Car storage question: Wax on? Wax off? Options

[technicalninja]

I'm prepping a car for long term storage.

Under a car port but exposed to the elements and pests from the order "rodentia".

Going to get a healthy dose of mothballs.
.
Cleaned and waxed before it goes.

Should I buff it or leave it as is?

Right now "Wax on- Heavy"

[Geezer914]

Don't forget to pull the plugs and fog the cylinders, change the oil and filter. If less than a year fill the tank and add Staron or Staybill. If longer, drain the tank, remove it from the car and coat the inside with some trans oil and store inside. Last, remove the battery, and put the car up on blocks.

[technicalninja]

No drive train but thanks for the input.

[Cairo94507]

Not sure I understand, you say it is waxed but question to "buff it". If you mean, remove the "hazed" wax, my answer is yes. If you mean do you machine buff it, I say no.

Even though I keep my car in our garage, under a cover, I still uncover it regularly, pop the engine lid, look around and every couple months used compressed air in the engine compartment to make sure I don't have any "unhoused" trying to "squat". It is one of my nightmares. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[technicalninja]

Yes, remove the hazed wax by hand with the world's softest multi-used cloth diaper...
I can make it look GREAT.
I'm thinking of leaving the excessive wax on the car now as the thickness of the wax is probably 10 times thicker than it will be buffed.

The ONLY thing I'm after with this job is protection without damage.

Water beads the same.
It just doesn't slide off.
Car will be protected from direct rainfall.

Car may be subject to what I call hanger rash and I'd like to be the most protected it can be without increasing expense.

Why do you think hand buffing is the answer?
Part of me agrees.
Part of me doesn't.

Hence my post...

[iankarr]

Yes to wax…but just a hand job (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) If you like the smell of mothballs. Go for it, but you may find it hard to get that smell out. I use an ultrasonic repellent box and bait traps. Agree that periodic inspections are important too.

[peteinjp]

I say take off any excess wax. My reasoning is that having to buff a car that may have collected dirt after sitting for a long time as that may might invite scratches.

[Superhawk996]

Mothball smell sucks!

This smells like a super strong pine / balsam oil smell.

Keeps mice out of cars that I keep parked in the “field”. Haven’t had any mice problems yet. Replace after a couple months when smell starts to fade.

[infraredcalvin]

I say take off any excess wax. My reasoning is that having to buff a car that may have collected dirt after sitting for a long time as that may might invite scratches.

Yes, all you’re going to do is invite contaminants into the wax, then when you go to wash or buff it out, the dried wax will hold it, scratching as you remove.

Get a good cover, keep it clean, keep the car clean is the best way to store…

[technicalninja]

Thanks!

It's buffed now and the mothballs are just going in the engine compartment to deter wire nibbling.
I've sealed the interior and I'm not worried about rodents inside.

[Garland]

I use in each compartment, a few clothes dryer sheets. Rodents don’t like the fragrant odor. Worked for years.

[technicalninja]

And, after getting this ready for storage a mistake was made loading it on a trailer and it now needs rt front fender and rt door repair...

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[peteinjp]

Oh man- so sorry to hear that……

Pete

[wonkipop]

And, after getting this ready for storage a mistake was made loading it on a trailer and it now needs rt front fender and rt door repair...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

tell me this is not the 75 L - Jet?

[mlindner]

If storing out side, I would have a 914 umbrella cover to keep water out of window seals and floor.

[Superhawk996]

Oh man- so sorry to hear that……

Pete

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)

[technicalninja]

Nope, no Porsches were damaged in the creation of this thread.

This is the car in question:
https://granburyautoac.com/2004-mazda-speed-miata/

I built it for my friend Leonard; he had me do many, many, mods on the car.
In the last year it's gotten a Wilwood BBK on the front and 2K worth of new wheels and tires.

From the first time I returned it to service I claimed "right of first refusal" as part of the price of the job.

In a moment of in-attention he melted the engine and then offered it to me at a price that I could not refuse.

I was moving it BACK to his business as he also offered storage as I didn't have room for it in my shop. He's a good friend...

Now, in a moment of in-attention I seriously damaged it for the first time and he WILL NOT give me a break on the heckling he will deliver.

Exactly in the same way I'll not ever forget him pumping 12 gallons of DEF into his brand new truck.

I worried the trailer would be too narrow, I should have had another person to spot.

I had premonition of disaster. My squirrel-o-meter was going off and I didn't heed it.

The correct way of doing this was to call Acorn Towing and have it flatbeded to Leonard's shop.

Trying to save $125 I was a freaking dumb ass and caused 1K worth of damage on a car with three stage red paint. Metallic base, translucent red with a pearl gloss coat.
That's maybe the HARDEST color to match, it's spent most of its life outdoors, it's faded a bit and I'm just fucked...

[peteinjp]

Nope, no Porsches were damaged in the creation of this thread.

This is the car in question:
https://granburyautoac.com/2004-mazda-speed-miata/

I built it for my friend Leonard; he had me do many, many, mods on the car.
In the last year it's gotten a Wilwood BBK on the front and 2K worth of new wheels and tires.

From the first time I returned it to service I claimed "right of first refusal" as part of the price of the job.

In a moment of in-attention he melted the engine and then offered it to me at a price that I could not refuse.

I was moving it BACK to his business as he also offered storage as I didn't have room for it in my shop. He's a good friend...

Now, in a moment of in-attention I seriously damaged it for the first time and he WILL NOT give me a break on the heckling he will deliver.

Exactly in the same way I'll not ever forget him pumping 12 gallons of DEF into his brand new truck.

I worried the trailer would be too narrow, I should have had another person to spot.

I had premonition of disaster. My squirrel-o-meter was going off and I didn't heed it.

The correct way of doing this was to call Acorn Towing and have it flatbeded to Leonard's shop.

Trying to save $125 I was a freaking dumb ass and caused 1K worth of damage on a car with three stage red paint. Metallic base, translucent red with a pearl gloss coat.
That's maybe the HARDEST color to match, it's spent most of its life outdoors, it's faded a bit and I'm just fucked...

Insert full repaint and appending slippery slope here…..

[technicalninja]

I know!

Lucky for me, the damage is lower rt fender, behind the front wheel, slightly into the rt door. Deep gouge via the side rails of a narrow trailer. It's really low, on the side I won't see often, and I have a wizard regarding paint.

If anyone can match it, Wrangler can.

https://www.wranglersartinmotion.com/

The Hard Dog roll bar I installed for Leonard was match painted to the red 5 years ago by Wrangler. He did a kick ass job, looked "dipped" but it is a tiny bit darker than the car.
Worked fine for a separate roll bar but it might not on the body.

If I could kick my own ass I would!

[peteinjp]

Kid next door hit a home run- and it went right though my garage window and sprayed window glass all over my low miles 964…..

Even though its has been an indoor car the paint is still not exactly the same as original. But I dont want to do a full windows out job so I found a guy locally that will blend the paint and clear coat and polish as needed. Fingers crossed but I think I finally found my guy.

It’s hard to find a good paint guy where I am-in Japan, but from texas where I’m from they are out there. Hopefully Wrangler will sort things out for you.

Pete