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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-

Storing the stang...

  • Thread starter Thread starter WashburnGT
  • Start date Start date Dec 2, 2006

WashburnGT

New Member
Apr 22, 2005
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I-70
Dec 2, 2006
#1
  • Dec 2, 2006
  • #1
Ok guys...here's my deal. Going to Iraq in January(I could say next month, but if I
keep calling it January it seems farther away). Im going to have to store my GT while
Im gone. I decided to store it at a friend's house instead of putting it in a gov't
storage lot. I've heard too many horror stories to trust my car to them.

I was wondering if there is anything special I should do to it while its being stored. I
bought a cover for it. should I put any fuel stabilizer in it? Or do anything to the oil?
One guy from my unit said I shouldnt put the cover on it, because it could rub the
paint off on some of the edges. Having never stored a car before Im pretty clueless.

Also, to get it to the lower driveway area its getting stored at, I had to take the back
section of my LM2s off. I was too lazy to put them back on when I drove home so I
just threw them in my trunk. I found that I kind of liked the difference in the sound
of it dumping out right after the axle. After thinking about how it must look to
have cutouts with no exhaust sticking out, and actually considering leaving it like
that...how close does that put me to growing a mullet and parking a rusted out
pick-up in my front yard?


Thanks
 

DRKSD

Active Member
Nov 29, 1999
112
16
38
Iowa
Dec 2, 2006
#2
  • Dec 2, 2006
  • #2
not quite on topic... but which deployment base are you going through for your pre-deployment training?
 
0

007

Founding Member
Jan 29, 2002
3,287
24
69
Broke
Dec 2, 2006
#3
  • Dec 2, 2006
  • #3
I just put mine away. I do the following.

Wash it.

Blow the tires up really hard to minimize flat spotting. I go to 40PSI and then roll the car a foot every 2 weeks. If you can have someone roll it a little then go for it.

Disconnect the battery.

Add teh SeaFoam to the gas to stabilize it and clean your engine when you next fire it up.

Stick dryer sheets (the fragranced kind) all over the place. Inside, outside, engine bay, up your pipes. Critters hate them. I use them on my car and boat.

Use a cover if its not somewhere windy. If its not windy it wont harm your car.



Best of luck in Iraq.
Dave
 

WashburnGT

New Member
Apr 22, 2005
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Dec 2, 2006
#4
  • Dec 2, 2006
  • #4
02grey3.8 said:
not quite on topic... but which deployment base are you going through for your pre-deployment training?
Click to expand...

Im currently at Ft. Riley. Im deploying with the 1st Infantry Div.


007 said:
Add teh SeaFoam to the gas to stabilize it and clean your engine when you next fire it up.
Click to expand...
I should have known seafoam would come into play somehow...
 

Gearbanger 101

Straight Outta Locash
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 10, 2002
9,457
1,377
234
Ontario, Canada
Dec 2, 2006
#5
  • Dec 2, 2006
  • #5
007 said:
Blow the tires up really hard to minimize flat spotting. I go to 40PSI and then roll the car a foot every 2 weeks. If you can have someone roll it a little then go for it.
Click to expand...

I can't say that I'd recommend that. Excessively over inflating your tires for long periods of time will cause stress cracks on your side walls and between your tread, especially if it's going to be exposed to cold weather. You want to minimize flat spots, put the car up on blocks under the rear axle and front control arms. This way you're still keeping the weight on the suspension and you're getting the tires off the ground.
 

GeorgiaTech

New Member
Dec 4, 2004
20
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Dec 3, 2006
#6
  • Dec 3, 2006
  • #6
Yes, definitely disconnect the battery. I left my car in the dorm parking garage for a 3 week winter break, came back and it wouldn't turn over. =/
 

hotrodredneck

New Member
Jul 28, 2004
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Newport News Va
Dec 3, 2006
#7
  • Dec 3, 2006
  • #7
yup, put her up on blocks or jack stands, plug up the exhaust and intake Both. unhook the batt, cover it up and put the dryer sheets inside it too. fuel stab and the seafoam will do you good, but dont get scared if it smokes a lot when you get back. If you change teh oil before you store it then you can just go with it when you get back.
 

FivePointStang

Founding Member
May 22, 2001
147
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Springfield, OH
Dec 3, 2006
#8
  • Dec 3, 2006
  • #8
OT: Do you know what base you will be at in Iraq yet? Lemme know... Ive been to pretty much every one and can tell you about them if youd like.
 

Skidawg

Member
Nov 11, 2003
104
0
16
Dec 3, 2006
#9
  • Dec 3, 2006
  • #9
If the car is going to be stored in a garage, you can use a cover if you want. You don't really need it, but if it makes you feel better, go for it.

You'll need to add fuel stabilizer to a full tank if you plan on it sitting more than a month or so. Also try to avoid ethanol mixed fuel as the ethanol breaks down faster than the fuel does (even with the stabilizer). Be sure to add the stabilizer and drive it for a bit to get it into all the fuel system.

Disconnect the battery.

There's debate as to when to change the oil. I think you should change it when you get back and just before it's first startup.

Good luck!!
 

myponyrocks

I have more billet on the Stang than most women ha
Apr 18, 2004
1,219
0
37
Dec 3, 2006
#10
  • Dec 3, 2006
  • #10
first deployment 4 months...

HEET in the gas and an oil change. Nothing else. Sat outside uncovered (Thanks Dad!) no issues other than rodents, she fired on the first turn 4 months later. Mind you she sat outside all winter long never fired up 1x.

last deployment,
6+ months

Bottle of HEET, changed oil, to my knowledge she was sitting on the ground whole time (no flat spots).... she was in a climate controlled garage the whole time and on a trickle charger. Car ran perfect when I got home.

Good luck man.

*EDIT* Oh and if rodents are possible... dryer static sheets work wonders. put a few in the trunk, under the seats, etc..
 

WashburnGT

New Member
Apr 22, 2005
32
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0
I-70
Dec 3, 2006
#11
  • Dec 3, 2006
  • #11
We are prepared for this deployment to exceed 16mos. So I guess I'll have to choose all of the above. Is there any benefit from putting a heavier weight oil in it while its stored? Or should I just stick with the 5w20? I'll definetly have to do the drier sheets, I dont know if there is a rodent problem but it will a t least keep it from getting musty.
 

hotrodredneck

New Member
Jul 28, 2004
200
0
0
Newport News Va
Dec 4, 2006
#12
  • Dec 4, 2006
  • #12
no need for heavier oil....what good would it do anyway?...it isnt running. Dont forget to plug the exhaust and intake...leave a note inside to remind you to pull out whatever you plug it with too.
 
K

Kilgore Trout

Fried or Broiled ?
10 Year Member
Mar 30, 2005
4,749
95
134
Dec 4, 2006
#13
  • Dec 4, 2006
  • #13
Take precautions against mice or you will be making a thread like this:
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=674603
 

myponyrocks

I have more billet on the Stang than most women ha
Apr 18, 2004
1,219
0
37
Dec 4, 2006
#14
  • Dec 4, 2006
  • #14
Kilgore Trout said:
Take precautions against mice or you will be making a thread like this:
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=674603
Click to expand...

I made a few of those until I found out about the dryer sheets. Luckily for me they only ate under my seats and nested with the spare tire (and all my dress uniforms I left in it)... Unfortunately most insurance companies don't cover rodent dammage
 
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