Is this a bad way to store a 911?
 

For the last 5 years, I have been parking my 911 in my garage on my tow dolly. Why, you ask? Our village ordinances do not allow you to store anything out side. So, rather than paying for storage, I just pull the car up onto the dolly in the garage. It also keeps the dolly clean and in great shape.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1368549544.jpg

I realize that doing this will cause oil to accumulate towards the back (or front) of the engine, cyls 1 & 4. It will also cause the tranny fluid to accumulate against the main shaft seal.

The question is, does this do any real harm to either the engine or tranny? I just finished installing a 3.2 into the car and I want to make sure that this method of storing it will not cause any damage to my new/used motor and tranny.

Thanks.
Roger

I don't think it will be a problem for the engine or tranny to sit "uphill". However, if the car sits for a long time you will get flat spots on the tires. Either store it with old tires or (what I do in the winter) jack up the car on four jack stands to unload the suspension and the tires.

N.p. except move out of the communist area

Actually, I think my problem is the other end of the spectrum. I need to move back to an area where not everyone can afford to pay to store their toys offsite, or build 6+ car garages.

We lived in an unincorporated area years ago and my neighbor used to park his 30' racing trailer on his front lawn. Literally, right in the middle of his lawn. Didn't bother me, but my wife went ballistic. When we moved, she made sure that wasn't going to happen any more. Oh well.

Roger

Another option, get rid of the wife and move back to the old neighborhood !

Why would park that car for five years? You really ought to drive it more often than that. Just Sayin' ;)

Roger, the way you're parking that car is terrible! You need to park that car in my garage. ;)

Unfortunately, I would have to come with it...which could get very expensive, given the quantity (and quality) of beer necessary to sustain me.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat6.gif

Hmm, getting rid of the wife would probably cost more than paying to store the tow dolly somewhere. I guess that's out :(

Are you storing it or just parking it when not in use.

Both. I have put the back up on jack stands over the winter, and over inflated the front tires. I should probably just put the front on stands as well when I store it.

Roger

How much are you asking for the ladder?

That's a "Porsche Design" ladder, titanium, very pricey ;)

Village ordinances allow it out only once every 5 yrs?

If you are concerned you could back it in there every now and then to even out what ever you think is getting damaged :)

that way, if you ever need to leave the house in a hurry you are pointed in the right direction ;)

Your bigger problem will come from not driving it. It seems these cars cost the same in maintenance whether you drive them a few hundred miles a month or not at all. Might as well drive the car.

I should probably clarify, the car has NOT been sitting for 5 years. For the last 5 years, when it is parked in the garage, whether just for a few days, or for a few months over the winter, this is how it is parked.

If you do store it on jackstands, my Indy recommended removing the wheels to minimize the weight on the unloaded suspension. Plus, gives you a chance to give the wheels and wheel wells a good clean.

You need to pull the muffler off that thing and blast it around the hood a 3am.

I suggest you build a set of full-length wood ramps, then back the tow dolly into the garage. This way, you could keep the car level, over the dolly.

Since the car is being driven regularly, it doesn't matter what angle it's parked at. Many driveways are sloped. Cars seem to survive.

I had M&K race mufflers on the 2.4. That's about as close as you can get to open without technically being open. My wife always had plenty of advance warning that I was coming home. I'll be much more stealthy with the 3.2 and stock muffler.

Roger

Fun thread! Guys just can't help chiming in on garage accessories. You need to replace that Jaguar banner with a P car banner:) Looks like a fun car to tool around in.

Yes, I was wondering how long it would take for someone to comment on that. I had a brief affinity for Jags. Never bought one. Bought the Phaeton instead.

Roger

Looking to catch her doing something?? ;)

We'll see!

Just don't be surprised if the springs and/or bushings take a set. From the picture the front bars are pretty loaded and are transferring a load onto the back bars. If you want your car to settle into a lowered position you are in luck! Make sure there is no side to side variance or things could get funky.

Myself, I would set the tow dolly on end and reclaim the space so I could park the car 'unloaded'

It appears to be leaking...
 

A little update here. I got the 3.2 and aluminum 915 installed. I've been driving it for a couple weeks now (and LOVING it!). While it started out bone dry, it developed a very slight leak last week. It's only a couple of drops by morning after I park it hot. The leak is coming from the bell housing/flywheel area and appears to be gear oil. But, it is hard to say for sure, given that I have 20w-50 in the engine, which is also a bit thick. I should add that I replaced both the flywheel seal and the input shaft seal before I installed the motor/tranny.

What is interesting, is that it does NOT leak if I park it on a level surface. This would seem to reinforce the notion that it is indeed from the tranny and is the result of the oil level rising to the seal and seeping past while everything is warm. At the risk of stating the obvious, it would seem that I need to modify my parking arrangement to provide a more level surface.

Anyone have any other thoughts on how/what might be causing the leak?

Thanks.
Roger

Well does it taste like 20w50 or 75w90...?

Not sure. Any suggested recipes???

Was the input shaft (or crank nose) scored or marred in any way that you noticed when you did the seal??

Not that I recall. Everything looked good. My previous tranny was leaking at the input shaft seal as well. But I chalked this up to the poor design of the '72 only sealing arrangement.

Roger

Why don't you set up a block and tackle system and suspend the dolly from the ceiling?

I thought about that, but it's a fair amount of work to get it up and down. I think what I'll do is just take the wheels off the dolly, let it rest on the floor. I'll put down some 2x8s to drive on to, raising the rear wheels up. This will get it pretty close to level. Probably not a bad idea regardless of whether the angle is the cause of the leak or not. I don't think the factory intended the cars to be parked like this for extended periods of time.

Roger

Hang the dolly from a overhead beam.....

It weighs about 500 lbs. Not real comfortable hanging that from my ceiling.

You have an empty garage bay on the right side of your garage. Move the dolly over there, and have your wife park behind it.

Hanging it doesn't mean it's completely suspended......

It's only empty when the Phaeton isn't sitting there. The wife has a Q7, which won't fit parked on the dolly (and don't even get me started on her "parking abilities"!).

That's true, i.e., just pull the tongue up and stand it on end. That could probably work, but I think just taking the wheels off will be easier.