It snowed last night, had to get the Jalopy project out for a spin, for three reasons. My progress is slowing down, having more fun driving than working, but am slowly getting the interior ready for upholstering. I finished the passenger side rocker last week, so now that side of floorboard and such is nearly ready for carpet/cloth, door is ready for upholstery panel. Now all I have to do is oil up the sewing machine and get going on that. (see my album for door, rocker, floorboard prgress. REASON #1) For getting it out on such a*****py day is; I haven't driven it on snow/ice yet and figure the conditions might bring any glitches in handling to light. In a past experience I bought a car, and drove it for quite some time before I discovered a very DANGEROUS steering/suspension problem that came to light when I encountered a sudden heavy downpour whilst driving it. It got really squirrly, nearly took us off the road. The front end had been crashed prior to my buying it, and I only found the out-of-kilter conditions after that hairy experience. Up until now, on both wet and dry pavement the Nash Jalopy has been solid as a rock, so I really didn't expect anything out of the ordinary anyhow, consequently, the good news; My efforts in aligment; 3 degrees tilt(eyeballed), 1/8" neg camber(measured, obtained with jack and chain on 'beam axle), and 1/8" toe-out, all paid off. After today's road test I have nothing but good things to say about how it handled on the ice/snow. I was tempted to do donuts, but the presence of my 17 year old grandson made me be good.....did nothing beyond a few "controlled test" sliding manuvers., he, he... Reason #2) For getting it out on such a*****py day was simply for the fun of it! My only problem is that I didn't get enough! Sitting here writing this, I'm tempted to close down this computer and go out for another go! Reason #3) Just in case algore is reading this, was for me to make sure I contributed my daily allowance of "carbon" to the environment., lest I lose the rights to pollute! Funny thing happened on the way back home, stopped at the store for milk. A guy approached me and asked it the pickup had 4-wheel-drive. I asked him if he was kidding, or what, he acted like he was sincere. I guess there are people that actually think one needs 4-wd to drive in snow?????
Funny thing happened on the way back home, stopped at the store for milk and to document the drive in the snow for my picture album. A guy approached me and asked it the pickup had 4-wheel-drive. I asked him if he was kidding, or what, he acted like he was sincere. I guess there are people that actually think one needs 4-wd to drive in snow????? 4x4 ? WTF was that guy on ? Looks like you had a ton of fun playing in the snow ! I would think that it should be pretty good in the snow . Go out and do it again ! <!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->
That's funny about the 4x4 question, during the winter the only wrecks I see on the freeway are the four wheel drives operated by soccer moms drinking lattes, talking on the cellphone, and checking their make up in the mirror. Nice to see someone take their ride out and have a little fun with it, and hey, if you don't teach the kid the proper place and way to spin donuts, who will? Ya gotta be ready to step it up for the next generation I say...
electrodude wrote: <HR style="COLOR: #e5e5e5; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #e5e5e5" SIZE=1> <!-- / icon and****le --><!-- message --> Damn!! I'm glad to hear you say that! I was beginning to think that was only a East Coast phenomenon. 29nash - Great pics! I wish I had an opportunity to do what you did. Unfortuanately my 34 would probably be going down the road sideways like it was on a boogie board. Wide-assed tires and wet***** don't mix well.
Around Denver, it's the Californians and Texans that drive the 4x4's and think they can stop on a dime in a snow storm... NOTHING stops on a dime, nor gives change, in a snowstorm when they barrel down the highways at 60 mph...those are always the people that cause the accidents and end up in the ditches, wondering what the hell just happened...!!! R-
Thanks for the great story and the pic! And man is it really that cold somewhere right now?!?!? I thought winter was over. I love to see hotrods doing things and going places people don't expect to see them. I've been kicking around the idea of driving my '51 Ford to Brazil. It's just a kingpin front end and rear leafs, that should be able to take a few bumps.
Damn nash. All I did was sit inside and watch the snow pile up and make a new grille design on the front of the riviera. I think I will follow your lead and go play in the snow thanks ...ghost
It's an epidemic here in Minnesota. SUV's litter the ditches when it snows. Usually on there sides or roof. Who need Fn 4 wheel drive. My Mazdaspeed 3 with Blizzaks waltzes around like a prize fighter amongst a bunch of pigs. There are two kinds of SUV/4WD captains, The ones who drive like their **** is on fire, No ditch time. The ones who drive like grandma Moses cus they've seen the "Ditch" and it ain't good.
Ice is Ice. It laughs at 4 wheel drive. I like the one about the Texan who had the chains on the rear wheels of his front wheel drive car. Texan alert!!
Man that *totally* looks like a good time! Now I have to ask, I know I'm setting myself up for it, but do you have a heater?!?!?
Thanks, "totally". I like the lable. Heater.......For a while in the early winter I drove it without heater or windows, to our weekley 'rod breakfast, wore longhandle underwear, sweater, coat, muffler and ear-flaps. That was even before I put the tonneau cover on! It's more fun to talk about it than it was to do it Yes, now it has windows and heater and is a lot more fun. I appreciate the knowledge here about 4wd. For those that don't already know, 4wd is for getting it rolling out of a ditch or up a steep hill if it absolutely won't do it on 2wd. After it's rolling kick it back in 2wd, post-haste.
I drive (or USED) to drive 25 miles to work on I-5, and all winter long I'd watch the******s flying down the road. When the ice hit hard two years ago I saw 18 wrecks in 5 miles. I was driving my old Toyota 4x4 with the hubs unlocked, going about 20 miles an hour, just cruisin' down the road. Up until that day I had never seen a car thrown around like a steelie in a pinball machine....
He, he, he. I have to admit, I sat inside a while, sitting and watching. Then I bundled up to clear the deck/walk. Of course, after the warm-up swinging that idiot-stick, getting the cars going was the easy part!
The Jalopy Journal
