In my motorcycle riding days I had an electric suit with electric gloves. Put that baby on and plug yourself into the car. You could drive at just about any temperature.
Carbon fiber seat heaters are good. Also a MODERN Webasto or Eberspacher heater are really nice to have, especially if you have windshield defogging.
I never did cold weather motorcycling, so no knowledge of electric jackets/gloves and such. I always rode my bike on NICE days.
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My only transportation to school and back for a few eastern winters was a mighty Honda 125 — 13 hp @ 10,000 rpm, top speed 65 mph, 153 mpg. (The brochure refers to a 'startling' 13 hp, but I had other adjectives for it.)
This was before electrified garments. Now, it seems like it was almost before woven garments of any kind. I had a cotton corduroy jacket that kept me warm for the first two miles or so, and some rudimentary gloves that did not. I can remember not feeling my hands at all by the time I made it to school, or for about an hour thereafter. Which wasn't the worst of it. That was how they felt when sensation finally began to return.
This experience taught me something about the severity of eastern winters and traveling through them in/on open vehicles. It also taught me the significance of a 'wind chill' factor. And it probably factored into my eventual decision to leave the east coast and seek more mild climates, without ever looking back.
Older and presumably wiser now, I don't mess around with cold weather in open vehicles. You want to play mountain man conquers winter? Great, knock yourself out. Personally, I think prolonged exposure to extreme cold reduces the number of functioning brain cells. I can't think of any other explanation for some of the bizarre and masochistic practices I read about here when winter approaches. These are supposed to be 'fun' cars. Well, I'm sticking with a strict interpretation of that term.
My policy is '40 and out' — degrees Fahrenheit, that is.
Preserve as many of those precious brain cells as you can. You're going to need them when you eventually reach an age where you spend five minutes staring at your phone because you can't remember you pulled it out of your pocket to check what the weather will be like today.
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I gotta agree with ya, Mitch. I do NOT enjoy freezing while driving. Unlike the majority of the folks here I didn't mind driving my Speedster with the top up and side windows on, particularly after I replaced the side curtains with vented lexan windows. It was actually kind of nice in there.
We're currently in what's called the "Shoulder Season" here in New England, that period between Summer and the grays and cold of Winter and especially so in this year of MUCH warmer daytime temps. It's been a bit of a roller coaster with night-time temps in the 30's but warming up during the day into the 70's. This is when you can go to Cape Cod or other popular areas without the hordes of tourists, but restaurants, beaches and attractions are still open. And with ocean temps still kissing 60F and higher, especially along the tidal flats of the north side of the Cape, the hardier among us can still go for a swim on the warmer days.
I've finally gotten everything buttoned up on Pearl, she's running great and I have been driving her just about every day. Finally got the top up and used the heater a few days ago when I went for a haircut, because it dipped down into the 40's that day. The colorful leaves are long gone, replaced by the browns of the trees and the large "snowflakes" from the old Red Oak trees still stubbornly holding on to their leaves.
I don't know how long this glorious weather of "Indian Summer" will last, but I'm enjoying it as long as I can, exploring a different compass direction each day. Yesterday was a quick trip into southern New Hampshire..... Today looks like a swing through parts of Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, brushing by Thompson Speedway en-route. I love this time of year.
The one thing I wished I had specified in my build is a fan driven heater. That six cylinder engine doesn't really throw out much heat when it's cold.
The heater boxes are in good shape.
A young man does not know what he will become. He's brimming with confidence, and has dreams, sure -- and he has a plan, because after all, failing to plan is planning to fail. But he's not truly formed, at least not until he becomes responsible for other people.
I married young -- found the ridiculously gorgeous gem from two towns over before somebody else could stake their claim. What she saw in me, I don't really know -- I was outrageously idealistic and comically underemployed.
I was going to get out of my no-stoplight hick-town, live in the jungle, and save the world, though -- and I told her so. Marrying Jeanie was the final piece of the puzzle, and we were on a plane for Papua New Guinea before our second wedding anniversary.
I did that (living in the jungle, saving the world) for 3 years and brought Jeanie along for the ride. We lived in a grass hut with a wood floor and a steel roof. We caught rain water, cooked on a wood stove, and kept our food in a kerosene refrigerator. Jeanie had a baby in a remote clinic with no Dr. attending. Our marriage almost didn't make it, and should not have made it. Any reasonable bookmaker would have put our chances at about 20:1, but I was betting all I had on beating those odds.
We came home just shy of my 26th birthday, with 2 small kids and one on the way -- and my tail between my legs. I was back to my hometown, back to winter, back to being a normie. I had no assets, zero money, and a job working on commercial HVAC as a 2nd year apprentice. I made $10/hr and mowed lawns in the evening to keep lights on and food on the table. We were making it, but that first winter, I had not yet saved the money to buy a decent winter coat.
The night of my 4th wedding anniversary (on Dec. 21, 1989), I was "on call". It was an early winter, and had snowed about 6" after an inch of freezing rain. There was a very popular yuppie burger bar in Peoria named "Cheddars". The place had a sloped cedar roof, topped with a flat section surrounded by a parapet shielding all of the HVAC equipment. The shingled portion was on about a 9/12 slope for about 15 feet, and access to the flat part was by means of a rope. A guy was meant to put up a ladder on the side of the building, grab the knotted rope, walk the slope with the rope until getting to the flat part through a break in the parapet.
The restaurant was about 50 deg inside and it was a Friday night. I was supposed to be meeting my wife for a very rare night out (we had a gift certificate to "Mr. Steak", if memory serves), but nobody refuses overtime calls in my business if they want to have a job on Monday. I needed this job like I needed oxygen, so I put up my ladder and felt in the snow for the rope. It was buried in the ice, but I got under it with a screwdriver and pulled it free. I tried to walk the slope, but it was way too slick and I ended up hanging from the rope at the edge of the roof, then dropping down to try again.
I summited Mt. Cheddars by laying on my belly, pulling myself like a toboggan -- hand over hand through the snow on the sloped roof with my tool bag on my back. By the time I actually made it to the flat part of the roof, I had snow down my shirt, down my pants, and in my socks. The O/A temp was in the single digits. I couldn't feel my hands, my stones had retreated to somewhere in the vicinity of my small intestines, my toes felt like they were on fire, and I had no idea how I was going to get off the roof now that I was on it.
I also had no idea what was going on with the cold restaurant, since the units were all running on high-fire.
That was probably the low-point for me and winter in the Midwest -- standing on that roof, wind blowing about 30 mph, 5 deg, soaking wet, shivering in a fall-weight jacket stuffed with melting snow with no idea what I was doing or how things would ever get better. I was alone on my anniversary, our marriage in a very precarious state, two kids and one on the way looking to me as the sole means of support, and cold in a way that's hard to describe if you've never been there. If California or Florida or Arizona had been an option at all, I'd have gotten in my car and pointed it to Sacramento or wherever.
It wasn't (an option).
So I warmed my hands in the exhaust of one of the units and fumbled around until I found the problem and fixed it (the outdoor air dampers were driving open on all the units, sucking in 5 deg air and pumping it into the restaurant). I got off the roof the same way I got up (sliding on my belly), got in my white van and drove to Mr. Steak where Jeanie was waiting for me. My mom and dad had bought me a winter coat for Christmas, and they had given it to her so I could have it that night.
It wasn't a steady upward trajectory from that point -- but we figured out how to be married, I learned how to do the only thing available for me to do that would pay anything at all, and we learned how to cope with winter in flyover country. Things got better.
I put the fun car away every winter, do some work on it, and wait for Spring.
Maybe it's just a rationalization, but there's a part of me that thinks I appreciate summer in a way that people who've never really been cold cannot. Winter teaches perseverance (or stubbornness, or some approximation of both). I'd like to think it's helped make me who I am, but I don't know.
I just know that Spring always comes -- no matter how cold or dark the winter.
@Bob: IM S6 posted:The one thing I wished I had specified in my build is a fan driven heater. That six cylinder engine doesn't really throw out much heat when it's cold.
The heater boxes are in good shape.
I am sure something can be worked out Bob to assist in heating the cabin.
@Sacto Mitch, back in the '70s my then wife had that 125 Honda and I had a 350. We got them from a Honda shop in Duluth that had a fire. We drove there from SE Michigan, thru the upper penninsula and brought back 3 bikes. We had to clean them up and recover the seats.
In the winter I wore a military surplus leather flight suit when we took them on the frozen lake.
@IaM-Ray posted:I am sure something can be worked out Bob to assist in heating the cabin.
I've thought about it a lot and conferred with a few minds that are much more mechanical than mine. It's not an easy fix once the car is built, and once the under dash is set up for the air-blown heat.
But, I'll get it done someday.
Well you must have some sort of blower ….like this under the hood I would think. @Bob: IM S6 no?
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No. Nothing like that. It's just an engine driven heating system. Same as the old Beetles and Karmann Ghias.
So you could have something of that style added I would think to force more air to the cabin and also to the windshield and maybe with a heat electric coil 12v operated.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Demon...ing-Fan/311866168667
Specification: GBP 120.00
- Airflow: 87cfm (147m3/h
- Hose Size: 2.5" (63.5mm)
- Length: 6.3/8" (161.5mm)
- Weight: 370 grams
- Voltage: 12v
- Current Draw: 1.35amps
- Max Air Temp: 65° C or near 150 Fahr
Kit Contents:
- 1x Powerful Fan
- 2x Aluminium Fabricated Ducts
- 1x Side Mounting Bracket
- 4x Stainless Steel Cap Head Bolts
- 8x Stainless Steel Washers
- 4x Stainless Steel Nyloc Nuts
Requires 2x M5 bolts
10.10.2024, 07:05:28
Why not just install a Espar/Webasto gas heater like Jack Crosby or Danny P? They're small enough to fit in small places (especially in the Frunk), put out GOBS of heat and are as easy to use as a home heating system - maybe easier.
https://www.heatso.com/espar-a...hEAQYASABEgLTevD_BwE
Just for giggles, I went out and sampled the temperature of air coming out of my BN2 heater vents in the cockpit. The outside ambient temp was about 40F/4C and my output vent temps looked like this at the different heat settings:
Low = 104F/40C (Knob at 9 o'clock - see below)
Med = 130/55
High = 160/71
Wicked High = 201F/94C
And that's out of a 2Kw ,fan powered heater, with the heat sampled at the end of the cabin duct about a meter from the actual heater. When I'm out tooling around, I'm usually between Low (9 o'clock on the knob) and Medium/Low (10-11 o'clock). Going up to Noon on the knob would drive me out unless it's down below zero C ambient. I have an air leak coming from between the body and the convertible top out back, but the BN2 puts out way more heat than I need so the air leak is irrelevant. It quickly becomes shirt-sleeve warm in the cockpit (takes under two minutes after turning it on).
Think about it. A classy car with a classy engine and cold weather heat to go with it.
I found the heater on line I have no clue how well it works Gordon but your solution is bit more complex of an install but it has been what…. nearly 10 years and he has not needed one 
@IaM-Ray posted:I found the heater on line I have no clue how well it works Gordon but your solution is bit more complex of an install but it has been what…. nearly 10 years and he has not needed one
What you linked is a fan, Ray.
Over the years we've talked and talked and talked about why an electric heater is a bad idea that just won't go away, but by all means -- if you want to try it, go ahead and try it.
Physical Laws are a real thing.
My recommendation to Bob would be to put the car away when it's too cold to drive it with no heat.
Somehow the idea of an electric heater right next to the fuel tank doesn't feel all that right to me. Years ago, when I owned a Karmann Ghia, I never once used the gas fired heater in the frunk - just too much can go wrong.
As Stan says, I just put the car away when it's too cold to drive it, or dress accordingly.
But I would like a better heating system, and someday I'll get it.
@Bob: IM S6 posted:But I would like a better heating system, and someday I'll get it.
That's the stuff.
In the past I thought about mounting a Webasto heater above the trans and connecting into the stock CMC heating system.
@Bob: IM S6 posted:Somehow the idea of an electric heater right next to the fuel tank doesn't feel all that right to me. Years ago, when I owned a Karmann Ghia, I never once used the gas fired heater in the frunk - just too much can go wrong.
As Stan says, I just put the car away when it's too cold to drive it, or dress accordingly.
But I would like a better heating system, and someday I'll get it.
VW and Porsche probably put millions of gas heaters in cars. My 912 had one (that I never got to use) Have you ever heard of a gas heater-related catastrophe? I haven’t, and I’ve been VW adjacent since my family bought a 23 Window Camper Box in Germany and lived in it for 7 months.
There are more reports of fire in RV’s, some of which have gas heaters. But I don’t know the fires had anything to do with the heaters. AFAIK, it’s usually propane stove/refrigerator related. Or just leaking propane lines.
Fine.
But I'll err on the side of caution.
I've had some experience with gas heaters.
I had an older Eberspacher BN-2 installed under the dash of my Spyder. I used it quite a bit for MANY hours. No troubles at all.
In the new car I bought a modern Webasto. It is computer-controlled and totally safe. There are all sorts of safeties and safeguards. You don't need to worry, Bob.
It must be fall/winter, the electric heater thing comes around yet again. The math and physics just don't support it in a 12 volt environment.
Now, a blower to boost flow will probably help Bob.
Are your heat exchangers stainless steel or ceramic coated?
The heat exchangers are just whatever Porsche designed for a 993 engine.
Yes, some form of blower is what is needed, and I've researched quite a few. I'll probably tackle it next year.
@Bob: IM S6 I think you're on to something.
Someone who worked with me had a 993 (Those cars are nice!) with similar complaints about wimpy heat and she ended up adding small blowers in-line to move more air. I can't remember if they were before or after the heat exchangers, but she said that they made a world of difference. IIRC, she found someone who had an upgrade kit for this but that was 30 years ago so I can't remember who or where.
I know some folks were concerned about sucking air for the oil cooler through the engine compartment. So was I. So Greg did this. After a gazillion upgrades to the car it ships tomorrow. I should have it within the week. Finally! Only 3.5 years since I started my quest for a Conv D.
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Ooooo, the anticipation. And you are not really, or by any measure at all, a newbie. So no Welcome To The Madness for you. Just a demand for lots of pictures, and driving experience posts. Got that??
While I know Phil is well into The Madness I will WTTM him anyway because of the new car. Of course that can be rescinded if I never get a ride in it. 
Can't wait till you post more picts Phil, congratulations on the new car...
Yup 3 spyders and 2 Conv Ds since 1998. The madness runs deep. I do believe the last 2 are keepers. I’ve had the Spyder since 2017.
The interior of my 356 has definite patina of a 25 year old car but for some reason the exterior is perfect. I know most of the chrome was replaced but it must have been repainted at some point.
I never protected the paint on the Spyder and it definitely shows it. I know this has been discussed before but what is the best protection for the paint?
Well… it isn’t a new car, but, certainly able to be made in a stellar IM D
Ray I know this sounds weird but I was actually looking for an older IM in good condition. Virginia has the highest personal property tax on vehicles in the nation. 4% NAD value of the car EVERY year. They go out of their way to calculate the value of replicas on recent car sales etc. But when the car hits 25 years old it becomes an antique and is exempt from PPT and no longer has to pass state inspection. So no PPT on the IM. PPT on my Spyder is actually going up even though it’s aging. WTF. Virginia also has the 2nd highest tax on liquor in the country. Good thing I don’t like nice cars or bourbon. Ugh.
Just saw this on FB.
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@550 Phil posted:Ray I know this sounds weird but I was actually looking for an older IM in good condition. Virginia has the highest personal property tax on vehicles in the nation. 4% NAD value of the car EVERY year. They go out of their way to calculate the value of replicas on recent car sales etc. But when the car hits 25 years old it becomes an antique and is exempt from PPT and no longer has to pass state inspection. So no PPT on the IM. PPT on my Spyder is actually going up even though it’s aging. WTF. Virginia also has the 2nd highest tax on liquor in the country. Good thing I don’t like nice cars or bourbon. Ugh.
That is a crazy tax, for sure, you would think once is enough but to pay tax yearly is excessive. We have a vacant unit tax here on houses that is also a vulturing move by the locals.
Funny the games we have to play when the state we live in has excessive taxation … maybe you need GOP revolution in your state after the Casa Blanca
@IaM-Ray posted:That is a crazy tax, for sure, you would think once is enough but to pay tax yearly is excessive. We have a vacant unit tax here on houses that is also a vulturing move by the locals.
After finding out my RV was going to get nicked for $375 every year I was going to register it in Montana next year but our fine GOP legislature decided to pass a law criminalizing out of state registrations and privatized the enforcement to a vulture capital firm that cross references insurance and registration and notifies the gestapo if you register your vehicle out of state.
My State Farm agent offered a solution: simply insure the vehicle in MT as well. He told me he’d send me some references. Suggested it would probably be cheaper to insure it there as well. I’ll probably do it as after April, I’ll officially be homeless. #VanLife
@IaM-Ray posted:Funny the games we have to play when the state we live in has excessive taxation … maybe you need GOP revolution in your state after the Casa Blanca
@dlearl476 posted:I was going to register it in Montana next year but our fine GOP legislature decided to pass a law criminalizing out of state registrations
Help.
If I wanted political discourse, I’d reactivate my FB account.
Seriously, men — give it a rest. I'm tapping out for a bit.
VA sales tax on new cars was only 2% - then they hit you the 4% of assessed value every year after! FL sales tax on a new car is 6.5%, ouch. I was quick to move my vehicles (boats, motorcycles, RVs, trailers) to FL. FL surprized me with the initial license plate costing $225 each - after that renewal is reasonable and by vehicle weight! I do wish they had some periodic safety inspection as some cars are dangerous to others (not to mention not insured).
I don’t know what it is for new cars, as I don’t own one, but license fees on both my cars is ~$75 on top of a $39 emissions test, and a one time 6.5% sales tax.
I guess they classify the RV differently as it’s liable for an annual property tax on top of licensing and registration. The good news is that I skated on sales tax because I traded my Spyder for it.
I'm sorry, I can't feel bad for someone who obviously makes good money and has two homes and two toy cars. You say you love Virginia. I guess the taxes are part of it, you can't pick and choose.
You could always move.