Cascade Crew

izcain · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:05 pm Post subject: Calling on crewbie advice

Hey guys so I have located and secured a cts-V but now the hard part is getting it home as it is sitting in a heated garage in Belleville Michigan. Embarassed

Just wondering what the weather has been like as I am contemplating either driving it back to washington or trying to find a storage area.

I didn't know if some of you guys are from around that area and could tell me what the road conditions are like. I am thinking about making the trip in the beginning to the middle of February.

I am also debating going there on a round trip and getting the car and putting it in storage in the area then coming back and waiting it out for a month or so before going back to make the drive. Worried about the weather.

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:14 pm Post subject:

I did some growing up in Michigan. Looking at the forecast, it's quite cold now. Something to be aware of, Michigan uses salt on the roads in the winter, and any car with some age starts to rust out around the fenders and rocker panels. Being in a heated garage, it sounds like this is a well taken care of car and rust shouldn't be an issue. Snow is easier to drive on out there, it packs under your tires and offers a bit of traction, unlike ours that turns to a slippery slush as soon as you roll over it.

Here's the ten-day forecast...

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Bellevue+MI+USMI0071:1:US

izcain · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the input AL the car has never seen winter driving. It stays in the garage all winter and only comes out in spring and summer with the current owner.

Sounds like snow is just the norm there lol. I am thinking about storing the car in that area for like a month and driving it back in march instead but I dont know if I will gain much in weather?

Al Hasse · Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 11:25 pm Post subject:

Michigan has 4 real seasons, unlike the 2 or 3 that we have. March is early spring, and can still have snow, especially with the weather system out there now. I'd be more worried about the drive across on I-80 or I-90 through the Great Plains or the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana.

aaron_sK · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:21 am Post subject:

91RSVert · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:06 am Post subject:

izcain · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:18 pm Post subject:

hmmm well I have seen underneath pics of the car I will post up a couple when I get home tonight. Car seemed to be clean.

Now you guys are scarin me lol

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject:

Winter out here has been dry. It's pretty cold right now. Roads are white with salt until spring.

Personally, I wouldn't touch a car from Michigan. The rust out here will blow your socks off. Cars are done at 10 years old.

blue89 · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 12:14 am Post subject:

Can't you just take it to the car wash and blast it out every few days? Seems like something I would do if I lived somewhere like that.

QwkTrip · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:55 pm Post subject:

Blast it out of where? You can't reach all the nooks and crannies. This isn't rock salt that sweeps off with a broom. This is a potent liquid solution that invades every place water can go. It's on every road and becomes a mist in the air after tires kick it up. It might as well be raining from the sky. Right now the tread of my tires are white, my blue truck is nearly white, and there is no snow anywhere. This stuff doesn't come off unless you wipe it off by hand. A power washer does not cut the film. I had a quarter size hole rust through the roof of my Cherokee and it was only 10 years old. The rust came from the inside out. No amount of washing can keep that from happening.

The guy you want to listen to is the guy that lives close to Michigan right now. Nobody else matters. I wouldn't buy that car unless it was garaged 100% (not even one exception!) from November to May.

izcain · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:31 am Post subject:

The car has not seen Winter driving at all during his ownership or the previous owner as well. At least that is what he is saying. He did send me about 50 highly detailed shots of the undercarriage and it looks spotless so I am inclined to believe him. We met on the V forums and he seems to be a genuine enthusiast. I am going to fly over there and look closely at it. I think it is worth the trip. It is one of the few Vs in the United States with the full creative steel diff swap. Has many other items and honestly I could never build it for what we have a price set at. When I get there he has a lift and everything right in his personal garage and said he would be more then happy to lift the car and let me look at every nook and cranny he is trying to be up front with me since he knows where he lives is a rough area during winter!

IROCDave · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 6:21 pm Post subject:

Man, if the car is that clean and your flying back to look at it...drive it home. Worst case, pay to have it shipped home. I wouldnt pay for it then leave it there for months, just me I guess. Make the road trip, it will be a ton of fun and create memories that are worth the cost.

izcain · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 7:29 pm Post subject:

The auto transporter will be right there to pick up the car while I am there so if everything looks good it will go rigt on the transporter and start its journey home.

izcain · Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:47 pm Post subject:

Ok guys just thought I would post up tonight and say I bought the car and it is an awesome piece! Had it shipped home. I flew over there and the owner put it on the lift in his garage. and let me check out everything. Very clean and NEVER driven in the crap winters. The undercarriage was super clean with only some slight discoloration on the fasteners. I have honestly seen a whole lot worse cars that come into my shop for work here in washington!

I just got it home yesterday and dont have very good photos but here are a couple.

Now for the fun part I have held back from telling lol
Mods are the following.

82k on the car

LS6 24k on new long block was replaced under warrenty at GM

Longtubes, CAI, Magnacharger w/ 2.7 pulley setup for 8.5 pounds of boost, LS7 clutch assy. w/ lightened flywheel, Racetronix fuel pump harness w/ Walbro 255, Creative steel Motor mounts, Creative Steel 8.8 Rear differential swap (driveshaft shop axles, and driveshaft) using a Cobra diff with the carbon fiber clutch packs, B&M shifter, and lots of other goodies both exterior and interior.

Car put down 467hp/427tq at Vector Motorsports in MI

Car has 2k miles on it with the mods listed and I am glad since once I got it home I pulled the tune out since it was tuned on efi live and I dont really like how they tuned it so I will be working with another guy and we are going to do a full retune for the car. It should have more power left in her.

Was an interesting drive home on Valentines day! lol

Very Happy

turbo_jimi · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 7:49 am Post subject:

Very nice! Smile

iansane · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 1:36 pm Post subject:

Niiiiice.

QwkTrip · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:37 pm Post subject:

Good deal.

Can't see the pictures though.

Alphius · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:09 am Post subject:

Wow! Nice car. Very Happy

I like those cars a lot.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 3:42 pm Post subject:

"Car for the wife and kid" he said. Now I see what kind of scam this is. Laughing

izcain · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:06 pm Post subject:

Yep there ya have it! lol

Going to be putting on a ground control kit and some different sways.

I already changed the tune up since there was somethings in it that I did not like when I pulled it out. I think the car has more in it once I get it tuned in a bit better.

Also got an lc-1 and a boost gauge coming with a nice pod.

Exhaust sounds good but I think I will end up changing that as well.

It is a good solid foundation for doing what I want to do.

Wife gave me the hairy eye at first but she has driven it and liked it as well.

Next time she wont ask for just a car with four doors and a trunk popper and no other stipulations lol