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05-10-2010, 07:08 PM
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#1
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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How to store a car for a long time?
What are all the proper steps in order to prepare a car for long-term storage?
And by that, I mean a minimum of 5 years UNTOUCHED.
I do understand when the time comes to take the car out afterwards, it will involve a bit of work to get it up and running again, so thats not the issue.
The car will be inside a private garage inside a CarCapsule(a big car bubble).
I know some of the basic steps like, completely remove the battery and i'd put the car on jackstands but with the suspension still loaded. Id also fill the tank and add Stabil even though the fuel will need to be drained once i take the car out of storage. And then also fill all fluids and do a fresh oil change.
What else?
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05-10-2010, 07:45 PM
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#2
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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IMO:
0.) Wash it, wax it.
1.) Drain the gas.
2.) Remove the battery
3.) Put it on jackstands
4.) If it has strong valvesprings, back off the rockers.
5.) Put dessicant bags in the interior. A few big ones.
Probably more. Others will chime in.
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05-10-2010, 08:12 PM
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#3
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Meet Coordinator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
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i'd check for any signs of rust anywhere and coat/protect those areas. check the car frequently too. 5 years is a long time for a car to sit untouched, i'd be concerned about the cylinder walls mainly among other unprotected internal areas.
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05-10-2010, 08:41 PM
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#4
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Admin.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 20,149
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5 years? who cares about jackstands, the tires are gonna be too old anyway.
what car is this?
__________________
Vent Windows Forever!
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand. Or so I have read.
Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold. I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors.
Hey everybody, it's good to have you on the Baba-too-da-ba-too-ba-ba-buh-doo-ga-ga-bop-a-dop
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05-10-2010, 08:44 PM
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#5
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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lol, the SS
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05-10-2010, 08:45 PM
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#6
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Admin.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 20,149
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just sell it for gods sake.
__________________
Vent Windows Forever!
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand. Or so I have read.
Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold. I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors.
Hey everybody, it's good to have you on the Baba-too-da-ba-too-ba-ba-buh-doo-ga-ga-bop-a-dop
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05-10-2010, 08:47 PM
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#7
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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nevaaaaaaaaaa..., just for 11k...
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05-10-2010, 09:00 PM
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#8
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Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BonzoHansen
5 years? who cares about jackstands, the tires are gonna be too old anyway.
what car is this?
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I was thinking about the suspension sitting, not the tires.
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05-10-2010, 09:30 PM
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#9
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Power Member / trans break does not equal transbrake
Join Date: May 2009
Location: The Meadowlands
Posts: 4,513
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throw me the keys and ill take care of it for you for 5years
__________________
99 Z28 - SBE LS1/60e
Motor - 10.84 @ 128 - 1.47 60'
Nitrous - 10.16 @ 132 - 1.40 60"
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05-10-2010, 09:33 PM
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#10
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Co-Founder / Site Admin
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ewing, NJ
Posts: 22,473
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I second draining the gas.....you have a plastic tank, no need to keep it full in hopes it will prevent rust formation or anything like that.
- Justin
__________________
1999 Camry - Beigemobile DD
2002 Suburban - Wife's DD
2004 Grand Cherokee - Not running / Project / Selling?
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05-10-2010, 09:41 PM
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#11
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Admin.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Posts: 20,149
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Let Justin use it for 5 years.
Where are you going for 5 years?
__________________
Vent Windows Forever!
The looser the waistband, the deeper the quicksand. Or so I have read.
Feather-light suspension, Konis just couldn't hold. I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom doors.
Hey everybody, it's good to have you on the Baba-too-da-ba-too-ba-ba-buh-doo-ga-ga-bop-a-dop
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05-10-2010, 09:44 PM
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#12
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Sewell,NJ Washington Township
Posts: 2,416
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that's a long time lol
__________________
1995 Pontiac Firebird - V6 few mods
1988 Mustang - supercharged, heads/cam etc...
2012 Mustang - 5.0 6spd / 437rwhp 420trq
Quote:
Originally Posted by LTs1ow
Verts are gay and stalkers ride in them.
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05-10-2010, 09:48 PM
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#13
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Co-Founder / Site Admin
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ewing, NJ
Posts: 22,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BonzoHansen
Let Justin use it for 5 years.
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I'll trade you the SS for my '87 for 5 years.
- Justin
__________________
1999 Camry - Beigemobile DD
2002 Suburban - Wife's DD
2004 Grand Cherokee - Not running / Project / Selling?
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05-10-2010, 09:55 PM
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#14
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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i just never drive it and no need to pay reg and insurance on it. in 2 years ill get out of the army and need to focus more on life. so it would be a while before i can think about using multiple cars again... so yea, into storage it goes.
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05-11-2010, 09:19 AM
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#15
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 819
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I would think the best thing to do money wise would be to sell it. It's not going to be worth nearly as much in 5 years. Especially once used 5th gen cars start hitting the market. Unless it has a real strong sentimental value...that would be the only justificaion for keeping it in my mind. In 5 years i'm sure that $10000 or so will buy a car that's just as sweet as your SS. That SS will only start increasing in value in like 25+ years, that is if we can still drive cars like this then.
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05-11-2010, 11:30 AM
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#16
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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i bought the SS brand new in 2001, so one owner car, i have all documents.
i have 10s of thousands into this car, it isnt like i only paid 20k for it as is... so selling it for 10,000 doesnt make sense.
10k wouldnt even cover what the new motor and bolt-ons cost me.
edit...
oh just so before i feel the need to become rude and go hurting future feelings.. this thread is...
"HOW TO STORE A CAR FOR A LONG TIME?"
not... "store or sell?"... get my point? i dont play well with others anymore.
Last edited by V; 05-11-2010 at 11:33 AM.
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05-11-2010, 02:44 PM
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#17
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12 Second Club
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: metuchen, nj
Posts: 1,476
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Quote:
Originally Posted by V
i bought the SS brand new in 2001, so one owner car, i have all documents.
i have 10s of thousands into this car, it isnt like i only paid 20k for it as is... so selling it for 10,000 doesnt make sense.
10k wouldnt even cover what the new motor and bolt-ons cost me.
edit...
oh just so before i feel the need to become rude and go hurting future feelings.. this thread is...
"HOW TO STORE A CAR FOR A LONG TIME?"
not... "store or sell?"... get my point? i dont play well with others anymore.
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Ya man i wouldnt wanna sell that car if i was you either. Good luck with the storage
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05-11-2010, 03:52 PM
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#18
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Williamstown
Posts: 91
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put it in a bubble lol
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05-11-2010, 03:57 PM
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#19
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hillsborough, NJ
Posts: 1,099
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Drain the gas out
get it out of the injectors and fuel rail so the fuel doesnt gunk up in there.
take off the rocker arms.
Need some protection on those cylinder walls though.
__________________
-Devin
Whiplash Intense Performance
Intensify your ride with over 500 name brand Performance parts and accessories!
www.intensewhiplash.com
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05-11-2010, 07:26 PM
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#20
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smoke_em94
put it in a bubble lol
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...i already have one for it.
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05-11-2010, 07:50 PM
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#21
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 201
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all good tips so far... also lift wipers or take wiper blades off so prevent the rubber from sticking to the windshield for that long a period of time, keep parking brake DISENGAGED, fill with fresh oil and oil filter with specific additives for long term storage (im not sure which type, but there are oils made specifically for shipping and long term storage) drain radiator and leave bottom and top hoses unhooked, open boxes of baking soda or desicants inside eliminate moisture, also I have heard different things about gas, some saying that you should fill it completely and add stabilizer, some leave an 1/8 of a tank with stabilizer, and some saying to completely drain it...
For my car for winter storage I:
put fresh oil and filter in it, leave it on jackstands, leave about 1/4 tank of gas in it with stabilizer, top off all fluids, put moth balls in the cabin and trunk and on the engine by the carb....
hope this helps
__________________
78 Trans Am--Pontiac 400-custom headers-pypes 2.5 X system-edelbrock intake and carb, pro comp roller rockers custom brackets-head work-custom sound system - recaro interior
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05-11-2010, 08:58 PM
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#22
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Paramus, NJ
Posts: 280
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Upholstery might be a concern, too. I'm no expert, but I would think that treating the leather or cloth seats with some kind of lubricant might help. Some kind of wash or under body treatment wouldn't hurt, either.
__________________
<Tru2chevy> a little over 16 pedobytes of RAM
<Masonite> ...pedo?
<Masonite> you mean peta?
<Tru2chevy> ya
<Tru2chevy> my friend had just sent me a pedobear pic
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05-11-2010, 10:49 PM
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#23
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by V
i bought the SS brand new in 2001, so one owner car, i have all documents.
i have 10s of thousands into this car, it isnt like i only paid 20k for it as is... so selling it for 10,000 doesnt make sense.
10k wouldnt even cover what the new motor and bolt-ons cost me.
edit...
oh just so before i feel the need to become rude and go hurting future feelings.. this thread is...
"HOW TO STORE A CAR FOR A LONG TIME?"
not... "store or sell?"... get my point? i dont play well with others anymore.
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My apologies, didn't mean to insult you. I saw 11k earlier, didn't think 10k would be offensive in comparison. I was just stating the fact that doing it for money/value reasons isn't really a valid reason to lock up a 10 year old car for 5 years. But seems like you really want to keep it so good luck keeping it nice...I mean that sincerely. I've just seen what happens to cars that are nice when they are locked up and fall apart with lack of human attention over years. Having someone be able to drive it, or even just start it up once/twice a year would do wonders.
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Last edited by 91chevywt; 05-11-2010 at 11:44 PM.
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05-20-2010, 02:03 PM
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#24
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13 Second Club / Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Franklin Lakes, NJ
Posts: 8,684
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Paul- crazy idea, but do you have a car-guy friend that you trust enough to come maintain it every few months and run it through its paces to keep all the fluids fresh and the joints lubed and such? I know registration and insurance would be a problem, but if said car guy had a dealer plate, it wouldn't be as big of an issue.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow
Except Jersey mike, great kid, but the way he looks at me makes me feel like im in danger
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