cold weather start
 

I had to move the ccpu out of the garage yesterday,the temp was 10 deg. and the A had not been started for months,to my surprise it groined to life.The 48 Chevy I had in high school would never have started,what was the coldest temp that you started your A in?

Re: cold weather start
 

Back in the '50s I've started Model As as low as 20 below, maybe colder, it's a long way back to remember.

You say you started it at 10°F, I hope you had #10 or 10-30 or thinner oil in it. Anything thicker and you risk damaging rod and possibly main bearings. W/the dipper oil system for the rods thicker oil just doesn't get into the bearings fast enough for proper lubrication.

Re: cold weather start
 

i remember on very cold mornings dad would build a fire under our Model A oil pan to warm it up so it would turn over to get started

Re: cold weather start
 

Chief poured HOT water on the frozen brakes, to get it to MOVE!
Bill Brrrrrr

Re: cold weather start
 

We made engine heater.
Gallon antifreeze can.
Mounted light socket in bottom with cord.
Cut several holes at bottom with church key.

100 or 150 watt bulb... If really cold.
Put under oil pan night before.
Note on cold starts if starts and stalls ... Open GAV another 1/2 turn.
Started down to 15 below.

Re: cold weather start
 

Yesterday it was 19 F in the Mississippi garage (Sun doesn't hit that side of the house). I cranked up and rolled into the morning glow. The car loved it like a puppy lolling in a sunbeam. I love a car that will respond (a little extra attention to the choke needed) like my old bones; they behave better after they warm up a bit and move around.

Re: cold weather start
 

We had some old horse blankets that were tucked around the engine block after shutting it down for the day. Grandpa tucked his straight-8 Buick in for the night with a couple of Army surplus sleeping bags.

Re: cold weather start
 

To be used in conjunction with the horse blankets.
Keep warm. Jeff

Re: cold weather start
 

Had the same thought today, hadn't started in a few months, really slow cranking but eventually fired up; took it down the road to warm fluids. 2 ft of snow this week :(

Re: cold weather start
 

:-) In the early 70's, it was so cold that a 6 clylinder 67 chevy won't start, 69 ford 429 won't start. My 31 A started ! Drove dad to his store to get a fresh battery for the 67. Got it started, but we gave up on the 429 ford after blowing the muffler apart. It was below 0*f, guessing about 15-20 below 0* My A cranked very very slow and didn't think it would start, had to drive in low gear for a couple of blocks before shifting.

Re: cold weather start
 

Back in 1958,, 31 t/s when it was 35 below I would take the battery into the house at night and in the morning I would light a 1 lb coffee can filled with pea gravel and heating oil, light it and put it under the pan and put the batt. back in and no problems the rest of the day

Re: cold weather start
 

Some farmers would have a cow manure trench / pit that they would park the car or tractor directly over. The steaming heat coming off of the composting manure with some blankets thrown over the engine area to capture the heat wouid help get it started on those cold mornings. Or maybe it was just the methane gas from the manure would act like starter fluid....... I have personally seen this many years ago so I know it is not BS....

Re: cold weather start
 

Winter of 60-61 in Michigan, I removed the starter motor and took it into the house at night. Oil film on bendix would prevent gear from spinning down shaft when real cold. Really cold fingers in the morning on the snowy driveway reinstalling starter, dropping bolts in the snow, deciding two bolts was plenty, doing what it took so I could drive to school! Don't recall temp, but it was COLD. Cardboard in front of radiator too.

Re: cold weather start
 

I love your stories, but they make feel cold. Keep em comin’.

Thanks,

Mike

Re: cold weather start
 

If you are not using a thermostat light oil in below 20 F is a must. Running without a thermos in sub freezing temps is never the best for our motors. Lots of wear from low temps and thick oil.

Re: cold weather start
 

Had min out the other day and it was 3 degrees. Had it in warm shop but pulled outside and it was up to 150 degrees in no time and ready to run. Never got above the 160 thermostat and settled out just shy of it. Did have to run with GAV a little richer.

Re: cold weather start
 

Back in the day we always used a cardboard in front of the rad or a winter front .
Nowadays on a lot of modern vehicles you can't get at the rad to put in a cardboard so gotta use a winter front.