Pele

iTrader: (28)

I know it's bad for any engine to be left sitting around for a long period of time. What are ways I can prep my 7 for storage for about a year if I can't get it to a place where it will be started every once in a while?

MyRxBad

From a basic point of view.

Having never done it.
I know your good in putting ATF in the spark plug holes after you shut her down to keep the insides lubricated.
You should also drain all the fluids so they don't gum up from none use. (you ever see the inside of a coffee vending machine when it hasn't been used) :|

Told ya it was basic. hopefully someone else will chime in.


Good Luck!

P.O.S. Racing

I’d defiantly look into synthetics, they are known for their long-term consistency. Plus from what I’ve read a little MMO in the gas and oil wouldn’t hurt. Squirt some MMO or ATF in the lugs turn her over a couple of times, then I’d change everything tranny, rear end, oil, brake & clutch. Put some MMO and Stabil in the gas and you should be ready to go!

Just my two cents!

MMO = Marvel Mystery Oil

Denny

Do like P.O.S. says regarding the MMO in the engine, and I'd plug up the exhaust and the intake to keep the dirt and moisture out, and don't forget to disconnect the battery. I wouldn't drain the fluids, coolant, brake fluid, clutch, trans, diff, etc., as exposed metal draws moisture, and moisture means rust. You may wish to replace the fluids when you get back to 'er. Put 'er up on stands or blocks, take the wheels off, put some MMO on the brake disks, and clean it off with brake/parts cleaner when you're ready to run again.

Denny, from the 'ol corncrib...

speckamp

make sure you flush yer coolant and put in fresh distilled water and antifreeze, after about 2 years the stuff gets corosive, so you're better off putting fresh in now. Armor-all the interior, and cover the seats (if you have the extra time). TRy and find a cover for the car too.

That, plus everyone else's suggestions should get the little 7 through hibernation ok.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

Okay. Here's the deal. Several storage options opened up about an hour away from me. They're farms and may have barn/stable space, excellent.. Indoor storage. With the semi-close location, on long weekends, I will probably go and work on her. Coolant was flushed less than a year ago with PEAK stuff. I think the bottle said 5 year life. Oil has less than 1000 Miles (But close to 3 months) on it.

My plans are to shop for mods over the time it's in storage and keep parts here, at my house... Once I have all my major mods and have teh car pretty well stripped, I'll haul her body to a body shop where she'll get a fresh paint job and have dings, dents and rust repaired. After that, I'll tow everything back and reasemble, drive it to my parent's house, which by then I should be moved out of, and show them what my "junky car" looks like now. :p

Thanks for all your help.

Denny

Sounds great...That way you can keep in contact with your hoss, and keep building towards that dream....

"Do it to it, Sonny Pruitt..."
A tip of the Stetson,
Denny....

bylinepjw

All good suggestions. Be sure to get it up on jack stands so the tires don't get flat spots. Fill the gas tank all the way, so it doesn't rust inside, and dump the recommended amount of Stabil in.
I store my 7, my Spitfire and my boat in a barn, and here's one thing to be careful of: Mice! A friend went and got his boat out of a barn last spring, and there was a mouse nest in the engine with every wire eaten out, and all the foam was shredded in the seats. Hundreds to fix. I was told (Don't ask me the reason) that dryer sheets keep mice away. So I cram them everywhere in the boat and cars. Mice can get places you wouldn't believe. Use Bounce and jam them in the engine, interior, everywhere. The car will smell April-fresh when you get it out.
Take the battery out and at least store it somewhere warm. If possible, get a garage to keep it on a trickle charger year round. And when you're all done and take it out, change all the fluid. Water accumulates in the fluids.

riffraff

right on pele. when i wrecked my seven my parents said to trash it and move on.. it is only a car they said (and my dad even used to own two). shows what they know.. but anyways, i found a place to store it, bought a new body, have striped it down, and am in the process of a complete rebuild. we will just see who is laughing when it is done.