Winters coming

[sidpf1972]

Yeah drive um look after um simples

[Rally Pack 2000]

i for one think theres only one plonker on this forum at the moment

 

Ok but how did you find me out? We have never met and I live 1000's of miles away and tried not to reveal myself.  Is this an anti Australian thing? You beat us the Ashes, the Rugby and the Olympics what more do you want? LOL

 

Seriously though I must admit the whole Winter car hibernation is like a total mystery puzzlement to some of us that dont live in the Northern Hemisphere. It never snows here and we get excited when the lawn looks all white when we have a frosty morning. Winter is actually our driest season here in Australia so it rains less in Winter than any other. The Escort you see in my Avatar sat out on the road all year for at least 2 decades, being the youngest last car in worst parking spot. The only serious rust it got was around the C Pillars which most Australian Mk2s got. Some fool in the design process decided to put sponge in between the inner and outer pillars so when a bit of water entered the vent from driving or whatever rather then drain away the sponge would hold the water till the metal touching it would rust. Then when the vent rusted and the water could drain in the wheel arches would rust from the inside out. I used to think this was total crap till I see what the snow and salt does to your cars in the UK. Im always amazed the cars you guys fix up like new again where we have scrapped way better. Much respect from this end to your restoration skills.  Now I know why all your cars look like their panels line up, its because you have changed them all and lined them up yourselves LOL Ours were dodgy from the factory! I can totally understand why some choose not to expose them at Winter. If its any consolation my Twincam knows that its British and it is opposite to the problems you have during Winter. If the ambient temperature goes over 35 degrees Celsius the engine just runs as rough as guts. Someone once suggested the fuel may be pre atomizing before it reaches the combustion chambers but never have figured it out so its funny one of my OSF wont drive in Summer and prefers the Winter! (Must remind it of home LOL)

 

One thing I have been inspired to do since looking at some of the rust problems in members restos on here is that everything underneath the car I have been coating in that American Stuff call Por15 that was originally meant as a marine coating and it is a great tough paint that bonds itself to oxidization and seals it. It takes so long to cure you can bush it on and cant see the brush strokes. You have to top coat it with something else though because its UV sensitive but its worth it even though its very expensive. They say you can spray it but its highly toxic so you need special masks so for the home user brushing is best. You cant see the underside of your car anyways. My Grandad always said "if its toxic and some do gooder wants to ban it, it must be good!"

[mk1 essex]

i have see a lot spend 5 years restoring the old skool ord and taking them out in the salt is mad .

when its i need of a refurb then i would just run it all year as it won't matter that much as it will need sorting anyway.

mines not 1/2 done yet but dont think itll run all year..

[mexicansteve]

Id just like to say what a cracking chuckle I've had reading this entire thread, I have no opinion on anything...possibly...oh no I meant I'm REALLY opinionated so I'll do what wifey says and keep my mouth shut before I get into trouble.

[SmokeEm]

mine is going for MOT today even though it'll sit idle between now and 1st April. I'll make sure she's comfy n warm for the cold months

[shaun1.6ghia]

Lol

 

I drive mine all year round an it's rotten as hell.

Restored it 6 years ago an driven daily an parked outside since, welded floor up twice an a rear arch but this is a but it's cheaper than anything else. The road tax isn't or petrol (depends how you drive anything) but parts are cheaper than modern cars, you can work on it yourself (cheaper) and insurance is cheaper so that's y mines still a daily. Cheap an it puts a smile on my face every day. If I had 2 cars I would have probably had to sell it when I had my lad as couldn't afford both an would never have had enough money for another so that would have been that...... Glad it's my daily.