Winter storage engine query

[Mad4slalom]

Hi all, it looks like most c3’s will be getting a lot less use now we are post drought and back to the weather we are used to.
I try to run mine when I can over the winter , whenever it is dry and salt free.
A query tho for the mechanical aficionados,… I know its not good to start the vette and then not go for a 20 min cruise to get everything moving and up to temp. Thinking condensation in mufflers and plugs fouling from just running motor in garage and then not driving. (I had to stick in a set of plugs after doing this for 10 weeks waiting for dvla to get it registered)
Now, here’s the thing, I have no choke and a 650 double pump holley. Before I start the car I always turn it over in short 2 second spells , four or five times till it builds oil pressure, I then pump the gas 3-4 times to fill the float chambers , turn it over again and she fires right up. What do folk think ofonce a week or ten days , spinning the motor over, to build oil pressure, get some oil up the top end and on the cam lobes but then “Not “ pumping the gas and starting it ! Is this beneficial in that you are getting oil around the motor and not washing it off the bores by pumping in neat gas, you are exercising the starter and battery (as its on a trickle charger) everything on the motor that spins, has spun helping things to not seize up through months of zero use.
Whilst doing this one can press the brake pedal a few times to keep the caliper pistons and pads moving ,and pull the E brake up a few times. I leave mine off in the garage anyway in case it stuck on.
Interested in peoples thoughts on this , whether good , bad , a waste of time , advisable or not , and your preferred routines and suggestions .

 

[Roscobbc]

You're doing all the right things as I see it. Is the garage 'warm' and 'dry'? - by that I mean slightly warmer than outside ambient temperature and DRY? - if garage doors are kept shut do you get condensation on the car? - if the answers to that are Yes and No respectively I think you only need to make sure that brake fluid is condensate free (ideally fresh) to prevent internal rusting of ferrous components (i.e. calipers and master cylinder). Don't see the need to turn the engine over to get lubricant on surfaces........perhaps if the engine was gonna be laid-up for a couple of years or so......

 

[Mad4slalom]

Thanks rosscobc,
The room is insulated and with an insulated door, no heating in ghere yet. I have’nt seen sny condensation on the chrome yet. I may add a couple of old fans from an airchamber into the walls of the room to keep air flowing too. I could set up one of my chambers in the vette room but I am hoping I wont need to. The mezzanine room above the vette room is walled in now from the main shed so I can start insulating that

 

[Roscobbc]

My garage is single width, double length of brick construction with part timber boarded roof with felt covering and pitched tiled full height roof adjoined to house with timber double doors both ends, but no insulation. As it is adjoined to side of house (and even with cavity wall) there is a degree of heat 'creep' from the house which is sufficient to prevent any condensation and resulting corrosion on the car. As your garaging is 'new' I think you just simply need to monitor things over the coming months.

 

[teamzr1]

There are products you can buy to add to gas tank that prevents water buildup of gas in the tank

Is there value in jacking the car off the ground a bit to prevent tires from flat spotting ?
Consider using a battery tender to keep battery charged and preventing low voltages to the
electronics like the ECM and CCM

 

[Chuffer]

Hi all, it looks like most c3’s will be getting a lot less use now we are post drought and back to the weather we are used to.
I try to run mine when I can over the winter , whenever it is dry and salt free.
A query tho for the mechanical aficionados,… I know its not good to start the vette and then not go for a 20 min cruise to get everything moving and up to temp. Thinking condensation in mufflers and plugs fouling from just running motor in garage and then not driving. (I had to stick in a set of plugs after doing this for 10 weeks waiting for dvla to get it registered)
Now, here’s the thing, I have no choke and a 650 double pump holley. Before I start the car I always turn it over in short 2 second spells , four or five times till it builds oil pressure, I then pump the gas 3-4 times to fill the float chambers , turn it over again and she fires right up. What do folk think ofonce a week or ten days , spinning the motor over, to build oil pressure, get some oil up the top end and on the cam lobes but then “Not “ pumping the gas and starting it ! Is this beneficial in that you are getting oil around the motor and not washing it off the bores by pumping in neat gas, you are exercising the starter and battery (as its on a trickle charger) everything on the motor that spins, has spun helping things to not seize up through months of zero use.
Whilst doing this one can press the brake pedal a few times to keep the caliper pistons and pads moving ,and pull the E brake up a few times. I leave mine off in the garage anyway in case it stuck on.
Interested in peoples thoughts on this , whether good , bad , a waste of time , advisable or not , and your preferred routines and suggestions .

I do much the same as you have written . I have a 650cfm Edelbrock with no choke and always crank over for several turns before firing up . The battery is hooked up to a CTek conditioner all year round and never fails to spin over easily or start . I also have a high torque light weight starter motor which helps no end as less drain on battery . I try to take her out for spin about once a month over the winter months if weather is ok but still crank it over periodically to pump poil round and keep things moving . Pu,mp the brakes regulary too and never leave the hand brake on . If I know that I wont be driving it for a while I over inflate the tyres and push the car forward for a few weeks and then back to a different point each time to avoid flat spots . The workshop has no heating but is vast and airy with reasonable natural ventilation . It is steel framed with blockwork to about 4.5 feet high and then ally cladding to sides and roof . It is chuffin chilly in the winter and like an oven in the summer but condensation is not a problem as none of my tools or steel tool boxes and axle stands go rusty . At the end of the day there is around £2 million worth of race cars in there that don`t turn a wheel for months on end so should be good enough for the C3 . I also keep a breathable lightweight cover over it more to keep the dust off than anything . Love your new Vette Cave by the way .

 

[Mad4slalom]

I do much the same as you have written . I have a 650cfm Edelbrock with no choke and always crank over for several turns before firing up . The battery is hooked up to a CTek conditioner all year round and never fails to spin over easily or start . I also have a high torque light weight starter motor which helps no end as less drain on battery . I try to take her out for spin about once a month over the winter months if weather is ok but still crank it over periodically to pump poil round and keep things moving . Pu,mp the brakes regulary too and never leave the hand brake on . If I know that I wont be driving it for a while I over inflate the tyres and push the car forward for a few weeks and then back to a different point each time to avoid flat spots . The workshop has no heating but is vast and airy with reasonable natural ventilation . It is steel framed with blockwork to about 4.5 feet high and then ally cladding to sides and roof . It is chuffin chilly in the winter and like an oven in the summer but condensation is not a problem as none of my tools or steel tool boxes and axle stands go rusty . At the end of the day there is around £2 million worth of race cars in there that don`t turn a wheel for months on end so should be good enough for the C3 . I also keep a breathable lightweight cover over it more to keep the dust off than anything . Love your new Vette Cave by the way . View attachment 19891View attachment 19892View attachment 19893View attachment 19895

 

[Mad4slalom]

I bet there is always interesting stuff happening in your workshop chffa So you crank yours over without starting it up too ? I just feel it seems better to spin it over than leave it sat for a month, just to keep oil moving a bit . I like the pumping up the tyres and rolling a half turn or so every now and then too

 

[Chuffer]

I bet there is always interesting stuff happening in your workshop chffa So you crank yours over without starting it up too ? I just feel it seems better to spin it over than leave it sat for a month, just to keep oil moving a bit . I like the pumping up the tyres and rolling a half turn or so every now and then too

Definitely always something interesting going on to give a little light distraction . Been there yesterday and today doing a full service , front and rear brake pads plus serpentine belt change on the Hemi Jeep . The latest distaction is the comencement of the rebuild of a Mk 1 Ford Escort Twin Cam blister wing race car . This will be raced rather than car number 5 the genuine ex Ford Works Mk1 twin cam that is now too valuable to race despite the very deep pockets of the owner . Also a 1965 notch back Mustang is in for disc brake upgrades and a partial rewire at the very least as Bubber has made a real cowboy job of it and it`s a miracle it hasn`t gone up in flames . The real `high end` work goes on the Inner Sanctum which is a workshop inside the main workshop unit .

 

[Mad4slalom]

Definitely always something interesting going on to give a little light distraction . Been there yesterday and today doing a full service , front and rear brake pads plus serpentine belt change on the Hemi Jeep . The latest distaction is the comencement of the rebuild of a Mk 1 Ford Escort Twin Cam blister wing race car . This will be raced rather than car number 5 the genuine ex Ford Works Mk1 twin cam that is now too valuable to race despite the very deep pockets of the owner . Also a 1965 notch back Mustang is in for disc brake upgrades and a partial rewire at the very least as Bubber has made a real cowboy job of it and it`s a miracle it hasn`t gone up in flames . The real `high end` work goes on the Inner Sanctum which is a workshop inside the main workshop unit . View attachment 19896View attachment 19897View attachment 19898View attachment 19899

impressive stuff

 

[Chuffer]

The Corvette is back with all its little friends this morning now that the Jeep has vacated its space in the workshop now I have done all the service jobs and pre MOT checks before its test on Monday . Had a nice cruise down the A5 in glorious autumn sunshine to give the Vette a run before tucking it up
The Vette wont be lonely as a quick count up came to :
3 x F2 / Formula Atlantic
1x Spice Group C
1 x Mitzen Racing Prototype that ( stunning looking car but currently a kit of parts after a shunt early in the season.)
1 x Honda Civic Type R race car .
1 x BMW E34 Enduro racer
1 x BMW E 36 Enduro racer
2 x Mk1 Escort Twin Cams ( lots of cursing yesterday when the guys were `offering up` the Ford BDA dry sump engine into the shell of the project car to get the engine and transmission mounting points correct ! )
1 x Escort Cosworth rally car ( project )
1 x Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution rally car ( drivable project )
1 x Lancia Delta Integrale rally car ( drivable project )
1 x Lancia Delta Integrale original road car . ( my mates stunning car )
1 x Jaguar X Type ( stored and off the road )
1 x Early 70`s Mini ( long term resto job )
1x 1965 Ford Mustang `notch back `
It`s all a bit cosy in there . Plus there is a milling machine and lathe workshop area too !!

 

[CaptainK]

Good luck on the MOT, hope it goes well.

 

[Chuffer]

Good luck on the MOT, hope it goes well.

Thanks Captain . The Jeep sailed through as it does every year without so much as an advisory . Not bad for a 16 year old daily driver ! But I always say `look after a car and it will look after you `

 

[CaptainK]

Congrats. Always a nice feeling when it sails through. I have my project FTO going through its MOT soon. That'll be touch or go as to if it passes .... it hardly gets used poor thing. One day I'll put more effort into making it better (mechanically fine, paintwork shocking, bit crusty here and there).