear on weatherstripping)
7) Condition seats and weather stripping
8) Put carpet under tires
9) Put trickle charger on
10) Put car cover on
11) Place plastic under car (I do this even on cement floors)
12) Buy three bars of Irish Spring and cut into quarters and place around outside of car to keep mice away
13) Good night kiss and see you on April 1st
14) Remove collision insurance
Each person has their own method
I store my car in my non-insulated garage
Here's what I do:
1) Run A/C for a while
2) Wash car and vacuum interior
3) Oil change
4) Fill gas tank and add stabilizer (be sure to run car for a couple of minutes after putting in fuel stabilizer)
5) Inflate tires about 5 PSI over
6) Remove targa and roll down windows slightly (helps wear & tear on weatherstripping)
7) Condition seats and weather stripping
8) Put carpet under tires
9) Put trickle charger on
10) Put car cover on
11) Place plastic under car (I do this even on cement floors)
12) Buy three bars of Irish Spring and cut into quarters and place around outside of car to keep mice away
13) Good night kiss and see you on April 1st
14) Remove collision insurance
Each person has their own method
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 273
Likes: 4
From: Ontario and Kissimmee Fla.
i have never heard of the Irish Spring idea, when i used to store the Vette for winter, i would use moth ***** for the mice, i took that car to Florida for when we go down there, i still use a tender when the car is not being used
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Roseland NJ
Summer tires or anytire not designate as an allseason tire will freeze up at 32 degrees and loose there grip and elasticity and are worthless.
They will not hold the road and your just asking to have an accident.
I know the Goodyear makes a set of Hi perfo A/S tires for the Vette..But why would you want to subject your baby to all that moisture and road salt. Its bad enuf that the various ground points on the chassis get corroded as is without introducing ROAD SALT!! UGH!
BKV
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I live near Libertyville and have stored my car in an unheated garage for 9 years. I found that when I left it in the garage without a battery tender, the battery would go dead in a couple of weeks. Now all I do is disconnect the negative terminal and it fires right up in the spring. You can also pull your battery out and take it inside. In addition, I change the oil before I put it away, fill the gas tank and add Stabil, over inflate the tires, and put dryer sheets and Irish Spring soap and dryer sheets in the interior and engine compartment to keep mice out. I then cover it and forget about it for 4 1/2 months. 