Keeping yor Griffith Outside. Advice please

[BicesterGriff]

I am the proud owner of a 1997 Griffith 500. I would like to ask Does anyone store their car outside and what precautions do you take over the winter months.
After reading horror stories about Chassis rot Im reluctant to drive in the wet but am well aware that the chassis is exposed although not directly to the elements.

Im Using an expensive Car cover, Dehumidifiers in the cab, and battery conditioner.
I have access to a pit/workshop so will be treating the Chassis soon. has anyone used old engine oil as protection mixed with waxoil, a favourite with my mechanic friend. he uses this warmed.

I kept my Z3 outside without any problems. Im just S*it scared its going to rot out or something and be faced with restoring the Chassis.

I do have a garage but it contains my other hobby. Also there is a classic car storage Facility nearby but at £100 a month its a bit pricey!.

Cheers

[Pasco]

BicesterGriff said:

I am the proud owner of a 1997 Griffith 500. I would like to ask Does anyone store their car outside and what precautions do you take over the winter months.
After reading horror stories about Chassis rot Im reluctant to drive in the wet but am well aware that the chassis is exposed although not directly to the elements.

Im Using an expensive Car cover, Dehumidifiers in the cab, and battery conditioner.
I have access to a pit/workshop so will be treating the Chassis soon. has anyone used old engine oil as protection mixed with waxoil, a favourite with my mechanic friend. he uses this warmed.

I kept my Z3 outside without any problems. Im just S*it scared its going to rot out or something and be faced with restoring the Chassis.

I do have a garage but it contains my other hobby. Also there is a classic car storage Facility nearby but at £100 a month its a bit pricey!.

Cheers

Hello BG its not the rot i would be worried about on the car but the two legged variety

And the Jealous key welding scum that walks the streets at night

Sorry to say that but a rotten chassis is the last of your worries Fella

[OscarT]

Wouldn't overly worry about the chassis - check it once a year and do what's needed.

Outside I would use the Leven Hood Cover and place a couple of those cheap Stop Damp caravan thingies - one behind each seat.

The Leven hood cover stops leaks and prevents the hood stitching from rotting. If you insist on using something like Waxoyl then use Tectyl instead - much superior.

OscarT

[Gaffer]

I kept Daisy outside for 12 months, I made sure the roof was Fabsil'ed really well and that the boot shut properly and the rubber around it wasnt perished so my stuff didnt get wet.

Just make sure you use it regularly and get it warm so it dries out without going mouldy and the fluids get round et etc

She was fine as long as I did this.

Claire

[Pasco]

Gaffer said:

I kept Daisy outside for 12 months, I made sure the roof was Fabsil'ed really well and that the boot shut properly and the rubber around it wasnt perished so my stuff didnt get wet.

Just make sure you use it regularly and get it warm so it dries out without going mouldy and the fluids get round et etc

She was fine as long as I did this.

Claire

Bloody Hell Hello Stranger

[lazyitus]

OscarT said:

Outside I would use a Hood Cover.

But as Pasco says, it's the knobs who knock about on the streets that could cause the biggest problem.

[bigdods]

My chim has lived outside for 3 years now under a car cover. She has her chassis checked every service and so far all is well so I wouldnt worry (unless you already have a dodgy chassis of course!). I drive her regularly in the summer and winter but dont usualy take her out in the rain as its not so much fun. Having said that I always make sure she gets a good drive at least once every 2 weeks no matter what the weather. The only time I wont take her out is when the roads have been recently gritted.

[V8 GRF]

Mine lives out doors and I use her nearly everyday. The car doesn't leak after some initial problems but sealing the usual suspects sorted that and I use the Autoglym hood cleaner and waterproofing kit and it's excellent.
I bought a Leven Hood cover but have only used it once when snow was forecast I also bought a 2nd hand full cover but have never used it.
I don't have anywhere I could plug the Accumate in and the car starts up on the button everytime.
I live in a cul-de-sac so not many passing pedestrians problems. That said even the group of oiks who wondered past actually looked at the car rather than vandalised it (It caused a few nervous minutes I can tell you)

So no problems.

[jellison]

BicesterGriff said:

I am the proud owner of a 1997 Griffith 500. I would like to ask Does anyone store their car outside and what precautions do you take over the winter months.
After reading horror stories about Chassis rot Im reluctant to drive in the wet but am well aware that the chassis is exposed although not directly to the elements.

Im Using an expensive Car cover, Dehumidifiers in the cab, and battery conditioner.
I have access to a pit/workshop so will be treating the Chassis soon. has anyone used old engine oil as protection mixed with waxoil, a favourite with my mechanic friend. he uses this warmed.

I kept my Z3 outside without any problems. Im just S*it scared its going to rot out or something and be faced with restoring the Chassis.

I do have a garage but it contains my other hobby. Also there is a classic car storage Facility nearby but at £100 a month its a bit pricey!.

Cheers

It will rot in a few years of this - if you drive it occasionally and store like this.

Unavoidable - they are not well protected in the chassis department. Garage a MUST if you do not want to to just turn to Brown Dust.

Sorry I know not what you want to here.

[Gaffer]

Pasco said:

Gaffer said:

I kept Daisy outside for 12 months, I made sure the roof was Fabsil'ed really well and that the boot shut properly and the rubber around it wasnt perished so my stuff didnt get wet.

Just make sure you use it regularly and get it warm so it dries out without going mouldy and the fluids get round et etc

She was fine as long as I did this.

Claire

Bloody Hell Hello Stranger

Hiya mate, how you doing..?

Just to add further - Candy sometimes lives outside and she has the open vents. If the roads have been salted, she gets a wash as well. Salt is the killer.

Claire

[jellison]

If you drive it in the rain and park it outside it will rot.

No amount of keeping the hood and interior nice is having any effect of the chassis just Rotting out in the damp external conditions.

" years of this and the least it will need is the chassi lift and stripping back and more and when you do this you will be finding the chassis full of holes.

TVR;'s are alway going to look out externally and not metal - it is the underside that turns to Sweaty moist Dust (er yes RUST and piles of it).

[FlipFlopGriff]

Jon,
Think thats a tad OTT.
We've had a Griff for over 4 years and its sat outside 99.9% and it is used daily. As long as you keep the chassis maintained (ours has been POR15'd on the outriggers and wishbones and waxoyled as well) then you should see long life. Untreated in a damp garage I suggest would be far worse.
Just do it. We ha dthe Griff on a driveway behind a set of metal gates and I would park the Skoda behind it. We had the odd problem with kids kicking balls around but nothing else - I think they got used to it after the initial interest. We've moved recently so have a lot more space and 2 garages although 1 is still full with the move and the other has my Griff in it.
We've got 2 Leven covers but rarely use them - its more of a pain to put it on and take it off on a daily basis but would be better if you didnb't use it daily. If its on the roadside I wouldn't recommend as it will get damaged - paintwork mainly. My Taimar has been outside for over 17 years!
FFG

Edited by FlipFlopGriff on Monday 26th November 16:25

[shadowninja]

If you cover it, you're telling scrotes that you like your car. They will do their best to make life a misery.

Depends on the area, of course.

btw that £100pm to store a car sounds very reasonable. If you don't wanna drive it in the rain and snow, then why not? That'd be just over £3 a day. Or the price of a daily Latte from Starbucks etc.

[RAFBOY]

Hi mate,
Mines outside all the time, I waxoyl once a year usually start of October, put some silicon gel bags behind the seats and in the footwells for getting the condensation, put a leven hood cover on if rain is forecast and drive her regularly, if salt is on the road will give her a good wash when I get back, so far no probs at all... As for the 2 legged variety Im lucky Im in the forces, which means that to get to her they have to..
1.Climb a 15 foot razor wire topped fence
2.Keep out of sight from the security cameras.
3.Dodge the armed guards on patrol.
4.Dodge the RAF police dogs and armed handlers.
And the insurance companies still hike my premiums up because Im in the forces and were a high risk... you figure it out because I cant!!!! T***ers
HAPPY GRIFFING
RAFBOY

[Hoover.]

Storing a damp car is better outside then in the garage....

in the garage the car just stays damp until next its taken out, thus making perfect rusting conditions (unless its a heated garage).....

outside the car will dry off with the free flow of air.......

... all my opinion.

Hoover

[Gooner]

Just use it every day if you can - mine's been outside for 4 years now (10 years old in total), chassis still OK. The biggest problem affecting the outriggers is they get pounded by stones and crap when you are driving, like the wishbones (which I have replaced). I'm sure they'll need some attention at some point but not because the car is outside.

I love it to bits, always happy to drive it rain or shine so its not difficult to drive it every day for me.

Then again its only a car (whisper it quietly). Driving it is what matters, not wrapping it in cotton wool IMHO

gooner

[2Munkys]

Been kept outside for four years now; kept under a cover, battery plugged into a maintainer. Driven at least once a week. Not had a problem.