Where's a good place to put jackstands?

[mazdatsun428]

I was having some exhaust work done on my truck and i mentioned my purchase of a 71 Z to my mechanic. He said if I was going to store it for the winter than I should raise all 4 wheels off the ground to relieve the stress off the chassis and bearings. Opinions? He recommended places for placement like the rear axle and front suspension, was he correct?

[xray]

Hmmm...well, seeing as cars spend nearly their entire lives on the ground, I doubt that lifting it for the winter will relieve stress on the chassis. But, if you keep it on the ground all winter it may develop flat(ter) spots on the tires, especially if its race rubber.

If you put the car on jacks, I'd recommend removing the wheels to keep the unsprung weight dangling from your suspension to a minimum. Dangling your car for several months has a better potential for damage than just leaving it on the ground.

When my car was on jacks for restoration I had jacks at the frame rail near the T/C rod, at the rear frame right where the floorpan ends, and a third pair at the rad support (just in case.)

Honestly, from your prior thread (and based on where you live) why put it away? I mean, it's a nice car that certainly looks driveable and it's Maryland, not Buffalo or Cleveland--so drive it periodically through the winter... It's near 80 here in NC, you gotta be getting some of this weather too, right?

[mazdatsun428]

Your probably right about the need to raise the car for 3 months or so, I was just wondering. But the county I live in can afford to salt and sand these roads too much. Last week we only got barely 2 inches of snow and the road on my cul-de sac already has globs of sand and muk on it. I doubt I'll be able to drive it much over the winter less we get good rainstorms in between the snow and ice!

[ggarrard]

John - I have seen persons store their cars on jack-stands, with the wheels removed, and the brakes wrapped in plastic, but usually they are storing their cars out of doors.

I personally have never bothered to go to that much work prepping the car for storage, but I have space in a dry barn with a concrete floor.

GWGarrard