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Winters Coming!

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kodanja

kodanja

Obi Wan
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OK, nobody wants to hear it, but here in the northeast is showing evidence of winter coming /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif

I would just like to get everyones thoughts on preperation and storage of our LBC's /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif

Any and all input is welcome /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grouphug.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grouphug.gif
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Leaves are starthing to turn colors in Wisconsin. Great driving weather till snow flys. I've found I can get two sets of golf clubs in my Spit if I take the woods out of one bag in the trunk, then put the hood on the other bag and bungee it to the luggage rack.
 
Golf Clubs? Were you taking them to the consignment store?
Who needs golf clubs when you have a Triumph?
 
I also live in New England, and I am just going to have to wear a jacket for awhile. I am hoping for dry days until November!

I have a clean garage. Not ideal, but the best I can do.
 
Sigh.......I hate to hear those words again. I guess we can just hope that it's a mild one and we can sneak out from time to time.

I just park mine in the garage and tinker when it's not too cold. I do put the top up on a warm, sunny day so that all of the wrinkles will stretch out and so it's easier to get the snaps in place. Much easier than on a cold day.
 
I live in New England & for last 3 winters I have not winterized my TR even though I don't drive it unless the roads are dry, Biggest thing is to check/ freshen anti freeze & put in some fuel stabilizer. I think running a car, even though it is once a month or so is better than letting it sit. Just be sure you bring it fully up to temp, 5-10 mile road trip each time.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Winter. What's winter

[/ QUOTE ]

you remember, it's the time right after Hurricane season! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
 
Winter storage, why?

In 1967, I was 20 and purchased my first car. It was a '64 TR4 bought in San Diego, CA. I was a California boy, and enjoyed it while stationed in Vallejo, CA. When transferred to upstate New York to continue my nuclear training, off I went arriving in Balston Spa in October (3k miles in 3 days). Wow, the leaves were changing and the colors unlike anything I experienced in CA. Then it rained. Out came the carpet and felt, frequently pulled the jack plugs from the floor so the water could drain out. All was well. Then the freeze and snow. It was so cold, that I wore a woolen poncho with a can of sterno on the floor to keep warm. Along about Dec. a friend suggested I get change my thermostat. Wow, finally had heat! That winter it dropped to -40 for a week. What fun, I scraped ice from both the outside and inside of the windscreen. It took both hands to get the transmission in neutral. Starting the car was a ritual that began with pouring gas into the SU's, a couple of cranks on the starter, hold your breath, it starts. The car now in neutral starts moving across the parking lot (still had 90 weight gearbox oil), put all you strength onto pumping the hydraulic clutch and muscle the gear shifter into second. Drive slowly until the oils heat up and thin out, then off to work, home, or the Rath Skeller and the Skidmore girls depending on the time of day. Then in May, one day it was dreary, the next green everywhere. Stopped the car, jumped out put down the top and drove off. One hundred yards later, stopped, up went the top.

Life was good.

Then there was the time one night in the rain when Lucas the Lord of Darkness knocked out my generator. But that's another story
 
[ QUOTE ]
Winter storage, why?

In 1967, I was 20 and purchased my first car. It was a '64 TR4 bought in San Diego, CA. I was a California boy, and enjoyed it while stationed in Vallejo, CA. When transferred to upstate New York to continue my nuclear training, off I went arriving in Balston Spa in October (3k miles in 3 days). Wow, the leaves were changing and the colors unlike anything I experienced in CA. Then it rained. Out came the carpet and felt, frequently pulled the jack plugs from the floor so the water could drain out. All was well. Then the freeze and snow. It was so cold, that I wore a woolen poncho with a can of sterno on the floor to keep warm. Along about Dec. a friend suggested I get change my thermostat. Wow, finally had heat! That winter it dropped to -40 for a week. What fun, I scraped ice from both the outside and inside of the windscreen. It took both hands to get the transmission in neutral. Starting the car was a ritual that began with pouring gas into the SU's, a couple of cranks on the starter, hold your breath, it starts. The car now in neutral starts moving across the parking lot (still had 90 weight gearbox oil), put all you strength onto pumping the hydraulic clutch and muscle the gear shifter into second. Drive slowly until the oils heat up and thin out, then off to work, home, or the Rath Skeller and the Skidmore girls depending on the time of day. Then in May, one day it was dreary, the next green everywhere. Stopped the car, jumped out put down the top and drove off. One hundred yards later, stopped, up went the top.

Life was good.

Then there was the time one night in the rain when Lucas the Lord of Darkness knocked out my generator. But that's another story

[/ QUOTE ]

Reminds me of back when I ran LBC's(mostly MGB's and Spitfires) through the winter....I actually bought a Spitfire solely as a 'winter car'.
My last winter with LBC's was 1983...A few too many close calls finally made me buy the Camaro. This year I've been thinking about letting my wife drive her MGA all year, at least on the dry days. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
WINTER STORAGE?

I've been working on this thing since January, I don't think that I want to NOT drive. I've got time and miles to make up.

Last year on Thanksgiving, my wife and I took a 50 mile joy ride through the mountains east of Fresno. After the ride I harvested my last tomatoes.

If its raining, I'll drive the Rover, if not, see me in the Triumph...
 
Unlike all of you hard core LBC drivers,

I store my TR6 in a dry garage from November to late April, I'm just looking for tips on winter storage.........


although back in the winter of 81' I drove my 72' MGBGT throughout the entire winter, I remeber the snow was about 3.0' high on the roads and the GT passed all the cars on the highway that wipped out.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
I usually store them all now....Nothing to be ashamed of, especailly if your in a less that favorable environment...I'd rather wait a few months to drive than let them get attacked by salt...Plus who wants to change a fuel pump when it's -40 out.
 
Once the first spreaduing of salt is put down by the highway crew I park my TR6 until spring. Here is what I do for storage:
I put a battery minder on the battery.
I top off the gas tank and add a fuel stablizer.
I change the oil and filter
I put a few moisture pads in each footwell.
I put the car on jack stands.
I put a fresh coat of wax on and then cover the 6 with a breathable cover

In the spring I change the oil and filter again. Then I disconnect the high tension lead and spin the motor to get the internal engine parts lubed before starting it. Some may say this is overkill but I got these tips from a few places on the web. An ounce of pervention is cheaper than a pound of cure. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Winter is coming?? Great news to hear.
The island temps will drift in and out at
about 76* to 80* for five months.

With any luck, the crypt car might be Lazarus-ed
by Thanksgiving and a trip down the beach highway
would be nice.

t
 
There is a lot of golf to play around here till mid Oct. The weather is so much cooler and less humid than the summer. When I put it away I can do a lot of the things done that didn't get done during the driving time. I had one show car. This one is a driver. Road tripping to a golf course is a great way to spend a fall day.
 
I agree about the golf. We play here in RI as long as the course is clear or the greens aren't frost covered. However, my TR6 stays in the garage after the roads get salt on them.
 
No golf for me....one time and money consuming hobby is enough for me.
 
Some day we'll hear a PO story about a guy buying a Spitfire and discovered golf clubs in the trunk. And maybe a comment like... what in the world would the PO be doing with golf clubs when it's so much more fun to drive the Spitfire?

PS I don't play golf.
 
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