Proper storage

F

flathead48

Well-known member
Need some advice, my cousin was restoring a 23 touring that was in the family at least back to 1950 that I know of & suddenly passed away about a month ago ago. I know he had the engine & running gear all rebuilt ,I believe someplace around Boston, Ma. He lived in Glens Falls, NY. He spent thousands on this & want to advise his daughter the proper protection for the engine so it doesn’t seize . The chassis is done , not sure of status on total restoration . He has a complete interior kit but not installed which I think is good because of storage garage . I am a flathead V8 guy & no nothing about modelT except we use to play in it when I was around 7 or 8 years old & I am now 83. Any advice I could pass on to his daughter would be very helpful. Thanks , Rick
 
Putting an engine into long term storage can be kind of a messy thing since it involves spraying oil into the cylinders and into the transmission insides since they share oil between the two.

Another important thing is to drain fuel from the tank an carb and spray some light oil around the inside of the tank and carburetor.The only alternative is to operate the car at least once a month using non ethanol fuel but folks with no interest usually pass on that. Since the car is likely partially disassembled it may simplify things a bit.

Most folks just let them sit and then revive them prior to passing it on to someone else. The model T is incredibly resilient but any car that sets up should be preserved and mouse openings blocked or sealed off to prevent rodent entry. How well it lasts depends on the storage area and local climate. An open car is impossible to seal off but it can be covered and prepped in a way that will minimize the ravages of time and climate.
 
Agree with rotorwrench’s suggestions, and would add that if anything will be stored where mice and insects will have free reign (barn, shed, most garages), be sure to securely block off EVERY opening… oil breather, exhaust manifold, carb/intake, etc. Keep the spark plugs installed after squirting oil in cylinders. It’s amazing where mice and mud daubers can get! And mice can easily chew thru plastic and cardboard, so use something more secure to plug all openings. I would suggest keeping the upholstery kit indoors, in a basement would be ok, assuming it’s still in its shipping box. If mice get to it, it won’t take much for them to ruin it.
 
I’d definitely keep the interior kit stored indoors as Bruce suggested. After all the money and work that went into the car, it would be a shame to have the upholstery ruined while the rest of the restoration is waiting. I’d also take a few pictures and make a simple list of what has been done before putting everything away, so the daughter has a record of where the project stands.
 
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