Storage Question

[javohio]

I recently installed the Thunderbird Concepts stainless steel hardtop strip. When storing my 03 for the winter, should I latch the hardtop down (front & back latches) or leave unlatched to preserve the rubber seals?

Any other additional tips or information surrounding winter storage would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance, John V.

[Chuck]

Re: Storage Question

There is a fairly differing of opinions on this topic. I've stored my 2003 since it was brand new with the top on and screwed down like I was going to drive it on the road. There are a number of other things that I do as well - I'm not the best a searching but if you search you'll find a ton of information.

[Birdlover]

Re: Storage Question

John,
You may have read in recent posts to treat all the seals with silicone to keep them like new. I do mine twice a year and so far so good. In NH I can often drive our Tbird up to about Thanksgiving before storing it in the garage. I put the hardtop on in late fall when it's too cold to enjoy top down driving and I can continue enjoying the car until snow is imminent. Thus my hardtop is latched down all winter. My garage is under the house and the temperature stays above freezing. All I do for storage is have fresh oil & filter, polish the car, hook up the battery tender to keep the battery charged, and then cover the car until May.

[Bruce]

Re: Storage Question

John, I store the Inca with hardtop on and latched. Also, I store the Torch Red with softtop on and up. Neither way has presented any problems.
The only other thing I do is put them both on a 2 amp charger.

[tbird6t4]

Re: Storage Question

All I do for storage is have fresh oil & filter, polish the car, hook up the battery tender to keep the battery charged, and then cover the car until May.[/quote]

[tbird6t4]

Re: Storage Question

All I do for storage is have fresh oil & filter, polish the car, hook up the battery tender to keep the battery charged, and then cover the car until May.[/quote]

I had mice get under the hood of my Retro last winter inside my garage and while they didn't do any damage they did make a nest and it took me several weeks to get the smell out of the car.

I have heard that fabric softner sheets will keep them away so this year I will be putting them under the hood of both of my T-birds and inside the car to see if that works. The worst it will do is make the car smell like Downey!

Gord.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: Storage Question

I had mice get under the hood of my Retro last winter inside my garage and while they didn't do any damage they did make a nest and it took me several weeks to get the smell out of the car.

I have heard that fabric softner sheets will keep them away so this year I will be putting them under the hood of both of my T-birds and inside the car to see if that works. The worst it will do is make the car smell like Downey! Gord.

Works better than fabric softner sheets, who wants nice smelling mice!

[bwlewis]

Re: Storage Question

John, I tried that with an old truck I had. It worked, but the mouse had the last laugh...he died up in the defroster vent. I still had to take the dashboard apart because of the odor.

I don't store my 'bird, I put the top on for the winter. It doesn't get driven as much, but we still take it out year round

[5bird7]

Re: Storage Question

George set traps again today as he saw a mouse run out of the garage this morning. He'll also have to restock on the mouse bait. He killed one though this last winter that he still hasn't found and the garage stunk for months - Georgecouldn't smell it but the smell would get into the tbird and it would take several miles of top down driving to remove the smell. phew!
We had one get into the engine compartment of the Inca last winter and chewed up wiring and plastic so I'm going to try the dryer sheet trick. Just don't want them snuggling into the engine again.

[jerrym3]

Re: Storage Question

If you're going to store the car all winter, wouldn't it be better to leave the hardtop off and the soft top up?

Seems that keeping the soft top compressed and folded for months could be more damaging over the long run than having it up.

I use the car rarely in the winter, and I do put the hardtop on, but I'm beginning to have second thoughts.......

[tbird6t4]

Re: Storage Question

If you're going to store the car all winter, wouldn't it be better to leave the hardtop off and the soft top up?

Seems that keeping the soft top compressed and folded for months could be more damaging over the long run than having it up.

I use the car rarely in the winter, and I do put the hardtop on, but I'm beginning to have second thoughts.......

Hi guys and dolls!

I think that the big thing is that if you are going to store the car with the hardtop on and the soft top down for the entire winter that the top must be completely dry before putting it down. If it is put down and stored in the boot (for the lack of a better term), wet it will go mouldy and the cloth could be permanently damaged.

It hasn't happened to mine, but I have heard a few horror stories.

Gord.

[MATBird]

Re: Storage Question

If you're going to store the car all winter, wouldn't it be better to leave the hardtop off and the soft top up?
Seems that keeping the soft top compressed and folded for months could be more damaging over the long run than having it up.
I use the car rarely in the winter, and I do put the hardtop on, but I'm beginning to have second thoughts.......

Good point Jerry. I have always put the soft top up for the winter. Did that for 18 years on my '56 Bird and ever since 2002 when I bought the new Bird.
In fact, at our last get together, Dino commented how nice my soft top looked. Maybe that's the reason. But I'm sure others prefer to leave the hard top on. It's all individual choice.

[jayplanalp]

Re: Storage Question

I store several cars and find that mothballs do a great job of eliminating mice taking up residence. Several years ago, before I used the mothballs, I had mice make a nest in the heating ducts of one of my (non-TBird) cars. I had to remove the heater but the mouse urine still stinks. The mothballs take care of the issue. They do leave a slight smell but it isn't that bad. The only issue is that it is a shame to deprive all of those moths of their masculinity.

I use kitty litter to deal with humidity. You have to use the crystal kind for it to work well. I suspect the mothballs also keep the stray cats away too.

[Chuck]

Re: Storage Question

To Solve the mouse problem I put mine in a bag --> http://www.autoanything.com/GenericP...ProductID=1798

[Leroy]

Re: Storage Question

I don't think leaving the top unlatched or untightened during the Winter is going to help save or extend the life of the top seal. All it is is a hollow rubber tube about 3/8" in diameter. I took all of mine off and replaced it with a 1/2" diameter stripping. The top fits alot tighter now and no rattles. I keep it on the car all Winter till sometime in May or June. Leroy

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