[Unknown User]

I live in New England and have a mint 82zx than I plan to only drive in the summer. I plan to put it in storage in the next few weeks for 5 to 6 months. What do you recommend the steps I take. I read an article in Motor Trend that applied to cars in general about changing the oil and filter and adding gas stabilizers, but what I would really like to know is should I put the car up on blocks for a 5-6 month storage and if so where should I put the blocks or jack stands??? Does putting it on blocks put more stress on the car, frame, other components, than it is worth saving the tires?

 

[alex]

> I live in New England and have a mint 82zx
> than I plan to only drive in the summer. I
> plan to put it in storage in the next few
> weeks for 5 to 6 months. What do you
> recommend the steps I take. I read an
> article in Motor Trend that applied to cars
> in general about changing the oil and filter
> and adding gas stabilizers, but what I would
> really like to know is should I put the car
> up on blocks for a 5-6 month storage and if
> so where should I put the blocks or jack
> stands??? Does putting it on blocks put more
> stress on the car, frame, other components,
> than it is worth saving the tires?

No, if you put your jack stands/blocks under the good hard points (i.e. under the center of the rear differential) or, using pieces of 2x4s to distribute the weight, supporting the car under the frame rails, then it shouldn't stress the car one bit. Fuel stabilizers are definitely a good idea

 

[Unknown User]

> I live in New England and have a mint 82zx
> than I plan to only drive in the summer. I
> plan to put it in storage in the next few
> weeks for 5 to 6 months. What do you
> recommend the steps I take. I read an
> article in Motor Trend that applied to cars
> in general about changing the oil and filter
> and adding gas stabilizers, but what I would
> really like to know is should I put the car
> up on blocks for a 5-6 month storage and if
> so where should I put the blocks or jack
> stands??? Does putting it on blocks put more
> stress on the car, frame, other components,
> than it is worth saving the tires?

The latest I have read on winterizing vehicles indicates that putting the car up on blocks is no longer required. This is a hold over from the days of nylon cord tires, where the tires would flatspot if left for any length of time (including overnight at -20 F). Current wisdom says that inflating the tires to about 45 lbs should be enough. The rest of the advice is dead on.

Hope this helps.

 

[larry]

I am the original owner of a '73 240Z. This car has been in storage every winter since new.

I do the following:
- fill the gas tank full to prevent corrosion
- add gas stabilizer
- pull the plugs and squirt oil (2-3 squirts from an oil can) into each cylinder
- put the plugs back in
- with the coil wire removed, crank the engine over for at least 10 seconds
- set the choke to full closed
- pull out the battery, check the level (add distilled water if required)
- charge the battery with a good charger and put it on a shelf

In the spring, I put the battery back in, start it up (it will smoke for a while), let it warm up idling and then drive it for a while to get the temperature right up. I then do an oil change.