I have a convertible and no room in the garage. The top is pretty trashed and there is no back window. I was gonna put a new top on it before winter but I got a letter from the tax man today and it looks like I may owe him some money(stupid ohio regional income tax) Anyway should I tarp the top than put a car cover on it? or tape up the top with gaffers tape and tape something over the back window and use a cover. Any tips?
I have a 62 Convertible that has been outside for about 5 years behind the house that I keep tarped all year round. Just make sure its a good tarp, and make sure it stays on the car good. I keep mine really high off the ground with the wheels off so no moisture gets trapped under it and rusts the floor out.
Also, pull any drain plugs out of the floor and remove the carpeting, if you have not already done that. That way, any condensation that forms can drain out. Every little bit helps.
My 67 Cuda convertible and my 71 442 convertible both had old crappy tops on them and needed paint. I blue tarped both of them. Somthing that has not been said is if the wind is blowing and your nlue tarp is not tight it will rub the paint off if your nor careful. Alos watch it if you use bungee cords because they will do the same.
Green and silver tarps aren't a lot more money from Harbor Frieght. For one winter, I would probably get an extra big one, crack the top from the windshield frame and wrap the entire top frame with it, tuck the bottom into the trunk or the top well, fold it over all the other edges, and latch the top back down with the windows up. Maybe crack one window a touch (facing east preferrably, since most weather comes out of the west) to help let moisture air out of it. And moth balls under the seat, maybe D-con too, to keep the mice from raising hell.
I mentioned this before. Wal-Mart sells a decent $20 car cover. Elastic edges and it's softer than a tarp and it kept my car dry last winter. I don't imagine it's of the quality to last many winters but it's a good one winter or so deal. I'm still using mine inside. I got a large for my Pontiac Chietain which is too large. A medium would have fit better.
I'm in northwestern Ohio,if you can afford it get a storage unit.I found one for $55 a month,money well spent I think. Giz'
If you don't want to take a chance in scratching the paint. Then I agree with the storage place idea. It's inside and locked up. Shop around for the best deal. If your paint isn't in great condition then cover it. A very good cover will cost almost as much as storing the car. If you tarp it. Crack a window open to allow ventilation. Pick a place to park the car as to minimize sun exposure. Cold to hot creates condensation. Then, place the blankets completely covering the top over the fenders. Then the tarp. If your wife asks you where the blankets are tell her there were monster moths in the closet or you donated them to charity. Your car's name is charity right? LOL! Tie the tarp tight so it doesn't move if/when the wind blows. Don't try to tape the holes in the top. The glue on the tape will harden and the tape will not hold. Water will find definitely find a way in.
Lots of good points here, including several ways to do it. I have honestly always found that ANYthing tarped needs to breathe. If you're storing it outside, you are going to get condensation inside; BUT, it'll be OK so long as that moisture can dry out. I'm assuming you are storing it outside for monetary considerations (if not, always better to find a roof). The other thing I want to disagree on is remoivng the floor & trunk plugs! Maybe mice & other critters are NOT a problem out where Patrick is; if so, great -- would sure help keep 'er dry. But here in Ohio, I (and people I know have had car and boat interiors -- as well as wiring & rubber fuel lines -- ruined by critters). I agree with getting the car as HIGH clear of the ground as possible (most moisture hovers closer to the ground), and use a tarp that breathes.
They chew through the plugs, too. Wiring, plugs...same same to a rodent. so I'd much rather have them OUT versus leaving them in. Would you rather have an interior (that's already trashed, more than likely!) eaten up a bit, or have rust grab an even bigger hold on floors that are holding standing water, because there was nowhere for it to go? If your door panels and other upholstered interior panels are still good, REMOVE them before you store the car and put them in a dry place.
Patrick, not throwing rocks, bro. You and I have agreed on stuff. But, on this one, just two schools of thought. I'd rather keep the car high, tarp that breathes, and keep the plugs in the floor (hey're not impossible to replace, but interiors, wiring, etc., gets to be really problematice). As I said, maybe it's not the problem in Oklahoma that it is in Ohio.
Do you have enough room to string a piece of rope up between two trees or your garage or something over your car and then throwing a tarp over that, pulling it taught and staking it down like a simple pup tent? You could fasten two more tarps on the ends and this would keep the worst of the weather out, the tarp off your car and allow it to breathe... sure wouldn't look so hot, but might be an effective way to achieve your goal on the cheap... and leave those windows cracked.
Gigantor, good idea. Hopefully DannyGo lives far enough out of town, somebody won't call city hall over some ordinance violation. If so, the only problem I've experienced is WIND. But if the rope is stout & tight, and you put enough ocncrete blocks on to keep the tarp from whipping in the wind and tearing itself up, I think that's a great option!
Oh, yeah, and if ya put down some lengths of, say 2'X8's, on the sides of the tarp, THEN put the blocks on those, the smoother edges of the planks won't tend to wear holes in the tarp (whereas, the concrete blocks ALONE would).
How about a road trip to the Gulf of Mexico, Texas in the Fall and one back northbound in the Spring? That will be my plan when I retire.
unfortunately I libe in suburbia with my neighbors 3 feet from my driveway so some of those options wont work. The paint is eh.. som Im not to worried about it. Same with the interior but I dont want it to get any worse. All of the storage places for vehicles by me are outside storage so that wont help. The indorr ones do not allow cars anymore. I have a silver tarp on it now. It doesnt cover the whole car, just the top and half the hood and decklid. I was thinking about just throwing a car cover over that. Do you think I should put blankets under the tarp?
Yup, blankets get wet and STAY wet a long time. The woven tarps let MOST of the water run out, THEN allow it all to dry out as soon as Mother Nature permits. OUTSIDE storage is NEVER a preferred option for old cars, but the right tarp cna help a bunch, if that's your only financial option.
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