What needs to be done before storage?

[andreic]

In about 5 days I am putting my 914 (1.8L, carbureted) in winter storage -- it goes in an unheated barn. No snow goes in, but the temperature can go down to 10F, and I supposed there are mice around. I have a thin cloth cover for the car.

What should I do before putting the car in? The oil was changed fairly recently (about 300 miles ago). Take battery out? Pump tires up? Fill up tank? Add stabilizer in fuel? Once I get the car to the barn I can't do many things there, so oiling the cylinders there is not an option.

Thanks.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Moth balls around where the car touches the ground or gets close to anything else. That should (hopefully!) keep the mice away.

Take the battery out, pump the tires up, fill the fuel tank and put some Sta-Bil in it. Drain the fuel out of the float bowls by disabling the fuel pump and letting the engine run until there's nothing left in the carbs. If you can pull the spark plugs and hose a bit of WD-40 in there, that might be a good thing.

Some people like to put the car up on stands to keep the weight off the tires and suspension.

There are more steps that can be taken; I don't remember any more at the moment.

--DD

[TheCabinetmaker]

Vapour proof tarp under the car. don't let the car sit on bare ground, moisture from the bare ground will condense on the cold metal underbody so park her on a tarp, but never store with a vapour proof tarp on top of the car. the tarp goes under the car. use lots of rat poisons, moth ball etc... rats and mice can chew thru the fabric heater hoses under the car, then they can have access to the interior thru the heater channels if the heater is left on, so make sure the heater lever is turned off. then they will only have access to the engine.

use moth balls inside the cab, in both trunks and engine bay if your in a mice/rat storage area. full tire pressure if you cant jack her up (ideally jack her up)

when you add stabilizer to the gas, be sure to run the car so the stabilizer is distributed thru the system. spray the carb exteriors with a preservative oil to keep oxidation down a thinned oil (oil and kerosene) in a spray bottle works nice our buy some ready made stuff.
also hose clamp some aluminum foil on the tops of the carbs, and tail pipe, this keep moisture out and vermin. you don't want moisture to have any entry path to the motor internals the foil and hose clamps on the exhaust and intake will greatly reduce condensation in the motor. mice have been known to make nests in mufflers too.