How do you store your car?

rdharper02

like kicking myself in the junk
10 Year Member
May 8, 2006
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I'm going to be putting the Mustang up for a couple months and wondered how some of you guys store youre car. I've got it up on jack stands, but worry it might flex a little. Any suggestions are welcome.
 
If it's going to just 'sit' for a few months - put some stabil in the gas tank - disconnect the battery negative cable - put it up on Jack stands - throw a sheet over it - I typically detail / wax it put new fluids in beforehand .....or like Mr. Snrub - leave it on the ground - / disconnect the battery - go in and start it up on Sundays - run it around the block a few times - should do the trick either way.....the official way for very long term storage is pretty complicated - they want you to completely drain all fluids - rims and tires off - stacked vertically w/cardboard in between etc etc ....put baking soda box 1/2 open in the interior to absorb mositure etc etc .....alot of work goes into it....if you research it on line - there's probably a ton more things to do ....
 
Another trick my dad taught me was to go to your local garden shop and pick up some "dried cow's blood" it is used as some kind of fertilizer. Put some on a paper plate in the front floor pans, and the rear of the car. Mice can smell blood and they tend to stay away from it, so when you get back to driving your car again you don't have to worry about mice nest being all in your interior.
 
I thought about leaving the jack stands under the rear axle and putting my ramps under the front. Theyre the polymer ones, so I'm worried about sagging.

Dried cows blood, have not hear that one before, but if it works than it's worth a try. I'm actually hoping my lazy beagle keeps the critters away, but she's not to be counted on....lol.
 
I'm not sure if it was coincidence or not, but the 2 vehicles that I had in storage for about 2-2 1/2 years I tried the blood trick, and there was absolutely no signs of mice. I believe that it does work. My two trucks that I was storing were against the forest line in my parent's back yard, highly likely to house some mice.
 
My 95 gets stored outside every winter for the last 6. 6 months storage each time. First year, I put it on jack stands (axles in the back, control arms as close to the lower spindle as I could in the front. Tires stored inside. Stabil in fuel tank. Battery stored in garage. Block heater plugged in (we do see 40 below here during the winter). Car did great.

Every winter since then I've been a lazy ass and parked it in the garage-tent, left the wheels mounted and car sitting on the ground. Pulled the battery inside, plugged the block heater in, threw the cover on, and checked back in six months. Car did great!

Moral of the story: My Nitto 555Rs didn't have any trouble being stored on the car with full weight on them in subzero temps. Your results may vary.

If rodents are a concern, I can't recommend anything other than a big ball of steel wool in the exhaust. Never personally experienced it, but heard war stories of nesting well up in the exhaust. Not sure how much damage that would do, but it could sure be a real pain to clean up.
 
I yank the wheels off and put the suspension on blocks. I put them out as far as possible on the front control arms and under the axle in the back. I also get it up high to prevent rodents from going into the car as well as promote circulation under the car (prevent rust). It also gives me room to crawl under and do some maintaiencen when i get bored
 
I run it as low as I can on fuel, pull it into the garage, pull the keys and walk away. I go out and started a couple of times per winter, just to circulate the fluids and charge the battery, but othewise....that's how she sits.

I wouldn't worry too much about tires. At the rate most Mustang owners I know go through them, I don't think it's really gonna matter how they're stored?

Some guys have talked about using dryer sheets to keep the mice at bay. Not a bad idea I guess. Even if it doesn't work, at least your car will smell like a fresh load of clean laundry in the spring. :nice:

Living in an appartment like I do, I also find the Mustang a great place for storing other summer items. My back seat of this moment consists of my golf clubs and my trunk is my tool chest and storage area for misc car parts I plan on putting in this spring.