The Projects We’re Working on This Winter
The team that works on the media side of the Hagerty website lives all over the country and has a variety of project cars and daily drivers. For some of us, winter is when projects hibernate out of the elements and away from the salt. For others, it’s a break from the summer heat. Either way, the cooler months are a great time of year to be productive, even if the tasks are small.
Here are our to-do lists—think of them as a head start on our New Year’s resolutions. Maybe sharing them here will inspire us to make them happen and give you some ideas of your own.
Eddy’s Barn of Wayward Toys
It’s a decently large list this winter. I will try to eat this elephant one bite at a time. Making a list helps me figure out what bite-sized things I can tackle in an evening after work or on the weekends. — Eddy Eckart
Eddy looks like he has his work cut out for him, and it seems he’s prioritized the list with the bits in red. There’s a deadline on the tractor, and everything else that’s going to be done in the garage is going to be a lot more enjoyable if there’s enough light to see, some music to keep the right mood, and then the right climate to get things done without shivering.
Stefan, Driving Professor
This winter I’m teaching my kid to drive; a mix of safe, secure Odyssey lessons with a healthy dose of bronc busting in the stick-shift Xterra. Keeping us both alive is my project. — Stefan Lombard
We have a feeling the Xterra is going to be the favorite. Nothing against minivans, of course, but bronc-busting sounds a lot more fun.
Sajeev Slogs Onward
Come hell or high water, I am going to use the not-hot Houston winter to get back to Project Valentino, as I’ve promised several times in the past. But first I need to assemble the Thunderbird mentioned in the last installment and probably like three other small projects to get other less complicated restorations out the door and on the road.
It. Never. Ends.
— Sajeev Mehta
Thanks, Sajeev! You reminded us that it’s time to think about visiting the local salvage yard now that working outside in California doesn’t sound like cruel and unusual punishment.
Eric and His Amazon
Eric Weiner has a tidy to-do list for his peppy Volvo Amazon:
- Swap over original hardware and install new seat belts
- Remove A/C belt
- Minilite-style wheels and tires
- Flush and replace manual transmission fluid
- Inspect and probably replace the rear drum brakes
Nate Plots Montero Maintenance
The Montero is due for some durability love this winter. While the frame is still rock-solid, there is a little bit of surface rust forming in places. Because the car was so spotless when I got it, that really bothers me. I picked up some rust encapsulator paint that I’m going to use to try to stop the spread and to make it look a little nicer under there.
On a more practical note, I need to replace the transmission fluid and the filter. The fluid in there now looks alright, but the last time that I was working on that item, I didn’t replace the filter because we were constrained for time. I’ve since figured out how to do the filter swap efficiently, which will require new fluid as well. Never hurts!
Finally, I’ve got these awesome LED backup lights that I need to install. One of my reverse lights went out recently, and the other one is very weak as it is. In the winter, having decent lighting out back can be a huge plus. I’ll need to bend the bumper back into shape a little bit (one of the corners is a tad folded,) and then cut away some of the material to make larger openings for the new housings. Then, it’s just snip the wires, splice them, and toss on some heat shrink. I’m really looking forward to that project. — Nate Petroelje
Kyle’s Busy Shop Stays Busy
What is a good garage worth if you don’t have three projects running concurrently? The 1985 Corvette will be going under the knife for a heart transplant, while the 1988 Honda XR600R will hopefully be getting its heart back very soon. In both projects, I hope to learn and utilize a few new skills including at-home ceramic coating. Also, I have a Honda XR250R engine to wrap up the final assembly and break in for a friend. — Kyle Smith
The Garage Is the Project
Kyle makes a good point and also reinforces the fact that I don’t have a good garage. Rather than adding a bunch of new projects, I think that I should probably focus on reclaiming my garage, which has been a mess since we moved into the house last year, so that later I can add projects.
Insulation is paramount, as it’s too hot out there three months out of the year and there’s not a shred of rock wool or fiberglass insulation on the exterior wall or between the rafters. After that, then perhaps a small A/C unit. First, however, is getting rid of the sprawl, which means selling junk and adding storage. Some 240V outlets would also be nice. — Brandan Gillogly
Whether it’s in the garage or on the garage, let us know about the projects you’ve got in the pipeline.
Before I start – Nate, it’s snip the wires, toss on some heat shrink, and THEN splice them. Adding heat shrink after splicing is, well, impossible really! 😁
Okay, I’ve got two more “be there or be square” dates to get to with the Pontiac, but after those are past, it’s the old oil change/lube/and fully inspect every nut and bolt duty. But this winter, I’m also doing rear wheel seals and brakes. When those are completed, DUB6 (the car, not me) gets covered for winter. The Jeep moves into the maintenance bay for some underhood work, mainly stuff related to the cooling system. Hoses need replaced and there is a plastic shroud that’s come loose to re-fasten. The Model A hot rod build is on financial hold for this winter, too much spent on seed, animals, and surgery this year! I have two field mowers that will need going through to prep them for spring, plus a tune-up to a tractor, and servicing every other piece of ranch machinery now stowed out in the barn. Speaking of the barn, I too have some lighting issues to fix – meaning two fixtures that have fallen out of the rafters and will need some rewiring. Also some wiring to do in the wife’s potting shed. There’s a retaining wall at the bottom of a hill that I’ve been putting off, but I should at least get the block needed on site and ready to build during any dry spells. If I’m still able to tackle it before spring, I may get started on my Ford 8N tractor overhaul – but that may have to wait until next year.
A few years back, in the middle of covid, I decided to insulate our detached garage and drywall it. What a difference. We can warm it up with a couple little electric space heaters and even living in Michigan it pretty much never goes below freezing out there anymore. Do the wiring first, of course. I cut the drywall into 4×4 panels and screwed them in, but didn’t mud them so that I can take them off if needed to run a wire or whatever.