Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: Buickguy3 on September 23, 2014, 04:39:30 PM

Title: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Buickguy3 on September 23, 2014, 04:39:30 PM
  Well it's time to remove the World of Speed Salt from the sacrificial Suburban. I usually wait until after World Finals to remove the last coat of Salt but I think I'll do it while the Sun is shining.
    Doug  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: nrhs sales on September 23, 2014, 05:38:10 PM
I sweep up all the salt left on my driveway and give it back to the flats every year.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: SteveM on September 23, 2014, 06:48:11 PM
That picture sure makes me glad that I rented a U-Haul to take onto the salt.

Steve.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: RichFox on September 23, 2014, 07:06:05 PM
I bought a new Dodge D250 in '92. It's been to the salt plenty of times. Still trucking. No holes. Replacing the headlight was a bit of a challenge. But it's still an OK pickup.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Buickguy3 on September 23, 2014, 09:49:24 PM
  I guess my point is "git 'er done" as soon as you can and maybe twice. It takes a little time but it's money in the bank.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: 55chevr on September 23, 2014, 10:03:46 PM
I run the sprinkler under the truck for 2 days ... salt stops dropping after first day ...  I usually pick up a quart of salt clumps from the driveway


Joe
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: RichFox on September 25, 2014, 03:54:31 PM
Last night it rained here for the first time since March. Pretty good rain. So, at 5:30 am I was out on 280 blasting back and forth between 92 and Paige Mill Road. Hitting all the big puddles I could find. In the past I have done the same thing and it seems to get those last little clumps of salt that the sprinkler and coin op car wash didn't get.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Milwaukee Midget on September 25, 2014, 06:43:00 PM
Rich -

I've been to Bonneville 8 times since 1994.  I've cleaned salt from underneath the Midget, Kate's Ford Escort, a rental Ford Taurus, my '97 Ford Thunderbird (a car I wish I still had), Kate's Subaru, and my Magnum.

In all of those trips, I never saw more destruction than what the brine did to the Magnum this year.

It was like the thick white candy coating you see on pretzels at Christmas.

I'm trying to get it cleaned up - 3 days with the sprinkler so far, and some of it is simply not coming off.

From here on out, I'm taking Steve's approach. 

I suspect I might have one winter left in it.  If I keep the Magnum, it will be only be to pull the Hemi and transmission for a future project, and then to part it out.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: hotrod on September 25, 2014, 06:43:52 PM
I also have gone puddle chasing to get the salt off. It seems to work better than a sprinkler because the water spray tends to go the same places that the salt spatter did.

A few years ago, on the way home I spent 8+ hours driving in rain. By the time I got home the car's undercarriage was spotless as far as salt build up was concerned.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Stan Back on September 25, 2014, 07:46:19 PM
I agree.

A couple years ago after Bonneville, I had knee surgery.  A week or so later it poured for hours.  We have a street nearby that's probably a designated flood control channel, too.  I struggled out and drove up and down it -- hoping I wouldn't stall the truck and have to make my way with crutches thru the water.  Worked just fine.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: gkabbt on September 25, 2014, 08:35:06 PM
This was my second time to the salt and I've gotta agree with what Chris said.....The brine was just plain nasty.

I washed the rental car off after I came off the salt Sunday 09/07 as it was my last day there. The following day, we left Wendover and drove down to St. George,UT to spend the night and get ready to go to several National Parks. There was a MAJOR monsoon Monday afternoon and it semi-flooded the street behind the Motel where we were staying. When the heavy rain calmed down to sprinkles, I ran the car back and forth on that street about a dozen times. Thankfully it took care of the salt underneath! After that, all I had to do was wash the engine compartment later in the week.

As I said.....The brine was just plain nasty!

Gregg
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: SteveM on September 26, 2014, 10:44:22 AM
Our return trip did an excellent job of cleaning the trailer, and my pickup truck never went onto the salt.  It started raining around Salt Lake City, and it seemed like we drove in light rain most of the way to Salina, KS where we stopped for the night.  The next day, we drove in for most of the day (again) until Wenzville, MO.

There was no way that I could have possibly gotten the trailer as salt-free as Mother Nature did for us in 1,600 miles of driving through rain.

Steve.
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Glen on September 26, 2014, 11:14:09 AM
Pull your brake drums and clean them and lube the necessary points, also clean the trailer plug and spray it with  WD 40 or other protective spray. Oh the trailer tongue ball in the hitch should be cleaned and coated as well. It;s the little things that are easy to over look.  :cheers:
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: bak189 on September 26, 2014, 11:53:12 AM
Had my 1963 Dodge crew cab for 36 years.....30 years on the salt.......Would put it on the hoist before each Bonneville adventure and spray the under side with diesel fuel and a couple of quarts of oil.........upon returning home again put it on the hoist and clean with pressure washer.....worked great.....bought it new in 1963 for $2000.00.........sold it 36 years later for $1000.00 had 675000 miles on it.......put 1 engine in it.....
it is still running for the new owner............
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on September 29, 2014, 11:54:46 AM
While we're still on the subject of cleaning the salt and other stuff off your Bonneville support and spectator vehicles, here's something I got overnight from Ellen Guthrie.  If you head west out of Wendover this might be a BIG help for you:

The Bonneville Transloaders in Wells has a truck wash.  They charged us $20 to wash the outside of our car, including the underside, wheel wells and engine.  Interior cleanup was $10.  Located at 1120 Hacienda Ranch Road.  From I-80, take 93 north through the blinking light and over the railroad overpass.  It is a blue building on the left.  Go past the building and turn left on Hacienda Ranch Road, which is  gravel.

Let's see if we can remember this all the way through the winter and until next summer. :?
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: joea on September 29, 2014, 12:32:21 PM
If heading East: many likely know that the "Blue Beacon" truck and trailer wash at Toole Utah has been
closed since last year.

We detoured to the one in SLC next exit I believe going east from Toole, about
a 15 mile drive, great service and prices, and ends up right off I-80.

They use "Salt Away" on undercarriage

http://www.bluebeacon.com/details/SaltLakeCity/

http://www.bluebeacon.com/Services/UndercarriageRinse/

Joe
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Buickguy3 on September 29, 2014, 10:24:08 PM
  Jon,
  While the truck stop is cleaning up your support vehicle. You can probably catch the shuttle over to The Hacienda or Donna's and they will do a job on the Crew while they wait.  :evil:
     Doug  :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Title: Re: Sacrificial Salt vehicle
Post by: Seldom Seen Slim on September 30, 2014, 08:35:00 AM
My crew is Nancy, and I don't think she'll be interested in having a job done on her. :roll: