Winterizing for storage

[wingman55]

Well there is snow in the forecast for this weekend, so road salt and sand will soon follow.

My Cruiser has never been driven in winter, and I am planning on taking it off the road for the season. Other than washing it, what does anyone have to offer as far as storage? It will be stored in an unheated garage.

In the past I have stored my Imperial and my van in a shed with a dirt floor (only place I had to store them ), and had trouble with not only rust, but mice getting into the heater cores. (UGH!!!)

I have heard both positive and negative (pun intended) about disconnecting the battery, and/or starting it up once-in-a-while to warm it up.

Any suggestions or experiences are welcome. (And no I haven't searched the threads on this topic.)

Thanks.

[chuzz]

I've never had the luxury of storing one for the winter, so anything I would suggest would just be conjecture. I'll leave this to the guys that live in the frigid north!

[Fk5]

In the olden days we were always sure to fill the tank up to the top. The theory was that this would not allow condensation to form and rust up your tank. Present day gas is pretty volatile and starts smelling like turpentine much sooner. At a minimum get some Sta-Bil or the like to keep the gas stable. It *might* last the season without it, but I wouldn't risk it.

I would disconnect the battery and then throw it on a charger when I was ready to start it.

I used to pull the plugs or at least pull the coil wire before cranking to get the oil pressure up, but I'm not sure that is a thing anymore.

I can understand the desire to keep it out of the bad weather, but most of my cars suffer more from the lack of use than overuse. If you are saving the cash by not keeping it insured, don't bother, but IMO the best method is to garage it and take it out at least once a month or so when the weather is nice. You may have to hose the bottom off, but mechanically it might be for the best.

What kind of Imperial? I have a couple of the 80's coupes. One is stock the other with a Magnum 360/727. Both are suffering from being stored and not removed from storage!

[soyomb]

^^^Times 2 with one exception. I would leave the battery connected and put it on a trickle charger. I have 2 of these. One is for the riding lawn mower and the other for my car(s).
Schumacher Battery Companion Fully Automatic 1.5A Trickle Charger at Blain's Farm & Fleet

[Busted_PT]

Far as the gas. I have gas in the project that is 3 + years old. Still starts a mf runs. Caburatored engines are more problematic for the old gas thing. Of cours. Stabil won't hurt. I would just keep about a quarter tank do you ca fill up with fresh in the spring.

[DroptopPTGTCruizer]

I live in Buffalo & storage of my PT is right around the corner, mine is stored at home in attached heated garage. Quarter tank of gas with Sta-bil is spot on, so you can put a full fresh tank in the spring. I start it at least once a month, and if possible hook up a Battery Tender charger to it, you don't have to disconnect the battery. Since we live in NY, in the spring when you go to get the car inspected, by completely disconnecting your battery the NYS computer will not be able to read your car properly, so do one of 2 things. Keep battery connected with charger on it (battery tender jr or similar) and have no issues, OR reconnect battery & you will need to drive about 25 miles at local & highway speeds to get computer to generate codes for NYS inspection computer to read properly so you can get your inspection sticker in the spring. Other then that make sure your tires don't lose air. I've stored it like this for several years & never had a problem, except the 1 yr I fully disconnected the battery. A car cover is a good idea, also place an open container with baking soda on the floor prevents musty smells. Good luck!!

[wingman55]

Originally Posted by Fk5

What kind of Imperial? I have a couple of the 80's coupes. One is stock the other with a Magnum 360/727. Both are suffering from being stored and not removed from storage!

I had a 1983 Imp that had the dealer conversion to carburetor. I spun the bearings in it an was in the process of attempting to do the rebuild myself, but chickened out at the last minute. I sold it to a guy who wanted to put a 360 in it (even though I told him that the A/C mounted differently). He found that out the hard way. He took it on a cross-country tour. Sadly the last time I saw it on YouTube he was doing burnouts with it - and I got the idea he was trying to destroy the engine he put in.

I agree that letting a car sit is worse than driving it and I do intend on at least starting the Cruiser and moving it around, at least once a month or more. Maybe take it for a short run up and down the street. My Imperial suffered from disuse in the winter and the only place I had to store it was a metal shed with a dirt floor. That sure didn't help it.

Here it is the one time I was able to take it to Chryslers at Carlisle. I found a great set of Turbine wheels from a Cordoba LeBaron that had the Imp Eagle in the centers. Man - I sometimes miss that car.

LeBaronWheel12small.jpg

[Fk5]

Originally Posted by wingman55

I had a 1983 Imp that had the dealer conversion to carburetor. I spun the bearings in it an was in the process of attempting to do the rebuild myself, but chickened out at the last minute. I sold it to a guy who wanted to put a 360 in it (even though I told him that the A/C mounted differently). He found that out the hard way. He took it on a cross-country tour. Sadly the last time I saw it on YouTube he was doing burnouts with it - and I got the idea he was trying to destroy the engine he put in.

I agree that letting a car sit is worse than driving it and I do intend on at least starting the Cruiser and moving it around, at least once a month or more. Maybe take it for a short run up and down the street. My Imperial suffered from disuse in the winter and the only place I had to store it was a metal shed with a dirt floor. That sure didn't help it.

Here it is the one time I was able to take it to Chryslers at Carlisle. I found a great set of Turbine wheels from a Cordoba LeBaron that had the Imp Eagle in the centers. Man - I sometimes miss that car.

Attachment 15387

Cool! What years were you at Carlisle? I generally park on the show field with my decidedly non-show vehicles. I lived in Milan from 06-11, but before that I had my gray/red leather '83 360 Imperial or my black '82 efi car (smashed right front) parked with the J-bodies. Usually next to the kid from Jersey with the white Mirada with the 318 and B&M blower.

My PT is an '03, but is also inferno red. I don't think I've parked it at Carlisle. We took my Dad's SRT Challenger the last time or two. I have to get my 'cuda or the Imps started, but that brings us full circle to the storage. The 'cuda gas is ancient and the tank has been rusted for years. The Imperials should be okay, but the gas is going on ten years old, so I want to drain and replace. Should be easier since they all have electric pumps that can be jumped. The 'cuda will be more of a siphon/vacuum job.

PS: I am pretty sure that the "Imperial Eagle" is actually the symbol for LeBaron Coachbuilders. That is why it used to be on Imperials and then all the dozens of incarnations of LeBarons.

[OJR]

I'd trickle charge the battery monthly if you don't have a battery tender.

If you can get gas w/o ethanol, I'd fill it with that and add stabil regardless.


Here are a couple of tips I got recently from a restoration shop:

Fabric softener sheets inside the car, trunk, glove box, on top of
tires - more the merrier and the smell is not nearly as offensive as
moth balls. BUT if you are in a place where critters hunker down for
winter, try the moth balls under the car or a ring around the car.

DO NOT sprinkle moth balls around inside the car, takes FOREVER to get
the smell out of carpeting (we know, did this once) ....better to just
set an open box inside if you feel the need.

I hope somebody can help me get the cruiser to start before they salt the roads here.

[NitroPT]

Ok couple of things and these you can simply read it as a thought.....

Many old ,been around for years fuel stabilizers don't work well with the current formals available in the USA.

I recommend to all my customers and friends DO NOT USE THEM.
You may find the gas turning to something that resembles the 1958 movie starring Steve McQueen "The Blob".

I recommend to add marvel mystery oil to the fuel run the engine until it just starts to smoke a little and shut it down. The oil property will coat the complete fuel supply system and protect it during a season or more storage. At the end of the storage period you simply start the engine go fill the tank and drive. The smoke will be light and will cease after about a second fill up. All the time the the Marvel Mystery oil in the fuel will be cleaning the fuel system and also the combustion chambers of the engine.

If you don't invest in a battery charger cantabile of sustain a fully charged battery and you have not load tested the battery prior the storage of the vehicle I recommend simply disconnect it during the vehicles none use.
Any other way and you are simply looking for possible poor outcomes!

Fabric softeners are a nice idea but what may work a little better and made for the job........# see attached picture.
Several forum members have gotten these in various mailings and packages sent to them.

Lastly a car cover is just a logical must.