Pagoda SL Group

W113 Pagoda SL Group => General Discussion => Topic started by: ctaylor738 on February 06, 2010, 18:40:22

Title: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: ctaylor738 on February 06, 2010, 18:40:22
... when I opened the garage door, it didn't seem like a good idea (even with the hardtop).

This is the record-breaking snowstorm in Washington DC.  24" in my driveway and counting.

Stay warm!
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Kemal on February 06, 2010, 19:33:44
You would be a very brave man to take her out in that weather! Especially with that huge rock behind it. ;D ;D

We had similar weather hear & it's coming back next week. :-\

Thanks for sharing & cover her up. ;)

Kemal
280SL
Manual LHD69
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Louis on February 06, 2010, 20:05:35
The little of your car that I see is gorgeous.  ;D 

I've been watching the weather for two day's since they began warning us here in N.Y.C that we would get hit hard. So far not even a flake. We've dodged it this time. 
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: ja17 on February 06, 2010, 20:22:28
Hello Chuck,
 That big snowy rock looks like a Mercedes Finback under a cover ?
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: mdsalemi on February 06, 2010, 21:59:18
I was hoping that Tom Sargeant would try and take his out, so we would have ONE winter shot in the Pagoda Style book...not sure if he can move it though, any more than Chuck can!

Good luck with all that guys, you've had more than your share of winter this year.
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: thelews on February 07, 2010, 00:56:42
Gosh, not a lot of snow here in Wisconsin.  Barely covering the ground, if at all in many places.   Hahahahahahahahaahah!
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: abe280SL on February 07, 2010, 02:07:23
I have three old cars that I rotate during the week.  Today the weather was bad in S Cal....rain, so I was depressed that I had to drive one of the "modern" cars.  Okay, you must be laughing at me calling rain bad weather...but thats the way it is in So Cal and I am not going to let any of my babies get wet.
abe
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Mike Hughes on February 08, 2010, 00:47:13
I was hoping to get the SL out to see if the CSV fix that I had been working on took.  (Thanks Tech Manual!) Too bad the weather wouldn't cooperate!  ...And we're getting more on Tuesday!
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Garry on February 08, 2010, 02:56:40
Bit of cloud around, maybe I better put the top up, still it's 32c(90f) leave it down it won't rain. Wonder what others are doing :D
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Mike Hughes on February 08, 2010, 03:50:10
Shoveling!
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: abe280SL on February 08, 2010, 05:11:57
Well today was  all blue skies and sunshine so had a nice drive.
abe
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: badali on February 08, 2010, 06:09:12
It was a little rough and 3 hours of snow blowing just to get my cars to the house.  17 inches to 42 inches at the back door.  Butler Pa
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Ulf on February 08, 2010, 09:23:28
I know the feeling - just sat in the car instead in the garage making driving noises with my mouth - even my 5-year old son thought that was pretty childish...
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: ctaylor738 on February 10, 2010, 15:00:37
About 20 minutes after I took the picture on Saturday, we lost power for 24 hours.  Some of our neighbors were out for three days.  Pretty serious with termperatures in the teens at night.  "Round 1" topped out at 34" in the driveway.  We had decent days Sunday, Monday and part of Tuesday, then got slammed by "Round 2" with another 10-14" predicted.  This morning, it officially became a blizzard with 40-50 mph wind gusts. 

Normally in the DC area, we are protected by the hot air generated by the White House, Congress, and the lobbyists, but Congress is on break and we are at the mercy of nature.

Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: 280SE Guy on February 10, 2010, 15:15:16
More snow....oh no!

(http://www.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/U.S./Snowstorm%20Slams%20MidAtlantic51.jpg)
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: ctaylor738 on February 18, 2010, 20:27:03
Michael,  

Here are a couple of winter shots.

Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Jordan on February 19, 2010, 03:41:34
You need to move to Canada, we don't have near that much snow, and we have health care. :D ;D
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Danesgate on February 19, 2010, 13:52:23
Move to Canada?

Move to England! We don't have that much snow, we have health care and we have 11 miles of water between us and the nearest french speakers!

 ;D
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: mdsalemi on February 19, 2010, 14:09:58
Michael,  

Here are a couple of winter shots.


Sorry Chuck--your car doesn't count in the book, as you are not a contributor!  Hopefully Tom Sargeant will have taken a shot or two...

Not trying to be too exclusive, but 66 people paid $190 each for their photos in the book... ;) so theirs come first!

But, thanks for sharing!!!  If I opened my garage door and saw that behind my Pagoda, I'd close the door, go inside, and crank up the heat.
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: thelews on February 19, 2010, 14:32:26
Michael,  

Here are a couple of winter shots.



Do you drive your car until it's good and hot or just start it and run it for a bit, building up condensation and then put it away again? 
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: ctaylor738 on February 19, 2010, 22:33:54
Agree.  I always try to drive it when I start it.  If I am going to wash the car, I push it out of the garage. Yesterday was an exception because I wanted to get the pictures that Michael didn't want. The streets have a lot of slush, sand and salt, so I let it idle for half an hour. 
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: thelews on February 19, 2010, 22:46:51
Agree.  I always try to drive it when I start it.  If I am going to wash the car, I push it out of the garage. Yesterday was an exception because I wanted to get the pictures that Michael didn't want. The streets have a lot of slush, sand and salt, so I let it idle for half an hour.  

That's not enough, condensation in the oil that leads to contamination, deterioration and rust in the engine, and there's condensation in the exhaust, for sure.  To get an engine hot and do good, you need to get the oil over boiling temperature to boil off the condensation.  That requires speed and load.  That's why short trip driving is so awful for a car, as is idling.  Once my car is turned off for winter, right after a fresh oil and filter change cleaning out all the old and possibly contaminated oil, it stays that way until it can be consistently driven again.  Start her up and go, already has fresh oil in it.
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: mdsalemi on February 22, 2010, 13:00:21
...that Michael didn't want... 

Hey, it's not ME Chuck--exactly whose pages would YOUR photos go on?  I'm just the steward here.  I suspect those who bought into the project might be concerned if their photo(s) on their pages were bumped for a snow photo of yours!  Nothing personal, and it's not me--but I'm serving 66 masters here...they who must be made happy with what they supplied.
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Mike Hughes on March 08, 2010, 00:21:46
Well, since we on the east coast (U.S.) couldn't get out at all last month, the itch to exercise the Pagoda just got stronger and stronger.  My dad lives in Dover, Delaware, and we are in Alexandria, Virginia, so a good place for us to get together for lunch is in Annapolis, MD.  He called about three weeks ago when we were all still digging out from under two feet plus to organize getting together for lunch this weekend. Today was a glorious clear blue sky day and the recent rains washed all the salt off the roads.   Lucy and I fired up the Pagoda from it's winter slumber and took a drive to Annapolis, had lunch with my parents in Eastport while watching all the sailboaters coming and going and then had a nice leisurely drive home.  There is no higher purpose for having a Pagoda than to lift one's spirits thus.  Have you driven your Pagoda today?
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: Jonny B on March 08, 2010, 00:52:28
It was a nice day here in NE Ohio also, but with the fuel injection pump still out, the radiator still out, the battery still out, and all the ancillary pieces in the trunk, I guess a drive was sort of out of the question!

But spring and assembly will come!
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: J. Huber on March 08, 2010, 03:59:59
... Have you driven your Pagoda today?

Well, before any of you say "no duh, he's in California..." we have had quite a wet winter and even some snow a couple days back. But today was absolutely gorgeous -- so YES! I took a wonderful spirited drive along the backroads of Nevada County. Hoped I'd see Dick M.out there as I was in his neck of the woods but didn't. Bring on Spring!!
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: mdsalemi on March 08, 2010, 13:54:37
While the roads are "clear" here, there's still a fair amount of snow on the ground.  We have NOT had the "salt washing" of the roads with the spring rains yet, mostly because it is still winter here.

Oh yes, and the potholes are out.  With most municipalities short on money and personnel, I suspect we'll have them for some time, too.  There are some Axle benders out there for certain.  The real big ones are not bad because there is inevitably a car stuck inside that make scooting over it much better than the smaller ones.  ;)

My Pagoda stays inside until the salt is gone to the ocean.
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: ctaylor738 on March 11, 2010, 01:04:17
My first excursion post-snow was to Hogan & Sons Goodyear today for an alignment. the final step in my winter project to make my car drive better.  I replaced tie rods, drag link, steering shock, and front shocks.  I had the parts to do the idler arm bushing, but didn't because there was no play in it with everything removed from the idler arm.  I will save those parts for the 280SL project.

What a difference to have a car that goes straight with the steering wheel centered!  Before, it wandered around, and the steering wheel was about 1/8 turn to the left when going straight, with a lot of slop in the steering.  With the new shocks, I drove over a large pothole with a Mini Cooper in the bottom of it and barely felt anything.
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: hauser on March 11, 2010, 04:16:50
Hello Chuck

What make and size tires are you running with your 230sl? 
Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: ctaylor738 on March 11, 2010, 13:04:49
P185-70, 14", Uniroyal Tiger Paw M+S, courtesy of the previous owner.

Title: Re: I was going to go for a drive today, but ...
Post by: France on March 17, 2010, 14:18:32
Hi hauser,

Why don't you drive that absolutely gorgeous thing down to Sarasota this Sunday for our Pagoda Brunch??  I'd love to see it again...do you realize that was already 2 years ago at Amelia??