It's been so dang cold and wet here the past few weeks, that I haven't had the car out of the garage at all. At noon today the sun was shining, the roads are clean and dry, and it was a balmy 30 degrees :bglasses: :laugh: :Brow: , so, out of the garage comes the GS (after boosting the battery, gotta replace it next spring). Sure was nice to hear that 2.5 exhaust and flowmasters again! Got to work and hooked up the charger to trickle for the afternoon. I'm afraid this will be the last week with any opportunities to drive at all. It's time to change the oil/filter, dump in some gas stabilizer, and get the car cover out... :ball: Geez, where did spring, summer and fall go? Anybody need an inventory mgr/system administrator for the winter? :Comp: Someone down south or west, that is!! By the way, our temps the past 2-3 weeks have averaged about 15deg below average, with highs of 30-40 deg... uzzled:
awwww, c'mon dave, its not so bad. I've been driving my car to and from work every day, and plan (hope?) to do it all winter. But man oh man, i realized a few nights back when it was about 29 degrees outside and I was driving around how badly I need to get my ehater fixed and get the silver dollar sized hole in the firewall at my feet plugged (that breeze is FRIGID at about 40 mph). Im pretty sure a block heater is going in in a week or two, shes getting progressively more and more reluctant to fire up and idle smooth in the morning. -Your Fellow Fargo-ite
ain't seen nothin' yet! Corey, I really can't believe you are going to drive your 67 in the winter... I don't know what kind of shape it is in, as we haven't gotten together with the cars yet, but if it's decent at all, you really, really, really, should park it and keep it out of the elements... let's see, snow, ice, freezing rain, salt/gravel/sand mixture on the roads for traction, OTHER CARS SLIDING THROUGH STOP SIGNS AND STOP LIGHTS AND SMASHING INTO YOU...!!!! Get my drift? It is not a safe time of year to drive a valuable old car around town, ESPECIALLY in town. Winter driving conditions are the reason my oldest brother's 68 GS400 was totalled in an accident back in 1979. And yes, I was driving it, 18 yrs old and just not quite careful enough... spun the tires on packed snow making a left turn, and got t-boned by a car travelling about 45mph in a 25 zone. And it just doesn't matter how careful a driver you are either...there's plenty of moron drivers in Fargo that will travel 5ft behind you at 35mph on icy roads, then smack into you when they don't see traffic is slowed or stopped. I know, $$$ is a factor, but if there's any way, pick up a couple hundred dollar beater and park the 67... :Smarty:
Corey, you really don't want to do that do you? uzzled: I don't know how much salt Fargo ND. uses on the roads, but just a little on your car is too much. Not to mention everything else a winter subjects a car to. I would seriously think of buying a winter beater. Theres a reason you don't see many old cars plying the streets in the upper midwest, old man winter took care of most of them. Dale
Hey Corey, it was great to meet you and get a look at your 67 :TU: . That car is way too nice to brave the winter roads up here in ND... I sure hope you can work out something else for transportation, it would be a shame if somebody in a minivan or suv smacked into that nice straight body. Yesiree, that 67 sure looked nice driving away from your house.....it's my favorite model year, after 68 of course!
Salt.... It does a body good I've seen cars here that are 5 to 10years old that have big rust holes in them due to the salt. I'm lucky enough to have an enclose heated car wash across the street from my apt. My truck (99 Dakota) get washed more in winter than it does in summer. I'll be damed if I'll let it turn into a rust bucket.
Hey guys, Dave, let me start off by saying niiiiiice car. I hope someday to get my interior and under-hood looking as nice as yours, but before I tackle cosmetic stuff, I think I need to fix some of the mechanical/electrical problems. And for everyone else, I'm not happy about having to drive my car all winter, nor am i really looking forward to it (no heater as of yet) but its pretty much a matter of neccesity. Although I could probably save up the money for a 200 dollar car, its the insurance that would kill me (me and moving violations have a long sordid history). Plus, In my area of expertise (being poor, that is), you get what you pay for in a 200 dollar car, which generally rapidly turns into a 1000 dollar car when you replace the transmission, or the front suspension, or blow a ehad gasket, or any of the other myriad problems that happens to crappy cheap beaters. And frankly, I dont look forward to fixing whatever goes wrong with it in the middle of winter. Whereas in MY car, I know what problems it ahs, and what it doesnt, and I plan to drive very slow and carefully, and stay off the big roads as much as I can. So, if you get a chance this Winter, say a little prayer for the Beast, that he behaves well, and comes through this wonter ok!
Hey Dave dont feel so bad...I havent driven my Skylark since July ( not registered ) I will get it re-insured on Friday, and back on the road by Monday....I cant wait to start building this car again, its mechanically sound, new 350, tricked out turbo 350 trans, and 12 bolt rear.....Man I cant wait do drive this car again, I'm going through a withdrawl :ball: . Ill let everybody know when it hits the road for the first time since then! I will drink a :beer to celebrate its rebirth :TU: Larry :TU:
corey, why not drop the skylark insurance for a few months while you drive the beater? if the buick has full coverage, between gas and insurance (get liability only) you may save enough on the beater to cover its purchase cost.
SAVE A BUICK Corey,Please save a Buick and store it for the winter.ND winters will have some weather that their is nothing you can do driving wise that would be safe for your car,road salt will get in places that you can not clean it out[in frame rails,down cowl vents ect.] and on cars that have used up their corrision protection because it is aged 35 years already is asking for trouble.This is not even taking into consideration wreck damage.No one wrecks their car on purpose so no matter how careful you think you are; you are not above totally wiping out your car yourself,or much more some idiot driver running over you.If you are concerned about the mechinics of a beater buy one with body damage,I have found them to be in good running condition and sold because of the body damage.They make a good beater for winter driving and if you drop the insurance on the Buick and put it on your winter beater your insurance should cost no more than you were paying on the Buick.Driving a classic in a North Dakota winter does not make sense.If you care for your Buick you can not afford to drive it in a ND winter!!!
Re: Salt.... It does a body good Eric, you'de better not let it turn into a rust heap. You have a niece with a German/Irish temper that will end you if you do!!:blast: :af: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Weather here sucks Well, today is a red letter day in weather here in Omaha, too. First freezing rain, then it snowed for about three hours, then more freezing rain on top of that, and it's snowing again. No where are those ricers who always want to run against a bone stock Dodge 4X4. Bet I win this time!!:laugh:
