Got Salt?

Being in the northeast..(WV)..I have built a few cars, some my own, some belonging to others, when you study a build the very first thing around these parts is the body...hows the body, is it solid...well 99% of the cars you recieve in these parts aren't...the question is not how solid, its more like whats left we can work with....I built a 1973 F-100 in 94, loved that truck, 2 top 5 best of shows F-100 Super Nationals in Tenn..being in the body repair business, thats something I'm very proud of..short bed, big block, XLT Ranger, it was bought here in 1973 at Grady Whitlock Ford...half of my budget went to the body on that truck...the only thing I didn't replace was half the cab and the inner bed sides...you can figure it out..I replaced ALOT of the body...but thats the norm around here......I just recieved my 1966 Skylark from Ark and its in the garage on jack stands and the build is underway...I go in the garage each day after work and can't help but work around it amazed how solid it is...the is no rust at all to repair...nothing, no quarters to buy, doors to rebuild the bottoms of, fenders to replace, core support to patch the bottoms of...I just can't get over it...how can something thats all but 38 years old, made of metal still be in that shape.....It something how this little thing we need this time of years to make the roads safe to drive on takes such a toll on or cars.....I always thought that paying to ship a car from far off wasn't worth the trouble....man, have I had a change of heart...so...do YOU need salt?....lol, You can have mine, I don't want it anymore!...Its salt free for me! :TU:

 

James i know what you're saying:TU: i live in northeast ohio(the snowbelt) i have picked up several cars from the area that were total rust buckets. right now i am restoring a 68 convert. from n. carolina and its hard to believe that even the brake lines(original) came off without breaking. so far every nut and bolt has been able to be removed without the heat wrench.:laugh: even the e-brake works which is very unusual up here :grin: all i had to do to the underside of the car was wipe it down with laquer thinner and paint it. it even still had the original paint underside:TU: there wasnt even any flaking of rust on the frame so there was no need to even wire brush it:shock: its amazing how a few hundred miles can make such a differenceo No:

 

it is like a horror story for you guys back east, isn't it? salt changes the specific gravity of water so it stays in water form far below its normal freezing point. this can be good in areas where the temp doesnt go far past 20*f and the snow maintains its moisture content well. but salt also promotes oxygen bonding with iron and carbon in water to make copious quantities of ferrous oxide. BAD, BAD, BAD! around here sand was used for years and years because we have snow that has a low moisture content and the temp regularly went far below 20*, but because we also have long periods of air inversions in midwinter, the dust level was causeing serious health problems in heavily traveled areas. so now we use a liquid deicer that is supposed to be environmentally harmless and water soluable. the only problem is it is not particularly friendly to painted or plated surfaces. and once the paint and chrome are pitted and worn off the cars around here, nature takes its course and rust rears its ugly head. if you can find a car that hasnt been driven in this deicer crap [probably parked for at least 20 years] it is pretty rust free. but most newer cars all have the same tell tale signs of creeping rust. pretty sad :ball:

 

James,

I'm glad you approve of what used to be my car. That car was extremely rust free, even for this area! Here in NW Arkansas we only see salt on the roads once or twice a year, as long as you keep the classic off the roads on those days your in good shape :TU:

I saw on another post you were swapping those drum brakes for disc and going to 17" wheels. I bet that really improves things. Any pictures?? What kind of wheels did you go with? I'd love to see what you've done in such a short time of owning the car.

See ya, and enjoy that car. I miss it badly.

-Chris

 

Sup Chris!!....the car is well underway, its totaly apart, I did buy a set of 17 inch billet wheels for it, I have one on the rear, it gets me fired up to work harder on it :Brow: I have a set of Camaro spindles ordered from a guy in KY, so yes I changing to disc but I have to say the drums really seamed pretty good when I was driving it home....I'm gonna try very hard to get some pics done tomorrow and I'll send you some and post some on my web page, I can't put them on here cause I'm to dumb to down size them, I suck at that stuff, but she's coming right along, and I'm so happy with her! :TU: