How to store a car for a long time? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

V · 05-10-2010, 08:08 PM

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?

WildBillyT · 05-10-2010, 08:45 PM

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.

sweetbmxrider · 05-10-2010, 09:12 PM

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.

BonzoHansen · 05-10-2010, 09:41 PM

5 years? who cares about jackstands, the tires are gonna be too old anyway.

what car is this?

V · 05-10-2010, 09:44 PM

lol, the SS

BonzoHansen · 05-10-2010, 09:45 PM

just sell it for gods sake.

V · 05-10-2010, 09:47 PM

nevaaaaaaaaaa..., just for 11k...

WildBillyT · 05-10-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

5 years? who cares about jackstands, the tires are gonna be too old anyway.

what car is this?

I was thinking about the suspension sitting, not the tires.

LS1ow · 05-10-2010, 10:30 PM

throw me the keys and ill take care of it for you for 5years

Tru2Chevy · 05-10-2010, 10:33 PM

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

BonzoHansen · 05-10-2010, 10:41 PM

Let Justin use it for 5 years.

Where are you going for 5 years?

BigRocsFirebird · 05-10-2010, 10:44 PM

that's a long time lol

Tru2Chevy · 05-10-2010, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

Let Justin use it for 5 years.

I'll trade you the SS for my '87 for 5 years.

- Justin

V · 05-10-2010, 10:55 PM

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.

91chevywt · 05-11-2010, 10:19 AM

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.

V · 05-11-2010, 12:30 PM

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.

thunder · 05-11-2010, 03:44 PM

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.

Ya man i wouldnt wanna sell that car if i was you either. Good luck with the storage

smoke_em94 · 05-11-2010, 04:52 PM

put it in a bubble lol

Whiplash Performance · 05-11-2010, 04:57 PM

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.

V · 05-11-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoke_em94

put it in a bubble lol

...i already have one for it.

andy78TA · 05-11-2010, 08:50 PM

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

Masonite · 05-11-2010, 09:58 PM

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.

91chevywt · 05-11-2010, 11:49 PM

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.

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.

qwikz28 · 05-20-2010, 03:03 PM

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.