18 Below Zero-SC Doesn't Fail Me

[Tony911Z]

My two rear wheel drive sports cars don't necessarily correspond with my present location--that's the problem with having the Air Force chose where you live.

My '78 SC is my daily driver, but I had my doubts when I saw -18 on the thermometer. The car is kept in an unheated, dettached garage and started with very little difficulty. I drive on all-season Dunlops with out much trouble (with the BMW, Blizzaks are a must).

An SUV purchase is planned by next winter-either a new Touareg or a used X5.

It's now a balmy 8 degrees!

[sammyg2]

I have a friend who lives in Cheyenne now, he moved there from Southern California. Talk about a shock.
He works as the head of fire and safety at an oil refinery there. I don't know how he keeps from freezing. According to folks who I've talked to, not only does it get ungodly cold there, the wind blows so hard it cuts you in two. The car might make it but I don't think I would. I'm shivering just thinking about it.

[fauxpasdedeux]

I'm from Wyoming and all though I love it, its my home and its the place I'm gonna be buried... but it is cold....Donner party, loose-fingers-then-die-while-your-buddies-resort-to-cannibalism-kickin-it-old-school-buckboard-style, cold. The wind is the really bad part.

The good part is that it can be absolutely gorgeous and it is close to so many wonderful places, many of which are public, either BLM, National Forrest, or national grassland. I'm personally happy the weather keeps most out.
I'd hate Wyoming to be more like Colorado. It's a place you really have to Want to live to be happy at all.

Not my page, but a Wyo guy with some cool rally ideas for his c4.

http://www.ki7xh.com/porsche.htm

[wckrause]

I started my SC at 18 below last winter here in Minnesota. It sat out all day at work, and then started up just fine.

I switched to Mobil 1 15W30 before that winter, and the change to synthetic really made a huge difference in starting.

[Jim Sims]

In Wyoming the snow never really melts, it just blows around until it wears out. Jim

[Tony911Z]

I agree that switching viscosities is key to cold weather starting-positive it wouldn't have started w/ 20W50 in there. I went with a dino/synthetic blend. Don't think I could get a way with a light weight battery either-this morning reminded me of an old Sears Diehard commercial.

[Tony911Z]

Faux-Neat C4 rally-inspired project. I've heard these cars understeer like crazy. I wonder if he has plans to tame this characteristic and make the car more fun to drive.

[Tony911Z]

One neat things about Cheyenne is the annual Fathers' Day autocross on closed off roads downtown, called the Cheyenne Shootout. The winner in each category squares off in identical dealer supplied cars (last year's was some sport model Cavalier). The "shootout" is a one run winner take all finale to the two day event-talk about drive it like you stole it!

An autocross on the streets is much more exiting (and potentially dangerous) then in a parking lot.

[howie944]

24 year (now retired) Air Force vet here. Was stationed for 10 years at K.I. Siberia (Sawyer) Now closed. Remember putting on all Air Force provided cold weather gear and crawling under my Chevy Blazer (Finlander Ferrari) with a blow torch to heat oil pan to get thing to turn over. Currently work with another ex AF person who was stationed at FE. Those Northern tier bases are in some gorgeous country but 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad snowmobiling isn't a lot of fun!

[wckrause]

I spent two winters at Eielson A.F.B. just outside of Fairbanks AK. It was typical to have at least a two week period each winter where the high temps for the day would be colder than 40 below. The good part was there was usually no wind at all. Your car had to have a battery heater, block heater, and an interior heater because vinyl cracks at -40.

[47silver]

my dad used to fill a coffee can with alcohol and light it. he would slide it under the oil pan to heat the car through the night. didnt burn up any cars.

[Erakad]

Ok...northern tier stories...was driving to work one day at -30 in my Suburban, hit a bump and the needle on the speedometer fell off. Would get icing INSIDE the windshield, throw a cup of hot water/coffee into the air at -30...it freezes before it hits the ground...looks like a flower! Last thing, my last year there with windchill it hit -104 in early Jan...yes, we still went to work.

[Erakad]

Ahh...forgot to post location...Minot, ND!

[howie944]

Good old Minot ..Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason! Northern tier bases home of the rare Kee bird. Bird flys around main gate of base chiping....."Keerist it cold here"!

[BoxsterGT]

I have been thinking of doing a C4 "Rally Car" for a while.

There is now a distinct posibility of a "Cabin in the Woods" in my future, and the C4 would be a minimum requirement.

I have read the posting "A Porsche for the Dirt Road" and it inspires me to convert my 91 C2 into a C4.

Any recommendations on components?

What happens if or when no computer is used to lock up the rear & center differentials?

Anyone use the "progressive-spring" suspension system as mentioned in the "Dirt Road" article?

[gwood]

Dr. Porsche chose an air-cooled engine for the VW because German winters are very cold and few people had garages then.
"convert(ing) my 91 C2 into a C4"?
The April-May 2007 Panorama had an article about converting a 964 C4 to a C2. You could read the article backwards, sorta.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by BoxsterGT

I have been thinking of doing a C4 "Rally Car" for a while.

There is now a distinct posibility of a "Cabin in the Woods" in my future, and the C4 would be a minimum requirement.

I have read the posting "A Porsche for the Dirt Road" and it inspires me to convert my 91 C2 into a C4.

Any recommendations on components?

What happens if or when no computer is used to lock up the rear & center differentials?

Anyone use the "progressive-spring" suspension system as mentioned in the "Dirt Road" article?

BoxsterGT,

Hi Len!!! Are you aware that you posted on a 7-year old post that is not even closely related to your topic?

Tony

[Flieger]

Funny, I didn't notice the date until the last post. I guess that would explain him talking about -104 when on Saturday it was 116 in the shade here. When the sun hit the thermometer, it pegged out, of course.

[Alan Lindquist]

In Ramona California - 30 miles NE of Downtown San Diego. In the last week we saw 105 degrees with lightning and thunderstorms 115 without the thunderstorms. I run 20-50 year round. Winters are brutal. Sometimes we warm up to only 65 degrees during the day. During the winter, nights get down to 28 degrees and it doesn't warm up until 8:AM when the sun is up. I remember a brutal winter two years ago when I had to use the defrost AND the rear window defogger. Actually... sorry.. I'm lying. Five years ago I gave up on the rotted heater hoses and have been going along with no heater. But the trout fishing here sucks. Wish I was in Wyoming.