Cold weather warriors...
December 5th, 2018, 05:10 AM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Posts: 3,211
Cold weather warriors...
Hello Oldsmobile community!
Jusr wondering who else (besides me) grabs the chance to take their vintage iron out for a ride even in the cold weather?
Jusr wondering who else (besides me) grabs the chance to take their vintage iron out for a ride even in the cold weather?
December 5th, 2018, 06:00 AM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 14,150
Everyone should take their cars out every chance they get if they haven't mothballed them for the winter. When I lived in Ohio, I never put my cars "away" for the winter but took them out on dry, sunny days no matter what the temperature. After all, these cars are not made of eggshells. They were designed to be driven year-round when they were just daily drivers back in the day, and there's no reason they shouldn't continue to be driven year-round now.
December 5th, 2018, 06:27 AM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Posts: 3,211
December 5th, 2018, 07:30 AM
#5
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ft. Wayne, IN
Posts: 1,195
Here in Indiana, once the salt trucks lay down 2-3" of salt on the roads to melt the 0.5" of snow that fell overnight, it takes until April before enough precipitation falls to wash the crusty white corrosive off the roads. During that time I refuse to take either of my "toys" out on the roads. Spending 9 months doing body work to fix the corrosive effects has that effect on me.
I do regularly start them up every few weeks and move them around the driveway to keep seals lubed, brake surfaces rust-free and flat-spots from being created.
I do regularly start them up every few weeks and move them around the driveway to keep seals lubed, brake surfaces rust-free and flat-spots from being created.
December 5th, 2018, 07:35 AM
#6
delete
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,807
Same - I'll use it until they salt the roads. Then its in hibernation until a good rain or two washed it away.
As of late we've had a lot of windy & rainy days so a lot of debris on the roads. I avoid that since wet leaves are probably as bad as salt
As of late we've had a lot of windy & rainy days so a lot of debris on the roads. I avoid that since wet leaves are probably as bad as salt
December 5th, 2018, 07:44 AM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Ranch Ca.
Posts: 7,714
The Mistress is a road warrior and I often venture out during the winter months. No snow sliding or donuts in the snow but I do venture down to town for a hot cup of coco and I try to make the occasional cars and coffee that happens rain or shine once a month.They are fun year around if you pick your days..... Tedd
December 5th, 2018, 02:54 PM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Farnhamville, Iowa
Posts: 332
I drove mine last in mid november before a few days before a winter freezing rain/snow event.
Living in Iowa, part of the rust belt, our roads are hit with both a liquid brine before storms and rock salt after roads are packed...
I agree our cars were designed to run all year round back in the day, however due to their construction, corrosion of salts, they lasted maybe 10 years before the cancer came on hard. After multiple quick bondo fixes the folks did to the car, I was able to do a major restoration and remove the cancer rather than trim it out and sculpt new with bondo.
While I could drive it now I don't want to have some numb nuts slide into me while going down the road, or if it is in a spot at work, etc.. Let alone the corrosion.
my baby sleeps, covered up, with a rodent repellent that smells like potpourri in the trunk, cabin, and under the hood.
Living in Iowa, part of the rust belt, our roads are hit with both a liquid brine before storms and rock salt after roads are packed...
I agree our cars were designed to run all year round back in the day, however due to their construction, corrosion of salts, they lasted maybe 10 years before the cancer came on hard. After multiple quick bondo fixes the folks did to the car, I was able to do a major restoration and remove the cancer rather than trim it out and sculpt new with bondo.
While I could drive it now I don't want to have some numb nuts slide into me while going down the road, or if it is in a spot at work, etc.. Let alone the corrosion.
my baby sleeps, covered up, with a rodent repellent that smells like potpourri in the trunk, cabin, and under the hood.
December 5th, 2018, 04:09 PM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Braintree, Mass
Posts: 728
I put a blocked off exhaust crossover back into srvice so I could drive in cooler weather but only till the snow hits. The Soviet style government mentality of no one can be trusted to drive if there is any chance whatsoever of freezing on roads somewhere means almost constant salt on roads all winter. I also suspect a lot of classic cars through modifications no longer have their stock winter warm air systems still operational.
December 5th, 2018, 05:34 PM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: West Hartford, CT
Posts: 1,422
I drive the blue car at least a few times each winter if rain washes the gunk of the roads. Kid’s (red) car is 24/7/365 for almost 10 years now, he just put his 4 snows on last week. Neither car has manifold heat & neither ever skips a beat. Kid’s car (red) has ‘68 OAI, I had an upholsterer friend make “booties” to put over the scoops & we just remove one hose from air cleaner. Both cars get a 195* stat, blue car gets fan controller adjusted to turn fans on at appx 200*-205* but I have to put a piece of cardboard to block appx 25% of radiator or it won’t get up to temperature under low loads.
Last year I had blue car out on a 2* day, did a couple of errands, drove a town or two over to splash some gas in it & make sure it got a good, warm drive. I was complemented by 3-4 people, 2-3 more questioned my judgement & one guy at the gas station playfully scolded me with “are you crazy driving that in this weather?” I told him “no, the car loves the cold air & the heater works great.”
i didn’t tell him that I also have seat heaters under those nice Legendary seat covers.
Last year I had blue car out on a 2* day, did a couple of errands, drove a town or two over to splash some gas in it & make sure it got a good, warm drive. I was complemented by 3-4 people, 2-3 more questioned my judgement & one guy at the gas station playfully scolded me with “are you crazy driving that in this weather?” I told him “no, the car loves the cold air & the heater works great.”
i didn’t tell him that I also have seat heaters under those nice Legendary seat covers.
December 5th, 2018, 08:09 PM
#15
Out of Line, Everytime😉
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Melville, Saskatchewan
Posts: 8,911
Our roads also ugly from November till April. We owned our last Challenger for 7 years, driving all year long it was starting to get rust issues. I guarantee most of the rust on my 88 Cutlass came from snowy good times, the two winter's I drove caused a lot of damage. The 70S I bought, the winter's no doubt caused most of the damage. Salt is ugly, period. I also find 88 inadequate heat wise no matter what I try. The 70 is better but has a fresh air vent leak, I have it where it only leaks in a bit, fine in hot weather, the heater really fights against it in late fall.
Last edited by olds 307 and 403; December 5th, 2018 at 08:15 PM.
December 6th, 2018, 03:28 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: So. Ca.
Posts: 650
Used to love taking my 1970 GTO Judge out on Pennsylvania winter nights. Nothing like the sound of a musclecar cutting through freezing air in high gear with the hammer down. Car pulled like a freight train in cold weather. Thanks for jogging that memory.
December 6th, 2018, 04:58 AM
#17
Out of Line, Everytime😉
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Melville, Saskatchewan
Posts: 8,911
I went through a lot with studded winter tires with my 88 with a No Slip in the rear. But any RWD car sucks on icy streets, constant sideways, even my Dakota absolutely sucks in 2wd. Traction control and AWD massively help winter driving a lot. Our old RWD Challenger was OK thanks to Traction control and winter tires but not great. The GT AWD, I floor it at the stop signs, the only time it slips in when I push it really hard in the corners and it only has all season plus Michelin's on it. I remember a guy driving a 70 Cutlass Convertible in the winter, to each their own.
December 8th, 2018, 08:21 AM
#19
Frank Ignachuck
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Maynard, Massachusetts
Posts: 1,285
Everyone should take their cars out every chance they get if they haven't mothballed them for the winter. When I lived in Ohio, I never put my cars "away" for the winter but took them out on dry, sunny days no matter what the temperature. After all, these cars are not made of eggshells. They were designed to be driven year-round when they were just daily drivers back in the day, and there's no reason they shouldn't continue to be driven year-round now.
December 10th, 2018, 09:02 AM
#20
My Delta 88 is ready to go at anytime regardless of the season. Luckily I haven't had to press it into service as my G-Body wagon beater has been (fingers-crossed) reliable.
But annually in early March, I make the trek from Cleveland to Detroit for the Detroit Auto-Rama. Unless it's like a blizzard out, I take the Delta since I don't trust my wagon on a three-hour one-way trip. I just clean up the Delta really good when I get back and put it back into storage until later in April. Then it gets daily driven until Thanksgiving.
But annually in early March, I make the trek from Cleveland to Detroit for the Detroit Auto-Rama. Unless it's like a blizzard out, I take the Delta since I don't trust my wagon on a three-hour one-way trip. I just clean up the Delta really good when I get back and put it back into storage until later in April. Then it gets daily driven until Thanksgiving.
December 10th, 2018, 10:45 AM
#21
delete
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,807
December 10th, 2018, 10:50 AM
#22
delete
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,807
Had my car out this weekend. Pulled it out and the tires were a bit low. Took it to the station to top them off & stretch its legs a little bit but it started flurrying (of course it did) so got it back home. Parked it backwards in the garage so I could pull the battery cable. My Garage sucks so bad I can hardly get to the hood if its parked nose in. Its most likely done for the season.
December 11th, 2018, 06:31 PM
#24
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: A small village
Posts: 136
Rain doesn't hurt these cars! What are they going to shrink? Had my Delmont 88 out December 2nd to a car club Christmas lunch I was invited to. I drive them as long as there is no salt on the roads. Not everyday mind you but I try to get all three out and warmed up at least once a month. But weather (snow) can prevent that from happening but I do try! Joe
December 12th, 2018, 06:30 AM
#27
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Red Oak, Texas
Posts: 2,960
Usually down here (Dallas) they don't put down salt but saw on the news two nights ago where Dallas public works sent out trucks to spray brine solution on the roads. There is no forcast for any frozen precipitation until Friday, and then only a "wintry mix with rain". Stupid call IMHO.
December 12th, 2018, 10:23 AM
#28
delete
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 2,807
December 12th, 2018, 10:39 AM
#29
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 14,150
I don't take my old cars through a commercial car wash. With water spraying from the side at high pressures, it can leak in through lots of places. Modern cars are much tighter.
I have a garden hose, sponge, and soap!
I have a garden hose, sponge, and soap!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
