Car repairs

[mdmf007]

Theres only 1.7 Pounds of difference in PSI from sea level to 5000 feet.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/press ... d_825.html

The temperature difference can be quite dramatic. A bicycle tire filled in SF at 100 Poounds on a 60 degree evening is a lot different at

130 degrees (temp a black tire can heat too) on the BR desert raises pressure about 19 pounds if the nomograph i found is correct.

[BAS]

I don't remember what part of the world you live in, but in most fairly well populated places places you can scape up some old jalopy for cheap or free. Hell, I've given away several good running cars just because they were in my way. Check Craigslist.

Madison, Wisconsin area. I looked at Craigslist, but don't have any money at the moment. I think I'll do okay until the weather starts turning nasty, so I am not in too much of a hurry at the moment, so I'm hopeful something good will show up.

Thanks.

[BAS]

Bas, I know people who have had good luck cleaning up wet cars.
It all depends on how good it is to start with.
Most of what a shop would do, anyone can do.
Most of it will be cleaning electrical connections, starting with all grounds.
Clean and lubricate with the appropriate material.
I use silicone dielectric grease myself.
I have some GE rtv grease, can't remember how similar it is.
I can send you enough of that if you cover shipping charges.
You could look at getting a parts car and swapping damaged parts, if any.
Or getting an identical car and using the first one for parts.

First get all water out.
Check all weepholes.
Drill new ones if needed.
Spray anti-rust stuff like promolene into vulnerable spots.
If you can store the car in a dry place like Reno or an air conditioned garage for a while to dry it out, this can help.
You may have to open up things to dry them out.
It may entail labor, but is mostly simple stuff, if you're willing to do it.
I once pulled my whole interior out to dry it out.
No damage.

Well, supposedly the shop did a lot of that-- although now I question how well, and it has been about a month since the soaking.

A donor '98 Saturn might be a good way to go, if I can find/afford one. I think I'll be keeping an eye on Craigslist, Madison Freecycle, and other sources to see if anything turns up. (Freecycle has surprised me sometimes with what some people are giving away.)

[BAS]

Theres only 1.7 Pounds of difference in PSI from sea level to 5000 feet.
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/press ... d_825.html

The temperature difference can be quite dramatic. A bicycle tire filled in SF at 100 Poounds on a 60 degree evening is a lot different at

130 degrees (temp a black tire can heat too) on the BR desert raises pressure about 19 pounds if the nomograph i found is correct.

There were reports from one very hot year of people coming off the playa and finding that their tires were now under inflated. Evidently the air in the tires heated up and the tires vented the excess air pressure, resulting in the tires being under inflated when they cooled off after leaving the burn. It might be worth people's while to check their vehicle's tire pressure when they pull over to refuel. (Actually, it probably is a good idea anyway, for fuel efficiency.)

[skibear]

A donor '98 Saturn might be a good way to go, if I can find/afford one.

Heck even older ones can be OK.

My wifes former 94 Saturn's still being driven by a nephew in Boston
My Sis's 95 Saturn's still her primary vehicle in the 'Nuclear Free
City' of Takoma Park MD.

We're just left a 2nd 'nuke free zone'- Sebastopol Ca

[variablechange]

The reason you'd want to deflate bike tires a little is that it can increase traction and control in loose dirt. The same holds true for car or truck tires provided they have sufficiently large side-walls to allow deformation. If you don't have 30+ inch tires then you won't get much benefit from doing this. The other issue is that you do _not_ want to drive an under inflated tire at any kind of speed for any kind of distance. You will destroy the tire. So, unless you are driving an off-roader with big wheels (which suck on the highway) AND have a way to re-inflate your tires, do not deflate them.

[MrMullen]

There were reports from one very hot year of people coming off the playa and finding that their tires were now under inflated. Evidently the air in the tires heated up and the tires vented the excess air pressure, resulting in the tires being under inflated when they cooled off after leaving the burn. It might be worth people's while to check their vehicle's tire pressure when they pull over to refuel. (Actually, it probably is a good idea anyway, for fuel efficiency.)

This is why you always do a "pre-flight" check before leaving home or the Playa. Something always needs to be caught.

[gyre]

I wouldn't think reducing air would work on a bike tire.

I have done this on rough ice and snow with car tires.
I think the extra flexibility allows it to grip slightly better, but it's marginal.
And of course, you must go very slow.
I would only do it for emergencies.

Here's a really aggressive tire, if that's what you want.


This Continental is supposed to be good at not picking up snow.
Might be a good high grip tire on loose material.

Snow tires with rounded slopes to the lugs may be better at not picking up dust on the playa.
When I have used knobby tires on the playa, they were really bad at kicking up dust.

[gyre]

I think this is the wide rim I saw on the playa last year.
44 mm wide, the bike almost floated across deep dunes.
He had a smooth tire with a shallow chevron pattern.
Slick would work fine for playa cruising.
I think I found the tires under sand tires.
http://www.wildfirecycles.com/fatbikes.html