So with the recent acquisition of my 2 '76 Fiat Spiders, I am long out of garage storage space. I really need to get a giant pole barn or something. So unless I can find someone who wants to generously donate an indoor parking space somewhere, some of the cars have to sit outside....much to the joy of the wife.
I know storing a car outside is not a great option no matter how you slice it, but what's the best way to store it and minimize the rust, etc...?
If you're a Costco member they had a really nice price on 4-layer breathable waterproof car covers for about $35 (I paid $60+ at Advance several years ago for a 3 layer). Before you store, clean the outside of the car, let it dry, then wax the crap out of it, including rusted areas to seal it as much as possible. Wipe down the entire inside with a mild Clorox bleach solution (one that doesn't discolor things). Throw an open box of baking soda in each car (change every month) so it doesn't mildew on the inside, alternatively put a pile of baking soda on a pie plate in the car. Shove a rag in the exhaust so nothing crawls up in there, same goes for the intake/airbox/throttlebody. Fill the tank full of gasoline (to prevent it from rusting out, and throw some sta-bil in there so you can use it once you need to start it. Change oil, preferably synthetic as dino gunk can turn acidic and eat seals. Put on jacks if the tires are any good so you don't flat spot them or damage your driveway. That's what I'd do at least...
(if you park it off of pavement or concrete, get a tarp to put under it to prevent moisture from hanging out underneath it).
I think the "Roundel" tech writer, Mike Miller, will e-mail anyone his "Storage" sheet, although I haven't seen it. He's a nice guy.
auspuf2002@aol.com
I know the issue of whether to use a cover is controversial.
Put the car on top of a tarp or something similar to keep the moisture that rises from the ground in check. Also keeps any weeds and such from growing up underneath. Damprid is also a decent thing to put in the car, either in addition to baking soda or in place of. You must empty the container regularly. For the exhaust, don't bother with a rag, put steel wool. A critter will eat through a rag. Dryer sheets supposedly discourage rodent if left in the car interior.
Gota love the search function! Might have to part me next project truck under some trees for about a year. Want to cover it but I know how much damage the moisture does inside of the car. Sounds like I need to get some damp rid like you guys were saying. Also thinking about warping the whole truck in a tarp kinda like a taco?
I'd look at one of those portable/temporary garages instead of a tarp. They're basically a big tent, and would keep the weather and sun off the truck without trapping moisture against the body.
Raze wrote: If you're a Costco member they had a really nice price on 4-layer breathable waterproof car covers for about $35 (I paid $60+ at Advance several years ago for a 3 layer). Before you store, clean the outside of the car, let it dry, then wax the crap out of it, including rusted areas to seal it as much as possible.
If I had to store a car outdoors under some kind of tarp, this is how I'd do it, but it's still not the best way to store a car outdoors. The big tent garage is a better way, if you don't live in an HOA that would freak out at such a thing:
stuart in mn wrote: I'd look at one of those portable/temporary garages instead of a tarp. They're basically a big tent, and would keep the weather and sun off the truck without trapping moisture against the body.
Also to reduce flat-spotting, inflate your tires to the maximum PSI on the sidewalls. Maybe park on squares of wood to reduce heat conduction into the tires.
I have a 13x20 Shelter Logic "barn style" temp garage. It worked fairly well for a few seasons until the cover failed.
I second the steel wool and dryer sheets for rodent prevention, although if your neighborhood has as many outdoor cats as mine does, then rodents probably won't be an issue.
Otherwise, I'm in a similar situation - very much out of covered parking and need to figure out something soon. 
I stored a van outdoors for 5-6 months at a time over 15 winters. Since this occured in the winter moisture wasn't an issue. (I live near Chicago.) The only really issue I did have was for a few years in the spring birds would built nests under the hood. They accessed that either through the grill or from underneath. I ended up covering the grill part with some cheap fiberglass screening material and that seemed to solve the problem.
Cheap(can use the 20% off coupon), smallish, unless an hoa would have a problem with it. Grab a tarp while you're there to put on the ground underneath too.
I remember seeing someone on miata.net making custom "shoes" out of plywood to prevent flat spots on their tires during storage. Cut out an oval from the sheet of plywood, and angled the inside a bit so that it would minimizes the contact patch. I think he put them on car rollers, but I don't remember off hand.
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