I think there are several apologies owed to RetroGT.

I personally cried when I read his story, and I think it shows even more how the Mustang is not just a car.

Thank you RetroGT for sharing, and for helping to bring some things back into perspective.

Blessings on you, and your family. I am sure you dont need to tell Micheal Jr what an incredible gift it is.

 

What a truly touching story! I never knew a car could have such sentimental value to a family, and I know your son will cherish the car.

 

Thanks for sharing the story, Retro GT. Your son is fortunate that his grandmother picked out such an awesome ride.

 

Don't save it for special occasions. Drive it, drive it often. It's a way to connect with her memory, and when he turns 16, he can drive the wheels off it. It's just my opinion, but I think treating a car like an heirloom is a bit silly, and a waste of an automobile. He'll get far more enjoyment out of riding in it, and driving it himself later, than it sitting in the garage in a bubble for thirty years. Teach him to care for it, wash it weekly, do the repairs it needs, keep it nice, and it'll still last him a long time.

 

Thanks to all for the kind words. I'm sorry if I started out on this board with a negative tone. While I've never considered myself a Ford fan, the three cars I have stored now are all Fords... go figure.

On a lighter side...

This past week-end, I asked my Son if we should take the 05 when we go to church. He looked at me with a sweet smile, shrugged his shoulders and said "No, I don't think so." :shock: It's a lot of fun asking a 14 year old if you can drive his car !! :bang:

On an even lighter side...

Some of you questioned my sanity putting the GT in a Car Capsule (bubble). I should take a picture of my 1986 Jalapeno Red Escort GT that's been sitting in its own car capsule for years. :crazy:

Thanks again!

F irst O n R ace D ay

 

I say to each his own. I applaud your decision to preserve it.

Cars today are more disposable than ever. With built in crumple zones they are designed to protect the passengers and NOT the car. In serious accidents they are more frequently totalled than in the past.

Only about 5-10% of the "classic" cars survive. Rust, accidents, and mechanical failures take their toll. It takes someone like you and your son to have the forethought of preservation. I have a two collectible cars that have survived...I wish I knew their history!

 

Hey Mike, Not a flame job, but my wife does find your bubble very humorous!!! Its sad that you got stuck with these problems, I thought that they had resolved the rearend issues but.....I guess not. For your info, Visteon builds the rearend and they somehow didn't remember to add the friction modifier to the diff oil. They actually came into our factory and added it a few weeks ago and I thought that was it, done. Guess not. As part of the AAI team, I really feel like I need to apologize to you, but as I am just a line worker, please realize that I don't have the ability to change anything, even things that affect myself at work.

 

You are storing an Escort?

 

"Ooh, I'm sorry, the correct answer is the moops." - George Costanza
Best. Show. Ever.

Nice ride, I bet your son is happy!

 

It's great to hear that you feel somewhat personally responsible for the car. If all line workers feel that way, it will be a good car.

 

Man, I was so planning on teasing you about your bubble...instead you made me tear up/ ALMOST cry at work. You mom is an awesome person to want your son to have such a machine. I'm sure she saw it go to your son.

Still, as an outsider, the bubble is too funny. Welcome to the board.

God bless.

 

Mike,

This is your loss as well, Sorry man from me and Alex. Good luck with the car and make sure son looks after it when he turns 16.

You had a very consientous Mum. RIP

 

Yes... I'm storing an Escort. It was a gift from my father. It's been stored since 1988. I've driven it a handful of times since then. I intended on passing it down to my Son when he turned 16. But for some reason... now he doesn't want it...?

I even got the Escort GT with-out A/C because I thought it would hinder its performance. :crazy: I definately have issues!

And for all of you that want to flame or laugh at my bubble... go right ahead. Why should you be any differrent than anybody else who knows me. They all think I'm nuts! I even laugh at the bubble thing.

Since you're all so interested, :sleep: the Car Capsule costs about $350 for the 16' foot model. It takes around two to three minutes to get the car out. Simply turn off the fan, unzip the top clear portion, fold it over to one side, and drive the car out. Goes back in just as easy, and fills back up in less than ten minutes.

Could this bubble thing be a new trend... ... NOT!!

 

I've been following the development of the new Mustang on various boards for the last two years and have noticed that whenever a knowledgeable new user posts new information or something somewhat out of the ordinary they get attacked by a bunch of idiots who otherwise spend most of their time discussing pricing and stupid aftermarket crap. I guess this is somewhat true of message boards in general but it seems especially bad on Mustang boards.

 

MIKE:
Question. Is it bad to store a car for so long without driving it. Doesn't the motor freeze up if it does not run for months at a time. I do not know how that works because I have never stored a car. So, hypothetically, one could store a car for a year without starting it and the engine would still work well (I know that the battery might die).

 

Wow, what a story. I thought you where a little nuts when I read your other thread, but it all makes sense now. I'm sure your son will get a lot of enjoyment out of that car.

-Mike

 

Yes... I'm storing an Escort. It was a gift from my father. It's been stored since 1988. I've driven it a handful of times since then. I intended on passing it down to my Son when he turned 16. But for some reason... now he doesn't want it...?

I even got the Escort GT with-out A/C because I thought it would hinder its performance. :crazy: I definately have issues!

And for all of you that want to flame or laugh at my bubble... go right ahead. Why should you be any differrent than anybody else who knows me. They all think I'm nuts! I even laugh at the bubble thing.

Since you're all so interested, :sleep: the Car Capsule costs about $350 for the 16' foot model. It takes around two to three minutes to get the car out. Simply turn off the fan, unzip the top clear portion, fold it over to one side, and drive the car out. Goes back in just as easy, and fills back up in less than ten minutes.

Could this bubble thing be a new trend... ... NOT!! [/b][/quote]
No, not flaming anyone, just have never heard of anyone storing an Escort. Just out of my own curiousity I had to look at the book value of it, the value isn't much more than the bubble actually.

 

Lots of differrent opinions out there. I've let my Escort sit for over a year with-out starting it. I do pull the connector from the distributor (remember those) and turn the motor over until oil pressure builds and the light goes off. Then I reconnect the distributor and away I go. Now I've fogged the engine - just like you boat people do, and it just sits. I did screw up by leaving the car on the ground though. After a couple of years of sitting, the original Eagle GT tires are quite flat spotted, which makes for an interesting ride. The paint also seems to be quite faded. It sits inside, covered, out of the sun, so I'm not sure what's up with that.

Here is how I will store my GT. Understand that the car will be driven on occasion in summer when weather (and my son) permit.

1. Remove battery and put away in a warm place, off of the floor, trickle charging it once a month or so.

2. Put the car up on blocks (I use rail-road ties that I cut up. Much more area than jack-stands cover as not to dent/scratch underside) far enough to get wheels off. Then I also store the tires/wheels in a warm spot lying flat.

3. My garage is new and quite critter-free (I have barn cats that take care of the mice), but you have to be careful of those little guys getting inside the car or in the engine compartment. Believe it or not, I've used Bounce Drier Sheets and this seems to work the best. Not sure who turned me on to the idea but it works. We had problems keeping them out of our pop-up camper until we tried the Bounce. Never had a problem again.

4. I will run synthetic oil in it after 1,000 miles. I will change the oil after warmed up every spring.

5. Some people believe that they need to start it once and a while. I disagree. As long as you get oil pressure into the engine before starting it, I don't see a differrence. The problem with starting it once and a while is two-fold. First, you'll be starting the car I assume in Winter when it's very cold outside. Harder on the engine due to the oil being heavier. Second, no matter how long you let the car run, you will never get the car up to proper temperatures. Sure, the engine will get up to operating temperature, but that's it. You will create a ton of moisture in exhaust, which will cause it to rot out from the inside.

6. I also believe strongly in spraying down (with exception of the exterior) the chassis and engine compartment with a silicone spray. Not a lot, just a mist. It keeps moisture from forming, and keeps rubber products soft and pliable. One down-fall is that it will then attract dirt. Problem solved with the bubble.
If you do feel like getting it out on a nice day, make sure to drive it and get it good and hot before putting it away

7. I put fresh gas in and the proper amount of gas stabilizer before parking it. The reformulated crap we have here turns bad very quickly.


I'm sure there are a lot more things I do. Again, these aren't the right things to do, they are what I do. It works well for me.

Anybody else have any more ideas?

 

Thanks. It sounds like you are already doing an effective job in storing your stang. It may sound strange to some folks that you store your escort, but I believe in the saying "different strokes for different folks"

 

I don't remember the specifics, but that particular technique launched a huge controvery at the Mopar site I frequent. With my 66 Satellite I let it sit over the winter with the tank topped off with Stabil additive and the battery disconnected. When I go to start it up again I just reconnect the battery and then crank without pumping the gas pedal at all. Usually the oil pressure is up again before it catches. You can't do that with a fuel injected car, though...