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MG TD TF 1500 - Anyone succesfully made a car storage chamber?

Yes I could buy one from one of the usual suppliers, but it seems to me that it shouldn't be too difficult to make one. When I painted the car I used a polytunnel which I lined with paper (to keep the paint off, which would have flaked off and made a mess). It seems to me that therefore I have the basis of a storage chamber - just need some heavy gauge PE on the floor, under some vinyl flooring for abrasion resistance, then tape the PE to the polytunnel around the sides. Add maybe a couple of low power 12V fans, some filter material and a dehumidifier and I'm there. Anyone done it?
Dave Hill

I've wrapped a '72 MGB with heavy polypropylene sheet (8 mil?). Car driven onto the sheet (in a covered trailer), wrapped around and stapled to the wooden trailer floor (both ends, one side). Battery minder plugged in and left all winter (Dec to early April). No ill effects on paint, upholstery
Our weather is much colder than yours but probably not as damp. All you would need to do this is a wooden floor to staple into.
I also have a Car Capsule with fan and am suspicious that the fan blows in moist air when there is a sudden warm spell. Good results with it as well but the big sheet of polypropylene is a lot cheaper.
I have a big concern about mice in upholstery, heaters and wiring and both approaches seem to address that problem.
T W Moore

Haven't done it but as you say, seems logical and simple enough. Of course by the time you've bought enough poly, duct tape and fans you may be spending as much as just buying one of the ready made units :)
Geoffrey M Baker

All I can say is my Car Capsule is to die for. And I am seriously thinking of getting the franchise for concours events. I probably sold 20 of these in the last two shows I went to. They owe me big time :-)
Christopher Couper

Chris. Any particular reason for choosing the car capsule above the other systems?
Dave H
Dave Hill

Dave: Sorry. I used the term loosely. I actually bought mine years ago from Moss and am not totally sure which brand they sold then. It sure looks like the 12' Car Capsule from every detail I can see.

I noticed now they have an outdoor one too which was something we had discussed a year ago.
Christopher Couper

Oh. And for do it yourselfer's I should state what I did before getting the capsule:

I laid down a large piece of poly that would got up about 30 inches or so around the car if lifted. I then drove the car onto the plastic, centering it. I put my normal car cover on it. Then I rolled the poly and car cover up to seal the car in. I secured it every foot or so with clothes pins.

While this worked OK it was a pain to install and take down. With the capsule I just quickly unzip it and drive out. The car is also cleaner since some dust did get through the car cover before. Putting it back in takes seconds with the capsule and I can do it myself. With the poly/cover I needed two people and it took at least 10 minutes.
Christopher Couper

Up here in Maine where the weather can be brutal and lots of mice are looking for a winter home. The car capsule is a good way to defeat them and the weather.
I would suggest putting in a few packets of Silica Gel for the possibility of moisture being blown in.

http://www.amazon.com/Gram-Silica-Packets-Desiccant-Dehumidifiers/dp/B00DYII98A/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1444317302&sr=8-18-spons&keywords=dry+packs+silica+gel&psc=1

You can re activate them by heating in the oven gently if they have done their job well.

The only bad point is, you cant run the engine for several months up here doing this. So I have to use Gas stabile and change the oil in the spring - no matter how few miles it has run. Drain the carb bowls. 50-05 antifreeze works fine up here down to -20. Also remove the battery to keep it in the warm.

Seems to work for me.
I'm with Chris - It is a good solution.

The old alternative was run the car twice a week for half an hour till really warm and fill the cockpit and rear seat space with mothballs.

Rod

R D Jones

I totally concur with Chris on the car capsule. I have one for my prewar Bentely and one for the XJS roadster. They keep the air circulating slowly which prevents any condensation as well as keeping the rodents out of the wiring! One of the best $300 I have spent.
Cheers, Hugh
H.D. Pite

First, IMHO, the oil should be changed at the end of the driving season, before being put up for the winter. After a summers worth of driving the oil is dirty, and acidic, and you don't want that stuff laying in the engine and on the bearings all winter. Get it out before it has a chance to settle out over the looong winter.
Second, I've had mice build a nest right up against a mesh bag of moth balls !!!! Didn't seem to bother them a bit !!
last, Starting the car every few weeks during the winter does more damage to it than just letting it sit (with the cylinders oiled down) all winter.

Just my thoughts,
Steve
Steve Wincze

This thread was discussed between 07/10/2015 and 08/10/2015

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