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Mon Jul 22, 2002 5:19 pm

Just bought a '62 bug, nice mostly restored /original. Will store winters in unheated garage - any advice ?

Mon Jul 22, 2002 7:38 pm

I don't live where you have to do such things but I have read and been told from others what they did...
When you get the car to it's hibernation spot. Make sure it is clean and washed waxed... and you have some cover(s)for it
Drain the gas from the tank. Add 1/2 gallon of gas and about 4 oz of "marvel mystery oil" or ATF... Start the engine, it will run with the plain gas for a few and then when it sucks up the mixed stuff let it chug and smoke and run/rev it up until it burns the stuff up or quits... this will leave the fuel lines ect. full of this stuff for winter, but NOT for more than that. ( fresh gas in the spring will flush it out when you get to cranking on it it will start and run, or you can blow through the line)
Drain what is left in the tank and the carb itself...(pull the plug on the side) spray w-d 40 or other into the brass vent tube and into the bowl of the carb... and all over the carb and distrib...anything and everything.... if you like...
Drain the oil and change as normal and refill... turn the engine over some with out the coil wire on....
Now disconnect and REMOVE the battery from the car and store it in a heated/vennalated area....
Jack it up an put it on stands, some say to remove the tires and store them flat so as not to put weight on the suspension components... grease the front torsion tubes and any tie rods or other stuff that has fittings... spray WD on and up into the shocks to protect the shafts and on the steering dampner.... Also fuse box and anything else electrical.
take off the wiper blades and or arms....
If possible burn a 60 watt light bulb when you can(maybe on a timer) in the interior making sure it will NOT contact anything upholstry wise....
Basically that is for maost any car with a few particulars to VW. I am from the South as I said so I'm sure some other will have things to add or may want to correct me if I am mistaken in any way...

Funny it was 108+ with the heat index here today! ;)

Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:20 pm

Hey there - thanks for the tips ! I want to make sure my baby survives the Canadian winter. I am in Ottawa - we can have big extremes from summer to winter. Today as well here it was 40C with humidex (that's about 110F). In winter it can get to -30 to -40C with the wind chill. My bug will be a 6 month/year car max. Cheers.

Mon Jul 22, 2002 8:50 pm

No problem... I hope some other winter survivalists will give you some other advice as well....

Tue Jul 23, 2002 9:10 am

Check out this article on John Henry's site:

http://thebugshop.tripod.com/bsfqembl.htm

He lives in a similar climate, this should have everything you need.

Wed Jul 24, 2002 7:48 am

thanks !