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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 10:55 PM
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Garage is separate from the house (read: No heating/cooling). In the winter it gets around 25-35*F and summer about 80-100*F. The 'vette will be a weekend toy.

Is storing it in an enclosed garage in these conditions going to cause problems (plastic interior warping, etc?) I would think it would be the same as a car sitting on the lot or in a shop, just no rain/direct sun etc. getting on it like on the lot.

Would keeping it in the covered driveway under a car-cover be better during the summer months?

Thoughts?
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 11:03 PM
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To me I think the direct sunlight is the killer. I store mine the same way and I've never had any issues. The only thing I don't like is that sometimes when the temp outside changes dramatically there will be condensation build up. I put one of those little buckets inside the car and it soaks up moisture with some sort of chemical stuff it has in it.
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 11:06 PM
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Originally Posted by vetteb_96C
To me I think the direct sunlight is the killer. I store mine the same way and I've never had any issues. The only thing I don't like is that sometimes when the temp outside changes dramatically there will be condensation build up. I put one of those little buckets inside the car and it soaks up moisture with some sort of chemical stuff it has in it.
Gotcha. I was just wondering if these require cliamate-controlled storage. Keeping it out of the sunlight isn't an issue and it would get driven once or twice a week.

Out-door garage (actually a non-insulated shop/warehouse)

or

covered drive next to house

Either way it will get a car-cover to keep bugs or lint or whatever off of it.
??

Would either of these be un-suitable for maintaining the car in good condition?
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 11:22 PM
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where are you located? generally, a garage is better than an exposed car even with car cover. climate controlled definitely not necessary.
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 11:27 PM
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My '96 has been in a non-heated detatched garage with no issues. Another thing - make sure all the rodents are kept clear. They can do a lot of damage.
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Old Jul 23, 2010 | 11:35 PM
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North Louisiana.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 08:32 AM
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No problems keeping it in the garage under those conditions.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 09:36 AM
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Originally Posted by BSSN
I would think it would be the same as a car sitting on the lot or in a shop, just no rain/direct sun etc. getting on it like on the lot.
No, it is MUCH better than sitting outside. Keeps it from the sun (the primary killer), trees, excess dirt/dust, rain/moisture, birds/animals, and vandals/thieves. The temperature change indoors is also much less than sitting outside -the interior of your car won't turn into a greenhouse every day.

The only reason for a climate controlled space (that I can think of) is to prevent condensation from temperature changes. This is not necessary unless you've got cars sitting for months-years without moving and want to keep them in top shape.

I've never even noticed condensation on my garaged cars. But of course my non-garaged cars have dew on the paint and foggy windows most mornings (in addition to having more rust, paint defects, need washing more often, etc).

I would definitely choose the enclosed space over the covered driveway.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 09:44 AM
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keep it in the garage......but:
keep the rodents out.
make sure that there's some ventilation in the space for the summer heat/humidity.
be mindful of condensation.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by BSSN
Garage is separate from the house (read: No heating/cooling). In the winter it gets around 25-35*F and summer about 80-100*F. The 'vette will be a weekend toy.

Is storing it in an enclosed garage in these conditions going to cause problems (plastic interior warping, etc?) I would think it would be the same as a car sitting on the lot or in a shop, just no rain/direct sun etc. getting on it like on the lot.

Would keeping it in the covered driveway under a car-cover be better during the summer months?

Thoughts?
No sir....If those conditions are present inside your garage then the conditions outside would be worse....even covered. Do you live in Texas? Sounds like it. But no, winter or summer, it's better off enclosed out of the direct sun in summer and winter (if 25 inside garage then it's colder out I bet.) Not to mention damp/freezing rain/snow etc....

I keep my Vette inside my insulated shop (live in Texas) so when it's 101 in the SHADE it's usually 8-10 degrees COOLER in my shop (had good insulation installed when had shop built) and usually same difference in winter....if below freezing outside, it usually will stay above freezing always.....only thing is in winter months sometimes in Texas it warms to high 40-low 50's. The shop will not warm that fast due to concrete floor and insulation....it does have 130,000 btu heater inside (has 16ft walls with peak at near 26 ft up....so need more btu-and had full bathroom built w/sauna-it's the man-house-have to keep pipes from freezing) anyway....inside the best

Last edited by tim414; Jul 24, 2010 at 10:53 AM.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by dvilin
No problems keeping it in the garage under those conditions.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 03:13 PM
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It gets down to single digets here in the winter and well over a 100 with the heat index here and my garage isnt heated or cooled. I'm not concerned about leaving my car in there. I threw a couple of descant (SP) packets under the seats and call it a day.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 09:29 PM
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Shop/garage is non-insulated, sheet-metal siding (20x80 Warehouse) w/concrete foundation.

Good to go?

I will put a cover on it or something like a fiberglass-roofed covering over it so as to keep any rust-flakes or anything like that from the beams off of it. I guess with rain or wind hitting the roof hard some might flake off and create stains. Maybe I am just getting OCD. I just don't want to spend my $$ on a nice car to have it get ruined by inadequate storage.

PS. WIll use Dessicant in bucket on floorboard.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:38 PM
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Remember to use a battery tender.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by carjo
Remember to use a battery tender.
Why do 'vettes have such a problem with this? I see if mentioned very often. Never owned a car where sitting for a week (or a month) was an issue.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:42 PM
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They don't have a "problem" that is much more severe than other cars necessarily, but in cold weather the battery won't last long in any vehicle unless disconnected while stored.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:45 PM
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Originally Posted by sublime3
They don't have a "problem" that is much more severe than other cars necessarily, but in cold weather the battery won't last long in any vehicle unless disconnected while stored.
Cool. I just never messed with it on any of my other cars and some of them have set up for over a month and fired right up. I saw a lot of mention about the battery tender and thought maybe the 'vette was different.
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Old Jul 24, 2010 | 10:51 PM
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No heat in mine either.I do keep it hooked to a battery tender all winter though.You will have a dead battery if you don't.
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Old Jul 25, 2010 | 12:22 AM
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Just a quick comment about "no heat in the garage". Years ago I had a non-heated warehouse. I found a good functioning forced-air furnace, installed it in 1/2 a day, put it on an inexpensive thermostat and bingo, a heated warehouse. As I recall I paid very little for it and although it would not bring the small warehouse up to a high temp. it sure kept the chill out of the air.

I don't know.......just an idea but if it was me I might look into it.
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