North American Turbocoupe Organization



Car Cover for car stored in garage
85THUNDER Offline
Junior Member
#1
So I want to grab a car cover for my 85 TC to put on it over the winter while it sits in the garage. Not looking to break the bank $75-$150ish. It won’t be exposed to the elements at all so I feel like some of the options I’m seeing is overkill. Just wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions.
Reply

Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#2
I just wash and wax my two Tbirds before putting them in the garage to hibernate during the long cold Wisconsin winter when the roads are covered with salt. Never had an issue. I would wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth every month or so when (or if) ambient temperatures were above freezing. I would also start them up and let them get up to operating temperature every month or two and drive them up and down my long driveway just for the heck of it. (My hobbyist license plates do not allow me to drive the Tbirds on public roads during January)

One year, probably 10+ years ago, bought fairly cheap covers for the Tbirds. All the covers did was attract rodents that chewed chewed up the covers and chewed thru one of the ABS wheel speed sensor coax cables TWICE within a month.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
Reply

BradM Offline
Member
#3
I just use disposable plastic covers on my stuff. $12 each on Amazon. Toss them out in the spring because they're dusty from shop work.

2 Set of Thicken PE Plastic Car Cover- 12.5' x 21.6' Disposable Car Cover with Elastic Band Clear Waterproof Dustproof Car Protective Cover for All Brands of Sedan Cars
1965 Mercury Comet Caliente; 1968 Mercury Monterey; 1969 F100 Ranger; 1982 Mustang; 1987 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe; 2017 Police Interceptor
Reply

anasazi4st Offline
Senior Member
#4
(12-01-2023, 05:47 PM)85THUNDER Wrote: So I want to grab a car cover for my 85 TC to put on it over the winter while it sits in the garage. Not looking to break the bank $75-$150ish. It won’t be exposed to the elements at all so I feel like some of the options I’m seeing is overkill. Just wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions.

Not long after I got my TC—say, 1992 or so—I bought a BRA for the front/header panel. I thought—great idea! Protects from stone chips, bugs, etc. For those that don’t know—it’s a heavy canvas or plastic blend cover that fits tightly over the front end and is secured under the hood with straps that clip inside.

What I learned soon after (and it was in the fine print I apparently failed to read) was that it was NOT for repainted parts. Due to stone chips, etc., I had repainted the header panel not too long before. One day when I removed the BRA to do some work I discovered the paint was coming off with it.

I’m not saying that will happen to you, or that your car has been repainted or anything like that. But be aware.

I personally like Brad M.’s suggestion.
Another proud dues-paying member.

1987 Turbo Coupe w/T5OD, 8.8 axle, grey smoke; most options. Got it in 1991 with 41K miles: 3 turbos, 2 heater cores, 3 T5OD full rebuilds, 6 clutches, 1 head gasket, 2 Teves II ABS units, etc. later....
Reply

goingincirclez Offline
Junior Member
#5
I've bought two of these in the largest size now:

Leader Accessories Car Cover... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PQBP3H9?ref...b_ap_share

One I've had a few years for my garage kept '75 Mark IV just to keep the dust off... it barely fits but that's the car's fault. I wet thru several covers back in my outside-driveway days and for the price, the one I linked beats them all handily. The inner surface is soft, the outer surface is weather resistant, and the door zipper is very handy.

I bought #2 when I acquired the TC last summer and it spent the first 4 months in the driveway while I prepped my old '88 bird (rip) to vacate the garage. Storms, birds, and ongoing street construction fallout were all held at bay, with no distress to the cover. It cleans off easily. And fits the TC with room to spare, haha.

Couldn't be happier with either.
-Tony L.   
Frankfort, KY
'75 Lincoln Mark IV | '87 Tbird TC 5sp | '10 Flex Ltd | '19 Caravan GT | '09 Mazda5 | '94 Aerostar 
RIP: '05 Freestyle | '97 Tbird Sport (x2) | '88 Tbird LX V6 | '87 Cougar LX V6
Reply





Users browsing this thread:
1 Guest(s)



Theme © iAndrew 2018 - Software MyBB