I'm buying a new truck since my car is getting older now and has left me stranded a couple times when I needed to be somewhere important. My camaro served me well for 6 years and I'd like to keep it for a project when I get out of school. I've beat it well and piled up the miles on it, it's time for a new ride.

I'm looking at like 2 years of storage in my garage at home.
I can store it 2 ways:
1) put it up and drive it every once in a while.
2) put it up and leave it there.

I really don't want to drive it so I can avoid a ticket... but I want it to be in good shape when I pull it out.

Here are the things I've thought of:
-change the oil
-fuel stabilizer, full tank
-get it off the ground
-something to absorb moisture inside
-lube the top end
-remove the battery
-clean/wax it

First, when I put it on jackstands I think I am going to let it rest on the suspension, not letting the wheels hang. Second, I don't know how dry it should be on the inside(I don't want the plastic to crack), and I think I'll crack a window, but I don't want bugs to get inside(ie moths). How should I lube the top end easily, 2 cycle oil? And how important is it to clean under the hood, I don't want to kill the opti.


Thanks for your response.

Joe

 

what you have there sounds pretty good. Just make sure its covered, and if it could be in a climate controlled place that would be best. Also, go out and start it up and let it run for a couple of minutes every week or so.

 

Just curious, what year, mileage is it?

 

It's a 93 with 105K miles. When it left me stranded twice it was because of simple things that I fixed in 30 mins, mostly my fault they broke anyway. But I am starting to feel like it is going to start needing maintainance and I'd rather spend the money on something new since I can afford it. I rather do a full rebuild than keep it patched together. Although the only major thing that's went wrong with it is the water pump, I'd rather have it in the relativly nice shape it's in right now when I go full out and do a rebuild on it. Since I plan on making it hardly streetable that option isn't viable right now. And for anyone that says camaro's aren't reliable, this cars been tough as nails with no squeaks or rattles, and with me being almost 22, I am the oldest driver the car has seen, I've had it since I was sixteen when it had real low miles on it...


Back to the topic, what else should I do...

 

YOU DO NOT want to start it up every couple weeks. Hell in 2 years you just may run out of Gas! With the car idling the oil doesnt get hot enough or reach enough of the engine to justify starting it in the first place.

 

YES YOU DO!!!!!!. You want to get it up to operating temp every week or so. If you let it just sit for two years then when you go and start it for the first time you might be in for a good suprise. Plus, starting it up will help the oil cycle through and help it not rust.

Edit: If you do run out of gas in 2 years its real hard to figure what to do ........FILL IT UP!

 

I've always heard if your are storing a car for a long time to drain every fluid, and obvously don't start it if you do that.

 

I would put moth ***** inside to keep the varmints out, but it will make your car smell like moth ***** for some time after you take them out--just a thought.

 

Hey Matt is that the only reason? cuz I was told similiar that its no use un less you can drive 20 miles or so. Is there a specific reason for this or just a pointless in its effects. If its in a heated garage is their a chance of condensation build up in side with possible freezing or just myth.

Later,
JOhn

 

I won't have a chance to start it up ever couple of weeks, but I might be able to every few months... Which is what I might do. I'll make sure to let it get warm and might drive it around a little and let it shift through the gears a few times.

 

If you're going to get a new car, why not go ahead and pull the engine/tranny and start doing your rebuild? Or just don't worry about it if you're going to rebuild it anyway. Just try to keep the interior out of the sun, that will make everything fade and crack fairly quickly.

If you're intent on storing the car, put it in a climate controlled unit. Run the car until the gas tank is pretty much empty, fuel goes bad after like 6 months. Set the car on jack stands on the suspension and remove the tires and stack them aside neatly. Change the engine oil to a nice synthetic and run it for a little while before you store it. Also, remove the battery and place it somewhere off the ground. For the interior, use a nice cleaner/protector before you store it, and you can rap things like the seats with plastic bags to help. Again, the biggest thing for the interior is keeping it out of sunlight.

When it's time to take the car out of storage, put some oil down the cylinders and crank it a few times with the coil disconnected to prime it. Depending on how long the car has sat, it would be a good idea to change all the fluids and run tank of gas through it with some injector cleaner.

 

You definately do NOT want to start it every so often. Like said earlier, gasoline goes bad after 6 months or so, and that's even WITH fuel stabilzer. If you plan on storing long, long term, drain all the fluids and let her sit. If you store the car right the first time, it will be in the same exact condition you put it in originally. You might want to check on draining the oil, though. I've heard of internal engine parts seizing and rusting without any sort of lube and letting her sit for 2 years might (just might) do that, too. A climate controlled garage would be ideal for the car, as well, but if you can't do that, a covered garage with a product called the Car Jacket would be just as good. It works in conjunction with a car cover. I have it for my SS. Check it out....

http://autoanything.com/carcover/carjacket.asp

Also don't forget using a dressing for any rubber parts, like weatherstripping and engine hoses. That way they won't dry out over time. The tires will go bad after time, but there's not much you can do there, they just go bad with age. It probably would be best for you to sell them now to get some resale value and in 2 years just buy brand new ones. Lifting the car on jack stands isn't a bad idea, but don't let the suspension simply hang, put SOME weight on it. Lifting the car should only be for taking the majority of the load off the suspension, not all of it. And definately clean the car as best and thoroughly as possible. Maybe put a couple of coats of wax on her, too.

Like I said above, take the time now and do it right and your car will come out of storage exactly as put in originally.

Good luck with it!

 

Yeah like I said the oil doesnt get hot enough and isnt pumped throughout the engine. Youre better off just letting it sit, how long do used/brand new cars sit on a lot at a dealer? Are they started and let to idle for any period of time?

Ive let mine sit for 3 years in a row and each time it comes out just as good as it went in.

 

most cars on dealer lots are started atleast once a week. start them to take it to wash it then park it.

 

I would be nice to start on it if I had the space. But right now I'll have a mustang I just started on having to sit outside, a project/donor truck(more like drivetrain I'll be using) I am buying sitting in the barn at my farm and my camaro in the garage with my mom's new car. Putting either car in the barn isn't an option since I don't want varments getting up into my cars. I think I might check into renting a storage facility for one of the cars... how much do these cost? Although the mustang has a nice black interior, it's all sitting in my room at home so I won't have to worry about the sun, just have to worry about rust... which isn't a big problem around here.