Storing Z

[Stryder]

Well I'm going to have to put the Z in storage for about 5 months. I'm looking for a list of things I should do such as unhooking the battery. Thanks all.

[26th-Z]

Drain the gas out of it!

[Fun_in_my_z]

take the tires off and put them in a black plastic bag and store em like up on a self or someplace were they wont be in the way and wont be in bright light.

this prevents dryrotting

[Ed]

I thought if you drain the gas then the tank is empty and it will rust. Aren't you supposed to fill the tank and add fuel stabilizer?

Here are some more tips:

1. Wash the car completely, wax all painted and polished surfaces.

2. Drain oil regardless of mileage since oil change and replace with normal quantity of fresh oil.

3. Remove battery and coat cable terminals with petroleum jelly. If there is evidence of acid spillage around the battery tray, neutralize with baking soda and repaint.

4. Remove spark plugs and add a small quantity of oil to each cylinder. Turn the engine a few revolutions. Install spark plugs.

5. Insert a paper card, lightly saturated with silicone oil, between the points (if you still have points).

6. Check tire pressures.

[Stryder]

Cool, good list going. Anything else?

[v12horse]

Awe, so you are going to go huh Charlie?

[Stryder]

Yep my time has come Ben. It's all good though. I can't wait to spend spring and summer sweating my arse off in Missouri.

[v12horse]

I wish you the best of luck. When you get back we better have another meet.

-Ben

[ChrisA]

Bring the car to me Charlie, I'll take good care of her. I swear.

[Marty Rogan]

Charlie,

5 months is not really long term storage. That is what we mid-westerners have to deal with every year.

I would recommend that you:

1) fill the gas tank and add stabil to the gas.

2) when you are ready to place it in its hibernating place, drive the car for at least 20 minutes to get it up to operating temperature. Then park it, shut it off and don't restart it till you take it out of hibernation.

3) take the battery out and put it in the basement or somewhere warm and dry. Put a piece of wood under it. Never put a battery on concrete.

4) Some one else said to remove the tires. You can do that, or just jack the car up just enough to take the pressure off the tires and put it on jack stands. You don't necessarily want to have it high enough for the springs to hang and sag.

5) clean and wax as someone said.

6) if there is a possibility of rodents being in the area, stuff a rag in your tail pipe and air cleaner snout, shut the floor air vents and place a dish of moth balls inside the car. Cover it with a car cover.

7) Buy a subscription to Z SPort Magazine, read this forum and buy all the parts you will need for your next project when you bring it out again. This helps from getting bummed out from not driving it!

Some of the other suggestions are good too. It just depends on how far you want to go. 5 months is not too bad. Hopefully that won't grow into a long term thing. But if it does, it should be well prepared.

Good luck,

Marty

[Ed]

Originally posted by Marty Rogan

Charlie,

3) Never put a battery on concrete.

I've heard this before, why?

[Fun_in_my_z]

concrete gets realy cold and thats bad on the battery.

their are other reasons but i cant think of em right now.