Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

So how do you prep your car for winter (and do tell us what part of which country you are in).

I'm assuming you do more than park it and lock the door to the garage.

What do you do for mice or other critters (and what critters do you have to deal with)? My brother sold his vintage car because the pack rats were so bad in his area; and you?

I'm in Colorado and so far this year we've had fires and now floods so I'm expecting that we're going to have a harsh winter.

So for as long as I've lived here (since 1996), we haven't had issues with rats, but field mice can be a problem. Somebody told me to put dryer sheets (Bounce or generic equivalent) in areas that the mice are a problem in the car. I think that setting off bug bombs might help with spiders and such.

As far as winterizing, I do the normal maintenance, but I do get some chances to drive them when weather permits (so I don't have to 'mothball' the cars during the winter). It also gives me a chance to do major and minor mechanical repairs.

It gets cold here in NJ during the winter, below freezing often though rarely below 0 deg. so I generally don't used the cars between early Dec. and late March. Storage is in a non-attached garage w/o heat. I wash the exterior and vacuum the interiors, usually wax the chromium plate with paste wax, do my annual oil change and grease job, lube the door latches, distributor, generator, hood and trunk hinges, check steering gear box for oil, etc. Wash and reoil in the oil filler cap. Put a few extra psi into the tires. Check antifreeze and change if the 2nd year. Give a good look-over to the hoses and belts. Disconnect the battery and sometimes remove it to the cellar of the house; if I leave the battery in the car I'll put the trickle charger on overnight once a month. For the 34 with a wool interior I close the windows and put in mothballs. I cover the oil filler, crankcase breather, tail pipes and carburetor intake with plastic baggies, and then cover the car. Never had an issue with critters.

I usually have one or two maintenance chores either in the fall before layup, or in the spring; things like repacking wheel bearings, adjusting brakes, drain flush and refill the differential or standard transmission, etc. Occasionally a radiator flush, remove a starter, generator or distributor for inspection, etc.

Here in Oregon, we don't get long periods of cold weather. The longest period I can remember was about a week (What we here call a Silver Thaw) and that happens every 5 to 6 years or so (we're due for one this Winter) so I drive mine whenever it isn't pouring down rain and we usually have at least one day a week in the winter when it isn't raining.

Critters can be a problem - mice especially. Do the dryer sheets like "Bounce" really keep them out. I've heard stories but have never heard someone say "Yes, I use them and I haven't had any mice since". So if someone does and it works, I'd like to know for future reference.

I'm living in the Oslo area, on the first winter day the 14th of October I storage my Clipper in a heated garage/work shop for the winter, outside temps down to -13F (untill April next year when the snow has melted).
I do the normal service: change engine oil and filter, lube the car, clean and reoil the filters etc. This winter I will change the brake fluid and anti freeze, repack wheel bearings, replace the rear mufflers and adjust the brakes.

Tom

If the antifreeze level in the coolant is a known safe level, I don't do anything. For me the really important maintenance is taking it out of storage in the spring before the first fire-up.

Oil and filter change, lubrication, new spark plugs, every other year flush the cooling system and brake system.

jack vines

When there is no snow on the roads and they are dry I've been known to take a drive in my 38 all through the winter months.

Winter here means the beginning of car season, as you won't sweat your Arse off in car car without AC.

Kev, I thought that winter there meant that you need to bring the cat inside at night

Winter in Austin is the best season to drive our Packards. I often liken our summers as our "Minnesota Winters". The difference is if you go out without protective clothing in Austin in the summer, you will not die, but if you go out in Minnesota in the winter without protective clothing, you will. Maybe we should have a forum for summertime storing of our cars.

(o{}o)