Ive had to pull my daily mini off the road. Its been in daily use for 3 years now and the rust has gotten too bad to fix and it takes to much time to keep it roadworthy.

But dont worry, im going to cover it in a tarp and keep it in the corner of my parents yard for when ive finished my starlet mini.

Does anyone have any hints how to store it so itll slow the rusting process? I was going to leave it on blocks with a blanket under the tarp?
Anyone know of anything else?

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Simplify and add lightness

problem with putting it in the yard is that you get condensation under the car, so the underside is constantly wet, so the rust just grows and grows..... concrete is the same. The most rust-free long term stored car I've seen was one a mate and I pulled out of a shed where it had sat on a bed of pebbles of white clay-like stuff for 20 years, not a single bit of rust on it

so don't store it unless you can have it under cover, fix the rust, keep driving it

fill it up with rice that will absorb the moisture

if you store it in the open under just a tarp you will probably cause more damage because it will sweat due to insuficient airflow
it realy needs a garsge or carport anything to keep the weather from it

Don't use a blanket. It will hold moisture and cause it to rust more.

As jiminamini says, don't use a tarp. It is best if the air can circulate to keep it dry. Perhaps only went is rains cover it, but once the rain has stopped, get the tarp off.

Best as simonk suggests, put it in a shed.

How bad is the rust?

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I all ways cringe when I see cars stored under tarps, it just does more damage than good. If you cannot put in in a shed try getting one of those cheap pergola things and pitch that over it, then on nice sunny days open it up and let some fresh air in. I'd also park it on some plastic to stop the moisture coming up from underneath.
A guy on the moke forum had some nice cover made for some of his mokes, they are triple layered and padded and so far no reports of problems, He's in Brissy too.

Linky http://www.moke.com.au/Forum/index.php?topic=4039.0

The manufacturer http://www.stormcovers.com.au/carcovers/

Tarps are not the best, but the worst is when people just leave them parked forever under trees... the acids etc from the decomposing leaves just rots things away.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT, COVER IT WITH A TARP AND BLANKET!!!

WORSE THING EVER!!

as everyone has meantioned, it will sweat, and cause rust, very very quickly. Will not take long at all. I did this to one of my cars years ago, and within 4 months the roof was showing rust bubbles. It is better to have it sitting in the open, like it would if you were driving it every day, then hiding under the tarp.

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

Wire brush up all the bad rusty areas,,, then spray the whole car with corrosion inhibitor (Rust converter) Then wash that off,,,dry it all out ,,,, & coat the whole thing again

then leave it under a frame-work built to support a tarp , so the tarp is well up & away from the car & air can circulate & make is so it can`t get wet in the rian & no leaves or grit from anywhere can get at it (Yes a nice dry shed is always best)

for the underside of it,,, probably best to lay some sheets of wood like concreaters compo board under there,,, that stuff will stop moisture rising & also absorb what-ever moisture is present so the car body itself stays fairly moisture free

Make sure you "Un-Adjust all the brakes or even take the drums/discs off the car

coat all the rubbers & hoses with a vasoline or similar rubber protection

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.