Disco 2 potentially mothballing

I MAY need to stop driving in the next few months until fixed. If I do I will be laying up the D2. I reckon early next year.

What would I need to do to keep it OK for reuse?

Will be in front of my garage off public right of way, plus SORNed.

Would you potentially be able to get in it, start it up and drive it back and forth a few feet from time to time? Or get someone else to do this for you?

This guide is very comprehensive.

Stanleysteamer said:

Would you potentially be able to get in it, start it up and drive it back and forth a few feet from time to time? Or get someone else to do this for you?

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Yes, I would, currently on self imposed night time not driving.

Stanleysteamer said:

This guide is very comprehensive.

Winter lay-up guide – How to prepare and protect your classic car for storage.

We explain in detail, all you need to know about storing your classic car away for winter hibernation safely to ensure it is preserved perfectly for when spring and summer arrive.

hamiltonclassic.co.uk

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thanks

I will be driving until I do not feel safe.

Hoping it lasts until after next holiday, or I get repaired by then.

MJI said:

thanks

I will be driving until I do not feel safe.

Hoping it lasts until after next holiday, or I get repaired by then.

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Do hope that whatever is the problem gets sorted, and as soon as poss.
I do know how you feel about laying up a car.
Due to a health problem (menigioma) I was forced to stop driving for 6 months. Which is why I had to stop driving the 300tdi and buy the TD5, wife can no longer drive a manual.
And due to the rust in the Disco 1 it has stayed laid up ever since, and that was in 2014. So frighteningly 9 years. For a few years I did nothing with it other than starting it and moving it around, i.e. up and down the local road, once a year, and tarping it over. It needed other work anyway, but we loved it and still do.
Since then at some point I bought a D1 V8 with LPG which needed the lpg registering. The latter proved a real headache so that one has also stayed laid up! Last May I jumped in it and started it, to move it a few yards, it went OK exccept for a squeal from the power steering, but I haven't tried to start the 300tdi for a few years now. It also has a flat tyre, the wheel must have corroded.
So I haven't followed the advice in the link I put up. Damp has certainly moved in!
W's Speedster has also been laid up for a few years now and that has really badly affected the paint/gel coat on the body, even though or maybe because, it had special, expensive, all-weather covers on it.

So, if it isn't going to be for all that long I would put fuel stabiliser in, keep the tyres over-inflated, the battery charged in one way or another, and then start it up, let it warm right up and drive it up and down the drive just to keep the wheels and tryes moving, turning the steering from lock to lock, every now and then. This isn't ideal and some will say to not start it and let it warm up. One slight risk is that exhausts rust if they don't get properly warm and they can only do that if you drive the car for about 8 miles.

The 4th one (can you believe this?) is the kit car I "finished" and put on the road back in 1995, to beat SVA. As soon as it was registered I took it off the road to "do it properly". So I stripped it right down and did quite a lot to it but life just passed me/us by so it is still ensconced in the double garage, in bits, unpainted, which of course takes up more room than if it was all together.

Oops, forgot my Marlin Roadster which is also laid up, having had a transmission problem just before I set off for France back sometime before I retired, Never got around to repairing it. Happened so long ago now I really would have to go and look at the tax disc (!) to remind me of when it happened. again under tarps. all tyres but one have split, no fluid in the clutch reservoir. Probably the saddest of all.

So there you have it. How NOT to do it!
I fondly expected retirement to free me up to be able to sort this lot out. Huh! DIY,t he curse of a male retiree!
Best of luck.
Stan.

Eeek reading all that makes me feel guilty about my D2, I Just reversed it in the shed and shut the doors

Henry_b said:

Eeek reading all that makes me feel guilty about my D2, I Just reversed it in the shed and shut the doors

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At least it is under cover unlike the 4 I have left outside. (only just added the Marlin Roadster I had forgotten about. )
In the shed the chassis might not get much worse!

To be honest if it stays like this apart from night time i will be ok.

But it will get worse until i need spares from dead people.

MJI said:

To be honest if it stays like this apart from night time i will be ok.

But it will get worse until i need spares from dead people.

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I've a feeling I have copped on to what you may have, as a mate of W's has one just like it. (AMD?)
They have fallen out rather which is a bit of a shame as I was hoping to "obtain" her immaculate Golf V5, eventually. !

Fuchs

MJI said:

Fuchs

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Ok, got that.

I’ve got my D2 SORN’d mothballed in my garage for a year and a half. It’s off the ground on 4 jack stands, and the battery is disconnected but on a trickle charge battery charger. I reconnect it and start it up once a month to remind myself how good it feels and I really need to get it back on the road.

If you're in a northerly area of the UK, condensation is a killer. I have to store my motorhome outside so keep a dehumidifier inside and set the timer for a couple of hours daily. Alternatively I open the doors when it's dry. Personally I'm undecided about a cover as I don't like it lying on the flat areas. I once used a big plastic sheet but covered the flat areas with those shallow cardboard 'tray' boxes. The ones vegetables come in at the supermarket. Cover would be good if there's a risk of water ingress on sunroofs or other failing seals.

MJI said:

I MAY need to stop driving in the next few months until fixed. If I do I will be laying up the D2. I reckon early next year.

What would I need to do to keep it OK for reuse?

Will be in front of my garage off public right of way, plus SORNed.

Click to expand...

My D2 has been unused for a couple of months due to me recovering.
I have started once or twice, no problems, but what i do notice is the surface rust on the discs. probably not an issue for the short time ive not used the car but if an extended period it may be worth covering them or the wheels to keep the rain off.

Bantam1 said:

My D2 has been unused for a couple of months due to me recovering.
I have started once or twice, no problems, but what i do notice is the surface rust on the discs. probably not an issue for the short time ive not used the car but if an extended period it may be worth covering them or the wheels to keep the rain off.

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Sadly I think condensation will still lead to the rust. TBH, if you are really bovvad, the only real protection would be to take the wheels off, grease ( ) the disc surfaces, (or paint them with some other stuff to keep them dry) then make sure the pads are out so they don't get polluted with it! You'll just have to give them a jolly good clean up before putting it all back together again.

Again if all four wheels are off the ground, you could run the engine and put it all into gear, light brake pressure with a foot still on the loud pedal will help the pads to get rid of the surface rust, provided you do it reasonably often.