Subject: winterizing/preserving a parts car tips please

[Christopher Ritchie]

>I have a 865KTQ parts car with 78K miles in my garage, had it for over a
>year. It ran but has several issues (spent most of its life in the salt
>belt, PO didn't use Pentosin, got rear-ended in front of my garage after I
>got it and so on). I haven't done anything to preserve the engine, what
>should I do?
>
>run it every once in a while?
>pump oil through the spark plug holes and leave it?
>
>Any advice is very much appreciated

Pump oil through the plug holes and "spin" the engine with the plugs out to 
circulate (but with a cloth over the holes to prevent a mess).  You could 
start it.  It wouldn't be as good as the oil-down-the holes technique.  If 
you do start it, you've got to get the oil temperature over 212F to boil off 
the moisture.

Gasoline is good for at least 1 year.  You should keep the tank filled so 
that there is not much air in there which will allow for condensation to 
form with temperature changes.

Fill the tires to the max printed on the sidewall to vitiate flat spotting.  
Flat spotting isn't much of a problem with modern radials, and it usually 
goes away after driving a few miles.

The biggest danger to a stored car is woodland creatures and critters.  Try 
"Irish Spring" bar soap, moth balls, and cheapo electronic noiseless 
noisemakers.  Only traps will likely work.  Close up the car at a minimum, 
including vents.  Stuff steel wool in the exhaust pipe.

If you live in a temperate climate with large temperature swings, there's 
nothing you can do to prevent rust forming on bare steel, such as brake 
rotors.  Consider taking those items off the car for storage in a 
temperature and humidity controlled area such as your house, but not your 
cellar.

If your going to use it as a parts car, take off and sell the good stuff.  
Junk the remainder.

I envy you.  You can devote garage space to a complete parts car?  Wow!  You 
must be rich.  (Then why are you screwing around with a 16 year old junk 
car?)

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