What's your winter beater?
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Bent a pushrod doing burnouts, flattened that lobe and that lifter seized in the bore. I had just left my illustrious cashier job at kmart at 8.25/hr, and didn't have the time, space, or resources to rebuild the 429 and have that 4500lb hulk sinking into the backyard. I sold it for $1,000 (kicking myself still for not snagging the brand new holley and MSD stuffs) to finance my Regal's first 350. Was living at home (still am, but at my dad's) and with no garage, something had to go. Put both of em on CL, Tbird for 1000, Regal for 1500 as a roller, TBird sold first. In an alternate world, I'd still have the tbird and wouldn't be on this forum. I'd say it worked out for the better. I'll get another one someday, maybe that one will have a floor. And heat.
I really only had 1 winter beater ( for 2 winters ) in almost 30 years. The 83 Malibu More-door x-cab with 250 inline six + GP buckets n console. Otherwise I have my DD ( Safari ) the and then I have a fair weather car ( monte ).
Since 06 I rock an awd 03 Safari van and dread the day its no longer worth fixing. 200k city miles on orig drivetrain, beast in the snow, and seems willing to pull anything I am willing to hitch it up to whilst having seating for 8. Excellent heat in winter and could cool meat in the summer the AC is so cold. It killed a red-light running Nissan Sentra the day before New Years 2009 with my Wife and kids in the van with me. I was shaken up but I refused the tow as that old van ( although well bruised ) still drove us home afterwords while the Nissan headed for its date with the crusher. I can proudly say I have a soft spot for a hunk of metal.
Since 06 I rock an awd 03 Safari van and dread the day its no longer worth fixing. 200k city miles on orig drivetrain, beast in the snow, and seems willing to pull anything I am willing to hitch it up to whilst having seating for 8. Excellent heat in winter and could cool meat in the summer the AC is so cold. It killed a red-light running Nissan Sentra the day before New Years 2009 with my Wife and kids in the van with me. I was shaken up but I refused the tow as that old van ( although well bruised ) still drove us home afterwords while the Nissan headed for its date with the crusher. I can proudly say I have a soft spot for a hunk of metal.
my winter beater for the last several years has also been my DD, as we don't tend to get much snow in this part of NC.... what snow we do get here usually doesn't slow me down much, even being 2wd... He's like a billy goat in the bad weather, even though I call him an ox! I am, however working on a daily beater that I picked up for $200, having issues with the anti-theft system.....
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Mine is my Nightmare Project 2000 Dodge Dakota with the 5.9L transplant. A truck because of ice and snow is a necessary evil. I wish this 2000 had a Dana 35 front diff like the 99 so I could add a locker. It doesn't go through as much snow as the Olds powered 4x4, it pushed snow up the bumper without issue. I hate the dam gas guzzling slow for their power trucks in general, unlike most people here.
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my winter beater. had to replace the core support.drivers floor and cab mount. and fender. this past spring.
Don't know if I'd quite call it a "beater", but it's the highest mileage car in the fleet and the only one I drive through the salt and the snow. 2004 Camry 2.4L, 193,000 miles and climbing. It's covered in small dings and scratches from three kids learning to drive on it, but it still cleans up nice. Mechanically it's top notch, I just put four new tires, four new quick struts, a new alternator, water pump and thermostat, replaced the sway bar bushings and end links, and a bunch of other little stuff. Heat and A/C both work! I've driven it on a lot of long trips, been to Detroit, Cleveland, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and NYC in this car.
85 cutlass with 81k miles. picked it up for 300 bucks.
Mine's an 02 Silverado 2500hd, ext cab, long bed. It's currently around 227,000 miles, and the cab corners and rockers are going away fast. It won't be long before the cold starts coming in back there. It used to do plow duty, but I've taken the past couple years off and don't miss it.
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