A reply from Phil E:
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> I hate to even think of mentioning the idea of storage (at this summery
> time of year in the North) but I wondered what netters' experience and
> opinions were on the question of:
> Is it better to store one's pride and joy on blocks - suitably oil
> guarded and gasoline stabilised; or to keep it down and periodically
> start it up?
Whether you put it on blocks or not (I don't, preferring to let it sit on
too-dangerous-to-drive-on wheels and crummy tires whilst the stickies on
Italian wheels rest baggied in the basement) don't run the engine in
storage. The system never gets hot enough to dry out.
>
> I do remember reading that if one does choose the up option, the stands
> should be under the wheels so that the suspension is not in the fully
> downwardly extended position - damages rubbers etc?
If the stands are under the wheels, what is the point of getting it up?
I read somewhere that Sonetts left on stands for long periods tend to pop
windscreens out, so mine stayed on its wheels. So did my Midget. I would
not dare trust most of the places that you can find to put stands under
the back of a Europa not to warp something. Roll the car to a slightly
different position now and again to give the bearings a break.
If it is a Triumph, be sure to stomp on the clutch pedal once in a while!
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Im my own particular case I found that the tires on my Esprit would severly
flatspot if stored for any length of time. (the rear tires actually wore out
out-of-round with different tread depth, not to mention the sound of the tires).
If you got garbage tires like Phil mentioned, then that's the best and easiest
method. In my case I'm able to put wooden blocks under my front lower A-arms and
jackstands under my rear hub-carriers to take the load off some fairly expensive
rubber. I guess some tire types aren't so bad, but other's are. YMMV.
-Bob T.
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