Ok, I've got a question for the Northerners....long.

[John Dayhuff]

Winter time sucks and whats worse is that the Model A is all wrapped up tight in the garage to keep the wind, rain and salt off the car since my wife uses the other half of the garage for her boring soccer mom van......LOL. Getting anywhere's close to the car is nearly impossible and it's killing me not being able to get the car out and drive it even during this mild winter. Yes it's a Phaeton but even going up and down the street a few times a week would even be somewhat satisfying. Yes I need a different storage idea....but so far I've not come up with a solution which is a whole other thread in itself. So if your stuck without being able to do ANYTHING with your car in the winter months, what else do you do besides sitting there reading my winter sucks rant?

[David R.]

So get it out and drive it!

[John Dayhuff]

That's the problem. Michigan weather changes by the minute and I know that were only just into the winter months that the moment I take down all the tarps and covers that are "protecting" it that it will start snowing or something. The garage gets opened and closed several times a day so that's bad enough. I'm just trying to figure out how to get my fix while the car is cocooned for months at a time.

[Dave in MN]

If you do take it out there is likely the salt on the roads. That is what keeps me from driving this time of the year. I usually wait for two heavy rains in spring before I take mine on the road. Nice looking Phaeton John!
Good Day!

[John Dayhuff]

Thanks Dave and right back at ya!!

[Gary WA]

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Put a carport up and put the soccer mom van under that!!

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by Gary WA

Put a carport up and put the soccer mom van under that!!

LOL.....thats funny stuff, your quite the comedian. I'll go run that buy the wifey right now.....LOL.

[VinceBlack]

That's what I did.

[Gary WA]

Originally Posted by John Dayhuff

LOL.....thats funny stuff, your quite the comedian. I'll go run that buy the wifey right now.....LOL.

She buy it!!

[ronn]

Put a carport up and put the soccer mom van under that!!





yep- not all that funny if you want to enjoy your car..............

[John Dayhuff]

It was originally a two car garage, then I added on a third stall and parked a Corvette in it. Now the Phaeton is parked in there as well that means I have two older cars parked in the garage while my everyday truck sits outside and her van is in the garage. I'm sorta pushing my luck already as it is.

[David R.]

Sounds like you need a working garage to build you a beater A in. I knew an old widower who was into Ts years ago. He and his son had plans to build a garage so the old man would have more room for his model Ts. The dad calls up son one day to tell him the garage is finished. The son is confused. He was just there the previous weekend and footers hadn’t been dug yet.
He rushes over that evening to check on dad. The old man had sawn the living room floor out of the old farmhouse, poured concrete and installed a roll up door.
Makes perfect sense he said. I don’t need all this room living here alone and now I don’t have to go out in the cold to work on my Ts in the winter. Sure enough the first time I went to visit there was model T in the parlor!

[JRN1967]

My 30 coupe is a driver, so I don't let the winter stop me from driving every chance I get. I live in Western Mass, just like you we get snowed in and the cabin fever sets in.

Fortunately, we've had a couple breaks this year where the snow melted. I wait for the salt to get washed away to the sides of the road, and then get a good freeze. As long as the roads are good and frozen and there are no puddles, you can get a short jaunt in.

You'd be surprised how much a short trip to town can carry you through the winter.

John

[Patrick L.]

We go to Florida !

[oldbird55]

People still winter up north

[77Birdman]

While we dont have MI weather it still gets pretty nasty here in the mid atlantic (last week in the upper 60's not counting, lol). I dont have an A, but I do have a classic in the garage. I have a custom fit car cover so its pretty easy to put it on and take it off in a pinch. As long as the roads are clear I will drive it. They salt pretty heavy here as soon as it starts to snow but usually a good rainstorm will clear that off the road.
I have a very large shop, 65' x 30' which doesn't have heat yet, so when it gets to the dead of winter I am grounded in the house. I started cooking and baking last year to fight off the boredom. A friend gave me a large scale model of my car I am currently working on and if it ever gets cold here I may start that. I am the type of person that has to work with my hands and keep busy, I dont have the patience to read a book. A magazine is about all I can handle and after about an hour I am done with those.

[77Birdman]

I am in the middle of a car restoration project and I have a small shop attached to my house that does have heat. Another thing I did last winter was to restore/refurbish small parts and the interior bits.

[rocket1]

How about one of those plastic covers that inflate and totally seal your vehicle in a bubble,less uncovering to do.

[DBrer]

I have the same problem, I need a bigger garage or build a shop out back. maybe I can convince my wife.

[John Dayhuff]

Yeah I'd love to have a garage out back and would have done that years ago if it not for the contour of the land in the back yard... Hard to explain but I just don't see how it would work for me. Putting a fourth stall on the garage is probably not a good idea either which is another entirely different story too.....LOL.
I've recently thought about those inflatable garage things like Rocket1 mentioned but I don't know anything about them, anyone have any experience good or bad about them? Are they small enough to be set up in half of a two car garage?

[Ranchero50]

Put a shed roof over the front of the garage so you can protect both yours and her cars while keeping the garage clear for emergencies.

[oldschoolrodder62]

Move south. I lived up north all my life. Been down here 5 years Run my old cars year round

[Curtis in MA]

If anyone in your club is working on their car, go and help.
Do you have a one or double garage door? Hang a tarp floor to ceiling between the two cars. Then you can work on the other side or take the tarp down when the door is closed.

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by Curtis in MA

If anyone in your club is working on their car, go and help.
Do you have a one or double garage door? Hang a tarp floor to ceiling between the two cars. Then you can work on the other side or take the tarp down when the door is closed.

Yeah I think I'm gonna do that, through this thread I was invited to come join some guys not far from here to show them how to change out a transmission....LOL. Just kidding of course, I wouldn't know the first thing about that but hey I can hold a flash light with the best of them.

I have a tarp between the two cars, the A is covered in blankets, a cover, and extra tarps trying to keep that salty air, wind and rain out. Sucks because all I have is pictures to look at until it gets better weather.

[kimlinh]

Don't be in a hurry to drive your beautiful car on salty Michigan roads. (Isn't there a salt mine under the city of Detroit?). I have the same problems you do (Car, Wife, Garage). The NFL helps a little but its not enough. Maybe we should start a support group.

[dbaldwi3]

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Yep move to Florida, I left Michigan a long time ago. No regrets. And my cars thanked me!(no potholes!)

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Minnesota is currently -4º and snow on the way. The Model A works great in snow, don't need to go to Florida.
Here is what you do instead. Take that Florida money and use it to put heat, water and a floor drain in your old car garage. Turn up the heat, hang the tarps, drive in the snow, when you get back turn on the water and take the hose and wash down the car. Get a curved extension so you can spray underneath too. Wipe it down. Go in the house, turn up the heat, grab a hot brandy, plop in the recliner.
Oh yeah, you can make a lot more room if you sell the 'vette.

[gdmn852]

Saw this determined Roadster owner in West Virginia last March sleet all over and temperatures around the 20,s

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Lurker

Minnesota is currently -4º and snow on the way. The Model A works great in snow, don't need to go to Florida.
Here is what you do instead. Take that Florida money and use it to put heat, water and a floor drain in your old car garage. Turn up the heat, hang the tarps, drive in the snow, when you get back turn on the water and take the hose and wash down the car. Get a curved extension so you can spray underneath too. Wipe it down. Go in the house, turn up the heat, grab a hot brandy, plop in the recliner.
Oh yeah, you can make a lot more room if you sell the 'vette.

Hmm....I'll take it all under consideration, we'll except for selling the Vette part. It was my dream car growing up and I finally acquired it in 2003 so it's got a warm spot in my heart. BUT, if I had to choose I'd sell it over the Phaeton.

[al's28/33]

John,
We feel your pain and frustration, hang in there buddy!! Keep posting on this site and keep in touch with your local club friends. We all help and support each other here, save for the random sarcasm. You got family close by with some available land for a Tuff-Shed or empty garage space to let your Phaeton spread out ?

[CarlG]

I live in Alaska with a ‘70s 2 car garage. My Model A occupies half of that, my work bench and my wife’s school stuff (she’s a teacher) occupies the rest. Therefore our “modern” (2004 & 2005) SUV’s remain parked outside. Last night it was 10 below zero.

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by al's28/33

John,
We feel your pain and frustration, hang in there buddy!! Keep posting on this site and keep in touch with your local club friends. We all help and support each other here, save for the random sarcasm. You got family close by with some available land for a Tuff-Shed or empty garage space to let your Phaeton spread out ?

Yeah I've thought about the off my property thing but I'd be way too nervous about it, bad enough I fear that something could happen here but even more so if it's out of my sight. Too many crazy people in this world who don't own Model A's.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, I need like a support group and I think I found it here. You guys have been great, even the sarcasm one's. Yeah I'm still pretty new here but I've lived on other forums and sometimes you have to pretty thick skin so I got that going for me too.

[davehc]

Originally Posted by David R.

Sounds like you need a working garage to build you a beater A in. I knew an old widower who was into Ts years ago. He and his son had plans to build a garage so the old man would have more room for his model Ts. The dad calls up son one day to tell him the garage is finished. The son is confused. He was just there the previous weekend and footers hadn’t been dug yet.
He rushes over that evening to check on dad. The old man had sawn the living room floor out of the old farmhouse, poured concrete and installed a roll up door.
Makes perfect sense he said. I don’t need all this room living here alone and now I don’t have to go out in the cold to work on my Ts in the winter. Sure enough the first time I went to visit there was model T in the parlor!

I like the way this guy thinks , sounds like something I would do .

[77Birdman]

Originally Posted by davehc

I like the way this guy thinks , sounds like something I would do .

There was a story that my brother told me of his friend in high school. The friends father (a model T owner) went blind, had his car disassembled and put back together in the basement. He would sit in it with the motor running because he liked the sound so much. I pass by the house occasionally and often wonder if the car is still in there.

[jetrod]

I use my covered car trailer for an extra parking space.

[mike657894]

Dont worry about the salt jumping from the daily to the A. Im in michigan, road looks dry out side. you could take a ride up and down your street with no worry of salting your car. Its the wet slurry of salt that you get driving on the moist or wet days that rots the cars. the side streets and neighbor hoods get less salt than the main roads. Just take it for small cruises around home on dry days.

[goodcar]

Originally Posted by John Dayhuff

It was originally a two car garage, then I added on a third stall and parked a Corvette in it. Now the Phaeton is parked in there as well that means I have two older cars parked in the garage while my everyday truck sits outside and her van is in the garage. I'm sorta pushing my luck already as it is.

The plot thickens, now you have a Corvette taking up space too. What else haven't you told us??

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by goodcar

The plot thickens, now you have a Corvette taking up space too. What else haven't you told us??

We'll thats it for cars but I do collect pinball machines too (among other things). None in the garage there all in the house...

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by jetrod

I use my covered car trailer for an extra parking space.

Yeah I've given that some deep thought as well but I don't think it's the long term answer that I'm looking for. What about one those accordion wall dividers that hang from a track suspended from the garage ceiling? Have it like in a L shape and then I could just push it back, take the car out and pull it back around the car when I'm done? I'd still keep the car covered as much as I can but it seems like that would be simple and easy, just not sure how we'll it would keep out the salty air and snow....etc.?

[ed thibodeau]

If you live in Michigan you need an old pickup to drive in the winter. My 31 widebed works fine for me. Livingston Michigan.

[bdtutton]

I live in Southwest Michigan and I don't let the winters stop me. I have a 1930 Tudor that occupies the prime position in the garage and goes out anytime the salt has been washed off the roads and it is above zero. In extreme cold everything is really stiff on my model A and even with a manifold heater the interior is uncomfortable.
I say....get your car out and drive it anytime the salt is off the road. Make sure you run thinner oil and check your oil filler tube/breather for that foamy stuff that builds up. I have noticed that oil gets pushed out of my rear main bearing when it is really cold and that breather gets blocked off. It must be building up some pressure in the crankcase.
*** Don't let your car be a trailer queen if you bought it to drive it.... ***

[Ed in Maine]

You are not going to like my answer! Find a place in Florida for the winter. "Ed in Maine" is actually "Ed in Palm Coast, FL". It wasn't my idea, it was my wife's and if the wife isn't happy, nobody is happy. We are in our 70s. She told me she couldn't see herself getting from the house to the car in the snow and ice. Our garage is full with 1914 T, 31 Cabriolet and 32 Model B. The only good thing about leaving Maine for Florida for the winter is I needed another Model A and in this case I found a 31 Victoria (4 weeks ago). Now I can drive antique cars all year long and have made new old car friends in Florida. Maybe the wife was right. I hope spring will come quickly for you. That first engine start after a long winter has always been a treat for me. Good luck, Ed

[History]

Originally Posted by John Dayhuff

Just kidding of course, I wouldn't know the first thing about that but hey I can hold a flash light with the best of them. .

If my dad was still around he would be the judge of that. He was a fine point judge of holding flashlights, I failed many light holding competitions.

I'm slowly becoming a fine point light holding judge myself using my son as a light holder, I don't know if he'll ever be able to compete.


Someone mentioned nfl,,, when the morons started kneeling I stoppped watching, not even Super Bowl.

[Corley]

John,

Get a mistress. No, not to keep you busy! Here is the plan; When your wife finds out about the mistress she will take that mini van and run, leaving you with lots of room in the gara..g..e,,, Wait, maybe this is not one of my better ideas. Sorry... Forget I said anything.

[Tom Wesenberg]

A winter home in the dry southwest would be ideal, but finding an affordable one is the problem. Lots of people want to get out of the miserable long cold winters, and that sure drives up the prices, and even a small empty lot is expensive.
I would never drive one of my old cars when salt is on the roads. Even the dry road salt makes it's way into crevices and bolt threads.

[Jeff/Illinois]

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Originally Posted by History

I

Someone mentioned nfl,,, when the morons started kneeling I stoppped watching, not even Super Bowl.

Thank you. I thought I was one of the few I also gave up watching that over hyped nonsense because of that. Gives me more time in the garage.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by dbaldwi3

Yep move to Florida, I left Michigan a long time ago. No regrets. And my cars thanked me!(no potholes!)

Could be good could be bad. If you live near the ocean you are exposed to salt 24/7 like it or not. Add to that the super humid Florida climate and ya got trouble.

I looked at a '69 Mach 1, Q Code 428CJ for sale here in Illinois that lived all of it's life on the Gulf Coast. I was shocked at just how bad of shape the car was truly in. I'd seen Illinois cars that had been driven daily back then that looked just as bad as this one did That and the interiors go to hell faster in the heat and more direct sunshine.

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by Corley

John,

Get a mistress. No, not to keep you busy! Here is the plan; When your wife finds out about the mistress she will take that mini van and run, leaving you with lots of room in the gara..g..e,,, Wait, maybe this is not one of my better ideas. Sorry... Forget I said anything.

Yeah that will never happen, we've been married almost 25 years and were still in love and even the best of friends.

[John Dayhuff]

Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois

Thank you. I thought I was one of the few I also gave up watching that over hyped nonsense because of that. Gives me more time in the garage.

Whats the NFL?

[Penthode]

It is tough with the long winters up north not driving my '29 Tudor. I have locked the Tudor away for the winter months only starting her monthly checking her out and letting her run until she is fully warm without putting her on the salt infested roads.

During the winter months, I take up my other hobby: 1920s radio. I was listening alternately to WCBS 880 NYC and WHO 1040 in Des Moines on my 1926 Atwater Kent Model 32 yesterday evening.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by History

If my dad was still around he would be the judge of that. He was a fine point judge of holding flashlights, I failed many light holding competitions.

I'm slowly becoming a fine point light holding judge myself using my son as a light holder, I don't know if he'll ever be able to compete. :rolleyes

I too failed the light holding contest. Seems I wanted to see what Dad was doing so the light somehow was shining in his eyes when I held the light so I could see!