[Old Blue 66]

I putting the car away for the winter and the rear shocks leak a little bit. Thought I might put the back of the car on jack stands and let the rear end hang down to avoid the springs being compressed for the next several months.

The jackstands will be supporting the frame in front of the rear wheels with just a little lift. I cant see any issues with this. Anyone else feel differently?

[Old Goat 67]

Leaking shocks are leaking shocks.

About the only thing you will accomplish there is not to flat-spot your rear tires. JMO.

[Engine-Ear]

Paul, I agree with OG67.

I have always felt that taking the weight of the car off the springs for winter/long term storage is a good idea.

[The Boss]

Shocks are cheap, change them in the spring.

I always leave mine on the ground - if the house is burning & I'm not around my friends at the local Fire House know enough to pull them out of the garage.

[Old Blue 66]

They are air shocks and they are new. They still leak a little bit. Im sure I hooked up an air line wrong. But thats not the point here. I just wanted to make sure lifting the car by the rear end was ok for several months.

[Paul24267]

I think that it should be ok to lift it off the ground for the winter but I also think that The Boss makes a very good point.

[GT182]

Originally Posted by Paul24267

I think that it should be ok to lift it off the ground for the winter but I also think that The Boss makes a very good point.

I agree with that too. Tho I'd put the jackstands behind the rear wheels.... makes for a faster getaway if the need arises. Oh, make sure you back the car into the garage.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by GT182

I agree with that too. Tho I'd put the jackstands behind the rear wheels.... makes for a faster getaway if the need arises. Oh, make sure you back the car into the garage.

Ive tried backing the car in, but I usually start the car a couple of times durring the winter months and the exhaust would be right up against the door that leads to the house. That wouldnt go over well.

Whats the diff between putting the stands in front or in back of the wheels (other that the quick getaway)? I always thought the strongest part of the frame was right in front of the rear wheels. And when lifted, it distributed the weight more evenly.

I know this is a dumb question, but I dont want to strech the frame sitting for 6 months.

[Fred's red sled]

Personally, I think where you place the mouse poison is the single most important winter storage issue ;-).
Overinflate tires, fill gas tank, bring battery in and put on trickle charger, put mouse poison packs everywhere in under and around, wash and cover. Re-inflate tires in Feb as needed. That's my routine; usually ;-)

[63gpman]

One of my friends puts his car on blocks every year. He actually takes 4 round oil pans, puts the blocks in the pans, puts the car on these blocks and than fills the pans with antifreeze so that if any mice crawl in, they droun/drink the antifreeze.

Sounds like it would work??

[Fred's red sled]

Wow. That's a lot of effort! It probably would work but mice can jump so...???

[63gpman]

Yea, I would guess his take is that anything he can do to try and prevent these mice from getting to his car is worth it and will be less effort than having to redo the interior. I am not even sure if this would work, but to him it must be worth the peace of mind??

[gtoric]

The only issue I have with taking the weight off the suspension is, when you extend the shock absorbers you expose the shock's normally retracted rods to moisture. If you have any concern with surface rust on the shock rods, spray them with a protectant like WD-40 or Seafoam. Seafoam is also a good fogger/protectant to spray into the carb just as the engine is running out of fuel. Of course, air adjustable shocks are not prone to exposed rods...

I'm with Tempest, once the engine is correctly fogged, don't start it up again until you are ready to use it in the spring.

[Engine-Ear]

Originally Posted by gtoric

The only issue I have with taking the weight off the suspension is, when you extend the shock absorbers you expose the shock's normally retracted rods to moisture...Of course, air adjustable shocks are not prone to exposed rods...

slightly O/T but aren't regular shocks' pushrods chrome plated (and therefore won't rust)?

Originally Posted by gtoric

I'm with Tempest, once the engine is correctly fogged, don't start it up again until you are ready to use it in the spring.

X3. The warmed up engine/pipes will result in lots of condensation upon cool-down.

[GT182]

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

slightly O/T but aren't regular shocks' pushrods chrome plated (and therefore won't rust)?

Yes they will rust, just like anyother chrome piece will.

[Andre]

Wow! I am learning a lot of stuff that I hope that I will never use in my lifetime. The thought of putting my car away for months on end, and not driving it, just doesn't settle well with me. I don't know how you guys put up with it, but you are better men than me.

[GT182]

Andre, a lot of us have to put up with winter and what goes with it..... snow.

Paul, when I put my car away it just sits there as it is. I get the battery out and put the trickle charger on it, and make sure everything else is ok. I don't worry about getting it up off the floor or anything like that. It'll be ok sitting on all 4s just like the one you drive every day. If you're worried about the tires on it now, just put some old tires on regular rims on it. Then if you have to back it out you still can.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by GT182

Andre, a lot of us have to put up with winter and what goes with it..... snow.

Paul, when I put my car away it just sits there as it is. I get the battery out and put the trickle charger on it, and make sure everything else is ok. I don't worry about getting it up off the floor or anything like that. It'll be ok sitting on all 4s just like the one you drive every day. If you're worried about the tires on it now, just put some old tires on regular rims on it. Then if you have to back it out you still can.

And the sub zero temps too!

[saltman 1965]

Agree with Andre.I just cant drive with the top down on most days from mid November till April.And the only salt I have to worry about is on my kitchen table. Good luck my Yankee friends.

[Old Blue 66]

BELIEVE ME!!!!! If I could move south to a warmer climate where I could enjoy my car all year long I would. Its painful watching the car sit there all winter long.