My 1970 El Camino which is finally painted a beautiful midnight blue (still at paint shop) cannot come with me to Portland for at least a year. I have an enclosed garage for it in Los Angeles but I need some tips as to how it should be stored. I've heard that the gas tank should be FULL, but I had some other thoughts:


-will putting the El Camino on jack stands be of any help?
-should I remove the battery?
-should I drain the coolant?
-Any procedure when I come back to get the car?

I've never stored a car before and don't want to mess up my now fully restored El Camino. I've already purchased a very good cover meant for indoors.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Dan

Put stabil in with a full tank of gas, take the battery out, put some socks in the tail pipes, put two grocery bags around the carb, tie shut with a shoestring, rubber band will rot.

Crack a window or two about a 1/4'', put something around the car to deter rodents, put a good car cover or sheets over it, and walk away.

Rob

Thank you very much. It's killing me I can't take the car especially since it was just painted.

I think you should bring it to my house for storagre. I would be glad to exercise it often.

Mark

Why are you leaving????

I'd have to check into putting something on that fresh of paint. I don't know, I'm just saying I'd look into it further.

Honestly , The only think I worry about when leaving a car for this long , ie 1 yr storage, is mice !! Like the guys said , pack a lot of poison bait around the car, cover the carb, but I never thought about the tail pipes though,put a car cover on it and don't worry. I disconnect the battery in the fall ,and in the summer re-connect the battery and my 69 GTO Conv has started right up for the past 3 years. I drove it accross the country 3 yrs ago and was too lazy to drive it back. I change the oil every fall before I leave and , so far no problems. Knock on wood!

Why are you leaving????



Long story but the car went into the paint shop at the beginning of November and about a month ago my wife and I decided to relocate to Portland, OR from Santa Monica, CA. We also decided to rent a place before purchasing a home and after lot's of searching found a house that unfortunately doesn't have a garage. The stuff you agree to when you're married. This does give me more leverage when it comes to purchasing a home in that the garage will be a, if not the, major consideration-I'm holding her to it!

So the elko is in the final stages at the paint shop. There were a couple of spots on the floor of the cab which we replaced with a like-panel and the primer was sanded down at least 10 times that I saw. It's a midnight blue color from a Bentley Arnage. Wet sanding has been going on for about a week and I'm going to go see it tomorrow. Our move date is April 13 (Friday) so everything has to be buttoned up by then.

If your garage is climate controlled no worries but if not I would think about putting a dessicant sock inside the car just in case...

Thanks again for all your help and for the offers to babysit my elko :)

knock out the wall to your living room and install a garage door, face the tv towards the windshield so you could be at the drive in every night, buy plenty of pop corn you will be needing it!! then you will know it is safe sound and warm..you are not married are you?:D