[richr]

Being this is the first winter my car is complete it's also the first time I have had to let it sit.

It's sitting in the garage - never below 40 degrees with a dehumidifier running 24/7.

I put some fuel stabilizer in it in Oct.

The last time I started it was in mid Dec, almost a month ago.

So, is it bad for the car to sit? Should I just start it once every other week or is it best to start it when you are going to drive it. How long can it sit without having to re-prime the motor - or is that even necessary.

Thks

Rich


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70 SS - L34
Member # 442 (Gold member)
ACES # 3480
http://www.my70ss.com
http://www.chevelles.com/feature/august2001.html]

 

[Dean]

naa, I've had cars that I started after they set outside for years with no problems
Usually though, I like to fire them up at least once a year and it's kinda fun anyway

 

[Chevelle66]

I'm also curious about this...I am leaving to go to Orlando for 7 months, and I won't be near my car, and it won't be started the whole time I'm gone.

Is there anything I should to do to prepare it before I go? It will be outside during our wonderful Kansas City winter, under a tarp.

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Nick Pratt,
TC #1442

Proud owner of a 66 Malibu -
355, four speed, 3.08 pegleg
14.94 @ 93.75
<A HREF="http://www.public.iastate.edu/~amcarthu" TARGET=_blank>
Andy and Nick's Muscle Car Half-way House</A>

 

[Fred Ont canada]

Just make sure to fog the engine with 2 cycle oil and put 50lbs of air in the tires to keep them from flat spotting.Chevell66 make sure that air can circulate and don't leave it parked on grass...FRED

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[FO_FDYFO]

i was told you should not leave a car sit for more then 2 weeks without turning the engin. because a few springs will always be compressed all the way and that will cause them to loose some spring pressure. now maybe thats only on high performence motors?
another bad thing about leaving a motor sit is the oil slowly drains from the bearings, and when you finnaly crank it up they are pretty much dry untill the pump primes the system.

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1970 Chevelle 454 Wagons haul A$$ in style! "The Chopped Suburban". to see some goto
www.EINSTYN.com FO_FDYFO = four-fifty four! TC#1460, VCEA#2

 

[65elcamino]

Another thing you might want to do is disconnect the battery if it will be left for couple of months. The old analog clocks can drain the battery.

I used to leave a automatic battery charger on it until I came home and found the battery boiling off acid due to it becoming shorted. I now disconnect the battery for long periods of storage.

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Brian TC#1092, ACES#4374
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1964 Malibu SS Convertible (Garage Queen) Before Restoration
1965 El Camino (Daily Driver) Before Restoration
1981 Corvette (Sidelined for repairs)

 

[HI ROLR]

I store my car for 5 months every winter. IMO it's better to leave it and not start it at all until you're ready to drive it.

All the suggestions above are good... also roll down the windows a crack if it's indoors.

 

[Midnight Marauder]

Heres an example. I have radials on my SS, she sat for two and a half years, was never fired or moved and was kept outside (I should be flogged with a wet timing chain, I know) but anyhow, when I caught the bug again and joined TC, learned alot from all you guys I got her running again. No flat spots in the tires, had a dead battery so i replaced, filled the tank with fuel and water remover, changed the oil, primed the oil pump before cranking her, checked all my wiring for rodent destruction and bang! she fired right up.

In hindsight, I would recommend a full tank with stabilizer, fogging the cylinders with 2 cycle, disconnect the bat and when firing her back up prime the oil pump. Wouldnt hurt to run a little marvel mystery oil throught the carb if she sat for a long time either. I was told that with radials flat spots after sitting isnt a common problem, just dont let the rubber dry out. My humble, perhaps un-informed but experienced .02 in the matter

 

[Alan]

When I used to park my Chevelle in my mom's garage when I went away to college a new problem arose when I drove it again. First it was the pinon seal, then the rear-end decided it wanted a complete rebuild (hollowing at speed), then the battery gave up, carb leaked, etc, etc. I finally got pissed off of repairing and just parked my newer car and started driving the Chevelle. I do less repairs when I drive it regularly than when it sits. I'm a believer in drive it and enjoy it, but not everyone is like me.

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1971 Chevelle
1994 Impala SS
1996 Schwinn when both are torn apart
The Silver Bullet
"If you don't have extra parts after a rebuild..you did it wrong"

 

[FO_FDYFO]

HI ROLR, it is better to leave it and not start it at all until you're ready to drive it. true because if your not going to run it long enought to evaporate all the moisture in the exhaust by firing it up and turning it off you will cause things to prematurly rust, however i was refering to turning the engin with out starting it to move the tension in the valve springs to other positions. i like that i have heard Midnight Marauder say he primed the oil pump. this prevents rotating dry bearings under a load.

 

[rlchv70]

Another thing you might want to do: Put some dessicant in the interior. This will dry up any moisture inside the car to keep rust and mold from forming.

I agree that not starting it is better than starting it. The springs should be okay, because fatigue or overcompressing (valve float) is what kills springs. If you must start it, then warm it up to full operating temperature so that all moisture gets evaporated.

When it comes time to start it again, you may want to drain the carb and fill it full with fuel again.

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Randy Johnson
70 Chevelle
454
[email protected]
1.766 60 ft.