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"Winterizin"

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Dudly

Dudly

Jedi Hopeful
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"Winterizin"

Hello all, I do hope everyone forgives my many questions about my spitfire, but seeing as I am rather new to the wacky world of LBC's (since June this year), these questions just keep popping up. The advice and support that I have received on this site has been very valuable and welcome. Without it I may have thrown in the towel and missed out.

Anyhoo more to the point, I know it's a foul word, but WINTER is on it's way.

Are there things that I need or should do for a successful winter slumber?

I have heard that since it's a spit, I should raise the rear end to take pressure off the central leaf spring.

Also how about fuel stabilizer ?

Thanks everyone.
 
Re: "Winterizin"

Do you keep your car in a dry garage?


I keep my in a bubble with constant air flow to eliminate condensation.

I also put my car up on jack stands & I do use fuel stablizer.
I tend to keep my fuel tank very full during the winter storage months.

Make sure your anitfreeze is good & all fluids are filled up.
I usually do an oil change & plugs prior to storage.

I also store my battery in the house.


I'm sure there are other precautions you can take .... :savewave:
DSC01704.jpg

DSC01702.jpg
 
Re: "Winterizin"

Well Dudly- ya could indeed go the "Bubble Boy" route,
an I ain't sayin' there's nuthin' wrong with yer garage
lookin' real goofy for six months.

Some of us just change the oil, put down the top,
drive along the beach road down to the the Biker Bar
for a cold one and then over to the marina for a bit
of tarpon fishin'. I am ever so happy my car got off
six months of jackstand repairs--- just as winter hit us!!

Tinster in 86* Puerto Rico

winter-1.jpg




winter2.jpg
 
Re: "Winterizin"

Dudly said:
Are there things that I need or should do for a successful winter slumber?

I have heard that since it's a spit, I should raise the rear end to take pressure off the central leaf spring.
Click to expand...
I don't see that this would have any real value. My own preference is to keep any stored car as nearly mobile as possible. Besides, 3-5 months of the car stored on all four wheels (and, therefore, the rear spring) can't be any worse than the other 7-9 months of the car being driven -- or sitting in your garage or driveway -- on that same spring!
 
Re: "Winterizin"

What is winter in Puerto Rico? 65-70 degrees?

Charlie, you have WINTER in VT. Dale has a "fluctuation in temperature".
 
Re: "Winterizin"

Geeze Dale........Bubble boy.......shades of Seinfeld. My winter storage strategy for the past 11 years has been to drive the car whenever the roads are dry. It's good for the car to get its exercise and it makes me smile. It does end up on jack stands for a month or two while I do my winter projects. I know that there's sections of the country where this isn't possible but around here we get plenty of nice clear days when a drive feels soooo good. And my heater works really good too!
 
Re: "Winterizin"

1st off I'm not in the bubble till it snows,
then I'm just a zipper away from a nice brisk ride!

Its in the bubble for the months of January and Feb. maybe some of March,
Then Spring fever, off with the hard top.

Its only a one car garage so the TR6 get rights over the wifes Nissan,
My Jeep dont fit in there anyway.


When I snow blow the driveway the car dont get even damp.


It is kinda silly looking but effective & only cost bout what a 25 watt bulb cost to burn during two months



btw it keep my gargae floor oil free.....lol :wall:

What I should really do is move to Puerto Rico & drive it all year!!!
 
Re: "Winterizin"

kodanja said:
It is kinda silly looking but
What I should really do is move to Puerto Rico
& drive it all year!!!
Click to expand...


<span style="color: #660000">Don't think it?

<span style="font-size: 14pt">Make it so!!</span>


You have no idea how many of our friends in the States
tell us how "lucky" we were to move to Puerto Rico.

Our "luck" involved 5 years of planning and execution.

So.............come on down!! Meetcha at the Biker bar.

d</span>
 
Re: "Winterizin"

kodanja said:
What I should really do is move to Puerto Rico & drive it all year!!!
Click to expand...

Fer cryin' out loud! Back in my younger days, I had a '57 TR3 that was my <span style="font-weight: bold">daily driver</span> that I drove all year round here in New York. Rain, snow sleet, freezing temperatures, this was my transportation. I also did it with a TR4 and a TR6...but those cars were quite civilized and much easier to live with year 'round.

I have to say, I'm much older now, and couldn't handle a TR3 as a daily driver. A TR4 or TR6 I probably could, but, to tell you the truth, I don't even use the Miata as a daily driver anymore...although I did until about a year ago...snow and all. :laugh:

As far as putting my newly restored TR3 in a bubble for the winter??? I expect to only drive this car during nice weather. It will probably never see rain, and certainly won't see any snow. It took forty years for the car to deteriorate enough to need a total restoration after being used as a daily driver. It will outlast me sitting in the garage on it's tires while I wait each year for the spring.
 
Re: "Winterizin"

:iagree:I agree with you Art,
as far as I'm concerned my TR6 is my fun car for decent weather,
It's not perfect but its not a daily beater either.

Thats why I have my Jeep!


back in 82' I used to drive my 72'MGBGT everyday thru rain, snow, sleet, and gloom of night!

as it rusted away under me!
(some people had sun roofs,
I had a pavement floor)
 
Re: "Winterizin"

kodanja said:
...I'm just a zipper away from a nice brisk ride!
Click to expand...

Almost sounds Rated X.... :shocked:
 
Re: "Winterizin"

That bubble is super cool! But as my wife parks her bug in the same garage I can just imagine after a good ol row landing me in the dog house (yet again), that I'd come to find my car shrink wrapped. (really she's not that bad).

I do like Tinster's Idea of Puerto Rico, sure beats gray snow up here in NE Ohio.

Thanks guys

I love this forum!!
 
Re: "Winterizin"

I am sure there is no harm in it but I have never used fuel stabilizer for winter storage and never had a problem.

Change your oil (oil gets acids and nasty stuff in it when you run your car, so better to change after the driving season than when the season starts)

Unhook the battery or put it on a trickle charger as there are often parasitic losses in the system.

Jack stands probably optional.

Drive it if you get a decent day or two, I always try to take my cars out once or twice over the course of the winter.

If you want to drive it store with the top up, as tops can be very hard to get up in the winter.

Thats it--keep it dry as well.

Greg
 
Re: "Winterizin"

Dudly - now is the time to make sure you nip any rust issues and if you haven't already it is worth checking into cavity wax treatments.

I'm a recent convert - we won't know for 20 years if it helped as much as advertised but I sleep better at night....
 
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