| Most owners wait until cold and snowy weather to start thinking about winter storage for their favorite cars. However, some advance maintenance can prevent problems when the roads get salted down with frame-eating chemicals.
A few simple and low cost preventative measures can save you hundreds of dollars next spring when it is time to once again enjoy the open road. Check your Corvette for items that need to be rebuilt or replaced prior to your first spring cruise. Make a list of the projects that you want to get done. Order the parts now to make sure you have everything you need to complete the task. Check your service manual to see that you have all the necessary tools. If you have a question about a project that you have in mind, give our Sales Department a call at 866-350-4540. We will be glad to guide you through your repair or restoration.
There are many things to consider prior to long term storage of any automobile. The interior and fuel system are two areas that I have found to be responsible for failures due to the lack of preparation for storage. Corvettes that have been stored often exhibit damage from mold and mildew. They look bad and smell the same way. This is due to the accumulation of moisture in the closed car. In order to prevent this damage, be sure to place desiccant bags in the interior. These bags capture the moisture and keep it away from your carpet and seats. Be sure to close the windows and clamp down the top(s) to prevent more moisture from entering.
We have found that silicone grease works well to protect weatherstripping. It actually softens the rubber slightly and helps to seal small leaks. An added benefit is that it also prevents or reduces squeaking due to the rubbing of the strips.
Today's gasolines have a number of additives that vary from station to station and from one area to another. During extended storage, these may settle out of solution and cause clogging of lines or injectors. Also, the additives may actually attack some of the rubber hoses, lines, or seals. Moisture will also accumulate in the tank if it is not kept full. This moisture may cause corrosion on the bottom of the older, non-bladder tanks.
You can reduce fuel system problems by following this procedure:
1. Use up or drain the fuel presently in the tank. You may want to add one of the many moisture reducing fuel additives to dry out the tank.
2. Refill the tank with fresh gas and add a stabilizer such as Fuel Fresh. Drive the car for a short distance in order to get the fresh gas and stabilizer through the system.
If you start your Corvette occasionally during storage, be sure to allow it to run long enough to thoroughly heat up and dry out the exhaust system. Everyone has seen moisture dripping from the tailpipes of cars on cold days. This condensed moisture is the major cause of exhaust system damage. | 
