Technical Bringing home a classic on salty roads

If the roads are dry, and the trailer has enclosed fenders (some just have a top and the back side is open) and a full bed (not just ramps and tire runners with an open center), whatever salt gets on the car will wash off. Do the full wash, include the underside.

Only the salt laying on the road will get wind swept onto the car, and most of that will just lay there. A good wash should take care of it.

The car is not going to melt. Its not going to get the wet spray of salt like some are picturing, very little is going to blow up under the wheel wells or get near the pinch welds.

My coupe has been caught in those sudden snow storms with plowed and salted roads and has been driven on those salted slush covered roads a few times since it was built in 2011, the only rust problems are ones that were there before the car got built. Even those fenders with rust pitted areas near the wheels that were simply painted over on the top surface have not deteriorated.

Get the car when the roads are mostly dry, drive home a bit slower (on 2 lane highways, Interstate drivers drive faster and will wind sweep more salt, and those roads get salted more then most 2 lane highways). Wash it the next morning at a car wash (if the roads are still dry). If the roads are wet in the morning, wash it at home. If you end up washing it at home, disconnect the hose when you are done and blow the water out of it with compressed air. If the car can sit in the sun for a couple house after the wash job so it can fully dry, that would be better then letting it freeze while its wet.

 

I like mine medium well

 

told not to transport when bought because the salt does so much damage......wouldnt let that deter me..................

 

The flatbed wrecker like above is another good option if one is available, very little road salt is going to get on the hauled vehicle like that. Unfortunately, pretty expensive to pay for a long haul on one of those, but definitely would work if available.

 

Under the car ok but a tarp over it will beat the shit out in 50 miles flapping around. A really frigging stupid idea.

Best with the open trailer is if it has provisions for side boards run sideboards that will block the spray and slop from the front and sides. A pain in the butt but not as bad as having a tarp wear holes in the paint.

 

Boy oh boy, we sure made a fuckin science project outta this question. Who woulda thought...

 

At some point one has to believe if you think this is a potentially serious problem well you have to just spend the money for the right equipment. Closed trailer, get it done.

 

Don't think we've heard from the OP since yesterday. He might be getting a fast professional carwash right now.

 

No shit. I never did get pampering and keeping a car in a bubble; it goes against the original concept of hot rodding. The "traditional" hot rods were mostly the only transportation a guy had...not an expensive toy.

Besides, how you gonna get any "patina"?

 

With a side of Spotted Owl?

 

The “Eagle has landed” referenced a FP post with the Merc in question residing at the OPs residence.
He’s probably sitting behind the wheel making engine noises.

I would if I couldn’t cruise it.
Probably would have plugged up a space heater and slept in it

 

Thats for celebrating after the car is delivered.....the eagle has landed....

 

Probably enjoying our captivating conversations on his thread

 

No pics......never happened....lol

 

We use a product called Salt Away in Florida on our boat trailers and flush the engines after using the boat. You can order it online or at a marine supply house. We put it in a pump up sprayer and spray the trailer springs to help with the rusting problem after using the boat. Always worked good for us and I would think it would work for a car.

 

Well a guy named Tony posted a very similar merc with snow on it.
On a Merc FB page.
Mentioned avoiding road salt.

a 51. Nice ride

 

oh, you can get rid of most of that if you're careful.

But it takes effort.