Winter Storage

[mystic122468]

Unfortunately, my 28 will be outside in the portable garage with plenty of mothballs and dryer sheets in and around it.
My question is should I drain all the water from the engine and replace it with antifreeze OR just empty it and leave it dry?

 

[WHN]

Unfortunately, my 28 will be outside in the portable garage with plenty of mothballs and dryer sheets in and around it.
My question is should I drain all the water from the engine and replace it with antifreeze OR just empty it and leave it dry?

We never use antifreeze, just water and rust inhibitors. In the fall we drain system, should be a full bucket, clean drain valve with small nail, and recommissioned again in May.

Never had a problem. 60 years worth of doing the same thing. Enjoy.

 

[mystic122468]

We never use antifreeze, just water and rust inhibitors. In the fall we drain system, should be a full bucket, clean drain valve with small nail, and recommissioned again in May.

Never had a problem. 60 years worth of doing the same thing. Enjoy.

Thanks for the tip!
i've never used antifreeze, just wasn't sure about winter storage outside..
i'll drain the system of all the water.

thanks again!

 

[SeaSlugs]

i agree on the storage unit. a 10x20 near me is $85 a month. concrete floor you can out jackstands on, nice weather tight door/roof, shouldnt have to worry about snow being an issue. I would elevate the tires off the ground. Even modern new tires on my chevette get flat spots from sitting all winter. Usually go away in a few miles of driving in the spring but cant be good for them.

i stuff dryer sheets in the tailpipe (2-3) and 2 in the carb intake. I leave the radiator filled with antifreeze and run the carb dry of gas. I also disconnect both terminals of the battery.

 

[pgerhardt]

I bought a portable garage from Shelterlogic and mounted it on a 24x20 pressure treated wood deck for around $1000 total and that was 15 years ago, no problem with snow load because it had 1-5/8 steel tubing. The shelter is not taxable in my town because it is a temporary structure, it is a house style shaped structure that can withstand a 2 ft. snowload.

Another model A owner here with no garage (using my 1/2 of my neighbors garage now). I am planning to do the same as you and have a couple of questions about my plans.

Idea 1: I plan on building the deck with PT 2x4's as "sleepers" (on their sides) 24" on center as 4x8 panels that I can join together with galvanised steel jointing plates. The deck will be assembled on the parking area where my truck is now parked which is already flat (picture attached) What did you use for decking? I was thinking 1/2" exterior plywood attached with stainless steel screws.

Idea 2: I was thinking of using solid foam board insulation in the voids with poly stapled to the bottom side as a vapor barrier. Good idea, or overkill?

Idea 3: Use stainless steel screws and big SS fender washers to screw the sides of the "tent" to the deck to prevent wind from getting under it. Good idea, or overkill?

Idea 4: Screw 1/4" plywood panels to the garage tubing uprights to prevent any racking or change in geometry with wind or snow load. Good idea, or overkill?

Idea 5: Invite my model A club over for pizza and a "barn raising" once the platform is ready and the "garage in a box" is here. Good idea, or overkill?

 

[CarlG]

I did purchase one of the ShelterLogic tents as pictured in #6 above. I contemplated building a 2x? deck for it, but ran out of time and $$, so I secured it to the ground with the anchors that came with it. I did purchase a couple lengths of 1" pvc pipe to stiffen up the back side as well as the "door" on the frontside.

I have my pickup stored inside my scant 2-car garage (it's barely big enough for the pickup and a little of work space, as most garages that were built in the 70's were.) At least it's heated. I primarily built the Shelterlogic unit to store my "new to me" Mullins Red Cap trailer (pictured below), as well as my lawn mower and snow blower, since there is no room in my garage for such mundane things.

As to Idea #5 in pgerhardt's post above. Good idea! I erected mine by myself. The instructions says it takes about 2 hours. I spent the better part of 3 days doing mine. A little help would have gone a long way in reducing that time.

 

[NCRebel]

I received all the same advice for storing the car outside. I like the cloth tarp under the portable tent idea best. I agree with lifting the car onto jacks (with concrete or wood blocks bases), plugging the tail pipe and (new to me but most reasonable) mothballs for the vermin. I think a strong air freshener inside the cab may also be a good idea.

Good topic for those of us with limited room.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I did purchase one of the ShelterLogic tents as pictured in #6 above. I contemplated building a 2x? deck for it, but ran out of time and $$, so I secured it to the ground with the anchors that came with it. I did purchase a couple lengths of 1" pvc pipe to stiffen up the back side as well as the "door" on the frontside.

I have my pickup stored inside my scant 2-car garage (it's barely big enough for the pickup and a little of work space, as most garages that were built in the 70's were.) At least it's heated. I primarily built the Shelterlogic unit to store my "new to me" Mullins Red Cap trailer (pictured below), as well as my lawn mower and snow blower, since there is no room in my garage for such mundane things.

As to Idea #5 in pgerhardt's post above. Good idea! I erected mine by myself. The instructions says it takes about 2 hours. I spent the better part of 3 days doing mine. A little help would have gone a long way in reducing that time.

X2, except I bolted my bottom feet to some 2 x 6 green treat boards, to keep the metal off the ground.
A second person sure would have helped, and cut the time down to erect it.

 

[Synchro909]

Another model A owner here with no garage (using my 1/2 of my neighbors garage now). I am planning to do the same as you and have a couple of questions about my plans.

Idea 1: I plan on building the deck with PT 2x4's as "sleepers" (on their sides) 24" on center as 4x8 panels that I can join together with galvanised steel jointing plates. The deck will be assembled on the parking area where my truck is now parked which is already flat (picture attached) What did you use for decking? I was thinking 1/2" exterior plywood attached with stainless steel screws.

Idea 2: I was thinking of using solid foam board insulation in the voids with poly stapled to the bottom side as a vapor barrier. Good idea, or overkill?

Idea 3: Use stainless steel screws and big SS fender washers to screw the sides of the "tent" to the deck to prevent wind from getting under it. Good idea, or overkill?

Idea 4: Screw 1/4" plywood panels to the garage tubing uprights to prevent any racking or change in geometry with wind or snow load. Good idea, or overkill?

Idea 5: Invite my model A club over for pizza and a "barn raising" once the platform is ready and the "garage in a box" is here. Good idea, or overkill?

Idea 5 has me worried. Are you really going to ask the club over to watch your erection??

 

[SeaSlugs]

Idea 5 has me worried. Are you really going to ask the club over to watch your erection??

with enough pizza and beer anything can happen haha