Talk Morgan Forums Community Welcome Forum Winterising the car

Can somebody tell me where to put the axle stands under the car as i will put the car in the garage for the winter as soon as the salt goes own. This is not anything other than i do not want to get the corosive salt into any unproteced metal area's. I also intend to make some gaiters out of calf leather to protect the front springs to protect them from the ailments.

Under the front cross tubes. Under the rear axle.
Spring gaiters are an excellent idea.

I seem to recall getting some rather good gaiters off the forum

I'm planning on using my car during winter although I'll wait until rain has thoroughly washed the salt away! I use ACF 50 on my motorbike over winter and am contemplating using it on more vulnerable parts of the Morgan.

At the moment I can't get MrsW on the sewing machine. She's too busy writing Christmas cards............

Horses for courses I say

Fantastic stuff, I've used it on my MOG since I got it. the promotional bumf says something like "as close to zero corrosion as nature will allow"

There are further tips here which might apply dpending upon how long you intend to winterise the car.

http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/morganstorage.htm

I was about to post for advice on winterising the car when I did a quick search, and decided instead to resurrect this thread.

My boat will be prepared next weekend for the winter ashore because, based on experience, if I leave her in the water I know I won't go down to sail until the clocks go forward.

This is my first year of Morgan ownership. I've done 4000 miles since the end of March and quite like the idea of a few drives through the South Downs on crisp winter afternoons. My first question is do others that don't "put the car away" actually drive it in the winter (or does my sailing experience hold for Morgan driving as well)? I doubt that I've seen other Morgans on the road near me more than half a dozen times this summer, so not seeing any others over the winter will not be a guide.

Second (and third) questions - how many people follow the list in the link above and is it ok to turn over the engine whilst the car is on axle stands? Coming back to the boat, it is generally agreed that one shouldn't turn over the engine whilst the boat is ashore, but she does sit on a fin keel and props, and if the latter were to be shaken out (boat engines are pretty rough running) the domino effect could take out a whole row, whilst my Morgan would only drop a couple of inches. Still, I'd be grateful for guidance.

Mark

Providing you use axle stands in these positions you can run the engine whenever you wish - I did so last winter whilst awaiting a few bits for the brake overhaul.
http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/jackpoints2.html

ACF50 and a good light pressure hose down underneath after a winter run out just in case there is still a residue of powdered salt around.

A spirited run over Dartmoor on a frosty morning is a wonderful bracing experience followed by a heart attack on a plate at Princetown handsome.
A lot more of the newer owners are using them all year round now, I'm surprised you haven't seen many around your way.

Mark, I am no expert, however this is what I do. Bearing in mind I keep the car in a nice dry garage. In the four years of ownership not one month has passed without being able to take the car out for a drive. Over winter if the car has not been started getting close to the month, I run the engine until the cooling fan goes on and then off.
I love going out in the winter when it is nice and crisp.
I do not intentionally take the car out when the roads have been salted. I tend to wait until after rain has washed the salt away.
Against the usual recommendations I leave the hood down in the garage, rather than putting it up for storage and then down for use, as I am worried about cracking the clear rear panel. I do keep the body work clean and a wipe over with detailing spray. If I were not able to drive the car during the winter, I would have to do some of the actions such as putting on inflating tyres and putting on axel stands for the duration. I hope that helps.

My winters are not quite the same as yours, but a crisp 5 to 10 degree morning is a wonderful experience.

A Morgan is for life not just for summer as somebody almost once said...