i just purchased a 1969 chevelle from New Mexico and had it brought up north. The car will be stored in my garage for the winter. My question is regarding its storage and the best way to winterize the car. What i do know is this fill tank up completly,add fuel stabilizer,park the car on plywood with a ground sheet. Should i fire it up once a month and let it run or does this cause condensation in the exhaust system.Any input on this topic would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Invest in a car bag! Greatest thing ever invented. Top off the gas tank, zip it up and forget about it. Don't fire it up until Spring.

I know you've probably already checked, but don't forget the antifreeze

What does the plywood do? Prevent the tires from dry rotting?

You'll get a thousand different responses on this, but I would leave it sit. Prepare it for storage and store it. Starting it will do little good, and probably more harm than good. Keep the garage warm and dry as possible and you'll be good to go. Pump the tires up to the max pressure ( this will help with flat spotting, plus you'll lose some pressure over winter, anyway. ), fill the tank, check coolant and put something in or around the car to keep critters away, if there are any in your storage area. I usually leave the windows cranked down just a bit to let fresh air into the car so it doesn't get musty inside. I also unhook the battery and put it on a tender. Throw a nice cover on it and you're done. I have stored cars for years with very few storage related issues.

Like Tom stated many will have their opinions, just like me. However I would fill her up with fuel and use staybil so the fuel stays stable; remember to run the engine for a bit so the Staybil gets to the carb, etc. Then check all the fluid levels and top everything off. Since Chevelles are full framed I would put her on jackstands as to take weight off the tires/suspension, etc, and you should be good to go until next summer. Remember to visit her every once in a while to check to make sure you don't get little visiters such as mice, etc

I have never heard the plywood thing either. Any idea the purpose of that anybody?
All good advice above. Check and fill all fluids. use Stabil. Do a last oil and filter change. I put on axle stands just to take weight off tires as mine will go flat over winter if full weight is on them. I take battery inside when I remember and its left in the car if I forget, never seemed to make a difference. Either way it needs charging in the spring.
Have stored in 15 Canadian winters so far in unheated garage and fires up evey spring.
Oh and by the way, I try and remember to get underneath oil sprayed every couple of years.
Good Luck with yours
Dunc

Thank you for all the tips,and the ply wood is supposed to be better than concrete for the tires, softer and warmer. cheers and i look foward to more advice this spring.

I lay a sheet of plastic on the cement floor to keep the dampness off the underside of the car. You can raise the car a few inches, you don't want the wheels of the ground or the suspension may bend. But if your like me, if the roads are dry from a rainfall, I'll take it out for a drive so new fuel gets into the bowls and all the fluid levels get to operating temp, thus getting rid of any moisture. I used to squirt oil down each cyl then reinstall the plugs and undo the coil wire so I can crank the engine over a couple of times without it starting. Just so the cyl's don't get a chance to rust. I crank the engine over every week a couple of times (not so it fires) so the rocker springs end up sitting in a different position. Forgot to add to disconnect the batt. If you don't raise it or over inflate the tires, I would still roll it a few inches forward for a week then back to a different position so the tires don't get a flat spot.

Just park it , take the battery out and store the battery where it is warm.You don't need to do anything else! I have stored dozens of cars like this for years and never had a problem!!! Dont waste money on sta-bil crap!!

..what Tom said.
You can't overthink this stuff unless the car sits outside or in a portable garage/shelter.
More than half the battle is keeping it in a dry garage.
Mine is heated and under my house.
I don't do a damn thing to my cars other then making sure they have fresh oil and the gas tanks are at least half full.
I am one of those guys that if it hasn't snowed yet and its sunny out,I will still drive my cars on the weekend during the winter months.
After the first snow comes,thats it-I'm done.Then they stay parked.

What if your car is stored outside?

Winter is the perfect weather for driving the car around here, particularly with no AC :D

What if your car is stored outside?


I have no experience with outside storage, but can assure you, no good can come from it. If you have a truly good car, invest the money to find a building to keep it in, you will be $$$$ ahead by doing so. JMO.

If you store it outside,at least get a portable shelter,plus a car cover.
Park on some marine plywood if its not on pavement.
Check antifreeze and have a full tank.

villain22,

Good topic. Been discussed many times over the years. Everyone has their own storage methods that works best for them. I don't know if there really is a right or wrong way of storing cars-based on opinions provided. Some are obvious. Anyway, did you so happen to buy this Chevelle recently through a guy you know at Automotive Machine Services (ak.a., Automotive Head Exchange)? I walked in on a conversation he was having on the telephone recently and he mentioned that a 69 chevelle was for sale and he knew a guy from either back east or up north (or NE) that regularly comes to NM to buy classics.

Fluid changes and a good cleaning inside and out and fill the tank till its full. Add a can of seafoam into the tank, and I also put on a extra set of wheels and tires while it is parked. No fancy dumping oil down cylinders or anything like that. Storing a car for a winter season is actually considered, SHORT TERM and I dont feel it is necessary to go all out. Been doing it like that for 13 years with my 66SS.

I keep mine in an attached garage, next to my wife's car, so the garage door is opening and closing all winter for her. All I do to the Chevelle is over-inflate the tires a bit (+5 lbs.), park it as far over as I can, and disconnect the battery. If the oil is still relatively fresh from the season, I won't change it. I don't bother with Sta-bil, either. I also don't put a cover on it. I tried it, and found that dust just got trapped under the cover anyway.

Come spring, charge the battery, pump the gas 4 times and the car pops off. Check the tires, dust it off and I'm good to go.