Preparing for Winter

[ninjazombiemaster]

Here in Salt Lake, our first snowfall is usually a the end of October - Which I'm really not excited for.

I know Z's aren't great winter drivers, just being rear wheel and rust prone.

My question is basically, what needs to be done to have the car safe for winter. Where I'm living now doesn't have a garage or even covered parking, so I should probably invest in a cover to keep water from getting places and freezing there. And I also assume I should eliminate and rust proof it as best I can, any other suggestions for maintaining it?

The previous owner didn't drive it in the snow or rain, so I really don't know how its gonna do.

[Oiluj]

Z's can be safely driven in snow, but I don't recommend it.

Early Z's are rust prone. Snow and salt are a recipe for rust, which will likely end-up taking one more Datsun off the road for good...

[Rainman]

I agree with Julio but if you have to drive it during the winter, you might want to put some weight in the back to help improve traction. I used to put several sand bags over the axles of an old pick-up I used to have to increase the weight over the drive wheels for winter driving. The Z isn't as light as a pick-up but there isn't much weight over the rear axle. Just a thought.

[Casey_z]

I drove my first 240 year round when for 3 years in Ontario.

After 3 winters the rear quarters were rusting already and I had bought it brand new.

It handled the weather ok for traction but once the snow is deeper than 6 inches your Datsun is an expensive toboggan. It rides up on the snow when it is deep and you slide instead of driveLOL It happened to me but it was a soft landing with no damage. Just a lot of friends pushing it back on the road.

Good luck but moisture and salt eat early Japanese cars.

Casey

[ninjazombiemaster]

I used to do the same with my step-dads old Sierra. Hopefully I'll be outta this place before the heavy snowfall - Not that the southeast treats rust-prone cars much nicer - but hey, still beats the cold in my opinion.