[mt94ss]

OK, so I live where it rains alot and I want to drive my car alot when it's finished, and that means in the rain, too.

The question is all that splash on the headers - hot headers + cold water = bad news?

Does anyone here have a car that they run in the rain? Has there been an issue?

I was thinking of making some deflectors that I can mount with dzus fasteners so they can be removed when it's dry.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[nitrouspro]

Not a problem. I would be more concerned with water getting to the ignition box/dist. etc. The deflectors would probably help keep things a lot cleaner though!

 

[mt94ss]

Not a problem. I would be more concerned with water getting to the ignition box/dist. etc. The deflectors would probably help keep things a lot cleaner though!

I will be using modified inner fenders. It's the header that I'm worried about. I will have the headers coated white and they'll be difficult to keep clean on a driver anyway.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[bentwings]

Rain...haha I probably have more miles in the rain than most streetrods have in the sunshine.

Here is one...9 hours non stop down pour. 26 cars on this run. I have some other shots too but I haven't made them small enough to post. Also do gravel roads, traffic jambs, 45 minute idle time laps at 'back to the 50's'.... My very first rod run last year one week out of the paint shop finished with an hour and a half drive in another downpour. You quickly learn what waterproof means.

I use Jet hot coated headers with some wrap for heat protection on them. My headers can get cherry red in daylight at times. No problems 12k miles last year.

 

[mt94ss]

Thanks, bentwings. That's a good idea - wrap them... did you wrap all of the header or just the merge/collector portion? Great shots, btw. I am looking for a good mount to use with my Sony digital camera. It shoots video as well as stills. can't wait to finish the car to use it!

Later,

Mike

 

[406Rich]

The only problem with wrapping them is they`ll hold the moisture and deterorate quicker...just a thought.

 

[Icody]

The only problem with wrapping them is they`ll hold the moisture and deterorate quicker...just a thought.

406Rich is correct....The coated version of headers is pretty weather resistant...You can buff them with a scotchbrite pad (Forget what color pad) and they come pretty clean. Going to go Old Skool on mine and paint them flat white...That means about every winter I will have to probably repaint them..but thats OK its that what winter time is for...LOL

 

[406Rich]

Not a problem. I would be more concerned with water getting to the ignition box/dist. etc. The deflectors would probably help keep things a lot cleaner though!

Spray d-w 40 inside your distributor cap, wipe out the excess, it will never miss from moisture, I go to to many car washes, thats how I learned that trick.

 

[bentwings]

I use aluminized 3 inch tubes all the way back. I wrap the lower part of the header then all the way to the rear of the starter on the right side and about the same on the left side past the oil filter. Also a couple select spots like near the speedo sender and one side of the trans. I use block huggers with modified collectors. Use large hose clamps to secure it.

As I noted my stuff can get cherry red in day light so I can assure you there is no moisture build up. I even unwrapped one side just to confirm this and it looks like new under the wrap even where I welded.

I just checked the dist cap and rotor as well as the weights and springs. All are like new and no evidence of moisture so we'll try for another 12k miles this year. Not that I won't carry spares.

A deflector is a great idea. I'm just now working on new improved ones for the Willys. I just finished the one for the AC. I think I'll use some sheet rubber from Mcmaster-Carr. for the rest of it.

Oh yeah the camera, I have a Canon Powershot. It takes movie clips too. I just hold it up and focus and shoot while I'm driving down the road. I've even held it out the window and shot both front and rear. Even took a couple shots of myself driving. I even have a shot of the trooper right behind me but it's not too clear.

 

[Str8axle]

I was thinking of making some deflectors that I can mount with dzus fasteners so they can be removed when it's dry.

Mike I think this is a great idea. Especially, if you can engineer it nice and make it look clean.
I don't have that issue with my car 'cause with welded spiders, slicks, and no wipers, I don't even THINK about driving it in the rain! LOL!

Again, I think that's a kool idea and would very much like to see pix of it done.

 

[1937Austin]

I have driven mine recently in the rain, so now I have a better idea of what things look like. I've noticed the rain stains the header paint a lot, and the stains don't wash off. Not a big deal to me, as I wont do a lot of rain driving, just when I get caught out, or there's some event I really want to attend regardless of weather.
My wipers are manual, so I have to reach up and turn the knob to work them. Can't really drive in a very hard rain unless I get a passenger to run the wipers while I'm busy steering and shifting.

 

[406Rich]

i put a set of these on my `33 sedan when I built it Val....

 

[OpelGasser]

Thanks for the picture...... do you recall what kind it is and where you purchased it?

Is it top mounted or under the cowl or....?????

I have "no wipers" so as I deal with turning the Opel into a "streetable" and almost "street-legal" car again I have a LOT of things that need to be done before next cruising season.

BTW..... lots of rain & temps in the 40's past few days here in Pittsburgh. But a "warm-up" back to mid to upper 60's is on the way. Weather forecasters are calling for a near perfect weekend after almost a week of cold-rainy weather making it feel like Winter...... burrrrrrr!!!

So if all goes as forecast we will take a ride to a nearby car cruise that has the history of having cars showing up even though the "official" last cruise (with a D.J.) was two weekends ago.

 

[Icody]

Hey MT just a heads up....currently nobody that I know of makes a header coating in White. the only way to get white is to paint them. I have searched as I want white headers myself!!

I will be using modified inner fenders. It's the header that I'm worried about. I will have the headers coated white and they'll be difficult to keep clean on a driver anyway.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[406Rich]

Thanks for the picture...... do you recall what kind it is and where you purchased it?

Is it top mounted or under the cowl or....?????

I have "no wipers" so as I deal with turning the Opel into a "streetable" and almost "street-legal" car again I have a LOT of things that need to be done before next cruising season.

BTW..... lots of rain & temps in the 40's past few days here in Pittsburgh. But a "warm-up" back to mid to upper 60's is on the way. Weather forecasters are calling for a near perfect weekend after almost a week of cold-rainy weather making it feel like Winter...... burrrrrrr!!!

So if all goes as forecast we will take a ride to a nearby car cruise that has the history of having cars showing up even though the "official" last cruise (with a D.J.) was two weekends ago.

These were originally the older style used on the old 69/70 land crusiers, JC whitney still sells them, over the windshield..
http://www.jcwhitney.com/heavy-duty-electric-windshield-wiper-motors/p2002019.jcwx

Some models have longer shafts on them.

 

[mt94ss]

Hey MT just a heads up....currently nobody that I know of makes a header coating in White. the only way to get white is to paint them. I have searched as I want white headers myself!!

Yeah, I know. The local guy that coats has about 7 colors, not white. I got some stuff from Eastwood that is supposed to work. I tried to find it on their site and it's not there anymore... makes me wonder why?!? I'll coat them and post what it looks like later this year or early next year.

Glad to see your car coming along.

And to John, Rich & Vall, I have the electric wiper option that I'm keeping as well as the deluxe heater. I want some comforts when I'm driving. I may even put in a stereo! (at least a simple one)

It got down to 39 a few days ago! Been raining, too. It's like someone flipped a switch. 9/22 was an OK day, 9/23 the rain started and has been going ever since. I guess that's why WA is the evergreen state.

 

[64 Thunderbolt]

Guys, I know this is an old post but I wanted to ask you'll a question here.
Recently while doing some research about my Thunderbolt clone, I saw somewhere, I can't remember where with my SMALL memory, a guy said he used Rainex, I think thats how you spell it, on his windshield & didn't have or need windshield wipers.
Anybody used this & had any luck?
I might have even seen that on My Classic Car.

 

[1937Austin]

I think I mentioned it here on another post. I use RainX on my Austin so I don't really need wipers, and also on my '71 Camaro that doesn't have wipers either. The heavier the rainfall, the better RainX works. If it's a very light mist it wont bead up large enough to run off, unless you're moving pretty fast, but in the heavy rains it just beads up and rolls right off.

 

[64 Thunderbolt]

I think I mentioned it here on another post. I use RainX on my Austin so I don't really need wipers, and also on my '71 Camaro that doesn't have wipers either. The heavier the rainfall, the better RainX works. If it's a very light mist it wont bead up large enough to run off, unless you're moving pretty fast, but in the heavy rains it just beads up and rolls right off.

Maybe thats where I saw it at?

 

[mt94ss]

...a very light mist it wont bead up large enough to run off, unless you're moving pretty fast...

Sounds like a good excuse, officer!