Winterizing Tips

[Trans-Am Jim]

With a Nor'easter and its associated snow and ice expected this weekend up her in Mass., the time has come to put her away for the winter.
Here's a few tips gleaned over the years to insure a trouble-free spring startup:

Fuel
1.) Add Stabil® or similar product and top-off gas tank to reduce moisture buildup and preserve volatility of gasoline. Start and warm motor, turn off fuel pump (if electric) and run fuel system dry.

Engine
1.) Top-off coolant. Use hydrometer to check antifreeze protection. (I make sure it's good to 10 degrees)
2.) Change oil and filter.
3.) Remove air cleaners and mist intake with W-D40® or similar.
4.) Remove sparkplugs and mist cylinders with W-D40® or similar. (now's a good time to cold-lash them valves!!!)

Electrics
1.) Mist fuse box with CRC® or similar to reduce moisture corrosion.
2.) Remove battery to cool, dry spot and trickle charge.

Miscellaneous
1.)I usually leave the car on the ground as opposed to resting it on jack stands. (the idea of having the shocks fully extended has never sat right with me) Every couple of weeks, I push it forward or back a few feet to change the tires contact point.
2.) I remove the Halon fire bottles (I have 2. I don't think sub-freezing weather will hurt them all that much, but they will be just fine indoors, too!). 3.) Make sure the Trigo's have anti-seize liberally applied to all wheel/hub contact points.
4.) Place some dessicant packs in the trunk and glove compartment, and throw a few around on the carpeting and behind the seats.
5.) Treat the leather or vinyl to a preservative spray. A quick spray of Eagle 1 touch-up to the paint wouldn't hurt either. This stuff is great- you can cover the entire car in 5 minutes.
6.) Slap her on the ass, cover her up, head to the couch, and open a brew.

I realize most of you cold-weather dwellers know this stuff, but I thought it might help somebody out. It would be interesting to see what other folks do too!

[jamesson]

Hey Jimbo,
What did you use on the rotors? if anything.

Jim

[Trans-Am Jim]

I'm assuming you mean the brake rotors (not the distributor rotor)
Nothing - a quick rub with some steel wool and a shot of brake-kleen will get rid of any corrosion that pops up come springtime.

[scottj]

Fuel
1. Fill tank
2. Remove the lines from the tank and cap the tank fittings
so it's air-tight

Engine
1. With engine running, pour Marvel Mystery Oil down the
primaries until it starts smoking then shut it off.
2. Back the rockers off the valve springs
3. Remove the carb, drain the gas and reinstall

Misc.
1. Roll car to corner of shop, set it on jackstands
(under the control arms) and cover
2. Set heat to 60 deg.

[Cobra #42]

Jim, Sorry to hear about the winter thing , we just keep driving down here in Texas P.S. Do you have Trans Am car ?? just wondering, L*R, db

[Back in Black]

I would not use WD-40 ! It is HYDROSCOPIC...meaning it actually attracts moisture.... ! My recommendation would be for a pump spray of 5 or 10 weight synthetic oil...or maybe some sort of tool preservative spray oil...

Don't forget that you can place a dessicant pak in your air filter housing to help out in this regard...but use a written checklist for re-activating "her" , so you don't forget it!

Something else that helps are "Golden rods" they are the type of electric heater rods used in display cases and safes...( www.griotsgarage.com ) properly placed they can keep your trunk/cockpit dry and freeze-free all winter...as long as it's in covered/garage storage

[flipper35]

1: Every weekend make sure the tank is full. Check tires and fluid levels.
2: Drive the snot out of it to Julian.
3: Fill tank again
4: Drive the snot out of it on the way home.
5: Fill tank
6: Wait for weekend and repeat.

[Bob In Ct]

My Car is in an unheated garage all winter. It's covered with a flannel lined cover. I leave a 25 watt light bulb on an alligator clip (attached to the brake pedal) burning the whole time. I figure it keeps the cockpit area a little warmer than the ambient and thus prevents condensation.

Before I start it I put a 75 watt bulb under the crankcase for a day or so to heat up the oil.

Bob

[Back in Black]

I am considering one of these for my Cobra...a heater that is mated to the pan and pre-heats the oil with an electric cord...you can find them at:

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/

Would be perfect for early cold starts..

[bonyhadi]

or....you can move to California and drive whenever...

[petek]

I'm ready for the snow! I figure I'll just start the Cobra up and back slowly out of the garage, let the exhaust melt the snow off the driveway. I won't even have to get the snow blower out of the garden building this winter!

[xlr8or]

TA Jim,

Winter???

assuming from your post, I take to mean it gets cold?

Come to San Diego and you can buy half the house for only twice the price and drive all year.

Last weekend it rained for 3 days straight. That means half the rainy season is over and you don't have to worry about it again until March.
It did get cold here once, was down to 35 degrees at night and barely topped 75 the next day. God it really sucked.

You ever seen a cactus with lights and tinsel?

The only snow you see here $1500 an ounce.

[Excaliber]

I guess you wouldn't need any Hawaii "wintering" advice...........

Ernie

[406 snake]

Put some Bounce dryer sheets in the trunk,interior and engine compartment they will keep the mice out.
I know it sounds funny but it does work.
Charlie

[speed220mph]

Depends on where you live when it comes to storing your car. You don't have to worry about humidity in the Southwest. And most areas of the country are pretty dry in the Winter. Just be careful that you don't pull a car dripping with road salt and grime in beside your Cobra. That stuff will migrate across the floor and get up into your prize where it will eat away. I had that happened to my '66 Mustang where it did some major corrosion while I existed in Michigan.

As for your engine, Avblend works great in the crankcase. Used for aircraft, it's pricey, but what's the value of your engine? The stuff is amazing. Ok'd by the FAA, it's not snakeoil. Z-max is the repackage version of it for the automotive industry. Even AJ Foyt uses it in his Indy Car engines. And there's the stuff that's been around for years . . . Marvel Mystery Oil. The stuff is great considering the price. Use it in the oil and top end.

The best solution is to do what John Wyer did to his stored GT-40's . . . vacuum bag them and seal the engine and transmission. Not too practical for us peasants.

[jeffmort]

move to San Diego

[Scott Smith]

406:

The Bounce sheets sound like a great idea. I placed glue sheets around the garage hoping to catch the suckers before they can get near the car, but I'm going to try your idea as well.



I don't winterize my car since I try to drive it periodically as long as there's no snow or salt/cinders on the road. I do park the car on plywood as a barrier between the concrete and tires. I've heard that the concrete can dry out the tires. Any truth to that?

[Sizzler]

I don't know what your neighborhood is like, but if you put hedge-apples (from osage orange trees) along the perimeter of the garage, that keeps critters away.

Home Improvement catalog has cut-to-length weatherstripping that you basically glue down under your door. Also helps seal all the little gaps there.

[Carroll DeWeese]

I have a plan for winterizing my Cobra. I am making changes on my house and I am going to winterize and add heat to my garage. The Cobra will be warm and dry and I will be warm and dry as I work on it in the winter.