The Winter and a Model A

[JoeMarine]

I search through the archives and read a number of hits IRT storing a Model A during the winter. I could not come up with an answer to my question. Simply put, if you plan to drive the vehicle or at least start it up every now and then, and have 50/50 antifreeze in the radiator, is there anything else you need to do to avoid any "freezing" issues with the vehicle.
Semper Fidelis
Joe Marine

[kenny in k'zoo]

I would suggest keeping a trickle charger on the battery.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by kenny in k'zoo

I would suggest keeping a trickle charger on the battery.

BE SURE TO LOOSEN THE BATTERY CAPS!! I blew the top off a battery with a 2 Amp trickle charger after 2 days charging "SOMEONE" FORGOT to punch out the tiny VENT holes in the caps Bill W. (Use a tender, they only put out about 1/2 amp & they're only $5.99 @ Harbor Freight)

[Tom Wesenberg]

If you don't have lots of mothballs and traps, then tape the exhaust and intake closed to keep out the vermin.

I don't like to leave a battery on ANY kind of charger unattended. Over the years I've had one charger burn up and 2 batteries explode. They were only on 1 to 4 amp chargers when it happened. If the car is stored away from the house then bring the battery home and put it on a small charger for an hour a month. If the car is at home, then you can leave the battery in the car and charge it once a month for an hour. Simply clip to the head nut and starter switch. I keep mothballs in and under my cars and haven't had any mouse problems.

Three weeks ago I bought 4 Victor mouse traps with the plastic cheese paddle and caught 6 mice in the first 2 days. I set them in my basement and in front of the garage door. Caught 3 mince in each spot. I never catch any mice in my off brand China traps, so be sure to buy the Victor brand with the cheese paddle. I use peanut butter in the paddle holes.

[kenny in k'zoo]

He's right. Use a battery tender rather than a charger.

[Smurkey]

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Make sure the oil isn't summer weight. If you're going to run it, that is.

Steve

[juke joint johnny]

Don't just run it for little short bursts ! as you'll get a build up of condensation in the engine .
Better to oil it up and turn it over with the crank every few weeks . If your going to run it let it run 30 minutes or so that way you should burn the condensation out .
John Cochran

[Tiny]

Move to California and drive it year round!!!!

[JoeMarine]

Thanks everyone, I'll keep it running throughout the winter with your guidance and recommendations.
SF
Joe Marine

[Vic in E-TN]

I have never blown up a battery with the Harbor Freight chargers but they do not come in 6 volt versions. I bought a few special electronic chargers from Granite Digital (saveabattery.com) and started using one today. They sell a lot to owners of high end cars and people who have a lot of cars. Cost was about $60 for each in 6 or 12 volt. We will see how they work.
Vic

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Three weeks ago I bought 4 Victor mouse traps with the plastic cheese paddle and caught 6 mice in the first 2 days. I set them in my basement and in front of the garage door. Caught 3 mince in each spot. I never catch any mice in my off brand China traps, so be sure to buy the Victor brand with the cheese paddle. I use peanut butter in the paddle holes.

Sounds like the mice are getting kinda fussy on what kind of trap they prefer to die in

Our Maine Coon Tom cat usually gets them first. Best little mice trap I ever had. You have to keep the cars covered up but NEVER anything living within 50 feet of my garage. He kills and eats everything, squirrels, rabbits, mice, if it moves it's dead. Eats the bones, fur, everything but the heart he leaves that for us as a 'gift'. He even killed a neighbor's Dachsund last year hates dogs with a passion. At 24 pounds and no fat, he's a killing machine!

[ctvpa]

Originally Posted by kenny in k'zoo

He's right. Use a battery tender rather than a charger.

I had 2 Battery Tender Brand units. When you hook it up, it shows red, then as the battery is charged, the light turns green.
The units were about 4 months old, I noticed that one unit was still red, and the unit was quite hot. About 3 weeks later, the other unit did the same thing.

[insomniacshotrods]

Originally Posted by BlueSunoco

Sounds like the mice are getting kinda fussy on what kind of trap they prefer to die in

Our Maine Coon Tom cat usually gets them first. Best little mice trap I ever had. You have to keep the cars covered up but NEVER anything living within 50 feet of my garage. He kills and eats everything, squirrels, rabbits, mice, if it moves it's dead. Eats the bones, fur, everything but the heart he leaves that for us as a 'gift'. He even killed a neighbor's Dachsund last year hates dogs with a passion. At 24 pounds and no fat, he's a killing machine!

Man those cats are huge! My wife says thats what she wants next when all our other cats pass on. Geeze we have a 12 pounder tom cat that loves the get on the model a. Really pisses me off. He waits till i uncover it, wash it, then turn my back and he runs across the fenders and hood just to make me mad i think. It works.

[bigblockmitch]

Wonder what Buster T. would think of that big ol kitty? 24 Lb. that's a big cat! Do you have a Pic.? Can we start a thread for pet pictures?

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by insomniacshotrods

Man those cats are huge! My wife says thats what she wants next when all our other cats pass on. Geeze we have a 12 pounder tom cat that loves the get on the model a. Really pisses me off. He waits till i uncover it, wash it, then turn my back and he runs across the fenders and hood just to make me mad i think. It works.

I don't know much about cats, we got this thing for our grandson when he was real small and he kept growing and growing. When he went to the vets for his shots, the Vet said 'This is a Maine Coon. Where did you get him?' I had never heard of them before. Vet told us 'They act more lie a dog than a cat. Make chirping sounds instead of meowing much, and are the best cats to train, follow you around like a dog. They are VERY inteligent '. He's not fat, just a dang big and very powerful cat. I was told that they were a cross between a Norwegian Forest Cat that the Vikings brought over, and a Bobcat. They started out in Maine, people thought that they were racoons because they run and hop sideways like a Coon does when they are startled or getting ready to attack.

Got a picture of him somewhere sitting on top of our Ford Escape. He takes up a lot of space up there! Will post it if I can find it!

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Waiting with baited breath fer thet CAT'S pic! Buster T.

[Pinstripe]

Bill ,You had better have a safe room ready for dog now that the cats out of the bag . He's already got one dog down! You got to hide!

[1crosscut]

If your worried about mice and you won't be driving it for a while. Get 4 jack stands and 4 five gallon buckets.
Place the jack stands in the buckets and store it up on the stands with the tires off the ground 6 - 8" or so.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Tiny

Move to California and drive it year round!!!!

yup, I just put on a heavy jacket and a hat

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Pinstripe

Bill ,You had better have a safe room ready for dog now that the cats out of the bag . He's already got one dog down! You got to hide!

WOW! Pinstripe, That's a BIG, MEAN, sounding CAT, never heard of them! Gregg once had a Burmese Temple Cat, 'til he ran away.
BUT, Buster T's FAST! Rat Terrier's have Italian Greyhound & Whippitt in their lineage Google, "RAT TERRIER HISTORY" you'll be amazed at their history. Originally they were called "FEISTS", bred in England to combat rats & mice during the Beubonic Plague, as people died by the thousands!
The Rat Terrier name was coined by Teddy Roosevelt, when he brought 3 of them into the White House, to combat RATS & MICE!
They are also very proficient hunters of squirrel, deer & even BEAR! Besides being natural born killers of all rodents in general.
In S.E. Oklahoma, they & Jack Russels have almost completely replaced the typical family watch DOGS & hunting DOGS. Both are also used for tunneling Dogs to rid fields of destructive Woodchucks, Groundhogs, etc! They are the most friendly, loving, social Dogs, also!
Bill W.

[Mitch//pa]

run a thermostat

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

run a thermostat

I'M COLD & SLUGGISH Maybe MY thermostat is stuck OPEN! Will COFFEE help?---" Yo, Dog, go make COFFEE" "Dad"

[glenn in camino]

Originally Posted by Tiny

Move to California and drive it year round!!!!

Don't move to California. We already have too many people.

[BlueSunoco]

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

Don't move to California. We already have too many people.

Saw a bumper sticker once in Huntington Beach that said 'Thank you for leaving Orange County. Take someone with you'!

[glenn in camino]

Originally Posted by BlueSunoco

Saw a bumper sticker once in Huntington Beach that said 'Thank you for leaving Orange County. Take someone with you'!

I moved from Orange County to Northern California about 6 years ago. I took my wife with me. We now live in the mountains near Placerville. Don't move here. You'll ruin it.

[DougVieyra]

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If the car is going to sit for several months, you might want to consider jacking it off the ground to relieve tire (flat spots can develop), etc. strain; but mainly to increase the difficulty of mice getting into the car's upholstery, electrical, engine, carb. etc. Also, make sure all your windows are rolled up. Moths, spiders, etc. LOVE the warmth and softness of upholstery !

But whatever you do . . . . DON'T move to California. "Tiny" lives in Redding - where it gets 115 in the Summer - his brain is scrambled. (And I don't say that because he is my Brother-in-law).

There are very good reasons why the last decade or so has seen significantly MORE people moving OUT of California than moving in to California. . . . . . Rules against everything, Taxes on everything, Regulations against everything, Laws against everything, etc. etc. It could be worse - could be New York City, New Jersey, Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans . . . . but that is about it.

But 'Tiny' is right, if you don't mind giving up your freedoms, and you don't mind 115 degree Summer heat - you CAN drive your car year round - Winter in California means a night-time low of 42 degrees, . . . well, maybe 36 degrees on the worst nights. Except Truckee.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Chief told about a KALIFORNY dude that planted a single row of cotton to Oklahoma to get rid of the Oakies, but we came back! The Dude forgot about the 2nd picking!! Bill W.

[big job]

Geez I missed all replys, Ricardo insists on standing infront of my monitor.
Other than that just drive it. These things love snow.

[Mike V. Florida]

If you don't have a battery tender you can place your charger on a timer and turn it on 10 minutes a day.

[Bleedblue4life]

My dad drives his all year round...in Ohio...and it's a Roadster.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by Bleedblue4life

My dad drives his all year round...in Ohio...and it's a Roadster.

a true hot rodder! I don't have a top on my Roadster!

[Bleedblue4life]

Originally Posted by Brendan

a true hot rodder! I don't have a top on my Roadster!

He had it out today just drivin around for fun, I don't think it got over 45 degrees here. He usually puts 100 miles a week on it if not more.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Originally Posted by Tiny

Move to California and drive it year round!!!!

Or, Florida !
MIKE

[Model A Man]

I left California 2 months ago. I lived in the same town from 1957 till 2013, moved to Oregon with the wife and took our cars with us. only one more car to register.

[DougVieyra]

Congratulations ! Model A Man. I was born (1942) and raised in California - third generation. I live in an idyllic spot here on the Northern California Coast - two hours from the Oregon border.

That being said, I am just about ready to 'throw in the towel' and move across the state line, to the Brookings / Bandon area. It is everything Eureka (California) is - but without all the stifling government intrusion into every aspect of one's personal and business life. AND - I can STILL drive my Ford Model A during the winter months - no cold (I am talking 'Montana Cold') along the Pacific Coast - 35 degrees in a 'hard' winter.

WOW - fender skirts on a Model A ! ! ! Now THAT'S neat !

[JoeMarine]

I like that idea!

[txturbo]

Don't move to California .....registering an out of state car isn't worth the hassle.

[Greg out west]

Hi guy's


What Doug, Model A man, & Glenn said is all so true...Too bad really,,A once great State has & still going down the drain...Don't believe me ?? Just heard on the Radio the other day that L.A. it the Capital of Hit & Run's...Not just the US ,,,but all of North & South America...They said 20K last year..



I'am now "Parnoid" driving here now & this in a Modern car !!! Driving a A ??? get out the straight Jacket...So don't move to Calif as you'll block the Road for all of us leaving...



Greg out West

[Tiny]

Like others have said,plenty of legisation in CA, but it was 72-75 degrees all weekend, in November. I'll take all the Fruits and Nuts CA offers to not own a snow shovel or tire chains . I also live in the far North end, loads less people and no traffic.

[woodypecker]

Originally Posted by Tiny

Move to California and drive it year round!!!!

Best answer I need to consider doing this.

[2935ford]

Don't know about the rest of you but I would never use mothballs inside the car. Once the stench of it is into your upholstery......it takes a long time to get it out and it is sickening to smell while you are driving it.
I would suggest some other means.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by 2935ford

Don't know about the rest of you but I would never use mothballs inside the car. Once the stench of it is into your upholstery......it takes a long time to get it out and it is sickening to smell while you are driving it.
I would suggest some other means.

The mothballs today have very little smell, and even if it was strong, it's so much better than the smell mice leave behind, let alone the damage.

[DougVieyra]

It is sooo difficult to catch the little flying buggers. And with my luck, I probably would get a female !

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by Greg out west

Hi guy's
So don't move to Calif as you'll block the Road for all of us leaving...



Greg out West

Well, Greg, Maybe this'll motivate me to get Vermin fired, put a few miles on him, & me & the Dog will make our Maiden Voyage in him & ESCORT y'all to the state line at Needles, Ca! It'll sort of be like "GRAPES OF WRATH", IN REVERSE!---Bye! Bill W.
(I've been here since 1944, IF California was SUCH a BAD place, I would have cut out a long time ago. I have several of Chief's sayings on the tip of my tongue, but the Dog say's I'll be in "DEEP-POO-POO" ifin' I tipe them)

[2935ford]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

The mothballs today have very little smell, and even if it was strong, it's so much better than the smell mice leave behind, let alone the damage.

I just emptied a '63 Tbird that had mothballs placed in it from 2 years ago.....I gag on the smell! I may be over sensitive but both my wife and son seem to think so as well.

I use the good ol' spring mouse traps with great success.
Mice run along the walls. I place them unbaited a few feet from where they enter the garage and several more along the walls. Haven't missed yet!

[BCCHOPIT]

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Just run it on nice days. Your new car cost a lot more
then a model A so why park it.
If I had a $40,000+ SUV I think I would park
that and drive the model A every day.

[SHEC]

No on the California moves!

37 million and counting - !!!!!

But I will see you on the road and honk as I roll by - neighbor.

SHEC

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by BlueSunoco

Sounds like the mice are getting kinda fussy on what kind of trap they prefer to die in

Our Maine Coon Tom cat usually gets them first. Best little mice trap I ever had. You have to keep the cars covered up but NEVER anything living within 50 feet of my garage. He kills and eats everything, squirrels, rabbits, mice, if it moves it's dead. Eats the bones, fur, everything but the heart he leaves that for us as a 'gift'. He even killed a neighbor's Dachsund last year hates dogs with a passion. At 24 pounds and no fat, he's a killing machine!

Originally Posted by BlueSunoco

I don't know much about cats, we got this thing for our grandson when he was real small and he kept growing and growing. When he went to the vets for his shots, the Vet said 'This is a Maine Coon. Where did you get him?' I had never heard of them before. Vet told us 'They act more lie a dog than a cat. Make chirping sounds instead of meowing much, and are the best cats to train, follow you around like a dog. They are VERY inteligent '. He's not fat, just a dang big and very powerful cat. I was told that they were a cross between a Norwegian Forest Cat that the Vikings brought over, and a Bobcat. They started out in Maine, people thought that they were racoons because they run and hop sideways like a Coon does when they are startled or getting ready to attack.

Got a picture of him somewhere sitting on top of our Ford Escape. He takes up a lot of space up there! Will post it if I can find it!

Heh BlueSunoco Do you have the picture of the feline monster yet ?
Wayne