Soap bars in old cars

Just picked up a '65 Plymouth that has probably been sitting for about 15 years. It had what looked like a cut up soap bar on the intake and in the front and rear foot wells. Any idea wtf this was for? Maybe to keep rodents out?

Probably 

long term storage used to be called mothballing but actual mothballs don't last more 

than a year, maybe months. 
 

Yep.  Dryer sheets can also work.  But either needs to be heavily scented.

Where are the pics of the Plymouth?

TheRX7Project said:

Where are the pics of the Plymouth?

^This. 

Plymouth shots, stat!

I put a cut up Irish Spring soap bar in the camper in the fall when I close it up for the winter to keep mice out.  It's probably the same thing.

Does it work?

After mice used the fuel pump wiring for a snack during the winter a few years back, I started leaving dryer sheets in various places around the car.  So far, so good.  I think the soap bars are the same concept.  I've heard Irish Spring is the ticket. 

I bought some things that look like big tea bags with mint leaves in them. They seem to work really well.

Plus, the car smells minty fresh.

My dad used a bar of soap to dress the V belts in his cars.  Is there a groove in the soap?

https://www.toptechrepair.com/faq/belts-hoses/how-to-stop-fan-belt-squealing/

I have used both Irish Spring and dryer sheets to ward off critters.  They ate the soap and made a nest out of the dryer sheets. This is the absolute truth. Maybe I have terminator/cyborg level rodents?

Feedyurhed said:

I have used both Irish Spring and dryer sheets to ward off critters.  They ate the soap and made a nest out of the dryer sheets. This is the absolute truth. Maybe I have terminator/cyborg level rodents?

I've seen it as well, they'll chew up mothballs too.  It's a common myth that Irish Spring and dryer sheets will keep them away; they may work for a very short period of time, but as soon as smell dissipates they don't do any good.

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

TheRX7Project said:

Where are the pics of the Plymouth?

^This. 

Here's a couple

Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:

Does it work?

Didn't see much trace of any critters - so maybe?

Racingsnake said:

Woody (Forum Supportum) said:

TheRX7Project said:

Where are the pics of the Plymouth?

^This. 

Here's a couple

 

That is a very handsome car. Love me some old Plymouth. 

Now that is cool!

Is that an altered wheelbase car?

In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :

I thought so too at first glance but on closer look it appears the rear fenders were radiused for bigger meat

I need that car in my life 

I wouldn't fix a thing on that car. Its perfect.  Paint, and all.

Going back and looking at the pics, I spy a pretty sweet '60 El Camino as well, nice fleet OP.

My dad would put several bars of Irish Spring around inside his MGA before he put it in winter storage. He never had any rodent problems but it could have been the mice just never found the car.

TheRX7Project said:

In reply to Ian F (Forum Supporter) :

I thought so too at first glance but on closer look it appears the rear fenders were radiused for bigger meat

Yeah, they've been cut out but it's stock wheelbase.

Appleseed said:

I wouldn't fix a thing on that car. Its perfect.  Paint, and all.

That's the plan - get it running and driving and enjoy