• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Fox Winter Storage Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Justin87
  • Start date Start date Oct 21, 2018

Justin87

5 Year Member
Aug 7, 2017
158
45
48
Oct 21, 2018
#1
  • Oct 21, 2018
  • #1
Hello guys,

Getting cold here in Wisconsin and I have parked the car for the season. I have my usual routine for car storage (as everyone does) but I'm curious if anyone stores their fox on jack stands. I usually just park mine but this summer I put all new suspension and bakes on the car and now that I have a decent set of StopTech rotors on it I'm a little afraid they will warp.

However, I've also heard that it's not good to store uni-body cars on jack stands because they can twist without a full frame. My GT has it's problems but it sits extremely straight and hardly has that famous "fox body lean" which is why I'm asking.


Thoughts?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,827
10,508
203
polk county florida
Oct 21, 2018
#2
  • Oct 21, 2018
  • #2
#1 I live in the great state of Confusion, ahem, I mean Florida. So we drive our crap year round, but I am familiar with vehicle storage and if you place the jack stands at the control arms in front and the axle in back the vehicle will sit as if it were normal with the exception of not sitting on the tires, which is what you want, this keeps the tires from sitting on one area of the tread face and causing flat spots, it also keeps the tires from reacting to temp changes that effect the contact area of the tire, some what less inside a garage but still has an effect.
There would be no effect on the structure if suspension points were used for the stands. For the most part, parked in a garage for a few months sitting on good tires properly inflated likely would do no harm at all.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,160
17,854
224
Massachusetts
Oct 22, 2018
#3
  • Oct 22, 2018
  • #3
I store mine on spare wheels for the winter, but I've done it on jackstands under the axles and control arms and a few times I just jack the tire pressure up to the max listed on the tire and let it sit on the ground. I might rotate each wheel once a month maybe. Takes a miniyte with a jack to do.

Don't know how letting a car sit can warp the rotors. That's the first I've ever heard of that
 
Reactions: Shakerhood

Steel1

Mustang Master
Aug 18, 2017
1,419
639
143
Connecticut
Oct 22, 2018
#4
  • Oct 22, 2018
  • #4
I store mine with tires on the ground, full tank of fuel, dryer sheets scattered about inside and under for rodent deterent
and battery maintainer hooked up.
Read about the dryer sheet thing years ago and have been doing it ever since, either it works or I'm just getting lucky.
 
Reactions: General karthief

FortySix&2

Active Member
Oct 24, 2001
86
28
28
Madison Wi
Oct 22, 2018
#5
  • Oct 22, 2018
  • #5
I also live in Wisconsin. I have stored my car every winter for the past 20 years. Sits on the ground with whatever gas is leftover with some fuel stabilizer. I disconnect the battery. Never had an issue.
 
Reactions: 89ripper

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,160
17,854
224
Massachusetts
Oct 22, 2018
#6
  • Oct 22, 2018
  • #6
I usually top of my tank before I park it for good and add stabill. I top it off because that's an extra 15 gallons of gas available for the generator if we lose power for a few days during a storm.
 
Reactions: General karthief

LX Dave

5 Year Member
Jul 2, 2017
239
181
53
Oct 22, 2018
#7
  • Oct 22, 2018
  • #7
Another fellow Wisconsin guy here. I put sta-bil in the tank and run it to about a quarter full. Park it and cover it up. That's all I've ever done. Little early isn't it? I'll be running mine until there's snow on the roads. It does stay in a heated shop all winter though.
 

Shakerhood

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 28, 2004
3,355
207
114
Ohio
Oct 23, 2018
#8
  • Oct 23, 2018
  • #8
I put a sheet of heavy plastic on the floor of the garage and park on it, sta-bil in the tank, dryer sheets under the hood, and desicant bags inside. I also start and run the car up to operating temp once a month or so as the Owners Manual recommends, never heard of rotors warping during storage before.
 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
5,816
213
Oct 23, 2018
#9
  • Oct 23, 2018
  • #9
Maybe.... he's talking about the clean spot the rotors get when they start to rust. The part the pads contact stays shiny. It'll give you a brake vibration like a warped rotor.

Don't have any ideas to preserve them. They shouldn't rust inside a garage. The only idea I have is to put the car on stands and remove the rotors. They have to be stored flat. Plastic bags are bad.... unless you drop in a couple silicone desiccant packs ( like the ones that come in shoe boxes ) or vacuum seal them.

Those little packs work great in my tool boxes.
 
Reactions: Shakerhood

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,160
17,854
224
Massachusetts
Oct 23, 2018
#10
  • Oct 23, 2018
  • #10
Never really had much issue with rust on my bling bling rotors inside the garage. I usually leave my car in a somewhat driveable condition anyway as I move it around the garage or out into the driveway depending on what I got going on in terms of house projects. I just try not to start it when it's under 10 degrees if I can't run it for a while.

For the most part, I just fill the tank, swap the wheels, and put it on the trickle charger. I do change the oil before it sits for a while to get rid of all the contaminants that can eat away at the metals while it sits. I wipe the interior down, condition the leather , toss a garbage bag over the seats (to keep them somewhat moist after I condition them) and shut the door and just let it sit.
 
Reactions: Shakerhood

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp
10 Year Member
Sep 1, 2010
7,387
2,745
194
Kearney, NE
Oct 27, 2018
#11
  • Oct 27, 2018
  • #11
LX Dave said:
Another fellow Wisconsin guy here. I put sta-bil in the tank and run it to about a quarter full. Park it and cover it up. That's all I've ever done. Little early isn't it? I'll be running mine until there's snow on the roads. It does stay in a heated shop all winter though.
Click to expand...
Using a fuel stabilizer is an absolute requirement - after even 3 months, fuel can deteriorate by itself, and my one E-10 ethanol complaint is that it deteriorated faster.
The tank should be either full as possible or empty. The less air over the tank will reduce the amount of fuel deterioration and rusting of the tank.
A battery disconnect will help, even with the battery tender.
The only time dryer sheets will really help with is if your rodents are extremely shy. Cab Fresh rodent repellant (from farm stores, Ace hardware or Speedway motors) works better and smells a lot better than mothballs!

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Fres...MIuKCGzYyn3gIVzMDACh2zqgPvEAYYASABEgLpi_D_BwE
 

Jersey Joe

I remember blowing that Monkey's ass
10 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
760
1,280
154
Bloomingdale N.j.
Oct 27, 2018
#12
  • Oct 27, 2018
  • #12
Well here in N.J. I just pretty much throw the cover on it with whatever fuel it had and at some point I slap the battery tender on it, garage is part of the house so it's really never any colder than 50 degrees. But I'm not really a good example of how to do it either..
 

BlakeusMaximus

Still got to try a little lube on my speedo head
5 Year Member
Jul 12, 2017
2,474
1,348
173
Oct 28, 2018
#13
  • Oct 28, 2018
  • #13
I’m glad I don’t have to do any of that guys. I can drive my car year round.
 
Reactions: General karthief

2000xp8

SN Certified Technician
Aug 8, 2003
8,015
1,613
194
NJ
Oct 28, 2018
#14
  • Oct 28, 2018
  • #14
Foxes don't weigh enough to permanently flat spot the tires.
And if you are truly that worried about the tires, race ramps makes flat spot stoppers, they aren't cheap, but they work.
People that do the jack stand thing are just nuts imo.
As for the battery, I always keep mine shut off regardless of the time of year, I have a switch by the license plate, but if your battery is up front, you can buy a cutoff switch. While I have a battery tender and sometimes I slap it on just to see where the battery is (mine tells a percentage), if the battery is good, with it shut off, it will not lose any charge.

I'm sure Wisconsin is worse than NJ, but regardless, I like to have the car ready to drive at all times. Doesn't mean i'm going to drive it, just means I could if I want to.
 
Reactions: BlakeusMaximus

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills
Jul 14, 2018
136
26
38
ontario
Oct 29, 2018
#15
  • Oct 29, 2018
  • #15
mine will be in a barn. no idea how winter will treat her.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,827
10,508
203
polk county florida
Oct 29, 2018
#16
  • Oct 29, 2018
  • #16
Make sure you guard against rodents, throw some mothballs around it or something. Fresh straw in case it gets hungry.
 
Reactions: tsiemens and Jersey Joe

tsiemens

my welding skills arent really skills
Jul 14, 2018
136
26
38
ontario
Oct 30, 2018
#17
  • Oct 30, 2018
  • #17
lol straw.
 

7991LXnSHO

wanna catch the space herp
10 Year Member
Sep 1, 2010
7,387
2,745
194
Kearney, NE
Nov 3, 2018
#18
  • Nov 3, 2018
  • #18
Fresh hay would be a good offering to the rodents. The straw might be helpful as oil absorbent if your car has to leak a little. Do not forget to tip the farm cats so they will help keep rodents away.
You should see the horror pictures of what rodents can pack under the motor shrouds on air cooled motors. It would be like blocking the entire radiator shroud and fan on a Mustang.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Fox Ideas for Theft Deterrence in Storage
  • Clutchfork
  • Nov 6, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
38
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 1, 2025
91AOD5.0LX
C
C4 trans help needed
  • CPH89LX
  • Apr 26, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
6
Views
136
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 28, 2026
CPH89LX
C
D
Picked up Calypso 92 LX hatchback
  • Dakar09
  • May 18, 2026
  • The Welcome Wagon
Replies
12
Views
147
The Welcome Wagon May 21, 2026
Dakar09
D
A
Fox Foxbody convertible pinch weld question
  • Augy
  • Sep 23, 2024
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
9
Views
899
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Sep 29, 2024
Augy
A
A definitive answer to the question of how much height Energy Suspension isolators add
  • 2000xp8
  • May 20, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
242
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 20, 2025
2000xp8
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?