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.
And as of yesterday’s little jaunt into town where I needed to make a “stomp-the-pedal-to-the-floor” panic stop to avoid someone backing out in front of me, I now have to replace a blown rear brake flex-hose on the 4Runner. Well, actually I guess I’d better replace them all, since they are obviously timed out!
That sounds like all the metal lines as well, with that copper or whatever, comes in a convenient 50-foot roll, as well.
You can get steel braided lines from Amazon in the motorcycle listings(!). A banjo fitting at every connection is also a preventive measure for quick removal of master cylinder, caliper or brake cylinder which will spring a leak. That’ll happen during a three-foot snowfall.
All sorts of other things to “save for later”
The ghost of Christmas past.
Have a Kool Yuel and a Mechanically free New Year.
Although putting heat shrink tubing on AFTER a splice is really not that difficult – bend the wire over at the splice and put on the hat shrink – won’t look as pretty but not impossible! 🙂
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.
It doubles the cost and is harder to install, but if you use sheathing plywood instead of sheet rock, you can hang things on the wall just by driving a nail or screw into the sheathing.
After agonizing over the cost premium I bit the bullet and lined the walls of my shop with 3/4 tounge-and-groove plywood.
It was probably easier to install then sheetrock because I didn’t need to finish it and because I had decided all wiring would be surface conduit. I have never regretted that decision!
Slogging thru the never ending ordeal of body work on the 65 Impala
My Vette has developed a slight pull to the left, but before I could get it on the neighbor’s lift, one of the spring cables on the garage door broke, so that’s on the list.
My buddy’s golf cart started running like crap, and the local small engine mechanic told him he needed a new engine. After I backed off some over-tightened valves (the source of the low compression) I did enough diagnostics to convince myself the engine was sound. I started targeting the eastern-sourced ignition components, which were all new, and wound up essentially installing GM HEI on a golf cart using one of the old school 4-pin ignition modules and a 2 plug coil pack off of a 90s Buick. The cart runs great now, but I discovered that the 2 plug coil packs will eventually let the magic smoke out of the old 4-pin ignition modules, so I put a crusty old ballast resistor on it from bench stock which did the trick. Now I’m waiting for my friends from Amazon to deliver a new ballast resistor and some cable ferrules for garage door cables…
When doing a garage figure the outlets then triple it. You can never have too many.
I fully insulated and installed a heater and humidity control. Then added water.
I skipped drywall. I went with white pegboard for the walls. It is cheap, you can hang everything any place and if the section is damaged just unscrew it and put up a new one.
I will be out there Today as it snows washing my car a in shorts and watching TV. .
All the oil is changed and I just pulled and replaced a damage part of the C5 wheel well. Covers are on the play cars.
Right. When I wired mine, I ran a 10/3 cable from a 30 amp double breaker in the main panel to an eight breaker load panel in the garage. That gives me three 15 amp 220 circuits and two 20 amp 110 circuits. I put in five 110 volt outlets on each of the long walls. I few years later, I wound up having to add two more over the workbench. As it turns out, I only use two of the 220 circuits, but it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Hyperv6, you’re absolutely right, you can never have too many outlets. When I built my 600 sq ft. shop, I added 84 120V outlets and 2 240V outlets, and I am glad I did.
Ah Jeez- where to start-
1. Got rear ended in a hit and run yesterday, so new crash bar, bumper cover and hatch on the Kia Soul.
2. New leaf springs and custom fab a c-notch on the lowered ’04 CCSB 2500HD Duramax
3. New windshield, new fuel pump, and 3 point seatbelts on the ’67 GMC
4. New front tires, reinstall radio, and decide if I want to LS swap the ’97 ZQ8 S10
5. If I find time, custom fab fence/gate for the south side of the house to match the north side. Hopefully fab a steel porch swing, also.
That oughta keep things moving.
Totally get where Chip is coming from- seems overwhelming sometimes. My deal is to take on a couple of small things first- get them out of the way and feel energized by that small accomplishment. Then take on the bigger deals-find that I get a second wind- instead of watching some more YouTube I just wander out to the garage and straighten it out- for the millionth time! LOL
Washing and waxing the cars. It’s not 100 this time of the year.
It certainly isn’t. It’s supposed to hit 25 degrees tomorrow with a high just above freezing. I need to cut the water to the outside faucet.
Found a solid but tattered 2 axle trailer. New brakes, wires, lights, tool box, winch, and paint; then I can hunt barn finds and know I can get them home on my terms.
LED back- up lights are the bomb unless you are like the doosh container in front of me yesterday who had his beer- can window height set on at 10:00 AM
going to install the fire sprinkler system in my garage addition so the whole garage is protected
I worked for Grinnel Fire Protection for a while in the ’70s. While a standard sprinkler system is great for most fires, if you get a fire involving any liquid petroleum product, water will just spread the fire.
I started the mechanical refreshening of my old VW in February and figured the new engine would be in after 4, maybe 5 months. It’s finally almost ready to go in now. (For real this time!)
I delved into the interior and found a bit of rust, so that’ll be taken care of before the carpeting goes back in (duh), but all should be finished in time for spring. I hope.
Continue on the 85 F150 in pre-emptive electrical component replacement. I only have the solenoid and starter left. Then it needs to have the AC system flushed, vacuum pulled and charged. I’ve already replaced all the needed components and given it a can of freon to make sure it works. Then I’ve got a couple of Honda Cubs in the basement that need attention, Got an 81 Honda Passport 70 that has a short in the wire to the points. Got a 61 Super Cub 50 (pristine) that just needs to have the red Talladega campground dust cleaned off. Don’t laugh, very few things can put a smile on your face like an old Honda cub off road.
I have several other projects for the winter, but not automotive.
I have had a new old stock heater control panel that I have been wanting to install in my Miata for the last three years, maybe just maybe with a little bit of luck I will be able to look at that part and put it back in the box because I don’t want to disassemble the dashboard this year either. Or the job might get done, who knows?
Its been 24 days since I put the car in the garage for winter sleep. Yesterday I finally got around to start the cleaning/waxing before I put the cover on. I did change the oil so at least that’s done. If I don’t move faster I won’t have the cover on until the day before I wake it up next spring. Also discovered that the outlet I plug the battery tender into is dead. Have to wait for a warm day before I look at it and that may defeat the purpose of having the tender. Now I have to figure out where to plug the electric heater into. Is there a sane reason why people live in New England?
Yep. That’s where the trade winds bring a square-rigger from England into land.
If it’s not inconvenient, you could always pull your battery out to put it on your Battery Tender® battery charger!
2003 BMW Z4 list for this Colorado winter
Engine oil change – done
Transfer Case oil change – done
Transmission oil change – done
Brake Fluid change – pending
Flush radiator – pending
Accessory Drive Belt Kit install – pending
Front Lower Splash Guards – pending
Cabin Filter change – pending
…fix the darn squeaky noise from the rear parking brakes – youtube
93 Miata LE: Sheet metal repairs done, next comes paint. Finally, a new set of brakes
91 Honda Acty: Oil change; make the horn button work
15 BMW 328 wagon: Fix or replace clogged washer jets.
19 Mx5: Everything works perfectly. As always.