Discussion
After an enjoyable sunny blast this morning, i have decided to put the T350 away for the winter, i have left minimal fuel in the car, but does anyone have any tips on keeping the car locked away all winter, such as should i start it every couple of weeks to get the oil flowing around the block?
dalenorth said:
After an enjoyable sunny blast this morning, i have decided to put the T350 away for the winter, i have left minimal fuel in the car, but does anyone have any tips on keeping the car locked away all winter, such as should i start it every couple of weeks to get the oil flowing around the block?
I had heard it better to top the tank full.Id inflate the tyres to a highter pressure. Stops you getting flats on them, or put the car on axle stands then when you do start it you can put it into gear and let it tick over so getting oil round the gears and diff. Stops seals from drying out. There is also an addative you can get to put into the fuel to stop it denaturing.
GreenGriff400 said:
Id inflate the tyres to a highter pressure. Stops you getting flats on them, or put the car on axle stands then when you do start it you can put it into gear and let it tick over so getting oil round the gears and diff. Stops seals from drying out. There is also an addative you can get to put into the fuel to stop it denaturing.
This is what i do put it on axle stands gives tyres/suspension a rest from being under and i run it up every now and then let it warm right up gerradiuk said:
Mmmm Scotty not a great idea to have the
shocks hanging for any length of time, a mate did
this whilst away in State's & when he came back great
round tyre's but had to buy 4 shocks ...ouch!
Got to disagree with you on this one I have been laying my cars up for 6-8 months every winter for the last 4 years with no ill affects with leaving them on axle stands.shocks hanging for any length of time, a mate did
this whilst away in State's & when he came back great
round tyre's but had to buy 4 shocks ...ouch!
I think of it this way if they are under the load of the car all you are doing is making the spring weak and keeping the damper seal in one position under load would make it fail quicker in my view. New shocks can be in a box for years and still work fine, Add load and they are starting there life span and doing what they do. I know it can be down to the health of the seal as well and i do tend to give mine a spray with silicon spray to stop them drying out while laid up
At the End of the day it's your car and your call, but i look at it from a Engineers prospective of mechanical sympathy towards all components off load is nicer to all the cars working bits than with 250-300kg sitting on top of them.
Harrytsg said:
+1
+1I've run the same chimaera for 13 years from almost new. I doubt I have had half the problems I read about others having.
Take the old girl out every chance you get, even in the rain if it's been more than 2 weeks.
It only takes a few minutes to wash a car and then dry it in the garage. I always leave a small fan heater inside (very low setting of course) with the windows down a 1/4 inch for air.
She will love you and reward you in return.
If you ignore her, or just go out once in a while to give her a tickle, she will resent you and eventually bite you.
Goaty Bill said:
Harrytsg said:
+1
Take the old girl out every chance you get, even in the rain if it's been more than 2 weeks.Simply driving it every week is the best preventative maintenance you can do.
Having spent my formative years working on classic cars, our busiest time was May when owners dug their cars out of storage.
Typically we spent that month replacing wheel cylinders, diff pinion seals, freeing up handbrake mechanisms, replacing valve stem seals ect ect.
All this on cars that were spot on when they went away into hibernation the autumn before.
And finally, to my mind TVRs are drivers cars, not static displays.
I try to get all 3 of our TVRs out for a short run every 2 or 3 weeks during the winter even if it is just down to our country store for a loaf a bread or some milk. Last winter I noticed (or I should say the Spousal Unit noticed) a new habit that I have picked up when I am walking through our garage. As I walk past one of the cars my hand pushes down on the front and rear corners to give the suspension some exercise. I know spending a Sunday afternoon in 40 below winter weather jacking up the rear end of each car to let them idle (and lube everything) is different but exercising the suspension parts while walking through the garage is just plain ANAL.When we do recieve our famous "Chinooks" and the temp goes up 30 degrees in 24 hours all 3 of the TVRs are ready willing and able to go for a spirited drive.
So my 10 suggestions on winter storage are:
1: Make a new friend who is a "PORSHA" owner and Don't cancel your insurance.
2: Make sure to order any parts needed for tinkering during the cold/ugly/depressing winter months and stabilize your fuel before putting your car/cars away for the winter.
3: Car that needs the most tinkering is to be parked in the spot that is hardest to get it out.
4: Have your jack in a easy spot to access, so you can jack up the wheels and run your engines to lube everything.
5: Always have at least 1 car 100% just in case a spirited drive day sneeks up on you.(As TVR grins in the winter are just better)
6: Buy that cheap pressure washer to be able to wash the underside if you get a chance for a hoon in the winter.
7: Winter roads = slippery roads and TVRs have been known to sometimes go down the road A$$ end first.
8: If you didn't know #7, you shouldn't be a TVR owner.
9: Did I mention DON'T CANCEL YOUR INSURANCE 100%.
10: Be 100% ready for a spirited drive day at a moments notice as "Winter TVR Grins" are just better........(Especially if your passenger happens to be a "PORSHA" owner who's car is put away for the winter.
Now everyone have a GREAT winter and remember it is just XX days until tunnel driving is back on our daily lists of things that just have to be done at least once.
So my 10 suggestions on winter storage are:
1: Make a new friend who is a "PORSHA" owner and Don't cancel your insurance.
2: Make sure to order any parts needed for tinkering during the cold/ugly/depressing winter months and stabilize your fuel before putting your car/cars away for the winter.
3: Car that needs the most tinkering is to be parked in the spot that is hardest to get it out.
4: Have your jack in a easy spot to access, so you can jack up the wheels and run your engines to lube everything.
5: Always have at least 1 car 100% just in case a spirited drive day sneeks up on you.(As TVR grins in the winter are just better)
6: Buy that cheap pressure washer to be able to wash the underside if you get a chance for a hoon in the winter.
7: Winter roads = slippery roads and TVRs have been known to sometimes go down the road A$$ end first.
8: If you didn't know #7, you shouldn't be a TVR owner.
9: Did I mention DON'T CANCEL YOUR INSURANCE 100%.
10: Be 100% ready for a spirited drive day at a moments notice as "Winter TVR Grins" are just better........(Especially if your passenger happens to be a "PORSHA" owner who's car is put away for the winter.
Now everyone have a GREAT winter and remember it is just XX days until tunnel driving is back on our daily lists of things that just have to be done at least once.
scotty_d said:
Got to disagree with you on this one I have been laying my cars up for 6-8 months every winter for the last 4 years with no ill affects with leaving them on axle stands.
I think of it this way if they are under the load of the car all you are doing is making the spring weak and keeping the damper seal in one position under load would make it fail quicker in my view. New shocks can be in a box for years and still work fine, Add load and they are starting there life span and doing what they do. I know it can be down to the health of the seal as well and i do tend to give mine a spray with silicon spray to stop them drying out while laid up
At the End of the day it's your car and your call, but i look at it from a Engineers prospective of mechanical sympathy towards all components off load is nicer to all the cars working bits than with 250-300kg sitting on top of them.
Oh well we'll disagre then Scotty Lol, anyway have you fitted Spiders to your car yet ,if so how do they feel over the 17" jobbys you have.. sorry thread hikeI think of it this way if they are under the load of the car all you are doing is making the spring weak and keeping the damper seal in one position under load would make it fail quicker in my view. New shocks can be in a box for years and still work fine, Add load and they are starting there life span and doing what they do. I know it can be down to the health of the seal as well and i do tend to give mine a spray with silicon spray to stop them drying out while laid up
At the End of the day it's your car and your call, but i look at it from a Engineers prospective of mechanical sympathy towards all components off load is nicer to all the cars working bits than with 250-300kg sitting on top of them.
gerradiuk said:
scotty_d said:
Got to disagree with you on this one I have been laying my cars up for 6-8 months every winter for the last 4 years with no ill affects with leaving them on axle stands.
I think of it this way if they are under the load of the car all you are doing is making the spring weak and keeping the damper seal in one position under load would make it fail quicker in my view. New shocks can be in a box for years and still work fine, Add load and they are starting there life span and doing what they do. I know it can be down to the health of the seal as well and i do tend to give mine a spray with silicon spray to stop them drying out while laid up
At the End of the day it's your car and your call, but i look at it from a Engineers prospective of mechanical sympathy towards all components off load is nicer to all the cars working bits than with 250-300kg sitting on top of them.
Oh well we'll disagre then Scotty Lol, anyway have you fitted Spiders to your car yet ,if so how do they feel over the 17" jobbys you have.. sorry thread hikeI think of it this way if they are under the load of the car all you are doing is making the spring weak and keeping the damper seal in one position under load would make it fail quicker in my view. New shocks can be in a box for years and still work fine, Add load and they are starting there life span and doing what they do. I know it can be down to the health of the seal as well and i do tend to give mine a spray with silicon spray to stop them drying out while laid up
At the End of the day it's your car and your call, but i look at it from a Engineers prospective of mechanical sympathy towards all components off load is nicer to all the cars working bits than with 250-300kg sitting on top of them.
Not fitted them yet as i need tyre's (£700 later) for them and it is off the road now for winter work so aim to be back on the road March/April time all re-mapped/inlet ported and gas flowed up and lots of engine bling and a good service. Have my doubts it will ride as well on spiders but they do look good. I don't drive it hard on the road really any way's the track bug has me so il keep it for that. lol
Will put a post up when i get it back on the road and report on all aspects of my upgrades.
Cheers Scotty
Not sure why someone would want to take the car off the road for so long. Yesterday was a fantastic day and whilst it isnt winter proper yet, there will be at least 20 more days like that in the next three months. Its better for the car and good for the driver to keep them on the road.
TV8 said:
Not sure why someone would want to take the car off the road for so long. Yesterday was a fantastic day and whilst it isnt winter proper yet, there will be at least 20 more days like that in the next three months. Its better for the car and good for the driver to keep them on the road.
Your from London i am from the west coast of Scotland need i say more about the difference in climate.I don't even want to leave the house for any reason what so ever for the next 6-8 months thats why i have a xbox for winter
Plus i am offshore for half of winter so why pay road tax to drive in rain sleet snow and ice. No thanks Mini cooper S yes please
scotty_d said:
Your from London i am from the west coast of Scotland need i say more about the difference in climate.
I don't even want to leave the house for any reason what so ever for the next 6-8 months thats why i have a xbox for winter
Plus i am offshore for half of winter so why pay road tax to drive in rain sleet snow and ice. No thanks Mini cooper S yes please
Yeh scotty but you've got some of the best driving roads in Europe.I don't even want to leave the house for any reason what so ever for the next 6-8 months thats why i have a xbox for winter
Plus i am offshore for half of winter so why pay road tax to drive in rain sleet snow and ice. No thanks Mini cooper S yes please
What happens when you are on shore and you get one of the lovely crisp blue winter mornings.
I for one would be up & out the door heading for the hills in the TVR.
Us Southerners get warmer weather but what's the point of being warm in a traffic jam.
That's where my Prius comes in
TV8 said:
Not sure why someone would want to take the car off the road for so long. Yesterday was a fantastic day and whilst it isnt winter proper yet, there will be at least 20 more days like that in the next three months. Its better for the car and good for the driver to keep them on the road.
For me it's simple, I have several other cars, two of which are tax exempt and which are kept insured all year and my wife has a Boxster so I have options for winter drives. I enjoy my Griff and it puts a huge grin on my face but from November to March it's garaged. Chimpafrolic said:
Yeh scotty but you've got some of the best driving roads in Europe.
What happens when you are on shore and you get one of the lovely crisp blue winter mornings.
I for one would be up & out the door heading for the hills in the TVR.
Us Southerners get warmer weather but what's the point of being warm in a traffic jam.
That's where my Prius comes in
I hear you Dude. But i am lucky enough to have the Cooper S and i get as much fun out of that as the Cerb in other ways. Plus Winter is tinker time i get to pull it all apart and have a even better car for the summer. Half the Fun of having a TVR for me is getting to improve it and make it more my car. That's why i am on my Second one now, The Chim was a finished project. What happens when you are on shore and you get one of the lovely crisp blue winter mornings.
I for one would be up & out the door heading for the hills in the TVR.
Us Southerners get warmer weather but what's the point of being warm in a traffic jam.
That's where my Prius comes in
TV8 said:
Not sure why someone would want to take the car off the road for so long. Yesterday was a fantastic day and whilst it isnt winter proper yet, there will be at least 20 more days like that in the next three months. Its better for the car and good for the driver to keep them on the road.
The key is to have 2 silly cars. One for the summer and the other for the 4/5 winter months. That way, when it comes to this time of year you actually look forward to putting the Tiv away and digging the other one out.
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