Winter Prep for storage

Jemelton#

Jemelton#

Senior Member
As we have had our first frost here in SW Iowa my thoughts are going towards putting up the 29 Tudor for the winter. It will be stored inside a dry, heated vermin free shed.

Would you suggest removing the tires, placing the frame on stands with the springs un-weighted? Or putting the stands under the axels?
 
I see you are storing it in a heated shed. What if there is a power failure and it freezes?

A previous owner was caught off guard when during an early freeze, left water in the cooling system on my B engined A cracking the water jacket. Even with stitching and weld repair, still have minor leakage.
 
I have been storing Model A’s every winter for over 60 years. This is what
I do each year living in up-state New York.

I run water, so the first thing is draining radiator, run carburetor dry, disconnect battery, check tire pressure, change oil and grease, mothball’s in interior and rumble seat area.

I leave gas tank with as little gas as possible. I leave battery charger connected to battery. Every few weeks I plug in and run charger for 15 minutes.

Put on car cover.

That’s it!

Never a problem.

Enjoy
 
Where I live in California fortunately we don't winterize. But I've always heard that winterizing is disconnecting battery, draining all fluids and taking weight off the tires. Others with more experience than I can chime in whether it's necessary to drain ******, differential and steering box, but certainly cooling system and crankcase are pretty straightforward.

And I think I'd take the battery into the house for the winter. That's one thing you don't want to freeze.

WHN has a good idea about the mothballs. My '30 TS came to me with a thoroughly rodent-modified rear seat. I found the skeleton when I cleaned under the seat.
 
I do what most all of you have suggested but I have a question regarding the gas tank. I've wondered if the tank should have as much gas as possible so there's no room for condensation to form.
Marty
 
JayJay said:
Where I live in California fortunately we don't winterize. And I think I'd take the battery into the house for the winter. That's one thing you don't want to freeze.
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Like Jayjay, my idea of "winterizing" is to put a heavier jacket in the back seat of my Town Sedan for the colder days.

I would recommend putting your battery on a Battery Tender to keep the charge up. Soon after the voltage starts to drop, the plates start sulfating. Not a trickle charger or battery charger.
 
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Y-Blockhead said:
Like Jayjay, my idea of "winterizing" is to put a heavier jacket in the back seat of my Town Sedan for the colder days.
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My '31 came to me with a coolant heater in it. Cute, and very effective, but really overkill for 10 months out of the year.
 
 
Hello, here in north west Pennsylvania, it’s a yearly ritual, check and or add antifreeze, change oil , sometimes jack up wheels off ground, most importantly pack full of moth balls or some other mice repellent. Had a large bag of weed and feed fertilizer put it in the Buick seems to keep mice out .Disconnect the battery and put it on trickle charge.Then wait for spring!
 
Here in mild, balmy Minnesota. Drive to gas station, fill tank to top with nonethanol gas. Park in shed. Fully top off 50/50 coolant and run for a minute. About the middle of winter I usually run a trickle charger on it for a couple days. In the spring, start it up. I've never put it on jackstands or used StaBil or any of those products. I run nonethanol and 50/50 coolant year around.
 
Bruce of MN said:
Some get good results from Sta-bil or Sea Foam in their gasoline.
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YES! I drive my A year ‘round, so temporary seasonal adjustments are not always necessary. The gas thing is, though. I use Sta- bil & MMO. If it’s garaged for the winter (which is seldom ~ i drive it.) I employ all the above suggestions.
 
Startron stabilizer even in non ethanol fuel, raise tire pressures, appropriate battery maintainer, give it a good clean, have a start at the winter “to do” list in preparation for spring
 
In the general aviation world, we're taught to fill the gas tank after each flight. Water in the gas will make for a bad day down the line. Been there and done that.

Luckily, we can still get ethanol free fuel and MMO here in central Illinois. We drive the car year round, but require clear, dry roads and reasonable temps. 30+ degrees at our advanced ages. We dress appropriately and have extra protection with us just in case.
 
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I add some stabil to the tank(if I remember to),check the antifreeze,and flip the fuse up.I shut the fuel off,and stand the seat cushions up if I can.From then on it's an ongoing battle with the mice.They seem to thrive on eating repellants,and make nests with dryer sheets.They seem to love those little mint bags the most.They eat whatever is in them.
 

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Keith True said:
I add some stabil to the tank(if I remember to),check the antifreeze,and flip the fuse up.I shut the fuel off,and stand the seat cushions up if I can.From then on it's an ongoing battle with the mice.They seem to thrive on eating repellants,and make nests with dryer sheets.They seem to love those little mint bags the most.They eat whatever is in them.
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Keith, try straight peppermint. A couple drops into a cotton ball. Put 3-4 in the front and the same in the back. I even put a couple on the engine. Knock on wood never had a problems with mice.
 
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