Winter Storage

[Terry M.]

Re: Winter Storage

That's interesting, I didn't know the '68-'72 Corvettes didn't use the belted Polyglas Goodyear tires other muscle cars of the era came with. Wonder why?

I have no confirmation for this, but I was told that Zora insisted on Nylon Cord. Since radials came to Corvette in 1973 and Zora retired in 1974 the insistence on Nylon Cord makes little sense. I have seen the Zora insistence in print a couple of times, but that just could be that the same story gets passed around to everyone.

[Michael J.]

Re: Winter Storage

I have no confirmation for this, but I was told that Zora insisted on Nylon Cord. Since radials came to Corvette in 1973 and Zora retired in 1974 the insistence on Nylon Cord makes little sense. I have seen the Zora insistence in print a couple of times, but that just could be that the same story gets passed around to everyone.

In my Shelby life there is a similar story about why the GT350s, GT500s, and KRs of the late '60s all came with the Goodyear Speedway 350s of nylon cord only. Seems Carroll insisted on that as well, whereas the Boss 302s and Mach 1 Cobra Jets had the Polyglas, could be possible, those old racers were very particular about tires......

[Terry M.]

Re: Winter Storage

In my Shelby life there is a similar story about why the GT350s, GT500s, and KRs of the late '60s all came with the Goodyear Speedway 350s of nylon cord only. Seems Carroll insisted on that as well, whereas the Boss 302s and Mach 1 Cobra Jets had the Polyglas, could be possible, those old racers were very particular about tires......

Interesting Carrol & Zora. Maybe they thought/knew they were on to something. They were both pretty sharp guys. Sadly we will never know.

[Alan D.]

Re: Winter Storage

Recall when I put the nylon tires on my car it road a lot smoother than the polyglas. Just another piece of non scientific information however, sorry.

[Michael J.]

Re: Winter Storage

Recall when I put the nylon tires on my car it road a lot smoother than the polyglas. Just another piece of non scientific information however, sorry.

Interestingly, the Kelsey tire website states this: "The 1968 Stingray was the start of a new generation Corvette. This platform involved several chassis design changes to include wider based tire and wheel assemblies. The engineers from GM chassis design working in conjunction with their counterparts at Goodyear, advanced tire development by designing the F70/15 Goodyear Speedway wide tread, and what a tire it is. Although belted bias construction existed, the belted tires caused the Stingray chassis to begin drifting when cornering at a lower rate of speed. That had to go, the Goodyear Speedway non-belted tire solved the problem. Allowing the Corvette to attain a higher level of performance."

[Scott S.]

Re: Winter Storage

Luis, I just wanted to know if you experienced any problems with your 1966 after storing at our heated facility last year? All of the other cars started and ran fine for the summer.

Scott

[Bruce B.]

Re: Winter Storage

I store my 57, 62 and 65 in a garage heated to around 50 degrees. If i work on one I use a salamander heater to get the temp. up quickly.

Change the oil before parking, fill the gas tank, pump up the tires, use a battery tender, minder or just a cheap trickle charger on each car.

Tuck them in for the winter and DO NOT START unless you plan to take a 30 drive.

My mouse protection is a radio playing loud obnoxious music 24/7.

[George W.]

Re: Winter Storage

Luis,

You have good feedback here; I have enjoyed reading the feedback. My 2 cents worth is; I store my vettes in a heated garage at 55 degrees; park them on cardboard so tires don't touch concrete; fill tank; connect a battery tinder; don't start them; when they wake up in spring I change the oil as the block is total drained and take then for a drive asap and travel 10 plus miles to insure all is up to max temp and run condition. They seem to like it and so do I. Have fun.

[Michael W.]

Re: Winter Storage

What issue would tires touching concrete create?

[Paul J.]

Re: Winter Storage

Interesting Carrol & Zora. Maybe they thought/knew they were on to something. They were both pretty sharp guys. Sadly we will never know.

Nylon cord tires became popular in racing in the 1950's. This may have had something to do with it.

Paul

[George W.]

Re: Winter Storage

Mike,
No issue; I like them on soft surface like carpet or tire cradle to reduce the likely notion to flat spot.

[Paul O.]

Re: Winter Storage

The one item that I will add is that when parking on concrete I would have 2 layers of visqueen 5 to 10 mils thick to prevent moisture from coming up thru the concrete. I would extend 2 to 3 feet beyond all sides of the car in the spring when moving the car out I was surprised by the amount of moisture that was present.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Winter Storage

if you have a mice problem where you store your corvette i would use this device. i use a piece of wire coat hanger in place of the wooden dowel and a plastic soft drink bottle in place of the can. also i use the pink RV anti freeze in place of water in the bucket as it will preserve the mice if you can not empty the bucket every day. i use these at our camp which is closed up all winter and the mice are preserved by the anti freeze so in the spring i just dump them out. do not use water if you can not empty the bucket every day as this will be a mess with the dead mice in the water plus the water will freeze in a unheated garage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A8o7AUX9ww

[Steven B.]

Re: Winter Storage

A couple of houses ago I had humidity in my basement garage so I used a dehumidifier. It helped alot.

[Robert K.]

Re: Winter Storage

The one item that I will add is that when parking on concrete I would have 2 layers of visqueen 5 to 10 mils thick to prevent moisture from coming up thru the concrete. I would extend 2 to 3 feet beyond all sides of the car in the spring when moving the car out I was surprised by the amount of moisture that was present.

This really works. The first garage I built I didn't cover the gravel with plastic before concrete and within 2 months my clutch was frozen. My next garage, on advise from an NCRS member I covered the gravel with plastic and have never had a problem with a frozen clutch, even after 10 years of storage. I've been having alot of problems with ethanol in gas and think AviGas is the way to go.