Hello all;

I am new to Corvette Forums, and I am a new mommy to a beautiful 2003 Yellow Corvette. (She is two weeks old) I have waited all my life for HER, and I want to do the very best to make sure that she stays beautiful, happy and healthy. We live in Colorado, so my girl will be in hibernation during the winter months. (Ohhh I know I am going to cry when that day comes) I have a nice and clean garage for her to sleep in, but what else can I do for her while she is sleeping away the winter??? Any and all imput would be greatly appreciated. Also, do any of you use (I think) K&N air filters? I have heard that they are pricey, but they are lifetime filters, easy to clean and care for and gives you more air flow. I have a Coski (?) exhaust system on her. Thanks all for all you help, I look forward to talking to you all soon.


Sherry and her baby

 

Put in some fuel stabilizer in the gas tank and run the car a couple of miles to get it circulated through the fuel system. Put her up on blocks to prevent getting flat spots on her tires. Change the oil and filter and make sure you have a good dose of anti-freeze in the cooling system. Cover her with a car cover, blankets, or sheets. It also would not hurt to start her up once in a while to keep all the gaskets moist, you don't want them to dry out. Talk to her once in a while so she doesn't get lonely!!!

 

Thank you for all your helpful info! Somewhere I read that I should disconect the battery, any trurth to that? Also, if I can trouble you about another question.
What products do you use on your Vette? Right now I am just washing her with plain water and then towel drying. (I was her about every 3 days) I only drive about 6 miles a day (back and forth to work) so she doesn't get very dirty and she does get dusty. I have heard McGuires has great products, but they have so many that it is overwhelming. Also I used Armoral on the interior about a week ago, and I have created quite the mess with that SH*%.
Thanks again for all your help......and my sweet little Vette thanks you too.

 

Sherry,
If you're going to start her once or twice a week, (just long enough to let her warm up), I wouldn't worry agout disconnecting the battery. If you're going to leave her dormant, yes, disconnect the battery. I don't like Armoral, its oily and have heard bad stories from others. For the exterior paint I use Nu Finish, it cleans and shines. Will even restore oxydized paint. You can probably get it at your local hardware store. A light deturgent works well for washing, it helps remove road oils and such. When drying your Vette, use a cotton baby blanket or one of the old cotton diapers, they work great. A leather chamois works for getting the last of the water spots off. Any cloth that has synthetic fibers will scratch the paint.
Hope I've help out.
Dave

 

Nice car!!! So happy to see your concern with care. She'll last you many many years this way.

The only other thing I might add, is I recommend leaving the window(s) cracked open, too. This allows for air flow into the cockpit and can help avoid mildew/odor issues, although I highly doubt you'd encounter them with such a gem of a car. Just a preventative thing, really.

Oh yeh, on Amor-All... yeh, me personally, I refuse to use that stuff. I used to detail cars for a living (about 100 years ago now LOL) and we found that when the Armor-All effectively "wore off" it would potentially dry and crack the plastic parts it was applied to. The best bet with that stuff is, if you need to use it, keep it applied at all times. Besides, our cars are stunning and stellar when they are nice and clean.. they don't really need that shiny stuff, IMHO. We might be wrong on those observations, but it was a mighty big coincidence if you ask me.. to the point, like I said, that I refuse to use that stuff. Makes Mrs. TopSpeed laugh sometimes; when we picked our car up last month, they had detailed it for delivery, and had used that stuff on the interior. I griped and complained and moaned and cried until it finally wore off last week.

 

Hello all my very helpful Vette Lovers;

Yes, It's me again....Miss..don't know what to do with this car. NOW...I'm just talked to someone who told me that if I put her on jacks or risers that it could be harmful to the suspension. Any thoughts?

 

Mmmmmm..... I have a hard time with that, myself. I put my old Cobra up on jacks for a year when it was stored... no problems at all. Never heard of having problems from putting a car on stands, myself. Maybe one of our techs knows more about this than I do...

If you DON'T, I can guarantee you you will get flat spots on your tires. For sure. You'll have to replace 'em all, undoubtedly, when you put her back on the road.

 

Unless your tires weigh about 500 lbs. ea. or you hang weights off of 'em. Naw..... not a prob.
If,..... you're really worried about it, pull your tires and set the car down on wood blocks, but this poses anouther prob. this could damage your rotors since they're not made to take weitght in this fashion. Put the car on stands and don't worry about it. It'll be fine!

 

Hi again;

I met a real nice vette owner last night while out to dinner. He told me that he over inflates the tires by 5 pounds when storing his car. Also, the guy at the dealership says to put carpet under the tires to prevent flat spots. (The cold concrete creates the flat spots) Any true to this stuff?
Just thought I would ask the pros!


Sherry and her Vette in Colorado

(Boy, I'm thinking I should name this vette girl....Hmmmmm, that will keep me thinking all day.

I would love to know if you all have vanity plates on your cars. I have had vanity plates on all my cars, so this vette will have them too (driving on temp plates) Hubby and I are not seeing eye to eye on the plate name.....Hmmmm imagine that.

 

You want to keep the tires round, by keeping the weight off of them. Cold concrete has nothing to do with it. Any flat surface will cause a flat spot. Carpet may help.....some. Like I said, put it on blocks......and forget it.....prob solved.