- This topic has 19 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated November 22, 2005 at 11:23 pm by
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hello all,
here in Nebraska, it is starting to get cold. I was just wondering what other people do to winterize their tigers. In ex: leave hardtop on w/ soft top down? What to do with your soft top w/ hard top off. What preparations?
anything that could help me. Once again, this is only for winter. And after that it will be free from its cage roaming once again.
thanks alot.
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Only put top up or down when room temp or warmer. If all ready down, leaving down over winter will not make it any worse for the wear.
Fill fuel tank. Make sure 50/50 antifreeze is less than 3 years old. If possible, put car up on blocks to relieve suspension. Make sure battery is in good condition and fully charged, or remove and put in room ambient environment. Store car in dry place without temperature inversions that will cause moisture build up on or in car and engine. An example is a wooden or insulated building like a home garage or wooden storage building. Concrete block and sheet metal buildings cause moisture build up. If you must store in block or sheetmetal buildings, keep moisture out of internal engine parts by doing the following. Fill a rag with mothballs and place in the air cleaner on top of the carb opening in such a way that all air must travel through the balls into the carb. Put mothballs in rags and stuff in each exhaust pipe. Moth balls act as a desiccant. Use an actual desiccant in place of mothballs if can. The purpose of this step is to allow the engine to breath air during temperature changes but trap any moisture entering the engine.
If rodents present, put mothballs in trays and place in interior. Although rodents eventually get use to mothballs, they will do the job for one season. Mothballs also work well to keep insect in check too.
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Tom, that is a good list of things to do to winterize a car. However, I disagree with your tip to put the car up on blocks to relieve suspension.
One cause of rubber failure is being under load over a long period of time. It’s good to raise the car at the rear axle and at the front suspension arms as close to the ball joints as possible to get the load off the rubber tires. However, don’t support by the body with the suspension hanging. This puts a torsional load on the stock rubber bushings and a compression load on the front bump stops, causing early failures in these parts.
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When I bought my first Alpine it came with a mouse hole in its brand new roof.
When I put the Alpine/Tiger on axle stands for a while I remove the front shocks and set the suspension at its ride height using a couple of threaded rods in place of the shocks.
That way the front end bushes do not want to rip apart. I use the same to tighten the front suspension bushings in place when replaced or to work on front-end alignment.
Cheers, Gilles -
young66tiger, I noticed you said “it gets too cold” to have a rodent problem. I live in Minnesota. I gets cold there in Nebraska, but we consistently hold the coldest record in the continental United States and I’ll tell you first hand that you do not get so cold as to keep rodents away. In fact, the cold makes them vigorously seeks shelter…and they do every year whether they bother you or not with their search. Prepare for rodent repelling and you only help your situation. Moth Balls work, so do Bounce dryer sheets. You have to prepare the entire vehicle too as the little beasties will make any small, tight spot into a home. One of the best deterrents is to have a well cleaned car with ALL “bait” removed. Do not leave anything in the car. Remove the carpet if possible and hang it from the ceiling at least 4′ from the nearest wall (they jump real far). I also spray aluminum with some sort of oil to keep it from oxidizing and corroding. Just remember to wash it off the motor before running the motor otherwise you get the stinky fun for a while. make sure tires are aired up and keep them aired up. This helps prevent flat spots. I like to store the convertable up so shrinkage will not effect the top too much nor will it get any serious crinkles over the storage period. Bleed the brakes at least every two years, if not every season to prevent water entrapment and corrosion. If you are able to control the temp of the storage area keep it constant. The actual temp does not matter as long at it remains constant. Temp fluctuations is what causes moisture problems (aside from a direct moisture issue that is). Fill the gas tanks, or drain them completely, but never leave them somewhere in between. I like to use Stabil in the gas for storage, SeaFoam works too, just so you have something to keep the carb from getting varnished. If this will not work then remove the carb, empty the bowls, and reinstall the carb dry. If your car is sealed tight (unlikely with all the little leaks in a Tiger) use desiccant, or open a vent to allow air temps to change with the outside otherwise the interior will sweat/condense…not good. Unhook the battery to remove electrical problem issues. I remove the battery completely and store in a warmer climate with a trickle/maintenance charger. Prop your wipers so the blades are not touching the windshield. This keep them from getting a set. Put cardboard under the car to catch any leaks that may occur. Sometimes a seal dries up and just leaks during storage, only to work perfectly when put back into service. The cardboard makes the mess easier to clean up should this happen. If the floor sweats, or is dirt, then place a plastic tarp under the entire area of the car to help keep the moisture away from the underside. Then, when the car is all put away, under its cover, and you are satisfied with the situation, give it a hug when nobody is looking. Good luck.
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Voices from another forum
http://www.network54.com/Forum/119417/t … 640/Winter Storage
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Of course it’s better to drive the Alpines and Tigers at least once a week over the winter solstice but sometimes it can’t be done.A trickle battery charger does help keep up the charge.I’ve also learned that sealing the unheated Long Island storage shed/barn is counter productive.Moisture forms and gets trapped inside.Better to open the windows and go for cross ventilation.But driving them in partnership with long term storage is best for the vehicle and the soul. frank mooney
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If your kitten is sleeping through a long/cold winter do NOT start up the motor, it worked before you parked it, it will work when it leaves 😉 ! The sudden change/increase in temperatures from the combustion heat passing into a frigid block causes Sweating inside of the engine, and unnecessary wear. This is why Quality engine builders will paint the inside of bare cast blocks. 😆 Short engine runs also contribute to pre-mature exhaust failure.
The earlier tip on putting a tarp UNDERNEATH the car is Excellent. Although those who skipped their science class in elementary school will put a cover over their car 😳 . The damage that occurs to these cars have often arisen from the moisture escaping the earth, trapped underneath by their new nylon tarp ontop of the car.
A few winters back I proved this point to a few sceptics. I had two rolling cars stored in a friends barn. It had a steel roof but a questionable cement floor with cracks. Over the holidays I went to visit and share some cheer 😛 with friends and uncovered a sheet of frozen/frosted earth. There was a considerable amount of moisture that could not escape the nylon and therefore never made it to the bottom side of my cars. This was just a one winter deal, a longer term storage would see alot more moisture trying to escape. 🙄
As a side note, I am located in Canada’s Rust-Belt (South/Central Ontario) but this applies to many locations that experience humid climates, often around lakes and swamps you will find cars rotting(metal and chrome)from improper storage. 😳
A nice clean tarp is a great place to spread snacks(warfarin) around for little mickey and friends 😈Tigger
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Here in Toronto there are many days in the baddest parts of winter where all roads still dry up, especially when it is well below freezing point. Let me tell you my friends that there is nothing the Tiger likes better than gulping up dense cold air. And there is nothing like a cast iron V8 to keep a rad heater working.
The main rule I have is that the car is never fired up unless it will get a good run to bring all fluids and mufflers at full temperature. I am quite picky about that to the point where I push the car in and out of the garage if I need the space. I try to use the car once every week and a half throughout the winter.
I have been parking the car on a vapor barrier plastic sheet laid over a concrete floor in an unheated wooden garage. I keep a fan running in the garage to move the air around. The cars is covered with a dust cover only.
Roof shrinkage has not been a problem with the two replacement roofs I have had since 1991. Actually, shrinkage has improved them. Some winters the roof is up, but more and more I have been fitting the hard top on. My Tiger came with its original canvas roof which had twisted the metal frame over the years it was left folded away. I had to take it apart and re-weld it correctly to fit a new canvas.
My thoughts on winter, cheers, Gilles
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so the ? is Start the V8 during the winter to get all the fluids up to temp and everything, or not start at all?
And i am thinking about getting a car cover. yes or no?
i have gotten Sta-bil and put that in already, and have gotten moth balls. Now where to put the moth balls? Good places……….? Right now i have them inside the car and some in the trunk, and then i just left the bag open on the arm rest.
please try and answer those ?s.
I am not going to drive the tiger in the winter at all. Here in Omaha they lay at least an inch of salt on the roads every time it snows. And it snowed last week so that means were done till the roads are cleaned.
Right now the car is rust free and i would like to keep it that way, cuz this car is going to the grave with me. And so it must last another 75 or so years. (im 15)
thanks alot for all the great responces…. 😀
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Joey
Do you have any Gear heads in your area to consult with? I am geussing you are in grade ten and this would be a good time to take a mechanics course at school for a good understanding of mechanics and physics.
A Breathable cover for the top of the cat is great. As long as it does not trap moisture. Your local car crowd will be aware of climate problems. With severe cold temperatures it is amazing how much humidity there is not. Dust, and Dirt are natural and without climate control a cover helps to keep those elements away from the paint.. There are covers available from most car dealers and even ebay.
Has the Tiger been rust-proofed lately? A light-grade creeping oil is an excellent protective measure to apply before storage. There are access holes in the bottom of your rocker panels for convenience, Several different locations can benfit from this process.
Gilles: How many holes did you drill in your rocker panels retaining their original paint? Was that four or six holes on each side noticeable when the doors are opened??Tigger
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