First Drive of February

[RobertKB]

It’s been a strange but wonderful winter in southern Alberta. 56F/14C on February 1 when it’s usually much, much colder and roads are crappy. 
 

Had the ‘48 Dodge D25 club coupe out again as it’s the easiest of my cars to get out of the garage. 
 

Probably get it out again tomorrow but it is supposed to get colder after that. No snow forecast though. 

 

Keith, if you see this, maybe you can get your beautiful Chrysler out again!

 

 

Edited February 2, 2021 by RobertKB

[keithb7]

Looks more like Alberta in early April. Not February. 
 

We’ve had rain for past 12 hours. Socked in most of today with low clouds. Its been about 8C above lately. No 14C like you’ve had.  We had some snow last Fri-Sat. So its all a big wet melting mess today. If roads dry up and skies clear up I will indeed get my Chrysler out. Be a few days yet at best. 
 

Thanks for thinking of me over here.  Last year on Feb 1 I did indeed have my Chryco out.  Photo from 365 1/4 days ago will have to suffice. 
 

 

[RobertKB]

Great picture of the Chrysler but ........366 1/4 days ago. 2020 was a leap year. ?

[Sniper]

I am jealous.  I can;t drive mine right now, tank is completely empty so I can calibrate the sender to the gauge.

[RobertKB]

Your time will come!

 

With my ‘48 when it reads a bit over 1/4 you need to find a gas station fast. I’ve learned to live with that annoying idiosyncrasy. 

[Marcel Backs]

Snowed in in Quebec! I am truly jealous of both the weather and the car. I hope my coupe turns out that nice man. An early spring would also help! M

[RobertKB]

15 hours ago, Marcel Backs said:

Snowed in in Quebec! I am truly jealous of both the weather and the car. I hope my coupe turns out that nice man. An early spring would also help! M

We usually have lots of snow and cold at this time but this year has been an “open” winter. Strange but nice. 
 

I’m sure your coupe will turn out perfectly looking at the pictures of your work on it. Do you have an “as found” picture. They’re always fun. 
 

Your ‘39 Chevrolet is gorgeous. Something about a black car. 
 

My ‘48 was pretty rough when I got it and missing many  parts including the rear window which had been shot out. I had a garbage bag taped over the missing window in the below pictures. Two engines, two paint jobs, and lots of other work between then (1976) and now. 
 

 

Edited February 2, 2021 by RobertKB

[busycoupe]

No drive for us forum members in the NE today!  The white blob behind my car is my '05 Ford Ranger under a foot+ of snow.

[RobertKB]

1 hour ago, busycoupe said:

No drive for us forum members in the NE today!  The white blob behind my car is my '05 Ford Ranger under a foot+ of snow.

My cars would be hibernating too in those conditions. However, so far this year has been an unusually warm and snowless winter. Supposed to get colder for a while starting tomorrow. Probably get a big dump of snow at some point. 
 

Stay safe.........and warm!

[Dan Hiebert]

You aint wrong!  We're getting that storm today, into tomorrow.  Came in a little wimpy, we were doing the monthly seniors food giveaway this AM when it was only slightly annoying out, but now...the shop is only 120 feet from the house but its one of those storms where there's a slight chance I could get lost between here and there if I venture out.  Don't think there will be any winter driving up here, sure am glad to see others can, though...and that you who can post photos.  Inspiration.      

[keithb7]

Getting close! If I were not working, I’d have my car out today.  The roads and weather are improving quickly.  If this keeps up my Chrysler will be turning heads this weekend. 
 

Sorry no car pic yet but here’s current neighborhood conditions. 

 

 

[RobertKB]

Looking forward to pics.
 

Change in forecast here. Gonna turn quite cold with some snow now in the forecast. I might be done getting the ‘48 Dodge out for a while. Looks like Old Man Winter wants to finally visit. I’m not one of his fans. 

[RobertKB]

Probably had my last drive of February. ? Temperature presently -20C/-5F with fair bit of snow on the ground and more coming. ?
 

Oh well, I’ve had a good run this winter up until now but Old Man Winter is presently making a statement!

 

[keithb7]

Same over here. It has snowed the past couple of days. -18C is forecasted for Wed night.  I was close. My job Filled my week. Closing the small window of opportunity. 

Edited February 6, 2021 by keithb7

[Sniper]

Well, y'all remeber when I had the snow and you had the nice weather?

 

Now it's flipped, but I've been working 15 hour days so it really doesn't matter.  When I get time off now I catch up on the house stuff. 

 

Might be time to downsize the house since it's just me and a dog these days.  Thinking about a studio apartment with an 80'x120' attached garage. 

[RobertKB]

Such is life in Canada in the winter!

 

Yesterday, I was supposed to fly to Maui with my daughter and two grandsons for 16 days. Would have been nice to miss this winter c**p but due to C19 and closed borders, it was not possible.  Rebooked condo for same time next year and keeping my fingers crossed. 

[RobertKB]

2 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Well, y'all remeber when I had the snow and you had the nice weather?

 

Thinking about a studio apartment with an 80'x120' attached garage. 

I do remember with fond memories. LOL

 

About the garage. You are thinking big but you need to think HUGE. No matter the size of a garage, it is never big enough! ?

[Sniper]

Well, one is limited by their means, lol.  I could afford a bigger one, but then I couldn't afford to fill it

[keithb7]

I’m thinking minimum 1 acre. Rancher. Maybe 2 bedroom. Build It new  and ultra efficient for low monthly operating costs.

 

Then a 30 ft deep or so shop with heated floors. Triple wide. 1 big door wide enough for 2 cars and work benches, tooling ect. A separated bay with single garage door and good floor drainage. For indoor pressure washing.  
 

Canadian winters...We could all use our own heated pressure washing bay. 
 

High enough for a car lift. Plus a mezzanine for parts storage. 
 

The house details? No preference. My wife can do what she’d like. 

Edited February 6, 2021 by keithb7

[Plymouthy Adams]

20 minutes ago, Sniper said:

Well, one is limited by their means, lol.  I could afford a bigger one, but then I couldn't afford to fill it

 

build it...the contents seem to amass as if by magic.....I just finished a 900 sq foot addition that was full before the ground was prepped for the concrete...

Edited February 6, 2021 by Plymouthy Adams

[keithb7]

The cold weather snap broke last night. -1C today. Roads are clear and dry. The sun even came out. How could I resist? I could not. 
 

Lots of folks happy to the see the old Chrysler out on the roads today.  A lovely day for a Winter cruise. 
 

 

Edited February 14, 2021 by keithb7

[RobertKB]

I’m jealous. We’re still in a deep freeze here and the roads are crap. It’s going to be quite a while before I get an old car out.

 

Glad to see you can and are enjoying your gorgeous Chrysler. 

 

I’ll just keep plugging away at my one non-Mopar oldie.........my ‘63 Ford ? Fairlane 500 which is having open heart surgery. Sure glad to have a heated garage!

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by RobertKB

[keithb7]

Follow up story:

 

I keep my car on 4 dollies pushed up against the wall in my shop. Takes up leas floor space.  I quickly jacked it up and pulled out today’s cruise. 
 

Out for my drive I heard a clunk. In the back. Sorta like something fell over in the trunk. Weird. I looked in my rear view mirror.  I glaced at something small. Sorta looked like a small pylon from the distance I had gained.  I shrugged and thought maybe I should pull over and see what I ran over? It was red. There are no red parts or pieces in my Windsor.  I drove on. 
 

Later when I got home pulled out my rolling hydraulic jack again. Doh! Where’s the red cup that slides in the top? It cradles the diff when I jack up the car! Then it hit me...

 

It must have wedged it’s self up against my diff housing. Stayed there when I lowered my car. It rode along for about 7 miles then fell off. Bounced off the pavent and careen’d off my gas tank.  
 

Two hours later I went back to see if it was still there. Somewhere pushed into the gutter. I swerved quickly as I almost dove over it myself!

I Waited for a break in traffic and ran out to grab it. Whew! Got it back.  A little scarred up. Many others drove over it. 
 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by keithb7

[RobertKB]

All’s well that ends well. I usually put a short bit of 2 X 4 between that cup thingy and what I’m jacking up.