Winter Storage Question

sconnors

sconnors

Well-known member
Hi guys,
Did a search for winter storage and didn't come up with the answer so I'm hoping someone can help me out. When storing a Model A for the winter do most people remove the wheels? I live in upstate New York and my truck will be in an enclosed space (see pic) and I plan on using anti freeze 50/50 and putting fresh oil in, using Stabil, taking the battery out and bringing it inside. Anything else I should be doing? If people do take the wheels off what's the purpose?
Thanks in advance for any input as I'm a bit of a newbie to the Model A world.
Scott
 

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Maybe put the truck on jackstands to take the weight off the tires. Remove the spark plugs, put about three squirts of heavy oil from a Plews can in each cylinder, turn the motor one complete revolution, then replace the plugs tight. At start up time, try to turn the motor a few revolutions by hand. If any resistance is felt, remove the plugs and spin it with the starter.
 
Ole Don said:
Maybe put the truck on jackstands to take the weight off the tires. Remove the spark plugs, put about three squirts of heavy oil from a Plews can in each cylinder, turn the motor one complete revolution, then replace the plugs tight. At start up time, try to turn the motor a few revolutions by hand. If any resistance is felt, remove the plugs and spin it with the starter.
Click to expand...
So just jack it up and take the weight off the tires don't actually remove them?
 
sconnors said:
So just jack it up and take the weight off the tires don't actually remove them?
Click to expand...

That should be fine. I run some rust preventative and then drain the radiator if I don't plan to drive it. If I do plan to drive it, I use alcohol for anti-freeze instead of modern stuff 'cuz I can't shake the worry that new stuff can damage babbitt. Ole Dan's suggestion about oil in the cylinders is good too. I squirt some in again in the spring before I first fire it up, too.

If you have wool upholstery, put some moth balls or some other moth killer in your car, and a mouse trap if you live in the country.
 
Oh yes, a trickle charger on the battery, or, as Paul suggests, take into a warm place. Good suggestion about Sta-Bil in the gas, too, with this ethanol stuff.
 
I just turn off the gas outside the garage, back it in, take out the key

A charged battery lasts longer in cold storage than in hot storage

I keep it ready to run---on a nice day in Janurary I have been known to take a ride ---

If you start it you have to drive it till it is well warmed up to drive out condensation

Since I have been running the carb dry I havn't had any storage problems with ethonal gas ---if I don't run the carb dry a crust builds up on the tip of the main jet changing the fuel flow
 
D-Con in & around car, Chore Girl copper scouring pads in carb throat & tail pipe.
I knew of a car where mice filled the entire muffler with Maize & the car wouldn't start!! Maize seeds are TINY!!!! Those mice, or meeces, must have made 988,132,876,877,856,597,254,200,736,862, trips, WHEW! bILL w.
 
I dump a little Stabil in the tank a couple of miles before I park the cars,then back them in the sheds and shut them off.If I really think they are in for the winter,like if snow is predicted I will run the carb dry.I flip the fuse up to kill power to the car and shut the doors.Sometimes I will run them halfway through the winter if I think of it.I parked my 30 roadster last October and just started it again last week.I really just wanted to freshen the gas in it because I knew it was just going to sit another year.No chargers,jacking,fogging,covering,nothing special.I never used to put anything in the gas.I do poison the critters.It is rare for one to die in or around the car after they eat poison.They run off looking for water after eating and seldom make it back home again after.
 
The suggestion of closing off the exhaust pipe is a good one as rodents can do bad damage. I just tape the end of the pipe and then leave a note taped to the windshield as a reminder. I also do not recommend removing wheels as that leaves you helpless if a fire happens in the garage or at a neighbors house. Last winter I lost about a gallon of antifreeze due to a slow leak when things cold very cold. Guess there was some contraction. No problem during April-December season.
 
For winter storage I put in antifreeze and turn the key off. A full tank of gas reduces the amount of condensation in the tank. If mice are a problem that advice is good. Remove anything edible. If you put out poison they'll fill the car with it.
 
Anyone got a great solution for eliminating mouse scent after winter storage? Not sure if it's in the upholstery as much of the rock wool(?) seems to have been lost over the past few winters...

Also where do you get enough alchohol at an affordable price and is this a mix?
 
sconnors said:
Hi guys,
Did a search for winter storage and didn't come up with the answer so I'm hoping someone can help me out. When storing a Model A for the winter do most people remove the wheels? I live in upstate New York and my truck will be in an enclosed space (see pic) and I plan on using anti freeze 50/50 and putting fresh oil in, using Stabil, taking the battery out and bringing it inside. Anything else I should be doing? If people do take the wheels off what's the purpose?
Thanks in advance for any input as I'm a bit of a newbie to the Model A world.
Scott
Click to expand...

I would add one thing to the excellent sugestions you have received; I looks like your floor is rock and or lacks a vapor barrier. Us 10 mill plastic or one of those blue tarps to cover the floor and park the truck on the tarp. This will lessen the condensation that will cause many items to rust over the winter.
Rainmaker Ron
 
Here in NorCal we get some snow every winter, but it doesn't last very long. There are plenty on nice, dry days in the winter to drive Model As. I have thermostats in my As year around to keep them at 160 degrees even if the outside temp is below freezing.
 
cpetku said:
Anyone got a great solution for eliminating mouse scent after winter storage? Not sure if it's in the upholstery as much of the rock wool(?) seems to have been lost over the past few winters...

Also where do you get enough alchohol at an affordable price and is this a mix?
Click to expand...

You need to use about 7 pints of alcohol to protect down to about 10 degrees F, according the Ford Service Bulletins. I buy denatured alcohol, also called isopropyl or rubbing alcohol, at my local Rite Aid pharmacy, though Walgreen's also carries it, as any pharmacy probably also does. It was about $1.20 per pint last year. I haven't bought any this year yet. It's cheaper by the gallon, but I haven't found any in that size for a few years.

If you decide to use alcohol, check it frequently over the winter, and top it up with more as necessary. It will evaporate.
 
cpetku said:
Anyone got a great solution for eliminating mouse scent after winter storage? Not sure if it's in the upholstery as much of the rock wool(?) seems to have been lost over the past few winters...

Also where do you get enough alchohol at an affordable price and is this a mix?
Click to expand...


I've used a product called Cab Fresh in the equipment cabs it is pretty effective in removing varmint stench. Good Luck Clyde
 
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