A&Q about 350Z
Q:
So it’s snowing today :( here in Ann Arbor MI. I used to think that was fun (in Seattle) but here it’s just a bad sign of things to come. It means they'll probably start to salt the roads. All the cars I see from the 90s have CHUNKS of the body missing because of rust.
I don't want to dive at all on salted roads but some times I may have to.
What’s the best way to keep my car from turning into a rust bucket?
Should I hose it off after each use (tough because I have to attach the hose to the kitchen sink [old house] and dangle it out the window.)? Is that even advisable in sub zero (deg C) temperatures?
1994 300ZX N/A T-top 5-spd
A:
best bet is to store the Z and buy a winter beater. A small econ box from Japan with 4WD is best. Old toyota 4WD tercel wagon was my fav. Even some camry's and corolla's came in 4WD. I never liked subarus but most are 4wd
There are undercoating products that work great but they are messy. The best are spray on oil/wax compounds. Here in eastern canada you have to do it if you want your car to survive. The stuff gets sprayed deep into the areas behind body panels via new drilled holes. It is messy stuff.
Ziebart undercoating was popular in the 70's but it trapped water that rusted secretly behind it's tough rubber-like coating. Ziebart would look great but huge spots would rust behind it.
parking a daily driver in warm garage in the winter is the worse thing you could do in salty area. The car thaws and the salt water brine seeps into all the crevices. If the car stays cold, the salt does not penetrate.
Injector Cleaning Service
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A:
thanks for the tips! I have a "garage" but its not attached to the house and it has no door so its more like a carport with a back.
Considering I'm a gradstudent and have no money right now I guess i'll just try and drive it as little as possible on the salt, and wash it when I can (probably spring :( ). As far as keeping everything else alive, its still a good idea to start the car and get it to temp one a week right?
Plus I drive so little in Ann Arbor that there is little point in having a winter beater.
I'll see what I can find as far as undercoat pooducts go. Does it come in a can that I do my self?
1994 300ZX N/A T-top 5-spd
A:
Yeah, definitely store it.
1976 280Z
Draw-Through Turbo, 10 PSI, 4 Bbl Holley, E88, L28 (Flat), 10:1 CR, 5 Spd
1974 Corvette Stingray:
350, 400 Automatic, T-Tops, 8.5:1 CR, 78,000 Miles
1994 Acura Integra:
1.8L, 5 Spd, 189,000 and Counting!
A:
If at all possible store the Z and buy ANYTHING that will run through the winter for a beater. That's what I did with my 280zx. I had a jeep cherokee that was 4 colors, headliner falling down, rusty, hatch didn't stay latched all the time, one of the doors was stuck shut, but man was it a fun winter!
If you can't store it, try to go through a car wash with an under car flush once in a while, undercoat if you can, avoid driving right after snow storms when they just salt the roads. I hate winter in Michigan, they over use that salt like CRAZY! Good luck!
__________________
1991 300zx N/A - Project
1995 200sx SE-R - Daily Driver
1982 280zx 2+2 - Sold
A:
Actually never consider the Z as a winter option, you will be sorry, for sure. If you don't have a garage, then just park it in the driveway and cover it with a tarp, it will be better than nothing, or put it in a storage unit.
This of course depends on how much money you actually have.
1976 280Z
Draw-Through Turbo, 10 PSI, 4 Bbl Holley, E88, L28 (Flat), 10:1 CR, 5 Spd
1974 Corvette Stingray:
350, 400 Automatic, T-Tops, 8.5:1 CR, 78,000 Miles
1994 Acura Integra:
1.8L, 5 Spd, 189,000 and Counting!
A:
A close up of your car after winter driving on salted roads:
moral of the story, get a beater
"YES I will finish what I sta"
.
1977 280Z blue 2+2,
1973 240z
1977 280Z coupe in restoration progress
A:
Yeah maybe 12 winters and never washing it.
People drive cars in the winter all the time, it's how we get around in Canada...suprising I know.
Your car will be fine, but will rust faster than never driving in the winter.
If you can't afford to park the car and buy a beater, then you have no choice.
Just drive and be carfull (especially if your not used to RWD in snow)
Edit: And Blue definately gave you the best response regarding the nature of salt.
--------------------------------------
1990 300zx NA
- Custom Exhaust
- JWT Pop Charger
Post Edited (Nov 2, 1:59pm)
A:
Move to a warmer climate.
1972 240z w/L28, tokico shocks and springs, and a 5 speed waiting. Also running high performance ultra mega blinker fluid, that's at least an extra 50hp to the wheels.
1987 Toyota Supra Turbo 5-speed. Belongs to me until my friend get's back from Iraq.
A:
We all can't move south, someone has to keep these northern areas populated!!
Phil
1981 280zxt
5-speed conversion,3.9 R200,Eibach springs,Tokico struts,Energy Suspension,K&N CAI,AutoMeter A/F, Boost, Fuel Gauges,Cusco Strut Bar,Greddy B Spec II boost control,Jeffp 3in mandrel exhaust,Magnaflow,Spearco Cooler, HKS BOV, 10 psi
A:
Get a Saturn. Its body panels are made of plastic.
A:
Actually, Saturn only had plastic door panels, and on recent model years they are all metal again. (ie. no more plastic)
So no, the Saturn won't help you.
A:
Thanks for the responses guys. I have a garage of sorts but it has no door on it. But the Z will stay clean.
1994 300ZX N/A T-top 5-spd
A:
Make a new friend with Castrol SuperClean. Don't be afraid to jack up your Z and crawl under the car to scrub every orifice you can cram a srub brush and maybe even a toothbrush into. Every time you wash your Z scrub the wheelwells and behind the rocker panels and as much of the floorpans as you can reach. Afterwards you can run your finger along the inside edge of the wheel lip to be sure you have removed all traces of dirt.
I have been driving my '86 hardtop for 5 years in the crappy Mid Atlantic and these idiots love to salt the roads every chance they get.
This is my '78 which lives outside and has been known to be driven in crappy weather:
Here is after two sessions with Castrol SC:
Bob Dadd
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/daddsun/my_photos
70 240Z HLS3008323 08/70
77 280Z 12/76 HLS30366531
78 280Z 04/78 HLS30456240
81 280ZX 4/81 hdtp
82 280ZX 11/81 hdtp
86 300ZX 1/23/86 hdtp
86 300ZX 2/7/86 hdtp
03 350Z 11/14/02
Post Edited (Nov 3, 12:21am)
A:
Castrol SuperClean is liquid lye - like Drano. Just be careful to use it safely using goggles and gloves. It will destroy aluminum if left on too long and even rot some types of rubber and plastic.
Rusty but running.
Polish cell phone and two tubes of Aluma-seal.
And, now we are historic.
A:
If you start the vehicle every so often make sure you run it long enough
to blow and evap the condensation in your exhaust. If you don't that water will rust muff/pipes out....otherwise, let it sit all winter.
'73 240z, sitting 16 years in garaged storage...Spring 2005 endeavor...
Twin Cities, Mn