Mike Romain

I bought a new one from Canadian Tire for twenty something dollars. I
think there is a 'premium' one sold some places, but the shaft is too
long, so if you have a compare choice, go for the shorter shaft.

I drove one winter with only the bikini and soft doors on. It kept my
feet and hands warm and the windshield defrosted.... After I shoveled
out the snow to go.

Mike

griffin wrote:
>
> Wow, thanks for that one! I'm gonna call around this week and see if I can
> locate one.
>
> griffin
> '97 Corolla SD
> '85 Jeep CJ7
>
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:412A71AF.22676FCC@sympatico.ca...
> > You can drop a monster GM blower motor in that heater box and actually
> > drive at -30 without gloves on!!!!
> >
> > All the windows defrost, even just with the soft top.
> >
> > http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/body/heater.html
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Jeepster

I went from wearing a jacket in the winter to short sleeves after
doing this mod and it gets to -40 here in Edmonton sometimes.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:37:35 -0400, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>You can drop a monster GM blower motor in that heater box and actually
>drive at -30 without gloves on!!!!
>
>All the windows defrost, even just with the soft top.
>
>http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/body/heater.html
>
>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
>griffin wrote:
>>
>> > The very best solution is to not do it. If you drive it 30 minutes
>> > every few weeks to thoroughly warm up the drivetrain fluids, and keep
>> > the gas tank filled and use stabilizer, you don't need to do anything
>> > else.
>> >
>> > If you are concerned about salt damage, then parking it makes sense.
>> >
>> > John
>>
>> I've actually not fully decided what to do. Here's what I'm dealing with:
>> - The Jeep has quite a bit of surface rust starting and a few are all the
>> way through the body. Both floor boards have 4x4" holes in them.
>> - I already have a daily driving car for winter.
>> - I have only a softtop with no back window. I'm trying to find a hardtop or
>> a good softtop but no luck yet.
>> - It's freakin cold here!! I drove my '88 YJ for a winter and it sucked. I
>> even had a huge BTU auxillary heater in the back but it still sucked!! ;p
>> - The salt on the roads here is comparable to the ocean. I'd definitely see
>> an increase in rust if I drove it in winter here.
>> - I'm trying to get some of the body work done by just sanding the rust out
>> and patching over with fiberglass but it's already getting pretty cold out
>> and I won't come even close to finishing.
>> - My carb is finished. Instead of doing the carb-cleaning/fixing tricks
>> ...I'm attempting to locate a good used Weber carb but I don't think it'll
>> be bought/installed before winter. So I'm stuck with like 10mpg.
>> - I hate working on vehicles outside in the winter, so if it breaks down
>> (which it probably would), it would be sitting anyway. I figure it's better
>> to have it all done right and parked properly before it gets cold then to
>> have to do it all when it's -30F.
>> - If I park it, the insurance comes off it ...but then I gotta resafety it
>> next spring. Blah!! ;p At least I'd save $400 in insurance tho. I think all
>> it really needs to have done to pass is the floorboards.
>> - I plan to sell my car sometime this winter and buy a new one. There could
>> be a few weeks without a vehicle. Keeping the Jeep on the road solves this
>> problem.
>> - I like having an extra vehicle on the road in case my other car gets
>> stuck, fails, etc.
>>
>> So, that's a list of everything floating around in my head ...both pros and
>> cons ...still undecided but time is running out as winter is almost here.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> griffin
>> '97 Corolla SD
>> '85 Jeep CJ7

Jeepster

I went from wearing a jacket in the winter to short sleeves after
doing this mod and it gets to -40 here in Edmonton sometimes.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:37:35 -0400, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>You can drop a monster GM blower motor in that heater box and actually
>drive at -30 without gloves on!!!!
>
>All the windows defrost, even just with the soft top.
>
>http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/body/heater.html
>
>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
>griffin wrote:
>>
>> > The very best solution is to not do it. If you drive it 30 minutes
>> > every few weeks to thoroughly warm up the drivetrain fluids, and keep
>> > the gas tank filled and use stabilizer, you don't need to do anything
>> > else.
>> >
>> > If you are concerned about salt damage, then parking it makes sense.
>> >
>> > John
>>
>> I've actually not fully decided what to do. Here's what I'm dealing with:
>> - The Jeep has quite a bit of surface rust starting and a few are all the
>> way through the body. Both floor boards have 4x4" holes in them.
>> - I already have a daily driving car for winter.
>> - I have only a softtop with no back window. I'm trying to find a hardtop or
>> a good softtop but no luck yet.
>> - It's freakin cold here!! I drove my '88 YJ for a winter and it sucked. I
>> even had a huge BTU auxillary heater in the back but it still sucked!! ;p
>> - The salt on the roads here is comparable to the ocean. I'd definitely see
>> an increase in rust if I drove it in winter here.
>> - I'm trying to get some of the body work done by just sanding the rust out
>> and patching over with fiberglass but it's already getting pretty cold out
>> and I won't come even close to finishing.
>> - My carb is finished. Instead of doing the carb-cleaning/fixing tricks
>> ...I'm attempting to locate a good used Weber carb but I don't think it'll
>> be bought/installed before winter. So I'm stuck with like 10mpg.
>> - I hate working on vehicles outside in the winter, so if it breaks down
>> (which it probably would), it would be sitting anyway. I figure it's better
>> to have it all done right and parked properly before it gets cold then to
>> have to do it all when it's -30F.
>> - If I park it, the insurance comes off it ...but then I gotta resafety it
>> next spring. Blah!! ;p At least I'd save $400 in insurance tho. I think all
>> it really needs to have done to pass is the floorboards.
>> - I plan to sell my car sometime this winter and buy a new one. There could
>> be a few weeks without a vehicle. Keeping the Jeep on the road solves this
>> problem.
>> - I like having an extra vehicle on the road in case my other car gets
>> stuck, fails, etc.
>>
>> So, that's a list of everything floating around in my head ...both pros and
>> cons ...still undecided but time is running out as winter is almost here.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> griffin
>> '97 Corolla SD
>> '85 Jeep CJ7

Jeepster

I went from wearing a jacket in the winter to short sleeves after
doing this mod and it gets to -40 here in Edmonton sometimes.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:37:35 -0400, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>You can drop a monster GM blower motor in that heater box and actually
>drive at -30 without gloves on!!!!
>
>All the windows defrost, even just with the soft top.
>
>http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/body/heater.html
>
>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
>griffin wrote:
>>
>> > The very best solution is to not do it. If you drive it 30 minutes
>> > every few weeks to thoroughly warm up the drivetrain fluids, and keep
>> > the gas tank filled and use stabilizer, you don't need to do anything
>> > else.
>> >
>> > If you are concerned about salt damage, then parking it makes sense.
>> >
>> > John
>>
>> I've actually not fully decided what to do. Here's what I'm dealing with:
>> - The Jeep has quite a bit of surface rust starting and a few are all the
>> way through the body. Both floor boards have 4x4" holes in them.
>> - I already have a daily driving car for winter.
>> - I have only a softtop with no back window. I'm trying to find a hardtop or
>> a good softtop but no luck yet.
>> - It's freakin cold here!! I drove my '88 YJ for a winter and it sucked. I
>> even had a huge BTU auxillary heater in the back but it still sucked!! ;p
>> - The salt on the roads here is comparable to the ocean. I'd definitely see
>> an increase in rust if I drove it in winter here.
>> - I'm trying to get some of the body work done by just sanding the rust out
>> and patching over with fiberglass but it's already getting pretty cold out
>> and I won't come even close to finishing.
>> - My carb is finished. Instead of doing the carb-cleaning/fixing tricks
>> ...I'm attempting to locate a good used Weber carb but I don't think it'll
>> be bought/installed before winter. So I'm stuck with like 10mpg.
>> - I hate working on vehicles outside in the winter, so if it breaks down
>> (which it probably would), it would be sitting anyway. I figure it's better
>> to have it all done right and parked properly before it gets cold then to
>> have to do it all when it's -30F.
>> - If I park it, the insurance comes off it ...but then I gotta resafety it
>> next spring. Blah!! ;p At least I'd save $400 in insurance tho. I think all
>> it really needs to have done to pass is the floorboards.
>> - I plan to sell my car sometime this winter and buy a new one. There could
>> be a few weeks without a vehicle. Keeping the Jeep on the road solves this
>> problem.
>> - I like having an extra vehicle on the road in case my other car gets
>> stuck, fails, etc.
>>
>> So, that's a list of everything floating around in my head ...both pros and
>> cons ...still undecided but time is running out as winter is almost here.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> griffin
>> '97 Corolla SD
>> '85 Jeep CJ7

Jeepster

I went from wearing a jacket in the winter to short sleeves after
doing this mod and it gets to -40 here in Edmonton sometimes.

On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 18:37:35 -0400, Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

>You can drop a monster GM blower motor in that heater box and actually
>drive at -30 without gloves on!!!!
>
>All the windows defrost, even just with the soft top.
>
>http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/body/heater.html
>
>Mike
>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
>griffin wrote:
>>
>> > The very best solution is to not do it. If you drive it 30 minutes
>> > every few weeks to thoroughly warm up the drivetrain fluids, and keep
>> > the gas tank filled and use stabilizer, you don't need to do anything
>> > else.
>> >
>> > If you are concerned about salt damage, then parking it makes sense.
>> >
>> > John
>>
>> I've actually not fully decided what to do. Here's what I'm dealing with:
>> - The Jeep has quite a bit of surface rust starting and a few are all the
>> way through the body. Both floor boards have 4x4" holes in them.
>> - I already have a daily driving car for winter.
>> - I have only a softtop with no back window. I'm trying to find a hardtop or
>> a good softtop but no luck yet.
>> - It's freakin cold here!! I drove my '88 YJ for a winter and it sucked. I
>> even had a huge BTU auxillary heater in the back but it still sucked!! ;p
>> - The salt on the roads here is comparable to the ocean. I'd definitely see
>> an increase in rust if I drove it in winter here.
>> - I'm trying to get some of the body work done by just sanding the rust out
>> and patching over with fiberglass but it's already getting pretty cold out
>> and I won't come even close to finishing.
>> - My carb is finished. Instead of doing the carb-cleaning/fixing tricks
>> ...I'm attempting to locate a good used Weber carb but I don't think it'll
>> be bought/installed before winter. So I'm stuck with like 10mpg.
>> - I hate working on vehicles outside in the winter, so if it breaks down
>> (which it probably would), it would be sitting anyway. I figure it's better
>> to have it all done right and parked properly before it gets cold then to
>> have to do it all when it's -30F.
>> - If I park it, the insurance comes off it ...but then I gotta resafety it
>> next spring. Blah!! ;p At least I'd save $400 in insurance tho. I think all
>> it really needs to have done to pass is the floorboards.
>> - I plan to sell my car sometime this winter and buy a new one. There could
>> be a few weeks without a vehicle. Keeping the Jeep on the road solves this
>> problem.
>> - I like having an extra vehicle on the road in case my other car gets
>> stuck, fails, etc.
>>
>> So, that's a list of everything floating around in my head ...both pros and
>> cons ...still undecided but time is running out as winter is almost here.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> griffin
>> '97 Corolla SD
>> '85 Jeep CJ7

Tomes

Mike - I get mine at my lawnmower shop. The gallon of oil/gas mix I use for
the chainsaw lasts a long time.....
Tomes

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:4129F981.E5E0ACA7@sympatico.ca...
> Ok, no argument from me on that.
>
> I only had gas in the tank, no lines or engine was attached.
>
> Where do you get gas stabilizer? I have never seen or really heard of
> it besides here.
>
> I always ran my 2 strokes out of fuel in the system before winter
> storage so I guess I never had the varnish issue, but do remember it
> now.
>
> Mike
>
> FrankW wrote:
> >
> > Bad advice Mike!
> > I guess you were lucky.
> > Gas doesn't last as long as the old days
> > If the gas is going to sit for more than a month
> > you MUST add fuel stabilizer.
> >
> > Ask any Marine mechanic or even read a marine
> > owners manual on winter storage issues.
> >
> > Some other good advice when storing for winter
> > is to change the oil in the diff's tranny etc.
> > This ensures there is no moisture to damage said components.
> >
> > I store my Argo 6X6 every winter and I store my
> > snowmobile every summer. Been there........
> > A friend stored his snowmobile one summer
> > without stabilizer and varnish built up in
> > the carb....plugged a jet.....melted a piston
> > Fuel stabilizer is cheap insurance. :-)
> > Cheers
> > Frank
> >
> > Mike Romain wrote:
> >
> > > I have never done that and have never had any 'old gas' issues. One
> > > winter isn't long. My CJ7 was parked for a year and a half while I
did
> > > the frame up and the gas was still fine.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > FrankW wrote:
> > >
> > >>If your going to fill the tank
> > >>You better add fuel stabilizer to the gas.
> > >>
> > >>twaldron wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>A partially full gas tank will produce condensation from moisture in
the
> > >>>air, which in turn can freeze.
> > >>>
> > >>>griffin wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>Gas in the tank? Why's that? I was thinking to empty it but then
again
> > >>>>I had
> > >>>>no idea one way or the other ...
> > >>>>
> > >>>>griffin
> > >>>>'85 CJ7
> > >>>>
> > >>>>"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > >>>>news:41295D14.41C737A9@sympatico.ca...
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>Good antifreeze, full tank of gas with some gas line deicer in
'just
> > >>>>>because', proper antifreeze through the windshield washer system
and the
> > >>>>>battery disconnected comes to mind.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>Mike
> > >>>>>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > >>>>>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>griffin wrote:
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>>I think I'm going to park the CJ7 for the winter but I'm wondering
what
> > >>>>>>preparations I can make to help prevent any problems next spring.
It
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>gets
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>>very cold here (-35C or -30F approx) and it will be parked outside
on a
> > >>>>>>gravel driveway. It's pretty much stock with some growing amounts
of
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>body
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>>rust (some all the way through).
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>>Thanks!
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>>griffin
> > >>>>>>'85 CJ7
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>

Tomes

Mike - I get mine at my lawnmower shop. The gallon of oil/gas mix I use for
the chainsaw lasts a long time.....
Tomes

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:4129F981.E5E0ACA7@sympatico.ca...
> Ok, no argument from me on that.
>
> I only had gas in the tank, no lines or engine was attached.
>
> Where do you get gas stabilizer? I have never seen or really heard of
> it besides here.
>
> I always ran my 2 strokes out of fuel in the system before winter
> storage so I guess I never had the varnish issue, but do remember it
> now.
>
> Mike
>
> FrankW wrote:
> >
> > Bad advice Mike!
> > I guess you were lucky.
> > Gas doesn't last as long as the old days
> > If the gas is going to sit for more than a month
> > you MUST add fuel stabilizer.
> >
> > Ask any Marine mechanic or even read a marine
> > owners manual on winter storage issues.
> >
> > Some other good advice when storing for winter
> > is to change the oil in the diff's tranny etc.
> > This ensures there is no moisture to damage said components.
> >
> > I store my Argo 6X6 every winter and I store my
> > snowmobile every summer. Been there........
> > A friend stored his snowmobile one summer
> > without stabilizer and varnish built up in
> > the carb....plugged a jet.....melted a piston
> > Fuel stabilizer is cheap insurance. :-)
> > Cheers
> > Frank
> >
> > Mike Romain wrote:
> >
> > > I have never done that and have never had any 'old gas' issues. One
> > > winter isn't long. My CJ7 was parked for a year and a half while I
did
> > > the frame up and the gas was still fine.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > FrankW wrote:
> > >
> > >>If your going to fill the tank
> > >>You better add fuel stabilizer to the gas.
> > >>
> > >>twaldron wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>A partially full gas tank will produce condensation from moisture in
the
> > >>>air, which in turn can freeze.
> > >>>
> > >>>griffin wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>Gas in the tank? Why's that? I was thinking to empty it but then
again
> > >>>>I had
> > >>>>no idea one way or the other ...
> > >>>>
> > >>>>griffin
> > >>>>'85 CJ7
> > >>>>
> > >>>>"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > >>>>news:41295D14.41C737A9@sympatico.ca...
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>Good antifreeze, full tank of gas with some gas line deicer in
'just
> > >>>>>because', proper antifreeze through the windshield washer system
and the
> > >>>>>battery disconnected comes to mind.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>Mike
> > >>>>>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > >>>>>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>griffin wrote:
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>>I think I'm going to park the CJ7 for the winter but I'm wondering
what
> > >>>>>>preparations I can make to help prevent any problems next spring.
It
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>gets
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>>very cold here (-35C or -30F approx) and it will be parked outside
on a
> > >>>>>>gravel driveway. It's pretty much stock with some growing amounts
of
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>body
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>>rust (some all the way through).
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>>Thanks!
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>>griffin
> > >>>>>>'85 CJ7
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>

Tomes

Mike - I get mine at my lawnmower shop. The gallon of oil/gas mix I use for
the chainsaw lasts a long time.....
Tomes

"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:4129F981.E5E0ACA7@sympatico.ca...
> Ok, no argument from me on that.
>
> I only had gas in the tank, no lines or engine was attached.
>
> Where do you get gas stabilizer? I have never seen or really heard of
> it besides here.
>
> I always ran my 2 strokes out of fuel in the system before winter
> storage so I guess I never had the varnish issue, but do remember it
> now.
>
> Mike
>
> FrankW wrote:
> >
> > Bad advice Mike!
> > I guess you were lucky.
> > Gas doesn't last as long as the old days
> > If the gas is going to sit for more than a month
> > you MUST add fuel stabilizer.
> >
> > Ask any Marine mechanic or even read a marine
> > owners manual on winter storage issues.
> >
> > Some other good advice when storing for winter
> > is to change the oil in the diff's tranny etc.
> > This ensures there is no moisture to damage said components.
> >
> > I store my Argo 6X6 every winter and I store my
> > snowmobile every summer. Been there........
> > A friend stored his snowmobile one summer
> > without stabilizer and varnish built up in
> > the carb....plugged a jet.....melted a piston
> > Fuel stabilizer is cheap insurance. :-)
> > Cheers
> > Frank
> >
> > Mike Romain wrote:
> >
> > > I have never done that and have never had any 'old gas' issues. One
> > > winter isn't long. My CJ7 was parked for a year and a half while I
did
> > > the frame up and the gas was still fine.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > FrankW wrote:
> > >
> > >>If your going to fill the tank
> > >>You better add fuel stabilizer to the gas.
> > >>
> > >>twaldron wrote:
> > >>
> > >>>A partially full gas tank will produce condensation from moisture in
the
> > >>>air, which in turn can freeze.
> > >>>
> > >>>griffin wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>>>Gas in the tank? Why's that? I was thinking to empty it but then
again
> > >>>>I had
> > >>>>no idea one way or the other ...
> > >>>>
> > >>>>griffin
> > >>>>'85 CJ7
> > >>>>
> > >>>>"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > >>>>news:41295D14.41C737A9@sympatico.ca...
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>Good antifreeze, full tank of gas with some gas line deicer in
'just
> > >>>>>because', proper antifreeze through the windshield washer system
and the
> > >>>>>battery disconnected comes to mind.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>Mike
> > >>>>>86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > >>>>>88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>griffin wrote:
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>>I think I'm going to park the CJ7 for the winter but I'm wondering
what
> > >>>>>>preparations I can make to help prevent any problems next spring.
It
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>gets
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>>very cold here (-35C or -30F approx) and it will be parked outside
on a
> > >>>>>>gravel driveway. It's pretty much stock with some growing amounts
of
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>body
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>>>rust (some all the way through).
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>>Thanks!
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>>griffin
> > >>>>>>'85 CJ7
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>>