Winter storage question

[J W.]

I am getting ready to store my 1970 LT-1 for the winter. It will be in an unheated garage. To protect it against corrosion and rodents, I place it in a zip up storage bag, i.e. car cocoon. My question is whether I need to remove the battery. The battery will be on a battery tender. Since the car is a coupe, removing and reinstalling the battery every year is a pain in the rear end (mine, not the car's). Can I leave the battery on a battery tender inside the car cocoon?

[Terry M.]

Re: Winter storage question

I am getting ready to store my 1970 LT-1 for the winter. It will be in an unheated garage. To protect it against corrosion and rodents, I place it in a zip up storage bag, i.e. car cocoon. My question is whether I need to remove the battery. The battery will be on a battery tender. Since the car is a coupe, removing and reinstalling the battery every year is a pain in the rear end (mine, not the car's). Can I leave the battery on a battery tender inside the car cocoon?

I use the battery disconnect switch to disconnect the battery. No need for a tender then, and no chance of an electrical short if the wiring deteriorates or is damaged by rodents during the winter. A quict shot on the tender the day before spring/summer start up is all it takes to top off the battery.

[Michael J.]

Re: Winter storage question

I use the battery disconnect switch to disconnect the battery. No need for a tender then, and no chance of an electrical short if the wiring deteriorates or is damaged by rodents during the winter. A quict shot on the tender the day before spring/summer start up is all it takes to top off the battery.

+1, I agree with Terry. I also have a battery tender that can be shut off, but has a voltmeter readout so you can monitor the battery voltage. If it gets low, you can always hit the button to turn it on.

[Larry E.]

Re: Winter storage question

FWIW: I store all my cars in a zip type Omni bags and put the moisture pellets in the "pellet pot". Per instructions it
is important to take the battery out of the car. Maybe because it would be in a small closed in environment. Anyway
they have worked for years for me. "What you put in(Car Wise) is what comes out" Larry

[William F.]

Re: Winter storage question

Why not leave battery tender on all the time? I do and battery stays charged and no problems. Battery switched off of course.

[Larry E.]

Re: Winter storage question

Instructions that come with the "Car Jacket" Zip Bag>

• Be sure bike or car is cool. Never park or cover vehicle while engine/exhaust is hot. Jacket material could be damaged/melted.
• Store your vehicle during low humidity whenever possible. Mid-afternoon on a dry day is best
• Use a gas stabilizer like Sta-Bil.
• Over-inflate tires 10 lbs. psi.
• Check antifreeze for amount of cold protection.
• Remove battery and clean with a baking soda and water mixture.
• Save jacket box for future storage of jacket.
• Save OmniDry box, plastic bag, and instruction card if you plan to dry desiccant for reuse. Some folks place them in jacket under vehicle.

Will be starting this project soon-Larry

[Terry M.]

Re: Winter storage question

Why not leave battery tender on all the time? I do and battery stays charged and no problems. Battery switched off of course.

With the electrical system disconnected from the battery, if it is in reasonably good shape, it will hold the charge all winter and longer. I think the gasses from battery charging, however small with a maintainer, trapped inside a sealed enclosure is not good for the materials in that bag. Removing the battery is the best solution, but it is a PITA as suggested in the OP. It can be easier with the removable hardtop off on the driver's side, but I don't think it is necessary if the battery is dormant while in the bag. That is just my take on it, and it is just an opinion -- and we all know about those.

[Larry E.]

Re: Winter storage question

With the electrical system disconnected from the battery, if it is in reasonably good shape, it will hold the charge all winter and longer. I think the gasses from battery charging, however small with a maintainer, trapped inside a sealed enclosure is not good for the materials in that bag. Removing the battery is the best solution, but it is a PITA as suggested in the OP. It can be easier with the removable hardtop off on the driver's side, but I don't think it is necessary if the battery is dormant while in the bag. That is just my take on it, and it is just an opinion -- and we all know about those.

Hay Terry: Whoever designed the battery placement in a C3 must have thought all owners
would look like this! Larry

[Michael J.]

Re: Winter storage question

The battery placement in a SB, non-A/C C2 is not any better. Moving all the plumbing and doing a flip and dead lift in that narrow space is just as bad.

[Terry M.]

Re: Winter storage question

Hay Terry: Whoever designed the battery placement in a C3 must have thought all owners
would look like this! Larry

We could have a whole thread complaining about battery placement in Corvettes. Some C2 applications with AC are also a PITA and C4s with the battery on top of the computer are no ideal location. The C6s with the battery in the rear are awfully difficult with the factory batteries (no handle on the battery and no way to grip it. Yes, I know there is a tool for that & I have it.). I suspect we all are the victims of the ages old conflicts between designers and engineers. The designers all want the cool shapes we love so much and the battery becomes a "where do we have the space to stick it" afterthought. What, you mean we need a battery to run the car?? It is like the famous architect who designed a church for angels = no toilets.

BTW: Corvettes are not the only examples of less than optimal battery placement. My wife's Equinox requires one to move the BCM/PCM from on top of the battery to even access the battery. But at least they didn't put the computer below the battery like the C4s. I am beginning to believe the battery is the last thing thought of when designing a vehicle and the first thing put in when building it.

[Rich G.]

Re: Winter storage question

I vote for disconnecting the battery and leaving it alone. I have done that for 15 years in my 66 and 14 in my 68. Both are only on their second batteries in that time.

Rich

[Gary R.]

Re: Winter storage question

I think we have this discussion every Fall but I'll add in my .02

For the past 40 years I have owned corvettes here in the North East I drive them until the salt is on the road, then park them for 2-3 months until there has been enough rain to wash the salt away. The exception was when I drove my 69 everyday of the year for about 4 years. I had to repair the frame in one spot as a result. About 8 years ago I started using a trickle charger on it. I don't change the oil until I take it out in the Spring. I know most logic says to change the oil in the Fall but I never did it that way. I make sure to change the antifreeze every 2 years and have only used Prestone in those 40 years. I put a cover on it and walk away. I keep mice bait stations around the walls of the garage. After all these years I don't plan on changing my plan but to each their own.

I rarely drove my 72 and the original paint on the car looked great for years, still not bad but not like it once was. Once I went through the car at 55k miles I started to drive it. Why keep it mint and never use it is my thought so I put on about 3k miles a year if I can. If we don't get salt on the roads till mid Jan I will be out in it.

[John M.]

Re: Winter storage question

Hay Terry:

Whoever designed the battery placement in a C3 must have thought all owners would look like this!

Larry

Hah! They were just warming up for the C4 location ...

[Jim T.]

Re: Winter storage question

Terry I have two C4's and there is not a computer below the batteries. However there are computers above the batteries. To remove the batteries the side panel behind the drivers side front tire has to be removed, just a few bolts and screws to get the panel removed and slide the battery out the open access. Have done this a few times on my 1985 and 1996 in the past 21 years.

[Terry M.]

Re: Winter storage question

Terry I have two C4's and there is not a computer below the batteries. However there are computers above the batteries. To remove the batteries the side panel behind the drivers side front tire has to be removed, just a few bolts and screws to get the panel removed and slide the battery out the open access. Have done this a few times on my 1985 and 1996 in the past 21 years.

Then I have been miss-informed, Jim. I was told that C4s had the battery below the computer. In fact, I have read threads with owners complaining about that. Perhaps it is a matter of only certain C4s have a computer below the battery. I should probably stick to what I know.