Moving back to Vancouver, need some info...(long)

[IceBlueSC]

Well, my six year stint in Southern California is nearing its end. The expected move home date is January 8/05. Hopefully by then the apartment will be packed up and the wife and I will be on the I-5 all the way north of the border. She'll be driving her truck (01 Frontier Crew Cab 4x4) and I will be leading the way in my 81 SC.

Now for a couple of questions to keep us on topic....

Next couple of months will be spent doing some work on the SC to take advantage of the excellent Pelican Parts catalog while shipping charges are still inexpensive.

I am looking a backdating the ventilation system to clean up the engine bay. Do any of you Vancouver or PNW Pelicans with backdated heat have defogging issues during rainy or cold days due to the lack of the additional blower? I am planning on running the car daily for the next 3-5 years and remember what it's like to drive a car with no front defogger. Will this be an issue?

Vancouver doesn't get too much snow during the winters, so I am planning to pick up some all seasons for the drive up and to last for a couple of years until things have settled down from the move. I was looking at the PZero Nero M+S, but they don't come in 245/45/16 (I'm hoping to pick up some 9s before I leave ). The SP5000 come in that size but they don't seem to compare well with the PZeros (at Tire Rack at least!). Any recommendations on tires (I've run a search, but not much has come up on all seasons)? Eventually, I'll run a winter set, but for now I need something that will get me there and be useful for a year or so.

Last question is on the route home.... I know that Vancouver won't be so bad at that time of the year (usually dumps snow later on, ie. Feb/March), but I am worried about the I-5 through Oregon and Washington at that time. I would really not have to deal with snow on the freeway . Any of you have other suggestions as to a less snowy route?

Well, that's it for now...I have really enjoyed it down here, the Porsche crowd, PCA / Pelicans / others, have all been very welcoming. I am glad that living and working down here has enabled me to purchase the car of my dreams (still!) and to meet all the wonderful people associated to this community. However, I am looking forward to going home and being active there as well. When's the first autocross of the year?

Cheers!

[Jeff Alton]

Give me a call, I am in Langley and have done this to my 84 and to a couple of clients cars as well. I would be happy to talk to you about it. No fogging issues. Once you get here we will get the local Pelicans together for a beer night, I will even host it!! Drinks on the house!!

Try me at 604 313 3494 of at pacwestperformance@telus.net

Cheers, and welcome back!

Jeff

[unclebilly]

The scenic Highway (99 I think) runs along the coast so it should be snow free. I've taken it a number of times in the winter time...

[Carrera3.5L]

I'm an old Vancouverite living in SoCal as well. Can't speak about Oregon or Southern Washington, but heading up north on I-5 between Mount Vernon and Bellingham is a mountain pass that can sometimes be snowy and icy. It drives right along beautiful Lake Samish. I guess you won't know the weather conditions until you get to that point. I think most times it is drivable as it is a major artery.

Don't cross the border at the Peach Arch crossing (Blaine/White Rock), usually too busy, although not as bad in the winter as summer. I always go across at the Lynden/Aldergrove crossing, sometimes only a couple of cars wait.

Hey Catca, I'll fly up if you're serving Granville Island Lager!

Ralph

[Jeff Alton]

Ralph, I will serve what ever you want!!! If you cross at Aldergrove I will put in a good work for you. Although not a Canada customs member, I am an original and current member of their Hockey team, so I have a bit of an "in " there!!! The chief of the port is a close personal friend.

Ralph, when are you comming up??? I think you might have sold Kevin some wheels a few months back and I do the service and set up on his car so I think we could put a pretty good night together! lots of Pelicans up here. By the way, how is the 3.5 comming along??

Cheers, and hopefully beers, Jeff

[alf]

As Ralph pointed out, I-5 is a major road and usually ploughed on the rare occassions that it is covered in snow. Although, i would take 101 up the Oregon Coast and take in the scenery, not sure what it is like in the Winter though. Be sure to plan around rush hour in Seattle

I ran Toyo RA1s last winter. They stuck better in rain than my SO3s, never tried it in the snow and tread wear was minimal (until i hit the track in Spring). Not sure if any tire would last a couple of years on a 911 if you drive it daily.

Welcome back to the NW.

alf

[look 171]

Go up on the cost. Usually ok, just wet. Between Reding and Medford Organ you have to drive through some big hills with lots of snow. If they get rain or storm, guarantee snow through there. Road will be close. I 've been stuck there before, twice.

Beautiful city Vancouver. Sorry you are leaving the Golden State. Good luck.

[RANDY P]

Welcome back to the NW. It's a hassle if you're backdated and you just get back into the car when it's wet. Learn to use a lot of Rain-x / No fog and you should be just fine. I drive around with the passenger side window cracked to help speed things along.

Oh, and when the oil pressure gauge starts to fog up there's nothing wrong...

[IceBlueSC]

Thanks for the responses guys!

It looks like taking the 101 out of Cali and through Oregon would be a good idea (stay away from the Grapevine during winter!). The 99 looks to be a good route through Washington. I am sure that the wife and I will be stopping here and there to make the best of our trip!

Jeff, thanks much for your offer! While more and more brew pubs are sprouting up down here, it was never as good as back home. Funny thing though, I never drank much of it, but I could kill for a Kokanee right about now!

Foggy glass... I had good experiences with Rain-X when I lived in Vancouver and remember the "passenger window" trick. Looks like old habits die hard!

Alf, thanks for the recommendation on the RA1s. I take a closer look at this tire and see what a search my turn up.

Ralph, 10-4 on using the truck crossing. I am planning on staying close to the border for 3 days in order to clear our cars through US Customs.

Does anyone know if US Customs will take the whole 72 hours to process a car for export?

Cheers!

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by catca
Ralph, I will serve what ever you want!!! If you cross at Aldergrove I will put in a good work for you. Although not a Canada customs member, I am an original and current member of their Hockey team, so I have a bit of an "in " there!!! The chief of the port is a close personal friend.

Ralph, when are you comming up??? I think you might have sold Kevin some wheels a few months back and I do the service and set up on his car so I think we could put a pretty good night together! lots of Pelicans up here. By the way, how is the 3.5 comming along??

Cheers, and hopefully beers, Jeff

Jeff,

I wish it could be this weekend but more likely not until Christmas at the earliest. If the damn Canucks were playing it would make coming up there a no-brainer.

I was just up there in late July for a few days visiting family before going up to the Queen Charlottes for some salmon and halibut fishing. I wanted to try and stop by Kevin's and see how the wheels look on his car but just too much running around and too little time.

My parents retired in Lynden and they are in BC on a daily basis visiting family and they seem to be on a first name basis with most of the guys as well. If your team needs a 35 year old goalie that gets beaten high blocker side 9 out of 10 times, I'm your guy. My friends call me Cloutier, which should tell you something.

I finally got back all of the machine work from Ollie's so I will start the reassembly tomorrow or Thursday. All the sheetmetal has been powdercoated and exterior fasteners have been cad plated so it should look nice.

Ice Blue, sorry to hear you are leaving. I envy you. I guess that's one less Canucks fan in SoCal.

Ralph

[dvkk]

I wouldn't get M&S tires. They don't work at all in the snow. I'd recommend you get a set of tires that are really good rain tires for year round use, then find a set of "track wheels" and have true snow tires mounted on them for the 3 days a year we get snow. Skinny 15" true snow tires will work better than any hi performance, wide, low profile snow tire. I can set you up with some cookie cutters.

If it were me, moving back with 2 cars, I would leave one car in the US for the 3 day waiting period and drive one across without telling them. Then when its time to import the first car, leave the other. That way you aren't left standing on the side of 176th st with your luggage and no transport. BTW, all car imports in SW BC have to go through the 176th st Truck crossing. If you show up at Aldergrove, they will make you drive over to the Truck crossing.
Does anyone know where you can leave the car for 3 days in Blaine with some security?

[II6]

You don't need to leave your car at all. You must simply send a fax of your car titles at least 3 days before you cross, so that they can check the VIN for stolen cars. I know, I did the same thing with my SC earlier this year, at the same place. Show up early! the US offices close at around 3:30 M-F, but they won't process you unless you show up at least 1 hr prior to closing time, and there's always a line-up...***Call their office at 360-332-2632***, it's the "Blaine Vehicle Export Team". They have a 3 page document that they can fax you. and make sure they received everything they need; while I was there, a guy who showed up at the border didn't do his homework and did end up leaving his car on the US side for about 3 days...

BTW fill-out the B4E and B4A forms for Canada customs, you will see a gleaming smile on the officer's face, save about an hour of your (and his) time, and prevent a whole lot of questions. Apparantly only about 1% of people actually do this prior to crossing, and the customs guys are the ones who end up doing the work for you, which doesn't make them very happy. Good luck!

[Jeff Alton]

Ralph, cool, good luck with the re assembly. When you make it up here, look me up! Bring your gear, we can always use another goalie!!

Cheers, Jeff