Dragonfly Exterior Parts

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Windshield Hinges
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So you now have the car of your dreams. You've sunk a huge amount of time and money into restoring it and keeping it in pristine showroom condition and running smoothly.

But wait a minute- winter is coming. You want to drive your car in the snow, through road salt, sand and corrosive chemicals? I thought not. You want to store it for the winter s inexpensively as possible? You also want to be able to put it back on the road with little or no hassle and have it ready for spring in the same condition it went into storage in? Read on.

Indoor storage is, of course, the best way to go. And it's really your only option if you are going to be away for a couple of years or longer.

You don't a garage, as indoor storage facilities are plentiful. Most "mini-storage" type places will gladly rent storage spaces big enough for vehicles. Additionally, try to find someone who can "exercise" the vehicle every month or two. Although it's an additional expense in your vehicle budget, proper long term storage will save you money on restoration when you're ready to drive your dream car again.

You can never be too clean for storage, so the first thing you want to do is clean the vehicle. Wait for a dry warm day and give your car a complete wash and wax. Be sure to get the underbody as clean as possible too- particularly wheel well areas. Any dirt will hold moisture and combine with air, causing rust propagation.

A thorough cleaning is in order for the interior, also. Use a shop vacuum or household vacuum cleaner, getting into all the little nooks and crannies. All crumbs, pizza crusts, French fries etc. must go. Otherwise small creatures will be drawn to it and make their home inside your vehicle.

To go the extra mile, a good carpet will help discourage them. Do all this early in the day to allow time to dry before putting the car in storage.

Take the spark plugs out and put some oil into the cylinders. This prevents cylinder walls, pistons and valves from rusting. Regular motor oil is fine or get a spray can of fogging oil from a marine supply store. Turn over the engine by hand half a dozen times to ensure the oil coats everything.

Next apply a little anti-seize on the spark plugs and reinstall them. Make sure the gas tank is full. This will decrease the amount of water available to be absorbed by the gasoline.

For the electrical system, remove the battery cables (negative cable first) and lift out the battery.

Wipe the battery with battery cleaner to take away any moisture-holding dirt or grease. Place the battery on a clean, dry surface, like a block of wood or a stack of bricks.

Now hook up a trickle charger. These are designed to preserve the battery's charge over a long period of time. While the battery is out, inspect the battery rack for rust or corrosion. Clean and repair any damage as necessary.

Lubricate hood latches, hinges and door hinges white lithium grease to keep air and moisture out.

Have a look at the brake fluid. Brake fluid will soak up moisture from the air, causing your brake system to rust and corrode. Get it flushed and filled with clean, fresh fluid if it hasn't been done in two years or more.

Check the coolant level- ensure it is topped off to the proper level. Also check the coolant's protection level. It should be low enough to protect the cooling system from winter temperatures.

Because rodents and other small animals like to chew ignition wires and wiring harnesses, stuff clean rags into the engine air intake, fresh air intake under the windshield and tail pipe. A neat trick a mechanic told me about is to get a big box of mothballs and spread them out around and under the car- for some reason the smell works wonders at keeping undesirable creatures away.

Tires are prone to developing flat spots if the vehicle will be sitting for longer than five or six months. To prevent this you should get a set of four jack stands. Jack up the vehicle and place the jack stands under the lift points of the vehicle (usually the lower control arms or under the frame) If you have a dirt floor, place pieces of 1" plywood under the jack stands to prevent them sinking into the dirt.

Remove the wiper blades from the wiper arms to prevent them from becoming glued to the windshield and leaving marks.

The last thing you need to do is- nothing!

That's it. Lock up and enjoy knowing your precious car is sleeping in suspended animation, awaiting your return.

Troy is an author and webmaster at fountia.com where you can read about bluetooth fetal monitors and other health topics.

5 Ways To Save Money On Quality Replacement Car Parts

5 Ways To Save Money On Quality Replacement Car Parts

As consumers shift from buying a new car every few years to keeping their current cars longer, the demand for quality car parts and accessories continues to grow. After market and replacement car parts can get expensive especially if you own a pricey European brand such as Volvo, BMW or Jaguar. In addition, the quality of some parts can be suspect especially if low cost generics are selected.

Recognizing that many consumers are new to the replacement and after market parts industry, we've compiled five tips on how shoppers can save money on quality parts and accessories:

Shop Online – Sure, your local mechanic or car parts super store can supply the parts your car needs but you may pay a mark up that can add significantly to cost of your repair. Reputable online distributors purchase their goods directly from the manufacturer and sell them to their customers. Lower overhead, inexpensive shipping and in some cases no sales taxes mean that buyers can reap big savings. Special note – shop a secured website and acquaint yourself with the company's return and guarantee policies before making your purchase while learning what other shoppers are saying about that company in forums as well as on blogs.

Consider Used Parts – If you have a good handle on how to fix your car, then shopping for used parts can be option worth considering. Prices are much lower, though the condition of these parts can be questionable. Lots of car owners peruse their local junkyards in search of a door, transmission, trunk hinges, you name it. Also, eBay and Craigslist are two sites that market used car parts.

Wait For Sales – Your local big box auto supply store may have what you need but their retail prices could be high. But when it comes to weekly sales, many of the chains cannot be beat for savings on oil filters, windshield wipers, floor mats, cleaning solutions and the like. On occasion, you may even find a special deal on a new windshield wiper motor.

Talk With Your Mechanic – If you can install the part yourself then you'll save on labor and the cost of the part. However, if you plan on asking your mechanic to install it for you, then you need to ask him if he would be willing to do this work – some will, while others won't. If a problem crops up with the part, you may be able to replace it for free but you'll likely be charged twice for labor.

Avoid Non OEM Parts – One way to save money is to avoid those parts which aren't OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts. Sure, some generic parts by reputable companies may work out fine, but if the manufacturer is unknown, then durability and quality could become issues. Also, be watchful for counterfeit car parts, a multi-billion dollar global problem that is nearly impossible to control. When receiving any part, examine the packaging and the part closely to ensure that what you're getting is the real thing.

Laying out hundreds of dollars or more on quality car parts can seem to be a costly way to keep your car running. However, if you can extend the life of your ride by several years, then the investment you make now can produce long term dividends, allowing you to save up money for a new car in the meantime.

About the Author

Max Rossi is an automotive enthusiast and gear head whose favorite cars include top European brands such as Saab, Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, Porsche, Jaguar, Audi and Volvo. Max makes his living working for FCP Groton, a family owned automotive supply business specializing in high quality replacement automotive parts and accessories from top European manufacturers. When Max isn't managing business or tooling with his 1974 BMW 3.0cs, he can be found pursuing his favorite hobbies, rock climbing, crossword puzzles and fly-fishing.

Ideas to protect my truck windows from getting smashed ???

I have a 1975 Chevy Scotsdale 4x4 and the other night some one smashed out the drivers side window as well as the S.U.V. behind mine. I have to park where it,s at now. I,m willing to go "Road Warrior" and am not concerned about the looks I,ll get. What I,m thinking is that I can weld on some type of hinge to the cab top and a plate that would fold down and lock when the truck is locked. This would have to be done to protect not only the two side windows but the winshield as well. Looking for some ideas. I am not going to be replacing windows every time someone decides to pull this crap again. I,m thinking that the metal protecting the side windows would fold up first, then the one protecting the windshield would flip back and hold those two down. Then figure a way to lock them in place so they are secure while I,m driving. Looking for some good ideas. Thanks

omg I laughed so hard reading this. Not at your windows gettin smashed, but at your plans for fixing your situation. I'm all for it. I hope an engineer finds this and gives you great plans Best of Luck!!!

Police blotter
The following are excerpts from reports of Cleveland Police Department during the period of May 6-19, 2010.

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