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Muscle cars, classic cars, fantastic fins of the 50’s. Many of these rolling works of “Art on Four Wheels were inspired by some of the greatest automotive designers of our time, Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, Zora Arkus-Duntov. These were true automotive artists and their timeless designs have stood the test of time and their worth has increased dramatically.
At American Dream Machines, we take a lot of pride in what we do. Our companies mission statement is to continue to live up to the the name American Dream Machines, with honesty, integrity and making customers happy with 50, 60, and 70 year old cars. Which is a very difficult goal to achieve. In the last sixteen years, American Dream Machines has delivered over two thousand gorgeous, classic cars to customers all over the world, and have become one of the largest, most respected names in the business. We are a non-consignment, full service classic car dealership, which means we have more accountability to our customers. American Dream Machines is unlike any other classic car shop. We have aligned our companies image with Classic Rock & Roll, muscle cars and classic cars of the iconic 50’s, and 60’s that live up to the name American Dream Machines.
Cold Weather Car Care
Warm weather has given way to cold here in the Midwest and its here to stay. At American Dream Machines we know all cars need additional care before the temperatures drop below freezing for the next few months.Every part of your car is effected by the cold temperatures. The Battery has to work harder, the oil moves slower until warmed, tires loose pressure, the exterior of the car gets blasted with salt, sand and mud.Here are some helpful tips on how to help your car make it through the next few months. Dont be afraid to ask a mechanic friend to help with any of these tasks.
#1. Coolant: Make sure the coolant is topped off in your radiator and has the right mix of anti-freeze mixed in. Water will freeze and expand to the point that it will crack your engine block.I have a 348 Chevy big block with a 6 inch crack down the side to prove coolant is important.
#2. Oil: Engines run best when they are up to temperature so the oil can flow freely and have the proper level of oil in the engine. Even if its synthetic or standard petroleum based, having a thinner oil in the winter helps with cold starts. Oil like 10W-30 should be replaced with a thinner 5W-30 if you plan on driving the car all winter to ensure that the oil gets to where it needs to go faster. (always check your air cleaner when changing your oil.)
#3. Fuel: When a car sets all winter it will slowly break down as well as gathers moisture. You can prevent fuel that sets from loosing its usefulness by adding fuel stabilizer to your tank of fuel. Also keep your fuel tank topped off to ensure the inside of the tank doesnt allow air to get in and out to create rust and soak up water in the fuel.
#4. Transmission fluid: Older cars that have a transmission dipstick need to have the level of the fluid checked/topped off to ensure it will shift when its cold outside. As the fluid in the transmission warms up it will flow and work better just like the oil in your engine.
#5. Battery: CCA on a battery stands for Cold Cranking Amps because when its cold it makes a battery work harder to get your starter to turn over a cold engine. So the scale to determine how strong your battery is was based on cold weather ability and not the physical size of the battery itself. Take your battery to someone who can test it for you to ensure your battery is performing its best this winter.
#6. Brakes/fluid: Check to see that your brakes are clean and that your fluid is topped off. Once you get the car started and moving it would be nice if you could stop.
#7. Wipers/fluid: Take care of your wipers and fluid so you can see out of your windows. This includes the rear wipers/sprayer on the fancy newer cars too. Maybe you own a vintage Saab or Volvo with wipers on the head lights, check them all at the same time.
#8. Clean your car: A clean car doesnt just look better it also helps the car perform to the best of its ability. Dirt, oil, sand and salt make a nasty combo in the winter which can play havoc on your car. Keep things clean so you can see out of the car when driving. Writing wash me on a car window is funny but it should say danger, stay away, not well maintained. Keeping the dirt, oil, sand and salt off also helps keep your machine running smoothly.
#9. NO FOOD: Clean the inside of your car out and dont leave any kind of food inside. Otherwise you will get an unwanted visit from a mouse or other creatures looking for a home and food. Also keep food far away from the car as well. Leaving food out for your dog to eat near your car means the local mouse has a supply of food he can stash away in your vintage corvette heating system. (image provided)
#10. Dry: If your car is dry then it wont encourage rust, grow mildew or attract water to the fuel system. Not always easy to do depending on the storage situation but do the best you can. Keep blankets off of your car while in storage because they retain moisture.
These are some of the useful tips you can use to ensure your car is ready to do what it was made for. Every car should get the same attention no matter ho much its driven but we all know that isnt always the case.
American Dream Machines recently hosted an American Grafitti charity event during the weekend of the 2015 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance and raised money and awareness for the Children’s Cancer Connection. The pretty girls in the picture room are standing in front of the 1000 horsepower Shelby Mustang, (one of four cars in existence). The volunteers carried donation buckets to the thousands of attendees and the hundreds of classic cars that came to the event. Over the Concours weekend over 20,000 classic car enthusiasts enjoyed the amazing classic car event hosted around the John Pappa John Sculpture park in downtown Des Moines. Between the Concours event and American Dream Machines over thirty three thousand dollars was raised for the Children’s Cancer Connection. It was a great weekend.
Car Care Tips
We often get calls from people that are wondering how to wash their car and might be scared that they will scratch the paint. So we wanted to talk about the professional way to wash a car. Start by using two, five gallon buckets along with a microfiber wash mitt or towel, and make sure they are clean. It is suggested to use a wax fortified soap if you are not planning on applying protection afterwards. There are many brands to choose from and each works a little bit differently. Some of the well known brands are Meguiars, Mothers and Turtle Wax. Some of the more popular brands among the professionals include Chemical Guys, Adam’s Polishes, Sonax, 3D, Pinnacle, CarPro, AutoFinesse, and Wolfgang. Stay away from using abrasive soaps such as dish soap, as they are too aggressive and will harm your paint or clear coat. Fill one of the buckets with soap and water and one with just water. Dip the microfiber mitt into the soap water and wash the car. After each panel use the water bucket to rinse out the mitt and repeat. Make sure not to let the soap or water dry in the sun, keep the paint wet while you are washing the car to avoid water spots. Paint and clear coat are very delicate and will scratch very easily, so even the smallest amount of dirt could create swirls and scratches in your paint.
If the mitt falls on the ground it is always a good idea to rinse again. Work from top to bottom, ending at the bottom and the back of the car so you don’t get concerned with spreading more dirt around. Make sure to use a brush, or a different mitt or towel, and a tire and wheel cleaner to clean the wheels, tires, and the fender wells. Rinse the car off when you are finished washing, and dry. When drying your car do not use a bath towel or terry cloth, they are too abrasive for paint and will swirl or scratch the surface. Use a microfiber towel, there are alot to choose from. This one is a personal favorite. Click Here. We hope this may help you and your car keep the shine that it deserves.
American Dream Machines recently hosted an American Grafitti charity event during the weekend of the 2015 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance and raised money and awareness for the Children’s Cancer Connection. The pretty girls in the picture room are standing in front of the 1000 horsepower Shelby Mustang, (one of four cars in existence). The volunteers carried donation buckets to the thousands of attendees and the hundreds of classic cars that came to the event. Over the Concours weekend over 20,000 classic car enthusiasts enjoyed the amazing classic car event hosted around the John Pappa John Sculpture park in downtown Des Moines. Between the Concours event and American Dream Machines over thirty three thousand dollars was raised for the Children’s Cancer Connection. It was a great weekend.
