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:

1. Swap over original hardware and install new seat belts
2. Remove A/C belt
3. Minilite-style wheels and tires
4. Flush and replace manual transmission fluid
5. 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.