We've spent the winter in sunny Florida, so now instead of thinking about putting a car up for winter, I'm getting a car ready to put up for the summer. Which seems completely wrong, but I still have almost a month of fun with it here. I've rented a storage garage space near our house, so a couple days before we leave for Michigan we'll take the car there, dust it off, unhook the fuel line and run it out of gas, pull the battery, cover it up and lock the door until next November. We've had fun with it here, although it did give me a little trouble I got the carb rebuilt and running great, better than it ever has in fact. I had to make a couple trips to HF to get tools I needed (floor jack, jack stands, a set of good end wrenches and so on) so I've got a pretty complete set of tools here for basic stuff, and friends with shops that can bail me out if something really goes south. I've also got a new 2 bbl Autolite carb and a new fuel pump stashed away if I need to replace them. The fuel pump "leak" turned out to be the drain plug in the bottom a bit loose, so that didn't need replacement. All in all, a fun winter with it, and we'll have something to look forward to for next year. It'll be tough to leave it, but there are cool cars waiting for us back home in Michigan for the next season.
[QUOTE="flynbrian48, post: 15549294, member: 51665]we'll take the car there, dust it off, unhook the fuel line and run it out of gas, pull the battery, cover it up and lock the door until next November.[/QUOTE] you have door locks? why bother locking them, it's a roadster, anyone can reach over and unlock the door
you have door locks? why bother locking them, it's a roadster, anyone can reach over and unlock the door[/QUOTE] I think he means the storage unit in which the car will reside.
I knew that, locking the car doors alone wouldn't do much good, I'd definitely lock up the building and maybe lock the car up too, better safe than sorry
I guess I should offer to go to Florida and drive that sweet Roadster around this Summer for you. Save you the hassle of doing all of the work to put it in storage.
It's great that you can escape the Michigan winters and Florida heat, too. St. Paul had snow this weekend..
Here in Bradenton, I’ve spent most of the winter “playing house” getting settled in our new winter home and getting my boat back running again after replacing with a good used outboard. Im looking forward getting back to Ohio next month and getting my toys out. I
I’m just up the road in St. Petersburg. We should go cruising sometime next season. I grew up in Michigan, just North of Lansing. @gnichols is just over the river in Tampa also.
Come down to the "Salty Cock" event in a couple weeks. Starts in Clearwater, end up downtown on Main St. at Lakewood Ranch. Bunch of guys from here (Sarasota) are making the run, my pals and I, not wanting to battle traffic from there on 75 or lights on 301, are going over and meeting up with them.
If you have a jack and stands, I'd put it up in the air. Makes it a tiny bit harder to grab, no flat spots on the tires. Heck, it might keep it up out of the flood water! Ask the locals about what critters are a problem and take steps to keep them away, too. Livin' the life, winter home and rod, summer home and rod.
This place is high and dry, very well kept and right near downtown. We know what critters are around, two years ago Palm rats got in our daily driver, chewed the wiring harness to the HVAC and fuel injectors, cost us $3K to get it fixed. The entire dash had to come out to get to the $30 pigtail they chewed through. We now have comprehensive on the car, and a pest service to keep rat baits around. None this year.
I second the idea of putting it up on the jack stands, but would go one step further and take the wheels off. Take ‘em back to the house for summer storage. Everything you can do to thwart the thieves I’d do. Cheers and have a great summer back up north.
I too, am about to leave SWFL and return to Michigan where I can resume my hoodlum hot rod activities. Today I told Ms Frenchtown "I have to Winterize the lawnmower, er - Summer-ize - the lawnmower." Ms FTF: "How do you sumarize a lawnmower?" Me: "Hey, you're a lawnmower..." Ba-duump-pa!
I reckon this picture of my Model A says it all. That "get the hot rod outa storage and freshen the fluids" just does not apply.
You might want to check with insurance agent there's no fine print about the car being in storage unit in the event something bad happens. Always a case of "who pays !?" with those guys.
I never take insurance off of mine because my homeowners will not pay for my cars if they get wiped out but they will the structure. I have full coverage on all of them even though some haven’t left the house in 16 years
you have door locks? why bother locking them, it's a roadster, anyone can reach over and unlock the door[/QUOTE] The storage unit door. Nothing on this car locks except the glove box.
Since retirement I’ve been on “seven day weekends” so understand how you can get seasons mixed up. Living in coastal Alabama the humidity can be brutal during the summer months I would suggest running a dehumidifier if possible. Dry air prevents mildew and corrosion but also discourages insects and critters from taking up residence.
I winter a little ways south of you in Port Charlotte. I occasionally see a few HAMB friendly cars running around but I only have a single stall garage at my house here, so no room for my hot rod. After getting hit by Ian then Helene and Milton I’m nervous enough just having my C5 driver left down here. I had 2” of flooding in my garage during Milton and Helene that’s scary enough. If you’re storing it even close to a flood zone I’d put it up on ramps or Jack stands just for a little more peace of mind.
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