Daily driver
September 18th, 2009, 01:48 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Spring, Texas
Posts: 66
Daily driver
Someone said there aren't any dumb questions. I make break that rule with this one.
I bought a 69 442 in May to use as a daily driver. It had sat up for at least 8 months before I bought it, maybe longer. Fellow said he started it up once a week and ran it enough to "get the moisture out of the system".
It needed some minor work to get it road worthy. Alignment and balance, fix a few lights and gauges that were inop, charge up the a/c, changed oil and filters all around, new coolant and power steering fluid, bleed and adjust the brakes, etc. I filled it up with premium gas and started driving it. It seemed jerky on shifting, sluggish on acceleration, kind of "stiff" on handling, and sort of "loose" on suspension, if that makes any sense. I drive it daily, and after 3 months and 1700 miles it seems to run better, handle smoother, ride firmer, and even fewer rattles.
Is this my imagination, or can running a car regularly after a long period of being idle actually accomplish what I imagine is happening? I am not an expert, but I think it runs better as the engine and transmission sort of "break in" again. The ride might be better as the shocks get "limbered up". Maybe the rattles work themselves out as stiff and rusty wearing parts get "worn in". I think of it as sort of wearing a pair of old shoes that have gotten stiff and moldy over time, but feel pretty good after a lap or two around the park.
Anybody have any definitive poop on this phenomenon, or am I just hallucinating?
I bought a 69 442 in May to use as a daily driver. It had sat up for at least 8 months before I bought it, maybe longer. Fellow said he started it up once a week and ran it enough to "get the moisture out of the system".
It needed some minor work to get it road worthy. Alignment and balance, fix a few lights and gauges that were inop, charge up the a/c, changed oil and filters all around, new coolant and power steering fluid, bleed and adjust the brakes, etc. I filled it up with premium gas and started driving it. It seemed jerky on shifting, sluggish on acceleration, kind of "stiff" on handling, and sort of "loose" on suspension, if that makes any sense. I drive it daily, and after 3 months and 1700 miles it seems to run better, handle smoother, ride firmer, and even fewer rattles.
Is this my imagination, or can running a car regularly after a long period of being idle actually accomplish what I imagine is happening? I am not an expert, but I think it runs better as the engine and transmission sort of "break in" again. The ride might be better as the shocks get "limbered up". Maybe the rattles work themselves out as stiff and rusty wearing parts get "worn in". I think of it as sort of wearing a pair of old shoes that have gotten stiff and moldy over time, but feel pretty good after a lap or two around the park.
Anybody have any definitive poop on this phenomenon, or am I just hallucinating?
September 18th, 2009, 02:04 PM
#2
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 17,615
IMHO
There is nothing worse for a car than leaving it sitting up. After driving it for a while, you may find some more things that need to be done, but that's part of the fun.
My 69 442 drop top was my dailey driver for over 25 years.
I would guess it has 300 + K miles on it and I'd get in it tomorrow and head for California without a second thought.
There is nothing worse for a car than leaving it sitting up. After driving it for a while, you may find some more things that need to be done, but that's part of the fun.
My 69 442 drop top was my dailey driver for over 25 years.
I would guess it has 300 + K miles on it and I'd get in it tomorrow and head for California without a second thought.
September 19th, 2009, 04:22 AM
#7
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Annapolis Valley , Nova Scotia
Posts: 1,880
Lubrication is probably the reason that it runs better as time goes by. sitting is hard on motors and tranny's petty much everything. Cars are meant to be run on a regular basis and even if you store a car for the winter it should be started and run every once in a while.
September 19th, 2009, 05:42 AM
#8
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Location: southeastern Michigan
Posts: 14,168
September 19th, 2009, 08:09 AM
#10
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Location: southeastern Michigan
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