Daily Driver in Winter – Sand/Rock Chip Solution Suggestions…
All,
My 02’ GT is a daily driver, even in the winter. Outfitted with winter tires seems to resolve the mobility issues, but when all that white-wonder melts, there remains an issue when the sand and gravel catapulted from other vehicles.
What suggestions do you have for avoiding this, other than putting the car up for the winter and until the street-sweepers make their rounds? (I.E., Stone-masks/Bra [if so, which kind is recommended, price ranges and where to buy?], automotive paintwork protection / paint sealant, etc?)
Thanks,
~Josh
__________________
~Josh
USMC 0351 (1992 - 1996)
"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know..."
2002 GT Coupe (White)
K&N FIPK, SLP Loudmouth II's, SLP Catted-X, Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs, Ford Racing 4.10's, etc.
Keep the car as clean as possible. Pay particular attention to the bottom of the doors. (which often get neglected) You should give it thorough cleaning and wax job every year before winter hits. Make sure you scotchguard your carpet too. When you do get chips (because you will) touch them up when you can..Thats how rust starts.(in time) Personally I do not like bras. I think it might make matters worse. Salt and tiny pebbles seem to find their way under the bra . The bra tends to rub the paint IMO and with little rocks in there....well you could imagine. I would consider some of that 3M clear plastic film to put on say the hood area where it seemd like most of the rock chips are. Get mud flaps. Make sure you clean in side the wheel whells too. Lots of dirt and sand seem to pack up in there. Also what type of rust protection do you have in your area? Here the oil based stuff seems to be still the most popular. Also your drivers side carpet is probably soaked under the mats. The carpet may seem dry to the touch , but the underlayment will be soaked. Get into the habit of peeling back the carpet and lettting it dry every spring. Its the moisture that will eventually rust the floor boards. Also consider painting the under side of the car in POR 15 chassis black or clear. Its amazing stuff. I dont now how harsh or how long your winters are either. In these parts it may begin as early as Oct and it not till May when the roads get swept. You can by a brand new car and within about 7-10 years driven daily in winter the rust usually starts to show on the body. Within about 2-3 years rust is on the floor board surfaces , (underneath) ,on brake lines , the rotors get all scaley with rust.. . Winter is murder on a car unfortunately.
__________________
89 ' LX 5.0L coupe ex-crash victim.5 sp., 100% stock except for Dynomax Super Turbo mufflers. 2-1/2" tailpipes, airbag in right rear, K&N filter, 4.10's,subframe conn. A plain LX . 14.06 in the quarter .@95.75 mph / 1.79 60' No front sway bar. M/T slicks 3500 rpm launch, 11 psi on 89 octane, timing in the 14-16 degree range Done on a 70 degree day. Best 60' to date 1.77, best e.t. to date 14.01 by my brother.
Keep the car as clean as possible. Pay particular attention to the bottom of the doors. (which often get neglected) You should give it thorough cleaning and wax job every year before winter hits. Make sure you scotchguard your carpet too. When you do get chips (because you will) touch them up when you can..Thats how rust starts.(in time) Personally I do not like bras. I think it might make matters worse. Salt and tiny pebbles seem to find their way under the bra . The bra tends to rub the paint IMO and with little rocks in there....well you could imagine. I would consider some of that 3M clear plastic film to put on say the hood area where it seemd like most of the rock chips are. Get mud flaps. Make sure you clean in side the wheel whells too. Lots of dirt and sand seem to pack up in there. Also what type of rust protection do you have in your area? Here the oil based stuff seems to be still the most popular. Also your drivers side carpet is probably soaked under the mats. The carpet may seem dry to the touch , but the underlayment will be soaked. Get into the habit of peeling back the carpet and lettting it dry every spring. Its the moisture that will eventually rust the floor boards. Also consider painting the under side of the car in POR 15 chassis black or clear. Its amazing stuff. I dont now how harsh or how long your winters are either. In these parts it may begin as early as Oct and it not till May when the roads get swept. You can by a brand new car and within about 7-10 years driven daily in winter the rust usually starts to show on the body. Within about 2-3 years rust is on the floor board surfaces , (underneath) ,on brake lines , the rotors get all scaley with rust.. . Winter is murder on a car unfortunately.
Good scoop, Finelx – Thanks! I’ll definitely make note of all that. Your last line, sad but true, depressed the hell out of me (“Winter is murder on a car unfortunately.”) – time to relocate south to warmer climates!
__________________
~Josh
USMC 0351 (1992 - 1996)
"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know..."
2002 GT Coupe (White)
K&N FIPK, SLP Loudmouth II's, SLP Catted-X, Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs, Ford Racing 4.10's, etc.
It doesn't have to be... my daily driver is 15 years old with no signs of rust and I've done nothing in particular to prevent it. There's quite a number of paint dings, though, but after 15 winters what would I expect? Mainly, though, if you can avoid driving in fresh snow, when the gravel trucks are most likely to be out, you can avoid most of the rock chips. Having said that... I intend to keep it as a winter car until it dies.
It doesn't have to be... my daily driver is 15 years old with no signs of rust and I've done nothing in particular to prevent it. There's quite a number of paint dings, though, but after 15 winters what would I expect? Mainly, though, if you can avoid driving in fresh snow, when the gravel trucks are most likely to be out, you can avoid most of the rock chips. Having said that... I intend to keep it as a winter car until it dies.
Can't wait for my GT to arrive!
Yea, we’ve had a relative light winter for snowfall this year (with approx 4-5 snowfalls total this winter and only 1 major storm delivering 12 inches), but the fuggin city has gone ape-$hit with the gravel this year! I cannot remember so much GD gravel being on the ground, and we have had much more severe winters/snowfalls. I try to stay far behind other vehicles and altogether avoid trucks. I got a microscopic rock-chip in my windshields a few weeks back while merging onto the interstate which got me thinking about a bra or paint sealant...
~Josh
__________________
~Josh
USMC 0351 (1992 - 1996)
"For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know..."
2002 GT Coupe (White)
K&N FIPK, SLP Loudmouth II's, SLP Catted-X, Eibach Pro-Kit Lowering Springs, Ford Racing 4.10's, etc.
Daily Driver in Winter – Sand/Rock Chip Solution Suggestions… 
I’ll definitely make note of all that. Your last line, sad but true, 
depressed the hell out of me (“Winter is murder on a car unfortunately.”) – time to relocate south to warmer climates!
I cannot remember so much GD gravel being on the ground, and we have had much more severe winters/snowfalls. I try to stay far behind other vehicles and altogether avoid trucks. I got a microscopic rock-chip in my windshields 
a few weeks back while merging onto the interstate which got me thinking about a bra or paint sealant...
