My new 1988 T/A

[DynoDave]

It was just too nice on Sunday, so I pulled the T/A out of the garage, dusted her off, aired up the tires, installed the new Historical license plate, and took her for a nice cruise. Burned up the last of the winter gas (lots of WOT pulls ) while cruising the countryside, listening to Sammy Hagar's Top Rock Countdown on KSHE 95 out of St. Louis. Heard an O'Reilly's ad for buy one-get one on Techron. So I stopped in the Lake Orion store and picked up 2 bottle, and added one to the fresh load of fuel going into the T/A. As it's the first tank after sitting, I went with good ol' regular for it's ethanol content, to chase out any remaining moisture.

No pics this time. Meant to stop and take one, but forgot. Was having too much fun.

[MP81]

Always good to hear of a solid drive like that - it was very nice out on Sunday - even nicer yesterday and today! Didn't take any of the cars out, but took down the Christmas lights yesterday and took the dog for a walk today to enjoy the weather!

I did start both cars about a week ago for the first time since parking them in November and let them run for about 10-15 minutes. Even the ornery one seemed happy to fire right up.

[DynoDave]

It started well. We made a few stops, and it restarted well each time. But....the battery in the car is the same ACDelco as when I bought it (2014), and it was not new then. Living on a Battery Tender helps extend the life. But I left it off the charger for a few weeks this winter, and when I went to start it, it cranked pretty slow.

I'd love to add a small AGM battery inside the case of the current battery, like I started to do for the Chrysler before the garage fire. But I just don't know if I'll have time for that sort of foolishness this summer or not.

[MP81]

Hmm, sounds like it's probably fine if it still started after being off the tender for a bit in winter. My Cobalt's battery is an AC Delco I bought years back now - but it has died on me a number of times, so while it's fine for a few weeks in summer, any longer and I may come out to a totally dead car. In winter, it's a much shorter period of time. I've been trying to make sure I get the car on a battery tender right away when the car is no longer being driven rather than forgetting about that part and then having to use the actual battery charger to bring the voltage up enough to where the tender can take over and finish the job. I tend to put the tenders on right at the same time I am pulling the summers off the car, as I know I will not be driving either of them after that point.

[DynoDave]

I've been told that the problem is that while you nurse along a weak battery, the alternator is doing more and more of the work in the background. It's not just starting, but the loads running down the road. Add that extra load to summer heat at, say, the Dream Cruise, and both battery and alternator will not be happy at all. So in the spirit of not cooking my alternator, or getting stranded when an already sulfated battery finally shorts out internally and leaves me walking, I think I'd rather do something sooner rather than later.

But between work, house, still recovering from the garage fire, kids, daily drivers, motorhome, etc. etc., I just don't know where I will find the time to work on the T/A this year. Nothing special about me; everyone has 24 hours in a day, and has to decide what they must get done Vs. what they'd like to get done.

As car shows (POCI, MIFB, T/A Nationals, Frankenmuth) come knocking, I'll either have to trust it for another year, or just throw another replacement in it. I seldom have the hood open anyway. It's reasonably clean from a show point of view, but it's just not interesting visually.

[MP81]

It would make sense - something has to take up the slack. Mine seemingly has zero issues - fires up basically the second you turn that key...it just doesn't hold a charge overly long. Entirely due to my stupidity, I'd say.

And yep, I feel ya there. Even if I have free time - do I want to spend it working on the car when I could sit around and do nothing?

[DynoDave]

It took until the 4th outing this year to finally get a picture of the car. Culver's L.O. Cruise Night, 5-10-22. A bright afternoon sun did not make for great quality photos. And yes, they are all Pontiac or F-body, with a couple of C4's sprinkled in.

[DynoDave]

OK, long series of posts coming.

Our Pontiac Oakland Club International Chapter #16 Michigan Widetrackers held it's 33rd annual Spring Dust-Off today.

While the forecast 10 days out was a mid-40s % chance of rain, the forecast improved steadily, to where we beautiful sunny skies until about 1:30 or 2pm, mild temps and breezes. The county park and facilities were great as usual. Just a great car show day. We had 98 entries last I heard, which is pretty good given our years off from covid and what-not. Car and event pics to follow.

Sorry all the photos have the same "pose". Bu tthe bright mid-day sun made taking all the photos from the same side something of a necessity.

CETA! One of our club members, and past V.P.



Firehawk!





CETA convertible. Class winner IIRC.



Our car on the far end. We arrived early to help with registration and other chores. I was surprised to watch two more red third gens. roll in.

















52139520025_d9a4407337_b.jpg



































Prototype #2 of 2.





























'76 Hurst Olds with T-tops!





























































1 year only GP body style, and only year for a convertible GP.



A beautiful dark, dark blue.

[MP81]

Woah, that's a lot of cool stuff - absolutely perfect day for that today!

[DynoDave]

It really was perfect weather. Nothing to complain about at all.

Hopefully it will be as nice again in 2 weeks for the Meet & Greet.

[DynoDave]

Made it out to the Golling Buick GMC Charity Car Cruise this afternoon. Good turnout, and $1200 raised for the local Orion Veterans Memorial. Good stuff.

Like the last car show, pictures are a little bleached out due to the bright afternoon sunshine. But it was a beautiful day, so it's tough to complain.

https://www.orionveteransmemorial.com/

My car back-to-back with club members Doug and Diane's 4th gen.

[DynoDave]

One of these days I'll have to get this guy to draw my car. Amazing to watch him work.

[DynoDave]

[DynoDave]

[DynoDave]