Thread: Storing my Classic

So I might be moving to Poland for a while and I don't want to give up my car. It's a clean nearly rust free '91 with no sunroof, no ABS and no cruise control..

Perfection!

So anyway, does anyone have an recommendations on storing this car long-term? for a year or so? i might come back every 3 or 4 months and break it out of storage while I'm home.

I recommend you put it on jackstands, remove the wheels and store them in trash bags, apply a generous coat off armor all to keep the rubber moist, no more than a 1/4 tank of fuel in the tank, if you plan to leave oil in the crankcase then be sure and pour fresh oil through the crankcase prior to starting in the future, keep the battery on a 110 volt trickle charger and if you can put the car in a temp controlled storage then do it, hope it helps.

that certainly helps.

I could have a friend come by and drive it once every couple of weeks.. Should I try that? or just go with basic storage like you outlined? I'm not sure what would be easier. What does pouring oil over the crankcase involve?

OK, if you trust your friend to start it and drive it for you every couple of weeks than I would go that route because it keeps the fuel from seperating in the tank and it keeps the oil from settling in the pan. If you choose to store it all the oil on the inside of the engine will settle to the lowest point it can and then if you come along in like 3 or 4months and try and start it you will have metal on metal contact. I suggest if your going to store it drain all the oil out and then when it's time to start it again pull the drain plug and run a few quarts of oil through the crankcase to lube as many moving parts as possible to prevent unecessary wear on moving parts. I do that same thing whenever I do an oil change, I drain the old oil, then i take like 2 quarts of fresh oil and let it run through and drain out the bottom so as to flush any old oil or contaminants out of the engine. Another thing is if you decide to store it, like I said only about a 1/4 tank of fuel but when time comes to start and run it again, while it's still in storage take a couple 5 gallon cans of fuel and dump it in the tank, this will stir up the remaining fuel so you don't clog any injectors with anything that may have settled in the bottom of the tank. Hope all this made sense, good luck whatever you decide to do.

P.S.-Or you could just leave it at my house, I'll start it and run and tear the tires off once a week for a small fee...LOL j/k

^Have man this is a good idea. I'm going to start doing that when I change my oil. I guess me buying two quarts of 5W-30 auto zone oil to do the straight through flush, then put my fully synthetic 5W-30 Moblie 1 in would do just fine. You seem to have experience in storing cars. Some good advice in this thread.

+rep bro.

I could be gone up to 2 years.. I might just sell it. This seems like a lot of work. But damn, the car is in such great shape..

^Don't sale it man. It's really not that bad to take 2 or 3 hours or so to get the car storage ready. How much will the monthly storage build be? I pay $40 dollars a month for my storage building. It's only a 10x10 though.

I laid one of my SE-Rs up for about 18 months but I did drive it once just for yucks. You really aren't supposed to though. I had a thread a bit over 3 years ago on the other forum.

When I re-animated mine I drove down the block and had my mechanic flush the tank for me immediately. The only thing I would do different is keep the suspension from hanging. My struts were done anyway and I immediately put on AGX/Hyperco.

I would be willing to bet that if you sell it your gonna come acroos someone else (like me) with a pristeen SE-R and then your gonna say "f*ck why did I sell mine"

Also cover it (with wax also if possible) and relax the window seals slightly. Crush up some carbon or charcoal in a little pan and leave it on the floor in back. Absorbs odors. Make sure there are no rodents/varmints that have access. Let the air out of the wheels and set them in the trunk and back seat. Use plastic bags for each wheel. Prop the knuckles up with blocks so the suspension does not hang.